WHEN DEATH CALLS

 

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The air reeked of deadly smoke as it hovered in the air, almost wanting to suffocate me like a firm grip around one�s neck. I coughed endlessly, trying to push forward; vision blurred and almost without breath. I tried to yell but no words came out. I was trapped�trapped amidst the burning brushwood, a place I knew nothing about, or even how I got there. And if ever I was going to be free, I wasn�t certain it would be in one piece.

 

I looked to my right as a light shone amidst the darkness, rooting my legs to the ground as it seemed it was beckoning to me to come closer. It felt as though I was in some kind of trance but this was real�everything was .

 

I heard a voice�no different from a whispering wind.

 

�Roland,� It called. �Roland�you have to move. It�s not yet your time. Keep moving��

 

My eyes widened, recognizing who�s it was, �Roslyn?� I inched closer. �Rose is that you?� I asked, still not sure.

 

�Give me your hand�give me your hand, Roland.�

 

I swallowed hard, making towards her. �Almost there�almost there,� I spoke breathlessly, the heat seeking to consume me without mercy.

 

I staggered, a loud cough eluding my lips as my breath got thinner, my legs unable to urge me on as I slumped�remembering nothing again.

 

 

 

�Wakey-wakey. You�re going to be late.� A cheery voice rang, the sound of swinging curtains ringing in my ears.

 

�Mama Pea!� I squinted, burying my face in my pillow.

 

�Get out of bed, Roland. Roslyn�s been waiting for you.� She urged, tugging at my feet.

 

�Roslyn? Oh, sh*t! Roslyn!� I panicked, getting up. �Did she say anything, Mama?�

 

�Ooh, look who�s worried.� She laughed.

 

�I�m serious. Oh, God!� I breathed, taking up my pants. �Had the weirdest dream last night,� I continued. �It was dark�burning bushes�and-and��

 

�Yeah, yeah, baby. There�s Jesus. You can tell me all about it later.� Mama Pea hushed.

 

�But ma��

 

�Come on. Hurry. You got to get the girl.� She winked and wiggled her fingers, as she walked out the door. �And one more thing�freshen up!�

 

�Oh.� I laughed, shutting the door.

 

 

I was such a handsome fellow�the blonde type and was quite naughty. One fact I was well known for, making everyone in our neighborhood nickname me �the Grabbercino.�

 

 

�Whew! What took you so long?� Roslyn asked with a frown.

 

�Not goanna give me a kiss?� I teased, looking at her.

 

�Oh, you bet I would.� She chuckled and plunged her lips on mine.

 

�Mm�vanilla,� I complimented with a grin.

 

Roslyn was one hot lady you�d want to be with. Our relationship was a bit complicated, really cause she saw me as some bad a$$ who didn�t stick to one girl, which by the way, it�s my thing.

 

�Love it?� She blushed, running a finger on my lower lip.

 

�Now you two quit doing that on my porch,� Mama Pea interrupted.

 

We turned, giving a slight chuckle. �Sorry grams.�

 

�Oh, I didn�t see anything. Time, Roland. Time.� She signaled to me, a finger on her wrist.

 

�Right. Come on, baby. We got to go.� I said to Roslyn. �See you later, Mama.� I turned to gran, pecking her senile cheek.

 

�All right, baby. See you at dusk. And be careful.� She called to us.

 

�Don�t worry. We�ll take care.�

 

 

�Grams� always worried about you,� Roslyn said, as we walked to the car.

 

I laughed, pulling the door open for her. �Here we go.�

 

 

 

Covington was really a nice city, though not very large, but was still the best�one of the best among all the cities situated in LA. The downtown streets were lined with boutiques, galleries and restaurants of all sorts, making it such a gazing sight to whoever came by. I could say it was far better than Natchitoches�a place I once called home�

 

 

�You okay there?�

 

�Mm?� I played dumb.

 

�Yeah. You�ve been�I don�t know�mute.� Roslyn spoke.

 

�Yeah�yeah, I�m fine.� I shrugged and focused on the road.

 

�You�re not tensed, are you?� She asked.

 

�About what? The game, huh?� I asked. �You don�t think I can beat those losers a$$, do you?� I scoffed.

 

�It�s just a game, Roland. Whether or not you win, it doesn�t matter.� She smiled and rubbed my knuckles.

 

I scoffed again. �Cause Lucas� playing?�

 

�Lucas?� Her eyes widened. �Why�d you mention him?�

 

�Saw you two some days ago�at Shalvey�s,� I frowned, taking my eyes off the road.

 

�Roland, wait,�

 

�f**k, Roslyn!�

 

�I can explain��

 

�Like I actually need one?!� I laughed. �You still love him, but I act like I don�t see it,�

 

�I don�t love Lucas, Roland! Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?�

 

�Cause I�m sick and tired of you going around with that as***ole!� I shot back.

 

She made to touch me. �T-the road��

 

�Don�t you dare!!� I huffed.

 

�Baby?� She gasped, her forehead glistening with sweat.

 

�If you two ain�t doing nothing wrong, then why are you sweating? No, answer me!�

 

�I swear, Roland. Lucas and I didn�t do anything. We just ate, that�s all.� She tried to explain.

 

�And I saw you two kiss!�

 

�N-n-no,� She stuttered. �No, we�we didn�t.�

 

I boiled harder, my rage getting the best of me as I banged the steering so hard. �Screw you!�

 

�Babe�.�

 

�Don�t!�

 

�B-baby, t-the road�the road!!�

 

She screamed but it was already too late to turn back the hands of time and everything right�again.

 

 

 

 

�Call EMS.�

 

�Start CPR��

 

�CPR! Turn on the defibrillator��

 

�Put the pads on the patients�.pads on the patients! Pads on the patients��

 

The yelling went on; Roslyn and I lying helplessly, our bodies covered up in blood.

 

Amidst the utter haze, we struggled…a struggle only I was able to overcome, as she slipped into the welcoming embrace of death