1. Carpe Diem
Kimbra Reed was quite familiar with this feeling, the never-ending restlessness, the paranoid anxiety, the fear of Fear; she had felt it scraping her mind relentlessly throughout most of her life, and it most indeed shaped it into its detestable molds, and affected every thought and every choice she ever made.
But she had grown so accustomed to it, that she had learned to put it aside. But like a cancer, it grew bigger and fiercer as she went along through her days ignoring the tumorous thoughts polluting her mind with fear. Under her weary mask of functionality, she was always secretly hoping that she could convince herself that the feeling had gone into remission, that her demons had gone to sleep for good. More than anything, she learned to leave the past in the past, ignoring it with tremendous grace, even in her fear. After all, if she did not think about it or talk about it, it could be as if it never happened at all, couldn’t it?
So did the most secret part of her hoped. The rest of her was just the mask that had molded into her life, the one that she used like armor, so that nothing else could hurt her as it had done in her past. She had realized that nothing was more important than to focus on the present. The future only brought confusing uncertainty, which brought its own set fears with it.
Part of her knew that ‘Now’ was all that matters, that ‘Now’ was all she had. But the other part of her, the one that hoped, knew that the Feeling was still there, germinating, thriving in the darkest depths of her soul. She could feel it in the most intimate of ways, embracing her day and night. And the more she tried to keep it hidden, the more it struggled within her to be released, to impose its wretched wrath upon her from now to always.
A Civil War was breaking out within herself.
The Feeling was begging her to fear it as she continued to polish her armor.
The Feeling was still taking over her as her armor shined its brightest.
The Feeling was creeping in with more stealth than that of a feline beast about to hunt its prey with the least of expectations, all while her armor smiled, and greeted the day with hope, and focused on--
But she had grown so accustomed to it, that she had learned to put it aside. But like a cancer, it grew bigger and fiercer as she went along through her days ignoring the tumorous thoughts polluting her mind with fear. Under her weary mask of functionality, she was always secretly hoping that she could convince herself that the feeling had gone into remission, that her demons had gone to sleep for good. More than anything, she learned to leave the past in the past, ignoring it with tremendous grace, even in her fear. After all, if she did not think about it or talk about it, it could be as if it never happened at all, couldn’t it?
So did the most secret part of her hoped. The rest of her was just the mask that had molded into her life, the one that she used like armor, so that nothing else could hurt her as it had done in her past. She had realized that nothing was more important than to focus on the present. The future only brought confusing uncertainty, which brought its own set fears with it.
Part of her knew that ‘Now’ was all that matters, that ‘Now’ was all she had. But the other part of her, the one that hoped, knew that the Feeling was still there, germinating, thriving in the darkest depths of her soul. She could feel it in the most intimate of ways, embracing her day and night. And the more she tried to keep it hidden, the more it struggled within her to be released, to impose its wretched wrath upon her from now to always.
A Civil War was breaking out within herself.
The Feeling was begging her to fear it as she continued to polish her armor.
The Feeling was still taking over her as her armor shined its brightest.
The Feeling was creeping in with more stealth than that of a feline beast about to hunt its prey with the least of expectations, all while her armor smiled, and greeted the day with hope, and focused on--
2. Now...
“So, what’s the big ‘surprise’?” Kimbra Reed said winking her black eyes and tilting her head slightly with a discrete gesture to show her skepticism.
Rina had been planning it the whole week, and Kimbra couldn’t bear the suspense any longer. Even though she was afraid of being disappointed if the surprise turned out not to be all that exciting, she would do her best to humor her friend with the patience of a sister.
Earlier that day, Rina had asked Kimbra to meet her at Lou’s Night Bar at 8 p.m. for a couple of drinks while they waited for her surprise. The wall behind the bar had a mirror illuminated by color changing LED lights on the corners, which rainbowed their reflection into a ghostly image of reality, one full of shadows that aren’t there, yet still look back at you. The night was still young, so there weren’t many other people at the bar just yet, which Rina thought was the perfect time for the surprise to arrive.
“Be patient, Kimmy!” Rina scolded Kimbra and slapped her arm gently. Kimbra found Rina’s smile suspicious, but she still smiled back, secretly admitting to herself that she enjoyed all the big fuss her best friend was making for her birthday. “It isn’t here yet. Just sit tight!”
“Okay, okay,” Kimbra said with a smirk. “But if we’re going to be here a while, I think Birthday Girl is going to need another drink!”
“Anything for Birthday Girl!” They laughed together and Rina called the bartender.
“What can I get for you ladies?”
“One Blueberry Margarita for me, please,” Rina said and faced Kimbra, “and for the Birthday Girl?”
“Same,” Kimbra nodded.
“Two Blueberry Margaritas, please!” said Rina in celebration. “With limes and salt! Oh, and on my tab!”
“Anything else?” the bartender said.
“That’s it!” she answered cheerily. “Thank you, Charlie!”
“You working tonight or you love this place too much and can’t stay away?” the bartender asked Rina while he crafted their drinks.
“Neither,” they all laughed. “Took the night off to take Kimbra out to celebrate!”
“Bachelorette?” he winked at Kimbra.
“Birthday,” she responded shaking her head raising the back of her hand to show there was no ring on it. “It’s really not a big deal.”
“Maybe it could be,” Charlie winked at her. He always tried to flirt with her when she stopped by to see Rina. She could not deny that she found him quite attractive, and sometimes wondered if in other circumstances she would give in to his advances. But her life was good right now, and the last thing she wanted was to ruin what she had with Zane.
“Charlie, you stop that!” Rina intervened. “Go make us drinks, shoo! And you…” she pointed at Kimbra, “should behave!”
“I didn’t do anything!” Kimbra said on her defense, and they both started laughing again.
Even when going through the worst, she had always found kindness in Rina, and so she had become Kimbra’s longest friendship. They had known each other for twelve out of her twenty-nine years, and their friendship seemed to grow stronger every day. While they were certainly very different from each other in many ways, they always found home in each other, and most of the times it seemed that there was nothing that could falter their friendship. In many ways, Kimbra owed her sanity to Rina, who had been there for her through her darkest of times, and had given her the love and loyalty of a sister.
“So, how are things going with your band?” Rina asked her after Charlie brought them their drinks. “The Venuses, is it?”
“The Venus Infernals,” Kimbra nodded, and then noticed a quizzical smirk on the corner of Rina’s lips that made her chuckle. To June, Jean and Jane (the three other members of the group), the band was an experimental girl-punk/ neo-gothwave project, but for Kimbra, it was just a hobby; she didn’t really consider herself an official member of the band, but more like a featuring guest artist. Still, she very much enjoyed her time playing music, adding her unusual sound with her electric bass and violin. “I know it sounds weird, but it’s actually going great! We’ve only played a few gigs, but people seem to like it, and it’s a lot of fun! I know it’s not your kind of music, but you should give it a chance. Come out to the next show!”
“Of course!” Rina said, pushing her blond hair back into a ponytail. “If I can get the night off at the bar, that is.”
“Maybe we should play here someday,” Rina jumped in her seat with a sudden jolt of excitement and rested her clasped hands on her chest.
“Oh, would you?” she asked. “That would be amazing! I can talk to my boss, and—”
“Fuck no,” Kimbra interrupted in the most serious tone she could muster, and Rina stopped smiling in disappointment. But Kimbra couldn’t help it and burst out in laughter once again. “Come on, I’m joking!”
