The Shape of Goats

Party

What was he going to do now?

What?

Noah walked, retracing his footsteps back to where he came from. And before he knew it, it was already dusk. And then night.

***

Dry leaves creaked as the girls danced graciously around the bonfire, fuelling its size and intensity. Their naked bodies would egregiously approach the greedy flames before spreading away into safety. They danced and danced alongside the charcoal ravens flying above. Then insects and larvae joined. In circles, they would move and cry their voices out, as their bodies would start to weaken and weaken. But there would be no stopping. Not that night.

Charon sat on top of a tree chewing a burnt goat thigh and enjoying the show. When she finished her meal, she clapped and whistled. But they kept dancing around the blood red fire, unable to stop.

She smiled pleased.

***

Noah walked past Walt a long time ago. The café was closed. Of course it was, no cafés are open at one o'clock at night. He considered the option of waiting there until morning. Maybe Lincoln could help him.

No, he couldn't. Nobody could. Noah had tried so hard to speak to someone, and yet nobody did anything. Physical contact failed every time. Every single time.

Noah walked past Frans's house too. He stopped and knocked. Nobody responded.

He slammed his fists on the door. Nobody responded.

How could they? There was no sound.

Now, he was inside the cemetery, pondering whether or not he should visit Barbara.

***

Charon walked holding a roasted raven drumstick. Burnt leaves and goat skin on the ground caressing her feet at each step.

Charon glanced back at the dancing animals. That show would never get boring, unlike some others. She took out a gold key from her pocket. It was time to change the game she had started long time ago with her name. It was a joy to watch what people did after losing their bodies, but it was becoming repetitive. It was time to change things up.

In the distance, at the gate, she saw him enter. His face was bright. Humans would have called him unhealthy and pale, but to her, his colours looked gorgeous. He didn't look sad. He didn't look at loss. He was angry.

She smiled when their eyes met.

***

Noah raised one of his eyebrows as he saw a small figure approaching him. It was a kid, a young girl holding something. He shivered as he took several steps back. What was a kid doing in a cemetery at that time?

She stopped right in front of him. Indeed, she was small: about half of his size. She had deep black hair that touched the ground, and was wearing a jacket made with black fur. One hand was holding a drumstick, the other one was holding a golden key.

Noah held his breath, as if that could make him invisible.

"I can see you."

Quiet. If only he kept being quiet...

She passed him the meat.

"You don't need to eat, but you can."

So Noah ate it. He wasn't hungry, but he ate it anyways. He tore all the meat away, until there was just a bone left. The girl smiled content, and then gave him a glass filled with a red liquid. It had a strong aroma of berries. Without questioning where she got the glass from, he slurped it in one go.

He cringed as the liquid rinsed his insides. It tasted sour with a hint of sweetness and a metallic flavour.

"I am Charon, creator of the body losing game." Her eyes sparkled with pride. "How did you like the game?"

Noah was at a loss of words. Not that he had any in the first place.

Frustration. It was just a game apparently; there was no need to take it seriously. He had only lost his body and life in this game. He grimaced as he held his tears and fists back. Did he deserve that destiny?

"Don't make that face," she chuckled, "I have given you the chance to do something meaningful. If this had never happened, you would have carried on with your monotone life, with no excitement and glory. Some people aren't born to improve the world my dear Noah." Charon handed him the golden key. "Some people are just born to have fun and challenge destiny. Do you like your destiny, your life?"

There were many things Noah enjoyed doing: like going to Walt and... the park? His breathing was regular, unsurprised. His whole life he hadn't accomplished anything. He wasn't loved and he never loved anything, and he knew that very well. So, did he like his life? After switching with Johanna, he wasn't angry at her because she had taken his life away; he was angry because she had fooled him.

Charon smirked. "Everyone before you switched bodies with a ghost, but let's spice things up," her smile was wide, adorned with hundreds of minuscule and sharp teeth. "Bring someone in the house claiming to be Charon, and open another door. Exchange your souls, your heads or whatever u want! Once you're done, come join my party at the end of this land."

Noah didn't know what to do. He could just turn around and run away. But there was no point in doing that, he knew she would find him.

But why run away?

He was just an ordinary boy with nothing else to do.