Misery of Artemisia

Chapter 4: Hell

WHAT IS its intention? Is it for us to take care of every circumstance? Or we should be ready at all times for the possible scenario that will happen?

“Stop, brother. Don’t think about it too much, huh? Hmm, let’s just set it aside and go out of town. Are you deal with it?” I offered him so that his pressure would be lessened.

“Probably not.” He responds that which makes me feel astounded.

“What? Don’t you want to take out of our stress?”

He fixes his messy ash grey’ hair before he looks at me directly at my eyes. “No, that is not my point. I just perceive that… it’s probably not real! Perhaps, it is just their way for us to be scared of? Yea, I still do not know. Not fully sure, rather,”

I took my breath into the air after I heard those words came from him. But, he told me earlier that he believes in fantasy, isn’t he? That is why I am wondering why he acts like that. He has strong doubt about the message that came from the invitation card.

“Hey, look at my eyes. If those pieces of stuff aren’t real, so why you are showing me that you still have beliefs in those creatures? Didn’t you say that you believe in the immortal world aren’t you? Then, why you just cannot believe a simple strange event?” I objected then I calmed down.

He suddenly puts his hand on his forehead then he sits on the sofa as well. “Don’t be upset with my opinion, Artemisia. I am just telling you the possible scenery that might occur. But it still up to you, whether you’ll accept it or not.”

I bite my lower lip then I just showed him a nod as a show of agreement.

After a while, we both decided to go out of this hotel to have a conversation at a different place.

“Could you suggest a better place than this one?” I asked after he shows me a picture of an unlikeable creepy destination.

“Yea, sure. Wait, give me a while,” he bites his middle finger. “Oh! Hmm, Corfe Castle—“

“Pass,”

He rolled his eyes. “Is The Scotwolds better?”

“Much better but, still… no,”

“At Stonehenge! What’s your guess?”

“Have some taste, brother Rendev.” I defend.

“Hey! All those places are popular here in the UK! What else are you looking for, huh? Oh, apologies for my high tone,” he clenches his fist and he puts it in front of his mouth.

How naughty you are.

“London!”

My eyes grew bigger then I faced him with a wide smile.

“You’re bright, man.”

“Dumb! You even tortured me in that way, then London will just make you smile like that over a man?! Oh, that’s my graceful sister,” he voiced out, he chortled.

Actually, we don’t know how we get to this point. From being anxious to travel from one place into another? Yea, maybe we’re paranoid to do it without any reason.

“Permission to change the topic, have you ever think to live in the immortal world, Art? Uhm, your brother Rendev was just curious,” he questioned about the thing I am afraid to answer, even before.

I released an intense breath then I addressed him. My eyes kept on whirling, hoping that I could escape from this kind of topic.

Could I just walk away from my bullsh*t brother?!

“Hey!” he blinked his eye countless times and waved his hand in front of me. “What’s happening to you? Did I say something wrong, or perhaps, did I made you feel trouble?! Oh, sorry sister.” He sarcastically queried, chuckles.

I rolled my eyes, tryin’ to ignore his thoughts. “Shut up.” Saying these two words made his face blank.

“Honestly speaking, I really want to, Rendev. But how could I go there without thinking about any happenings in my life?! Yea, Kingdom of Ashes sent us an invitation card, but still, I cannot get the point of how they found us? I mean, I think it’s a kind of scam from someone else? Tryin’ to fool us?! Oh, sh*t. I still feel uncomfortable even though we encounter something peculiar that cannot be defined. I want to live in an immortal world, and that’s my doubtful answer among all questions. You got it, Dev.”

He just nods then we both decided to get a travel ticket to successfully landed at the said destination.

A crowd of people greeted us when we’re recently entering American Airlines. We just felt shocked and wonder because at first, we really do not have any idea why does it happening right now.

“Hmm, miss? I just wanna ask something about those people who are shouting. What's happening inside of this Airlines?!” my brother Rendev undoubtedly asked one of the employees inside this place.

But, unfortunately, the woman he asked for doesn't respond. Instead, she runs away from us as if she's hiding from a criminal.

I frowned, I don't know what to say then. I was left like I'm insane.

"Nothing will happen if we will just stay here for a long moment, Art. Let us go now," he invites me, we hurriedly walk amidst these people messing around at different corners and angles.

While we're rapidly taking steps, nevertheless, I could not restrain myself from looking at the place where people were gathering and shouting as if someone had died.

I suddenly closed my eyes tightly, tryin' to rub out the throb I was felt. We never thought that we'll encounter a mess and an alarming integration.

"What are we goin' to do now?! How will be travel to London? Most especially that American Airlines is now under disturbance. Could we continue our flight despite what happened lately?" I asked one after another.

"Let's just cancel that for the meantime, Art. Maybe it's not yet our time for us to go to that place," he uttered.

