"And a great curse, I, the Sovereign, shall place upon the one who will come like a storm from the east, who will sweep with the strength of the seas and flood, who will tear down and shatter with its waves. His forces will make the throne of sin tremble, and the Beast of beasts shall fear..." (Prophecies of Rivyahu)
After hearing the suffocating rhythm of the alarm, I hurried out of bed, ready to run to the bathroom and spit out what had built up in my cheeks.
I tripped over some clothes on the floor, but they didn't stop my escape.
I crossed the small living room and rushed into the bathroom, pouring into the toilet the evidence of a drunken binge.
Fortunately for me, everything came out quickly, so I rushed to pull myself together, only to be overwhelmed by sudden exhaustion, followed by a dizziness that made me collapse onto the bathroom stall floor.
—I told you last night's party was a bad idea!—Loba shouted, her voice booming. My eardrums shook, causing an unrelenting pain in my temples that spread further and further across my head. I dug my fingers into my hair, trying to contain a pain I couldn't touch. I forced myself up slowly—first to my knees, then holding on to the tub at my side. I licked my lips, noticing how dry they were.
—Give me a glass of water—I begged, the pain wreaking havoc in my head—. No yelling, Loba—I added, warning her off another outburst.
Loba sighed heavily and, as she walked, muttered under her breath. I finally managed to stand, but only with the invaluable help of the bathroom doorframe, which I had to cling to tightly or risk falling.
I closed my eyes as an uncomfortable throbbing began to blur my vision. Loba arrived, which I noticed when her voice came close beside me.
—Here. Don't forget the pill.
I took the glass without even looking, after failing twice to grasp it.
—I'm done with pills. Had enough of them last night—I joked with a smile that quickly faded as the pain renewed itself.
—I'm not talking about those,—she said angrily, and I was almost certain she pouted with it.
I took the pill, tossed it into my mouth, and swallowed with one long gulp until the water was gone. Loba left after taking the glass from my hand, and I could hear the dragging of her feet as she walked away—normally not a problem, but now like cymbals crashing in my ears.
Feeling safer, I decided to open my eyes, not before making sure the bathroom light switch was off. My vision met a darkness that eased my migraine. I headed back to my room and threw myself on the bed, bouncing and scattering clothes across the floor.
—Olga, it's already 1:00,—Loba warned, snapping me out of my daze.
Today is the concert, I remembered, regretting last night's blowout after the army's victory over the Zanichists. Not that I cared who won or lost—a party was a party.
I hurried up, dug my underwear from between my wooden pillows, grabbed my towel with one hand against the wall, and, without forgetting my headphones—though I didn't really need them—ran into the bathroom.
I turned on the shower, letting me hear the fabulous rhythm of water hitting the floor. Good acoustics, I thought. Maybe it'll work for a melody, I mused, noticing the difference between this hotel bathroom's sound and the one I shared with Maia.
Tired of the shower's noise, and the boring news playing from the TV in the background, I stretched my hand past the blinds, trying to put on some good music to relax. I tapped the screen, and a thunderous sound burst out, making both my body and heart jump.
—I'm watching the TV!—Loba yelled, frustrated.
My head started pounding again, and I dragged my hand to the sink to grab the phone and shut off that annoying noise. By accident, I slipped and, holding onto the blinds, barely avoided crashing to the floor. I steadied myself, held the phone, and set it on the back of the toilet.
I let myself relax, ignoring the mess I had just caused in the bathroom.
A vibration began to hum, followed by a splash, which snapped me out of the trance I'd sunk into under the shower's water.
I moved the blinds and, seeing my phone in the toilet water, jumped to plunge my hand in immediately. More worried about the state of my phone than about disgust, I pulled it out and wrapped it in toilet paper, trying to dry it.
The phone buzzed one last time—a call from Maia—before shutting down.
Desperate, I ran naked out of the shower, reaching my room in just two seconds. I plugged in my hair dryer and blasted the phone with hot air. I tried to turn it on, but it didn't work. This has to be a joke! I cried, shaking the phone in all directions. After a few moments, I gave up.