“Bitch,” Rina said half-meaning it, but still smiling, and resting her cheek on her hand.
“I mean, do you really have to ask?” Kimbra teased.
“I guess not,” Rina took a sip of her blue drink from the bent orange straw sticking out of the Margarita glass. “So, how are you and Zane holding up? Hasn’t it been awhile since you last saw each other?”
“Oh, yeah,” Kimbra said, her smile vanishing into a sigh. “It’s been about two weeks. It’s no big deal.”
“Are you sure about that, hon?”
“Well, yeah. I guess so,” Rina looked at her while she sipped her blue Margarita as if expecting a better answer. And before she knew it, Kimbra was spilling it all out thoughtlessly without realizing how much she was suddenly talking. “I just want him to follow his dreams too, you know? I have my band, he has his career in industrial design. But his job happens to be out of town, and yeah, I guess it makes it kinda of hard to stay in touch sometimes, but… I just don’t want to feel like his ball and chain. Not in that marriage way, I do love him with all my heart, and if he would ask me today, I would probably say yes. But I also don’t want to feel like I’m dragging him behind.”
“Well, look at you!” Rina said in a joyous tone that made Kimbra suddenly nervous. “You’d really say yes if he proposed?”
“Did I say that?” Kimbra twisted a finger nervously on one of the curly locks of her black hair.
“I think you did!” Rina’s pale, chubby cheeks were now a rosy shade of red.
Kimbra felt the excitement dissipate within her. “I guess you’re right.”
“Kimmy,” Rina reached for Kimbra’s hand, “you look concerned. Is everything okay?
“Yeah... Yeah,” Kimbra said trying to shrug away the moment, but she knew that Rina would not let it go, that she needed to say something, to change the subject. “It’s just that…”
But as she struggled to give Rina an answer, her words wouldn’t come out, and her thoughts suddenly drifted away to a recent memory from earlier that day about a strange event that still had her mind puzzled with questions and filled with suspense.
Rina had been planning it the whole week, and Kimbra couldn’t bear the suspense any longer. Even though she was afraid of being disappointed if the surprise turned out not to be all that exciting, she would do her best to humor her friend with the patience of a sister.
Earlier that day, Rina had asked Kimbra to meet her at Lou’s Night Bar at 8 p.m. for a couple of drinks while they waited for her surprise. The wall behind the bar had a mirror illuminated by color changing LED lights on the corners, which rainbowed their reflection into a ghostly image of reality, one full of shadows that aren’t there, yet still look back at you. The night was still young, so there weren’t many other people at the bar just yet, which Rina thought was the perfect time for the surprise to arrive.
“Be patient, Kimmy!” Rina scolded Kimbra and slapped her arm gently. Kimbra found Rina’s smile suspicious, but she still smiled back, secretly admitting to herself that she enjoyed all the big fuss her best friend was making for her birthday. “It isn’t here yet. Just sit tight!”
“Okay, okay,” Kimbra said with a smirk. “But if we’re going to be here a while, I think Birthday Girl is going to need another drink!”
“Anything for Birthday Girl!” They laughed together and Rina called the bartender.
“What can I get for you ladies?”
“One Blueberry Margarita for me, please,” Rina said and faced Kimbra, “and for the Birthday Girl?”
“Same,” Kimbra nodded.
“Two Blueberry Margaritas, please!” said Rina in celebration. “With limes and salt! Oh, and on my tab!”
“Anything else?” the bartender said.
“That’s it!” she answered cheerily. “Thank you, Charlie!”
“You working tonight or you love this place too much and can’t stay away?” the bartender asked Rina while he crafted their drinks.
“Neither,” they all laughed. “Took the night off to take Kimbra out to celebrate!”
“Bachelorette?” he winked at Kimbra.
“Birthday,” she responded shaking her head raising the back of her hand to show there was no ring on it. “It’s really not a big deal.”
“Maybe it could be,” Charlie winked at her. He always tried to flirt with her when she stopped by to see Rina. She could not deny that she found him quite attractive, and sometimes wondered if in other circumstances she would give in to his advances. But her life was good right now, and the last thing she wanted was to ruin what she had with Zane.
“Charlie, you stop that!” Rina intervened. “Go make us drinks, shoo! And you…” she pointed at Kimbra, “should behave!”
“I didn’t do anything!” Kimbra said on her defense, and they both started laughing again.
Even when going through the worst, she had always found kindness in Rina, and so she had become Kimbra’s longest friendship. They had known each other for twelve out of her twenty-nine years, and their friendship seemed to grow stronger every day. While they were certainly very different from each other in many ways, they always found home in each other, and most of the times it seemed that there was nothing that could falter their friendship. In many ways, Kimbra owed her sanity to Rina, who had been there for her through her darkest of times, and had given her the love and loyalty of a sister.
“So, how are things going with your band?” Rina asked her after Charlie brought them their drinks. “The Venuses, is it?”
“The Venus Infernals,” Kimbra nodded, and then noticed a quizzical smirk on the corner of Rina’s lips that made her chuckle. To June, Jean and Jane (the three other members of the group), the band was an experimental girl-punk/ neo-gothwave project, but for Kimbra, it was just a hobby; she didn’t really consider herself an official member of the band, but more like a featuring guest artist. Still, she very much enjoyed her time playing music, adding her unusual sound with her electric bass and violin. “I know it sounds weird, but it’s actually going great! We’ve only played a few gigs, but people seem to like it, and it’s a lot of fun! I know it’s not your kind of music, but you should give it a chance. Come out to the next show!”
“Of course!” Rina said, pushing her blond hair back into a ponytail. “If I can get the night off at the bar, that is.”
“Maybe we should play here someday,” Rina jumped in her seat with a sudden jolt of excitement and rested her clasped hands on her chest.
“Oh, would you?” she asked. “That would be amazing! I can talk to my boss, and—”
“Fuck no,” Kimbra interrupted in the most serious tone she could muster, and Rina stopped smiling in disappointment. But Kimbra couldn’t help it and burst out in laughter once again. “Come on, I’m joking!”
“Bitch,” Rina said half-meaning it, but still smiling, and resting her cheek on her hand.
“I mean, do you really have to ask?” Kimbra teased.
“I guess not,” Rina took a sip of her blue drink from the bent orange straw sticking out of the Margarita glass. “So, how are you and Zane holding up? Hasn’t it been awhile since you last saw each other?”
“Oh, yeah,” Kimbra said, her smile vanishing into a sigh. “It’s been about two weeks. It’s no big deal.”
“Are you sure about that, hon?”
“Well, yeah. I guess so,” Rina looked at her while she sipped her blue Margarita as if expecting a better answer. And before she knew it, Kimbra was spilling it all out thoughtlessly without realizing how much she was suddenly talking. “I just want him to follow his dreams too, you know? I have my band, he has his career in industrial design. But his job happens to be out of town, and yeah, I guess it makes it kinda of hard to stay in touch sometimes, but… I just don’t want to feel like his ball and chain. Not in that marriage way, I do love him with all my heart, and if he would ask me today, I would probably say yes. But I also don’t want to feel like I’m dragging him behind.”
“Well, look at you!” Rina said in a joyous tone that made Kimbra suddenly nervous. “You’d really say yes if he proposed?”
“Did I say that?” Kimbra twisted a finger nervously on one of the curly locks of her black hair.
