BLACK BIRDS IN MAHLA'S EYES
Moonstone

Marya was sure she was dreaming. There, in the same room where he saw her daughter's body engulfed in flames, he saw her silver-haired grandmother standing on the edge of the bed, looking right into his eyes. The figure walked to the edge of the window, then waved at him.

“Nana?” Call Marya with deep yearning. Nana is a dear call to her grandmother. The figure of the old woman who was very dear to him seemed very peaceful and radiant.

Nana's figure is not transparent like the spirit in general, but not solid enough to be the actual form. Nana just looks like a mirror image, real, but Marya sure right, her grandmother who has been dead for decades, is not really there.

Marya ignored Melekh who lost consciousness, and Mahla's body was still surrounded by flames. He stepped toward his grandmother, who was waiting for him at the window.

“Nana, is that you?” Mary asked between dream and reality. Nana just smiled and hinted Marya to keep getting closer to him. The face of his beloved grandmother looked shady surrounded by silver hair that exuded a magical aura.

Moon children.  Nana said directly to Marya's mind.

When Marya recalled Nana's story of children born on a full moon, they all had pure souls. They were like clear moonstones that absorbed the powerful and sacred energy of the moon.

It makes the moon children become more sensitive. Some of them could see the past far from their age, others could look to the future, and the rest, could talk to the dead. In fact, Nana once said, one in nine births of moon children has the ability of it all.

“Mahla and Melekh are indeed moon children, Nana.” Marya lirih. She gave birth to her twins not only at full moon, but also at full blood moon, where the blood moon prophecy began.

The Blood Moon Prophecy has been around since the time of the generations, people believe that the full moon of blood is a sign that the world will soon be completely destroyed.

“There will be great damage after the full event of blood, Nana, it is written in the Book of Revelation. Are my children the ones who brought that calamity?” Marya's whispers stared blankly at her two children lying on the floor.

The fire has left Mahla's body, but the girl has not appeared to move.

Marya observed Mahla's body that left no trace of burning, but clearly she was bathed in tongues of fire that could certainly scorch to the bone.

Marya, children of the moon, pure as a moonstone.

Nana slowly fades away, leaving a big question mark on Mary's heart. Destruction, or the savior of the two children?

*

Mahla is like waking up from the worst of dreams. The darkest dream he'll never have again.

He was in the most foul hole. The worst and the worst. He recalled how the hole was masked like rotten meat every time he tried to climb it. Mahla recalled the rancid aroma left in her hands every time she managed to snatch an inch of rotten meat as her attempt to ride. It was as if he had been trapped there all the ages.

His memory began to fade. His mind wants to melt.

I am a despicable animal. Let me die here. I choose to die here.

Mahla no longer wants to go back. He just felt so good. It seemed little by little he was eroded in the hole that continued to blaze orange fire. Sometimes he managed to crawl up, but then he slipped, making him mired deeper there.

The girl no longer tried to get out. He just let himself get trapped. The orange flames were still dancing around him, and the smell of rotten flesh dulled his senses. Mahla collects the memories she remembers most. Her mother's smile, the fragrance of verbena on her mother's body, the honey cake, and Melek, her precious brother.

Just as Mahla was thinking, this was the end, a flap of wings suddenly flashed in her pair of eyes. He also heard a flap of wings violently hitting the flames around him. The cold wind expelled the foul scent, making the air again feel pure.

*

After falling asleep two full days later, Mahla felt her energy had returned, making her feel whole and full. In contrast to before, where he was often tired and gloomy, he now only felt calm and peaceful.

His encounter with Baruch sort of gave him an injection of energy that dispelled nightmares. It seems ready to face anything. Anything, except the sour face of his mother who was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

“I swear if something terrible happens again, I'll take you to Father Samone to perform an exorcism!" Threatening her mother loudly, but Mahla saw a ray of relief emanating from her mother's face.

"I didn't see Father Samone." Sahut Mahla lightly while accelerating his pace.

“How are you doing, Mahla?” Asked her mother as the girl ran towards her and hugged her tight. His mother then returned his embrace, Mahla was relieved to be able to breathe the aroma of her favorite verbenna in the curve of her mother's neck.

“Do not do that again, swear!” Her mother was almost hysterical.

“Where is Melekh, Bu?” Mahla asked as she let go of her embrace, she ignored her mother's words and looked around for Melekh's figure. His mother turned her head towards the yard, where Mahla saw his brother

lying on the grass with Arlou by his side.

“It's okay?” Mahla asked watching her brother anxiously.

“He's a strong boy.” Reply to his mother slowly. Mahla can at first glance see from the depths of her mother's eyes that Melekh was trying hard to save her on the day that Sharai tried to prey on her.

“Mahla, can we stop this madness?” Pinta's mother with a tired face. He invited Mahla to sit on their porch while observing Melekh from a distance.

Mahla looked at her mother's face that seemed to be aging a few years just like that. Deep wrinkles began to appear on Marya's face, making her look old and tired.

“Mother knows something like this I can't control myself.” Mahla is sad. He also wants to live a normal life like most children. He also felt tired of dealing with an endless spirit, especially with the presence of Sharai who almost took his soul.

“Can. I threw away all that shit and just lived with God in my heart.” Said his mother

unadorned. “I reject all spirits that come, and they are not strong enough to take your soul if you have faith in it.”

Mahla thought about her mother's words a long time after. He walked towards Melekh and

swearing to see Arlou glancing at him.

“Melekh, you heard what Mom said, right?” Mahla asked her sister who was playing with grass. The boy chewed on a few leaves and cried out for pleasure. Mahla looked at her brother with a flat expression. He will not be able to communicate with his brother for a while, Mahla chose

lay down beside Arlou and stroked the bright yellow-haired cat's body slowly.

“Can we stop from all this, Arlou?” Mahla lirih. He thought he would find peace on that quiet morning. But he was wrong. A spirit with a head that was almost split open, sniggered loudly, the ghost floated slowly, then revealed a mocking smile right in front of Mahla's face.

“Try if you can stop.”