shadows

they came for her, stayed for him (6)

“Miss Emilia,” Green began.

“Emilia,” Emilia corrected. “Just Emilia, please.”

“Emilia,” Green said, nodded, and continued after a pause, “I want to ask you only a few questions about the shadow. I hope that’s okay?”

Emilia answered with a smile. That was enough.

“Can you describe the circumstances under which you saw the shadow?”

Emilia knew to expect exactly this when Green mentioned the shadow. Knowing didn’t keep her from being surprised. She knew herself enough to know she didn’t want to think about it, let alone talk. And yet, sitting across from the two women, she found herself ready. She fell in through Green’s eyes, back to her apartment. No, her previous apartment now. She was back by the door, staring into the mirror, staring at the dark shadow. She shuddered instinctively. Even though she was overwhelmed, she didn’t lose sight of the fact that this was a memory. The shadow was a part of the memory. It was still terrifying, but it was incomparable to the read thing. Whatever fate she had with the shadow, it was cut off. And that helped bring her back. And the memory was slowly erased. Just like the dream. Only this time she witnessed it happen. And it was the strangest experience. It was as if an invisible hand had taken an eraser and got to work with it.

When she fully returned to the hotel suite, and was sitting across the two women, Emilia felt a release. Like something that had her in its arms all this time, let go. Free again, it was easy to realise that she had felt this from the moment the question was asked. And when she looked at Green again, into Green’s dark eyes, she knew. Green got the answer to her question. Not through her lips, but through her eyes.

And Emilia felt a chill.

-

Green was a sage. And not just any sage. That was why she felt it so clearly. The ripple from three nights ago. She had seen the evidence at the hospital. She had been surprised. And now, she saw the shadow. And she was startled. Even frightened.

She wasn’t lying when she asked the questions. She truly intended only to hear. And so, she wasn’t prepared to be pulled in.

She didn’t recognise the room. She didn’t know the time. It was dark but that wasn’t necessarily true. At least, she knew the people. Emilia and Fanny. She saw the expressions, and they told the story. And she saw the shadow in the mirror.

For a while, the image was still. Like she was looking into a photograph. And then, the shadow moved. The dark head turning like a screw. Just enough to stare directly at her.

No words were spoken. Nothing moved. The eyes expressed all that needed saying.

She wasn’t weak to the eyes. This wasn’t her first encounter with a reaper. She was prepared. At least that’s what she thought.

She didn’t need long to realise how wrong she was. It felt almost like the reaper was expecting her presence. And was ready to pour all of its fury at her.

The darkness spewed out of the mirror. Dark tendrils swimming the thick air. One. Two. Then more. And more. A whole swarm. Rushing toward her, at the same time also appearing as if floating on still water. Reflecting in her eyes like a dull movie.

She was foolish enough to stand waiting. Her eyes glowed like green embers. And the sheen spread through the rest of her. The air around her was affected, turning into a faint shield. They were two armies on the opposite ends of the battlefield.

The conch was blown. The first wave of soldiers were at each other. When a giggle ripped the scene. Green was back in the suite. Sitting across from the clueless Emilia.

All eyes turned toward the baby.

-

Emilia rushed over to the bed. Not the slightest concerned about the chill from a moment ago. Emil was awake. And nothing mattered more.

Emil was giggling. And when he saw her, he blew bubbles and giggled louder.

“Why don’t you cry?” Emilia asked him.

He giggled in response. That was all he did. Giggle. And he looked like an angel.

“Are you hungry?” Emilia asked.

He still giggled. But she had started to understand his giggles. This was one which said he was hungry. And so, she sat comfortably on the bed, and fed him. After he was full, she held him over her shoulders, patting him until he burped. Then, changed his diaper. And brought him out to the other room. Where Green and Ray were waiting.

“This is Emil,” Emilia said, introducing the boy to the two women.

She did that because she knew it was him they were talking about. That they were really here for. And she was right.

Emil giggled. And Green froze. She couldn’t take her eyes off of the baby.