Chapter 4 - Uncertainty

I stood in front of the red fancy tent. As I drew closer I can see particular patterns of gold brimming inside. I felt like I'm seeing wonders from faraway lands. At the same time, I feel something tugging me from within as if I couldn't contain myself. I can't tell if it's fear or excitement but, I know it feel a presence that stronger than I had ever felt before.

 

As we were about to enter inside, Eron and Erick took off their shoes before step that covered with carpets.

 

"Please take your shoes before you enter." Erick said to us as his brother went in first.

 

I went in last and I couldn't help but wonder more than I had. Erick was kind to lend me a hand since he and his twin invited us. I took a glace inside and I was taken surprised because it was not expected. As I stepped inside, I felt like I'm in foreign and mystifying world.

 

I felt my feet with socks on the carpets. The soft texture made me realize why we had to take our shoes off. Whatever material is made of, it felt like I was never in a tent. The symmetrical patterns in rustic colors of what I feel are Middle Eastern like it once belonged to a sultan of old desert times.

 

I looked up and have had been mystified by all the decorations of figurines of glass to bronze, even miniature objects on the shelves that looked it came from the Renaissance. The tapestries in bright colors have pictures of animals, beasts, and people amongst them are heroes that you can find in Greek tales.

 

"Hey, Claire?" Kathy waved her hand at my face. I paid attention to her as we made our way. "You really should stop dazing."

 

"I am not. I was just admiring everything here." I said to her.

 

"You always make that silly excuse." Kathy teased. 

 

We sat down on the pillows laid in front of a decorated dark-shaded wooden small table with little objects like shiny gems, runes, oddly-shaped teeth and bones lying around.

 

I peered on the side of the tent where it's covered with small beaded curtains of golden, scarlet and yellow colors, and another layer underneath with transparent light drapery. Behind them, I can only see small cupboards, a chest, small rounded mirror, more tapestries which I couldn’t make out and other smaller shapes.

 

Another larger shape moved and it was slowly moving towards us. A wrinkled little hand appeared and swept the curtains, and so an old little woman crawled towards the table.

 

I looked at the strange lady who’s aged than anyone I’ve ever met. Small, thin, wrinkled-looking creature that is covered in robes of dark scarlet with trimmings of navy blue and yellow patterns sat up with a slightly humped-back position straight towards me. I looked into her pale blue eyes, so distant looking and undeceived though I knew that they’re unfocused, looking at nothing. I knew right away that she's blind. The blind old woman readied her hands on the table of objects with an assuring smile.

 

“Hello children.” The old lady greeted with a small crooked smile.

 

“Nonnina.” The twins greeted with a kiss on both of her hands.

 

(Nonnina means 'grandmother' in Italian)

 

“My dear Eron and Erick, and to my guests.” She greeted.

 

“Wow, can you see anything? Kathy asked straightforwardly with disbelief.

 

“Kathy!” I whispered for asking a stupid and rude question. Kathy can be just as ignorant as an innocent child. She’s never afraid to ask which makes her too oblivious for me to handle.

 

“I see many other things than what cannot be seen by sight. I see many of the possibilities of what can come. Of anyone’s who want to see their fates shall touch my hand.” She then put her hand out in front of us.

 

Kathy didn’t hesitate as she put her hand out to her. The old woman examined her hand with of her hands as her head raised and faced towards the ceiling. She then hums like some sort of hymn or chant with a slight grunting noise.

 

“I see clouds.” She started. “Dark clouds. Very dark clouds hazing about you now. I see you. You are a lost child but, not for long. You see the eagle that will guide you and then fortune will come to you. As the challenges will soon be in present and the eagle will be there.”

 

Although I cannot believe in her words but my feelings tell me she’s not wrong. I had never seen the distant futures.

 

I look back on myself. The only person I know is my grandmother who had vivid visions of the past and futures. Sometimes, I do have beliefs that there is no stronger psychic than my grandmother. But as I looked upon her, this old woman is actually more convincing sounds than any con-artist trying to cheat you.

 

The woman faced me and stared at me with those lucid yet gentle eyes. She asked me as he voluntarily await with her hand out.  "May I have your hand?"

 

I really do not know about my own future. I'm always hesitant to know because I know that whatever I know now, could affect the course of time. I somewhat do want know but yet don't.

 

"Come on, here." Kathy took my hand into the woman's hand.

 

Oh no.

 

I then realize that I had been touched. One of the most stupidest thing that Kathy could have done to me.

 

I looked at my hand with the sensation that crept to my body. A chill came to my spine until I looked to the blind woman. I saw her face with a sudden change of expression. She froze with her gaze in the air. She suddenly turns to me with her distant eyes of wonder with hints of unknown certainty.

 

“Threads. A woman with a bundle of threads her hands." She pauses and into the surrounding space. "You are being pulled by those threads.” The woman became all of a sudden silent and distressed. She became blank and quickly took her hand away from me.

 

The twins went to her at her sides.

 

“Nonnina, what did you see?” Eron asked.

 

“I don’t know. But this destiny, I can’t see anymore but, threads and darkness.”