“Okay.” I moved forward then I looked up into the dark sky. It seems like there is an upcoming rain after a while.

I suddenly gulped before I faced him.

“Do you have any idea about what happened inside the airport? Uhm, I am just wondering why do people acts too weird.” I gave him a question.

He invites me first to sit on to the bench so that we can talk seriously

“Honestly, I felt a bit nervous. It feels like someone near to me was dying. This is cringe but, that is totally what I feel.” He answered. “How ‘bout you?”

The way he looks at me was so terrifying. It seems like the way he thinks right now will be what will I think too

“Ladies and gentlemen, we sincerely apologize for what happened earlier. There is just happened here unrighteously that is why such of you felt neurotic. We wanted to give y’ all clear information about it that is why I am is speaking at this moment. We wanna inform y’ all that a man wearing a formal suit died for an unknown reason. And what is even more terrifying is that are so many ashes surrounds that man. Thank you, everyone! We’re hoping that everything will be back to normal. Happy travelling!” A woman voiced out connected to numerous speakers. I guess that she is a licensed flight attendant here.

For the reason that we are not yet going far-off, we clearly heard those words that giving a piece of information or warning on their clients and customers.

I quickly stood up after we perceived by the ear that announcement. I suddenly think about the message of the flying blank paper last day. What if— someone also received an invitation card from the Kingdom of Ashes died?! Is it possible to occur?”

“Damn sh*t, Rendev. Do you still remember the paper we lastly saw yesterday?! I guess that the woman talking of earlier has a connection from what the letter said! Yea, ashes! I never act over but, this situation makes my fur arise.”

I never wait for the deluge to come so that I hurriedly run without waiting for Rendev’s response. But as what I feel, he also runs with me.

At this time, I must not feel compatible and relax, most especially that I directly heard those pieces of information and I know what is the possible cause of the victim’s death.

“Wait for me, Artemisia!” He shouted which made me stop for a while.

“Just follow me, Dev. I just wanna prove that what hunch I sentient is right. I know for myself that… that man is the probable human who loses breath. But on the other hand, I still wish that I am wrong. Let’s go before it’s too late.” We both rapidly run until our body’s can. As much as possible, I want to witness and see who that man is.

Although I gradually feel tiredness and trepidation, I still chose to fight for my hunch and to discover what was really happened.

“Where will you both go?!” A male bodyguard asked us, he’s closing the way.

“Apologies… I don’t have spare time to answer your query,” I courageously said. “I’ll count one to three, okay? Then we will run throughout this man.” I whispered to my brother while I am breathless. “One… Two… Three!”

We seem like a criminal fleeing because of what we did. For the reason that the people surrounds this place is still in trouble, so we easily got in and the man we left was just staring at us. I don’t know what’s wrong with that man. Damn!

“H-here we are,” I uttered breathlessly. I looked at my brother for a moment before heading straight to where the incident took place.

As I stared intently at the man lying down, little by little I realized that my guess seemed right. Especially that countless ashes are now surrounded to the man, while the others are flying as well.

I looked at it so peculiarly, in particular, that the possible cause of his death was undefinable.

“Apparently that nothing hurts nor kill her physically. Somewhat, I also think that he hasn’t died mentally. I just wonder too why he is smiling as if death is his biggest achievement. What do you think?”

“I think that way too. But of course, who would believe us if I tell them? Especially that what will be going to say is about fantasy and unpredictable happenings. It’s much better if we will keep our mouth close as if we don’t discover or know something.” I replied.

I walked a bit closer to that man despite a lot of people staring at me.

“What the hell is he doing?! Is he suffering from mental illness?!” I simultaneously heard their thoughts. And the worse thing is that they misconceive what am I doing. But on the other hand, I know for myself that I also suffer from anxiety. Fortunately, it is not that bad not like what I experienced in my past.

I slowly learned how to love and take care of myself.

As I moving closer, there is one thing that truly made me shocked in an undesirable manner.

He is my stepfather.

“This can’t happen. Come, Rendev. I know that you’re familiar with my stepfather too, isn’t it? So now, tell me that he is not the man lying down,” I am frenetic while I am telling him about it. My knees are trembling and my hands do it as well.

“I apologize, my sister. But I am not even familiar with that man. Is that the man who made your life miserable too?!”

“Yes. He’s one of the reasons why my own mother hates me. F*ck off!”

“Calm down yourself, Art.”

I breathe deeply. “You know… I never dreamed that someone will die, even if that is one of my mortal enemies. Yea, it’s a bit down for me. But we cannot do anything— but just to offer him condolences and wishes.” I responded, trying to comfort my annoyance on that man.

“Let’s come out now. Let them do their responsibility for that man,” he says, I follow him until we get outside this hell.