ACT IV:

By Time

Chapter 29: About A Doll

The way raindrops tapped on the roof, the way it smelled, the sky looked, and the wet grass between my toes felt; it was amazing. It felt new.

I felt new.

I felt like I was reborn. I was experiencing the world around me for the first time.

If only I was where I belong and not stuck in freaking Nihon where it never stops raining!

It’s been pouring three days straight! When’s it going to end??? If I had my powers...!!

That Damnation rune was all I wanted gone. Not my ability to warp and fly and all the good stuff. Why’d I have to lose them all??

I swear Bara knew what she was doing. She got rid of all the runes on purpose and now I have to find a way back home without them!

“Are you still there crying??” Bara asked from the hallway.

Of course the rain wasn’t heavy enough to drown out that ear itching voice of her’s. Maybe if I pretended to be dead she’d go away.

“You know you could be doing something useful instead! Like helping Ramla with the potatoes!”

Me?? Peel potatoes??! Not likely!

“I’ll throw your useless butt out in the rain if you don’t start earning your keep around here!”

Earn my keep?? “As soon as it stops raining I’m gone!”

Jaff had to be worried about me by now. How was I going to get back home without my abilities? Ishikawa had zero docks! Where could I find a ship? I’ll swim to Khalm if I have to!

“Here!” she ordered, storming into the room and planting a bowl of potatoes on the cot. “Peel these! I’ve got things to do in the vegetable cellar! And you’d better not leave any skin on those spuds, either!”

She was lucky I didn’t flip the entire bowl in her face! Can’t she cook anything other than potatoes?? We’ve had them every night! How do you peel these darn things anyway?!

Ugh! I hate this place!

“Owh!” Ramla screamed.

I wonder what happened! Better go check it out.

She was in the kitchen wrapping her hand with a cloth. A bloody cloth. She must have cut herself peeling potatoes. Wow, look how whole and clean those spuds were!

“Ramla? Are you okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine. It’s just a scratch,” she smiled. She always seemed so happy. How could she, living with Bara?? I’ve only been here less than a week and I’m about ready to toss my shoes at that old woman!

“My hands.... They got so shaky all of a sudden.”

“I could heal it...er..nevermind. I forgot.” It’s like Bara said; I was useless.

“Thank you anyway, Aiden. Well, I’d better wash these before Bara gets back.”

“I can do that. You don’t want to get your bandage wet.”

“Oh, yes. You’re right! Thank you again.”

Was it me or was Ramla much paler than before? Maybe it was because of all the rain? Man, this pot’s heavy! “So, how are you feeling with all the runes you have in you?”

“Runes?”

“The Sanskrit stuff Bara took from me and gave to you.”

She stared out the window for a minute or two without saying a word. Did she zone out on me? “Ramla?”

“I..wish Isuko were here,” she replied, softly. That was the first time I ever heard sadness in her voice.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

She looked at me and smiled happily. “I’d better clean up these skins before Bara returns.”

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Now I was starting to worry about her. I’ve been so fed up with my situation, I hadn’t thought too much about Ramla. Were those runes dormant inside of her? It must be taxing. Hell, I should know!

But Ramla’s nice and sweet. Why did Bara have to lay my burden on her?

***

There wasn’t much potato left after I finished peeling them. Well, at least they were skinless; that should make Bara happy.

Yeah, no. Nothing made her happy.

What’s taking her so long to get back from that cellar? She was supposed to show me a map to the nearest port city. Ramla must know where it was.

Unfortunately, she was taking a nap.

Maps aren’t hard to find. Where would Bara keep hers? Her place wasn’t too big. It was definitely smaller than Laul’s shop. But, it was way better organized.

Searching Bara’s room first made the most sense.

Was it on her night stand? No.

Under her cot? No.

In a drawer? No.

Hanging on a wall ( because that’s where I’d have mine ). Nada.

If it wasn’t in her wardrobe I’d have to search someplace else. Huh. Bara didn’t strike me as a doll collector, but she had dozens of small, wooden figurines. All of them neatly placed in a row; all of them of a young girl.

......?

Why did they resemble Ramla? They were so lifelike. All of them looked so much like Ramla.