A knock hit the door, but I didn't react, too busy mourning the loss of my precious phone, the one I had bought back when I first met Maia. The door opened, and quick steps crossed the living room, coming right up behind me—heavy feet pounding on the tile floor.
—What the hell is going on here?—I heard a voice. It was Aisha.
I turned.
—My phone got completely soaked,—I explained sadly.
Loba crossed her arms, judging the scene with a skeptical look.
—I told you not to play music in the bathroom, but you never listen to me,—she said, annoyed, then walked off in the opposite direction.
—And now?—I asked, uneasy.
—You'll need a new phone, but for now you should get dressed—we have to leave in about three hours,—Aisha said, glancing at her watch—. As for everything else...—she looked me over from head to toe, a slight smile slipping out—you'd better get dressed.
---
I got ready, gave myself a glance in the mirror of my room, and ran green lipstick across my lips. A good choice to match one of my heterochromatic green eyes. At that moment, I noticed the star-shaped tattoo on my face, and a memory stirred in my mind, shaking my heart a little.
I grabbed my suitcase, where I kept my instrument, and headed to the living room. There I found Loba, dressed casually in a long prudish skirt and a blouse with no neckline, sitting in front of the television. Aisha came from the kitchen to my left.
—Why are you dressed like that?—she asked, puzzled.
—Ready for the concert, don't you think?—I crossed my arms—What's wrong? My jacket, my pants—or is it the boots?
—You forgot,—Aisha said, frustrated.
—Yeah, she forgot,—Loba added, without taking her eyes off the TV.
It annoyed me to be the only one not in the loop, so I asked:
—Forgot what?
—The performance where we wouldn't wear our clothes until we were on stage,—she replied indignantly. I put my hands on my head as I remembered the plan.
—Leave her be, her memory never works,—Loba said, pointing to her head.
I shot Loba a dirty look, and when she noticed, she turned up the TV volume and changed the channel. A woman named Angelozzi was delivering the news.
"The State forces have discovered the location of a new Zanichist hideout, found empty at the time of inspection by the authorities. It is suspected to have been abandoned only recently. From the offices of internal affairs, experts wonder if this surge of Zanichists is due to rebellious youth..."
Loba switched the channel again. Aisha pulled out her phone and, heading back to the kitchen, answered a call with her earbuds. I went toward my room, looked at myself in the mirror for a moment, and just as I was taking off my jacket, someone knocked at the door, which opened right away. I stepped out of my room to see who it was, finding Nick at the entrance, rushing inside.
—Alright, girls, are you ready to head to the concert?—Nick said, snapping his fingers.
---
—After this concert we'll see each other again, won't we?—Maia asked in an angelic, pleading tone.
My heart leapt with joy. After two weeks apart, I hadn't stopped counting the days until I could be with Maia again. I missed her affection during these days of loneliness, traveling from place to place, from concert to concert.
A sigh from Maia carried through the public phone's receiver, a sound that sweetened my ears, reminding me of her breath in that very moment.
—Yes, I'm already anxious for that to happen,—I said, not hiding what I truly felt—For now, I just need to finish my last concert to return to your arms like a true musician.
—And I'll be here waiting to congratulate you.
—And only that? Or is there something more?—I deepened my tone.
A mischievous laugh echoed from the other side of the line, making me even more excited.
—I won't say anything so I don't ruin the surprise.
—If it's what I'm imagining...—I paused, choking back a sigh in my chest—I'll be delighted to receive everything you've prepared for me.
—*We'll see—*a thud was heard in the background, followed by Maia's reply—Ah, I'm sorry love, I have to take care of something. Too bad I won't be there with you. Kisses.
—See you soon.
I let go of the phone in the booth, lamenting how short the call had been. Still, I pulled myself together right away, knowing it was only a matter of time before we saw each other again. Finally, I'd be able to enjoy Maia after so long. I lifted the receiver again just to hear the end tone of the call.
I waited for the machine to return some coins, watching Aisha and Nick buy bags of chips and sugary drinks for the trip. They both waved at me, and in a hurry, I left the phone behind.
