Passengers of the Forgotten Road: What if the past never lets go?
Welcome to a journey that transcends the ordinary, where the scent of jasmine and the whispers of the past guide us through the pages of Passengers of the Forgotten Road by Aila Veeti. This novel isn't just a story; it's an experience that blurs the lines between the living and the dead, inviting readers into a world where every turn of the page reveals a new layer of mystery.
Synopsis:
May, a roadside flower seller, embarks on what seems to be an ordinary journey back to her childhood village. But when she steps onto a mysterious, nearly empty bus one quiet night, the lines between the living and the dead begin to blur. As she unravels the terrifying secrets of the passengers, she is thrust into a chilling revelation about her own past. Who has she been calling every night? And what lies at the end of the road?
Excerpt:
The scent of jasmine filled the air as the young girl ran through the narrow paths of the flower garden. Dewdrops clung to the petals, glinting in the soft light of dawn. May’s tiny hands brushed against the flowers, her laughter ringing out like wind chimes in the stillness of the morning.
“Careful, May,” her mother’s gentle voice called from behind. “Don’t bruise the flowers. They’ll cry, you know.”
May stopped in her tracks, turning to her mother with wide, curious eyes. “Flowers can cry?”
Her mother knelt in the soft soil, her hands deftly weaving a wreath of white jasmine, their family’s specialty. Her weathered face, framed by strands of silver-streaked hair, carried a serene wisdom that only came from years of living close to the earth. She smiled at her daughter, holding up the wreath. “Everything alive can cry, May. Flowers. Trees. Even the wind.”
May tilted her head, confused but fascinated. “But how do we know?”
Her mother placed the jasmine wreath on May’s head and gently tapped her chest, right over her heart. “You feel it here. When you hurt something, you’ll know. That’s why you must always be gentle—with people, with flowers, with memories.”
The child nodded solemnly, absorbing her mother’s words with the earnestness only children possess. She twirled in place, the jasmine wreath releasing its sweet perfume as it crowned her. “One day, I’ll make a garden like this,” May declared. “A garden big enough to make the whole world happy!”
Her mother laughed, a soft, melodic sound. But then her expression grew pensive. She took May’s hand and guided her to sit under the shade of the lone frangipani tree that stood at the garden’s edge. Its white flowers, tinged with yellow, were scattered like stars on the ground.
“May, do you know why I planted this tree here?” her mother asked, her voice softer now, almost a whisper.
May shook her head. “Why?”
Her mother looked up at the branches swaying gently in the morning breeze. “This is a tree for the dead.”
“The dead?” May’s voice dropped to a whisper. She scooted closer to her mother, her little hands clutching the older woman’s arm.
“Yes,” her mother said. “When someone we love dies, their spirit doesn’t leave right away. They linger, like the fragrance of these flowers. Sometimes, they stay because they miss us. And sometimes…” She paused, her eyes distant. “...sometimes they stay because we won’t let them go.”
“Why wouldn’t we let them go?” May asked, her brow furrowing. “If they’re gone, shouldn’t we say goodbye?”
Her mother smiled sadly, brushing a stray lock of hair from May’s face. “It’s not always that easy, my love. Sometimes, we hold on to the people we’ve lost, even if it hurts us. Even if it hurts them. That’s why the dead must have a place to rest, a place to feel at peace. Like this tree. It’s a way of telling them, ‘You can go now. You can rest.’”
May stared at the tree, her young mind trying to grasp the weight of her mother’s words. She touched the soft petals of a frangipani flower that had fallen into her lap. “What if they don’t want to go?”
Her mother hesitated, her gaze fixed on the horizon. “Then they stay. But when the dead stay too long, they change. They’re no longer the people we loved. They become… something else. And that’s why, May…” She turned to her daughter, her eyes serious. “We must learn to let go, no matter how much it hurts.”
May’s small fingers tightened around the flower. She didn’t fully understand, but she nodded anyway. “Okay, Mama. I’ll let go.”
Her mother smiled, her eyes glistening. She pulled May into a hug, holding her close. “That’s my girl.”
The bus slowed, and for the first time, May noticed something strange about the air. It felt thick, almost tangible, like walking through water. The oppressive silence was broken by a faint sound, soft at first but growing louder with each passing second. It was whispering.
At first, the whispers were incoherent, a jumble of voices overlapping one another. But as May focused, she began to pick out words—disjointed phrases that sent chills down her spine.
“…you shouldn’t have come…”
“…the road isn’t for you…”
“…go back… before it’s too late…”
The voices seemed to come from every direction, surrounding her, pressing against her ears. She turned wildly, searching for the source, but there was no one there.
And then, she heard it again: her mother’s voice.
“May… why didn’t you come home sooner?”
Her stomach twisted. “Mama?”
The whisper grew louder, sharper.
“You left us. You left
me. And now… you’ve come back too late.”
“No!” May cried, shaking her head. “That’s not true!”
The voices swirled around her, growing more chaotic,
more frenzied. They overlapped in a cacophony of
accusations and pleas, filling the bus with their dreadful
chorus.
“Why didn’t you save us?”
“Why are you still here?”
“Why won’t you let go?”
May clutched her head, tears streaming down her face as the whispers bore down on her, each word a dagger piercing her mind. And then, one final whisper came, soft and clear, cutting through the noise like a blade.
“You belong to us now.”
The bus screeched to a halt, throwing May forward in her seat. When she looked up, the door at the back of the bus was wide open, and beyond it lay only darkness.
Why You Should Read "Passengers of the Forgotten Road":
- Intriguing Plot: The novel weaves a tale of mystery and the supernatural, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each revelation.
- Deep Emotional Connection: Through May's journey, readers explore themes of loss, memory, and the struggle to let go, making for a deeply moving narrative.
- Atmospheric Setting: The vivid descriptions of the flower garden and the mysterious bus journey create a hauntingly beautiful backdrop.
Get Your Copy Today!
"Passengers of the Forgotten Road" is available now at Amazon KDP. Don't miss out on this journey that promises to linger in your mind long after the last page is turned.
Purchase on Amazon KDP:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQPNQN26
Join May on her unforgettable trip, and discover what secrets lie at the end of the road.
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