Kota hugs himself. “No… I’m not that thing. I can’t be! This is a bad dream. That’s all,” he speaks hoarsely. “That’s all.” When a blanket of light splits one side of the cave, Kota scampers to a corner to evade it. This repeats for hours—him fleeting from the sun while his mind tries contemplating what’s wrong. Wondering why sunlight is his enemy all of a sudden.
I remember riding horses on sunny days. Remember the beams of warm light covering every inch of my skin. I loved galloping through the open fields. Loved being bathed in the sunshine that poked through the mountains. I loved being bathed by Mother Nature. Now I’m afraid of it. None of this makes sense. He’s relieved when night falls. “Good. I can go home. I have to get home.”
Kota zooms from the cave like a human race car. Once again, the effortless running returns. He blasts from the forest, past bus stops and gas stations, streaking down bare roads. When he bypasses the school, he slows. Flashbacks of him and his squad. The dance floor, the loud music. The crowd. All of them head banging and jumping. Liz giggling at Mike falling. Jimmy’s ginger hair beating the air. Kota stops in his tracks.
I have to go back for them. But what will I do with their bodies?? Take them to their parents? That’s the right thing to do. If I can stomach carrying their corpses. I don’t think I can. The image of their dull skin and empty eyes haunt him. The wounds on their necks sicken him. I can’t. Kota rips his gaze from the building and presses on.
There are Rez cops at the front gate. He smells the metallic scent of their blood. Hears it rushing in their veins… pumping their vessels. Chittering a song of lust. The desire to taste the liquid reoccurs. NO… I CAN’T HURT THEM!!! Kota races around the reservation to avoid attacking the guards.
I’ve known Bly all my life. He’s looking forward to my mom’s pudding. He has two kids he’s taking to the Pow-Wow. I can’t harm him.
He uses his secret way in—the loose gate. He walks a street of gloom, glad because no one will see that he’s covered in blood. His holey, charred shoes step cracked sidewalks. Kota is almost home.
Everything will be alright when I get inside. I’ll feel better. The street is usually silent, but now it blares with the noises within houses. Whirling microwaves. TV broadcasts. Snoring neighbors. Each noise is crisp, as if right beside him. Kota climbs the stairs, reaching for the knob. His hand meets a forcefield.
NO… NOO! I NEED TO GET INSIDE; LET ME INSIDE! “DYANI! OPEN THE DOOR!!” Kota yells drastically, his light tone rooted with strain. He tries the knob again… no luck. Footsteps from beyond the door pound like a hammer. Kota covers his ears and winces. The chain and the main lock click before the door opens.
“Where have you been? Mom and Dad are out looking for you!” Dyani inspects his clothes. “ARE YOU OKAY? THAT’S BLOOD!!!”
“I don’t know what’s happening...”
Her hand drops from the knob. She eases to the door’s threshold. “You’re scaring me.”
“I need help!” he sobs. “HELP ME!!”
“I will…come in; we’ll figure this out.” Her voice trembles.
“I can’t.” He puts his hand out, going a few inches, only to snag. He tries to place his shoe past the frame; it meets an invisible barrier.
“Stop joking around!” His sister takes him by the arm and tugs. His body slams, as if there’s glass before the door. Kota grunts from the impact and frees himself from his sister’s hold. Dyani is shocked. “What the...??!!” She tries to pull him inside again but loses against the unseeable force.
Kota scans the archway in doom. This is my home. I belong here. I was born here… and now I can’t step inside??? Home is what I need. I HAVE TO GET INSIDE! “Help me... please!” He drops to his knees.
Dyani passes the archway to console her little brother. She kneels and wraps her arms around him. Only to immediately hiss and recoil from his frigid touch. “YOU’RE FREEZING!!!”
“I don’t know what’s happening!!” Kota wails.
She covers her mouth with her hands. “I…I…I don’t know what to do… Kota. What’s wrong with you??!!”
A motorcycle speeds down the street. Kota covers his ears, shouting at the discomfort the roaring engine brings. His eardrums violently throb. He swears they’re bleeding from the inside.
Dyani runs in and slams the door, holding her chest. “WHAT THE HELL?!!” His screaming ends once the bike is far in the distance. Dyani cracks the door to find that her brother is gone. “Kota…” she mutters unevenly, peeking down the barren street. She jets to the kitchen. A green phone hangs on the wall. She holds the receiver to her ear and dials 918-456, using a rotary spinner. Dy paces back and forth, her hands quivering anxiously.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJ8BuVZy0b