I got into the car, put on my headphones, and played a song to keep me company on the road. Resting my head against the glass, I stared out the window at the passing cars.
Beside me, Loba was sipping a drink while listening to a radio soap opera on her small handheld radio—as always, fitting of a girl addicted to the trashy entertainment our country offered. She had bought it with the money we earned from our first concert, and now she never traveled without it, forcing me to wear headphones.
Meanwhile, Aisha drove in silence while Nick studied a map, cracking bad jokes—I had heard one before—and whispering secrets that made the two of them laugh together. The seat felt comfortable against my back, and I relaxed, enjoying the soft fabric against my skin.
The tinted glass shielded me from the harsh afternoon sun, and the air conditioning lulled me with yawn after yawn until my eyes finally closed. When I opened them again, the sun was already setting.
I looked out the window and saw nothing but thick forest stretching on both sides, with the road ahead seeming endless on the horizon.
The car passed a speed limit sign, which Aisha obeyed. We kept driving until two soldiers appeared ahead, stepping into the middle of the road.
Aisha stopped, her face showing no emotion. The arrogant soldiers approached Nick's window, rifles slung at their sides. One of them gave an order to a younger soldier, who immediately went around the car.
—How many?—the older soldier asked in a rough, phlegm-filled voice.
Nick whispered something in his ear. The man looked at each of us and then ordered Nick out of the car. I turned to Aisha.
—Are we in trouble?
Aisha glanced at me out of the corner of her eye before replying.
—We're not Zanichists.
I sighed, annoyed at the obviousness.
—That's obvious,—I added—but if they find out we're going to a private place where people gather, then this shitty government will arrest us.
—It's the government's own brats who'll be there,—Loba interjected.
Aisha turned toward me.
—That's why you'd better keep your mouth shut.
Bad-tempered as always. With her temperament, it was always hard to talk to her.
Nick returned with a smile on his face, whispered something to Aisha, and the car started moving again.
Curiosity filled me, but there was no time to ask questions—we had arrived. About thirty leagues past the checkpoint, we came across a strange barn that looked abandoned.
I got out of the car, grabbed my suitcase, and went straight to Nick. Shifty-eyed, he was never someone I liked much. His so-called "cool" style of talking, dressing, and moving seemed ridiculous to me. Most of the time, I avoided him for his overpowering cologne—but today he hadn't sprayed any, thankfully, as I came up behind him while he unloaded instruments from the car.
—Nick, what is this place?—I asked, unable to hold back my curiosity.
Without turning, he replied:
—It used to be the Zs' hideout.
—Zs?—I frowned.
—Yeah, Zanichists, Zanis, followers of Zanich, whatever you want to call them,—he said, snapping his fingers—Sometimes I forget you're from the other side of the country. Anyway, when the cops found nothing from those religious fanatics, they abandoned it, hoping they'd come back—but they didn't.
—And since then, the army rents it out for extra cash, on top of what they already rob from us in taxes,—Aisha cut in, giving us a stern look—Alright, enough talk, help out.
We finished unloading what we needed. Aisha parked the car nearby before the place filled up. Nick, Loba, and I entered the barn, leaving behind the cold night air now replaced with the breath of countless people. The floor grew damp, giving way to a spreading fog.
Nick knocked twice, and someone opened the door for us. We walked through the spacious barn, still looking every bit like a barn with piles of hay stacked on the sides and tools scattered across the ground. We reached a door that led to spiraling stairs descending below.
Step by step, we went down, and the deeper we got, the clearer the sounds became—music, chants, the revelry of people. I glanced at Loba, who was still glued to her radio, this time tuned to the news.
—Aren't you going to take off that prude skirt?—I teased, trying to lighten the growing nervousness gnawing at me.
—You won't get to me.
That was all she dared to say. We reached another door, the source of the music, chants, screams, and movement.
Our guide unlocked it, and we entered, greeted by a blur of colors illuminating a space where sweaty, ecstatic bodies swayed as if spellbound by the music.
