Carnival: Holiday

Act 1

Polaris was a good girl. She was always helping her family. Doing chores when not asked, helping with labor, and even defusing fights with her large family. She was willing to do anything to make her family happy.

Birthday after birthday, she was helping. Party after party, she was helping. Holiday after holiday, she was helping. Meal after meal, she was helping. Day after day after day after day after day. Polaris was helping someone.

Polaris was cooking one night and overheard her grandmother talking to her uncle Julio. Usually she minds her business but one sentence caught her full attention.

“No abuela, she’s not a vampire. She’s… just not human.”

Polaris froze up. She was confused but curious. She tried to move closer to the doorway to hear the conversation more clearly.

“It’s hard to explain… But she’s been really helpful. Please keep an open mind.”

“No entiendo a mi hijo.”

“It’s a lot. I know. Let's talk more on Sunday, okay? Mom will be here soon and she is definitely going to make it bigger than it really is.”

Okay, mi hijo. Nieta! Ayudame!”

Polaris, hearing her great grandmother yell for her suddenly, drops the bowl she had. She cussed under her breath but called back, assuring that she was on the way. She cleaned up her mess and made her way to the family room. Julio hugged her and abuela asked her to help her get to her recliner. Polaris agreed to help without hesitation. Julio asked her about her summer plans. Polaris had no real answer but responded with, “You know, the usual.” Julio remarked how she should get into some kind of hobby outside the house. Abuela commented on how Polaris is a good artist. Julio inquired if he could see her drawings. Before she could respond, the three of them heard a woman yelling in Spanish about why lunch wasn’t finished yet. Julio mumbled under his breath, “Who comes to someone else’s house and immediately goes to the kitchen to complain but my mother.”

Polaris started to go to the kitchen but was stopped by abuela, “Ayudame, nieta.” Julio gestured that she should stay as he walked into the kitchen. Polaris kneeled to Abuela and asked her how she could help. Abuela simply asked her to help her find the crime channel on the tv. Polaris agreed and began to go from channel to channel. Abuela watched her closely.

Act 2

Over the next 3 days, Polaris couldn’t stop thinking about what she overheard. Since that day, many people have come to the house for the Christmas party on Saturday. Her aunt Ray, her uncle Marcus, her cousin Scarlet, her grandmother Mama Lia, and her cousin Rose.

She tried to figure out who Julio was talking about. She thought about all the females he’s brought around in the past year. The only new ones that came to mind were Ray and Scarlet. Julio had brought them to the house for the first time last Christmas. Saying that Ray was a long lost sister of his and that Scarlet was Marcus’ estranged daughter. She wasn’t close to her Uncle Marcus so she felt awkward asking him about Scarlet. Deciding it would be easier to just get to know Ray, Polaris asked her for help with dinner.

“My spanish isn’t the best.”

“It’s okay Tia Ray, I mainly speak english anyway.”

“Cool. High school teased me for speaking Spanish so I stopped.”

“You were bullied for speaking another language?” Polaris didn’t believe her.

“Yeah. I didn’t have many friends.”

“Didn’t you and Tio Julio go to the same school?”

Ray began to chop carrots, “We did.”

“Why weren’t you friends with each other?”

“We somehow just always missed each other.”

“Tio said he was never in any clubs until college. Did you also go to college?”

“Yeah.”

“The same as Tio?”

Ray stopped chopping. Polaris started to season the chicken. Ray put the carrots in a pot and began to mince garlic and celery.

“It feels like an interrogation now.”

“Just asking questions. We have never actually talked.”

“Abuela keeps you pretty busy.”

“She does. You could visit more and help out. See your abuela. Talk to family.”

It got tensely quiet between the two. The noise of the kitchen felt deafening.

“Polly, I don’t exactly like that, it sounds like you are calling me a bad aunt.”

“Don’t call me that. I wouldn’t know if you are or not. You just appeared out of nowhere and was just accepted by Tio. I known him my entire life. I trust him. I don’t know you.”

