LUSIO And The Hidden Emperor

10. The Cursed Lake

Lusio was not ready to hear that. He was shocked badly. "But why did not you do anything? Why didn't you stop him?"
-"You think that I didn't try??" (Halfly turning to Lusio)
-"Then??"
-"This is an another story"
-"Tell me...Explain it.."
Ronan take one sip of beer from the wood bottle kept on the table and started telling another story behind this A.R.
-"Almost 25 years ago there, in Manchester, lived a young businessman named Arthur Argius Ronan. He was a very talented young spiritful boy. He also had his love of life, Maria. She was a very pretty soulful supporting sweet girl who loved my son more than her own life. Arthur did not love less also. Everything was going just fine. Ordinary life. But one day changed everything.

He set for Lordstone city in scottland beside the famous lake Lordstone. Everyone says that the lake is cursed so nobody take their boats on the lake. Everyone chooses the long path by road to Lordstone. But Arthur did not believe on this type of things. He did not listen to anyone. He rented a boat and secretly took it to the lake in the evening. He thought he will reach Lordstone by dawn. But his boat somehow sank into the water.

The next day in the evening a group of boys found his body dead at the bank of the lake. Nobody knew him there. They take his body to nearby hospital. Hospital authorities kept his body in the morgue for that night.

At midnight, in the silent almost dark morgue, one deadbody began to move slowly. You know whose. One heart began to beat again. It looked like he got some energy within himself. He opened his eyes and got confused. He said to himsef where he was exactly. After a moment of observing surroundings he realiezed the place was definately a hospital. He had no clothes on his body. He slowly got outside from the morgue room. And proceeded to the corrydoor. Everything was very calm and silent. He was hiding behind a wall. A nurse just passed by in sleepy mood. He saw his long coat in the dustbin kept just beside the reception office. He sprinted to it, grabbed his coat and ran out of the hospital. He was just wearing the coat. He slept for the night in a phonebooth. In the early morning an unknown man drove him away from the booth. He could not come in front of people because he did not wear anything.

He acted like a beggar. Someone gave him 2 coins. He immidiately went to the phonebooth back and gave a call to Maria.
Maria took up the call and Arthur spoke up with tilted voice,"He-He-hellow... M-Maria"
-"OH MY GOD... Arthur...!!! Where are you... Do you even imagine how much I was scared?? You did not call me for 2 days honey..!! I was so tensed about you. And why are you calling from a booth?? What happened to your phone?? Are all right baby?"
-"Listen Maria.. I am fine now... But I dont know how long I will be. I need your help. I dont have enough time to explain things to you right now. I just need you to come to Lordstone and find me. I have no idea exactly where I am. I dont have any money. Plzzz Maria come here and rescue me.
-"Ok ok honey... Dont worry. I am coming. I cant let anything happen to you. You just hold on... I am...."

The call had been over. Arthur came out and ran to a park and hid himself. He found something in his coat's pocket. He took it out. It was nothing but the A LOCKET. That bloody locket. He was moved by the beauty of the locket. It was too pretty. He continuously gazed at the locket for a long moment. It was just hypnotizing him. He was just staring at the locket all day long and felt some strange changes in him. I think he had been able to gain his life back for the touch of this locket. Arthur wore the locket as a necklace.

Arthur fell asleep in the park behind brushwoods. He saw some people gathered arround him and were shouting together,"You are the lord, you are the god". The sound of their shouting was increasing contiuously. He was feeling great, like ge was the King of the Earth. He is the greatest. Their voices became too louder to bear. Now he was yelling,"Stop it...STOOOOPPPP IT!!" but it got louder and louder. Suddenly he woke up. He realised that it was a dream. There was a evil smile on his face and murmured. That feels good.

However, next day Maria reached Lordstone and got herself a hotel. The hotel manager was moved by her charm. He tried to flirt with her. He offered her a coffee date but she resisted calmly. She informed that she was engaged and she added that her fiance is in trouble here. She came to find him. The manager promised her that he will help her to find him as he knew all about Lordstone. "I would consider me the luckiest person if I could get her hand for just one coffee..." the manager insisted. Maria could not turn him down as he behaved like a true gentlman. She agreed for just one coffee then he will help her. They went to a cafe in the afternoon and booked a table beside the glass window.

But unfortunately Arthur was watching them from outside. Normal Arthur never doubted on her. He trust her more than himself. But he was not the same that time. He heard some noises in his brain, "You are god. You are the greates. This filthy lady betrayed you. Look how she is smiling and enjoying his company..." "No no no... thats not the truth. He must be a friend of her." Arthur resisted himself. "No.. you are being fooled Arthur. You are the greatest. This lady doesnt deserve you". Arthur was totally being controlled by an another power. THAT SHITTY LOCKET!!.

Maria and the manager, Jacob came outside Arthur proceeded in front of them. Maria became overwhelmed with happyness. "Arthur" She exclaimed in joy and hugged him adding,"I missed you honey. Never go somewhere leaving me. Take me with you whatever you go from now...". She could not finish her words. Arthur threw her back. "Arthur!!!!" Now she exclaimed with confusion. "What happened to you?" Maria asked. "I am fine. And you are looking fine too with him. Got yourself a new moneymaker huh?" Arthur replied.
-"What are you saying Arthur. Nothing is like that. Don't you trust me?"
-"Yeah I did and you used that well."

Maria was word stuck and could say nothing. She began to sob. "Yes yes.. Now crying srying and all. Go and enjoy yourself with this lad." Arthur started walking away. Maria went to him and put a bundle of dolars in his pocket saying,"It is yours Arthur. What ever you say I dont care. I just know that I love you. And take this with you. You will need this." Maria wiped her tears and walked away. The manager was about to say something but Maria did not listen.

Arthur's heart was seeking to hug her tight and kiss her at once. But something resisted him continuously. He turned his head back and walked away."

Lusio interrupted,"Hey Mr. Ronan .. But why people consider the lake as Cursed??"
-"Because according to some legends the lake was created by a fallen meteor. And everybody thinks that meteor was full of dark powers. When the meteor fell to that place there were no lives took place for years. Even till now there is neither a fish nor any watery organism at the Lake's water is alive"
-"That meteor comtained the Locket I guess. -"Yes Lusio yes... You got it right. This is why everybody's opinion is absolutely right about the lake that the lake is cursed."
-"But till now it is like just a typical love story. What is about his Godlike attitude, creating a world and all that shit?"
-"Hmmm... The journey from this point was terrible. It all hapened with a twist in story".....

to be continued....