Chapter 4: A surprise visit

“What's wrong again, Karma?” Liam walked in sluggishly, yawning loudly.

Karma was pacing about the room, staring at the letter and amulet laid on the floor.

How can this be possible?

She remembered tossing the letter and amulet. She remember tossing it in the trash bin.

She didn't see it this afternoon when she got back from school. She still didn't see it before going to bed until it suddenly dropped on her palm while she was staring at the shadow.

But how is that possible?

Did it appear or what?

“Karma dear, what's wrong?” Liam asked, staring at his daughter's worried form.

“Something is wrong, dad.” She choked out, still pacing. “Something is definitely wrong with me.” She was at the verge of crying now.

The sleep in Liam's eyes varnished immediately. He put an end to her pacing and trapped her in between his hands. “Baby, please don't cry and talk to daddy. What's going on?”

She pointed at the letter and amulet as soon as he asked her that.

Liam gazed down at it, knitting his brows. “What about that?”

“Ho...how...di...did it...ge...get here?” She sputtered.

“What are you saying? This letter have been in your room.”

She shook her head vigorously. “No. I toss it out in the trash bin on my way to school dad. I remember trashing it. I was just sitting on the floor when it appeared,” She stared down at her hand that was shaking non-stop. “It...appeared on my palm.” She cried. “Dad, what's wrong with me?”

“Shush, baby girl. Everything is fine. Nothing is wrong with you, okay? I'm sure it have been in your room but you didn't just realize it yet.”

She shook her head but didn't say anything as she leaned in for her father's embrace. Liam wrapped his strong arms around his little princess form, stroking her back gently.

She continued crying which only seem to break her father's heart.

This was hurting his daughter. He can't let this keep happening. Maybe it's time to just forget about his promise to her mother and take good care of her now.

Maybe it's time he stop forcing her to go to a school he knows absolutely nothing about.

She's human and whether or not she possess magic, he won't let her out of his sight.

“Here,” He carried her in his arms and Karma wrapped her arms around his neck. “Come sleep in my room, okay?”

She nods like a child of five years old, resting her head on his broad shoulders _Damn, it's good to have a well built father_ She thought to herself in a situation like this.

Liam turned around and walked out of the room going straight into his.

^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^

AT LIAM'S HOUSE~12PM

“Hey Karma!” Tiana waved as she stepped into the house, grinning. “What's up with ya?”

“I'm fine. Wait, shouldn't you be in school?” Karma narrowed her eyes at her friend.

“I would have been if you were likewise in school.” She walked to the kitchen to grab herself an apple juice. Tiana wasn't a guest anymore.

“How did you know I was at home if you didn't go to school yourself?” Karma asked, watching her friend who was going through the fridge for a snack. “Didn't you eat at home before coming to my house?”

Tiana scoffed. “You know my mother. She loves healthy food. We don't have a single junk food at home. Only vegetables and healthy drinks. Sometimes I wonder if my mother is from the family of goat. Wait, do I look like goat?”

“You don't, but sometimes you act like one.” Karma said under her breath, earning a glare from her friend. “You still haven't answered my question.”

Tiana grinned widely as she brought out a box of KitKat. “How much I love this.” She grabbed the Apple juice from the table and went to sit down beside Karma. “I have my ways. If the cheerleaders don't tell me then the jocks will, if they don't then the football team will and if they don't _”

Karma cuts her off. “What? When did I become that popular?”

“Come on, you are a friend of this sunshine seated beside you, why the hell wouldn't you be popular? The whole teachers even know you.”

“What?” They both chuckle. “In as much as I don't like the way you skipped school because of me,,, I'm glad to have you here with me. I really do need your positive vibes around.”

“Oh my fvcking vegetables! Did you just say that?” Tiana laughed.

“Stop.” Karma blushed.

“Aww, baby you know I will always be by your side whenever you need me, okay?” She winked, throwing a cube of chocolate into her mouth and sipped from her glass of Apple juice. “Hmm.” She moaned.

“Uh...is that healthy?”

“What?”

“Apple and chocolate, is that healthy?”

Tiana stared down at it for a while before shrugging, taking another bite of KitKat and sipped from the Apple juice. “I don't know but I'm enjoying it.”

“You should eat something healthy, T.”

“Like what? Cabbage, Carrot, Cucumber, green vegetables and so many other shit...please don't sound like my mother right now.” She roll her eyes.

Karma laughed. “Suit yourself girl. I hope you don't have a running stomach from this.”

“I won't. I have a very strong body system.” She bloated.

“Wanna bet? Trust me you will have a running stomach from this combination.” Karma stated.

Tiana hiss. “I won't.”

Silence fell between them until Karma spoke again.

“I'm sorry for what happened last night. I shouldn't have left you in the dark. I'm sorry.” She apologized.

