Malediction

Chris and the Witch

My eyes were closed. I heard a small mumbling noise in the back of my mind, an exchange of breath was felt by my ear. That mumbling noise was taken over by a single hoarse voice muttering my name. 

“James… Where is it?" 

Who was it? Why did it sound familiar? I was intrigued, but I only tried to remember how it sounded.

“James. James.” It continues to call me. “James. James. JAMES!!!” Her voice was yelling in my ear. It was the strange woman from the bus. It rang so hard that I jumped from my seat with shock and tried to take a swing at where the sound was coming from.

“ Easy man. I just tried to wake you up.” It was just Tim. He backed away from me, from where he was, just shaking my shoulder a while ago. He looked at me quite confused. I was exhausted from working late these past few days. We needed to make sure we could get through the hotel without getting caught, so I had to research everything from scratch. 

I was gasping for air and sweating profusely, leaning to the wall near the window. It was noon and we were getting Tim to join the team. He handed me some tissues in concern and went back to sit on the couch of our apartment. I apologized and took it to wipe the beading sweat off my forehead. “I dreamt like that everyday, years ago.” Tim blurted out of the blue. “It was some stupid guilt trip. It didn’t end well. I used to punch someone just like that the moment I woke up.” He laughed to himself, looking down at his cup of I guess would be beer in disguise, if I was right. Tim was very vague. “I sleep better now minus the hangover, that is.” He sighed deeply. “But you’ll get your own coping mechanism, I wish it won't be the same as mine though.” And he drank the whole cup. “I got Andrea, I think I should be fine.” I said. He crossed his legs and cozied on the couch Andrea and I made love to a few days ago. “Well, you are actually both of each others’ coping mechanisms.” He gave me that knowing look. I looked dumbfounded. I never actually thought of how it started, since I can’t barely remember anything right before the island. I was just happy to be with her. “What do you mean?” A door creak cut me off short of Tim’s answer.

The door opened and Andrea sprung into view, just happy because she obviously got a validation of Manunulat’s email from her contacts. “Get ready because tomorrow we’re going to the Hotel Masfino in Bulacan.” Her eyes were bright with anticipation. She really wanted to be in the field, to feel being in the moment. ”Didn’t Boss Rick just say to lay low for a while? It’s not even a full week from James’ recovery.” Tim reminded her. “ Don’t be a buzzkill.” I said, siding Andrea. Andrea totally disregarded Tom’s warning and said, “ Don’t tell me you liked taking pictures of the potentially innocent Tokhang victims with Ian?” Ian was the one handling the War on Drugs campaign, and took Tim as his temporary videographer. His face filled with disdain almost immediately. “No. I can’t stand recording while their possible murderers ‘solving’ the cases beside me. It’s sickening.”

“I know.” Andrea won. He grunted in defeat. 

I was amused to see this exchange. Andrea went in and went straight to the walk-in closet, a sweet floral scent on her trail. My eyes followed the flow of her hair. I looked back to Tim who was now dwindling with his camera. My eyes went straight to the door Andrea came from. There I noticed that she forgot to close the door. An uninvited guest stood before the door frame. I stood and ran to block his way to the apartment.

 It was Chris in a jacket and a cap. He waved at me, ever so friendly.

I've never been so quick at my feet before, but I took fast long strides just to reach him. I went to face him and closed the door. Chris was wide-eyed, genuinely surprised by my actions upon seeing him at the hallway of the building floor. He looked eerily normal. He placed his hands above his shoulders. 

"James, I-I'm sorry." He stuttered so innocently as I glared in fury. It didn't stop me from holding him by his shirt collar. I felt betrayed by him. "I was poisoned. I couldn't control my own body with that substance. I wouldn't dare to-" He explained. "Bullshit." I immediately stopped his nonsense. "You were dead, Chris. I saw you lifeless in my hospital room." I pushed him away, away from my friends clueless of his presence. He stumbled a few feet, but never fell.

"It was the crazy lady, she was messing with your head." He was in a defensive stance. “I was unconscious, not dead. And, she did something to me on that island that made me crazy. It wasn’t me, I swear.” He corrected me, looking me in the eyes. “I visited you there for a while, she asked to talk to you but I denied her, since she tried to make me kill my bestfriend from that freaky place. She knocked me out unconscious.” I was listening, but skeptic. He removed his cap and showed a bandage. “How about the blood on the hospital; floor that disappeared?” I asked. “She’s into some voodoo magic, man. Not real. She’s taking care of a witch.” Something clicked in me. “The Mangagaway?” I remembered her asking for something I took from someone. “Yeah, exactly.” he placed his hands down, as my temper did. “You believe in that sort of thing?” I asked. “With everything that happened to us, I do.” He leaned on the hallway wall. He looked tired. “I just got home. I tried to know who she was, followed her everywhere.” He glances in my direction. “The people from the province saw some remarkable scars on her face as she wandered around. They say it was the mark of the witch’s slave.”

“She followed me here in the city.” I confided in him, relaxing from the tension I had earlier. “That’s dangerous. I’ll think about what to do about it.” He said. “By the way, I hope you forgive me for almost killing you. See you later.” I nodded and accepted his apology. The drug must’ve taken a toll on him, he looked thinner. He shifted and started to walk away, slipping to the open elevator near us.  

I went back to the apartment. Tim and Andrea were talking about camera modifications as I sat on the beanie chair. 

“Who was it?” Andrea casually asked me in the middle of their conversation. 

“No one.” I avoided her eyes.