chapter 3

(somewhere in Asia) A girl, Kim was in the living room with the TV on and was chatting with her boyfriend; Cody, the two were discussing about a place where they could hang out later that day to talk about the fight they had few days ago. Her mother just entered the house from work and she asked Kim to get meat from the market as the festival of water was fast approaching, she also told her to reduce the television volume. The news on the T.V was rambling on about a mysterious man, who had escaped from the hands of the cops, who warned people to stay alert and report anything suspicious; they did not reveal any details on the crime the man had committed nor on his looks or alias.

”Kim…The meat isn’t going to fly and come on the chopping board” the mother said to Kim in their native language. ‘’Just a moment, it’s not like the world will end if I went five minutes late’’ said Kim, ‘’I don’t know about the world but it will be the end of the world for your phone, if you don’t leave this moment.’’ ‘’Don’t forget to take the money which is under the plate’’, Kim got off the couch, took the money, slammed the door and left.

The whole city was crowded and was getting ready for the festival. Kim was on the phone while she was heading towards the market, at the market she asked for 2kgs of chicken…. “What is that awful smell?” asked Kim as she covered her nose. It was a live animal market, all sorts of animals were sold there and the worst thing was that you could buy anything from bat to dog meat to even snakes, while standing near the store in disgust, she seen pigs who out of everything in the world were playing with puppies in a cage.

She went closer to them to click some pictures of the puppies that were being treated in such an inhumane way, but as she clicked the picture, the fresh blood of the bat, which was being cut, fell on the pigs, puppies and Kim’s phone. She yelled at the butcher and told her that she would complain about the cruelty taking place there. She wiped the blood off the phone onto her blouse; she grabbed the chicken and left in anger.

Cody came to pick her up and to resolve the fight; they went to a café, which was celebrating the birthday of a famous celebrity. They entered and ordered beverages , she told him about the incident that occurred at the market, early after a while their friends, Zane, Ellai, Nina, Charlie, Scott joined them. They were making plans to go for a football match on the day of the festival (phone rings). She kept cutting her mom’s calls, but after about 15 missed calls, she decided to leave. She kissed her boyfriend, hugged her friends and told them that she’ll see them on the matchday.

Kim arrived home. Her mom was waiting, worried. ‘’where have you been, I was worried sick, I thought something bad happened to you ’’ her mother said weeping. ‘’you didn’t have to worry so much, I am not a kid, I can handle myself’’ ‘’here is the meat you wanted, my phone has blood on it thanks to your bloody meat‘’ said Kim, ‘’you better not talk to me like that young lady, don’t forget who pays your bills and …” (kim slammed her bedroom door and went to sleep)..

It was the eve of the festival and Kim’s mom had put last night aside and was in full preparation mode; she was chopping vegetables, making a broth and grinding the spices. ’’Mom, mom ’’ said Kim with a deep voice ‘’hurry up and come here”.

Kim had a high fever and has coughing a lot. Her mom told her to dress up, so that they can visit the doctor as soon as possible. They got dressed up and visited their family doctor, who was her dad’s friend and the head of one of the finest hospital in the nation. They reached there and performed some test, he asked her about what she ate last night, what she drank, if she had any past medical conditions, etc.

Kim lied to him, she didn’t tell him the truth, she told him she had eaten a lot of ice cream and had slept late. After some more questions, he told them to come after the results came and assured them that it isn’t something to worry about. The mom rushed home, gave kim medicines and continued her preparation, while kim was about to go to sleep and take some rest, she decided to call her boyfriend, he didn’t not pick, after calling him many times she decided to leave him a voicemail and she went to sleep 

(phone ringing…)’’I am sorry to disturb you on this festive day ma’am, but it’s about kim, the test results are here, it’s something shocking, can you please get kim and come down to the hospital as fast as possible, the results show something we have never come across before, can you come here quickly and don’t tell anyone anything as of now….hello?, hello?, you’re there?, ma’am ’’…. (The phone falls). Kim’s mother takes the car keys and rushes to get to kim…Kim’s mom checks  Kim’s live location and goes toward the stadium, as soon as she reaches close to the stadium, she sees bodies everywhere, people running and…...(car crashes)’’ma’am, ma’am are you oka….’’

