“lucid communication”, Shalani Devi

in a rundown HDB flat reeking of forgotten incense / a room flooded with crimson light/ i sat before the Sorceress / who taught me how to meet the dead / in my dreams

i gave her crumpled plastic notes / in exchange for instructions /and a smile i couldn’t quite decipher

5 minutes shy of midnight / i sprinkle a concoction of rose water and salt at my doorstep /North, South, East, West / a single candle flame dancing in the stifling air / and nothing else this barricaded room has to offer / i reek of garlic and desperation

before the minute hand surrenders itself to the embrace of its hourly lover / i tie a single red thread around my index finger

close my eyes / heartbeat stilled / time to sleep

i’m thrust into a darkness gently simmering / like a glass of water touched by a tremor / i hum along to the metronome / beating between my ears

half a beat / an eighth of a second

now there’s water rushing everywhere / the doldrums get louder / as i’m sucked into the ocean’s / blue-grey abyss

making way for brown eyes / her skin off-white, gaping wounds beginning to wilt / nothing below the neck / she draws closer and i ache to touch her barely there form / the red thread is my anchor / slipping / my 11 seconds are almost up / i reach for wakefulness /

her frothy hand ensnares me / skin peeling, maggots set free / no longer pure, the sadistic nature of her grin a fresh wave of pain / i’m sinking further / dissolving / into the underbelly of this slippery beast / she now calls home

before i go / the Sorcerer’s voice echoes around me / caution hanging empty / for the dead have no visitors.