My newfound clarity of mind accompanied by my returning memories, didn’t last long. The longer I was holding onto that coin, the clear that voice became. It was hard to distinguish at first and the fight that was going on right next to me wasn’t helping. That pink haired girl also heard this commotion and came out. Her smirk, with a hint of happiness in her sparkly green eyes, was the last scene in my view before my eyelids closed shut.

  I took a deep breath in, slowely opening my eyes as I exhaled.

  “Ha, ha…heh” I laughed nervously. This didn’t even surprise me. Of course something like this was bound to happen to me. I was no longer in my car, no. I was sitting on the grass. Red poppies were everywhere around me. It was deathly silent at first and oh dear was I about to wish it could stay this way. I wanted to stand up to see where I was, but a loud voice streamed into my mind.

  “A malevolent force drawing near,

  In darkest recesses, it is spreading fear.

  Feasting on despair where shadows play,

  Where hope will fray, it finds its prey.”

  That voice made me shiver. I clenched my fists. Then just when I was about to relax, IT continued AGAIN.

  “Oh, be cautious, ye who cross her path,

  For fear incites her twisted wrath.

  She weaves her web, ensnaring,

  Leaving hearts shattered, souls left wary.”

  Clenching my hands further, I felt sharp edges of coin dig deep into my palm. I didn’t care, all I wanted was for this voice to SHUT UP.

  “Beyond the veil, where truths abide,

  It’s not just her, so don’t deny,

  Another one, she wears a mask,

  Her secrets kept, inside a flask.

  Beneath the surface, where lies are swept,

  You have awakened those who slept.

  She cloaks her spider legs in mist,

  That clouds your mind, in a subtle twist.

  Alluring she is, that I can't deny

  But beware of her gaze, her large black eyes,

  For in their depths, your death lies.”

  At this point, I was crouching, face down. My head was throbbing. Blood was flowing from my right palm. But…at least there was finally silence. I got up on one knee. Leaning on that knee, I raised my full body upwards. Once I got up, I saw an endless field of poppies in all directions. Anger overtook me.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  That coin, now stained with blood, reminded me of that raven. This was all because of HIM.

  “I never asked for this!” I screamed from the top of my lungs simultaneously throwing that coin as far as I could. My hands were always weak, so it didn’t go that far. However, I was never given the chance to think about this. I was back…

  I heard something falling on the roof of my car. There were a lot of them. I looked straight out of the front window.

  “Is that snow?”

  I was so confused. It was hailing in a middle of April. I felt cold too.

  “DRIVE, you &);.@!$,” Oh that all too familiar Ravenian insult. He flew inside my car through an open window.

  I was still barefoot, but I shifted my gear to reverse and rapidly stepped on gas pedal.

  Trust me you would have done the same if you saw what I saw. That pink haired shorty’s skin was swamp green. Moreover, she only had ONE eye. That smirk; however, was still the same.

  The K-pop guy, looked the same at first, but when I drove further away. Eight, black, hairy legs were attached to his body. There was something big and hairy in the back too. It looked like his torso was attached to a headless spider.

  I shifted to D and drove away as fast as I could.

  “Hey,” I turned my head to the passenger seat to the right of me. “I know you can talk.”

  Silence.

  “You better explain.”

  He still didn’t say a word. It was warm again tho as if it never hailed just a few seconds ago. The sky was clear, birds were singing, sun was shining. Sadly, this cheerful atmosphere didn’t elevate the uncomfortable feeling in my chest and I wanted answers.

  “Who or what were those things?”

  “You should know better than me,” a calm velvety male voice responded.

  I was ready to kill that haughty bird. Too bad I had to keep my cool. There was still a lot I needed to find out.

  “Care to elaborate,” I said, closing the side window to hear him better. I felt proud that my voice didn’t crack.

  “As I said. You know them better than I do…” He flew toward my shoulder. “You share ethnic roots with that one-eyed Licho.”

  I could feel his claws scratching up my right shoulder. This open shoulder top was a mistake.

  “You mean the Лихо from mythology?”

  “Aww,” I regretted not putting on a coat. That menace climbed up my hair, leaving my shoulder, back and neck all scratched up.

  “Oh. Way better,” he said. “And to answer your question. Yes”

  “So half spider thing is…”

  “Jorogumo”

  I was perplexed, “Aren’t those supposed to be all females?”

  Glad I couldn’t see the way he looked after that question. Without any doubt, in his mind I looked like a piece of crap in his way. “You seriously asking me this in 21st century?”

  “So enlighten me, oh the wise one,” it was especially hard not to roll my eyes at this point.

  “The one you encountered was what you might call bi.”

  “ Didn’t know the word mythology had those too? Fascinating.” I mumbled under the nose.

  That bird seemed to really love using my head as a sort of nest. I saw a glimpse of him when I looked into the rear mirror. I had to be sure, so I checked both of the side mirrors too.

  “Phew,” I breathed out in relief. Those two weren’t following me. I made a turn to the highway and was about to look for that neon yellow car again…

  “Hey, do you mind?” That bird forcefully pulled on a stand of my hair, untying one of my buns. Hair fell in front of my face, getting in my eye and covering the view. With no other choice, I temporarily pulled it back behind my ear as I was making the turn. Meanwhile, without a care in the world that bird continued getting comfortable on my head.

  “Say, birdy…”

  That got his attention.

  “I can’t continue calling you bird, raven or crow…”

  He hit me with his wings, “I am not a crow!!” He yelled with fuming anger.

  “Well. You get my point. So…” Now that I was driving straight on the highway, I let go of the wheel. “…So l was thinking about giving you a name.” Also, don’t get me wrong I was still holding on to the wheel, just with my left leg.

  “You don’t have a name do you?” I tiled my head to see him through the rear mirror. He raised the feathers on his back. As I have expected, there was no reply.

  “How about Parasite.” I just rewatched anime by the same name and found this name quite fitting for this new being in my life. Almost forgetting, I added, “ I am Morana, but everyone calls me Mara.”

  “Just call me Phobos.” There was no emotion in his voice, but I felt like I was getting closer to him.

  “Watch out!” He cried out, now with slight fear for his life. There was no need to panic, really. I just moved my leg a bit too suddenly and cased the car to sway from side to side. No big deal. I got it under control, eventually. On the bright side, I fixed the right side of my hair and redid the bun, which was messed up earlier.

  “So what’s the plan now…Phobos.”