Umbra: Feed on my Fear

The Power of a Name

I am standing in front of a pile of kaleidoscopic Persian rugs, browsing through to add to the dark ceramic vase that I just bought. It's going to be perfect on my living room.

There are also vintage pieces that are a hidden gem and sold at a lower price.

Reese, Ben, Val and I are strolling in the busy flea market on the side of Bekena River at 2PM. I am wearing a maroon tank top and a pair of jeans since the sun is blazing hot and we only rely on the good of the wind to prevent us from collapsing.

Ben, just like Reese, is my co-worker. He migrated with his family here from Thailand and Val who is in a white sundress and a star sticker on each side of her gray eyes. She's Reese's cousin and Ben's girlfriend.

Ben and Val have been together for two years now since he spilled juice on her at VidCon.

"Ben, you really put your A-game on haggling. I saved an extra $59 because of you," I say.

"Not to be cocky but I live and breathe it, that's for sure."

"Yeah. I won't have asked you if you weren't." 

"Charming, Reese,"  Ben says rolling his eyes on the process.

"You're welcome," Reese pats her while smiling brightly at a now grumpy 5'7" tall man.

"...we have here Heidi Monroe. She's a newbie in town. Heidi say hello," Val points at me, never leaving her eyes on the camera.

"Hello," I wave. "What's that for?"

"This is for a vlog."

"Yup, ValerieView. She is a vlogger and apparently she can't live without documenting everything that happens to her," rolling her eyes, she playfully bumps Val by the hip.

"Well, those seven million subscribers wanna see what's up with ya girl. You know?" the brunette counters while doing a finger gun at the camera. She has a very enigmatic smile that just cheers you up even if you had the worst day of your life.

"Ben, aren't you tired of hearing that?" 

"Absolutely."

Val gives him a death glare before realizing that she heard what he said.

"Not. Absolutely not. I love you, Val."

"Whatever."

We haggle some more on the stall that sells Bohemian tote bag and sunnies. Val buys eight of those for her giveaway and I buy the charm crystal bracelet that I believe is definitely worth it.

What catches our eyes is lone booth near at the far end. A plaque was plastered at the very top that says Madam Elysens' Fortune Telling.

"Oh, welcome! Come in," a plump woman who seems to be in her early 50s in a silk poncho invites us in. Val and Reese is already in the booth as I am about to come in.

I pass through Madam Elysens, a smell of mint waft through the air.

"The Shadow," she whispers with nervousness in her voice but enough for me to hear. Her expression changes in a split second- a frown in her face and a quick gasp replaces her warm demeanor.

"You know the Shadow?" I move closer to her, enough to see her eye to eye.

"I want you all to go," she says sternly that makes Val and Reese to emerge from the huge tent. "Put away that camera, please."

"What's happening?" Reese asks me but I am not totally sure.

"Geez, calm down." Reese says still flabbergasted by the sudden shift of the woman's attitude towards us.

"I will pay you double the amount."

"Heidi, let's go." Ben gently pulls me by the arm, convinced that we have to get out of there.

"Lady, you do not understand. I don't want the money. I want all of you to go."

As we're moving away from the place, I take one last look at the old woman who shakes her head and looks at me with concern.

It doesn't really matter but my curiosity towards the situation grows.

"That was bonkers. I can't believe she shooed us like that. Did you just see what happened over there?"

"Well, fortune tellers, they do that," Ben adds, pursing his lips.

"I'm doing two videos for this: a haul and a storytime."

"That was really crazy," I sigh. "Just a thought, do you all believe in the supernatural?"

"Like ghosts?"

"Exactly."

"I guess so. But I don't think much about it as long as they don't haunt me."

"I believe it," Val says matter-of-factly while examining her yellow painted nails.

"You believe in ghosts? That doesn't sound right," Ben chuckles at the idea of ghost existing since he's a born skeptic.

"It's an absolute law that even though we die, the energy in our body goes to the environment like any other organisms in this planet," she counters.

"Conservation of energy. 'Energy is neither created nor destroyed.'" I smile at Val for confirming the idea that I was thinking.

"I disagree. A lot of physicists are against it. They don't really make that much sense since that energy is consumed by plants and animals."

"True. But also back in the 17th century, they thought that the earth was flat. See how it changed from there," Val reasons. I must say, I did not expect to hear that logic from the lady who wears bubblegum pink lipstick to a flea market. But I'm glad that I was proven wrong.

"Yes. And it's an on-going study so we cannot tell what the future science will discover," Reese adds.

After the afternoon has ended, we say goodbye to each other and headed our own ways. With bags full of items, I walk in a dark alley to my car. I pass through Madam Elysens booth and I can't help but think of what she has to say.

My feet move towards it and when she sees me, she hurriedly runs away.

"Wait! Please. I know that you already said no a while ago but I know that you're the only one who can help me."

"Wait here," she gets inside and returns with a bowl of pulverized gray ashes.

"What's that?"

"A concoction of Calamus Root, Frankincence, Spruce and Cassia."

"If you don't mind me asking, what's that for?"

"It cloaks the place so it can't track us here. Now, come inside."

There are vintage dolls and jars inside the tent. The smell of strong mint filling my senses. I sit across her at a round table. My eyes roam on the psychedelic space.

"What you're dealing with is a Shadow. Did you play with an Ouija board or a cursed object?"

"Yes. We played with those when I was seven."

"That explains it. It is a portal for creatures like it that connects the paranormal world to ours. It is a sly creature that takes form as an ordinary individual just like us. It can possess, torment and hurt us mortals in a second."

I nod at her as I take in everything that she said. My hand fidgets as I respond with a gritred teeth.

"He's always there. I should be scared. Well, I am always scared of what he will do to me."

"You are bound to it by a curse."

"How can it be broken."

"There's only one way to do it."

"What is it?"

"Call it by its name."

"That's it?"

"You have to order it to go back to its realm. If you call it by its name then you have the power to claim and control the Shadow."

"His name is Austin. That's the name that he told me."

"It can't be that too simple, my dear. They are very keen at hiding their names for the reason that it will render them powerless."

"But, how do I know?"

"That's the tricky part."

"Can you help me?"

"I'm afraid I can't. I've crossed the line and that's the farthest that I could go. He won't be able to kill you but that's not the same case for me."

It's true that I can't force her to help me. After all, it's my battle to take care of.

Realizing that it's now over, I stand up and reluctantly hugs her. I need that comfort now that I have to carry an information which is something greater than myself.

"How much should I pay you?"

"Don't worry about it. I just want you to be careful."

"Thank you. I owe you so much."

I flash her a smile as I go.

Walking out of Madam Elysen's booth is like a thorn has been removed from me. For the very first time, I have the upper hand.

I'll just have to figure out a way to know his name.