The Unforgiven Chain (On Hold)

The House

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."

― Søren Kierkegaard

"Are ya new in town Miss?" The uber-driver's question brought her back from the storm going on inside her head.

"Something like that. I am moving back to town after years away." She forced her best social smile. She was tired and hungry and not in the mood for small talk. Even if Tadeu or Teodore or whatever his name is, was a very handsome uber driver.

" Welcome back to Mount Khont Miss." He flashed the whitest smile to the red head through the review mirror.

Life is so unfair. She thought, any other day, she would be very far down the flirt road. She glanced at her cell phone.

"Thank you Thomás. The town has changed a lot since last time I was here. It is bigger than I remember." This time her smile wasn't a forced one.

"Yeah, but I can tell' ya, Meilin Caffe is the same as old" he winked to her. She remembers the place, and the few 'after-school milkshake's she would take on Fridays. The memory was happy one and yet it was on the top of her Must Forget About List.

" Do they still serve the Alas Shake?"

Thomás laughed freely. "Hell yes. And yes, the Alas Karask legend is still the main touristic attraction around."

"I don't understand why people are so obsessed about it... It's bizarre. "

shaking her head in disapproval. Every November the town would be the main stage of the Alas Karask Festival. And every year people would die at said "festival" and every year no one would be found guilty."I wish I could have an option, but looks like I'll be attending the Alas Karask Feast this year."

"Ya didn't hear ? "the driver looked excited to her."It has been 2 years without any Chains Incidents " he air quote the last part.

Chains Incidents, that is how the town referred to the victims of their local legend.

" I think he finally ran out of those dam chain links." She couldn't hold her laugh and Thomas was charmed by the sound of it.." There, I knew your laugh would be worth my best joke."

"Oh gods, if that was your best joke, I sure as hell wanna hear the bad ones!"

She talked while jumping to the passenger side." I am Camilla. But friends call me Mila." she had an extended hand to the surprised driver." Nice to meet ya!"

The rest of the ride was all about bad jokes, and some very non-subtle flirts. Unfortunately, Thomas was engaged and even if he was good looking, fun and sweet, she was not desperate. At least they clicked so well that she knew a friendship would be born from this. Camila always had this happy aura around her, making friends and being the party soul was natural to her. Thomas was charmed by her funny laughter, she would snort and curse. Her petit frame shaking on the passenger seat. He knew his fiancé would love her, and decided to make the connection happen.

"We are he..."He stopped mid-sentence, recognizing the house they had stopped." Holy mother of all shits. You are Her!" And right there her mood died and she decided to throw the friendship card through the window." You are Camilla Bright!"

"Wilson! My name is Camilla Wilson!"

She opened the door and moved to grab her things. She risked a glance to the house. It was different from what it looks like in hers nightmares. The two stores small houses had aged well. ' Thank you Ol'man '. She knew her Father would come by once a year to keep the house from falling apart. At the time, she never understood why. They both hated this place and its meaning. 'We never truly know where we are in this river called Life, this is the only thing you have in your name. Not now, but maybe in the future, you may find a good destiny for it.' His words echoed in her head and heart. Back then she thought he was doing it in the hopes the house would gain value with time. Lake houses have always a good investment. But no, not hers, not in this town. In this town, a lake house was never a good investment. 'Thank's to you stupid water demon'.

"Mila, I... I'm truly sorry, I didn't mean to upset you..."Thomas was feeling terrible. His mother always told him to keep his big mouth shut and now he really felt bad. He was a teenager when the Bright family scandal overcame even the first Chain Incident that year. He looked at the woman that at that moment was leaning in his car.She was mesmerizing. Nothing like the child that he saw on the news. No, she was the definition of Woman. And her eyes, one as blue as the summer sky and another as green as an absinthe glass . He knew and she had made it very clear to him, that he didn't have any chance to be more than friends. And he didn't mind, of course, he got sad about the fact that he would not have the opportunity to know if it's true what they say about RedHeads, but, she was something else. He liked her the moment he saw her at the designated pick-up point." I will not say I know what is like. Cause I Don't. I... I just couldn't stop myself. I mean.... Come on... You are kinda a celebrity aroun' here...- She shot him a look that made clear he was making it worse." And...and.. and...... Nevermind the why's ... I didn't mean it in a bad way.... I guess... I am just as bizarre as the folk who come to town just to witness the Karask killings..."

She looked at the man desperately trying to apologize. She knew it would happen, sooner or latter, someone would recognize her. She just hoped for the latter."Celebrity huh?" she raised an inquisitive brow. The man answered with a vigorous positive head shaking " Do you think they would give me free Milkshakes at Meilin's?"

"Nah... But your next one is on me."

"Just one?"she crossed her arms " You see, from my point of view, it is supposed to be a Welcome to Town Milkshake, a ' I am sorry for all the terrible jokes' Milkshake and a ' I am a Jerk' Milkshake...." she was counting on her fingers and trying hard not to laugh.

He looked at Mila's mischievous face and smiled. " Ok... ok.. An entire course meal."She smiled from ear to ear victorious " But don't let the fame go up to your head..... it's October... Mr. Alas will be offended if you still his spotlight." He pointed to the river on the backside of the house.

"Deal! "She jumped laughing. " Tomorrow... you me and your Fiancé."

" Fine by me! Come, let me help with ya baggage!"

Standing alone in the middle of the living room, she looked around .Old white sheets were protecting the furniture from dust, the wooden floor needed some repairs. From here the kitchen looked the same, very impersonal. She hated it. She hated it before and still hates it now. The lights were working just fine. She walked to the stairs carefully and tested its steps. They were ... OK... a little noise but, OK. A small hall leading to 3 doors. She opened the first one. It was empty. No Furniture around.... Just dust. The second door had her shaking. It was a child's room. A crib under the window, blue wallpapers with dogs flying airplanes, some baby's toys around the floor, a broken dresser lying around with its drawers scattered all over the room , blood on the ceiling. She closed the door fast and ran. She found the back door and while fumbling with the handle, she heard a baby's cry. " No!" her scream was loud. "Fuck You!" she kicked the door and ran as fast as she could, collapsing at the river's shore.

"Breath in... Breath out. It's ok. I've got you. You are safe. Breath in... Breath out". Her father's voice reminded her of what she needed to do. She almost felt his hands on her back, soothing her, saving her, protecting her. Almost.

"I miss you Ol'man!" she cried, shamelessly, for the first time in years. It was a month since he passed away, and back then she didn't cry, she promised him she would not." I miss you and it hurts so fucking bad!" She was crying, for her Dad, for herself, for her memories. It took her a eternity to calm down just enough to stop the sobbing and stand up. "It is all in my head." She assured herself, she looked back to the house. Lost in her own soul. She was back to hell, and she was back for good. "Come on Milla! You got this! Put yourself together. It's just a house." But she couldn't move, her body was shaking, her heart breaking all the speed records, her vision blurry.

She was so focused on suppressing her fears, that she didn't notice that she wasn't entirely alone in the abandoned garden.

"Are you alright Milla?"