“What the Hell?!” I gasped as I was grabbed from behind and put in a chokehold! I caught a glimpse of a blade coming at me and instinctively grabbed the person’s wrist.

“Did you think it would be so easy to be rid of Us??!” a maniacal voice asked. Or voices. There were a bunch of them speaking and one of them sounded like Ramla! But she wasn’t this strong...! Was she??

It was a task keeping the blade away from piercing my chest! “R..Ramla? What are you doing..?!”

“We will be one again!”

Something sharp pierced my neck! Did she sink her teeth in me?! I hadn’t felt pain like this since those leeches tried to eat me! But this was... different...! Felt like she was..injecting me with...??? “ No! Ramla! Stop!”

“Ramla!” Bara shouted.

She must have done something to make her drop me! When I turned around Ramla was on the floor. Bara stood over her holding a mallet.

“I told her not to close her eyes!” Bara said. “Not for a second!”

“W..what..happened to her??” I asked, clutching my neck. I was expecting to see a bunch of blood in my hand, but there wasn’t any.

Oh shoot! She moved! She’s awake!

“Aiden! Get out of here!” ordered Bara.

This was the one of the few times I wasn’t going to argue with the old lady. Wasn’t sure where I was supposed to run to. Outside? Then where would I go???

I wish I had my runes!

I rushed to the back of the house but Ramla was already there! It was like she warped, like, the way I used to.

“Hold. Still.” she said. And now I couldn’t move.

Oh, no! No, no, no! “Ramla! Don’t do this! Don’t let them control you!”

“You’re right. You’re where We belong.”

She went for my neck, again! Were the runes trying to get back into my blood this way???

Something flew by me and ended up on Ramla’s face. It was a piece of parchment with strange writing on it. Ramla fell to the ground almost immediately.

Whew! I could move again.

“Nnnn...” she moaned. She..sounded normal.

Bara came and helped her to her feet. “You couldn’t hold out for a few more days, could you?!”

“I -- I --no. I cut myself. It wouldn’t stop bleeding so...I..I thought I could heal the wound....”

“You know better than to tap into that vile energy!”

Ramla looked my way then threw her arms around me. I nearly jumped out of my skin when her hair brushed my neck! “I..I’m so sorry, Aiden! Please, forgive me!”

“It..it’s okay. I’m just glad to have you back!”

“Thank you, Aiden. I..I’ll get back to the chores...”

“That can wait,” said Bara. “Have a seat in the main room. I need to examine you.”

“Oh..ok, Bara.”

Bara watched Ramla walk away. “This has never happened after a Pardoning.”

“Did you have to give them to her at all??”

“I do the ritual, the Sanskrit evil leaves the person, enters the doll, then ceases to exist! That’s how it works! That’s how it’s always worked!”

Doll?

“That Sanskrit blood of yours has some of the most concentrated evil I’ve ever seen! It’s keeping that energy inside of Ramla; stirring it up in her like the moon attracts the oceans!”

I get it. I’m the problem. “I need to leave.”

“Exactly! The sooner the better! That talisman I used was one of the strongest I have, and they don't sell them at the general store!”

Funny how leaving here was the only thing I could think about before. I thought I had a choice; that I was finally in control of my life.

I was wrong.

***

The road to Ishikawa looked more like a river thanks to all the rain. And this horse wasn’t enthusiastic about swimming. We’re gonna have to take another route. Interesting how much clearer the skies were now that Bara’s place was behind me.

It’s best that I leave her place behind. My powers would stop pestering Ramla and we’d both be rid of them.

So where was I headed now?

Takaikigi was the closest town with a dock. According to her map, cutting through Ishikawa would have saved me a couple of days. Now I had no other choice but to take the long way.

Hopefully they had griffin riders there so I could get in touch with Jaff.

Wait. Why was I worrying?

It’s over. I’m free of those nightmare runes. Sure, I have to get used to traveling like a normal person, but atleast I am normal now.

No more voices in my head; no more struggling to keep Damnation under wraps; I’m just plain old Aiden again.

I’ve never felt better!

“Giddyup, horse! Let’s see what you can do!”

To be continued