Page 12 of The Spirit Of My Savage
“Yo, this shit possessed,” one of Rome’s boys, Daron, joked as he walked into the kitchen. “Ain’t nobody tell the spirits it’s invite only?”
Laughter bounced through the room, but my heart was pounding. Then, the punch bowl started to vibrate on the counter and a framed photo of me and King from our first Halloween together was suddenly leaned against the window ledge. How? I kept it locked away inside a box of other shit.
I backed away slowly as Sheena brows furrowed. “You good, Sky? You pale, boo.”
“I’m… I just need a second.” I stumbled toward the hallway. In the mirror, behind my reflection, I swore I saw a figure in black that resembled King’s build. It was standing still, just watching me. My scream caught in my throat. I blinked, and he was gone. I gripped the wall.
“Sky!” I heard Rome holler. I ran to the bedroom, heart slamming against my ribs. He came in a few minutes later, closing the door behind him, jaw tight. “What the fuck was that?” he snapped. “Niggas is sayin’ you actin’ crazy and shit. What’s good with you?”
“Somethin’ is goin’ on!” I yelled, spinning to face him. “Shits been happenin’ for days. Ijustsaw Kamari. Donotcall me crazy!”
Rome walked toward me slowly. “Shorty, listen to yourself.”
“Don’t do that!” I snapped, voice cracking. “Don’t gaslight me! I feel like King’s tryna tell me somethin’!”
He ran a hand down his face. “You high and you emotional. And you need to stop bringin’ up a dead nigga in my crib.I’myour fuckin’ man.” My stomach dropped. He continued, tone darker. “You don’t know what it took to keep shit movin’ after he died. You think that mahfucka was perfect? You think he ain’t keep shit from you?”
“I don’t care what he kept! At least he didn’t make me feel like I was losin’ my mind!”
He stepped closer. “You better watch your tone.”
“Oh, now I’m supposed to be scared?” I backed up. “Is that what this is now? You gonna put your hands on me next?” Rome’s eyes flashed, but before he could grab me… BOOM. He was yanked backwards and slammed hard into the wall like something invisible snatched him by the throat. “AHHH!” I screamed, stumbling back.
Rome’s body hit the floor with a loud, heavy thud. I stood frozen, chest rising and falling fast, my breathing ragged. “What the fuck?” Rome growled, struggling to sit up. His voice cracked, full of confusion and rage. Footsteps came rushing down the hall.
“Yo!” Fleek, his right hand, called. “What happened?!”
My girls were right behind them. “What the hell goin’ on?!” Justine asked, eyes darting between me and Rome on the floor.
Asia shouted, “Sky, you okay?!”
Rome staggered to his feet, his eyes bloodshot, jaw tight. He didn’t say a word at first, just stormed toward the front door. “Everybody get the fuck out!” he barked.
“What? Rome, what happened?” Sheena asked.
“GET THE FUCK OUT! Now! Party’s over!”
His tone sent shockwaves through the crowd. Cups clattered. Shoes shuffled. People mumbled and moved quickly, grabbing jackets, phones and whatever else was close.
Unique squeezed my hand. “Text us when you can, aight? For real.”
I nodded silently, tears already welling in my eyes. The second the door slammed shut behind the last person, Rome whipped around.
“You really just gon’ embarrass me like that? Ruin our shit?! For what, Skylah?!”
“I didn’t do shit!” I cried, voice cracking as I wiped at my face. “Somethin’slammed you, Rome!Ididn’t touch you!”
“You been actin’ weird for all fuckin’ week, talkin’ to yourself, starin’ off like a damn zombie, jumpin’ at shadows. Now this? Lemme guess. You expect me to believe a ghost did that shit?!”
“Yes! I do expect you to believe me ‘cause it’s the truth!” I snapped, finally finding my voice. “You think I wanna be like this?! You think I like feelin’ like I’m goin’ crazy every fuckin’ day?!”
He started pacing, rubbing the back of his head. “Nah. Nah. You trippin’. You really losin’ it.”
“I been feelin’ like somethin’ was off for a while now!” I cried. “The way King died… it don’t sit right with me, Rome! None of this is right!”
His eyes sharpened. “Watch your fuckin’ mouth, Sky.”
“Why?” I stepped closer. “’Cause I’m gettin’ too close to the truth? ‘Cause you got somethin’ to do with my husband’s murder?!”
