The Immortals

Mila read the old messages again and again. Messages of the good times. "Are you free now? We are having a party at Phil's house". "Come to the gate, I got pizza for you". "Please send me the image of page 54 of your sociology textbook". "It is raining, can we just walk through the streets". Mila smiled like an idiot. There were no new messages from Luke or any other. Mila looked out through the window, A robin is trying to build a nest on her windowpane. Mila watched it with a smile. It is good to have a home of your own. It was Mila's dream. When she was thinking about that, her phone gave a flash. Mila was excited to find Luke's name in the notifications.

"I loved you. If you want to end this, just tell me that. Why are you making me a fool? All of our friends told me not to text you again, but I couldn't. I wanted to know what happened to you suddenly, and I couldn't get peace, and I think you will understand. Why you made me a fool that day? I and our friends drove to Hanedale. And we saw nothing in there There was no byroad as you said. We asked about your place to everyone there and nobody even heard of that. Tell me. Are you in trouble? Or are you just trying to avoid me? We know your mom. She was very secretive about everything. Are you trying to be like her?"

Mila stared at the phone. It was late night when they passed Hanedale and she was not clear about the way even though she tried to grasp everything she found. Mila doesn't know what to reply, the sudden change of events left her confused. She typed.

"Whom do you trust more, me? Or your friends? If it is me, wait for a month. I will come back after a month. I hope you will wait for me. If you are not, I can understand that you have gone with your friend's advice".

Mila was in a grim mood for days. Luke didn't reply to the message. Mila has found it better. Better be silent than sending those unfinished messages. Mila will go back. She could convince Luke within five minutes if she can talk with him. Mila counted the days. She hoped the two months will go faster.

Mila has found a place in the village on the following days. She talked more with her Daisy. They never talked about her mother. She helped her stitch the entire morning. Evenings, she delivered the clothes to the villagers.

The villagers follow a strange cult. Sabrina's father, Daniel was the chief priest, and they organized weekly meetings in his field. Sabrina and her mother never had permission to attend them and Irvin always stood at the corner trying to get a glimpse of Sabrina and she stood in the gate of her house.

Daniel believes that the whole prosperity of the village is a blessing from their god. Mila was not a believer, but she never argued with anyone. Daniel in their first meeting mentioned that 'they should be careful about the outsiders and the ones those will betray the village that they will cause terrible loss to the villagers'. Mila felt like Daniel strongly dislike her, but she tried to ignore that feeling. She is not staying here for long and she doesn't want unwanted problems here.

She came to know more villagers through this meeting and her evening walks. James, the farmer who cultivated cotton and silk. Philip, the blacksmith, sold needles. Dolly, who made threads from the cotton and silk, and Joan, her quiet daughter, who painted the clothes. Jon, who lived in a gigantic mansion who owned a large share of land in the village. Mike, his servant. Ginny, his daughter, and so many.

In the evenings Mila took a book with her and walked through the village. Sometimes she found Lola or Irvin and went to their house. Lara always made up some gossips and Mila was a good listener just like Lola. Rita always cooked. And nothing in the world could beat her tasty milk cookies. If Irvin and Lola are busy, Mila will go to the grassland and lie down on the grass. She opens the book and reads it till she falls asleep. Most of the time, Irvin or Lola will come to her and they accompany her to the home. Time and days passed like that. The villagers acclaimed Mila's stitching, and she became busier. More villagers preferred her work more than Daisy's and her Daisy got a lot of free time. She grew a special bond with her Daisy. She always talked about the city, hoping Daisy joins her in the city when she goes back. But she never seemed to be interested in city life.

One day Peter visited them. Mila when opened the door, Peter was about to leave and he seemed to be very much uncomfortable before Mila and her Daisy.

"I am sorry. I thought I would never come here again, but." Peter's face was guilty and sad.

"It was not your mistake. I told you many times." Daisy tried to console him.

Peter stood like that for a while. Then he smiled at Mila. He handed over some color papers.

"I used to get things like this for Mila. Now she is no more. I thought you may like this. Went to the city yesterday".

"Thank you". Mila managed a smile.

"Not now, Peter. She is very busy with the stitching and I don't think she will get time for this too." Daisy smiled and went inside to make tea for Peter, and they were alone.

"Mila, I know you are angry with me, but try to understand".

"I am not. Now I know why you are hiding everything from me. My mother eloped in your taxi, right?"

"Yes". Peter made a guilty nod, and Mila ignored it.

"Leave it. It was her fate. And I think I must find the way out of this village myself. I will leave soon".

"No, you can't".

"Peter, why are you being like this? I will talk with grandma and I am sure she won't stand against my wish and I won't leave her alone. I will come back whenever I am free".

Daisy came with the tea, and Peter looked more worried after that. Mila left the house and went to the grassland. She searched for Lola and Irvin, but both of them were not there. When she came back to her home, Rita was at the doorstep.

"Mila, you came. Daisy has fallen from the steps and hit her head".

Mila rushed inside. She saw a pool of blood under the step and felt dizzy. When she entered the room, Daisy was sleeping quietly.

"We must take her to the hospital". She told Rita, who accompanied her.

"What? No". Rita protested.

"We must". Mila ignored her.

"But, we don't go to hospitals." Rita tried to make her calm.

"What are you saying? Look at the blood. Wait, I will call Peter. You stay here with her." Mila took her shawl and was about to leave the house.

"Mila, stop I am alright". It shocked Mila. Daisy was walking towards her.

"We never leave this village for anything. And we are safe here. Only people leaving here will have sickness and injuries".

Mila remembered her mother and couldn't reply anything for a while. Rita left after sometime and they talked little after that.

That night she tried to convince Daisy. "There is nothing wrong in seeking help from outside. If you can buy their things, then why not their treatment? You may not be lucky always. In the city, there are a lot of treatment options and".

"We won't die. The village will heal us". Daisy interrupted her and left the left room without listening to her pleas.

Mila couldn't get it. How Daisy at this age survived a terrible injury like that. She heard Ella's grandma died after losing blood from falling through the stairs. But look at her Daisy, she is as healthy as Mila, a seventeen-year-old.

And she remembered that accident at town. Luke and everyone thought she is dead, and she was not. She was somewhere else for a moment. Mila felt the soft wet grass of Flovalwood for the first time before she even visited the village. What is happening? Daisy said those who belong to the village will only heal here. That's why her mother was never healed. She betrayed the village. But what about Mila? Mila has nothing to do with the village. Mila was born somewhere else and wanted to return there. What is her connection with Flovalwood?

She had a sudden bad feeling. Is that why Daisy staying young like this? And other villagers? Charlie is the oldest one in the village, and he still lifts the heavy sacks like Irvin. And why her mother didn't return even after, she is very much ill. The air could have cured her. Mila wished to talk about this with anyone. Anyone from outside the village. She sadly checked her phone. There were no messages for days.