Sognore 4.0

Distressed, jumbled words streamed through his consciousness. The endless void engulfed his body and mind. He knew that he could open his eyes when he felt ready.

“In...forest...took...passed...school…” They came in sequences, some unintelligible and others too frantic to understand. It was only when the words came in full sentences and he could hear the rustle of the wind that Mateo opened his eyes.

Yasmin was standing above him, her phone pressed against her ear.

“Oh my god, really, you can’t be saying stuff like that! That he’s dead? He's not! God Luka, this isn't time to joke. You're supposed to be telling me that these drugs aren't bad or something."

Her eyes flitted over to his now awake, groggy self. Her eyes widened and she stopped speaking abruptly.

“Oh.” She looked at him as if he were some odd, newly found specimen.

“He’s awake now, so--yeah yeah, see ya Luka.” She flipped her phone shut and stuffed it in her jean pocket.

His body felt like it was underwater and his mind had only just surfaced. The web of tree branches layered over the sky like a cage.

“How’d you get all the way over here? I had to look for awhile.” Mateo heaved himself up as leaves fell off of his back. He could feel the grime in his tangled hair.

“I don’t know, but that was Luka, wasn't it?”

Her eyebrows raised at the name.

“Yeah, do you know her or something?” Her voice tapered off into an uneasy silence.

Mateo sprung to his feet, the words tumbling out of his mouth like an avalanche. As he was talking, even he was surprised at how much energy he had.

“Only this morning! Hours before this, even. I had passed out and woke up outside and had this weird memory of a gold eye and she was the one that woke me up. And now it’s happened again! What the hell are in those pills you gave me?”

Her eyes were as round as a doe’s. She peered at him with questioning eyes before slowly looking away into the distance.

"Well, I got them from Luka. She said she doesn't even really know, all she told me was that it's a mixture of a bunch of things."

Luka's scratchy voice rang through his head. “You don’t buy, do you?” It made complete sense what she meant earlier. I should’ve known better.

He held himself back from saying anything else. Mateo would think she’s gullible, but then again he was stupid enough to take something even she didn’t know what had in it. He felt like a parent that had just found out their child did something horrible.

“Next time I’ll keep a leash on you so you don’t wander off and try to die,” Yasmin said with a smile. Her eyes still held some form of worry or guilt. Mateo didn’t know why he felt so bad for looking at her.

“Next time, huh?”

“Well, I just kinda now realized that taking drugs in a forest wasn’t a great idea.”

Internally he felt relieved. I said too much about this morning. He itched to get out of this desolate forest. His stomach churned with an indescribable feeling and the branches bent towards him the longer he stood here.

“Can we get out of here now?” Yasmin’s mouth opened, as if she were hesitating to say something.

“Yeah of course,” she said with a smile. She began to walk in front of him, as she always did. She was a pretty good navigator in the school hallways.

A hard object went flying under his feet and the ground came closer to his face than he would’ve preferred it to. Mateo regained his balance, his eyes bugged out.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

His heart linked with that heavy, loud sound. The one he had heard right before fading away. There, a few feet away, lay a black rectangular object. Yasmin had already turned now, noticing that he hadn’t followed after her.

“What’s wrong? I thought you wanted to get outta here.”

“That,” he pointed at it, “what’s that?”

She came by his side, staring at exactly at it.

“A...leaf?”

“No, that rectangular black thing.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t see anything.” Out of the corner of her vision he could see her intense, apologetic look.

The three, long fingers stroked the object’s top, wistfully lingering and then dissipating. It still stalked the watery underworld that swallowed his memories.

“C’mon, you said you wanted to leave, right? Besides, I have some good news to tell you when we’re outta here.” She grabbed him lightly by the wrist, guiding him farther and farther away. His mother’s dirty brown dress and bare feet flashed through his mind. He allowed Yasmin to take him farther and farther away.

Not having to think for himself soon gave his imagination room to wander.