“I could say the same about you. This is our first real talk and you’re coming across very, how do you say ‘agresiva’?”

“How exactly do you not know Spanish very well? Tio’s papa speaks nothing but Spanish. How do you not learn it from him?”

“I do speak it. Just not well. Most of my every day life, I speak english. My spanish is just very weak.”

“Or you’re a liar.”

The pot began to boil.

“Polly.”

“I told you to stop calling me that.”

“I’m sorry if we got off on the wrong foot.”

“I heard Tio say that Abuela should be open minded about someone we know not being human.”

“... What did say?”

“It is you, isn’t it?”

Ray put the garlic and celery in the pot. Polaris grabbed a nearby knife. A dense fear mist became visible in the kitchen. Both women kept their backs to each other. “I wish things could go back to how they used to be, Polly.” Ray put the lid on the pot slowly. Polaris gripped the knife tightly, “What would you know about how things used to be? Are you some kind of vampire or demon?” Ray sighed and prepare to turn toward Polaris. Polaris spun the knife into a reverse grip and turned to Ray.

“What’s going on?” Julio asked while standing in the doorway. The fear mist appeared to suddenly vanish as both Ray and Polaris stood upright, with their hands behind their back, as if they weren’t doing anything. “Nothing Tio. Just talking. Right Tia Ray?” Polaris nervously said through an awkward smile. Ray looked as calm as ever, “Just cooking. Nothing to worry about. Actually, would you mind doing the fried rice? We would like to be done soon and have our hands full.” Julio agreed and went to the refrigerator to get the leftover rice.

Afterwards, Ray avoided Polaris. At dinner, Polaris kept her eyes on Ray. Ray even ate with her eyes to avoid acknowledging her. Julio started to think something might have happened. Before he could ask, Marcus asked for his help with finding the beer. Thinking this might be her only chance to get to Julio before Sunday, Polaris excused herself to the bathroom. Mama Lia began to complain to everyone else about how Polaris living with Julio has made her lazier. Polaris stopped for a moment. Mama Lia commented on how a young girl needs a woman in her life to teach her better and that taking care of Abuela wouldn’t be enough. Polaris balled her fist in agitation. She suddenly felt a chill up her spine as Ray commented, “That’s why I plan to move in when Julio leaves for the job trip. To help with Abuela but to also keep an eye on Polly.”

Polaris ran to find Julio to confirm what she heard. She saw Julio and Marcus arguing on the porch.

“The fuck were you thinking bringing her here?!”

“Lower. Your. Voice.”

“You don’t get to bring her here and expect me to not say anything.”

“I didn’t bring her here for you. I brought her here for Abuela.”

“No, you brought her here to get my ex back.”

“This isn’t about her.”

“No it’s about you! It’s always about you! I swallowed my teeth when you told me I had a daughter that I didn’t know about. I will take full responsibility for not being in Scarlet’s life.But you bringing that… thing here?! I will not continue to play your game and pretend that monster is my niece.”

Polaris gasped. Julio and Marcus looked over at the doorway and saw Polaris running out the house. “Shit….” Marcus said under his breath. “Good job, asshole.” Julio punched Marcus and ran after Polaris.

Act 3

Polaris ran and cried telling herself that it couldn’t possibly be true. Telling herself that she had to be human. She had feelings. She had memories. She had a heart. She bumped into a pale young man with white hair and grey eyes wearing a white suite with a sun on the back. She hit the ground and mumbled, “Fuck… Lo siento, senor.” The young man turned around and looked down at her. He extended his hand, “Está usted bien, señorita?”

Polaris looked up as she took his hand. The young man raised an eyebrow as he observed her. The young man smirked. Polaris blushed as she stared into his eyes.

“I… really am sorry. I’m just having a really bad day.”

“What’s wrong with a bad day? It usually leads to developments.”

“Developments?”

“Of course. Your bad day did you back to me.”

