BLACK BIRDS IN MAHLA'S EYES
The Life and Death Sheath

Mahla dives into that deep, blinding silver mist. His body was wrapped in a veil of ice that felt cold but did not freeze enough. He breathed a sigh of relief because Melekh apparently did not come with him into the fog realm which seemed to be another realm where souls settled. It could have been dangerous, and Mahla didn't want Melekh to get hurt there.

“They found it.” Shoshana said, for the first time the ghost spoke directly to Mahla.

Mahla is shocked to find that Shoshana is following her. The ghost floated so close to Mahla that she could see her big eyes up close. There are veins that protrude in the eye that make it seem to bubble very dense, and at times can rupture.

“You what the hell are you following me?” Ask Mahla wonder. Shoshana started walking through the puff of smoke and fog, that place was really a strange place. Everything was seen in the air and covered in fog, Mahla could not see anything in front of him other than a thick plume of smoke enveloping their bodies.

Shoshana floated lightly next to Mahla, the ghost led Mahla to walk so as not to stumble in an uncertain direction. “I'm the reason you're here, Mahla. Your mother and David found out where I was banished.” Shoshana lirih. Mahla could feel the bitterness hidden behind her light and cold voice.

“What is this place, Shoshana?” Ask Mahla wonder. He had never been to such a strange place.The atmosphere was very similar to the world where Mahla lived, he felt he still remained in his living room, but everything seemed strange and foreign.

The furniture in the room was still in place, yet everything was shrouded in a thick silver mist and seemed to be floating in the air. There was no sight of Melekh in the chair, when clearly his brother was there with him. Mahla also felt her body very light, although she still looked solid. Instead, transparent like Shoshana, but she felt like she could float among the fog.

“This is our nature.” Said Shoshana while pointing at various figures who then manifest before them. The figures are similar to the ghosts that often come to Mahla, but look more obvious, making it many times more frightening than usual. They surrounded Mahla and Shoshana curiously. Some even blatantly wanted to capture Mahla with their long, claw-like skinny hands.

Shoshana flicked her transparent hand to dispel the other hands that wanted to strangle Mahla, then in a very subtle voice she whispered to Mahla. “They can't hurt you, because you're glowing so brightly here. They as much as possible want to get out of here with you.”

Mahla nodded in understanding, indeed there are still many spirits trapped in the veil between life and death, some can penetrate the veil and come to the world of the living like Shoshana did. But many are trapped in the veil to infinity.

“So this is where you all stay?” Tanya Mahla. Shoshana nodded slowly, and then took Mahla to one of the thickest mists in front of them.

“Yes, this is where our souls dwell. Even your protector is here.” Shoshana shouted while pointing to one of the most shining parts of the fog. “But he rarely shows up, if he comes, a big mess happens here. His energy was so great that he could disperse other spirits that were too close to him.”

Mahla nodded in understanding hearing Shoshana's words. The swirl of mist rolling around grew thicker in front of Mahla, the scroll seemed to be able to swallow her just like that if she stepped her foot in there.

“Your mother used to come here as a child. Your great-grandmother is arguably the liaison of two worlds, there is rarely a human like her.” Call Shoshana again. Mahla allowed herself to be led by the spirit of the horse-tailed girl, while unceasingly astonished by the changing scenery before her. It was as if he had gone through so many places at once in a single step.

“I'm so sorry for what happened to you, Shoshana.” Mahla's whisper stared at Shoshana concernedly. “But, wouldn't it be better if you let go all and go home in peace?” Follow Mahla carefully.

“I could not calm down before meeting David and his wife. I met David's wife, Zenaba, here as she was about to cross.” Shoshana pointed at a crack that looked like a narrow puddle containing something that looked like sparkling golden water in the distance. Above it was a arch bridge that looked ancient and fragile. "I just found out how David and himself suffered because of my death. Maybe that's why I can come to David even if only in a dream." Shoshana is sad.

“Each

the soul that was about to come back across that bridge, I remember Zenaba taking me across. But I can't let my body stay submerged forever in that cold swamp. I also could not let David live in grief for so long. I want him to find me.” Sujar Shoshana was at length, meanwhile, Mahla had unknowingly stepped foot towards the bridge. He sure is right to have seen a shadow of Nana at the end there.

“Stop! Don't go there!” Hardik Shoshana on Mahla who is like walking in a dream. The girl sure saw a purple scarf fluttering at the end of the jemabtan. The scarf Nana used to wear around her neck.

“I saw Nana there!” Mahla exclaims upset that Shoshana stopped her, and made her lose Nana's figure. Shoshana pulls Mahla's hand hard with all her strength, which makes her fade away partially. Only the waist up could be seen, while his legs were no longer visible. “Shoshana?” Mahla asked in shock to see that the ghost was no longer intact.

“What happened?” Urge Mahla as if she has just realized from a dream. “The river captivates you if you are not careful, once a mortal steps his foot there, he will never be able to get up again. Your brother is also in danger if you get close to that bridge, your energy is being connected!” Shoshana replied annoyed.

“Then what happened to you?” Mahla asked again as she looked at Shoshana's legs with fear.

“I just residual energy, Mahla, earlier I used the remnants of that energy to reach you.” The sad Shoshana whisperer. “My time is not much, Mahla. Will you take me to David's place?” Ask the spirit then with great sadness.

Mahla nodded despite not understanding too much. How could he drive Shoshana, while he himself did not know where to go in that strange place filled with fog?

The answer came a few seconds after Mahla thought about it. He could suddenly smell the flower of verbena, a perfume with a soft fragrance that his mother used to wear behind the ear.

“I know where we can find them!” Mahla girang. He immediately walked steadily towards one of the thin vortexes of mist near them. An ice-cold feeling instantly ran through Mahla's body as soon as her feet stepped into the fog, she could see the shadow of her mother with an old man who was half bald.