 

I sat with nothing to say but questions in my head. What does she mean by threads and a woman? What's happening?

 

The twins stared at each other with shocked expressions. They converse in silence as Kathy and I stared at each other looking puzzled.

 

I know something is wrong but I don’t know what is.

 

“I’m sorry but, I think you should leave.” Erick said to me and Kathy.

 

"Huh?" Kathy wanted to know why but I knew we should leave.

 

"Yeah, we should." I agreed as I stood up pulling Kathy along my side.

 

"But it wasn't 10 min-" I pushed Kathy out before she says anything else.

 

I forced Kathy outside of the tent leaving uncertainty of what the woman might be talking about. The feeling in my chest, I couldn’t stop but shake.

 

Eron rushed off first and ran to a nearby circus friend. I saw their expressions from a few meters away from me and they disperse to different directions. Erick then came out of the tent and went to us.

 

“Please allow me to accompany you two ladies.” Erick offered.

 

“Thank you, you really don’t have to.” I said to him.

 

“I insist. I can’t let any ladies go off alone.” Erick said immediately in a persistent tone.

 

I looked at Erick with a bit of suspicion. I don't think it's out of courtesy but, maybe it's something going on. I didn’t think or turn around about what might be happening but, it might have to do with my future. It just sticks in the back of head while I was leaving towards the car where Aiden is waiting for us.

 

Erick was nice enough to escort us but he quickly left and went back as we drove off.

 

I sat in the back of the car silent as Kathy sat in the passenger seat turning up the radio.

 

“So how was the fortune-telling?” Aiden asked.

 

"Well, it was fine until they just told to leave. It’s kinda weird.” Kathy said to her brother.

 

“Weird? Did say something really weird? Like what?” Aiden sounded a bit concern for his sister.

 

“It’s not me, it’s Claire.”

 

“What did they say to you?” He asked me.

 

"Just a woman and threads. That’s all the fortune-telling lady told me.”

 

“Okay, that does sound weird but anything else?” Aiden asked.

 

“Nothing.” I answered back but I do wish that it’s not just that.

 

“Hmm. Well it's whatever then. I hope nothing's bad” Aiden suggested.

 

“I hope so." I said to him. I don't think it will be fine.

 

I looked back in a distance towards the mansion and still wonder about the mysteries inside as I feel a premonition could happen. It also enchants my curiosity and taunts my unknown fears.

 

Before I knew it the scenery disappeared within distance and before I know it, I’m almost home. We stopped at Kathy and Aiden's place since we live on the same street.

 

Aiden, his parents and I always have this routine whenever a foggy day comes; we always pull out the curtains and shades all around the windows knowing that it will be foggy outside. It’s always a precaution to make sure Kathy won’t look outside. I sometimes stayed overnight when it’s a very foggy night to make sure Kathy sleeps till the next day.

 

Tonight, their parents are not home yet. I step inside knowing what needs to be done from downstairs to upstairs. Every window to hide this terror that haunts Kathy till this day.

 

“Hey Claire.” Aiden called from downstairs. “I’m going out to pick some things from the store.”

 

“Alright, I’ll be here until you get back.” I replied as I cover the last window upstairs in the hallway.

 

I went downstairs into the living room and saw Aiden leave the house. In the kitchen I found her taking food from the refrigerator. Kathy then scours through the cupboards.

 

“I’m going make dinner, are you staying with us?” Kathy asked.

 

“Sure. I already told Aunt Lil that I will be here."

 

"Ok, if you can help, peel the potatoes."

 

I went into the kitchen to help prep dinner by peeling the potatoes that Claire left at the sink

 

“Hey Claire, I’ve been thinking about that old lady and what she said just now.”

 

“What about her?” Although I do wonder since we left, curiosity still hasn’t left me or even Kathy.

 

“I don’t want know but I’m a little scared that something might happen to you. I’m starting to worry because I don’t want to believe in what she said.”

 

“That so?” I should change the subject and keep her mind busy. "Say, what do you want to make tonight."

 

Kathy thought and looked at the ingredients. "I'm think about a potato salad. We got lots of potatoes and sweet potatoes so, maybe sweet potato pie?"

 

"That sounds great." I said to her. "How about we panfry it like a potato pancake?"

 

"That sounds like breakfast and dinner." Kathy laughed.

 

At least I can keep her mind busy.

 

That night, I left Kathy and Aiden after the meal. It is still a foggy night and Kathy won't be able to see me off. I walk straight down the street into the darkness with only streetlights, lighted houses and the moonlight illuminating the way home.

I know it sounds crazy, but I somehow felt like I'm being watched. Every time I moved, a shadow there follows. Something expects every movement I make like I'm some sort of specimen of some kind.

Luckily enough, I'm home. I quickly paced to the door as I took my keys. I opened the door and looked back as I entered.

 

For some reason, I knew that somewhere within the haze of uncertainty that something or someone is watching ever since the day Kathy went missing. But whatever is out there, it won't harm me or anyone. Will it? I wish knew what or why but all that remains a mystery within the darkness.

 

I shut the door and locked it with relief. But as another day goes by, another night will come to haunt the streets again.