The Small Tales

Candle

They say that candles symbolizes life, when the fire lits on the candle, the fire dances as it was happy that the candle was lit, just like how happy we were when the lights turn back on from that long four-day blackout. When the fire extinguishes itself, sadness, loathe, darkness and despair cloaks the entirety. Making you vulnerable to everything, harmless like a baby mice in-front of an enormous snake.

I was one of the groomsmen of my sister's wedding. When my cousin and her husband lit the candles, the candles immediately extinguished itself. Of course the weather is cold and windy, but the candles wont lit until few 15 matches. I thought it was just the candle's string was covered with wax so I remained ignorant.

When I came back home with my grandma from the wedding reception, all I had thought that how delicious their food was and I cant stop thinking about the lasagna that I kept going back in line for it! My grandma went upstairs to get changed and I jumped to my couch, watched some of boring TV shows while staring down at my phone. When my grandma went down and sat on the same couch, she told me "I forgot to tell her...". Oh lord, this is one of her bullshit again. "Tell me what is it?" I said. What she replied really gave me some chills because of her worried expression... No, she was afraid.

"Back at the church... The candles didn't lit immediately." She said. I sighed and I was ready to hear her bullshit again. "Candles symbolizes the life and death. It also represents Joy and sandness. When that candle is not easily lit by a single matchstick... Not to mention in front of the altar, something bad will happen." She added her statement. I went upstairs and I didn't heed her words, I fell to deep sleep.

At midnight, I heard someone banging on the door, I was grumpy at that time because someone disturbed my sleep. I tried to sleep again, tried my best to ignore such noises. The banging sound began to intense then I heard a mumbling sound and inaudible cries yearning for help. It was a voice of someone I'm familiar of... I rushed downstairs and heads to the entrance door, as I opened it... I lost my voice, I couldn't speak a thing, I couldn't think rationally... For what I saw in front me was my sister with her wedding dress covered with blood stains.

My sister cried and hugged me tightly while I stood still. "Thank goodness... You're alright..." She sobbed on my shoulder rubbing her face. "What happened...? What happened back there, At the reception?" I asked as I held my held her on her shoulders, I was shaking, panicked. "They... They... Slaughtered themselves..."

What she told me got me in an utter shock, I grabbed my car keys and drove my way there to the reception to see the entire situation for myself. I also let my sister come along with me. I couldnt say that I'm determined to see such dreadful event in front of my very own eyes, and I didn't want to go there unarmed too so I went with my revolver and my wooden katana or bokuto at the trunk of my car.

We have reached our destination, everything was silent, the lamp post's lights were flickering. I bought my gun along with me and also my wooden sword, which it made me question why I brought my weapons along with me, good grief.

Everything was silent and still, I finally arrived on the reception venue by foot this time. I entered, and right in my eyes was a dreadful sight of walls covered in blood and guts. It seems like Im inside the slaughterhouse. I wonder what really happened. My sister and I walked on the corridors, she gripped my wrist and I can feel her shaking. We checked every room until I have found a camera in the room 549. The camera is still intact, I wiped off the screen part from blood stains and went to check the photos. The only thing I've found is the pictures during and after the wedding. We scanned the room once more and found a smartphone on the floor. Of course it was covered in blood too.

When I checked its gallery, there were no photos and any other videos than the ominous one with its title in random numbers and symbols such as "09432¶∆\℅_72". I played the video in the smart phone, it was recorded after I went home.

In the video, someone screamed "oh my god!" "The candle, Maggie! Light the candle..!" Then the owner of the phone rushed in the room where we were standing. As the owner of the phone enters the room, the video went static.

Something fell nearby, which it made my sister scared and crying. I heard footsteps drawing near to the room we were in... She cowers in fear yet I pointed my gun on the door. As it opens, I only saw my sister's husband, of course he was blood soaked too. My sister went to him, hugged and cried in his arms, which it made me to relief. I didnt asked what happened in the reception... But I must prioritize the newly wed couple for now then ask questions tomorrow or sooner. We went outside, my sister and her husband went to their vehicle... And I went home...

I could say that was the last time I saw them... Because, at the morning... I've watched the TV in my living room with my grandma eating her bread. The news broadcasted about the car crash on the cliffs with two couples in their wedding dress inside... Their faces were deformed... But their clothes are that familiar. I couldn't believe it afterwards... When the news reporter was about to say the identity of the couples... The television went static.

"I forgot to... Warn them..."

I turned my gaze to my grandma... Then I discovered... That she wasn't there anymore.