The air was thick with breath and the stench of beer soaking every corner. We passed the stage where a band was playing for those spoiled, intoxicated youths.
We slipped into one of the many bathrooms. I fixed my hair in the mirror, applied black eyeliner, and admired my outfit.
Loba changed quickly—though she had ditched the prudish skirt, her new clothes weren't much different, just showing more of her legs. Still, together we matched the punk-metal look we were trying to pull off.
—Hey, when's our turn?—I asked as we stepped out, a girl dashing past us and stirring the air.
—Once they call us, we'll go up,—Loba glanced at me, a grin forming—If you're nervous, it's a good idea to mix in with the crowd.
I nodded, wandered around the spacious place, and eventually pressed my back to a wall in a corner, feeling out of place.
A throbbing pain flared in my head, blurring and distorting my vision until I was forced to close my eyes. Was it the migraine? No—the earlier pain had been hellish, like my skull was being battered from within.
This one centered on my face and forehead, stabbing my eyes with sharp pricks. I clung to the wall. No—I couldn't let myself collapse here.
I steadied myself, opened my eyes, and saw a strange green hue seeping through the air, swirling until it reached two tall men. They stared at me with such hatred I thought my life was in danger.
Suddenly, their eyes took on the same color flooding the place, unnoticed by anyone else. Was there some kind of drug in the air? I wondered. Or maybe it was last night's pill? I wasn't sure.
Two guys approached me and started talking.
—Something wrong, gorgeous?—they asked, chuckling drunkenly. Dizzy, I tried to move away, but they followed. One grabbed my arm, the other slid a hand around my waist, touching me inappropriately—triggering memories that weren't mine.
I was on a bed, strapped down with leather restraints, gloved hands gripping my waist. In the darkness, another figure in a white coat pulled a lever.
I snapped back to reality, whimpering in terror, disgust in my mouth. My skin bristled as the men clung to me—one behind, the other at my side. Overwhelmed, I managed only a weak punch to one's stomach.
Screams broke out. The music stopped. The air filled with panic. I staggered toward the door, shoving it open. My mind was so clouded I didn't realize when I stumbled upstairs.
I wanted to move, to escape, but my legs failed me. Crawling out, I leaned against a haystack—then flames suddenly ignited, devouring the hay and spreading through the barn.
I burst outside and saw a green flame glowing with shifting colors. Inside it, a sphere took form, slowly shaping into a skeletal figure.
My chest sank, strangled by terror. With every step, the figure gained flesh and muscle. It looked at me—it was coming for me. I didn't know why, but in its empty sockets I felt unseen eyes probing the deepest parts of my soul, places no one should ever reach.
A wail shattered my eardrums, making me tremble. Then came two voices, three, four—until they became countless, crying, begging, lamenting, pleading, before falling silent. Then they merged into one, chanting the same phrase.
—I've found you,—the skeletal specter said.
Hands pressed against my back, helping me up. I turned—and saw a person engulfed in flames. They grabbed my head and shouted words at me.
—Selfish!
I struck the flaming figure, knocking it to the ground. Climbing on top, I hammered its head until I had no strength left.
Lifting my gaze, I saw more flaming figures. With a single motion of my arms, I hurled them away, their fire snuffed out. Burning vehicles arrived, and I did the same—lifting them before they crashed into the ground.
The skeleton was now a decrepit man, incomplete in his transformation. The flames consumed him, scattering him into the wind.
I closed my eyes. When I opened them, my arms and clothes were soaked in blood.
The previous haze lifted, and my senses returned. A broken siren wailed nearby, flickering weak blue and red lights.
When the lights swept over the scene, all I saw were charred corpses scattered across the ground. At my side lay a body with its head completely destroyed, unrecognizable to anyone.
Suddenly, my eyes caught the girl's hand—clutching a phone with its screen still on, displaying a photo. It was Loba... My hands were covered in blood...
Stunned, I saw two dark silhouettes approaching.
—Stop right there!—one of them shouted, quickening their pace.
Abandoned by my mind, the only thing I could do when I realized they were after me was run.