“I think you did!” Rina’s pale, chubby cheeks were now a rosy shade of red.
Kimbra felt the excitement dissipate within her. “I guess you’re right.”
“Kimmy,” Rina reached for Kimbra’s hand, “you look concerned. Is everything okay?
“Yeah... Yeah,” Kimbra said trying to shrug away the moment, but she knew that Rina would not let it go, that she needed to say something, to change the subject. “It’s just that…”
But as she struggled to give Rina an answer, her words wouldn’t come out, and her thoughts suddenly drifted away to a recent memory from earlier that day about a strange event that still had her mind puzzled with questions and filled with suspense.
3. The Gift
It had been a lovely afternoon, the dusk bruised the sky with tints of blood-orange and pink, and brushing it with many long, cotton-like clouds that darkened the sky. The pearl-grey moon and a few sparkling stars floated in the translucent sky, and long lines of vapor trails dissipated far above. The chilly wind blew softly as if it was carrying a precious, vulnerable secret, brushing through the buildings and the trees as if with soft caution.
Kimbra Reed was just done working a long shift at the Café Nostro, and she was walking back home enjoying the beautiful day it was outside, before the clouds begin to get ready to break into a storm later in the night. The last couple of weeks had been quite busy for her; between her band rehearsals and gigs in addition to her morning job at the coffee shop, she hadn’t had much time for herself.
But tonight was her birthday and Rina had invited her out to get drinks in celebration, and it was getting a little late to start getting ready. She only lived a few blocks away, so it wouldn’t take her more than fifteen minutes or so to get back home, but she still made herself hurry with excited anticipation.
As she walked down the sidewalk, she received a text message from Zane:
Happy birthday, pretty lady! Ily :)
She hadn’t seen him for almost two weeks now since he started working out of town, and she awaited impatiently for the next time they could be together. She had been through a lot of unhealthy relationships in her past that she has spent many years recovering from, but she had finally found the love and comfort that she needed in Zane, who never hesitated to demonstrate his love and devotion for her. Even with the new imposed obstacle of distance, he was hopeful that their love would not falter, and while Kimbra hoped that he was right, she couldn’t help feeling a little nervous about it. But staring at his words made her feel flutters all over her skin with dumb infatuation, and she realized that she wanted him more than she allowed herself to believe sometimes. So for once she put those insecure feelings aside and allowed herself to take comfort on the thought of him, and on how much she has missed him, and how much greater their relationship would be once they are reunited.
But her lover’s daydream was suddenly broken by the thundering bark of a dog somewhere nearby that startled her so much she dropped her phone. She turned to look around, but she saw no signs of any dogs, or any people, or any driving cars. Instead, she noticed that every sound seemed to have dissipated completely in the whole street. For a moment, she even thought that she had gone deaf. She kept looking behind her and to both sides of the street and she still saw no one around, only an eerily quiet street full of houses, that for a fraction of that moment made Kimbra suddenly anxious with the strange notion that they were watching her, expecting something from her, waiting for her to do something for them.
When she picked up her phone from the ground, she caught a whiff of a revolting smell that was like burnt meat and plastic, and that somehow felt very familiar to her. The smell of burning despair, the words echoed in her mind involuntarily, sending frightened shivers through her body. She felt paralyzed for a minute that seemed to last an hour, during which she realized that she was completely alone in the world; the world, a cruel stage, her, the only audience. The sky was darkening faster now, and the street lights turned on shining a buzzing light spot over her.
She couldn’t force herself to dismiss the inexplicable panic taking over her, but she mustered her bravery and took another step.
Then, the dog barked again right behind her.
Kimbra turned around and released a quick frightened shriek, and was ready to start running, but there was nothing there. Instead, she noticed a tiny colorful thing stuck in the curb of the sidewalk. The sight of it seemed to glow and it drew her in as if it had put a spell on her. It was as if she had entered strange paradox where only she existed. She knelt down and picked up the colorful object with dazzling curiosity and let herself be mystified by it.
It was a small gift box that was decorated with yellow, polka-dotted wrapping paper and an elegant red bow with glittery golden edges. She held it with both hands with the same mesmerizing look that a small child would have while holding a small lighting bug between their hands, like it was a treasure or a creature from another world. But there was nothing special about the little gift box, at least not from just looking at it. She had a strange realization that whatever was in the gift box, it was calling for her, desiring her, lusting for her, demanding that she set it free.
Get over yourself, she told herself, trying to put all of those strange thoughts to rest, you don’t have time for this.
She decided that, for now, this would have to wait. She shouldn’t keep Rina waiting for her for too long, so she would take the gift box home with her and examine it later that night. She looked in every direction again, somehow afraid that someone would see her with her new treasure and would try to steal it from her. A ridiculous feeling that she couldn’t explain. She didn’t even know why she cared so much about the gift box at all. It was as if she was changing, as if her feelings had a mind of their own and were pulling her strings for their entertainment.
She found herself replaying every moment of the strange event in her mind, triggering many questions that convoluted her thoughts. The more she thought about it, there more it scared her, but not enough to abandon her new curious obsession.
To the contrary.
She put the small gift box in her purse and hurried home.
Kimbra Reed was just done working a long shift at the Café Nostro, and she was walking back home enjoying the beautiful day it was outside, before the clouds begin to get ready to break into a storm later in the night. The last couple of weeks had been quite busy for her; between her band rehearsals and gigs in addition to her morning job at the coffee shop, she hadn’t had much time for herself.
But tonight was her birthday and Rina had invited her out to get drinks in celebration, and it was getting a little late to start getting ready. She only lived a few blocks away, so it wouldn’t take her more than fifteen minutes or so to get back home, but she still made herself hurry with excited anticipation.
As she walked down the sidewalk, she received a text message from Zane:
Happy birthday, pretty lady! Ily :)
She hadn’t seen him for almost two weeks now since he started working out of town, and she awaited impatiently for the next time they could be together. She had been through a lot of unhealthy relationships in her past that she has spent many years recovering from, but she had finally found the love and comfort that she needed in Zane, who never hesitated to demonstrate his love and devotion for her. Even with the new imposed obstacle of distance, he was hopeful that their love would not falter, and while Kimbra hoped that he was right, she couldn’t help feeling a little nervous about it. But staring at his words made her feel flutters all over her skin with dumb infatuation, and she realized that she wanted him more than she allowed herself to believe sometimes. So for once she put those insecure feelings aside and allowed herself to take comfort on the thought of him, and on how much she has missed him, and how much greater their relationship would be once they are reunited.
But her lover’s daydream was suddenly broken by the thundering bark of a dog somewhere nearby that startled her so much she dropped her phone. She turned to look around, but she saw no signs of any dogs, or any people, or any driving cars. Instead, she noticed that every sound seemed to have dissipated completely in the whole street. For a moment, she even thought that she had gone deaf. She kept looking behind her and to both sides of the street and she still saw no one around, only an eerily quiet street full of houses, that for a fraction of that moment made Kimbra suddenly anxious with the strange notion that they were watching her, expecting something from her, waiting for her to do something for them.
When she picked up her phone from the ground, she caught a whiff of a revolting smell that was like burnt meat and plastic, and that somehow felt very familiar to her. The smell of burning despair, the words echoed in her mind involuntarily, sending frightened shivers through her body. She felt paralyzed for a minute that seemed to last an hour, during which she realized that she was completely alone in the world; the world, a cruel stage, her, the only audience. The sky was darkening faster now, and the street lights turned on shining a buzzing light spot over her.
