"Lillies"

It is the last 2 days of my month-long stay in the Philippines. I decided to close out my trip in the City of IloIlo(e-lou-e-lou). The weather is warm and muggy but I have grown accustomed to it. I'm still comfortable.

I see a woman running towards me. Her face is vaguely familiar. As she gets closer I realize I know her. I move quickly towards her. “Ve” I called out “what is wrong?” She collapses at my feet. I saw what appeared to be blood across her neck and shoulders. I know her but something is different, something I haven't seen before. Fortunately, my villa is close by. I helped her stand up. We slowly made our way up the road, through the field and to my room. Ve is in and out of consciousness the entire time. I got my first aid kit and warm water to clean her up. I found the source of the blood. It almost looks like a bite. Not only a bite but a human bite.

I dozed off next to the bed while Ve slept. A loud noise woke me up. It was Ve. I hear her but I didn’t see her. I walked down the hall towards the kitchen. I hear slurping and grunting. In the corner, I see a dark figure. “Ve” I said, "Is that you?” ”What are you doing?” “Are you alright?” I reached down to help her up. She lunges forward to avoid my touch. I try again and she screams out “Stay away from me.” The sound of her voice sent a cold chill down my spine. I felt my heart racing. Let me help you. It's Jordan, do you remember me? We met a few days ago. I told you I was a doctor. Let me help. “No, stay away.” You can’t help me.” No one can.” I grabbed her hand. She pushed past me with such force I fell against the wall. “VE stop” “Wait, talk to me.” “ “Leave me alone she yelled”. She grabbed my arm with such force it ripped a hole in my shirt and tore my skin.

Ve ran out the door and disappeared into the nearby trees. I grabbed some bandages to wrap my arm. I see something dark and bloody in the corner of the kitchen. It looked like some sort of animal. What the hell is that and why is it in my kitchen? I grab a towel to move it. I pick it up only to discover everything had been torn out of the body; there's nothing left but the shell. I remember Ve was in this corner and I heard slurping noises. Did she? Could she? I quickly dismiss my thoughts as crazy. I clean the mess and toss the towels and what remains of the animal into the trees out back.

I wake to hear, Final call Flight 1432 to Hong Kong. I wipe my eyes, grab my bag and rush towards the gate. As I walk down the aisle hundreds of different smells flood my senses at the same time. It smells like blood. I feel nauseous. There is another scent that is familiar but I can’t quite place it. I don’t know what is wrong with me. If I can just get to my seat everything will be okay. I sit down and close my eyes in an attempt to block everything out but the darkness only intensifies the smells. I take some chips out of my bag. They have no taste. The sound of the crunch is deafening. I am starving but I don’t know what will quell my hunger. Rest is what I need. I must rest

I hear someone knocking on the door. “ The captain has placed the flight in a state of emergency. All passengers must return to their seats. Whoever is in the restroom you must come out now! I'm looking in the mirror trying to remember how I got in the restroom. The last thing I remember was falling asleep in my seat. I'm sorry, I will be right out. My clothes are a mess.

There is something on my face, around my mouth, in my mouth. I try to clean up the best I can before returning to my seat. As I walk back to my seat. I notice several passengers are upset. I asked someone what happened. Something or someone killed every animal on the plane. Some of them were torn completely apart. “That's awful” I said. Do they know what happened?” I don’t think so, the woman replied.. Just as I finish buckling my seatbelt, a large man stops at my seat. Excuse me sir, I would like to speak with you. Can you follow me?

“Thank you for speaking with me. I am the Air Marshall on the flight today. “Sir, a few passengers noticed you were away from your seat for a while, did you hear or see anything suspicious?” No, I didn't. I haven't been feeling well. I went to the restroom. To be honest, I dozed off. If it wasn't for the Flight Attendant banging on the door, I might still be asleep.

I didn't have anything to do with whatever happened. I’m a doctor. I save lives. I could never do such a thing. “I don’t think you had anything to do with this. I'm questioning anyone that may have seen or heard something. There are two ways to the compartment below. There is an entrance through this area. Of course you would have to bypass the attendants to reach it. The other is outside of the plane. Someone would have to open the compartment in mid flight at 34,000 feet in the air. Both would be impossible. Thank you for your time. You can return to your seat.”

The flight is finally over. I grab my carry-on from the overhead compartment and rush towards the exit. My flight back home will be leaving soon. I made good time getting through the airport. I arrive at my gate in time to hear the announcement to begin boarding. I can’t wait to get home.