“Aha! I've forgotten that I should be mad at you right now. You ignored me, Karma. We are friends and your problem should be mine. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Though, I don't get what that means but I'm sure you get me.”

Karma chuckles. “You don't get what it means and yet you keep using the line correctly.”

“I know right. I'm too smart.” She smiled. “So are you going to tell me what that school is all about now?”

“Well...” She don't want to drag her friend into her own mess. It's her problems and not Tiana's. “I was just thinking of a title to give to my story.”

“What? Wait, when did you start writing, Karma?”

Karma shrugged, avoiding eye contact with her. “Since I was born?”

They both laughed. “Very funny.”

“I'm improving in my sense of humor, right?” She smiled.

Tiana nods then shook her head, twisting her face a little as she adjusted herself on the couch. She was acting very strange right now.

“T, what's wrong?” Karma asked.

“Nothing.” Tiana managed to say, clenching her grumbling stomach. “Fvck, my stomach!”

“Tiana, what is it?” Karma asked worriedly, looking pretty scared.

The glass in Tiana's hand dropped and broke into million pieces on the floor.

“The toilet....the....” She sprung to her feet and ran to the visitor's toilet, not waiting for any direction.

*****

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Tiana, what's wrong? You've been there for over an hour now. What's going on?” Karma kept banging against the door as she heard cries from the toilet. “Tiana, please open the door.”

“I... I can't.” Tiana's muffled voice came out behind the closed door. “I'm....dying. Kar...help me.”

The banging increased. “Oh God. What do I do? Tiana, please try and get the fvcking door open. I will call the ambulance.” She rushed to get her phone.

Minutes later she returned, her phone was held against her ear as the line ring.

‘State your emergency, please.’ A feminine voice said from the line.

Karma told them about the current condition of her friend which they had promised to be there within thirty minutes.

After she was done with the call,,,she dropped her phone aside and continued knocking.

“Don't stop talking, T. I need to know you're still alive.” She pleaded, crying.

“I...”

“Tiana?” No answer. “Tiana, please say something!” No answer. “Oh God. Tiana!” No answer. “Open up, you damn door!” She yelled angrily.

One second,

Two seconds,

Three seconds,

It opened.

^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^

AT THE HOSPITAL ~ 2:25pm.

“How do you feel now, Miss Tiana?” The doctor asked her.

Tiana lips stretched into a smile as she nods calmly. “Better. Didn't know chocolate and apple juice can be this dangerous.”

“No.”

“What?”

“It's not dangerous, dear. And neither are you allergic to it.” He stated.

She stared at him in total confusion. “Wait, if I'm not allergic to it neither is it dangerous to human health, what then happened to me?”

He shook his head. “Nothing was detected in your system, Miss Tiana. You shouldn't have been affected by what you ate. Whatever happened to you is a mystery, dear. But well, you are fine now and that's all that matters.” He smiled.

“Yeah...” Tiana repeated distractedly, trying to process everything right.

What could have gone wrong with her body system then?

“Your families are here,” The doctor announced.

“My families?” Tiana repeated, looking very scared.

“The girl who brought you here and her father.” The doctor said.

She let out a deep breath of relief, leaning back on the bed. She hope her mother doesn't hear about this. Because if she didn't die from the running stomach then she will be murdered by her mother.

The door opened and the doctor stepped out while Karma and her father walked in.

Karma rushed towards her friend. “Are you okay?” Tiana nod. “I warned you not to eat that. I told you you will have a running stomach if you did but no, you wouldn't listen. Do you know how worried and scared I was. I thought I was going to lose you.” She said in between tears.

“Well you didn't. I'm still breathing. And point of correction the food wasn't the cause of the running stomach.”

“Then what was?”

“It's a mystery to him.” She replied, shrugging.

“A mystery?” Karma pondered.

“Oh, that reminds me. How were you able to get the door open?”

“You didn't open it?” Karma questioned.

“I didn't. I was too weak to move a muscle. I thought I was going to die until you burst the door open. Where are you getting your strength from, huh?” She wriggled her brows, trying to be funny in her condition.

Karma looked very worried as she turned to look at her dad who quietly shook his head.

“Tiana,” Liam began. “You shouldn't be awake now. You need enough rest. Your mother is on her way.”

“WHAT!? Karma, continue crying because you are about to lose a friend.”

“Stop joking about death, T.”

“This is no joke. Why didn't you stop your father?” She whispered for only Karma to hear.

“I tried.”

“WHERE'S TIANA!?” They heard the voice from outside the ward.

“Please tell her I'm dead, okay?” She pulled the covers over her head, pretending to be dead.

The door slid open to reveal an angry/worried mother.

“TIANA!!!!”

If truly she was dead, the yell of her mother would have definitely pulled her out of the land of dead.

“Damnnnn.” Tiana sighed, taking off the covers from her head. “Hi Mom,”

^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^

AT LIAM'S HOUSE ~ 4:56pm

“Can you tell me what happened between you and Tiana?” Liam asked.