The dead grasses folded over and melted into pools of shallow, pink waters. The bark of the trees shuddered and out of their wombs emerged bioluminescent, teal flowers. Luscious foliage sprouted from the earth and shone with a cosmos of heavenly colors. The underbelly of an orange, reddish sun sat above the jungle like the Egyptian god Ra.

A snake unwrapped its coiled body from a tree branch, its piercing yellow eyes observing him. Its black, fierce eyeliner and violet scales complemented the colorful atmosphere.

Yasmin was a white, glowing figure that emitted nothing but pure light. In the distance he could almost hear the powerful yet patient rush of a waterfall. The view now panned outside of his body. He could see himself with brown bull horns that came out of the sides of his head. In this world, he could be strong and wise, yet understanding and empathetic. Mateo hungered to see more, yet his perfect imagination began to tear at the seams as Yasmin's voice entered his mind.

“Finally, now I can tell you! So, I called everyone last night and we’re thinking about going to Sacred Heart. Whaddya think?”

She stood in front of him now. Her back faced the sun and its rays bent over her figure and cast her brown skin in a soft light. She waited for his response with eager eyes. Internally he knew he had experienced enough for today. More than enough, actually. Then again, he could picture himself sitting in his room alone and paranoid. Going along with everyone would be better than having to be left with his thoughts.

“Is Bug coming?”

A grin broke out on her face. “What’s it without him? As long as his mom sees Lee is coming. Cause, ya know, he’s soooo responsible.” Mateo held back a wince. He knew what she was referring to, and they never spoke about it aloud since it happened. It was hard to refuse each time she asked him of something, especially if everyone else was coming too. The school had always stuck out to him, but he had never imagined actually stepping inside.

“Okay, I’ll come.” The beginnings of a headache tapped at his mind.

“Yay! Well, I think it’ll be at seven or eight, I don’t know. One of us will give you a call, okay? I have to catch up with Luka now, so I’ll see you later.”

“See ya.” She sped walk so fast that it looked ridiculous. The fact that Yasmin knew Luka boggled his mind more than it should’ve. Sognore was too small of a town. He didn’t want to bother thinking about anything that had happened today. All he wanted to do was smother himself in sheets and sleep for days. Getting up later is gonna be a pain in the ass.

Gravel skittered under the tires as he came to a stop. A cat’s expectant meow greeted him as his bicycle clattered against the ground. “Ah, hey Bromi! You were waiting for me, huh?” His big, green eyes and chubby cheeks made Mateo’s heart feel a little lighter. He ignored the eerie backdrop of anorexic grey trees. Having his bedroom window face the forest had forever planted a seed of paranoia in him. 

Bromi paid no attention to the sprinkles of kibble that rained down from Mateo’s hands and into the bowl. The door creaked open as Mateo slipped inside. He crouched down from inside the house, his hand outstretched.“Well, c’mon you big fat baby,” he whispered. Bromi trotted in, skipping in front of Mateo and leading the way to his bedroom. As expected, his mother wasn’t there. An iron clamp crushed the strings of words and desolate feelings in his throat, cramming the emotions farther and farther away. Shavings of the evening sunlight streamed through the window and onto the floor. Mateo flung his shirt across the room, taking his place by Bromi. He was squishy yet had a bit of muscle. It made him perfect for cuddling. Mateo tucked his head by his fur, his breath slowing.

Jumbled thoughts about his bizarre day flew around his brain like pestersome flies; though they were soon squashed by sleep.

The first thing he felt when he awoke again was the empty space. Bromi’s warm, comforting presence was gone. His eyes only opened in slits, though it was no matter. His room was shadowed in darkness. Mateo’s tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth like glue and his lips were covered in peeling skin. His fingers grazed the nightstand cautiously until he located the day-old cup of water. He swiped it up eagerly, but the daze of sleep still had him in its clutch. Lukewarm water drenched his arm and pooled on the floor, jolting him awake.

A flare of blue light sprouted out of thin air, arching at him like a bolt of lightning ready to strike. His heart fluttered wildly in his ribcage, though its wings were clipped. Its electric tail headed straight for his eyes and the swathe of sheets wrapped him in its embrace as he crashed to the ground. He struggled to get out as the cord of blinding light whipped around. His bare feet hit the cold tile and he sprinted to the looming doorway.

The floor tilted diagonally as it lurched under him. The brilliance of the merciless light had already grabbed him by the wrist. Mateo pressed his body against the floor, twisting around as it pulled him to his bed. Tiny phantom teeth bit into his skin as his heart burst into millions of vivacious fireworks. Adrenaline flowed through him freely, as though his body had already assumed he was driving down a highway straight to death. In a final attempt, he grabbed onto the bedpost with his left hand, straining against the insistent force.

A second cord erupted from the darkness. It curled over his head and its flaring heat bound his hands together. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he let his head hit the floor.

“You know,” he said between breaths, “I really didn’t want to be woken up like this.”

“I’m still thirsty, too.”

His breath began to slow in his chest. Particles of blue light floated through the air like fireflies. A hazy memory bubbled up to the surface as his eyes grew familiar to the dark. A blue, soft thread that rocked back and forth. Yes, it’s the same as I saw in the forest!

He dare not move. It seemed as though they were trying to help earlier, but now he wasn’t sure. They? What if… The thin, shadow fingers materialized into his mind. Mateo violently shoved the unsettling thought into the recesses of his brain. His pupils slowly moved to the corners of his eyes. The once neon blue light was startlingly darker than before; nearly as faint as it had been earlier today. The arcane shackles felt cool on his sweaty skin. He allowed his breath to hover in his chest, breathing out so lightly even he could barely hear himself.

There has to be a source. There was one last time too, right? I can’t just sit here forever. The damp, cold floor bit into his backbone. His mind was awfully clear, more than usual. Thinking of a plan would put all of that to waste. He shot up from the ground, hugging his feet to the floor. The cords burst alive with a rebirthed strength that threatened to pull him back down once again. Despite the anxious beat of his heart, he kept his mind and thoughts firmly in place. One positive of this whole situation was the lines allowed him to see. Without them he wouldn’t have a chance.

As he took another step backward with his right foot, the threads solidified. They were no longer some hazy, otherworldly aether. Their toughness was comparable to lead and already the veins in his wrist felt pressed together. Mateo moved his bound hands slightly to the side of him and away from his body. The difference was barely noticeable. His wrists felt like they were going to explode as he prepared to take another step away. Mateo had no idea why he hadn’t given up already. It easily could’ve been pride, but pride from a struggle that no one would see. He shifted his weight to his right as he slid his left foot farther away.

As his heel lifted off the tile, the cords arched in the air and dragged him close. With half of his weight off the floor, he knew there was no reason to try to fight once more. His legs went connecting with the nightstand and it crashed to the ground, scattering its contents all over the floor.

“Shit,” he seethed as his lower body flared with pain. It was really over for him now. Mateo could only pray his mother wasn’t home anymore. The cords tightened around his wrist, pulling him to the ground like a professional wrestler. His side hit the ground and the threads wrapped and interlocked through the spaces of his fingers and the palms of his hands. They moved his body without his own will, and he no longer bothered to resist. It were as if they were trying to become one with his nerves.

His hands were guided to the toppled nightstand and his fingers latched onto a hard, small surface. Bitter metal flooded his taste buds as bursts of electricity coursed through his hands and into his veins. In an instant an arch of blue light cracked through the dark air and immediately vanished. The once stuffy air had become overwhelmingly cold. He swallowed the saliva gathering in his mouth. Slowly Mateo rubbed his fingers across the surface until he reached a sharp corner. He jumped a bit in surprise as he hooked his finger under the cover and a flurry of yellow pages opened up to him.

