"I'll take you out of here." Lanzo's rash paces rode toward me and snatched my hand with his. My glance went to Rein who froze in his place."Wait! Rein is here too." Lanzo turned his back to me. "Did he do something bad to you?" He asked as soon as his face met mine. Shaking my head, I confirmed that he didn't treat me badly. "I wonder if you happen to fall down here." Rein joined us."I came to save Dylanesia." Not only did he shock me but he also let Rein's eyebrows arched in surprise. How could he learn that I was here?"How do you know that..?""Your group has come back to the tent without you." He looked at me when he said that. His serious expression just asserted his concern. "Do you have any idea how to climb out of this canyon?" Standing up just a few meters away from us, Rein doubted Lanzo's ability to rescue us. "I have fastened the rope on the big tree. We can tie our waist with this role and then climb up." His eyes were attached to mine while explaining. "I'll go
"He is the victim of a wild animal." Lanzo muttered his hypothesis. "We've got to go from here. Hurry up!"Not even a second he gave us time to breathe as if indicating the danger was hunting us down. Lion was one of them, not to mention the wolves, bears and tigers that could peel our skin with their sharp fangs anytime. The long wide dark street formed a tunnel that led us to the unknown place. It created another shiver on my nape. The giant trees shadowed our running body. The fastest way to get to the shelter was to sprint over the tricky road. That was not easy let alone fatigue had absorbed my energy. "C-can we take a rest?" My trembling words paused our paces. "No, we can't!" Jerked by Lanzo's interruption, I compelled my feet to jog under my tiresome. Amidst our run, a roar from behind shocked us in dread. I couldn't resist a desire to look back. Peering through my shoulder, a group of tigers were leaping toward us at full speed. My whole body almost diminished and deplete
"We have to go back to the academy tonight?" Brad announced as soon as our journey came to its end. The glow of the bonfire that highlighted the whole area near it including the tents verified that we had been safely back to the camp. There was no doubt in that dashing man's say. It accentuated his conviction of the threat that might prowl us. However, abandoning the other intelligentsia at risk wasn't a wise decision, either. "What about the others? I heard some intelligentsia are still missing. They might get lost." Words of revolt slipped out of my lips. "Or eaten by the beast," Rein's interruption freaked me out. "I hope none of you question my decision." Brad intruded. Silence gagged our mouth. I glanced at Lanzo hoping his initiatives of telling Brad about the crops we discovered in the forest. That boy chose to lock his mouth. That annoyed me. I decided to do it myself. However, the skepticism stopped me. Brad wouldn't believe what I said even if I told him the truth.
I wished it were a dream or a statue on the stretcher. And Yura tapped my shoulder from behind, smiling and greeting me enthusiastically. It was real; the reality petrified me. I lost the vigor inside me; my knees tumbled and crashed to the floor. It wasn't the physical pain that hurt me but my anguish that ravaged my power. My surroundings turned black.A girl's face hovered over me when I was half-conscious. Blinded by the light, my eyes flickered. Yura…. My eyes balled out. I almost jumped out of the bed to hug the girl on my bedside before I learned that it was Marin, not Yura, who wiped the tears in her cheeks."Marin… where is Yura?" I sat up on the bed. My body bent to her with my hands clutched in her shoulders, waiting for her answer. My inquiry only added more dumps into her eyes."She is gone.""No…." My palm covered my mouth, then ran down to my ribs to console my heartache. My chest overwhelmed; I couldn't breathe. "S-she c-couldn't l-leave me like this." My stuttering
Lanzo's words played in my head over and over even until I stepped my feet in the dormitory. His promise to protect me implied that something bad might be lurking at me. What kind of threat would endanger me? And why? The deeper I delved into this stuff, the more confused and anxious I became. The chip on my nape and the bloody tragedy in this academy just confirmed my prejudice that this institution might have a secret mission. The thought of this academy might be a part of human trafficking shuddered me. I immediately shooed that speculation away.Resuming my pace to the next floor, I passed by the receptionist in a dark blouse. A young woman with long raven hair was in charge today. Brad might be taking his leave. Her sincere smile welcomed me in the lobby. My focus drew to the bucket of chrysanthemum in her hand. "Ms.Dawson…. Someone sent this to you." That beautiful white flower moved to my hold in a second even though I hesitantly received it. Normally, I didn't accept anythin
The rooftop had detained me for a while. Escaping in this place was my endeavor to stay away from Rein who acted weirdly recently. Actually, there was nothing wrong with what he did yet being around me would risk his life. To anticipate the obnoxious thing that might happen to him because of me, it would be better if I set my boundaries. His depressing face emerged like real before me. The disappointment smeared his faint contenance when I handed the chocolate back to him. Getting my rejection hurt him. That rolled my stomach with displeasure, too. "I do apologize but I can't have it." I tried to swallow the bitterness in my sentence. "If you don't like it, just throw it away." The smile on his lips withered and changed into a cold expression. He turned his back on me, then strode away. His response knifed my heart, not because his sarcastic words created the pain but my guilt stabbed me. The chocolate still lingered in my palm until I initiated to give it to the girl who passe