As I make my way down the aisle to my seat, my senses are again in overdrive. I know now it is blood I am smelling. It is more pronounced than before. I smell actual blood types. I smell healthy blood, I smell sick blood. I can smell the man two rows up from me. He is not healthy. He doesn't have long to live. There is another familiar smell. It is the same one I smelled on my last flight. It is Lilies and Vanilla. The scent is so powerful. Why can’t I remember the connection? The Flight Attendants make their usual announcements. I get comfortable and prepare myself for the long 12hr flight home. Twenty minutes into the flight, they darken the cabin. This is just what I need. I can get more rest. Everything will be fine. Rest is what I need. I must rest

I spent my last full day in ILOILO buying souvenirs. I booked a later flight so I wouldn't have to rush to the airport first thing in the morning. My last 24hrs were crazy. I still don’t know what happened. I go to bed early to be well rested for the long trip home. I feel myself tossing and turning. My heart is racing. I can’t catch my breath. I sit straight up in bed. It feels like I just ran a marathon. My shirt is torn almost completely off. I look around the room and it is a mess. The pillows and blankets are across the room . There is blood on the floor. Empty wine bottles everywhere. I hear the sound of water coming from the bathroom. I grab my robe as I walk to investigate.

The door swung open as I reached for the knob. Ve walks out. She stands in front of me without anything on. I love the way she smells. It is so intoxicating. Her long dark hair is wet and pulled back slightly from her face. The light catches the water as it runs down her body. She is glistening. I feel myself blush. I don’t understand my embarrassment. We have been together before but somehow this is different. She is different. What happened here? How did you get in my room? Who’s blood is on the floor? Instead of answering my questions, she kisses me. Ve takes off my bandage and kisses the gash in my arm she caused. She kissed me again. I taste my blood on her lips. All of my questions fade away…

I roll out of bed still tired from the nites activities. It’s 11 o’clock. I have plenty of time before leaving for the airport. The room is clean. What happened to the mess? I call out for Ve. No response. Was it all a dream? Was she really here? She had to be here. I can still smell her. I leave with so many questions unanswered. I arrived at the airport 4 hrs before my flight. I have time to unwind and rest. It is finally time to board the plane. Once I get home everything will be okay. Rest is what I need. I must rest.

I hear a loud banging. It's the door. I am in the airplane bathroom again. “Sir, Sir, are you alright?’ “Please come out”. “The Captain has requested that all passengers take their seats immediately.” This is Dejavu. I look into the mirror and my clothes are messed up. I have a weird taste in my mouth. Its blood, but not mine. I open the door and make my way back to my seat. The entire plane smells of Lillies and Vanilla. There was a small group gathered at the same row as the man who smelled of death. I ask other passengers what happened. “I’m not sure of all the details, she said. I know the guy next to the window is dead. They think someone killed him. I overheard them say, his heart was missing and most of his blood was somehow drained. They are asking the man seated next to him a lot of questions. They wanted to divert the plane to the closest airport but I guess they changed their minds. I hope they figured this out. We still have another 6 hours before we land.”

I sit in my seat stunned by the events. I’m losing time. I can't remember anything. Could I have had something to do with the man’s death on this flight or the death of the animals on my last flight? Could I be a killer?Is this all my fault? As I sit in my seat my senses are again flooded with Lilies and Vanilla. That’s it, I know the connection. Ve smelled like this. It has been her scent I have been smelling. I look around the plane as if I will see her but she is not there. Why can’t I get her smell out of my mind? What did she do to me? I must rest. Rest is what I need.

The flight arrives as scheduled. It takes a while to get off the plane. Everyone is stopping to look at the dead man in the seat. At least the attendants put a sheet over the body. At the gate the police have the man that was questioned on the plane in handcuffs. His pleas of innocence seem to fall on deaf ears.I gather my luggage and head down to find my Uber ride. Once in the car I feel myself nodding off. I try to fight it but when I'm back home everything will be alright. I must rest. Rest is what I need.

I can sense the rain yet somehow it feels different. The only thing I know is hunger. The taste, the smell of my meal satisfies my need for now but I know I will want more again and soon. The more I eat, the more I lose control of what is left of who I am or should I say who I was. It's been two months since my life turned into a spiraling mess. I had it all. Everything has changed. I am barely holding on to any of it including my sanity. I am still losing time. I go to bed at home and wake up somewhere else with no memory of what happened. The only thing I remember is Lillies and Vanilla. I can’t live my life like this. Death follows me everywhere.

This is all my fault. I can’t continue to look for answers that aren't there.I was on the plane with the animals. I was on the plane with the dead man. I have been at or near the last 4 murders that have happened since I returned. It Is All My Fault. I took an oath to do no harm. But it seems harm is all I am capable of. I have to end it. I need to end this now.

I take a drive to the Quarry. The scenery is beautiful during the day but at night you can’t see anything. I tell myself this is it. It is the only way this story ends. I use my flashlight to walk the trail to the edge. I go to the highest point of 350 ft. I take a deep breath and start to walk towards the edge. When I get within 10 feet, I close my eyes so I won’t see the edge. I smell Lillies and Vanilla. I hear a familiar voice yell out, “Jordan, Stop Don’t Do It!” I open my eyes just as my foot reaches the edge. Am I dreaming? It’s Ve. She is standing next to me. “You can’t do this she says. Everything you think you know, you don’t.” “Let me tell you a story…. “