The story begins…

Prologue: (somewhere in Asia) A girl, Kim was in the living room with the TV on and was chatting with her boyfriend; Cody, the two were discussing about a place where they could hang out later that day to talk about the fight they had few days ago. Her mother just entered the house from work and she asked Kim to get meat from the market as the festival of water was fast approaching, she also told her to reduce the television volume. The news on the T.V was rambling on about a mysterious man, who had escaped from the hands of the cops, who warned people to stay alert and report anything suspicious; they did not reveal any details on the crime the man had committed nor on his looks or alias.

”Kim…The meat isn’t going to fly and come on the chopping board” the mother said to Kim in their native language. ‘’Just a moment, it’s not like the world will end if I went five minutes late’’ said Kim, ‘’I don’t know about the world but it will be the end of the world for your phone, if you don’t leave this moment.’’ ‘’Don’t forget to take the money which is under the plate’’, Kim got off the couch, took the money, slammed the door and left.

The whole city was crowded and was getting ready for the festival. Kim was on the phone while she was heading towards the market, at the market she asked for 2kgs of chicken…. “What is that awful smell?” asked Kim as she covered her nose. It was a live animal market, all sorts of animals were sold there and the worst thing was that you could buy anything from bat to dog meat to even snakes, while standing near the store in disgust, she seen pigs who out of everything in the world were playing with puppies in a cage.

She went closer to them to click some pictures of the puppies that were being treated in such an inhumane way, but as she clicked the picture, the fresh blood of the bat, which was being cut, fell on the pigs, puppies and Kim’s phone. She yelled at the butcher and told her that she would complain about the cruelty taking place there. She wiped the blood off the phone onto her blouse; she grabbed the chicken and left in anger.

Cody came to pick her up and to resolve the fight; they went to a café, which was celebrating the birthday of a famous celebrity. They entered and ordered beverages , she told him about the incident that occurred at the market, early after a while their friends, Zane, Ellai, Nina, Charlie, Scott joined them. They were making plans to go for a football match on the day of the festival (phone rings). She kept cutting her mom’s calls, but after about 15 missed calls, she decided to leave. She kissed her boyfriend, hugged her friends and told them that she’ll see them on the matchday.

Kim arrived home. Her mom was waiting, worried. ‘’where have you been, I was worried sick, I thought something bad happened to you ’’ her mother said weeping. ‘’you didn’t have to worry so much, I am not a kid, I can handle myself’’ ‘’here is the meat you wanted, my phone has blood on it thanks to your bloody meat‘’ said Kim, ‘’you better not talk to me like that young lady, don’t forget who pays your bills and …” (kim slammed her bedroom door and went to sleep)..

It was the eve of the festival and Kim’s mom had put last night aside and was in full preparation mode; she was chopping vegetables, making a broth and grinding the spices. ’’Mom, mom ’’ said Kim with a deep voice ‘’hurry up and come here”.

Kim had a high fever and has coughing a lot. Her mom told her to dress up, so that they can visit the doctor as soon as possible. They got dressed up and visited their family doctor, who was her dad’s friend and the head of one of the finest hospital in the nation. They reached there and performed some test, he asked her about what she ate last night, what she drank, if she had any past medical conditions, etc.

Kim lied to him, she didn’t tell him the truth, she told him she had eaten a lot of ice cream and had slept late. After some more questions, he told them to come after the results came and assured them that it isn’t something to worry about. The mom rushed home, gave kim medicines and continued her preparation, while kim was about to go to sleep and take some rest, she decided to call her boyfriend, he didn’t not pick, after calling him many times she decided to leave him a voicemail and she went to sleep 

(phone ringing…)’’I am sorry to disturb you on this festive day ma’am, but it’s about kim, the test results are here, it’s something shocking, can you please get kim and come down to the hospital as fast as possible, the results show something we have never come across before, can you come here quickly and don’t tell anyone anything as of now….hello?, hello?, you’re there?, ma’am ’’…. (The phone falls). Kim’s mother takes the car keys and rushes to get to kim…Kim’s mom checks  Kim’s live location and goes toward the stadium, as soon as she reaches close to the stadium, she sees bodies everywhere, people running and…...(car crashes)’’ma’am, ma’am are you oka….’’

The story begins…