I couldn't really sleep. Morning hit different this time I just sat in the parlor, zoned out, thinkin' and thinkin', wonderin' what my parents gonna say when they find out what went down.
And my mom? Oh, she gon' lose her damn mind.
Nami:
"Yo, Renji, I'm headin' out to meet Cairo. You comin' or what? We gotta figure out what we're doin', 'cause that damn ghost? It ain't done with us yet. We slip up again, it's game over."
Renji:
"Yeah, yeah, I'm comin'. Let's move before somethin' else happens."
We stepped out the house, the air still smellin' like last night's storm heavy, wet, and cold like fear still hangin' around.
Nami:
"Yo, Yura! We'll be back later, aight? Don't break the house while we gone!"
Yura:
rolls her eyes "Girl, who you talkin' to like that? I'm the older sister here! You actin' like I can't take care of myself!"
Nami:
"Uh-huh, sure. Just don't blow up the kitchen again."
We walked off laughin' a little, but the truth is, none of us were okay. Not after what happened.
We hit the street quiet as a graveyard, puddles reflectin' the cloudy sky and made our way to Cairo's place. Knocked on the door, and his mom popped out with this death stare, like she was two seconds away from baptizin' us with a slipper.
She squinted.
"You lookin' for Cairo? He's down at the playground, downtown. And wipe your shoes off my steps."
We didn't even talk back just nodded and dipped fast. Ain't no one tryin' to get cursed by Cairo's mama.
By the way, I had my katana on me yeah, the same one from the other night. Wrapped it in a long street bag, slung it over my back. Felt heavy, but right.
Finally, we hit the playground. Cairo was already there, sittin' on the swing like he was waitin' for bad news.
Cairo:
"Yo, dudes, somethin's off here. You hear 'bout the kid that went missin' last night? Folks say a woman took him but before that, they heard her singin'. Real soft… like a lullaby."
Nami:
"Bruh, we didn't come here to talk 'bout ghost gossip. We came to figure out how to not die next time."
Renji:
"Nah, hold up. This might be connected. That voice Cairo talkin' about? Sounds like the same one that sang when our house got wrecked."
Cairo:
"You serious?"
Renji:
"Dead serious. Look, I don't know how, but that ghost it knows us now. It's playin' with us. We gotta hit back before it hits again."
I gripped the bag tighter. My chest felt hot not from fear, but anger.
"That house was all I had left from my folks, man. My grandpa built that place with his hands. Now it's gone. I ain't lettin' that ghost get the last laugh. We're findin' it… and we're endin' it."
The wind blew through the swings, makin' 'em creak like whispers.
Even the sky looked nervous.
Nami:
"So what's the move?"
Renji:
"The move? Simple. We hunt the hunter."
The three of us stood there tired, scared, pissed but ready.
Home
We was chillin' at the playground for a bit, just kickin' rocks and talkin' nonsense, when we heard this voice soft, familiar… but off.
Real off.
It was her.
That pregnant lady Eli.
She walked up slow, rain mist still hangin' on her hair.
"Renji," she said, voice soundin' calm but hollow, "I went to your house. It's all scattered. I brought food for you before…"
I blinked, tried to smile a little. "Ah hey, Miss Eli."
Then turned to my crew. "Yo, Nami, Cairo this the woman I told y'all about. The one from the other day."
Nami gave that awkward little wave.
"Nice to meet you, ma'am," she said, but her voice was shaky like she was seein' somethin' behind Eli that I couldn't.
Cairo though… bro just stared.
Didn't even blink for a sec. Then he rubbed his head, laughed nervously.
"Morning, ma'am," he said voice tight, eyes somewhere else.
And me? I'm just standin' there, confused.
Like why they actin' all weird?
Eli smiled, gentle but kinda too gentle.
"Why don't you come home with me, Renji?" she said.
"I went to your house and it was gone. You can stay with me for now. You look like someone who's not gonna talk much about what happened."
I scratched my neck. "Uh… I'm stayin' with my friend Nami for a bit. But sure, I can walk you home maybe help you clean up or somethin'."
She nodded, soft smile still there that too calm kinda smile.
So we start walkin'. I wave at my crew.
"Yo, see y'all later! You wanna come, cool. If not, stay here. I'll check in later."
Then I hand Cairo the katana my lucky blade like it was nothin'.
Me and Miss Eli start walkin' out the park.
Her umbrella tilted just enough to hide her face.
She's hummin' low that same creepy-ass tune I swear I heard before.
Nami crossed her arms, brows furrowed.
"Yo, we not just lettin' Renji follow that creepy lady, right?"
Cairo sighed, still watchin' us walk away.
"Hell nah. Dude even gave me the damn katana he never lets that thing go. That's sus as hell."
Nami nodded quick.
"Exactly! And that woman yo, her voice. Don't tell me you didn't catch it? That's the same freakin' voice from last night! The one singin' that ghost lullaby!"
Cairo froze, eyes wide.
"Wait… you right. Damn. I didn't even connect that. This is bad."
They wait a moment let us walk deeper down the street then they start trailin' behind, quiet as ghosts themselves.
But what they ain't know…
Eli kept glancin' back. Real slow.
Like she knew we were bein' followed.
And me?
I could feel it too.
Something was off. Real off.
But I just kept walkin' beside her tellin' myself it was nothin'.]