“I don't know.” Karma replied in a low voice.

“The doctor didn't find anything wrong with her system. The food shouldn't have affected her at all. What did you say or do?”

“I...”

*Wanna bet? You are going to have a running stomach from this combination.*

“I only told her she was going to have a running stomach but I swear I never meant it to happen. It was only a harmless joke.” She stated.

Liam sighed, rubbing his face with his palms. “This is getting out of hand. I know you don't want to go to this school and honestly I don't want to force you into doing anything but_”

“Are we going to have this conversation again?” Karma cuts him off. “I almost lost my friend and what, you are here telling me about this dumb stupid school.” She scoffed. “I'm sure it was only a coincidence.”

“Coincidence? Will you keep seeing all of the things happening to you as coincidence until you finally harm someone?”

“Are you waiting for that to happen?”

“What?”

“Are you waiting for the day I will end up hurting someone?” She repeated.

“Of course not. I'm just worried.” He said.

Karma sighed running her fingers through her black silky hair. “I don't possess any magic, okay dad?”

“You will realize the truth about yourself soon, child.”

Karma shook her head coming up to her feet. “I should go clean up the mess. And oh, I'm making dinner so don't worry about it.” She walked out after that.

^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^

AT THE HOSPITAL**

“How many times will I warn you against eating junk food, huh? And where was Karma when you were eating them? She should have stopped you!”

“Mom, I'm fine. The doctor said the running stomach had nothing to do with what I ate.” Tiana explained. “And please don't blame Karma for anything that happened to me.”

“I'm not blaming her for anything. I'm just worried.” She sighed. “But how is that even possible?”

“What?”

“If the junk food wasn't the problem then what was? Do you have internal sickness or something?”

“No. I'm likewise confuse as well.” She shrugged.

Her mother got up to her feet. “I should go see the doctor now.”

“If it's about the bill,,, Karma's dad already took care of it.”

“Really?” Tiana nods. “Then I should call him to thank him. But, I'm still going to see the doctor.”

“What for?”

“There have to be a perfect explanation of what happened to you.” She said, walking out of the ward.

“He said it's a mystery!” Tiana said at the top of her voice but her mom already left, shutting the door close.

^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^

AT SCHOOL**

DING!!!!

The bell went off, making everyone excited as they got up to their feet, some were packing their belongings while some were already leaving the classroom and few ones remained seated doing one thing or the other.

Karma was one of them who remained seated. She was scribbling something on her note, ignoring whatever shit going on around her.

She was so lost in her own world that she didn't realize everyone already left the classroom aside from her and the teacher.

“Karma?” She didn't answer. “Karma.” No reply. The woman slowly placed her hand on Karma's shoulder, earning a flinch from the young girl.

“Fvck!” Karma cursed loudly almost falling off the chair.

“Language, Karma.” Mrs Henley said sternly. “What's wrong with you?”

Karma sighed, rubbing her eyes as she sat upright. She took in her surroundings to see the class empty.

“It lunchtime. Everyone's gone to eat something or play silly games. But you are the only one who stayed back. What's wrong?” She asked calmly, sitting down beside Karma.

Karma cleared her throat. “I'm fine, Mrs Henley. I'm just going through some things.”

“Like magical stuff?” Mrs Henley questioned.

“What? How...how did you know?”

She laughed, nodding her head at the note seated in front of Karma. It was the same note Karma had been scribbling on.

Karma look down at it to see the gibberish she'd written down there.

She had written magical powers, DarkLight Academy, Tiana, the dream, the table, the shadow, the people on black hoodies...

She closed the book with a loud sigh. “I...No.”

“No?” Mrs Henley repeated.

“I don't have magic.”

Henley cracked up a laugh, shaking her head. “I never said you had one. Tell me, do you think magic exist?”

Karma shook her head. “Of course not.”

“Why not?”

“Well it's just bullshit stories that obviously don't exist.” She answered.

“Do you believe in God?” Henley now asked.

Karma thought for a second before nodding her head. “Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Karma repeated in confusion.

“Why do you believe in God but don't believe in magic. Because in my own opinion, I think the wonders and miracles Jesus did were all magical, don't you think?”

Karma furrowed her brows, processing what Henley said bit by bit.

“Wait,” She paused. “Are you trying to say magic exist?”

Henley shrugged coming up to her feet with a smile on her face. “Life is magical,” That was her reply.

“Am I the only one who doesn't believe in magic?” Karma thought to herself as she watched Henley leave the classroom while humming a Christian song.

*****

AT THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA***

“Hey bitch!” Tiana said, sitting down in front of her friend.

“Hey.” Karma smiled. “I didn't even realize you came to school today.”

“How would you? You've been avoiding me.”

“No.”

