Chapter 5

I was woken by the smell of incense. It seemed the keeper had lighted one. Yawning,I looked at Skylar who hugged the pillow. His face at the moment looked like something out of my time.

Earlier, during midnight. He mumbled words I couldn't decipher no matter how hard I tried. I got out if the house. Just as I'd sensed. The keeper was kneeling on the mat in the mini temple which had been built in front of the house. I joined him in prayer. After the prayer,he walked into the house and sat in his rocking chair, moving back and forth in rhythm. The human came out, wearing the very shirt from the previous night. He looked at his wristwatch.

" Shit,I've got three more hours to basketball practice and from here to my hostel is about an hour's drive" he said out loud. The Keeper smiled like he got what the kid said. The human requested for something I hadn't thought of.

" Can I take Eileen along with me?" he asked the keeper. I thought i was hallucinating or dreaming because I pinched myself. It was real. I did a mini backflip in my head. Finally,I was getting out if the graveyard. Freedom .

What would it feel like. I was going to see new and exciting things apart from tombs,benches,trees and other wandering souls,the few Humans that came along and the house. But all the above would depend on the one person who was busy rocking his chair. He still hadn't given an answer. I bit my lower lips and looked at him, pleading with my eyes. He was sure to decline _

" Yes you can". Wait,what?. He accepted it. There had to be a catch. Who cared?. I finally did the victory dance I'd been practicing in my head.

" But on one condition" he added making me halt in my tracks. I knew it!. I held the hem of my hoodie. I meant Skylar's hoodie, waiting to here the condition.

" On a condition that you promise to take care of her and try your possible best to keep her out of trouble. Which I know she'll definitely always find herself in" Merari spoke. I chuckled. The human on the other hand,smirked.

" But how do you plan on getting her out?" Merari asked, shattering my hoes like glass. I hadn't even thought of that.

" I don't know. I'll probably figure it out at the entrance of the yard". Like seriously?

He exited the house,went to the temple,took some incense sticks, returning to the house. " The incense part of this house and her. It should be able to help her get out of here....I think" he scratched his head.

" There's got to be a reason you're taking her out if the yard. Nothing comes at ab easy price" Merari wanted to know.

"Just feel like it". Skylar glanced at his watch once again. " We've really got to go" he pleaded.

After biding the Keeper farewell,we abruptly walked to the entrance of the graveyard . Skylar walked through the invisible barrier. I halted in my tracks and watched him do so.He took out some incense sticks,lighted it, saying a prayer. Tsk,as if that's gonna work I hissed.

" You can come out now" his hands wee crossed. I was disappointed. If that would work,I should've been able to follow the people that came in and out every day, right?.

He glanced at his watch, tapping his left watch vigorously . I was indeed driving him impatient. He reached an arm through the barrier,grabbed mine and pulled me out of the graveyard. I screamed like a vampire about to be burnt in the sun. For a fact,I'd never been outside the graveyard. I deem my reaction perfectly normal. I sort of expected my skin to burn,melt or something else. He gave a giggle. And that was when I realized I was out.

" Whoo hoo" I yelled as I ran to the street.

It glimmered with different types of vehicles. My eyes grew wide as I took in the busy scenery. The kid laughed, holding a car key which is never seen until then.

" How are we gonna get you your place?" I wore a puzzled look. He pressed the keys and I heard a honk. My head snapped towards the direction of the sound. I know I said I'd seen different vehicles,but by far,his was the best. I ran towards it, scrutinizing it. It had a bird on its edge.

" What's the brand?" I asked as the car shimmered.

"Not a brand. She's got feelings. She's my first love. Her name is Bea" he corrected and introduced me to it. I rolled my eyes as he did so.

" She's a Rolls Royce honey,not just any car" he added. Okay, naming a car was not bad. But naming it Bea?, my God. This kid had no sense in naming. But one thing I agreed on was that she was pure beauty. She glimmered, knowing the beauty she was. She was covered in gold foil,that I acknowledged.

" Let's move. Remember you've got a game" I ordered him. The car was unlocked by him whilst he muttered under his breath. I sat in, taking in it's smell.

The car looked expensive. And that said a lot about its owner. He wasn't just anyone. In all if my years in the graveyard,I'd never seen such a car pass by. He drove off to a big building which he later explained was his place of residence. The gate opened as his car drove in. My lit up face became dull. Don't get me wrong. The place was huge but come on!. With the car he drove,I expected him to own a house. We entered what he called and elevator. He pressed a button and the thing lifted up. We arrived on the fifth floor. The machines opened. Then my mouth dropped open.

The place was luxurious. I swear, I could see my reflection on the floor. It was polished. The place was illuminated mostly by sunlight which made its way onto the floor through glass windows. The fifth floor had sofa's and a center table. It was just like the interior decor of a living room with a TV present. The design made me wonder if the place was a hostel or hotel.He took out his room keys and unlocked the door. I had no time to take in the entrance because we - mostly him - were met by an angry looking lady who looked mid 20. She gave him and annoyed before rattling.

" Where the hell were you last night?. The boys and I came here to make you dinner after practice and where were you?, nowhere to be seen. We checked in at your house and you weren't there either. The gate man said he hadn't even seen you I went back home hoping you'd be here this morning but you weren't.

I even prepared breakfast and it's cold. Did you at least think about how we'd feel. Look at the time. It's almost 10, which leaves us an hour more to basket ball practice" the lady gave no chance to Skylar to explain.

I was getting kind of pissed off. I had no say in his life but how did he find such a lady. I mean the guy was old enough to take care of himself. She kept on rattling , walked towards the refrigerator took out a lemon cake,talking and eating at the same time. I turned to look at Skylar.

" Do something!" I screamed at him " before she finishes all those delicious looking desserts in the fridge. I also have an appetite. So stop her" I yelled at him. He stopped looking at her and faced me.

" Really?, all you can think about is food at this moment.?" he asked me whispering so she wouldn't hear. Then he turned to her, grabbing her hands.

" Kathy,Kate. I'm sorry. Take it easy with the food. I went clubbing outside this vicinity. I got drunk and spent the night at a hotel. It rained you know?" he said.

Okay,this kid was good at lying and if she believed it then all I could say was she's pretty with no brains.

" But why didn't you pick up your calls?" she wanted to know.

" I left the phone in the bedroom" he replied. She finally came down and put the lemon cake in the fridge. Well at least I got the cake all to myself .

How could she not tell that he was just trying to pacify her. She took a seat in a very comfortable looking sofa, took out her phone and checked the time.

" Looks like we've got about 50 minutes till practice begins. So,how about you get in there and bath" she pointed the bathroom " cos you stink and let's get moving before coach screams at us".

I had no idea what she was talking about but he did not stink. He had this manly smell. The smell of wet earth and spring combined together. She took out her phone a message.

We'll be there soon. He just arrived from some hotel in another vicinity. The person replied almost immediately

Okay, we're already waiting. See what I meant by she had no brains?.