The Antelope's Journey

24. Those are our souls

“These are the souls of the lost kids.”

“Those are our souls,” prompted Francina. She and Kali were still looking up at the hanging beings disguised in children’s bodies. These beings had a glow radiating from inside. The surrounding atmosphere was an empty black fog. The surface below the fog was a long lake of ripples glistening from the light of the souls above.

“What?” What did she mean by that? I was becoming more and more suspicious of her. She kept spewing and revealing things I didn’t know about. I was doubting her loyalty and integrity.

She said that she knew nothing but lately, she’s been saying a lot things that happen to be real. Was she only trying get rid of Mbali and Betty?

“Let’s keep moving.” Francina launched another leap forward careful enough not to fall over the water lily. The baby sharks flared their sharp teeth. Adrenalin was rising in them seeing the human’s approaching the centre of the big lake. The human’s dripping blood was becoming even tastier to the baby sharks. Francina had an injured thigh and had a wand piercing his abdomen. They were losing blood, Kali was much worse. It did not help that his eyes were still burning from the white dust from earlier.

He was losing his strength, and the rod piercing through his abdomen was becoming even heavier. He held tight on both ends keep it at level. “Hey,” Francina had paused. In her most calm and reassuring voice, she said, “You’ll get through this.”

“They look like they haven’t eaten in days. And with my blood flowing like this, I—”

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

I wanted to believe her but her recent past was discouraging. She’s gonna ‘protect me’. Sure, the same way she protected Kamo, Mbali and Betty. And many more. Does she really think I’m gonna trust her after all that? Who’s to say she won’t just toss me in to save her own?

I am beginning to regret coming along with her. Did I really make a right choice? Should have I just stuck with the more predictable Betty and Mbali? Are they still alive, by the way?

The dark scene was not all that helpful. Their only source of light were the glowing souls of children suspended up above. The entire surface was water glistening and reflecting the sizzling glow of the souls. Large green slates of water lilies dispersed across the water and they knew that was their only way to get to the other side.

"No, Monkey. Stay in the bag." Kali shoved the monkey back into the bag. He did not want to risk losing his monkey. Kali was very frustrated and he was agitating. He had no patience for his monkey after that rod in his abdomen. He could snap at anything. His hopes were to get out of that water, but looking at it and the way it expanded along the horizon discouraged him. Eventually, he had to make peace with the fact that they might be in that water for long. He had also hoped that there was no other challenge than the weakening lilies.

My body is getting weak. I can almost feel myself numbing out. Will I really make it out of here?

Francina reached out for Kali's bag, "I'll hold her for you. I think you're losing your strength." Kali stood a for short while to think about her offer. He did not trust her. It was very hard for him to trust her with his monkey friend. "I promise, I'll take care of him," she assured him after seeing his distrust for her through his face. Eventually, Kali realized that he had no other choice but to trust her word. With his body becoming weak, the weight of the monkey was also weighing on him. This was the time where he needed to focus on himself. He handed her the bag with the monkey.

The next leap and Francina almost fell over. The lily leaves were becoming even weaker as they were nearing half way through. This was the centre of the lake; it was the hotspot for the baby sharks. The baby sharks matted the entire surface almost covering what’s beneath. These things ruffled about vigorously, each one sprawling in and out of the water hitting against the pedestrians. Wavering her arms in the air and she finally got grasp of her balance. She turned back only to find Kali struggling against the sharks that bit his rod down. He spun and twisted to throw them off. She reached for her arrow in her backpack, she aimed and shot. The still wind seemed to have been creating some resistance against the arrow. It travelled at half its speed. “Look out!” she warned. Kali swayed away from the arrow headed for his pelvis. He grabbed the arrow, quickly. He stabbed through the shark that was biting through his shoulder and he launched the shark back into the water. He could see the surrounding sharks sizing in on it.

“Kill them and send them back. They eat anything that bleeds!” he heard her cry. She had already sent a few dead sharks. He saw her slicing through the air at the flying sharks that sprang all around her. She began sending some towards his direction to distract the flesh ripping little curses of nature. This was his chance to get out of there. Right at the centre, there were no water lilies to land on. He took the dangerous chance. He began pouncing on their tiny little backs. They were slippery, indeed. He held on tight to the rode that poked from his back to his stomach. The pain was getting to him. The little creatures were especially drawn to that part of him, they kept biting on to it. One went for his face when he least expected it. The weight tossed him back, he headed for the water.