She couldn’t force herself to dismiss the inexplicable panic taking over her, but she mustered her bravery and took another step.
Then, the dog barked again right behind her.
Kimbra turned around and released a quick frightened shriek, and was ready to start running, but there was nothing there. Instead, she noticed a tiny colorful thing stuck in the curb of the sidewalk. The sight of it seemed to glow and it drew her in as if it had put a spell on her. It was as if she had entered strange paradox where only she existed. She knelt down and picked up the colorful object with dazzling curiosity and let herself be mystified by it.
It was a small gift box that was decorated with yellow, polka-dotted wrapping paper and an elegant red bow with glittery golden edges. She held it with both hands with the same mesmerizing look that a small child would have while holding a small lighting bug between their hands, like it was a treasure or a creature from another world. But there was nothing special about the little gift box, at least not from just looking at it. She had a strange realization that whatever was in the gift box, it was calling for her, desiring her, lusting for her, demanding that she set it free.
Get over yourself, she told herself, trying to put all of those strange thoughts to rest, you don’t have time for this.
She decided that, for now, this would have to wait. She shouldn’t keep Rina waiting for her for too long, so she would take the gift box home with her and examine it later that night. She looked in every direction again, somehow afraid that someone would see her with her new treasure and would try to steal it from her. A ridiculous feeling that she couldn’t explain. She didn’t even know why she cared so much about the gift box at all. It was as if she was changing, as if her feelings had a mind of their own and were pulling her strings for their entertainment.
She found herself replaying every moment of the strange event in her mind, triggering many questions that convoluted her thoughts. The more she thought about it, there more it scared her, but not enough to abandon her new curious obsession.
To the contrary.
She put the small gift box in her purse and hurried home.
4. Surprise
Even while she was still getting ready for the night out, she could not stop thinking about her new finding, and kept catching herself randomly glancing at the small gift box, and then she would shake her head, trying to make the urge disappear.
And even now as she sat at the bar with Rina drinking a Blue Margarita on her birthday night, she struggled not to feed the hunger of her curiosity.
“Kimmy,” Rina said placing her hand on Kimbra’s, “are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just that,” Kimmy saw the worried expression on Rina’s face, and she felt her armor shake for just a moment, and then continued, “I can’t help the feeling that something is about to go very wrong, and that there is no way to stop it. I can’t stop it, Rina, and I don’t know what to do.”
“Kimmy,” Rina pressed on her hand with affection, “look at me.” She did. “You are being very silly. Don’t let those feelings take over again. You are smart, and gorgeous, and talented, and most importantly, Kimmy, you are loved. I love you. Carlos loves you. Zane loves you. You are loved Kimmy, and nothing is going to go wrong. And if it does, you’ll be just fine. I’ll always be here for you, as I’ve always had.”
“What about my parents?” Kimbra said, almost in spiteful rebellion. “Do they love me too?”
“Yes, Kimmy,” Rina said, “even your parents love you. You know they mean well, right? They worry about you. I bet they’d love to see you.”
But there was nothing else that Kimbra could dislike more than that right now. And since ‘now’ was all that mattered to her, she simply ignored Rina’s suggestion all together.
“You and Zane are going to be just fine,” Rina continued. “I’m sure of it. It’s like you guys are made for each other.”
“You think, so?” Kimbra asked with true honesty in her voice.
“Honey, I know so,” Rina said tenderly as she placed a hand on her cheek. “Look behind you.”
When she did, Kimbra saw Zane standing before her, wearing his typical black leather jacket that he’s had for more than five years; even though it was starting to look worn up, she thought he looked as handsome as ever. Her heart overjoyed in a sudden burst of excitement, and she realized that she missed him more than she was allowing herself to admit.
His smile made his face shine as he handed her a small bunch of wild red roses.
“Happy birthday, Kimmy-babe,” he said, and Kimbra threw an excited squeal, and then gave him a tight hug and a kiss on his cheek. She turned to Rina, a big smile plastered on her face, and said:
“You bitch!”
Rina grinned and said, “Surprise!” and shook her hands in the air in cheer.
Kimbra turned around to Zane and jumped in his arms again, and this time gave him a long kiss.
“Geez, guys, get a room!” It was Carlos, Zane’s good friend, who also happened to be Rina’s boyfriend. He was still wearing a scarlet and grey OSU jersey from watching the game at the sports bar with his co-workers.
“Hey, Carlos,” Kimbra greeted, her arms still wrapped around Zane.
“‘Bout time, dude,” said Zane.
“Hey,” Carlos said in protest, “you try to find a decent parking spot in that downpour out there, see if your luck is any better.”
“Carlos,” Rina called, “stop bickering and come me give a kiss!”
“Ooh!” he hurried past them towards Rina, put his hands on the sides of her face and gave her a long, slobbering kiss that would put Zane and Kimbra’s to shame.
“Well, look at them go,” Kimbra chuckled. “Is he already drunk?”
“Or getting there,” Zane remarked.
“And he was driving?”
“Apparently so,” Zane couldn’t hide his annoyance. Then to the embracing couple, “Looks like you two need that room more than we do.”
“Mm,” Carlos said, “A room sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it, baby?”
“Stop it, Carlos,” Rina said giggling, and pushing him away from her, “You’re already too drunk. And it’s Kimmy’s birthday, remember? We were here to celebrate with her!”
“It’s fine, Rina,” Zane assured her, “I think I got it from here. You guys go have fun. You know, do your thing.”
“Are you sure?” Rina said, making sure Kimbra wasn’t feeling disappointed that she was leaving. “We can stay a little longer if you want.”
“I’m fine, hon,” Kimbra said, “seems like you’ve got your hands full. Looks like he’s pretty wasted.”
“Hmpf, I know,” Rina said with hint of scorn. “Looks like we’ll be having a talk tonight, huh, Carlitos?”
“Huh?” Carlos noticed they were all looking at him judgingly. “What, what did I do?”
“You smell like an Irish bar, that’s what. Okay, come on,” Rina said with a long sigh, “Let’s get you something to eat and some water, we’ll talk when we get home. Go on, say goodbye to Zane and Kimmy.”
He went towards Kimmy and gave her a peck on the cheek and said:
“Good-bye, Birthday Girl,” and then stood before Zane and saluted him like a soldier, and then started marching towards the exit when Zane saluted back.
“Bye, Carlos!” Kimbra waved, but he didn’t even notice.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Kimmy,” Rina told her as she gave her a hug. “I’ll stay over at Carlos’s, give you and Zane a little privacy.”
“Privacy?” Kimbra said timidly. “What are you talking about,” and then to Zane who gave her a charming smile, “I don’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Oh, don’t you give me that!” Rina slapped Kimbra’s shoulder playfully, and then whispered to her. “Good luck, hon! Tell me all about it tomorrow, when I get back, okay?”
“Hey, dude, are you okay?” Charlie, the bartender, was asking Carlos. Then they all turned around just to see their irresponsible, drunken friend puke all over his own shoes.
“Looks like that’s my cue,” Rina said feeling the bitter taste of her own words. And with that, she left Zane and Kimbra to enjoy the night together.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” Kimbra touched his chest as if she couldn’t believe he was real. “You bastard, you didn’t say anything!”