“No?” Tiana scoffed. “You didn't visit me at the hospital yesterday and today that I came to school, you've been avoiding me.”

“I'm not avoiding you, T.” Karma argued.

“Oh really? Then why didn't you come for history class but went for Mrs Henley's class?”

“I...I...”

It's true. She has been avoiding Tiana for the past two days now.

If her dad is eventually right about her then Tiana isn't save to be around her.

She love and cares for her friend so much. She doesn't want to hurt her or put her into any risk at all.

Whatever shit going on with her have to be seen through by her without she involving someone else and probably hurt them in the process.

No, she still doesn't believe she possess supernatural powers but...

What if?

*Coincidence? Will you keep seeing all of the things happening to you as coincidence until you finally harm someone?* Her dad was right. She can't keep tagging everything as coincidence.

If truly she possess magic then she have to get rid of it immediately without harming anyone.

“Just admit it, you are avoiding me.” Tiana sighed, snatching a fry from Karma's plate and tossing it into her mouth.

“I felt guilty for what happened to you, T. I shouldn't have made such an expensive joke of you having a running stomach.” Karma said in a low voice.

“You don't have to feel guilty about anything, girl. You did nothing wrong.”

“I...”

Tiana cuts her off. “Stop feeling guilty on what happened, karma. Please. You will only make me feel bad if you keep feeling guilty about it.”

Karma let out a deep sigh. “How are you feeling now?” She asked, changing the subject.

Tiana grinned widely, flicking her hair to the back of her ear. “Better than ever.”

“Good to hear.”

^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^^_^

AT LIAM'S HOUSE**

#“I just want to break up all your shit, Call your mama phone, let her know that she raised a bitch, then dial tone click. And fvck your little fake ass friends, come around....”# Karma got interrupted by the ringtone of her phone.

She grabbed the remote control and paused the music playing, grabbing her phone from the couch.

She stared at the caller ID and saw her father's smiling face display on the screen.

Her lips stretched into a smile as she answered the call.

“Dad!” She grinned.

“Hey baby girl. How are you?”

“I'm fine. How's your day going?”

“Stressful but nice.”

Karma stared at the wall clock and frowned.

“It's 8:45pm, dad. What time will you be home?”

“Uhm,,, that's actually why I'm calling, love. I have a lot on my desk so I will be coming home late.”

“What?”

“I know I should have told you earlier on but I was just too busy. I'm sorry. You can stay home alone, right?”

Karma groaned loudly, tugging at her hair.

“Dad, you know how much I hate staying home alone by this time?”

“I know sweetie. I'm so sorry. I promise to make it up to you, okay?”

“Alright. See you later.”

“Yeah.”

She hung up the call, still frowning.

How will she be able to cope?

Karma surveyed her surroundings, already feeling scared for no reason.

Mind you, she's not a scaredy cat who gets scared so easily, she's just...A loud crash came from the kitchen, startling Karma.

Okay, she's actually a scaredy-cat.

Karma gulped hard, walking down to the kitchen to see what made the loud crash. On getting there she saw the cover of a pot laying on the ground.

What happened in here?

How did the pot lid fall? Karma asked herself as she picked it up and kept it back at the rightful position.

She gave the kitchen a quick glance then headed back to the living room.

Karma sat down on her favorite couch, playing the music video once again.

Cardi B's face displayed on the TV screen, bringing a smile and easiness to Karma's face.

*****

~10:23pm

It's 10:23pm and her father was yet to come home.

How busy was he to leave his young beautiful daughter at home all by herself by this time?

Have he suddenly forgotten about the shit going on with her now?

Karma collected her phone and dialled her father's number. It rung for a long time but there was no answer. She tried the number over and over and over again,,,still nothing.

Why wasn't he picking up the call?

What's going on?

Another crash came from the kitchen again along with the clap of the thunder.

“Fvcking Christ!” Karma flinched, jumping out of the couch in fear.

Her heart were beating very loud and fast as she glanced over at the direction of the kitchen.

“Who's there!?” Karma asked loudly, grabbing a pillow from the couch as a form of weapon. “Dad?”

She quietly made her way to the kitchen door. She prayed a short prayer and turned the doorknob open, revealing a human figure whose back was facing her.

Karma furrowed her brows in total confusion as she stepped further into the kitchen.

“Dad?” She called out again, trying to take a peek at the person's face.

The person gradually turned around, giving Karma a better view of their monstrous mask.

Karma eyes went wide and she quickly backed away.

It was the same mask...

The one from her dream...

“No place to hide, huh?” The person's voice echoed through the kitchen, causing another clap of thunder.

“You...what are you doing here? How did you get in here....what do you want?” She stuttered.

“I won't let you ruin everything.” The person dropped their hand on Karma's shoulder, pushing her down with all their strength.

“Aaaaargh!” Karma screamed at the top of her voice and fainted.