I wrote Kia in 2023 and posted the story as I wrote it. When I decided to add it to The Devil’s Hymn, I gave it a quick readthrough and knew there were some slight changes I wanted to make. This version of the story is the one found in The Devil’s Hymn. You can read the original version here.
“Kia,” I whispered, peering through the dense fog as it danced around me. I knew better than to bring her to the park this late. Her parents were going to kill me. My feet brushed against the gravel, sending stones and leaves rustling through the night air.
My head turned as a branch snapped. A part of me wanted to shout out for her, but fear wrapped around my throat, forcing a squeal to emerge instead.
I jumped as a squirrel darted in front of me. A chuckle escaped as I placed my hand over my heart and closed my eyes.
I took a few deep breaths before continuing, checking my watch to make sure we returned home before her parents arrived. I didn’t enjoy babysitting, but if I was going to escape the clutches of this town, I needed money.
Making my way to the swing set, I spotted her blue jacket laying on a bed of leaves. I reached for it, bending over to pick it up as an enormous figure moved to my left. My body straightened. My heart beat against my chest. I turned–no one was there.
I picked up the jacket, clutching onto the fabric as I peered through the fog, hands feeling around for the swing chain. The swing creaked as the wind pushed it away from my hand. I waited for its return, but it never came.
My eyes widened as my head turned. There it stood. Big black eyes. Saliva running down its chin. It towered over me, opening its mouth as the mist cocooned its ochre colored body.
Sweat beaded across my forehead as I pulled the coat closer to my chest. I took a step backward. My foot connected with a branch, sending me crashing to the ground.
The monster snarled as it inched closer, feet marching over a bed of leaves as another breeze swept through. I froze as my back pressed against the soil. A tremble emerged as I dug my fingers into the dirt. My mind screamed move, but my body refused.
It hovered over me, one leg on each side of my torso. The fog cleared as it leaned over me, its warm breath caressing my face. Screams bellowed through the darkness as its mouth widened.
I raised my arms, attempting to block death’s shadow from devouring me.
“Nova, what are you doing down there?”
The wind calmed as I removed my arms from my face.
She stood over me, one leg on each side of my torso, her breath intermingling with mine—Kia. A giggle escaped as she picked up her jacket and skipped around the playground.
My eyes fixated on the night sky as I laid on my back, hand on my chest. My breathing returned to normal as the last trace of fog disappeared.
I pushed myself up off of the ground. My eyebrows knitted as she twirled round the playground, dancing with the leaves as the creaking swing swayed back and forth.
I grabbed hold of her shoulders, forcing her to stand still. “Are you alright?”
“Of course.”
“I thought you were missing.”
Her blue eyes turned gray and then blue as she placed her hands over her mouth and giggled. “Don’t be silly.” She darted past me, running up the street.
I hesitated at first, but followed behind, turning the corner, crossing the street, and sprinting through the front yard. She forced her way inside the house, darting up the stairs as I closed the door.
I paced around the living room, wringing my hands as the tires scraped against the gravel driveway. What happened? What’s wrong with Kia? Do her parents know? My body jolted as the car door slammed.
Their laughter penetrated through the window, traveling up the concrete steps and into the house.
“Nova, how was everything?” Kia’s mom asked as she removed her coat.
“Fine, just fine.”
“Good.”
“It’s foggy tonight,” Kia’s dad said, as his eyes darted in my direction.
“We barely saw the road. It hasn’t been this foggy in years,” Kia’s mom said as she brushed my hair over my shoulder. “You didn’t go out, did you?”
“Of course not.”
Her father’s eyes stalked me as I lowered my head to the floor.
I grabbed my jacket from the arm of the couch and scurried to the door.
“Will you be available next weekend?”
My heart beat against my chest as my feet hesitated to move. “I’ll have to look at my schedule.”
“Well, of course, dear. Let us know.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I hurried out of the house and down the steps. My soul screamed ‘keep moving’, but I didn’t. I turned. I had to see.
My eyes darted toward Kia’s room. There she stood, in the window, smiling as my mind struggled to make sense of what happened.
Kia © 2023 Rena Aliston. All rights reserved.