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” he said in his defense. “I wanted tonight to be special for you.”
“That is so sweet of you,” she said softly, but somehow, his words made her heart vibrate with doubt, and the expression on her face was suddenly giving her away. “But why? What’s so special about my birthday?”
“Do you have to ask?” Zane said. “You’re amazing, Kimmy-babe. We’re celebrating you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. And I want you to always know that.”
Kimbra’s only reply was a forced smile that made her eyes burn as she held in her tears. But he continued to look at her as if she was the most prized treasure that he ever possessed, and she realized that she felt equally safe taking refuge in a blurred fairytale as well as in the danger of losing herself in it forever.
“Let’s get out of here,” he smiled as he caressed her arms tenderly, “I have the whole night planned out.”
And even now as she sat at the bar with Rina drinking a Blue Margarita on her birthday night, she struggled not to feed the hunger of her curiosity.
“Kimmy,” Rina said placing her hand on Kimbra’s, “are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just that,” Kimmy saw the worried expression on Rina’s face, and she felt her armor shake for just a moment, and then continued, “I can’t help the feeling that something is about to go very wrong, and that there is no way to stop it. I can’t stop it, Rina, and I don’t know what to do.”
“Kimmy,” Rina pressed on her hand with affection, “look at me.” She did. “You are being very silly. Don’t let those feelings take over again. You are smart, and gorgeous, and talented, and most importantly, Kimmy, you are loved. I love you. Carlos loves you. Zane loves you. You are loved Kimmy, and nothing is going to go wrong. And if it does, you’ll be just fine. I’ll always be here for you, as I’ve always had.”
“What about my parents?” Kimbra said, almost in spiteful rebellion. “Do they love me too?”
“Yes, Kimmy,” Rina said, “even your parents love you. You know they mean well, right? They worry about you. I bet they’d love to see you.”
But there was nothing else that Kimbra could dislike more than that right now. And since ‘now’ was all that mattered to her, she simply ignored Rina’s suggestion all together.
“You and Zane are going to be just fine,” Rina continued. “I’m sure of it. It’s like you guys are made for each other.”
“You think, so?” Kimbra asked with true honesty in her voice.
“Honey, I know so,” Rina said tenderly as she placed a hand on her cheek. “Look behind you.”
When she did, Kimbra saw Zane standing before her, wearing his typical black leather jacket that he’s had for more than five years; even though it was starting to look worn up, she thought he looked as handsome as ever. Her heart overjoyed in a sudden burst of excitement, and she realized that she missed him more than she was allowing herself to admit.
His smile made his face shine as he handed her a small bunch of wild red roses.
“Happy birthday, Kimmy-babe,” he said, and Kimbra threw an excited squeal, and then gave him a tight hug and a kiss on his cheek. She turned to Rina, a big smile plastered on her face, and said:
“You bitch!”
Rina grinned and said, “Surprise!” and shook her hands in the air in cheer.
Kimbra turned around to Zane and jumped in his arms again, and this time gave him a long kiss.
“Geez, guys, get a room!” It was Carlos, Zane’s good friend, who also happened to be Rina’s boyfriend. He was still wearing a scarlet and grey OSU jersey from watching the game at the sports bar with his co-workers.
“Hey, Carlos,” Kimbra greeted, her arms still wrapped around Zane.
“‘Bout time, dude,” said Zane.
“Hey,” Carlos said in protest, “you try to find a decent parking spot in that downpour out there, see if your luck is any better.”
“Carlos,” Rina called, “stop bickering and come me give a kiss!”
“Ooh!” he hurried past them towards Rina, put his hands on the sides of her face and gave her a long, slobbering kiss that would put Zane and Kimbra’s to shame.
“Well, look at them go,” Kimbra chuckled. “Is he already drunk?”
“Or getting there,” Zane remarked.
“And he was driving?”
“Apparently so,” Zane couldn’t hide his annoyance. Then to the embracing couple, “Looks like you two need that room more than we do.”
“Mm,” Carlos said, “A room sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it, baby?”
“Stop it, Carlos,” Rina said giggling, and pushing him away from her, “You’re already too drunk. And it’s Kimmy’s birthday, remember? We were here to celebrate with her!”
“It’s fine, Rina,” Zane assured her, “I think I got it from here. You guys go have fun. You know, do your thing.”
“Are you sure?” Rina said, making sure Kimbra wasn’t feeling disappointed that she was leaving. “We can stay a little longer if you want.”
“I’m fine, hon,” Kimbra said, “seems like you’ve got your hands full. Looks like he’s pretty wasted.”
“Hmpf, I know,” Rina said with hint of scorn. “Looks like we’ll be having a talk tonight, huh, Carlitos?”
“Huh?” Carlos noticed they were all looking at him judgingly. “What, what did I do?”
“You smell like an Irish bar, that’s what. Okay, come on,” Rina said with a long sigh, “Let’s get you something to eat and some water, we’ll talk when we get home. Go on, say goodbye to Zane and Kimmy.”
He went towards Kimmy and gave her a peck on the cheek and said:
“Good-bye, Birthday Girl,” and then stood before Zane and saluted him like a soldier, and then started marching towards the exit when Zane saluted back.
“Bye, Carlos!” Kimbra waved, but he didn’t even notice.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Kimmy,” Rina told her as she gave her a hug. “I’ll stay over at Carlos’s, give you and Zane a little privacy.”
“Privacy?” Kimbra said timidly. “What are you talking about,” and then to Zane who gave her a charming smile, “I don’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Oh, don’t you give me that!” Rina slapped Kimbra’s shoulder playfully, and then whispered to her. “Good luck, hon! Tell me all about it tomorrow, when I get back, okay?”
“Hey, dude, are you okay?” Charlie, the bartender, was asking Carlos. Then they all turned around just to see their irresponsible, drunken friend puke all over his own shoes.
“Looks like that’s my cue,” Rina said feeling the bitter taste of her own words. And with that, she left Zane and Kimbra to enjoy the night together.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” Kimbra touched his chest as if she couldn’t believe he was real. “You bastard, you didn’t say anything!”
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” he said in his defense. “I wanted tonight to be special for you.”
“That is so sweet of you,” she said softly, but somehow, his words made her heart vibrate with doubt, and the expression on her face was suddenly giving her away. “But why? What’s so special about my birthday?”
“Do you have to ask?” Zane said. “You’re amazing, Kimmy-babe. We’re celebrating you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. And I want you to always know that.”
Kimbra’s only reply was a forced smile that made her eyes burn as she held in her tears. But he continued to look at her as if she was the most prized treasure that he ever possessed, and she realized that she felt equally safe taking refuge in a blurred fairytale as well as in the danger of losing herself in it forever.
“Let’s get out of here,” he smiled as he caressed her arms tenderly, “I have the whole night planned out.”
5. Midnight Sonata
First, he took her to an Italian restaurant, knowing that it was her favorite, and they had a bottle of red wine with their dinner. They stayed there almost two hours talking and catching up on everything they had missed the past two weeks. He told her about an opportunity for a promotion, and how excited he was to pursue it. And she told him about about her band’s show last weekend and how nervous she was when she saw how many people had attended. And while his excitement never faded throughout the whole dinner, Kimbra struggled putting aside the memory of the gift box waiting for her to open it at home, and of hiding the vibrating anxiousness that refused to abandon her.
