“I’d like to order two DChicken burgers, three DCheezys, a Poke soda, and two bottled waters.”

Lyn is ordering for us when a sudden spike of pain slashes through my head. All at once, the air inside the shop is too thick, too heavy, and I can't breathe. The room is starting to spin. In seconds, I go from completely normal to feeling like complete shit.

I need to get out. The thought fills my mind like repeating lines on a chalkboard, and before I know it, I'm pushing the door and breathing in the cool outside air. I walk a little, head for the sidewalk and sit down. Gradually, the pain subsides to a dull throb as I inhale and exhale slowly. What the hell was that? After that and last night's bizarre headache, I'm not sure if I should start worrying. I don't have a history of migraines or anything so maybe I'm just coming down with something. Or I just hit my head a little harder than I thought when Cat fell on me. Ah well, I'm fine now, more or less. I'll live. Probably.

The hedges hide me from view from the burger place. Lyn and Cat are probably wondering where I am. I don't feel a hundred percent, but I gotta go back. As I stand up, my head throbs a little, as if to remind me of my earlier headache. Out of a blue, a face flashes into my mind.

That girl from yesterday. In the clearing. I wonder if she's there right now? I didn't even catch her name. I should go see her... I start walking away from the burger place. Hey! I mentally yell at myself. I don't feel like myself all of a sudden. I'm--I feel--I don't know. Tired? Intensely curious? I want to see if she's there. No, I need to know. I've gotta go!

Huh? What is this? I've got to snap out of it. Lyn and Cat are waiting for me. I was even treating them. Why was I leaving? To see some random girl I’ve barely spoken ten words to? But somehow, I know I need to go. It’s probably just my curiosity again. Although I haven’t been this persistent with anything for a long time. It’s a little strange.

But I really can’t ditch Lyn again. So I make a deal. With myself. Go ahead and laugh now.

Fine, go see her, if it’s so important, but after you finish paying for Lyn and Cat’s stuff. Yeah. Compromise. That’s good. Even though this means I’ll probably have an empty wallet afterwards. I should get a job or something. Though that’s not so easy in such a small town. There are just a few shops, and small businesses are mostly family-owned so they don’t usually bother hiring someone whose nobody’s relative, like me.

Ah, well. That’s a thought for another day. I head on back to the burger place, my head throbbing just enough for me to ignore. I can handle this much. For a good burger.

As I pass by the door, I notice a piece of paper stuck to it. I don’t read it though. I go straight in and scan the place for the girls. They’re at a table near a corner. They look pretty chill with each other. Talking and all that. I know Lyn doesn’t trust girls and awful lot—with the “witch” trauma and stuff—so I guess that’s good. And they’ve already started eating. I hope they saved me something.

As I walk up to the table, both of them look up from their conversation. I await the coming questions/exclamations/possible cursing with my hand on the back of my neck.

When Kai reached the table the question that has been lingering on my mind for awhile now came out
"Why the heck do you keep on ditching me?!?" it came out so bluntly and coldly which made him look at me sorrily and making me feel totally guilty. I see him looking at the table, and unconciously I did too. Surprised I see Cat crumpling the second wrapper of the Cheezys burger, and opening up the third one. I can't believe it, I mean we started eating at the same time, I'm not even midway yet and she's already preparing to eat the third one. I look up at Kai and motions to the seat in front of me, he sits, and I hand him the other DChicken burger and the Poke soda.

I opened my mouth to ask Cat a question, but immediately closed it, seeing Cat, busying herself with her burger. Which got me the giggles. I tried holding it back, inhaling and exhaling almost at the same time. But every time I glance at Cat, the giggles goes back. Kai looks at me, questioningly. That's when I can't hold it anymore and I laughed. Cat looked at me confusingly and worriedly.

"Sorry, it's just that... You really seem hungry" I see her flush beet red. Embarassed? Maybe. Kai reminds me most of the time that I should think before I speak, since I have the habit of telling people what comes out first from my mind. Speaking of which I see Kai glaring slightly at my direction.
"Sorry" I muttered, I glanced cautiously at Cat, I see her drinking her water, I looked at Kai, he was already midway on his burger, and I'm still way far from it. I take a bite... then another... and another... and~.... I choked. I bang my fist in my chest and drank my water

"Idiot" Kai tells me, which makes me pout. There's no way I'll finish last "Just slow it down, it's not like we're going to leave you anyways" I look at him, the tone of his voice was different than the usual. Upset? Irritated? Nope, no. Tired? Yes, definitely, and Annoyed? But of what?

