Motley's Short Stories

Call of Death

"Breathe." A subtle murmur abruptly awakes me from my slumber. I heftily replenish the lack of oxygen I seemingly deficit, breathing mouthful of air as if I just climbed a mountain. I regain my composure and I noticed that it's so dark in here.

Where am I?

The algid void embraces me tightly, not a single ray of light can pass through. Sea of ebony stretches beyond eyes' reach. I suddenly turned rigid as it dawned on me of my current predicament. I cannot see a thing. No, more precisely, I cannot seem to open my eyes.

I will my visceral muscles around my eye to open. Yet, for unknown reasons, a mysterious force seems to prevent my motor functions from doing so. A tinge of numbness spreads throughout my body in the ironic inevitability of merely opening my eyes.

What is happening here?

I assess my surroundings through my other senses. The cold temperature that envelopes me intensified under close scrutiny. Navigating around without my sight will be quite a feat.

I try to make sense of my situation with my other senses. Terror gradually crept in my heart as I try to navigate without my sight. At this moment, I realized how being deprived of vision can be truly horrifying. The world you walk in is all painted in black. You mindlessly walk into oblivion without seeing, making you even vulnerable to simple vices of everyday life. What you'll encounter can only be judged through your other senses, which at times can be inadequate to fully comprehend your surroundings.

I took slow and steady steps whilst cautiously using my hands, waving around, in hopes of grabbing something of some use. And at the same time, detect any barrier or danger. A fresh sweet redolence intrudes my foolish-looking attempt to navigate.

What is that scent? Is that kalmia?

The allure of the scent beckons me towards it. Slowly, I walk towards the source. I frantically sniff the permeating fragrance, inhaling it as if it's the nourishment to my soul. Finding that flower can maybe give me a clue as to where I am.

I hastily, yet with vigilance in every step, make way towards my destination. It's near. The sweet scent amplifies as I arrive within its periphery. Before a feeling of rejoicing bubbled within me for this small achievement, dread and caution surmounted it.

"You've finally arrived" A soft enthralling voice reverberated in front of me.

Someone is here. I am not alone. The creeping cold of unknown grips my heart as I stopped for a moment. Fear and dread slowly crawl their way towards my neck, choking me.

"Who's there?" I immediately blurted as panic filled my senses. Devoured by fear, my mind is all over the place. My internal self is in panic, yet outside, I am indifferent. My calm exterior never breaks in any circumstances from all the weathering, or as what I thought.

My query receives a silent response. I took a step forward towards the source of the voice. My body froze when the stranger responded, ominously.

"You forgot? It's me. Death." The person murmured. The frigid atmosphere suddenly drops tenfold. Death.

Am I dead? When? How?

Mixed emotions began to rise and threatened to burst out of me.

"You answered my call" she added.

What call? What is this? When did I answer death's 'call'? My head starts to throb as countless questions continue to abuzz and flood in my mind. I instinctively massage my temples to ease the tinge of pain.

The rustling of fabrics came from the direction of the voice, signifying movement from the other party. The redolent air suddenly becomes fetid. My nose scrunched up when the abhorring odor permeated around me.

The turmoil of confusion and fear cloud my inner world as I try to decipher why the sweet smell suddenly turned like putrid vomit. Slowly, my outer shell of calm composure breaks down. My hands began to sweat as I hear the sound of crunching leaves being mercilessly trodden on, signifying the presence of an unfavorable. The stench intensifies as she gradually shortens the distance between us. Frighten by the unknown increased the voice within me to flee. Yet, without my sight, trepidation is brewing and accumulating ever more, making my escape seem futile.

The putrid smell suddenly dissipates out of thin air. The sweet fragrance of the kalmia flower slowly replaces the unpleasant odor. Relief wells up inside me.

What? There it is again. A sudden shift in the fragrance. Why did I felt ease from it?

"Oh... Let me help you" She interjected my thoughts.Icy fingertips gently lay over my eyelids. Goosebumps arose as a reaction to the sudden contact with the cold. I slightly trembled from the frigid touch of the stranger. Her touch gradually turned into soft caresses like a mother to her child. She glided her fingers from my eyes towards my cheeks and froze as if time stopped.

The ghostly hand instantly retreated from its exploration. The heavy force on my eyelids suddenly felt light. I slowly open my eyes and adjust from the sudden onslaught of the bright light.

The figure of the person in front of me slowly starts to take shape. My breath was abruptly robbed from me when I saw the lady.

Mom. No, she's not mom. Her voice doesn't match. But why?

"Now that's it." The lady said.

Live... Don't come here again...

You are not supposed to be here my child...

You are...

TBC...