After dinner, he took her to a late night showing of Night of the Living Dead at the local theatre. It was one of their favorites; Kimbra had it on DVD and they watch it together on one of their first dates. But tonight the movie just wasn’t captivating her at all. Instead, her mind insisted in torturing her with memories of the gift box, and with theories about what it contained. Was it something valuable, like an engagement ring, or expensive jewelry, or a pocket watch? A key to a secret doors? A letter with a secret message? A human tooth, or a finger? A bleeding, rotting eye...?
She felt insanity tightening its grip on her, and she had to shake her thoughts away before she hurled all of her dinner right there. Zane felt her squirming uncomfortably next to him, so he threw an arm over her shoulder and pulled her close to him and kissed the side of her head. She rested her head on his chest and let warmth of his body soothe her uneasiness. But it wasn’t until he leaned over and pressed his lips against hers that, even for just a few minutes, she was able to forget about the gift box. She did not want him to stop; she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again, this time more passionately. They must have accidentally kicked the chairs in front of them, because a man turned around and barked at them, “Get a room, will ya?”
“Let’s get outta here, Z,” she whispered to him.
“Sure,” Zane said sounding concerned. Her eyes were distant as she avoided to look him in the eyes, fearing that he would notice how inexplicably frightened she felt. But she couldn’t tell him, no, she wouldn’t. The gift box was her secret, and she was not ready to give to away just yet. It was hers, like her shadow. Hers, like her sou— “Are you okay?”
“I’m great. I’m fine,” Kimbra smiled, and gave him another short peck on the corner of his lips. The image of the glowing gift box flashed before her every time she closed her eyes, every time she blinked. “I just feel like doing something else, you know?”
“Sure, Kimmy-babe,” Zane told her kindly, she could see the whiteness of his grin in the darkness of the theater blurring and shape-shifting with the reflection of the film. She tried to smile back, but she wasn’t sure that she was successful. Words refused come out, and she suddenly became afraid that Zane would think she’s a weirdo freak, for acting so odd, that he would stop loving her if he found out…
About what?
She saw the bright-red words glowing in her mind.
But she was at a loss for an answer to the question.
The gift box blinked (it’s laughing), and blinked, (oh, God, it’s laughing) and blinked again. (I think I’m going c—)
“Can we just,” the words finally came, but she had to pause to catch a breath, “go back to my place now? Please?”
“Of course,” said Zane, even though he wasn’t sure if he should be worried about Kimbra right now. She saw her force a smile for him, so he offered his smile back. “It’s your night, Kimmy-babe. We’ll do whatever you want?”
It was half past midnight when the storm finally broke down.
It orchestrated their lovemaking with rain and thunder as the flashes of lightning twisted their entwined shadows on the white walls. Their passionate moaning grew louder and became the main instrument in the chaotic overture of love, and lust, and pain. The wildness of their pleasure was as ruthless as Mother Nature when they gave in to the rhythm of their instinct; heaving, and thrusting, and moaning, and biting. Their tongues and lips conjoined, and their loins burning with the pleasure of their fiery dance; a vibrating crescendo of orgasmic sensations. But the image of the gift box still continued to seduce her mind, and she couldn’t stop imagining it hiding within the flashing shadows created by the lightning. So Kimbra shut her eyes tight as she gave herself to Zane and let her thoughts rise away into the insanity of their sex. Their dance’s tempo went from adagio to allegretto as their music grew louder, and fiercer, until the storm’s roaring thunder serenaded their explosive finale.
They fell asleep in each other’s arms.
But Kimbra’s mind sunk into a dark dream where she was alone in an empty, foggy street. She was a little girl again, and she was crying in fear as she tried to escape the fog. There was a shadowy figure chasing after her, but she couldn’t tell what it was. A monster, she was sure of nothing else, it’s going to get me and it’s going to kill me and it’s going to eat me, just like it happened to— But the big, fat shadow towered over her and laughed. Red eyes burned in the darkness of its shape and devilish wings expanded behind it and then rapidly enclosed around her. She saw the shadow move inside the darkness. It extended an elongated, fat arm and offered her a small, yellow, polka-dotted gift box wrapped in a fancy red bow.
A small piece of paper was taped to the gift box, glowing red words were imprinted on it:
For:
Little Kimmy 😊
Kimbra, said the laughing voice. Open the gift.
In her dream, she screamed.
Open the gift, it said as the dream faded into black, leaving only the empty echoes of that horrible voice chanting her name like a hymn. Kimbra... Kimbra… Kimbra… Kim--
“—my? Kimmy, wake up,” Zane shook her gently and she woke up with a surprised gasp. She put her hand to her chest and felt her heart racing, her lungs still trying to catch her breath. She felt like she just almost drowned. Tears began to flow from her eyes against her will, and she dried them with the blankets, but her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
Not this again, she thought absolutely terrified. Please, God, not again.
“It’s okay, Kimmy,” Zane hugged her and caressed her hair, which he knew always calmed her. “It was just a nightmare. It’s okay, babe. I’m here.”
But she turned away from him and sat at the edge of the bed.
The lightning made her bare, caramel skin glimmer in beautiful flashes. Her long, black locks of hair dangled over her shoulders as she bowed her head to cover her face with her hands.
“You were screaming,” he said, but she ignored him. She could only feel the shiver of his words. “Kimmy?”
She looked up and saw the glowing red numbers of the alarm clock: 4:26 AM.
“Do you really have to leave so early?” Kimbra asked Zane bitterly.
“I do,” he said, feeling horrible when he heard her disappointed sigh. “I have a meeting with a new client back in Cincinnati at noon. It’s kind of a big deal.”
“Really?” she was doubtful, but nonetheless intrigued. He had mentioned something during dinner, but she didn’t think much of it at the moment. “How big of a deal?”
“Well,” he crawled over the blankets and sat right next to her, “if I don’t blow it, and I actually get that promotion, I would have a pretty decent increase in salary. Maybe even enough to help us move back to Cinci.”
The proposal shocked her at first, and she didn’t know how to respond or react.
“I would be able to move out of the studio, get a bigger apartment for the both of us,” he continued, proud of his plan, but careful to observe her reaction. But her uneasy stare was very distant, and the fact that she hasn’t reacted was starting to worry him. But nonetheless, he continued, “You can take your time finding a job you like, make a career out of your music. You could find gigs down there, for your band, and they can come down there to play. We can visit Carlos and Rina every other week, and you know… it‘d be fun, wouldn’t it? What do you think?”
Her mind was still somewhere else, somewhere very far. Somewhere where the laughing voice still echoed.
“Okay, you’re making me nervous now,” he said. “Say something? Please?”
“Oh,” she shook her head as if she was still waking herself up from her dream, and then smiled at him awkwardly, “I'm sorry. I mean… yeah! Yes. That sounds perfect.”
“Really?” his face reddened with giddiness. “You think so?”
“I do,” she leaned over and kissed him. “It's a great idea! I want us to be together. I think we should do it.”
“Only if I get this job,” he sounded insecure, “right?”
“I know you will,” she told him as tenderly as she could, her mind still trying to recover from her nightmare, “I believe in you.”
“I love you, Kimbra Reed,” he said, and his words sounded to her like a soft melody, one that she wished she could hear forever.
“And I love you, Zane Green,” she whispered back while the storm outside continued to perform its final sonata.
