Occult of Strigoikirk(The Second)

Complete parts:

1. Occult of Strigoikirk(The first)
2. Occult of Strigoikirk(The Second)
3. Occult of Strigoikirk(The Third)
4. Occult of Strigoikirk(The Fourth)
5. Occult of Strigoikirk(The Fifth)
6. Occult of Strigoikirk(The Sixth)
7. Occult of Strigoikirk(The Seventh)
8. Occult of Strigoikirk(The Eight)
9. Occult of Strigoikirk (The Ninth)
10. Occult of Strigoikirk(The Tenth)
11. Occult of Strigoikirk(Grand Finale)

Ticktock, TickTock, Ticktock. Aaron‘s mind is restless. Each little sound is a sign of the undead. Waiting for him to sleep, to drag him under. In the middle of the earth where the demon, Strigoi- as Ioan said, live. Their realm.

But why me? After an hour of restless tossing & turning it’s the first time a right question has come to his mind. Why would any Strigoi want to hurt him? Who is he anyway, just another 16 year old betwixt the bunch of students visiting the creepy village for the first time.

I’m stupid. He starts laughing, covering his face with hands to block out the noise.

The laugh gets hysterical, his adrenaline meter is on top gear now. He shakes Lonzo but he mutters something inaudible.

After number of failed tries, Aaron decides to leave on his own. He needs to utilize his fervor somewhere, But where? He’s no more afraid of the paranormal, in fact he’s set to be the ghost to scare people.

He walks up to the key-keeper who’s still asleep. He takes his lantern and checks the grandfather clock- 2 a.m. He still has a lot of time. His mind is running rounds of extreme ideas, Scaring girls would be easier. But the girls are sleeping on the other end of the hall & it’d be difficult for him to return undetected.

His feet drive him out of the hall. The wind outside is cooler than it was earlier. Aaron still can’t believe he was sweating in the bus this afternoon. Must be the trees around. He covers his free palm in the pocket of his jeans and walks around.

The lantern seems useless since the moon is bright enough to illuminate his path.

He completes a round of the hall, without any successful chance of executing his prank. Not wanting to get frustrated he decides whoever comes up in front of him he will walk to them with the lantern, speak in a hushed intended to be scary voice and then run away.

The surroundings are empty, No one is as brave as me. He gloats, and starts moving in the southern path of the village.

Fun always lies in places restricted. Further on his way, his patience starts to deteriorate. The road is deserted and plain. No person or an animal in his view.

The adrenaline is soon replaced by the solitary feel and epiphany of being alone in the dark. Aaron takes a turn, but his heart skips a beat when he sees her.

“Where d’you think you’re going?” Up close, Audra’s moontlit face looks angelic. Her eyes are a couple inches higher than that of Aaron’s, thus involuntarily he stretches his spine.

“I-I” Though they’ve been in the same school, he has never talked to her personally. There have only been formal talks in the classroom in front of people and in a group, he has never talked to Audra personally. Being left alone in a forest at midnight is a far different concept.

“Speak.” Her voice is demanding, but in a soothing way and suddenly he wants to tell her everything.

“I was feeling sick so came out for a walk. Why are you out?”

Audra’s looking straight at him, with a confused look of examination. Taking her own time she replies, “You’re going to the southern gate?”

Aaron didn’t see this coming, but he can’t deny for he knows she’s a person who loves adventure.

“Yes! Yes I am. Are you, too?” He’s taking a calculated risk.

“Oh my gosh! Great.” She seems to have released her breath which she held back.

“My friends are such chickens, they didn’t even agree to step out of the hall. So I snuck out. Glad I met you, Aaron.”

At the mention of his name, he admires her voice. Her sweet, sharp voice that has the power to make him do anything is working it’s charm.

“Alright, but don’t go out of my sight.” Increasing the depth of his own voice, Aaron walks with an inflated chest.

The ghostly woods lose their scariness after 5 more minutes traveling south. The trees are nothing more than wooden towers and leaves are nothing more than an obstacle.

At the end of the path, an open spot of 10 meters is spread around. Across it though, are trees denser than the ones they came through. Across it, the woods turn into a jungle. The only thing stopping them is a 4 feet wired fence. If it had been Aaron alone he might have crossed it but it’s the question of his manners, so he walks ahead to search for a gate that the village’s head talked about.

“Look there’s something!” Audra doesn’t wait for Aaron, she’s already running towards the black metal gate on the border of the village and the jungle.

“Guess we’ve reached! What’s next?” Aaron dramatically moves his hands in the air suggesting he’s tired.

“Next is, we go in! There’s a street lamp, too. Hopefully there’s something that might interest us.” Audra takes a look at him and realizes he isn’t likely to accompany her. “Or it’s okay if you’re sleepy and tired. I’ll go alone, don’t worry.”

Her words can’t leave Aaron’s mind. Especially now that it can be embarrassing if anyone knows. “I’ll come, don’t worry!” He steps up, giving her no chance of cross questioning him.

At this point, Aaron isn’t sure if it’s his imagination or reality but the temperature is cooler than it was in the village or the road. The first street lamp is the only one that provides them light further. In the obscured side from the village, Audra leans over a tree. Asking for water after the long fruitless journey. She isn’t going to give up so easily though. She has to prove it, since everyone’s wondering if ghosts are real.

A few more yards ahead Aaron spots a park bench. A royal one, with an eerie design in an atypical place, lit up by a small lamp over it. Contrasting the darkness of the night, it’s shining in pearly white color.

Grabbing the opportunity he rests on it. Audra takes a seat next to him.

“You know me?” She asks Aaron.

“Of course, who doesn’t? By the way, how do you know my name?”

“I’m good at remembering names.” She laughs in a weird pitch. “Just kidding, I heard Mrs. Martinez talking to you outside the bus when we started our journey.”

Aaron joins in her laughter. He’s starting to enjoy the tremor of the night. He wants to do something, along with Audra. Lonzo is going to be shocked!

“Help!!” There’s a scream on the other side of the forest, Audra and Aaron jump to their feet. Puzzled, they search for the source of the voice.

“Go away!” Lonzo. That’s him. How? 

Without another thought Aaron bursts in a sprint towards his friend.

©The Honest Fabler

©Image and Cover Credits- Google Images