“This is it then? That thing I had seen earlier…” Hearing his own voice in the quiet made him feel oddly comforted. The darkness he had grown accustomed to crept closer and closer to his body. Mateo knew he had to move, but he was too scared to even move his hand from its place on the book. He would love to dismiss it as some crazy dream; a stray hallucination that woke him from sleep. He became increasingly aware of the strange position of his body. The damp floor cut into his hip bone and his stretched out, splayed hands struggled to not go limp.

A trilling ring sounded from under the bed. Despite his uncomfort, Mateo wished to stay for a little longer. He couldn’t explain the solace he felt from being suspended between decision and indecision. His body folded like a piece of crumpled paper as he reached for the cell. The answering beep shouted in his ear as he lay splayed on the dirty tile.

“Yea?” His heart skipped a thump as he realized he didn’t bother to check who was calling.

“Hey, are you still coming? I’m just here with Lee right now.”Mateo shot up in the air at the sound of Yasmin’s voice. His startling come-to had completely erased his memories of their earlier plans.

“Yeah yeah, I’m coming right now,” he said in a rushed voice. Goddammit! I’m not even ready, much less coming! Why did I say that?

“M’kay, see you here then.” By the time she had hung up he became a maelstrom of cleaning power. Sheets were flung in the air like some crazed ritual dance and the wet tiles became a dangerous ice rink. He stripped off his pajamas and hangers went clattering to the ground as he threw on a formal shirt and light blue jeans.

He spun around to the book, throwing all hesitation out the window as he scooped it up. Mateo’s eyes darted to the door, pausing for a few moments to listen for any noise just to be safe. He leaned down to the floor, pawing under his dresser until his fingers clasped the edges of the shoe box. He carefully placed the book atop a myriad of colored, vivid drawings and scraps of wire. Once the lid was in place he tucked his phone in his pocket and crept out the door.

The sight of his mom at the kitchen counter nearly shocked his soul into the afterlife. Wet ramen noodles spilled over the edges of her red Instaramen cup. Her hollow eyes bore into the space he was standing. Tear lines of mascara stained her cheeks. He couldn’t move a muscle. Mateo wasn’t sure if he should feel guilty; guilty over whatever she had been crying over. So badly he wanted to move, to do some sort of human interaction that made sense. Yet, he didn’t know what else to do but wait for her to notice or dismiss him.

“Going out.” Her voice was flat and dead.

“Yes.”

“I hate seeing you in those sneakers.”

“I’m sorry. No one will see me.”

“No one will see you.” Her black eyes curdled with an emotion he had grown able to understand over the years.

“No one will see me because I am invisible.” He buttoned up the top of his shirt, folding over the collar.

The lapse in her speaking signaled it was okay for him to leave. He walked in small, cautious steps as he moved to the door and quietly shut it behind him. He undid the top button and ran to his bicycle, jumping on it and pedaling as fast as he could go. The farther away he was from that house, the more relieved and free he felt. Not even the humid air could cling to his body as it usually had. Streetlights zoomed past him and the outside world became nothing more but a mesh of running colors and rundown trailers.

Pebbles skittered under the tires as the monstrous, abandoned building came into view. It was ominous in the nighttime, a complete opposite of the holiness it was meant to represent.

As he got closer, Mateo could see Bug’s fluffy mess of blonde hair behind Yasmin and Lee’s tall figure by her.

“Yo Mateo!” Yasmin’s voice was so loud and excited that she could have woken up all the animals in the forest with only one word.

“Shh! Don’t want a crackhead to run over and smash you over the head with a bottle do you?” Despite being a joke, Lee’s voice had a ring of concern in it. Bug snickered.

“You look tired,” said Bug with a smile.

“For now, not ‘till I see a ghost,” he said with a returned smile. The lame joke felt weird in his mouth. Lee raised an eyebrow. His grey eyes were oddly shaped, as though he barely had any eyelids. It was the only intimidating feature about him.