After dinner, he took her to a late night showing of Night of the Living Dead at the local theatre. It was one of their favorites; Kimbra had it on DVD and they watch it together on one of their first dates. But tonight the movie just wasn’t captivating her at all. Instead, her mind insisted in torturing her with memories of the gift box, and with theories about what it contained. Was it something valuable, like an engagement ring, or expensive jewelry, or a pocket watch? A key to a secret doors? A letter with a secret message? A human tooth, or a finger? A bleeding, rotting eye...?
She felt insanity tightening its grip on her, and she had to shake her thoughts away before she hurled all of her dinner right there. Zane felt her squirming uncomfortably next to him, so he threw an arm over her shoulder and pulled her close to him and kissed the side of her head. She rested her head on his chest and let warmth of his body soothe her uneasiness. But it wasn’t until he leaned over and pressed his lips against hers that, even for just a few minutes, she was able to forget about the gift box. She did not want him to stop; she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again, this time more passionately. They must have accidentally kicked the chairs in front of them, because a man turned around and barked at them, “Get a room, will ya?”
“Let’s get outta here, Z,” she whispered to him.
“Sure,” Zane said sounding concerned. Her eyes were distant as she avoided to look him in the eyes, fearing that he would notice how inexplicably frightened she felt. But she couldn’t tell him, no, she wouldn’t. The gift box was her secret, and she was not ready to give to away just yet. It was hers, like her shadow. Hers, like her sou— “Are you okay?”
“I’m great. I’m fine,” Kimbra smiled, and gave him another short peck on the corner of his lips. The image of the glowing gift box flashed before her every time she closed her eyes, every time she blinked. “I just feel like doing something else, you know?”
“Sure, Kimmy-babe,” Zane told her kindly, she could see the whiteness of his grin in the darkness of the theater blurring and shape-shifting with the reflection of the film. She tried to smile back, but she wasn’t sure that she was successful. Words refused come out, and she suddenly became afraid that Zane would think she’s a weirdo freak, for acting so odd, that he would stop loving her if he found out…
About what?
She saw the bright-red words glowing in her mind.
But she was at a loss for an answer to the question.
The gift box blinked (it’s laughing), and blinked, (oh, God, it’s laughing) and blinked again. (I think I’m going c—)
“Can we just,” the words finally came, but she had to pause to catch a breath, “go back to my place now? Please?”
“Of course,” said Zane, even though he wasn’t sure if he should be worried about Kimbra right now. She saw her force a smile for him, so he offered his smile back. “It’s your night, Kimmy-babe. We’ll do whatever you want?”
It was half past midnight when the storm finally broke down.
It orchestrated their lovemaking with rain and thunder as the flashes of lightning twisted their entwined shadows on the white walls. Their passionate moaning grew louder and became the main instrument in the chaotic overture of love, and lust, and pain. The wildness of their pleasure was as ruthless as Mother Nature when they gave in to the rhythm of their instinct; heaving, and thrusting, and moaning, and biting. Their tongues and lips conjoined, and their loins burning with the pleasure of their fiery dance; a vibrating crescendo of orgasmic sensations. But the image of the gift box still continued to seduce her mind, and she couldn’t stop imagining it hiding within the flashing shadows created by the lightning. So Kimbra shut her eyes tight as she gave herself to Zane and let her thoughts rise away into the insanity of their sex. Their dance’s tempo went from adagio to allegretto as their music grew louder, and fiercer, until the storm’s roaring thunder serenaded their explosive finale.
They fell asleep in each other’s arms.
But Kimbra’s mind sunk into a dark dream where she was alone in an empty, foggy street. She was a little girl again, and she was crying in fear as she tried to escape the fog. There was a shadowy figure chasing after her, but she couldn’t tell what it was. A monster, she was sure of nothing else, it’s going to get me and it’s going to kill me and it’s going to eat me, just like it happened to— But the big, fat shadow towered over her and laughed. Red eyes burned in the darkness of its shape and devilish wings expanded behind it and then rapidly enclosed around her. She saw the shadow move inside the darkness. It extended an elongated, fat arm and offered her a small, yellow, polka-dotted gift box wrapped in a fancy red bow.
A small piece of paper was taped to the gift box, glowing red words were imprinted on it:
For:
Little Kimmy 😊
Kimbra, said the laughing voice. Open the gift.
In her dream, she screamed.
Open the gift, it said as the dream faded into black, leaving only the empty echoes of that horrible voice chanting her name like a hymn. Kimbra... Kimbra… Kimbra… Kim--
“—my? Kimmy, wake up,” Zane shook her gently and she woke up with a surprised gasp. She put her hand to her chest and felt her heart racing, her lungs still trying to catch her breath. She felt like she just almost drowned. Tears began to flow from her eyes against her will, and she dried them with the blankets, but her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
Not this again, she thought absolutely terrified. Please, God, not again.
“It’s okay, Kimmy,” Zane hugged her and caressed her hair, which he knew always calmed her. “It was just a nightmare. It’s okay, babe. I’m here.”
But she turned away from him and sat at the edge of the bed.
The lightning made her bare, caramel skin glimmer in beautiful flashes. Her long, black locks of hair dangled over her shoulders as she bowed her head to cover her face with her hands.
“You were screaming,” he said, but she ignored him. She could only feel the shiver of his words. “Kimmy?”
She looked up and saw the glowing red numbers of the alarm clock: 4:26 AM.
“Do you really have to leave so early?” Kimbra asked Zane bitterly.
“I do,” he said, feeling horrible when he heard her disappointed sigh. “I have a meeting with a new client back in Cincinnati at noon. It’s kind of a big deal.”
“Really?” she was doubtful, but nonetheless intrigued. He had mentioned something during dinner, but she didn’t think much of it at the moment. “How big of a deal?”
“Well,” he crawled over the blankets and sat right next to her, “if I don’t blow it, and I actually get that promotion, I would have a pretty decent increase in salary. Maybe even enough to help us move back to Cinci.”
The proposal shocked her at first, and she didn’t know how to respond or react.
“I would be able to move out of the studio, get a bigger apartment for the both of us,” he continued, proud of his plan, but careful to observe her reaction. But her uneasy stare was very distant, and the fact that she hasn’t reacted was starting to worry him. But nonetheless, he continued, “You can take your time finding a job you like, make a career out of your music. You could find gigs down there, for your band, and they can come down there to play. We can visit Carlos and Rina every other week, and you know… it‘d be fun, wouldn’t it? What do you think?”
Her mind was still somewhere else, somewhere very far. Somewhere where the laughing voice still echoed.
“Okay, you’re making me nervous now,” he said. “Say something? Please?”
“Oh,” she shook her head as if she was still waking herself up from her dream, and then smiled at him awkwardly, “I'm sorry. I mean… yeah! Yes. That sounds perfect.”
“Really?” his face reddened with giddiness. “You think so?”
“I do,” she leaned over and kissed him. “It's a great idea! I want us to be together. I think we should do it.”
“Only if I get this job,” he sounded insecure, “right?”
“I know you will,” she told him as tenderly as she could, her mind still trying to recover from her nightmare, “I believe in you.”
“I love you, Kimbra Reed,” he said, and his words sounded to her like a soft melody, one that she wished she could hear forever.
“And I love you, Zane Green,” she whispered back while the storm outside continued to perform its final sonata.
6. Into the Light
Zane left at 5 A.M, when the storm was starting to ameliorate. Kimbra saw him drive off from her bedroom window, and her heart immediately felt a little more empty.