"Kai? Are you okay?" he looks at me eyebrow rising
"I'm fine" he breathes out
"You don't seem like so" he takes a long pause before saying
"It's nothing don't worry" I look at him worriedly
"If its the food, you only have to pay me for the food for the two of us. Its me who's treating Cat, not you" he looks at me surprise and relief on his face. Then he shakes his head, as if to say no
"It's not the food.. No worries.. Somethings just on my mind, don't worry"
"Is this about what Rick has told you?" he looks at me confusingly. And I remember, I'm not supposed to know whatever it is that Eldrick and him has talked about
"What?" he asks. I need to find an excuse. He's looking at me suspiciously now
"Ummm... Uhh... Nothing ahh... nope that's uhh..." I take a bite from my burger, chewing slowly. Avoiding answers. Cat looks at me, like Kai, she's also seems to be waiting for some answers, I focused on finishing my burger. Trying to eat as slowly as possible. It's so good that I wanted to gobble it all up in one go, which is at the same I didn't want to

I see Kai and Cat looking at each other, still seems to be waiting for some answers. When my phone rang. Life Savior, but when I looked at the caller, my blood froze, on the screen, the number encrypted was only owned by one person and that's Eldrick Weinston

I noticed my breathing has gone shallower every second, I tried to inhale. I press the call sign, and leaned the phone in my ears. Stuttering I say
"H-he-hello"
"Hey Chim, how're you? Did you miss me?" How can I? I thought. After all those things you've done to me. Did you really think I would?
"He seems to have taken my silence as a yes, and continued. So let's see each other" one word crossed my thought. Huh?
"Y'know. Meet up. Since I missed you and you missed me, we should meet up to satisfy each other" I've forgotten that he was a mind reader, no matter wherever you may be, he can guess what you're thinking, and the only thing he needs is a simple way of communication and he can access towards you. This is why I've feared him. He was never like this before, I don't know what happened, but one day he just started monopolizing me.

"Chim? I know you're there. C'mon. You know where I live don't you. You've perfected your skills already right? Then this way, it'll be easy for you to actually track me down." I shut my eyes tightly. No. I didn't want to use it. I've sworn since that day, that I would never use it anymore

"Of course you can use it. It's harmless, unless you don't control it. But of course, if you can't. I'm always there for you, to save you. Besides I've always been the one and only person who has truly understand you from the very beginning right?" No this is wrong.
I try to take my phone away from my ears. So that he won't hear anymore of my thoughts. But it seems to go against my will

"Why don't you just accept it. You've missed me.." No. Never!
"I'll see you... You better come here, if you don't want your friends harmed. Or are they really your friends?" Tears welled in my eyes, trickling slowly. No this can't be happening!!

I grabbed my things and ran out of the door, without so much of a goodbye. I know they're worried. I know they're confused. But what I don't know is, if I don't do what he tells me to do, I don't know, what he'll do to them. I shut my phone shut, sobbing hard, running fast, the icy wind of the night hits me and suddenly I bumped. Bumped into someone? I look up, and see violet sparkling eyes looking down on me worriedly. And I don't know what possessed me, but I hugged this person and I let my frustration out.

I stared at Cat. She stared back at me. My head throbbed dully in the background, and I don't know if it's still because of my earlier bizarre headache or a result of what just happened.

Lyn was out the door before we could do anything. She'd looked at her phone and blanched. After answering the call with a shaky "hello", she just listened with eyes open wide and pale lips parted from nervous surprise. Surprise that turned into shocked horror by the end of the call.

I didn't know what to do. Neither did Cat. I didn't know if it was just the trick of light, or tears were running down her face as she ran out the shop door. I'm not sure what I should have done if they had been tears. Stopped her from leaving? Called her back? Followed her?

The only thing I was sure of was who that caller had been. Without a doubt, it had been that arrogant bastard. The only times I've seen Lyn act this out of it were the times he showed up.

She'd called him Rick, hadn't she? Just now, when she asked what that bastard had told me when we were talking... How did she even know that we'd spoken to each other? I didn't tell her, did I? Maybe he did, though I can't imagine why the hell he would do that... He acts cool and all that, but he must be a really insecure dude to actually confront me about "owning" Lyn. Stupid bastard.

But whatever he'd said to Lyn really rattled her. It's probably none of my business, but I don't know if I can just stand around after seeing her react like that. She doesn't seem all that happy to see him. Even if they'd broken up on bad terms, that look on her face when she answered the phone shouldn't have been there. She shouldn't have been scared. I'm starting to regret just watching her leave.

I hear a tap on the table and reflexively turn my head. Towards Cat. She's holding her empty bottle of water. I realize I've been staring at the door, probably for awhile now. I look at her and she looks right back at me.

"--! I'm sorry--I just--I don't know... what's up with Lyn..." The words tumble clumsily from my mouth.

She looks at me, and I can't read the expression in her eyes. Pity? Understanding? Worry?

I don't know.

What is going on right now?? Rick? What he said to Kai? A phone call that made Lyn cry?

A phone call that made Lyn cry.
Who the heck is Rick?

Gah... So many questions, and not enough answers. I don't even know when to start!
I think I'm gonna need a whole lot more cheese and meat to think properly about this.

I wonder what really happened to Lyn? She was definitely crying. No doubt about it. Everything just happened so fast, I didn't even have enough time to react, and it wasn't any better in Kai's position either.

All we could do was stare at each other with confused faces. I guess we're both still doing it right now, except Kai just keeps staring at the door. I grab my empty plastic bottle. Before I could shove it in my bag so I could bring it home, Kai comes back to his senses.

"--! I'm sorry--I just--I don't know... what's up with Lyn..." He says, sounding like a broken tape.

I sigh. A sigh that only I would hear in loud places such as this. 'You're not the only one who's confused, Kai. I am too.' , is what I want to say, but I'm not sure if I should say it or not.

"Its fine. I don't really have an idea either. So, what do we do now? Should we head home?"

I look at Cat. She's asking me what we should do. I don't know either. Right now I want to follow Lyn, but I don't know if i should. If I have the right to.

"Yeah, I guess we should go." I hear myself say.

We stand up together and leave the table. She doesn't say anything more, and neither do I. As we pass by the door, I notice that scrap of paper pinned on it again. We walk slowly so I have time to read it. I'm tired and I just want to go home and lie on my bed, but I read it. I pull out my phone and quickly type in the number on the paper, without stopping my steps. I'll think about what was written on it a little more when I'm not feeling quite so crappy.

I was doing the right thing wasn't I? Leaving Lyn alone? She left by herself. She didn't ask me to follow her. I'll go home and sleep on it, and I'll ask her about it tomorrow. When we see each other. Then, if she wants me to know, she'll tell me, but if it doesn't, it's fine... I won't pretend that I'm completely happy about that, but it's out of my hands. I'm just a friend. I don't have the right to tell her what to do, who to talk to... who to go out with.

We've walked a ways away from the burger place when suddenly, a thought slams into my head.

You have to go.

"What?" Cat asks, confused.

I don't even know what I said. My mouth moves on it's own once again. "I've got to go."

And I turn around and run.

I pulled back from Chale but he pulled me back again for a hug which lasted for only a couple of seconds, then he pulled back
"I'm sorry for being so sudden" he looks at me worriedly, he raises his right hand and cups my cheek, then he caressed his thumb wiping a tear away.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm f-fi-fine" I hiccuped
"You sure?" I looked up at him, his sparkling violet eyes turns to a shade of indigo, his face filled with worry
"I-I" I hiccuped, tears coming back to my eyes
"We can talk about it if you want" I shake my head, no, even if I tell him, there's no way he'd understand. But then again, he's quite a mystery himself, especially a person who's eye's change colors, depending on their mood.
"I-" I was cut off when my phone rang, I reached deep into my bag and found my phone, again encrypted on the phone was his number. I must have stared long into the screen that Chale grabbed it.
"Who's this?" My eyes wide, he answered the phone, Chale answered the phone. I panicked
"Cocky aren't you" If Chale pisses him off, he'd be a goner. I try to steal the phone away from him, but Chale's too tall, I'm only up to his shoulders
"Are you the reason why Lyn's hurt?"
"Really?" he asked with great sarcasm in his voice
"Chale give me back the phone" I whispered, but he ignored it
"Don't ever disturb her, she's busy" What is going on?!?
"Apparently I do" then he clicked off the phone
"Chale are you out of your mind? You don't know what he's capable of doing" I was taken aback when I saw Chale's eye color change into deep black. I stepped backward
"Chale are you ok-?" I was interrupted when he said with such cold voice
"What he's capable off? Isn't he just a killer? A manipulator?" I gasped. How? How does he know everything
"How did you-?" I wasn't able to finish my words when a great pain surged through my head, I crouched down clutching my head
"Lyn!" I hear a voice from afar. Is it Kai?
"Lyn" that same familiar voice again, I try to gather my strength to look up from the ground to see who it was, but the pain grew and the next thing I knew I lost all of my strength and everything went black

“I-“ she goes and then her phone rang,. She reached deep into her bag and looking for her phone, and when she finds it, she stares off into the screen. I wait for her to answer it, curiosity building up, and finally I got the phone and answered it myself, I saw a surge of panic on her face, as I did so
"Who's this?"
"Someone you shouldn't get involved with"
"Cocky aren't you" I see Archlinne jumping, trying to grab the phone, but I turned away from her
"You should really give back the phone to its owner"
"Are you the reason why Lyn's hurt?" I hear him smirk on the other side
"You must've mistaken me with someone. I don't hurt Chym, I love her, I would never cause her pain
"Really" I asked sarcastically
"But of course"
"Don't ever disturb her, she's busy"
"Pfft... What are you her father. No I won't, try not to be so sure, you know nothing about her"
"Apparently I do" then he clicked off the phone
“Yeah right, you’re just a lowly trickster” he whispered right into my mind
"Chale are you out of your mind? You don't know what he's capable of doing" she shouted once I gave her back the phone. I was furious, why does she succumb to whatever he wants.
"Chale are you ok-?"
"What he's capable off? Isn't he just a killer? A manipulator?" I hear her gasp, crap I lost it
"How did you-?" she starts asking, I glance at her, erasing that part of her memory. When she crouched down, I see a figure, a guy. I turn and walk away

You've got to be kidding me.
What am I supposed to do now? Leave? Or stay?

If I stay, I doubt Kai would come back here. If I leave, where would I go?

"Why don't you try thinking about what really happened to Lyn--and to Kai?" Another part of me suggests. I pout.
"Fine. Over dinner then. I'm sure you've already lost all that food from all the drama that just happened."

"Yeah, that's a good idea." I say to myself. I don't wanna eat another burger, how about a pizza from the convenience store around the block? That would surely taste delicious.

---

After a short walk, I was in front of the store. There aren't that many people, but I guess that's normal.
This has to be my most favorite part in all of Willow Creek. I head inside and buy a pizza.

"Hi Cat, came by for dinner, or just a snack?" The woman in the counter greets me. She asked for my name once, and I guess she hasn't forgotten it. I come by here a lot, so its no surprise she would ask.

"Stopping by for dinner this time. Having pizza. Here." I reply.

"I figured that. Good thing I got one ready for you, its in the microwave. Still warm."

"Thanks!" I smile while handing her the money. How kind of her to do that. Never actually thought she would remember.

I head for the microwave. I could definitely live here. This place has a microwave, coffee maker, and lots and lots of snacks. Awesome. I open the microwave, and the smell of hot pizza awakens my senses. I take a seat in one of the high chairs near the table. I choose the one facing the outside. I eat one of the pizzas. Then two.

So, where am I supposed to start.... I have no idea. "But you were supposed to, right? Do you expect an answer to just appear in front of you?" I grab my fourth pizza. (eaten half of the pizza)

Then suddenly, a guy emerges from the woods. He has black hair and his eyes are-- wait. Wasn't this the guy that we met in the hallway? More accurately, the guy that met us in the hallway. I think he's someone Lyn knew before she went to Willow Creek. More than friends, probably.

I think he's on his cellphone talking to someone. Did he just smirk? or was it a smile? or maybe I'm just sleepy. He puts the phone down and just when I thought he was gonna go on his way, he stares directly into my eyes. his eyes are almost as bright as the moon. Oh god, can he even see me from the darkness outside? I break off the pinpointing stare with me taking my fifth pizza.

With my peripheral vision, I see a crack slowly forming on his lips. The same one he did while he was on the phone. Quickly, I shove in my sixth pizza, not paying attention to its taste anymore. After a couple of seconds, he walks back into the woods, without a single ray of light with him. I seriously doubt he would be able to find his way through the forest like that.

I look at my pizza. The last three are starting to get cold. I look at the woman in the counter. She's just using her phone endlessly without paying attention to me. I guess that kind of reliefs me in a way.

Rick. That must've been him.

I sit up straight, almost too sudden, clutching my head. The pain was too much to bear, tears streamed down my eyes, as I try my hardest to recall whatever happened yesterday. I remember eating with Cathy and Kai, and I remember running out of the Burgeria, because of Rick's sudden call. Then I bumped into Chale, and cried resulting on wetting his shirt. After a short while, Rick called again, and Chale took the phone away from me and we had a little argument after. But now the question is, how did I end up in my bed. I don't remember walking back home. And why is it that I heard Kai's panicking voice in my head?

What is going on?

I look at the clock on the bedside table it read 5:00. Too early to be up. I lie back down and tried to get some sleep, but sleep doesn't come to me. Instead memories does. Memories of the past.

My hair is a mess. I stand up from bed and grab my brush, and combed my hair. In front of the mirror my reflection looks back at me. My hair jet black, match it with a skin so pale, although I'm not anemic at all.

"Linne hurry up or you'll be late for school!"

My mother calls out from downstairs. I nod as if my mother can see me nodding. My family doesn't know this, but I'm not normal as they may think I am. I'm weird. Crazy maybe. I put down my brush, and changed my clothes, then I run downstairs and came face to face with my mother.

-Her hair was dark brown and her skin was normal, not pale, like mine. Even dad looked a lot normal than me. Which would make you think if I was actually even a real part of this family, or just adopted-

She smiles at me and greets me good morning, and so I smile and greet her back, I grab the sandwhich she prepared for me, and walked towards the door
"Mom, try not stress yourself out okay. Call me when you're alone or in need of help" she only smiles at my direction, and so I satisfy myself with that for an answer and leave the house for school


The memory of my mother still living brings back the tears, and so once more, I cried

It's dark. So dark I can't see a thing. But I'm running. Every step echoes in the darkness along with the sound of water. On the ground, splashing beneath my feet. And dripping. Dripping everywhere. All around me. But I can't see a thing.

I'm running. There's a light? Not a light, a white dress, luminous in the darkness. Who is it? Ah yes, who else could it be?
I run towards it. And then it's not black.

It's red.
Deep rich red. Not brilliant, gaudy red. The dark crimson of a decaying rose. Red, like old blood.
Dripping. Dripping everywhere. Splashing beneath my feet. It's not water. It's blood.

And then it's up my knees. But also around my arms, and I can't move. I can't breathe. My heart is pounding, pounding, pounding and blood is in my ears. I open my mouth and blood rushes in. My throat hurts. I can't move. With the thick decaying red in my mouth, it’s useless, but I try to scream.

And it all turns black.

Suddenly I'm breathing. I hear my heart hammering in my ears.

My vision spins a little and I realize it’s because I sat up too fast.

That was a dream.

A weird dream, yeah, weirdest one I’ve had in a while. But just a dream.

I’m just about to lay back down when I realize something isn’t right. I’m not in bed, I’m on… a couch? And the room is familiar, but it isn’t mine.

I know where I am. But how the fuck did I get here?

I’m at Lyn’s house.

The moment I think that, yesterday flashes in my mind in fast forward. Me running, leaving Cat, not even knowing where I’m going, feeling like I’m on autopilot, then suddenly, seeing Lyn, sprawled out on the sidewalk and knowing, just knowing that was why I was there. I don’t know how I ended up there, but I knew that was where I was supposed to be.

And if that isn't weird enough, there were voices. In my head. Telling me stuff. Telling me "Go".

I think I might be going crazy. I talk to myself all the time damn it! But this isn't anything like that. It felt like somebody else inside my head. What the hell? What the fuck is happening? Might as well check myself in a mental hospital...

But before I can think too much about it, I hear something. Something against the stagnant silence. Sniffling... crying?

And then I remember Lyn. Shit.

She was passed out yesterday, wasn't she. I remember carrying her home and then laying her on her bed... and why the fuck didn't I bring her to a hospital?

Because a voice told you to "bring her home"

The thought immediately pops in my head, and I recognize it as my own. Not "the voice" yesterday. Definitely. I don't know if I should be relieved or creeped out that I can actually tell them apart. Fuck it. This isn't important right now. I need to see if she's ok. Why the hell didn't I take her to the hospital? But the fact that she's crying tells me she's alive, at least... although something must be really wrong. I've only ever seen her cry yesterday, and I wasn't even sure then.

I walk urgently along the hallway to her room, being as silent as I can as I pass by her grandma's door. Lyn tells me she almost never comes out these days. I don't know how she would react if she found me out here so early in the morning. I don't think I can handle any more drama right now.

I hesitate when I notice that her door is open. I probably forgot to close it last night. Heck, I don't even remember opening it. I feel like my memories from last night'll evaporate if I think to hard.

I hear her clearly now. She's definitely crying. I beat out my hesitation. If something is seriously wrong with her, if she's hurt anywhere, it's all my friggin' fault for being an idiot and not getting her to a hospital. And I'm worried, I really am. So I step into the room, making my footsteps a little louder than usual so she can hear me.

It's a little startling to see her like this. She looks younger than I've ever seen her, with the covers pulled around her legs, her hair in a careless mess, a hand on her mouth, looking like she's trying to stifle her sobs. Her limbs are so pale, even against her white bed covers and she looks so... so fragile.

Fragile. It's not a word I would normally describe Lyn with. But when I look at her right now, I realize it's true. And I realize, I don't really know her as much as I think I do.

She finally notices me in the room, and she stops crying so suddenly, the silence surprises me. She looks surprised as well, her bright blue eyes wide, staring up at me from the bed.

She doesn't say anything though, and I don't even know if she understands why I'm here.

But before I know what I'm doing, I'm sitting on the bed, and I whisper without meaning to, "Hey."

It was Friday evening when I first met HIM, I was in the park, tear stained and furious. Why do people love to spread useless things, rumors. I don't do anything to them, and yet they do things to me. If only... I was staring at the faucet, letting my anger out, thinking of all the awful things which my classmates have been spreading, when suddenly the faucet bursts. -Literally burst-. It's pieces scatter, and water flows continuously out of the tube, the water was scattering, as if it was throwing a tantrum.
"You're strong" a deep cool voice speaks from behind me, I turn around to find a really cute guy, who's eyes so light almost transparent, and skin so white. Maybe the male version of Snow White. He walks close to me, and sits beside me on the bench, he has warm, soft fingers, despite those pale skin he has. Although he was a complete stranger, I allowed him to weave his fingers through my hair, giving me a relaxing sensation, which made me feel so relaxed and sleepy. He sits close to me, and tells me. "I'm Eldrick Weinston, and you?" he looks at me, "Archlinne L'chimyre" I tell him, not knowing why I did. I have to admit I felt good and secured around him, so I take look at him, and gave him one of my brightest smile. His eyes were crystal blue, so light and so transparent like. It's so breathtaking.

I remembered how he used to be so sweet towards me, but not before he became into a possessive monster. I shut my eyes and reopened them when I felt Kai's presence close to me, and I looked up. Why is he here? What is he doing in my room? this were the thoughts that ran through my brain. I I shift as he sits on my bed. I've managed to control my sobs, and my hiccuping, but it wasn't for long, when he tells me "hey".
My tears trickles down my cheeks, and I try to stifle my sobs, I try to hide it, somewhere in the back of my throat. I stare at him thinking, how much I wanted to tell him everything. To show him what really happened, to let him know all of my past, but the fear that crawls in my skin, makes me stop and think:
When Kai finds out, will he still remain the same way towards me? will he still be my best friend? Or if he remains as my best friend, what will HE do to him? Will Kai be capable of enduring any ways of Rick's silent tortures. This thought scare me

I swallowed the nervous feeling I had, that's been disturbing me, and I blinked, he seems relieved that I started showing some actions, maybe I've been thinking for so long since he looks so worried. So I tell him

"Hey" I try to give him my best smiles, to assure him I'm okay, but instead it formed, into a slight pained smile, Kai seemed to have a reaction, but I was too busy thinking on how to assure him. So I asked "What are you doing here?"

beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.

I can hear a faint sound that seems to be never ending. I try to find where the noise is coming from.

beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.

Ah, I'm getting closer now....beep.beep.beep.beep.beep.beep..It's right.......BEEP BEEP!

huh?.......BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP!

Oh....BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP!

I begin to recognize the sound. Its my...BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP!
Alarm clock.

"I'm awake." I say to the clock.

"....." It doesn't say anything. Duh, its a clock. Would I even expect it to say anything? Anyways, like any other weekday, I hurry up and finish my routine in the morning. I check the time, its 6:42 AM
Everything was exactly the same, except that I ran out of cereal and milk. So, it seems I'm getting breakfast at the convenience store today.

I step outside with everything, I think.
Bag, check. Notebooks, check. Textbooks, check. Now all I need are my snacks, and my breakfast, of course.

Hmm, which route should I take today? Should I take the shortcut with the clearing, the long cut in the main street, or the more-or-less normal distance in the neighborhood?
.
.
.
The neighborhood route it is. 'Don't forget to put on your shoes, you genius' Oh yeah, almost forgot about that.

---

Wow, the people here are real early birds. I remember in the city that people rarely had any time to garden their lawns and clean the house every morning. They just take a light breakfast, and go to their workplaces. I wonder how Kai and Lyn prepare their mornings.
.
.
Kai and Lyn. Kai and Lyn....spicy pepper pizzas! Kai and Lyn!! I can't believe I almost forgot about them. Where in the world were they last night? I hope they would tell me first thing at school...Would they even attend school?? Maybe they went missing or something?
Wait.
I'm getting far too ahead of myself. Just calm down and go to school, calm down and go to school.
Calm down and go to school.

Finally, I see a building closing in. Must be the school.
Wait, have I eaten?

ugh, now I have to go back in the neighborhood so I can get to the convenience store!

Retrace my steps, retrace my steps...

It takes a while before she calms down to answer me "Hey", along with one of those smiles. Those fake smiles that always piss me off, not at her, but at myself. Because I never know what to do. It probably showed on my face because she continues on, "What are you doing here?"

All of a sudden, I'm aware of how strange this situation is. And I feel... awkward. I look away from her and at my lap, my hand on the back of my neck, "I carried you home yesterday, I think. You were passed out on some sidewalk," without thinking I look at her urgently, remembering why I was in here in the first place, "Do you feel any pain? Are you hurt anywhere? Should I take you to a hospital?".

To my complete and utter surprise, she laughs at my concern. She smiles at me, genuinely this time, even though I can still see the tears clinging to her eyelashes.

I feel my face heat up.

"Wha--what the hell are you laughing about?!? When I heard you crying I was--"

She sobers up immediately. Damn it. Damn my big mouth. Damn it. It's not even that big, but I manage to mess up the few times I use it anyway.

Both of us are silent for a while.

I realize then, that I wanted to know why. Even if she didn't answer me, she should at least know that I wanted to know. That I cared.

I looked away from her again. Don't have quite enough courage to do this face to face. So before I could psych myself out and tell myself it was a bad idea... I asked,

"Wanna tell me about it?"

"You see I don’t really want to tell you anything, I’m afraid of what could happen if I do." I lay my head on my arms. "Back when I lived in Ashpeak, there was no one who can console me, not even my parents, I was glad they were there, and I do love them, but it’s not like they can understand anything if I tell them. Besides even if you think about it, I don't see any resemblance of my parents and me. I was probably an adopted child. I had no friends; I was feared, and stayed away from, believing that I’ll put a curse on them. One day, while I was upset and depressed, someone consoled me, and soon I came to like the person, and the feelings became mutual, but things happened, and so I left the place to live with my grandmother. I guess you can say I was running away." I look at him, not with intensity, rather with concern "I’ll tell you this, I’m not as normal as you might think I am. I’m different, I don’t know the reason why Eldrick is here in Willow Creek, but I can tell he’s up to something." Something you wouldn't want to know.I feel Kai’s weight shift along the mattress, so I grabbed his shirt, I looked at him, shit my tears are back. "Please, I’ll try to be good, I’ll try to remain calm, so please, I finally have a friend, please don’t leave" I look away from him, and let go of his shirt This is it, he’ll leave, he’ll leave me on my own again. He’s right, somehow, he’s always right, that no one can console me but him. This time I let my tears fall without any will of stopping them

I head out of the convenience store.

What was I thinking, forgetting about breakfast? I must be getting older. I think to myself while walking as fast as I can. I’m gonna be late for school. I thought I wasn’t going to be, but I don’t think I can catch up. So much for trying to keep a clean record of attendances. Sorry mom.

I wonder how Kai and Lyn are right now. Gee, I hope they attend school. If they don’t, I wouldn’t know what really happened last night, and I wouldn't get a single clue about that creepy dude I saw when I was at the convenience store the other day.

I make it to the school gate around half past six, which is the exact time when the gates close. I must be pretty lucky to make through a crack while the security guard was closing the gate.

“Psh. Lucky ones.” I hear him say as I slip through. I give him a thanking smile before rushing into the building.

I reach the classroom just in time- to get scolded by the teacher. I thought I made it through, but I guess not. She gave me a warning, and another chance just because I was a transferee. Thank God.

I look around the classroom. There are two empty chairs. Just two. I’m starting to get worried about those two, and I don’t like getting worried. It’s such an icky feeling that makes me wanna starve myself until I find out about every single detail. Must be why I always play detective without even noticing.

Suddenly, a girl stands up with a clipboard in her hands. She is walking to the teacher calmly. Then, she hands the clipboard to the teacher.

“Thank you for checking the attendance, Claire. You may now take your seat.” She analyzes the clipboard. I think it might be the attendance sheet on there.

“Hm, Kai and Archlinne, huh?” She says with worry on her face.

“Everyone, please prepare your notebooks, and jot down everything I’m about to write on the board.” A wave of grumbles and groans fill the room.

I sigh. Poor lonely air-headed Cat. Left all alone to daze into the world and wait for the minutes to pass.

Suddenly, I feel somebody staring at me.

I glance around the room. Nope, everyone’s eyes are on the board, copying every word about something I don’t really remember. I shrug, and copy the scribbled stuff on the board.

I decided to take a stroll around the town. I went to the old park, I stood at the center, or what seems to be the center, and closed my eyes. I feel the cold breeze on my skin, and in my mind I pictured out a sunny day with cherry blossoms swaying with the breeze
I open my eyes, and what I saw made me extremely happy. The trees that was said to have died because of fire is now healthy and bursting with cherry blossom petals. The petals were around me, dancing, swaying with the wind just as how I pictured it out, and although the breeze still feels like the night, the whole place was all bright and sunny
Until I heard a crack of a twig, and so I lost all concentration and everything I created vanished. The once sunny, turned dark; a moonless night, not even a single star can be seen
I felt something on my back, a hand? Maybe, but no, it was cold as ice, I turned to look behind me and see a silhouette
“Who’s there” I’ve always had a weakness, and one of this is my voice. So I let the winds carry it for me, then I hear a person cry in pain
I walked my way through the woods and saw the person
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop” I grabbed his hand, and accidentally I opened something, his memory, it flowed through me like a stream, his memories from the present until –
Wait I can’t seem to see his birth, could he have blocked me away? But no one can do that, except Chale of course, but aside him no one else can
I help him up
“I’m really sorry” he apologized while rubbing his nape
I smile up at him, he is a head-foot taller than I was, so I had to look up
“It’s okay, so umm, what did you see?”
“Uhmm.. well…”
“I’m sorry, you don’t have to answer that, it’s not what I meant to say” I looked through the woods. I’m sure this guy wasn’t the one who touched me moments ago, I wonder who that was, or worse what does that person need from me?
“Ummm… Kai!” I look at him
“Ahh...” I’m guessing he wants to say something, but the night is already dangerous, and I can't wait with this aura swirling around us
“I… I should go” I stare at him “you should go home too, take the right side of the woods, you’ll find a path there, woods are dangerous at night” he looks to where I pointed, I took this chance, I step back and disappeared into thin air
-----
I walked inside a room, and walked over to the person seated by the window
“Is everything alright?”
“I did something horrible” I sat across him
“What do you mean?” He offers me his hand
“Chale, I can’t see it remember?”
“I won’t block you, I promise” Sighing, I take his hand in mine, memories flowed through me, I see a lamp post, I see Chale, with a girl, maybe about the same age as I was. She looks anemic, considering her pale skin, but she was very pretty
I sense power, I see it being used, I see the memories being erased only it was vivid then everything went black
“I can’t see anymore” I mumbled. I look at Chale “I thought you said you wouldn’t block me”
“I didn’t, I only let you see what’s necessary” I looked through the glass, then to my lap
“Do you think you can change what happened, I don’t like hurting her” I smile
“I see, you’ve fallen huh, but you know Chale, changing the past is a lot of effort. It’s going to be really exhausting, and I’m not someone who doesn’t treasure life, I still want to live, even though my presence alone can be risky”
He looks at me, touches my head with his right hand
“What did you do this time?”
“Same as always”
“Did you succeed?”
“No, someone interrupted my concentration” I sighed “It’s really tiring, how is it that you don’t get tired from using your abilities?”
“I’ve had a lot of practice, also, I had a lot more experience than you” I rub my eyes, Chale pulls me towards him
“Get some sleep, you need to restore your energy” I nod in consent

After all this time, after all those years that I have shut those things off my mind, why am I remembering all those things now

I cry and lean on the wall

You don’t like it right how they ignore you

I don’t mind what they think about me

Then why don’t you prove it to them

I clamp my hands on my ears, Stop! Stop it! I’m not at fault

Don’t worry it’s not going to tire you out. You’re a strong girl, that’s one thing I like most about you. C’mon just try…

I shouldn’t, I will never… But I…

C’mon, just picture it out
I did, I tried, and I jest. In my state of anger, I see her in my head with my eyes closed. I see her head hung high on the sky with an invisible cord, her arms twisted at the back, her eyes bulging out of their sockets and her skin bruised
“Good job” I hear him say
Opening my eyes, I screamed in horror, my anger in an instant was washed away, and was replaced with fear. I knew I wasn’t normal like the rest of the people, but I never knew myself, the capability of my ability.
In front of me was the girl or what seems to be left of her, she resembled exactly the way I pictured her in my mind. I tremble in fear. I knew I did that, but I don’t want to accept it. I turn around, Eldrick’s arms were around me, I lean into his chest and cried, refusing to accept the reality.

I can’t seem to stop crying. Why did I ever fall for that guy, who can’t cause nothing, but trouble

Probably because he’s the first person who has ever accepted the real ‘You’

I can’t stand it

“Grandma, I’ll be going outside”
“Come back soon dear, something bad may happen”
“I’ll just get some fresh air” Grabbing my jacket, I went outside, the cold breeze hits my face
I walk around, the lamp posts were already being used
The woods is darker than I thought, I walk up the hill, beside the woods
What time is it anyway? I flip my phone open the digital clock read 9:00
9:00 doesn’t seem to matter back in the city, unlike here in this rural area
The woods are said to be dangerous, I guess I can see the reason why
I went through the woods, and walked through. I wonder, if I walk a straight path, where will I end?
I wonder what it’s like to fly. If ever someone was like me, only they had a flying ability, I would’ve preferred that one better than having this accursed ability
I stopped on my tracks. Looking at my left, I see a path it’s as if it was purposefully there. In front of me I see a huge tree, I walked closer to it and touched its trunk I suppose its centuries old by now. My senses come to alert as I felt someone behind me, abruptly I turned around at that moment the person caged me, both his hands at each side of my head. I look up only to find the person I dreaded the most
I open my mouth to speak, only to find no words coming out of my mouth; my throat became dry as he used his right hand to raise my chin

“You’ve become distant. I missed you, you know” I tremble in fear as he moves the hand that held my chin, down my spine
I coughed to clear my throat and inhaled as I shut my eyes momentarily then opened them only to stare down at my feet
“Go away, go away” I whispered repeatedly hoping he heard my pleads
“You can’t do anything without me Archlinne” he whispered through my ears and I gasped, choking on my tears, because I know deep inside me what he said was true
I clutch his jacket, slowly slipping down until I slumped on the ground
“Leave me alone, please” he crouched down in front of me, from my spine his hands fly back to my face, gently wiping my tears away, after that he cups my cheeks and looks at me eye-to-eye, his gaze holds mine, that I can’t seem to look away, I stared back looking at his transparent blue eyes, and I find myself paralyzed. This is the same eyes that has always looked at me so warmly back when there was no one there for me, back when everyone hated even at the sight of me, tears continued to trickle down my cheeks
“Rick, I-“ he hushes me with his right index finger -his left arm still leaving me caged on one side- he neared his face to mine, my heart thumps loudly, as the thought of him kissing me passed through my mind, I close my eyes and wait for the contact, but none came, I opened my eyes only to find his face inches away from mine and his warm gaze icy cold.

He smirks, both his hand cupping my face “You know, I found someone else, someone more worthy than you, so don’t worry, I won’t be bothering you anymore” He stood up and walked away leaving me still slumped on the ground

My tears won’t stop from falling. I should be happy right? He won’t bother me anymore, but why don’t I feel the happiness. Why do I feel so sad, depressed of the thought of him finding someone else more of worth than I?
I heard footsteps, maybe he changed his mind, maybe I am more worthy than anyone else, but as I look up, instead of the person I was expecting I see Kai