"ENTITY"[1]
The afternoon sun cast an orange glow across the sky, its dying light flickering over the vacant gateway road leading to the golden capital of Kingdom Nadiria.
A shadow emerged, formed by a tall lanky entity cloaked in black. Its blank white oval eyes stared nervously ahead from a black featureless face as the winds blew, stirring its cloak. The creature stood far from being an earthly being, but it did have a humanoid form. It clutched in its long and black bubbly hand the handle of a large black cube, a faint on-and-off glow emanating from it. Attached to the object sat a note reading, 'Doll 124,' laden with meaning for the oddball gripping it so tightly. It took the cube into both palms, and with a touch of devilry, it quickly shrunk into snowball shape.
Tucking it away beneath its pitch-black cloak, the entity commenced forth to the shining city ahead.
. . .
The streets of Nadiria were lined with elegant buildings made of concrete, towers of shimmering spires, and elegant domes that stretched toward the sky. The windows reflected the fading sunlight beautifully, painting a radiant scenery. Inside one of those buildings lay the labyrinthine corridors of Nadiria General Hospital, its vibrant atmosphere testament to the soul of Nadiria's people. The hospital beds emitted sharp squeaks as nurses hurriedly guided their patients through the winding corridors, and the doctors' hushed conversations about patient treatments filled the air with a strong scent of professionalism. Despite the unwavering commitment of the medical staff, their patience was continuously tested by their patients, who found themselves more concerned with being comfortable than being civilized. Some mindlessly wandered out of their hospital beds, some protested about the room's temperature, and some constantly removed their facemasks despite their doctors' frustration. Being born in Nadiria meant you'd either grow up to be a simple-minded hothead, or an extremely simple-minded hothead. It was a common trait shared seamlessly among the populace, which always meant a tumultuous set of events—not ideal for the accustomed authoritarian.
Playing a part in this collective disorder were two more staff members down the corridor, with a young Dr. Kaya having himself escorted toward the exit by an unhappy nurse. Dr. Kaya had fiery brown hair and light brown eyes, and he wore a black coat over his white lab coat. Although he donned a medical facial veil, a clear-cut signal of confusion was visible in his baggy eyes, but the impatient young nurse shoving him from behind had no interest in easing his mind.
The nurse whispered irritably from beneath her facemask, "I'm gonna say this once, Dr. Kaya, and I'm gonna say it with a whisper out of respect for your reputation—you are not supposed to be here!"
"What are you talkin about?" Dr. Kaya calmly inquired, his shoes screeching the floor as she dragged him.
"Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about," muttered the nurse. "Don't try to sweet talk your way out of this."
"Well, I'm a bit confused, you see. And… you're actin quite confusin. I can feel yer nails diggin into my skin."
"Ugh, why must I always have to deal with this. Do you enjoy playing these games? I do not find them amusing."
Nurses on the sidelines noticed the young doctor and kindly waved at him as he continued to protest.
"Nurse," he whispered, "you're being vague. It's not really helpin."
"Well, I'll be blunt then: Today is the 8th, doctor, and you are runnin out of time."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"124 Sunset Avenue," the nurse said. "Sound familiar?"
Dr. Kaya's eyes lit in confusion, and he didn't respond.
"The Maxwells are on their way, Dr. Kaya. But you can still make it…"
Meanwhile, on the streets of Nadiria—bustling with passing stagecoaches and busy civilians. The sidewalks brimmed with short statues of a certain public figure…
With its head down, tucked beneath its hood, the tall entity walked amongst the elegantly dressed populace paddling their feet as they each made their way to their destined destinations. The men wore tailored suits with high-collared shirts complemented by ties or bowties, and they also adorned top hats and leather shoes. To complete their ensemble they would either wear wristwatches or gloves. The women on the other hand donned neatly tailored line dresses and delicate gowns in various bright colors. Bonnets were a common accessory among them—vivid and carefully designed. They paired these with fine ankle boots made of suede or leather, and for a touch of refinement, they either added fancy necklaces or elegant bracelets. Most of them held briefcases, but ALL of them wore scarves over their faces. Their visible eyes gave out a signal of 'do not disturb,' which only grew more intense as the entity awkwardly bumped and pushed through them recklessly. The monstrosity gave a depressing performance of trying to stay undercover. Not only did its height and shady attire highlight its entire presence, but the glowing ball could easily be noticed from underneath its cloak. Suddenly it collided heavily with a child walking alongside his parents, both entity and the boy's toy tumbling to the ground. The toy shattered, and the Nadirian crowd halted their march as the boy wept over its remains, while his parents glared at the entity concealing its face beneath its hood.