But her chance had come, at last, to finally pacify her secret, unrelenting urge to examine her curious finding from the previous day, and that had been haunting ever since. It was still on top of her white dresser, where she had left it. But contrary to her recent nightmare, the gift box wasn’t addressed to anybody, and had no writings on it at all. So she just used a pair of scissors to cut open the bow and the wrapping paper.
What she found inside was nothing valuable at all, at least not at first sight. Resting on top of a soft, red cushioning was a black USB flash drive; the only thing printed on it was the picture of a yellow smiley face on a pink balloon.
She couldn’t neglect her curiosity any longer. Her mind was starting to go mad with questions, and she couldn’t decide if she truly wanted to find out the answers.
Why did she, of all people, happen to be the one to find the gift box?
It called for me…
Why would someone gift wrap such a simple item as this and then just throw it to the curb if it wasn’t something important or valuable? Did somebody lose this? Would she be digging into some wild personal, private or even confidential data meant for somebody else?
Not according to my dream…
Why was that gift box where it was when that dog barked? Was there even a dog, or was her mind playing tricks on her again?
It can’t be… Not after all these years…
No matter how much she tried, she just felt drawn to the object, like a horrible magnetism.
I’m truly going crazy this time, Kimbra told herself, aren’t I?
There was only one way to find out.
She opened up the black laptop sitting on the small desk on the corner of the room. Once logged in, she plugged in the pen drive in the laptop’s USB side slot.
Before she opened the pen drive’s files, she contemplated another last question that was still itching at the back of her mind:
Why didn’t she tell Zane about the gift box? She wasn’t completely sure, but she guessed it was the same reason why she has never told him about her nightmares, whatever that reason was. But that was wrong, too. The truth was that part of her wanted to keep it a secret, like it was a bad thing that no one should know about her, and she wasn’t fully aware of having this feeling until now.
Her instincts were still making her hesitate, but anxious adrenaline was rushing through her veins, so she ignored her instinct and double-clicked on the mouse-pad to open up the files.
The hardware device name was: LITTLEKIMMY(E:).
She felt a rush of cold go down her spine, but she doubled-clicked on the icon and another window opened. There was only one file saved in it, the icon was the same image that was printed on the pen drive, a yellow smiley face on a pink balloon. Below it was the word Pandemonium. She didn’t think much of it, her curiosity was the one in charge now, and so she double-clicked on that icon as well.
The screen immediately froze up, sparked colorful static for a few seconds, until her laptop computer shut down and the screen went black. In the short moment of sudden shock, she found herself wishing for the storm to illuminate her room with more lightning.
“What the--?” Kimbra said out loud and tried to turn the computer on again, but it wasn’t responding. “Damn it! Tsk… Shit!”
Well, Kimbra, she told herself, feeling utterly foolish, looks like you bought yourself a new computer. That, and you’ve gone insan--
“Wait…”
I think I see something... She noticed that there was a growing light in the center of the monitor screen that was quickly getting brighter and brighter, until everything started happening way too fast for her to even comprehend.
The laptop computer began to spark and shake, then the whole desk was moving, then her room went completely dark, except for the beaming red light coming from the smoking screen, which tinted the room in crimson shadows. An earthquake erupted in her entire room; decorations fell off the walls; the room’s furniture was being thrown from side to side; Kimbra crouched on the shaking floor covering her head.
Then, Kimbra heard a deep laughter overriding the horrible, monstrous cacophony that overwhelmed the room. She covered her ears tightly with her hands, but she still heard the laughter, paralyzing her with terror. All she could do now was stare directly into the shining beam of red light that started to consume her.
As her shrill scream pierced through the nightly silence of the apartment, blood began to puddle under the door of her room that went into the hallway.
But her chance had come, at last, to finally pacify her secret, unrelenting urge to examine her curious finding from the previous day, and that had been haunting ever since. It was still on top of her white dresser, where she had left it. But contrary to her recent nightmare, the gift box wasn’t addressed to anybody, and had no writings on it at all. So she just used a pair of scissors to cut open the bow and the wrapping paper.
What she found inside was nothing valuable at all, at least not at first sight. Resting on top of a soft, red cushioning was a black USB flash drive; the only thing printed on it was the picture of a yellow smiley face on a pink balloon.
She couldn’t neglect her curiosity any longer. Her mind was starting to go mad with questions, and she couldn’t decide if she truly wanted to find out the answers.
Why did she, of all people, happen to be the one to find the gift box?
It called for me…
Why would someone gift wrap such a simple item as this and then just throw it to the curb if it wasn’t something important or valuable? Did somebody lose this? Would she be digging into some wild personal, private or even confidential data meant for somebody else?
Not according to my dream…
Why was that gift box where it was when that dog barked? Was there even a dog, or was her mind playing tricks on her again?
It can’t be… Not after all these years…
No matter how much she tried, she just felt drawn to the object, like a horrible magnetism.
I’m truly going crazy this time, Kimbra told herself, aren’t I?
There was only one way to find out.
She opened up the black laptop sitting on the small desk on the corner of the room. Once logged in, she plugged in the pen drive in the laptop’s USB side slot.
Before she opened the pen drive’s files, she contemplated another last question that was still itching at the back of her mind:
Why didn’t she tell Zane about the gift box? She wasn’t completely sure, but she guessed it was the same reason why she has never told him about her nightmares, whatever that reason was. But that was wrong, too. The truth was that part of her wanted to keep it a secret, like it was a bad thing that no one should know about her, and she wasn’t fully aware of having this feeling until now.
Her instincts were still making her hesitate, but anxious adrenaline was rushing through her veins, so she ignored her instinct and double-clicked on the mouse-pad to open up the files.
The hardware device name was: LITTLEKIMMY(E:).
She felt a rush of cold go down her spine, but she doubled-clicked on the icon and another window opened. There was only one file saved in it, the icon was the same image that was printed on the pen drive, a yellow smiley face on a pink balloon. Below it was the word Pandemonium. She didn’t think much of it, her curiosity was the one in charge now, and so she double-clicked on that icon as well.
The screen immediately froze up, sparked colorful static for a few seconds, until her laptop computer shut down and the screen went black. In the short moment of sudden shock, she found herself wishing for the storm to illuminate her room with more lightning.
“What the--?” Kimbra said out loud and tried to turn the computer on again, but it wasn’t responding. “Damn it! Tsk… Shit!”
Well, Kimbra, she told herself, feeling utterly foolish, looks like you bought yourself a new computer. That, and you’ve gone insan--
“Wait…”
I think I see something... She noticed that there was a growing light in the center of the monitor screen that was quickly getting brighter and brighter, until everything started happening way too fast for her to even comprehend.
The laptop computer began to spark and shake, then the whole desk was moving, then her room went completely dark, except for the beaming red light coming from the smoking screen, which tinted the room in crimson shadows. An earthquake erupted in her entire room; decorations fell off the walls; the room’s furniture was being thrown from side to side; Kimbra crouched on the shaking floor covering her head.
Then, Kimbra heard a deep laughter overriding the horrible, monstrous cacophony that overwhelmed the room. She covered her ears tightly with her hands, but she still heard the laughter, paralyzing her with terror. All she could do now was stare directly into the shining beam of red light that started to consume her.
As her shrill scream pierced through the nightly silence of the apartment, blood began to puddle under the door of her room that went into the hallway.