I Feel You Linger In The Air
Chapter 18 - Reverse
Does the course of time flow as we believe, or does it actually stay still, and are we the ones moving through it, defining each destination as present, past, and future? If it were the case, I would stop my time at Khun-Yai, where we stand side by side, neither moving forward nor reversing for even a minute.
But, as we all know, the mystery of the universe remains a mystery. No matter how many theories humans have attempted to construct, none have ever been proved. My body is still bound in this peculiar tide, clueless of the host's fate.
After the horrifying silence, amid the atmosphere that feels like I am floating in emptiness, dark and void of movement, even of the air, I am terribly scared. If this is my death, it is the utmost ruthlessly tormenting one, capturing me in this place for eternity.
Suddenly, I feel the soft wind brushing my skin. I smell incense, candle smoke, and aromatic flowers. I hear water flowing and imperceptible mumbling that gradually sounds clearer. The sound resembles a chant mixed with a verse uttered in archaic words. The sentences are lengthy and sound like a sacred ceremony to arouse vigour and curse traitors. Each rhyme is difficult to distinguish and comprehend as if it were rooted in another language.
Om, om, deities roaming the earth since the beginning of time, Souls of betrayers shall be clutched by the hands of the ghostly divine...*
An indistinct scene appears before me. The sight of numerous shadow figures seen from under the water. It seems they are gathering to perform a ceremony. The chant stirs my spirit and somehow frightens me at the same time.
Burn in flames and dry out to death.
All canals can be poisoned, thou expire in bed.
Grass be swords slashing life out of thee...
The last lines are strangely familiar, like I have heard them before. I squint through the water streaming down like a curtain to the shadows of people on the other side. Puzzled, I reached out my hand through it.
The chant ceases in an instant. In the blink of an eye, everything disappears. My body jerks and hurls back as though something is furious with my attempt to go through the curtain of water. The ringing is so excruciating that my hands fly up to my ears. I tumble over and over, my head spinning, my stomach churning, then I get shoved out like being spit.
SPLASH!
The water splashes as my body falls into it. The coolness hits my skin too abruptly, making it feel like blades. My body plunges, pushed down by the plummeting water as if I were under a waterfall. I struggle with all my might to clamber up to the surface.
When my head emerges above the water, before I can pull myself together and wipe my face for better vision, I hear thunder rumbling over my head. The brilliant lighting blinds me.
BANG!
The deafening thunder startles me. I cry out in shock and drown again. Lightning flashes above the water.
Fuck! What the hell is this place! Is this hell or the centre of a wormhole? Why are there both water and lightning?!
Despite the terror, I have to swim up before I run out of air and die. My face resurfaces above the water and gets spattered by the rain. The sound of a cascade crashing the water surface and breaking into bubbles comes from behind. I kick my feet to propel myself from it until the current weakens enough for me to open my eyes. ..A cave.
I am in a place similar to a cave. It is dark and nippy, with a unique scent suggesting the area is deep underground. The dim shadows of stalactites along the walls form fake nooks and scary silhouettes. It looks like monsters or ghosts will jump out.
High up above my head at the top of the cave is a vast, cracking hole, allowing the light to shine through along with the rain and water flooding down like a cascade, creating the pool I am treading. The rain from above pours continuously. The confusion is too much for my brain to process. Where did the wormhole toss me, in the middle of the woods or the phantom zone?
I swim to the waist-deep water, balance myself on my feet, and wipe my face so I can see the surroundings more clearly. I go stiff when I spot looming figures on the ground. They are a group of men flocking and staring at me.
At the front is a brawny man standing tall, as if to protect something behind him. His hand grips a longsword in a ready-to-fight posture. When I make out his face, I am speechless.
...Ohm!
Instinctively, I lunge forward without thinking, holding out my hands for help.
"Ohm.."
"Stop!"
The voice shouts from my side, followed by a fast movement towards me. My body goes rigid as a sword is pressed against my neck.
"Don't even think of taking one more step." The voice is powerfully hoarse and low. I stand still, my heart pounding in fear. Water on my hair drops on the shiny, sharp blade. Ohm locks his eyes on me from the ground while the owner of the sword held at my throat delivers another order.
"Turn around. Don't pull a trick. You can try it if you want your head cut off."
Trembling, I do as he said. I spin slowly and divert my eyes from the dreadful blade to its owner. His hands are big and firm. My eyes trail along the tattooed wrist, with its characters and patterns, to the ripped upper arm and shoulder. When my eyes meet his face, my heart jumps.
"Khun-Yai!" I blurt out. Khun-Yai is actually in front of me! He plants his feet in the thigh-deep water, still pointing his sword at my throat. Khun-Yai fixes me with a fierce stare without a sigh of recognition before barking out harshly.
"Who are you? How do you know my name?"