The burial pt 2

As they drove off in the chilling early morning, Kia dosed off after applying her balm. It had been so hot and some got into her eye, she let the windshield down a bit to allow the wind cool down the hotness of the balm. Upon getting to Aunt Milly's home, the car hit a pot hole in the middle of the road stumbling the car in the process and waking Kia up, Kia in her drowsy state decided to stretch her body is sit upright. While yawning, she looked at the window and something caught her view.

A black panther in the forest with very glossy fur. It was like night decorated with stars but suddenly, the black panther transformed into a woman, shocking Kia. The woman turned, sensing Kia's shock and smirked at Kia and walked deeper into the the woods. Shocked at what she saw, she blinked thrice to know if she was still asleep and yes she wasn't.

She decided to ask her Dad to be sure of was she saw so she stood up from her seat and went closer to him.

" Hey Dad, did you see anything outside?"

"Anything as in how?"

"uhh...well, like a panther transform to a human?"

"Hahaha, very funny Kia but no. Haven't seen such thing happen before. You've been watching magic movies again have you right?!"

"Magic movies?!!! How many times have I warned you not to?! you're grounded from now till I forget."

" But Mom I'm not!!, I swear!"

"No talking."

"Sorry sweets" Kingsley said with a small smile.

Kia sat back feeling sulky, her mother always treated her like some kind of unwanted stranger. Not allowing her do things she wants or allow things go he own way, many teenagers her age have a lot of friends and go out a lot but she had no one to call a friend, a loner was her nickname at school.

Pushing her bad thoughts aside, she glanced up as they reached Aunt Milly's house. It is like a cabin but bigger and more comfortable for a family home. There are plants and herbs surrounding the house and the walkway was made with gravel. Vic came down first, followed by her husband who went to pick up a sleeping Leo, Kia came down last while studying her surroundings remembering the last time she was here, about seven years ago at that time she was eight years old and it was a holiday. The place hasn't changed a bit so she thought to herself as she walked inside with her parents.

Aunt Milly came out of the house and welcomed them in serving them her ginger tea. This is the only reason Kia likes coming here since her mother can't make it. As she sipped her tea, she recalled the panther or woman in the forest and thought if she could ask her Aunt but not wanting to sound silly.

"Kia, Kia darling?!. Is she hearing me?" she heard Aunt Milly calling at the back of her mind, she woke up from her train of thoughts and turn to Aunt Milly who was sitting opposite her parents on a brown and cream soda.

"Are you alright dear?" her Aunt asked her

"yeah..sure" Kia looked the other way and answered

"Why are you in a navy blue dress? don't you know where we're going sweetheart?"

"umm...well I do know where we're going but I don't have any black dress".

"Well, go upstairs, meet Charmy she'll give you a dress okay and get some sleep too your eyes look swollen especially the right one and your nose too, did you have an accident?"

"Yes and I'm not telling you about it" she answered back rudely and ran upstairs.

Kia got upstairs and went into Charmy and Shelly's room. They are twin sisters and her cousins, they were still sprawled out on the bed snoring, Kia walked up to the bed and woke Charmy up from sleep, Charmy looked up and narrowed her sleepy eyes at Kia. "Ughh!!" she sighed in disgust, "What are you doing here?!" she asked Kia rudely

"I'm here to borrow your black dress if you have one"

Charmy rolled her eyes at Kia and went to the wardrobe and brought out an old black dress and threw it at Kia, Kia recognized the dress as it was the one her mother had give her for Christmas five years ago, she didn't want this dress but having no other option, she went to the bathroom and changed into it.

Her cousins never liked her and she didn't know why, they were two years older than her and had more than her but the nature dislike they had for her was there, even at school the dislike was there and such stuffs caused her to be bullied and leaves her isolated. Kia layed on the yellow sofa by the window and watched the twins on bed till she slept.

Kia woke up from an awful continuous tapping on her left shoulder and saw her cousin Shelly looming over her.

"Wake up sleepy head, we have to leave it's five minutes after seven"

"Okay" Kia said and got up she tidied up herself and went downstairs her father had already left with Leo and her uncle. Her mother and Aunt were outside waiting, the twins came down and went to the back of the car with Kia following them in. Her mom started driving with Aunt Milly at the front, everyone was chatting except Kia who looked outside the window the whole thing.

They got to the church and after the sermon they went to the burial grounds. Kia saw everyone go closer to her grandmother coffin to give their final respect but when it was her turn, she didn't move an inch and just looked at the coffin. Her mother gave her a slight push at her back, Kia was forced to move forward and see her grandmother, she looked at the woman in front of her and prayed a prayer of forever peace for her before dropping the rose for her.

The burial ended with parents, friends and relatives greeting each other, Kia on the other hand was standing alone from everyone and was waiting for her parents by the car when suddenly she heard her name being called, she turned her head to the direction of the sound and the last person who could be calling her.....

No way

NO FREAKING WAY!!!!??

THE PANTHER WOMAN!!!!!!!

Kia felt like running and screaming but all she could do was to stand put on the ground and sweat profusely. The came foward towards her like nothing was happening and stood close to Kia with a smile on her face, she looked classy and elegant with her black Bob cut and black suit, she wore a black beret and her aura commanded respect and fear. Her green eyes and bright smile showed happiness as she looked at Kia, Kia could only stare back at her with fear.

" Kia Anderson, I've been longing to see you"

Kia said nothing. The woman continued,

"I know you must be sad about your grandma, loses, especially those we love and know well are the most painful. I was a good friend of your grandma and I'm here to give my respect for her"

Kia just looked at her in confusion and bewilderment.

"I know you're suprised but I mean no harm" then the woman reached into her bag and brought out a golden locket with a navy blue book with a strap bundle and gave it to Kia.

" I know it's strange but , your grandma instructed me to give you this incase anything happens, I hope you make good use of it, untill next time" and the woman walked away.

Kia was still in shock as she watched the woman walk away, she looked at what she held and didn't know what it signified. As she looked up to ask the woman a question, the woman had already vanished into thin air, like she wasn't there in the first place, she ran out in search for her but only came across the busy road, giving up she turned her back to see her mother sienna approaching her.

"Where did you run off to like that without telling anyone, are you mad?!!!" Vic yelled at her, she could see her cousins snickering in the car, she turned to her mom.

"I'm sorry"

"Save that for later cause your in big trouble young lady, get in the car"

Kia walked into her car and sat, she faced the window all through the ride thinking of her encounter, she didn't even know when they dropped Aunt Milly or when they got home, she rush upstairs not waiting for anyone and brought out the objects, she locked the door and opened the book, and read a bit, it was talking about adventure in a strange place so she dropped it, and tried opening the locket but it didn't budge open, she tried her best even using a hammer but it didn't even crack, frustrated, she got up annoyed that her grandmother gave her something that can't even open,so she threw it on the floor and looked at it.

"Kia!!!" her mother called

"I'm coming" she said and took the book with her but just as she was about to open the door she heard a noise like a combination key unlocking, she turned to the sound and found out that it was the locket. She went closer and bent down to look and saw some symbols that we're not there before twist and turning, suddenly it stopped. She picked it up thinking it was over but just then the locket opened and a blinding white light shine from it, a strong force came out from in and before she could contemplate, the force dragged her into the locket, closing itself and disappearing from the room.