On such a graceful afternoon, the job had turned out to be more difficult than first appeared for the desperate monster…
Outside the hospital gate, the nurse whistled for a stagecoach which screeched to a halt before her. Dr. Kaya held a confused countenance behind his mask, scratching his head as a surprising turn of events bent his fate.
"Hold on nurse," he intervened, "I don't remember Maxwell ever comin to see me for a personal appointment. I did have a lot of patients this week, but none under the name of Maxwell. Was he some sort of elusive man or somethin?"
The nurse sighed, "The Maxwells, doctor, not Maxwell. They're an important family tied to King Cortea, you see. Don't you remember? Not too long ago, they made a visit here, asking for a doctor to help aid them with a certain medical issue prevalent in their family. But knowing that the hospitals have been pretty full of late, they desperately opted to undergo the procedures at said doctor's residence, as long as he was highly qualified in his field."
Dr. Kaya chuckled. "You sure you're okay? You ain't makin a lot of sense right now. I've got an appointment in five minutes, but I'd be happy to sort out this little mental dilemma of yers durin spare time."
The nurse turned to glare at him. "Listen, Kaya," she bagan coldly, "I admire your work. I really do. Those baggy eyes tell me that with you on our side, we might be able to prosper through these unholy times. But right now, you're displaying a great deal of incompetence and irresponsibility. It's really frustrating and unprofessional. Staff already got someone to take your place for the day, and you already agreed to this appointment a week ago! And, unless you haven't already caught notice, there's a lot of Autumn in store for you, doctor."
The nurse opened the coach door for him, and he hesitated uncertainly with an even more uncertain gaze. After paying the driver's fare, she turned to the doctor, hands on her hips in evident irritation…
Meanwhile, the entity found itself being hunted down the street by the parents of the little boy, along with a crowd of angry Nadirians who seemed to have been equally affected by the creature's shenanigans. Having retreated to an alleyway, it watched the angry mob run by. It desperately searched its inner pockets, and to its relief it found that the ball was unharmed, although its glow was dimmer than before…
At the hospital entrance, Dr. Kaya climbed reluctantly into the stagecoach, head down in thought as it lurched into motion.
"Goodbye, Doctor," the nurse's voice echoed from outside, and Dr. Kaya lifted his head, only to find that she was no longer there.
He wondered if the lady had sprinted back into the hospital to make a grand exit, but the thought would only add to the already overflowing set of confusion he had been handed in a matter of seconds.
The stagecoach passed by the entity, and the ball it held shook violently and glowed brighter than before. Just then, the tall and lanky being knew what had to be done. It tailed the stagecoach from behind, quickly, and silently.
. . .
18:00 hit, and gas-lit lamp posts illuminated the city streets with an orange hue. The Nadirian clock tower chimed its bell, and the Nadirians began march toward their homes and sealed their doors tight.
Within the stagecoach, Dr. Kaya held his chin and sealed his eyes as he pondered: What on earth is going on here? Who are the Maxwells and why can't he recall having a meeting with them? Why would they know where to find his address if he never shared it with them? Is he suffering from a dire case of dementia? Already?? It was too late to turn back now. He had already ruined his schedule and was halfway home. They drove down Cortea Central—theaters, saloons, and art galleries about the place. The carriage passed by a tall statue of none other than King Cortea—the late king of Nadiria—a young and beautiful boy, who was portrayed in a graceful demeanor and a calm smile. Dr. Kaya peered up at the statue through the window as the vehicle drove on. He sat still for a moment before breaking the silence.
"Excuse me, Mr. Driver. Ya ever hear of a family called The Maxwells, who also had ties to King Cortea?"
A pause, then the burly driver replied with a childlike smile, "Hmmm... NOPE! No little Maxwells that I can recall! But man, I sure did love King Cortea—and he sure does have an amazin statue!"
