Deemotay

Chapter 5

KETLIN

As soon as I reached school the girls started begging me to come to a party that was going to take place somewhere almost in the middle of a forest, near our town. For a few days nothing strange hadn't happened. And even if I was still scared, they managed to make me agree.

The party was taking place already the next day. It had been planned a long time ago already but just yesterday they decided to go. Janely was going to pick me up tomorrow after school. At least they gave me time to go home first.

At the time when they were wondering, which boys are coming, I remembered something. Kairi had been in a coma for four days. I remember someone mentioning her waking.

"Hey, does anyone know something about Kairi?" I asked.

"She woke up yesterday morning. Fully gained her consciousness," said Annika.

"Did she say what happened?"

"She said she saw someone sitting in the woods. She went to ask if they need help. Then the person had ran away. Kairi said she had suddenly felt as someone grabbed her neck. Last thing she remembered was an odd queasiness, before waking up in the hospital. The doctor said she has to rest. No fingerprints were found from her neck and they think she has contusion," said Gerda, sounding like she didn't believe it herself.

"Didn't Kairi see who it was?"

"No, she didn't even know if it was a boy or a girl."

Being sure was even worse than just knowing. This was a deemotay.

I was surprised seeing granny when I got home. When I stepped inside, mum was just about to go to the mart. So we were alone.

"Ketlin, can you come here?"

I sat next to granny.

"I did come here for a reason," she said, searching for something in her bag. Then she put a small silver box on the table. It reminded me a tiny suitcase. "Last time I told you I was searching someone who can take down a deemotay. I did find someone, but he could only give me this, not do anything himself." She opened the box. It's content scared me a bit. There were several small plastic bags with dark gray powder. This was the main thing in there. But there were also three sharp stakes, made out of the same stone.

Granny took out one of the bags. "This powder is from the same stone that is inside your necklace. If you throw this at deemotay they are incapable of attacking or taking your energy. You can only use it for self defence, not to kill them. I want you to keep some with you."

Then she picked out a stake. It really reminded me vampires. "I understand if you don't want this. But this is the easiest way of killing a deemotay. Stake through their heart or in their brain. Recommended in the heart, because their skull might be too strong. If you attack any other body part, it will make them weaker for a while, but they will heal. You don't have to carry it with you. I'm still looking for someone who has some experience."

I stared at the stake. Not long ago I would have never expected something like this from my granny. But would I be able to use something like this to kill? Even if it was a deemotay?

Granny put the stake back and closed the box. She told me to hide it, so no one could find it. I took it to my room and put it in the back of my drawer, under my other stuff.

Later when I packed my things for school next day, I took out some bags of that powder. I put them ready for the party. One of them I put into my schoolbag.

At school everyone were excited about the party. They still tried to invite the last people.

At the second recess I and my friends were standing near the lockers, talking about the party. Sara was the one most excited.

"I heard that Markus is coming. I really hope to see him there. Last night we went out together. He's just soo sweet!"

"Hey, did anybody invite him?" We all looked where Annika was looking. It was Adam, who approached to his locker.

"Someone tried but he refused," said Eva.

"Maybe he'll change his mind." All of us understood what she meant by that and followed Annika. And so did I.

"Hey Adam." Annika used her sweet voice. But it took a few seconds till she got Adam's attention. Then she continued: "I heard that you had refused before, but... Maybe you'll change your mind and still come to the party? With us, maybe?"

Adam shut his locker. "No, thank you. I've got some things to settle out."

Even though she actually already knew the answer, she looked disappointed.

"But... If you'll change your mind you know, where it is, right? Or I could..."

"I know, and I won't come. Sorry."

Even more disappointed, Annika tried to smile and turned away. And we followed her again. But as I passed Adam, the back of my fingers accidentally touched Adam's hand. I noticed his hand flinch.

At home I first searched through the kitchen to find something to eat. And then I just sat and waited for Janely. No special clothes were necessary, as the party took place practically in the woods. They said it was dry and the weather was also nice and sunny. Party was going to last till the midnight or maybe even more. But I wasn't yet sure, how long will I stay.

Without noticing, I started playing with my necklace, rolling it between my fingers. Then I stood up and took out the box that granny gave me. As I opened it, for a long moment I just stared inside it. But then I grabbed one of the stakes. It wasn't very heavy. I looked at it's tip. Again, for some time I just stared at it. It was really sharp. Would I use it? After a long thought I just decided to take it with me and put it into my bag. Then I hided the box again.

A while later Janely arrived. Others were also in the car. We drove away from the town, then turned to some trail between the woods. Soon I started noticing other cars and people. Janely parked her car and we stepped out.

I saw many people, starting from the ninth grade. But even more were there those, who I saw the first time in my life. Our gang got separated fast. Last one who I was with, was Sara. We walked together, trying to find Markus.

"Do you think he came? Maybe he didn't." Sara got worried easily.

"I'm sure he did. And if not yet, he'll come."

After wandering around much we finally saw him, talking with his friends. And when Sara ran towards him, I was alone. Parties aren't really my thing and I started to think, why did I let them talk me into this. But I still tried to spend time with people I didn't even know, tried different drinks, even though I don't like alcohol, etc.

Later I started searching for Sara, as other girls were all gone somewhere with their - old or new - boyfriends. I wanted to ask when they will leave and with who will I get home. But I didn't find her anywhere. I did see Markus. I asked him about Sara, but he said he hadn't seen her in a while. Last time she had went to the woods cause she felt bad. Markus showed me the way.

I wandered around, calling her name and I got worried. Maybe she went back? But then I heard something. I followed the sound. It sounded like leaves and cracking branches, as someone had been walking. Soon I saw someone standing between the trees. When I went closer, I could tell it was Sara. But I got confused when I noticed that she wasn't alone.

Seeing someone keeping her company was not what confused me.

The way they were confused me.

And when I was close enough to see, my heart almost stopped beating.

Sara had almost lost her consciousness, hardly holding her head straight, eyes closed. Behind her was a blond girl, who I'm sure I hadn't seen at school or even at the party. When she saw me, she sent me an evil smile and let go of Sara, who fell down, now fully unconscious.

"And the next one's here already," she said, coming closer.