DOWNCASTED Chapter 16

DOWNCASTED

#Chapter 16

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#Nana's POV [Continues]

We've gone a bit far again, when I saw something.
A raising smoke which seem like it was coming from a chimney pot.

A house! A house in a forest!?

“Can you see that?” I said, pointing to the smoke afar.

Jay saw it first, before Jardel did.

“A smoke..” Jay said.
“A house in a forest?” Jardel said.
“Yeah?” I said.
“And it's really far from here.” Jardel said.
“We got to check this house.” Jay said.
“What? why?” I asked.

“What's he saying?” Jardel asked.
“That we got to check the house.” I said.
“How then?” Jardel asked.

“I'll go.. You guys wait here.” Jay said.
“No way!” I said.
“What?” Jardel asked.
“He wanna go while we wait here.” I said with wide eyes..
“Huh?” Jardel widened his eyes too.

“Fine, I got a stupid idea.” Jay said.
I watched him.
“What if I try seeing if you guys can disappear with me?” He said.
“How?” I asked.
Jardel was only staring at me.
“By holding you or probably, hugging you tight.” He said.

Idiot. Stupid idea.

“What do you think?” He asked.
“Makes no sense. Even if we disappear, what about Jardel?” I asked.
“He'll hold you, while I hold you.” Jay said.

I chuckled, but the idea was seeming good.

Just then we heard something like

“Ki kara cu maj... Ki kara cu maj... Ki kara cu maj” Coming out from no where... It was a man's voice but we weren't seeing the man and his voice covered the whole forest and the next thing was smokes everywhere...

Jay's eyes widened.
I felt goosebumps all over my body as I began shaking with fright.
Jardel grabbed my hand.
“What's that?” He asked.

Just then, the scent of the smoke entered my nostril

And I passed out..
*

#Jay's POV

Nana passed out immediately, followed by Jardel.

I rushed to them and took her hand and jay's, calling them to wake up but none was responding.

The smokes was becoming much and I needed to do something.

Why is the smoke not affecting me?

“Because you are a ghost.” I heard the voice say behind me.
The same voice.

I turned instantly and I saw him.
He was tall and very slim.
He had black piece tied around his bald head and a colourful bird feather stuck into the piece to stand at the left side of his head.
He had white paint at the bottom of his left eye and it was painted on the left chest too and some part of his arms..
He wore just a black bulky pants with bare feets...

He held a long staff with a star shaped head and he carried an animal skinned bag.
He has a tan skin and isn't fair complexioned at all.
His beard are all white and unshaved cos they are just too long and rough looking.

He look quite scary.

“Wh.. who are you?.. You can see me.” I asked him.
“Im someone you should know after.” He said.
Then I noticed something..
The smokes began fading.

“You made my friends pass out?” I asked him.
It was more of a direct talk than a question.

“They would wake up now.” He said and just immediately, Nana sneezed, followed by Jardel.

“Nana..” I called as she opened her eyes and then saw the man.
She appeared too scared.
Jardel followed and widened his eyes as he saw the man as well.

“Welcome back my friends.” The man said with a smile.
He had brown teeth.

Disgusts!

“Who are you?” Nana asked.
“And how did we become your friends?” Jardel added.

The man laughed.

The smokes had finally faded completely.

“You have been my friends right from the hour you stepped into this forest.” He said.

Nana stood up, followed by Jardel.
I did too. And we all faced him.

“How do you mean?” Nana asked.
“And why do you see me?” I asked.
“And why did we have to pass out by that smoke?” Jardel asked.

He laughed.
“Three questions at the time for me is only but a nose.” He said.

Nana looked at me.
“He sees you?” She asked.

I nodded.

“Ofcos he should, with the way he dressed.” Nana said.
“Are you a magician?” Jardel asked.

He ignored Jardel's question and faced me.

“You need to follow me fast. I've been looking for you. and..” He turned to Nana,
“...and you my friend.” He said to Nana.

Nana stuttered, “You.. you've bee..been looking for us?” She asked with wide eyes.

He nodded.

“Now follow me before darkness comes or you are becoming a ghost forever. You did well by reaching quite on time.” He said.

I gasped and looked at Nana.
She had her hand on her mouth with wider eyes.

The man turned and began walking and we followed.

“Does this third person have a clean heart?” The man suddenly asked without looking behind. He just kept walking ahead.

Third person?
Jardel?

“...Is his soul pure and his mind trustworthy?” He added.

I glanced at Jardel and he looked confused.
Nana was looking at him too.

I heard him say within.
‘I don't know if I am.’

“Answer Jardel.” Nana whispered to him.
He swallowed,
“Yes I am.” He said out.

“We don't need you with us, but if your heart is clean, then you should follow us.” The man said.

*
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We got to the smoking chimney pot house and that was his house.
There wasn't even a chimney pot cos it was only but a log cabin with a hole at the roof where smokes were going out through.

He said few words and pushed the door open. It cracked open wide. He went in and we followed.

The first large room was just filled with pots and scary stuffs.

“Not here.” He said and turned to another door, but then he paused.

“Make sure that your heart is pure.” He warned.

I looked at Nana and she was inhaling.
Jardel just watched the man.

After few minutes, he pushed the door open and went in, we followed.

There, I saw me.
My body!
Laying peacefully in a wooden bed with different kind of leaves arranged over it (my body). I wore just the same cloth on my body now.
A small pot which stood beside the bed, bringing out smokes and passing through an opened side of the roof.

That was where the smoke was coming from!

“My body!” I said.
“Your body Jay.” Nana said.
“Whoa!” Jardel exclaimed.

“I need silence to tell you about this..” The man said.

We all stared at my body as we stayed calm to listen to what he has to say.