Dr. Kaya's eyes wore an awkward confusion to the realization, and he fell quiet again as the driver rambled cheerfully on.
"But, man, it sure is tragic that King Cortea lost his life… Ain't it weird that right after he passed, sicknesses just started spreadin' real fast? You know, like some sort of divine reckonin you only see in the books? Not only that, but there be rumors 'bout monsters sighted all over the capital! I mean, I know that there have been folks runnin up ideas to take care of that and all, but... What were they called again? The… somethin hunters? Oh well, I've got no place to judge. I'd rather be drivin all day than chasin beasts, so... Hey, don't tell anyone ya heard this from me, but, those… 'professionals'... well, they're just not sellin themselves, I'm sorry. Nadiria simply cannot survive without Cortea. He was just so COOL, you know? And now he's just… gone. He taught us how to live, how to love—and now he's gone. The capital's already begun its slippery slope southwards, so be sure to flee far away before gravity catches up to ya, you know what I mean? AHAHAHA!"
The driver laughed loudly at his dire proclamations, not realizing that Dr. Kaya was too busy being drowned by his own thoughts.
. . .
Later, under a pitch-black sky, the streets were dead silent, only crickets and owls making any sounds at all. The coach dropped Dr. Kaya off, facing a concrete house with the number '124' on the fence wall. They waved goodbye, and Dr. Kaya started his feet towards the dark house, hands in his coat pockets.
Growing irritated with each step, he muttered to himself, "At this time, either the Maxwells will be waitin, or just the sound of droplets hittin the sink."
He reached the door, took his keys from his coat pockets, and slowly unlocked it. Entering, the room was revealed to be quiet and empty; no Maxwells in sight. The wind released a sigh, and the curtains swayed, and the water droplets greeted his ear. By the corner, a portrait sat on the wall of Dr. Kaya and a young beautiful blonde woman, smiling as they nestled their cheeks on a baby who had the same hair-shade as she did. With a roll of his eyes and a weary sigh, Dr. Kaya stepped back outside and scanned the darkened surroundings before noticing there was nothing else there to take note of but a chubby owl, to which he then elicited a second defeated sigh. Turning around, he found himself staring into the entity's wide blank eyes! In a blink it grabbed him, forcing his struggling form into a large black bag. Once inside, the bag magically morphed into a rectangular shape, akin to a casket, squeezing the young doctor thin, and ceasing his movements. Lifting the box on its shoulders, the entity paused at the hoot of an owl, meeting its gaze for a moment before moving on into the night.
. . .
Later, within a small shack deep in the woods. Echoes of a baby's laughter and blurred visions of a woman's loving hand played through the first-person view of the young doctor. He awakened slowly, vision blurred. Lying flat atop a wooden table, his skin was pale and his eyes were red. Blinking sluggishly and still dizzy, he noticed the entity's shadowy form standing over the large glowing cube on a table, its back facing him. The entity had both hands on the table, seeming to have something very bothersome in its mind. Its body language displayed the sort of anxiety and uncertainty you'd see in a gambler about to wager his life savings. Dr. Kaya wasn't too sure of what his eyes were telling him, and he struggled weakly to move his body, barely twitching. Noticing the commotion, the entity whirled suddenly, its blank white eyes meeting Dr. Kaya's again. It began its steps to slowly approach him, those unearthly eyes holding his uneasy gaze. Reaching his side, it placed its long, alienlike hand over his eyes before bringing its left to his open mouth. Then, with a ghastly gasp out of the unholy, a flow of golden light escaped from his mouth into the entity's waiting hand, his skin growing grey and skeletal during the unsightly procedure. In mere seconds, the young doctor's body became still and lifeless. The entity turned to the glowing cube nearby. Lifting its lid, it peered inside, then extended its hand, releasing the soft golden light into whatever lay inside the container. The shack trembled briefly, and a brief flash lit up the night. Suddenly, all fell silent. The entity then left through the door, leaving its luminous creation behind.
CHAPTER 1 of 'Bonnie's Touch' ends
"WHEN ALL IS WOE, SEEK MY HAND,
AND YOU SHALL FIND SALVATION" - KING CORTEA
[1] Every chapter begins with a keyword that will soon claim its relevance...