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“Disturbing reports of what seems like a specter invasion has plagued the little city of Kau. What looked like a false alarm initially has now become a cause for concern. More locals in the last three weeks have reported seeing silhouettes forms of people up and about in their homes. These faceless figures were reported to have been seen doing mundane things around the home like watching tv, sitting on the balcony, gardening and even cleaning.” The voice from the radio began to fade away.
Anaya began to feel nervous. She tried to adjust the antenna but it was no use. The radio had paid its dues. It belonged to her mother before her and it had seen better days. The news was unsettling. Feeling tense, she rubbed her nose and ran her hands over her thick black hair. “Great. So much for welcome back home,” she muttered under her breath.
Anaya was born and raised in Kau but it never felt like home to her. She seldom had any friends. She would only walk the street at night and during the daytime, she'd almost get lost in the walls while outside. She learned to create a world of her own with the books she read and the images she conjured in her head. Her mother was her only solace and when the woman passed, Anaya was devastated. She felt like there was nothing left for her in Kau. She decided to go someplace, tour the world, and find a little closure. However, all that trip around the globe didn't do much to cushion her feelings. Anaya still felt alone. She felt like an outsider in a world full of people that looked like her.
Anaya got up from where she sat to begin unpacking. Suddenly, she heard a beeping sound that almost threw her off balance. It was coming from a drawer in the living room. Anaya was startled. With all that was going on, she didn't need any more terrifying events. She rubbed her nose and hair as the beeping continued. Anaya swallowed hard, cautiously walking to the drawer. Slowly she opened it. Other than a bunch of papers and books, there was nothing more interesting to find. She sighed. Anaya looked further and found her childhood toy.
It was a little pink cellphone with an image of a silver butterfly. “Make the call.” The toy would make the sound when touched and then display a set of numbers, 636 afterward.
Anaya smiled as memories of her childhood came flushing all over her. She had such great times with her mother. She remembered the day her mother had got her that toy. It was a tiny toy shop she had never been to before. That day, Anaya watched as young mothers with their daughters came trooping into the shop. She thought it was a little weird that all the mothers bought the same toys for their daughters. “Mother? Why is everyone getting the same toy?” Anaya had asked.
“Listen, Anaya, these toys are for special kids. I know you don't like it here. You do not feel connected to anything. So let me tell you a little secret. We are not even from here.” Her mother bent and whispered into her ears. Anaya looked at her face and searched her eyes. There! She found a hint of humor in them and began to laugh.
“Like you, these little girls are special and connected. Soon, you'll see. Now let's pay for it and go get some pie.” Her mother smiled like she always did. The kind that reached her eyes.
“Oh! You got the finest one. I call it the queen’s buzz. Your mother had one just like this. Since we are telling secrets today, I'll share one with you. That number right there is your signal when the dark ones start to return. You must pick up when the universe calls you.” The very old woman at the counter winked at Anaya. For some reason, Anaya never forgot her face.
Anaya brought out the toy and closed the drawer. She was surprised to find that it still worked after all these years. Curious, she opened the battery compartment and found no batteries in them. She didn't remember ever inserting any as a child. The beeping began again and Anaya realized it was coming from the toy phone. It displayed the number ‘636’ calling. A shiver ran down her spine. Her anxiety began to heighten. She threw the phone on a couch and slowly stepped away.
In a split second, her anxiety began to diminish. She felt compelled to get closer to the toy. With a conviction she didn't know she possessed, Anaya pressed the receive button. As soon as she did, she heard a voice she knew so well.
“Anaya! We could not wait for you to decipher it all by yourself. Time is running out. The mortals are terrified by the day. We had no choice but to call you. It is time. The barrier is broken and you must maintain the balance between living and the transition. The dark ones are escaping. They have no business with the living. They do not know that they have transitioned into the afterlife. We must withdraw them. Without you, the barrier remains unsealed. I know this is a lot to take in right now.”
“Mother?” Anaya whispered. She could not comprehend exactly the way she felt at that moment.
“Let the butterfly lead you, honey!”
Anaya looked at the toy phone. The silver butterfly on the screen began to move. Its wings spread open and readied for flight. Anaya watched as it softly emerged from the phone in life and form. It glowed a luminous silver. It hovered around her for a moment as though it was creating a pattern. Suddenly a ring-like portal formed in front of her. It began to expand until she started to see inside of it.
Inside was full of white matter like magma. Several women and young girls like herself stood in glittering white silk with huge smiles on their faces. Their hair glowed and swayed in the same direction. Distant humming and chanting filled the air. Instantly, Anaya felt warm and a sense of belonging. She felt like she was “home,” exactly where she needed to be.
“Welcome home Anaya, Queen of the realm between. I know you have a lot of questions but first, you must ascend the throne and seal the barrier. The throne was your mother’s before you. She has ascended to a higher realm now.” A woman from among the group took a step forward. Anaya recognized her. It was the old lady from the toy shop.