Chapter 15 - 15. Pair Of Trees
Fire balls kept coming. The clamor of panicked passengers made the situation even more chaotic. Once in a while the fire balls hit the train and it caused the cars shaking. Kerberos caught them one by one and swallowed them. I finally could sit and watched extraordinary scenes I never watched before.
That dog had soft and polite voice, but inside it he had another side I had never expected it before, he was violent and scary. I realized that Kerberos was somehow the same creature wherever he was and whatever the shape he was in, he remained a wild animal, the keeper of spirit realm.
People said that when men died, their spirit would not be directly judged for what they had done during their life. There were sayings that 2 angels would guide them into the world 'Between'. In here, they would wait for Linchens to help them crossing bottomless canyon.
The Linchens would make wings for them so that they could fly over that bottomless canyon before they finally came to Kerberos. The dog with three heads would babysit them until the day of judgment came.
…
Mickey walked to my side. He licked his messy hair on his legs. "It is just advice," He said as he looked at me, "We had better not stay in one place for too long. Let us leave that boy in that place, then we meet Zarina,"
I felt I had ever heard the name Zarina somewhere. It sounded familiar to me but I forgot where exactly I had heard that name.
Mickey jumped and walked past among the clamor passengers due to fear. I wondered what had happened but suddenly all the chaotic condition had suddenly. It was quiet like nothing happened. I stood up from my seat and looked around. Everything just went back to normal, when the fire balls had not appeared , yet.
Not long after that, Kerberos appeared into the train with some parts of his hair were burnt. He flicked his ragged hair several until it turned to white again. I was surprised and stunned to see the magnificent two magical creatures in front of me.
"It would be very dangerous if any passengers remember that incident, Tubby! You have taken care all, haven't you?" Kerberos asked while cleaning his messy hair. Mickey scratched that white dog a little, "Please be polite and nice. I am not tubby. It is just hair is thicker compare to other cats," he said curtly.
The trip felt so long. Honestly I regretted to have met my father that day. If only I had not done it, I might not have faced what happened today or that night in the forest. I I had hoped my father would have changed, but it was just my hoped. Nothing had changed, yet.
My father simply remained the same. He was the person who would do whatever it took for the sake being trusted by his group.
…
After arriving, I did not go home right away. The first place to visit was Emm's house.
When we came there, Emma just arrived home from her shop as usual. Her expression was so surprised to see me. I rushed to her arms as I saw her, she was just like my own sister that I had not seen her for years. I could not stop my tears, I cried loudly in her arms. Allmy fear I held in me for days, I spilled it all. She patted my back like she was facing and calming a sulking child whose toys had been taken by someone else.
"It is alright, it is alright, Tha. Stay strong, will you?" she comforted me.
I told everything on my way home about my trip, what I had been through, about Zie, and about my father to Emma.
"Em, I will fight out," my words were decisive. "I got my second chance and I will keep it whatever it takes," I had determined for that.
Emma brushed my face softly, "How could you get so many injuries/" Her eyes were wet looking at my arms were full of bruises and some cuts.
I did not tell her what I had been through to Emma. I was worried it would make her worried when she knew what I had faced to reach her home. I distracted her attention by gesturing Zie, Mickey, and Kerberos to meet her.
At first her expression was afraid, but the she smiled. "Emm, this is marionette with the Zie's spirit in it." The marionette opened his hood he always put on. "This cat is Mickey," The grey tubby cat came forward, "And, the white dog that used to come to my house is Kerberos," She bent down to stroke the head of that four-legged animal.
"I have told you, the dog is good." Emma enjoyed brushing Kerberos hair, "And," she paused for a moment. I saw that woman give her hand to Zie which was greeted with stiff gesture of that marionette. "Please take care of Tha, she is strong but I know some parts of her have fallen apart." She was sarcastic. I understood the point of her words, but I did not want to respond it..
Zie nodded, "I will do my best,"He was determined.
…
After that short introduction, I asked about the tickets I ordered from her. She asked me to rest a day or two, but I refused it. I could risk what happened in the train wold happen again when I was with her.
I knew I was hunted, and the best way was to stay away from them in awhile. That way fewer people would be involved in this matter.
That day, Euron was cloudy with some drizzles. Four of us were walking along the city park, to the subway. It was pretty quiet, perhaps it was due to the early morning, 1.30am.
While in the train, almost everyone in the train looked at us, two persons with a cat and a dog. I ignored that because I was focusing on arriving to the place Kerberos told us as soon as possible.
It was not short trip though because it was located out of town. I was almost unable to rest in the train with long cars along. Two trouble makers were too noisy. Anytime I was about to sleep, they made some noise. Luckily, there were not too many passengers around.
We arrived at the place at 6 in the morning. The address Kerberos given to us took us to a forest nearby a mountain slope. It was pretty far from the crowd. The driver taking us said that it was a quite popular tourist forest. In the beginning of the fall, there would be a lot of tourists hiking or visiting the cave in the forest.
"Start from here, I will be the guide for you all," said Kerberos and walked in front of us.