15th December, 1966
Christmas was around the corner, it was the happiest time of the year, lights made the dark town shine and the whole town smelt like Christmas.
it was the coldest day of the year, baqi left her house early for her shift, she wore her thick brown coat over her shoulders to catch the first bus which went from her house to the bakery,
wind strangling her hair over her face she managed to get the bus on time.
it was a strange day she could feel someones gaze on her throughout, the streets were empty and the bus didn't have more than 1 middle aged woman, a man who was around the same age, and 3 old ladies along with 2 men who were going to the church for some community service which took place every year around Christmas.
as she entered the bakery, she felt the gaze fade away and felt a relief, like something was lifted off her shoulders, it was 3:45 in the morning, so she decided to make herself a cup of coffee and play the latest dean martins Christmas album,
"I'm dreaming of a white
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
And children listen
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow Christmas"
his voice surrounded the air making her feel a warm gaze, as she settled down the chairs.
suddenly the track stopped and she started to feel the same gaze she felt during her journey in the bus.
she saw the shadow of a tall man wearing a black coat through the window of her shop against the red Christmas lights, shivers ran down her spines as she saw him coming towards the bakery.
he entered the bakery making a cracking sound at the door, it was a cold winter day as she felt the cold breeze over her skin giving her goosebumps, he sat down next to the table she was setting chairs at , the air changed around the bakery, something about the surrounding made her heart sink leading her not to utter a single word. it was 4 a.m and all the streets around were empty.
she glanced at him once again and caught him staring at her, she looked at him for about 30 seconds but he wouldn't take his eyes off her, confused, she didn't know how to react, she looked down and walked towards him,
"do you want to order anything, sir?" words managed to escape her mouth,
he stood up, she felt her heart in her mouth.
she wasn't able to feel any emotions but something crippled her inside, he didn't show any movements and just stood their looking at her,
all she now felt was fear.
his hand went it his pocket, she knew something wrong was going to happen and she wanted to run, but something stopped her, her feet were numb, unable to move she stood their,
taking out a knife he spoke "baqi."
her eyes widened, he knew her name.
he slowly kept his knife on the left corner of her neck, and pressed it against her skin,
as blood prickled down her neck, she felt her eyes opening to what was happening, her fear changed into courage.
she looked up into his eyes without fear, stared into his eyes and spoke "what do you want?"
his black hair setting at his neck moved a little as he moved his knife aside, in his deep raspy voice he smiled and stated,
"you're a warrior, you don't belong here. death awaits you, it will take you into a land you always belonged to,"
"what do you mean?"
"'death, often a brave death, death for a cause and death for a reason, our world needs a eternal warrior, it is away from this mad world of yours which is going to make your death seem like an inexorable logic of events', you are our last hope, will you come with me?"
"what if i say no?"
"you won't."