“... Uh… ‘Back’?”

An older man with brown hair and scarred left eye, wearing the same white suit and sun on the back, walked up. “My my, is that Starla?” Polaris looked around confused. “Wow, look at you. Breathing and everything.”

“I’m sorry… My name is Polaris.”

The older man let out a hearty laugh. The young man chuckled to himself. Polaris went from confused to concerned.

“Oh, you’re serious.” The older man responded as he collected himself, “Do you.”

The young man covered the older man’s mouth. “Polaris, tell me, what exactly made your day so bad?”

Polaris began to think about how everything started. Polaris pictured herself in an empty void as memories played back around her.

She saw a woman in her kitchen cooking. The woman felt familiar but her light green eyes made her seem alien. The woman looked toward the doorway and appeared to be ease-dropping on a conversation. Polaris walked closer to the woman, confused. As she moved closer she could hear Julio talking to Abuela. Polaris hesitated. She backed up. Julio’s words echoed in the void. A green mist began to creep in. Polaris heard a crunching sound. Turning around she saw the woman having an interaction with Ray. She noticed that Ray’s eyes and the woman’s eyes were light green as they were talking. The fear mist began to build more and more. Polaris began to question why that woman was there. Why was the woman doing all the stuff she did? What was that crunching sound that was getting louder and louder? Why did the green mist make her feel good?

“I will not continue to play your game and pretend that monster is my niece.”

Polaris gasped as the crunching stopped and became chewing. She slowly turned around to see a woman with long brown hair, with stained hands and clothes, raising something above her head. She stood up and dropped it into her mouth. She swallowed it whole as blue glimmers started to appear in the fear mist and around her body The woman began to take on Polaris’ appearance. The fear mist and blue glimmers swirled into her body. The woman made eye contact with Polaris. She realized that she was looking at herself.

Polaris dropped to her knees, hyper ventilating. The older man squatted down with a smile that stretched up past his eyes. His eyes glowing light green. The young man smirked as his eyes shone light green as well. Polaris looked up as her eyes turned light green. “I'm…”

The young man interrupted, “A nightmare. A creature of immense fear and spiritual energy given physical form. You are the peak of existence. Stand proud at what you are and who you’ll become.”

“ ‘Who I'll become’?”

The older man stood up, “The humans you were masquerading along side. They found out what you were, right? You left not knowing what they’ll do to you. You felt fear and despite liking it, you didn’t trust your reaction.”

“No… no. it wasn’t like that… I had a family. I was Polaris. Everything was great!”

Both men responded, “Was it? Then why did you run away?”

Polaris started to question everything. It was as if the world she knew was crumbling. The young man extended his hand to her again, “You are special. A living nightmare. A nightmare that ate the heart of their host. You are far too powerful and inspiring to be amongst humans. Come home with us. Take on your true name. Be the independent force of nature, you were always meant to be.”

“Polaris!” Julio yelled for her as he continued to run. “Get away from him! He’s dangerous!” the older man stood up and looked at Julio smugly, “See. He knows of our kind. He’s known for over two years now. He knew who you were and let you live a lie. He doesn’t care about you. He only cares about keeping the status quo. Come with us. Come be with your own kind. We will never lie to you. We would never make you a servant.”

Julio tried to grab her hand. She pulled away. “Polaris?...” Her eyes stopped glowing but stayed light green. “My name is Starla.” The two men snapped their fingers, thick green clouds burst from them. The wind, alone, knocked Julio back. As Julio stood back up, where the men and Starla stood was a worm the size of a bus. The center of its head opened to reveal a hole filled with multiple green eyes the size of basketballs. It screamed from the several mouths along its long oozing body.

Julio began to shake as it stared him down. He took a deep breath and put his fists up. Still shaking, he told the worm to give Starla back. The worm stared him down then suddenly began to dig underground. Julio fell back as the fear mist faded. He threw up and struggled to think of what to do next.