Bad Lights, Good Lights [Chapter 4.2]

Just after saving the lights, Imran decided we should better head to home. Father was not going to be pleased if we arrived later than ten o’clock. We went into the car to Sarah’s house. After saying goodbye to her, I left with Imran, Silver and Scarlet, Imran riding the motorcycle. The streetlights lined up like blotches of orange lights on the road, giving us view of the overall path.

I noticed before that that Imran had a smile on his face the entire time after meeting Silver. I could only guess that this light meant much to him. I would find out soon. We arrived at our home after a few minutes, Mother opening the gate to allow the motorcycle came in. Imran parked it near the car. Both of us had no car license, hence the use of the motorcycle.

“Where’s Father?” I asked, taking of the teal scarf I wore and hanging it on my shoulder.

Dim orange lights lighted the living room with a couple of pristine white sofas placed opposite each other, a glass low table separating them. A flat, huge television stood near them, its screen giving off colourful lights. It showed an Indonesian drama show, one that was Mother’s favourite. I took a seat at the edge of one sofa, resting my back against it. Imran sat beside me.

Mother didn’t look at me. She sat opposite me, her eyes on the television’s screen. “At the shop,” she said, her voice barely heard.

Imran and I didn’t say anything. Sometimes Father wasn't home at night, staying at his second wife’s shop. Actually, this activity went back to before we knew he had married another woman. We had no idea he went to that bitch’s place. We just assumed he was hanging out at some restaurants. My uncle once stayed at our house for a few months, and told us about the rumours of Father’s second marriage. We ignored it, believing it wasn't true.

We were wrong. And now we would wait for Father, as he sometimes would come back to the house if he didn’t go to that bitch’s house. I closed my eyes, resting my head on the sofa. A few minutes nap would suffice before I headed to my room. Scarlet and Silver were quiet being inside of us. I heard taps, and knew Imran was checking his mobile phone.

Imran woke me up when the clock’s long hand was about to strike eleven. I yawned a few times and headed to my room after saying “Good night” to Mother. She was sleeping on the sofa, the television screen still lit with light. I thought she was waiting for Father, as she always did each night he was out. I pitied her. How could he even consider marrying another when he had this faithful wife?

I went into the room, and said “Good night”. As I hoped, Scarlet replied back with a low, hoarse “Good night” and I jumped onto the bed. I was about to ask him if he could go out of my body, but tiredness had taken hold of me and urged me to sleep with a few more yawns. I surrendered, forgetting everything that had happened today, knowing all those things would come back tomorrow.

Friday, 19th April 2014

I woke up with a stretch and a few yawns. Today was Friday, the day when the school session was the shortest among five schooling days. This was due to Friday praying, in which all Muslims would go to the mosque to have a huge group praying, which meant their busy day would actually end at two in the evening, the same time school ended. For a Muslimah like me, it meant an hour and a half of rest before two.

However, there was still school. I groaned. I opened the wardrobe to take out my towel and was screaming in shock to find Scarlet floating there. “I find it more comfortable here” was all he said. Thank Allah no one heard my scream. I took a shower, put on my school clothes, and went to the dining room.

There, I saw Imran and Mother already seated. Imran was having a breakfast of fried breads covered with eggs, and I saw a dozen more on the plate of the table, ready to be consumed. I uttered a slow “Good morning” before taking a seat beside him. Mother took Father’s seat, the one that had a grand chair.

I wanted to note Father didn’t come home, but I didn’t think that was a good idea. After breakfast, Imran and I kissed Mother’s hand, and we went out of the house. Imran took out the motorcycle, and I sat behind him. Scarlet was already inside of me - he said it was easier having me as a transportation to school rather than floating - and since I didn’t see Silver, I assumed she was in Imran.

I took a mental note to make time to converse with her. I wanted to know the light that meant so much to him.

I entered the school with Sarah, who had just waved goodbye to her father. I didn’t know why she didn’t want to drive her car to school, but I guessed it was her matter with her father. I didn’t see Sunglow, so she should be inside Sarah. I told Scarlet to go inside me too because I didn’t want to freak out the Blue House member like I did the other day.

Before we entered our class, we passed one of the school block, the one for lower form students. We saw many students crowded in one place. They seemed to surround something. They were making noising, and a teacher was walking to there. I didn’t know what happened, but it must be something serious if the teacher was involved. Despite the unpleasant clues we got, we went through the students.

When we saw her, Sarah let out a pitchy scream and covered her mouth. I gasped, totally speechless. In front of us was an Indian girl with a ponytail lying down on the ground with twisted posture. Blood came out from her head, her eyes wide opened, her mouth made a small hole. She looked scared of something - she must had seen something horrible. I shook my head, grasping for the clarity of my mind.

“Astaghfirullah hal azim,” I said slowly. I ask Allah forgiveness.

I looked up to the roof. She couldn’t possibly jump from it and committed suicide. There was no way to go up to the downside V-shape roof. Someone must had did this to her from the balcony. I looked at her uniform. From the yellow name tag sewn to it, I could tell she was in form five - definitely not one of this block. I grabbed Sarah’s hand tightly. What had happened?

“It’s her,” Scarlet said gravely. “Carmine’s companion. They got her.”

I knew who “they” he was talking about. Yesterday one of them tried to kill Sarah, and today they managed to kill this girl. The danger started now. The dark lights must had known about the portal last night to act so aggressively like this. This might had been a warning for us. We, people with lights were no longer safe. We needed to know how to handle this - how to defend ourselves.

“Scarlet, Sunglow, stay inside us,” I said, whispering to both lights. “The war has begun.”