“I don’t really blame ya, her class is the assigned sleeping class. I mean all she really does is go on and on about the same shit we learned weeks ago.” Bug and Lee became engaged in a stream of comments and complaints as Mateo focused on Yasmin. Her unruly neon green hair crowded her face as she stared intently at her phone.

“Em’s sneaking out right now, well five minutes ago she did.”

“Oh god, she better not do it through the fucken’ window again,” Lee spoke up.

“I hope not. But I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Bug said. Mateo got the feeling he was only saying that to try and be reassuring, though he was right. Despite Em being impulsive and getting into too many fights she was also impulsive.

The light reflected from street lights only graced their faces, leaving their bodies in the dark. The lapse of silence as they waited didn’t seem to bother them. Mateo wondered if he was the only one that found it awkward. The book and his mother’s deadpan face invited themselves back into his mind.

Should I tell Bug about it?

He knew the likely response from anyone were to think he had lost his sanity. No matter how nice Bug was about it or how carefully he chose his words wouldn’t change anything.

The only confessional I’ll have for now is my cat. He nearly laughed aloud, but from everyone’s bored looks they hadn’t noticed.

“How long has it been now?” Lee asked. He sounded impatient and ready to get over it. Bug yawned, stretching his arms over his head.

“Ten minutes,” said Yasmin nonchalantly. Bug sat down on the gravel and dirt, his blonde hair flopping to the side.

“I wonder if it’s actually haunted. I mean, it could be but it seems like they would leave right after they died.” His voice was full of curiosity and contemplation. Mateo had always been taken aback by Bug’s openness to the paranormal despite him being Christian. Most of the Christians in Sognore were tightly-bound to their belief and dare not speak of anything else.

“No shit! If I died in this town, I wouldn’t wait around and look at the scenery! This place is fuckin’ disgusting.” Her eyebrow was raised, a playful grin on her face.

“She has a point,” said Mateo. Just as Bug were about to speak again, probably to rattle on about ghosts and the paranormal, a voice interrupted him.

“Sorry,” she paused to take a breath, “I took so long. Hadda run here.” Her blonde, straight hair was a mess. Strings of hair flopped in all sorts of directions and her face glistened with sweat.

“Run? What happened to your skateboard?” said Yasmin in surprise.

“My stepdad took it.” 

“What an asshole.”

“Yeah.” Em’s eyes were downcast, running her hand through her tangled hair. She looked up, tilting her head. Her eyes were as pure and cold as ice.

“So are we gonna figure out if this place is haunted or not?” Bug got up, brushing the dirt off his jeans. Mateo’s heart did not thump in anticipation any longer and his breathing had returned to normal. He felt more confident with them.

Yasmin was about to say something but Em cut her off before she could even utter a word.

“I’ll go first,” she stated.

“How are we gonna see?” Lee asked. Bug pulled a small flashlight out of his pocket, shining it on his face.

“We’ll be seeing but now you won’t be able to,” he said with a grin. Lee lifted his arm in front of his eyes, blocking out the glaring light.

“Okay, okay I get it. I’m a clown,” he said with a half smile.

Mateo felt like he was watching them through the lens of an outsider. He wasn’t sure when to speak up and if it really mattered if he did or didn’t.

“Are we going or not?” said Yasmin impatiently. Em perked up at Yasmin’s words, casually strolling to the front of the group. Bug looked as though he were about to speak up, though he stayed quiet and shined the flashlight ahead of her. The top of the building was a dull brown, lined with three sets of six windows above its grey bottom. Cheap, yellowed shutters crowded the bottom windows while the ones above were empty. Even a stranger would be able to conclude that it was either incredibly dirt poor or abandoned. This time they were using the side door as the front one was usually closed unless the pastor was using it for bible study.

As Em grabbed the handle and the grey door creaked open, a musty, rotten smell slapped them in the face. The air was much heavier compared to that outside. Em stood there for a moment, seemingly surveying the area. It wasn’t until she looked above her that she let out a blood curdling scream.