BLACK BIRDS IN MAHLA'S EYES
Arlou's anger

Melekh's golden-haired cat stuck his nails so deeply into Jerry's body and refused to let go even though the poor man had been wagging his body as hard as possible to get rid of him. Melekh could see blood begin to seep in the parts of Jerry's body where Arlou stuck his nails.

The cat was still hissing furiously when Father Samone finally managed to release it from Jerry's body. The man looked very angry, while Melekh just pecked among the excitement that struck in his living room. “Papa see, right? Everything in this house is weird!” Spray Jerry as soon as Arlou is successfully released from

his body.

Father Samone put his big hand on Jerry's shoulder, he patted it gently to calm him down. “Jerry, calm yourself.” Tegur Father Samone slowly. Jerry looked increasingly angry and prepared to spill his anger, but he saw Arlou who was now wrapped in Melekh's legs looking at him with a threatening look.

“Get rid of your stupid cat, boy!” Jerry exclaimed with a thunderous voice, making Melekh jump in place. “Dddii-aa akk-ann ssssellall-uu dddi-sssi-ni!” Melekh has been hard-earned. Father Samone shook his head to see what was happening in front of him.

“Jerry, if you can't hold back, we'd better go.” Said Father Samone firmly.he felt very uncomfortable being in the living room of the Yosiah family with Jerry who seemed to explode his anger. The man immediately complied as Father Samone threw a sharp glance at him.

“Well, so much better.” Said Father Samone when he saw Jerry who was still grumbling inching to the porch and sifting his large body on the wooden chair available there. “Melekh, you mind sitting with us outside?” Ask Father Samone gently. His smile broke when he saw Melekh nod reluctantly.

“Please, son?” Father Samone asked again when he saw Melekh walking with difficulty towards the veranda, but the boy quickly refused. Arlou who followed Melekh right behind him, looked at Father Samone with a menacing look, yet he did not hiss in anger as he did to Jerry.

“What do you mean when you say Jerry was possessed?” Ask the priest again, lowering his voice and aligning his steps with Melekh. Mahla's twin brother just shrugged, it would be easier for him to communicate telepathically, as he often did with Mahla.

Father Samone apparently caught Melekh's reluctance because Jerry was still there with them. “Alright, son, I won't force you.” Said Father Samone while helping Melekh down the steps at the front door to the veranda. The night was very sultry, the wind seemed to be not blowing at all, and the moon was being magnified with a bright beam above them.

“A very beautiful night.” Praise Father Samone for starting the conversation. Melekh sat on his favorite long bench directly facing the road, while Father Samone sat side by side with Jerry still visibly upset opposite him. “Where is your mother and sister?” Jerry sprayed impatiently when Melekh just sat his body in that chair.

“Jerry.” Reprove Father Samone with his warning gaze. Arlou fizzed loudly at Melekh's side, then the boy stroked his head slowly with his healthy hand to calm him down. Father Samone noticed how obedient the cat was to his master.

“Your family is not home, Melekh?” Ask Father Samone slowly.

Jerry snorted disgruntledly beside him, but the priest ignored him. Melekh shook his head at a glance then his gaze turned back to the cat in his lap. “Where do they go leaving you alone until night?” Father Samone asked again, this time he did not hide the great curiosity in his voice.

Melekh did not answer that question. In his mind he put together hundreds of reasons that he could tell the priest, but he was too busy watching Arlou who was still eyeing Jerry there, so the young man was silent a thousand languages.

“Does your family often leave you alone?” Asked Father Samone again, now his voice turned to be very concerned, Melekh could not distinguish whether the attention was sincere or just an attempt to provoke him to talk.

Mahla, find me quickly!

Melekh exclaimed loudly in his mind. He could no longer feel the connection with his sister, which meant that it was only a few moments before his mind was again locked in the mind of a five-year-old boy.

“It's no use asking him, Father. He is like a five-year-old in the body of a fifteen-year-old.” Jerry was impatient. “My words proved to be true, right? Mahla disappears with her mother. Puffs! They just disappeared!” Jerry started screaming again.

Melekh felt his mind shivering, while the world he saw became strange and difficult to understand. Hang in! Whisper to yourself. Don't miss anything, Sharai is here! He panicked to himself.

If his pure consciousness had turned into a child again, he could no longer know what Sharai was going to do in Jerry's body.

Before his consciousness actually turned to the five-year-old, Melekh briefly looked back at Jerry's eyes that turned pale blue. The fire was extinguished there.

Thankfully, Sharai no longer lives there.

*

“Good night, Father." Sapa Marya was friendly, she then turned her eyes to her neighbor. "Hi Jerry, what is it gonna take?”

In Marya's hand was clutched in a wicker basket filled with plants and wild flowers, while Mahla was still seen walking from a distance with waist-length red hair fluttering on her back. The atmosphere became much more comfortable, as if the air was moving again and the wind was blowing gently on Father Samone's face.

Jerry looked astonished at their arrival, he did not make much noise, but remained seated wrongly while Arlou was still watching him ferociously.

“Halo, Marya. Long time no see.” Welcome Father Samone welcome Marya's hand. Mahla who had just come straight to greet the priest with courtesy then inched towards the seat occupied by her younger brother.

“Melekh, I helped you up, yuk!” Take Mahla while throwing a glance at Jerry who suddenly looks very eager to pounce on Mahla. The man's gaze turned hungry and fierce.

Sharai's.

Mahla was surprised to hear Melekh's voice in her head. “Come, it's night now.” Urged Mahla when she saw Melekh flinch in his chair. If it's true that Sharai inhabits Jerry's body, there's nothing else she wants but to get out of there.

Fear not!

Melekh cried again in his mind. Melekh was struggling to maintain his consciousness, and if forced, his brother would begin to glow with gold, because the power of Melekh's energy was extraordinary. Mahla doesn't want that to happen now. Not in front of Father Samone who would not necessarily understand if it happened.

Sleep now's.

Mahla replies to Melekh in her head. His brother understood what he said, evidently he had then returned to being a boy who was happy to see the moon.

”Cccaa-nttii-k bbula-nya.” Melekh said while playing his hands towards the moon. Mahla wrapped the scarf she wore to Melekh's neck then turned to listening to her mother's conversation with Father Samone with Jerry's gaze still fixed on him.

“So what's up Father night-night here?” Marya asked softly. He placed his basket on the floor, while Father Samone cupped his hands over Mary's.

“I haven't seen you in church in a long time, my son. Is everything okay?” Ask the pastor no less gently. Mahla could see how much the pastor loved his mother, and the question did come from genuine concern. “Yes, Father, I am a sinner. I have to get to my kids who have a fever. Mahla just recovered from her illness, I had to make her a heat-lowering recipe from these forest plants.” Marya Luwes replied while showing the basket she had brought.

“I understand, son, but don't ignore the call of God for too long.. And, why don't you ever bring Melekh to church again, my son?” Ask Father Samone again.

“Because people can't stand Melekh among them, Father.” The voice was so strong and clear, it knew no fear. The voice came from Mahla who stood firmly in front of her brother. Father Samone swore in the girl's pair of eyes, black birds flapping their wings inside.