Chapter 7-- Forbidden Fruits, Ripe for the Picking
On a breezy, late November afternoon, atop a hill overlooking the quaint, quiet small town of Easton, sits Jericho Parish- an unassuming little chapel with antiquated stone walls. In the grassy courtyard scattered with aged graves and moss-covered tombstones surrounding the humble little church, an utterance of solemn prayer drifts through the crisp autumn air:
"Heavenly Father, we beseech thee..."
A slim elderly man with hair and full beard in strands of silvery white, garbed in a long black robe and ivory-white cuffs, stands in front of a newly erected headstone: a small, flat rectangular shaped piece of granite engraved with the words:
In Memory of Colette Graystone
, tucked snugly in the midst of a fresh grassy patch.
He continues his oration in a gruff yet gentle voice, a stoic and grizzled look on his face, a glimmer of sharpness shone in his old, gentle eyes. Standing next to him, Kazelle has her head down in solemn silence, her long black leather coat rippling about in the wind, her hands closed over the black metallic cross on her neckchain.
"May the soul of this dearly departed one... Find eternal rest in you. Amen."
"Amen."
As the elderly priest concludes his verbal offering, Kazelle echoes his final utterance.
"Thanks again for doing this, Father Silas." Kazelle keeps her eyes fixed on Colette's headstone as she addresses the man next to her with some degree of calm reverence. The old man lowers the black cross in his grip and dons his black wide-brimmed hat.
"No need for thanks, child. Is this not my duty as overseer of this parish? And I can tell this lass meant a great deal to you..." He turns to leave, a charcoal-black metallic cross swinging from his long neck chain. He leaves her with a final word as he shuffles toward the church.
"If you still wish to make confession, I will be in the parish. Don't stay out here too long, there's rain in the forecast."
"Yes, Father."
Just then, a few small children come frolicking up the hill. The one in front, a sapphire-eyed girl with long golden hair, skips up to Kazelle with a handful of wild flowers.
"These are for your friend, Kazelle, so she won't be lonely. We picked them in the woods over there."
"Thank you, Sapphire."
As Kazelle takes the yellow and pink flowers and stoops down to lay them in front of the headstone, she reaches out and gently traces a finger through the engraving of Colette's name.
"There is something I need to do right now, Cole... I'll be sure to visit you again soon." She rises and turns to depart. The flower petals flutter in the wind against the grave.
"
Death!
♫"
Step...
"♪
Death comes for us all!
♬"
Step...
"
Oooh ♪ Yeeah
♪"
Step...
"
Sweeeeet death
!! ♫"
On a makeshift stage at the Halloween Festival in Eastford Cemetery Park, the
Maniac Minstrels
jams away while the crowd howls its approval.
"
Embrace my sooooul!!
♫♬"
To the left side of the band leader, Kazelle is rocking away on her electric guitar, dressed in a white schoolgirl dress shirt, short plaid skirt, and knee-high striped socks- all tattered and bloodied. Her long raven locks falls behind her white ghoulish face, covered with dark bloody veins and chunks of decaying flesh, her mouth dripping with dark red foam. The crowd lets out one final, deafening roar as the piece reaches its metallic crescendo and slams home the finale.
"Good job, mates. I think we fuckin' nailed it."
As the group takes a bow and retreats backstage, Kean has a look of immense triumph. The band mates all concur that it was a spectacular success as they pack their instruments. Kazlle tucks her electric guitar into the case and slings it over her shoulder.
"Kazelle, not coming to have a drink with us?" Female bassist Jethra Wilson, wearing a pair of bunny ears for the festivities, inquires as Kazelle prepares to head out.
"Ah, sorry. I'm meeting with my roommate. Catch you guys later."
Kazelle bids her crew farewell and ducks into the cemetery grounds, packed with booths and costumed partygoers amidst old crumpling catacombs and sepulchres that would be dead silent any other night of the year.
"My, what a wicked show! I think I'm in love!"
"Ah, Cole. There you are." Kazelle turns around and spots Colette emerging from the crowd, wearing a tight-fitting, strapless gray tube dress with designs of a screen and buttons of an old game console printed across the front. She saunters over to her punk rock idol in a pair of running shoes and white knee-high socks, a shimmering pendant dances around her neck, a bright pink star face-painted on her left cheek.
"Haha, well, Kean and his girlfriend Jethra were the ones who wrote all the songs. I just had to play my part... Love the costume by the way, dressing up as a game console is wicked retro!"
"Hehe, glad you like it. That ghoul face looks brilliant as well!"
Hearing Colette say that, Kazelle blushes sheepishly.
"Haha, isn't that a compliment for yourself? You were the one who spent two hours doing my make-up... By the way, where is that assistant professor friend of yours? Weren't you coming together?"
The inquiry suddenly has Colette in a somber mood, she glances down with a sulking pout and digs at the dirt with the tip of her shoe.
"I... we were supposed to meet at his office before coming here together, but..."
"But?"
Colette looks up with a somewhat concerned look on her face, her hand gently stroking the pendant.
"When I got there, he wasn't there... There was a note on his table, with this box."
"What did the note say?"
"'Sorry' and 'Good-bye'."
"That's it?"
"And this was in the box." Colette gingerly holds up the pendant for Kazelle to get a closer look: a silvery accessory with the shape of a sword resting on a shield.
"Oh my! It's gorgeous! A gift from him, I suppose?"
Colette nods slowly, still gently running her fingers across the pendant.
"It's from a game series we're both big fans of. We've actually spent quite a bit of time talking about it between our study sessions... We even planned to try out the new release together!"
"So... what's his deal? Where did he go?"
Colette looks up at Kazelle with a shrug, trying to keep the mood light by forcing a grin.
"Who knows... he never mentioned that he was going anywhere... or that he didn't want to see me anymore..."
Seeing the usually cheery Colette suddenly so forlorn, Kazelle reaches out and tenderly take her by the hand.
"I'm sure he has his reasons...There's nothing you can do about it anyways, might as well try to enjoy yourself. Now com'on, let's go check out the booths, I could really go for a munch!"
"Hehe, me too." Hearing her dear friend's encouragment, Colette tries her best to perk up as the two stroll through the crowded cemetery.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Lilia is wearing a patterned sweater vest over her dress shirt, short denim skirt, and a pair of wedge heels, a small anklet with a heart shape dangles just above her right foot. She has a pair of fluffy wolf ears adorned on her hair band, with a fluffy wolf tail tucked at her hip, swaying side to side in sync with her brunette ponytail. In one hand she holds a handbag, in the other leading a small boy probably no older than 7, with bright hazel eyes, dressed handsomely as a policeman. The pair approach the Eastend Primary School, where many parents and their costumed children can be seen filing in. Across the top of the main entrance is a large banner that reads:
Halloween Fun Night!
"Here we are, luv. Are you sure you don't want mumsy to come in with you?"
"It's okay, mum. Really. Kip and his parents are right there." "Com'on, Iley!"
"Okay... But make sure to have the school call me if you need anything." Lilia kneels down and wraps up her son tightly and plants a smooch on his little cheek. "Alright then, I'll pick you up at 9:00pm. Have a good time, baby. Hugs and kisses!"
"Aww, mum. Stop it." As the boy giggles and breaks free from his mother to meet his friends, Lilia gets up to leave, waving to Iley one last time.
"Bye bye, luv!"
"Later, mumsy!"
Lilia makes her way back towards the college campus on foot, passing many other pedestrians dressed up for the evening. Gradually, the sidewalks begins to clear of people as she passes by a lightly wooded area out of the residential and shopping areas. She hears a voice call out to her from behind:
