It’s fitting that this final installment of apocalyptic flash fiction celebrating Dr. Sketchy’s 5th birthday/end of the world party should come from Kali-Ma herself (as channeled through the divine Katelan Foisy). She’s blue, but don’t let her mood fool you. She’s one crown-wearing, skull-slinging diva who’s ready to down and dirty.
It's been four days since any of us have left the four red walls. The earth around breathes a heavy sigh and the chandelier shakes. We haven't eaten or slept, only prayed that the world doesn't crumble beneath us.
“OM-KAMEEN-KALIKAYE-NAMAH. JAI KALI MAA, JAI KALI MAA, JAI KALI MAA” The room chants this in unison. Since the disappearance of Shiva, the world is in disarray. Kali, intoxicated with rage and the blood of war, has not stopped dancing. Those kissed by the snake are now locked in this room chanting and praying for it all to end.
To be kissed by the snake is an honor. For the world will not last much longer. Kali's dance is crippling, each of us chants louder to block out the screams from outside. The room shakes, pieces of wall crumble but together we sit and wait for our mother.
“OM-KAMEEN-KALIKAYE-NAMAH. JAI KALI MAA, JAI KALI MAA, JAI KALI MAA”
The snake coiled between us stirs; our hearts beat faster. We close our eyes as the red walls start to shift, the putrid stench of death seeps in. The earth is breathing quickly now, the rhythm like a drum, beating faster, and faster. The black hand of Kali reaches down and pulls us up into her chest, the weight of her love crushing, smothering, and choking, as the rhythm of the dance becomes a part of our bodies. We breathe deep inhaling the scent of our mother, breathing her in as she takes each one of us to her breast. One by one we taste, one by one we become her.
Renaissance woman Katelan Foisy is a model, a muse, a mystic, a writer and an artist. She’ll also kick your ass at Battleship, drink Warren Ellis under the table, and still be ready to pose as Kali-Ma for Sketchy’s, something she’s done repeatedly and will do again for the party. When she goes to TGIF, Katelan orders the salad.