I rushed into the house through the backdoor and slammed the door. While I was trying to catch my breath, my eyes met Malva's. He was sipping a drink and munching some snacks which I can't seem to remember exactly what.
With that nervous energy, all I could mutter was, "they're back, Malva! I swear". I collapsed into the sofa beside him, still struggling to catch my breath.
There was silence but for the loud munching and scraping of the snack bowl. I turned to look at him. That boy notorious for anything but quietness was just taking glances at me, soaked in indifference as if he had not heard me speak.
So, I spoke in a low rumble amidst my gasps, hoping he had not heard me well earlier.
"Malva, I saw them!"
"What?" He finally spoke.
"I saw them bite that cobbler down the street". I pointed nowhere in particular.
"Oh, your flies? Guy, you need a new hobby. Chasing hallucinating flies? That's some top-notch talk-to-a-therapist material, if you ask me". Malva said dryly and continued munching.
I turned to look at him. How could he be so calm about this? Also, what did he mean by "your flies"?
Yes, I may have mentioned seeing those flies a few times but Malva hadn't. To him, I wasn't different from the rest of the superstitious villagers.
I couldn't keep this part as a thought so I blurted out. "Are the missing people a fiction of my imagination too?" My jaw tightened.
He exhaled dramatically before calling my name.
"Daucus". He paused, probably hoping for a reply but I was there, feigning anger. He needed to know this was serious.
"Chill. I can't deny that part but this whole narrative of flies carrying humans does not sell well to me. Next, we would speak of trees twerking in the evenings". He tried to laugh at his joke but quickly changed his mind when he noticed my reaction. He wasn't taking me seriously. He knew I knew he wasn't.
I just sat there. I was getting angry, for real this time.
So he continued, giving me this familiar mischievous look.
"I get it. You miss home, you miss… everything. But your obsession with flies is getting a little too much. It's Norksville, bro. We have flies. They buzz everywhere…"He moved his hand in demonstration. "They might even land on your face. End of story." He landed his hand on my cheeks playfully and smiled.
I was tempted to smile too but I was not joking.
"They are not just flies, Malva! You saw what happened to Mom, didn't you? The way she... changed? The way she kept muttering those strange things before she… before she vanished?" My voice dropped to a near whisper. It felt like I peeled open a healing wound.
I fiddled with my dark hair for a bit; a habit I picked up from our dad. Well, he was now just another ghost in our rapidly shrinking world.
Malva's playful demeanor faltered, replaced by an icy look. It could read in capital letters, "I'VE HAD ENOUGH!"
"She was sick, Daucus. The doctors said so. A rare… something. And the things she said were just…I don't know. Fever dreams, maybe." He stuttered.
"And her disappearance?" I cut in.
"What? Uncle Coeus said that she was taken to the city for treatment".
"That's the official story". I spoke under my breath. I was not sure he heard me.
"Why would her brother lie about something like that? You can't easily play with my mind". He kept rambling.
I stared, a silent accusation lodging in my eyes. I couldn't seem to hear him anymore. I was drowned in my thoughts.
The whole thing came back to me like flashes. The growing desperation in her eyes, the way her skin became nearly translucent towards the end and the small, dark bites that had appeared on her arms. Those bites looked eerily similar to the ones I saw on that cobbler down the street.
"Okay". His change in pitch of his voice jolted me out of my reverie.
There was an awkward silence for a while. All of a sudden, like one possessed by a strong evil spirit, he spoke. "If that makes you sleep well at night…" He tossed the drink pack and the snacks bowl aside, stood up and made for the door. "I'll go and see for myself".
I recall rushing to grab him by the hand. "Are you out of your senses?" I said, pointing a finger to my head while trying not to shout.
Well, that was Malva. He'd rather face a beast head-on than meet it in the dark. But at that moment I didn't need his Goliath-facing boldness. No one was sure about anything.
We were at it when Chloe peeped at the living room as she came down the stairs. There was a guy behind her, carrying a rather light backpack. Before I could identify who he was, she had asked what was wrong.
I didn't reply. Neither did Malva.
As she came further down the stairs, I was able to see the guy better. I knew him.
"I didn't know you had study discussions on Sunday evenings now". I commented without mirth.
The guy wanted to say something but she interrupted him. "Yes, I do". She replied with a dismissive tone and continued. "Why were you arguing?"
"We weren't. Just siblings' gist". Malva replied.
"Tough love. Must be nice." She spoke casually again and left with the guy.
He gave me this smirk as they left. He didn't like me. Well, the feeling was mutual. Chloe had mentioned his name severally but I didn't know it by heart. I was not perfect but I had always known that guy wasn't good for her or even anyone. Don't worry.You'll find out why soon enough.
The conversation was exhausting anyway. So, I went to the room Malva and I were staying in. I tried to sleep but I kept seeing the cobbler's face and those silver-winged flies.
I had sneaked out of the house to our old home just to relieve memories and to look for that letter. It was on my way back that I saw the flies on the cobbler. Maybe I was delusional. Maybe not.
Later that evening, Aunty Leah returned home and told me to get some groceries from the neighborhood store. She could have gotten them on her way home but she didn't.
Even though I was scared to go, I didn't want to make it a big deal. Uncle Coeus must not hear of it. The chores seemed to have been a source of their arguments since we moved in.
I told Malva to come with me but he was busy with his video games as usual.
If I had resisted the chore, talking about the flies, it would have been termed a mere excuse. The only person that acted like he believed me was Uncle Coeus who later suggested seeing a grief counsellor.
I left the house that evening, reciting the Lord's prayer with strong emphasis on "deliver us from evil" as we had been taught in Aunt Leah's church, the few times we went with her.
I ran for a bit. Walked briskly for a bit and somehow did both at some point. I decided not to pass through the route that led to the cobbler's shop but the other route was more lonely and bushy. So, I turned back.
I saw from afar that his shop was still open. I stopped running. I began to walk quietly, still muttering the prayers.
He was in front of his shop. He sat still with his face bent as if he was checking his laps. As I reached the front of his shop, he looked up to see me. My heart skipped a beat or two, I think.
I wanted to greet him and continue my long walk but it seemed like I had swallowed my tongue. He whispered something but not to me. That was it! I turned back home and ran as fast as my legs could take me.
I slowed down when I got close to the house. I exhaled a few times to calm myself down before entering the house. I lied to Aunt Leah that the store was closed. I made sure to be as calm as I could while speaking. I also hoped for all our sakes that she wouldn't seek to confirm.
"That's fine. I made dinner already. I needed it for tomorrow". She blurted out without much care and continued to set the table for dinner.
"So, I didn't have to face that". I thought almost aloud.
*******
As I walked, I began to hear indistinct whispers but I couldn't see anyone.
Then, I called out quietly at first before raising my voice.
"Hello".
Only the echo of my voice replied me but for the indistinct whispers.
After a while, there was a low somewhat distant growl which echoed.
The echo made it difficult for me to quickly place where the growl came from.
All of a sudden, I spotted the creature. If whatever I knew was of any use, it looked four-dimensional or more. I couldn't really say.
My heart betrayed my courage and began to beat fast.
Just then, a familiar female voice whispered from behind me.
"This is Wrathork".
I turned to confirm my instincts.
I was yet to utter a word when the creature growled again. It was louder this time.
The woman exclaimed and dragged me by the hand.
"Dauc, we need to run!"