"Rein…. What are you doing in the women's locker room?" Instead of his defense, I faced his impish smile. He set his body free from the pillar he put his back on upon hearing the grumbles of two girls who happened to be walking by his side. His fingers scratched his scap. "Speaking of which…. Do you have the book we discussed yesterday?" My eyebrows raised, querying what he meant. "I am coming for the book." I got where his conversation led to . He feigned to act out having an appointment with me under those girls' scrutiny who now spied on him. Male intelligentsia were forbidden to access this room. And for those breaching the rule would bear the consequence of physical chastisement. "Could you please wait outside!" He obediently did my instruction. Luckily those girls no longer dwelled in their place; they got busy with their activity afterward. I hastily strutted out of the building. Rein reclined by the pillar with his hands folded over his chest. "Dear friend…" his yell i
My eagerness to uncover the photographer of the mysterious photo which had now been perpetuated on my lens churned in my head. The only Dawson I'd ever heard of was my own father. Could it be him? But, who was the young woman in the picture? Was she her classmate or just a random girl from his past? Why did it feel like this woman was so familiar? The more I sank into it, the more frustrating all of this could be. My fingers unconsciously shuffled my hair in perplexity. To relax, I laid my weary body on the bed. I wasn't physically tired but mentally exhausted. I wished I could skip the hardest part of my life in this Academy or the graduation day would come tomorrow. Sleepiness didn't knock me down no matter how many times my mouth had gaped in yawn. Bunches of things still controlled my mind and forced my eyes to keep me awake. Unable to sleep, I yanked the camera and turned it on. The picture of a young woman lingered on it. Her uninterpreted smile taunted whoever dove
It was winter. The white snow rolled down from the sky. Like a kid, I caught it with my hands, the habit I used to do with my mother when I was a little girl. Ten years passed upon graduation day. I will be 28 years old this year. And for the last ten years, not even once, I was able to forget his face, Lanzo. If he were alive, he would be 33. I rose at my feet while wiping the tears on my cheeks.The snow fell on my head and scarf. Despite freezing me, I didn't intend to shift from my spot. It was only through its cold temperature, I could stir my yearning for Lanzo away. I faced up the sky with my eyes closed. Giggles that came from a child drew my chin to my chest. He just threw a ball at me. That round object glid near my feet. He innocently pointed to the ball. Smiling at him, I bent, picked the ball and tossed it to him. He happily snatched it. "Thank you," he said in a cute tone. I just responded with a slight nod and a small smile. That kid joined his parents and played
The same bed welded my body. The ceiling above scrutinized me in a pity. However this time, Sue didn't puncture my skin with that injection of the substance which I had no knowledge of. To make sure I was unable to go anywhere, she buckled me on the bed with the knots roping my wrists and ankles. Undergoing this moment, I willed to turn back the time to my childhood period where I only lived a happy life with my mother. Her beautiful voice when singing a song for me resounded in my ears like it was real. It was merely my imagination on the verge of my yearning and loneliness. My mother would never appear before me. Locking my sights, I surrendered to whatever fate was destined for me even though the hope of being able to survive still thrived."Anthony is surely the one I can rely on. I am proud of him because of his dedication and loyalty to the academy." Sue talked to herself; from the level of her voice, she was near me. But, I didn't hear the sound of her shoes knocking the ti
"She just passed out," Brad whispered. "She will regain consciousness in an hour. Lanzo will take you out of here." There was a gleam of happiness in my eyes if only Brad could read that. "You didn't even react. Wait! I will inject the antidote serum so that your senses will work normally." He needled the syringe onto my arm. Unlike the pink poison, the antidote was clear liquid. "Done." It was like he just stung my skin with something hot that burned the whole me. Gratefully, it only lasted five minutes. The rest, chill bathed over me. "Unfortunately, it took one hour for you to be fully conscious. I'll ask someone to carry you away from this place." I couldn't even blink my eyes yet. But, at least I could breathe in relief.Two men in hoodies hesitated duckling inside. Ensuring that the area was clear, they took off their hoodie. I glanced at them in surprise; Lanzo and the head of the academy were the ones who managed to slip inside the room. "Lanzo, carry her." An instruction
Sue"So, they're married." Reading the article, the tips of my lips stretched a grudge smirk. "She is mine and will be forever mine. No one deserved to possess him but me." My right hand wringed the newspaper in my palm to crumple. That girl, Maurie, successfully planted the seed of hate in my heart. After one year, it grew a tree of resentment. Maurie had ignited the fire of war. She would never be able to predict what I could do to maintain mine. If I could not be with Shane, then no one would be on his side.Yanking the telephone receiver, I dialed someone's number. One sentence from my mouth was enough to annihilate a person. "It's the time." I elegantly plopped on my seat upon putting the receiver back to its place. "You can now enjoy the show, Maurie. Your turn will come soon."***I was watching TV when Mike arrived with the news I'd been looking forward to. Shane died in a terrible accident last night. On TV, the news anchor broadcasted the incident that occurred to the youn
SueHis face danced in my head. Shane made my days. His presence had brought another level of happiness to my life since our first meeting. I could not deny that I smiled more often these days. Mike finally noticed the change in me. That made him wonder what I'd been through that I acted differently. I thought of sharing with him about how I felt. However, considering that my father would find out, I decided to keep it for myself. As a stringent person who wanted me to dedicate my life to education only, he wouldn't agree that I had affairs with any men in the academy during my study even if it was just a friend. It was only Mike, the one he supported, to have a relationship with me as a companion. "You don't have any class today?" I was startled with Mike's abrupt coming. "Do you have free time?" The last few days, I was so busy with my study and photography class that I had no time for my friend."I have one more class but I am free now.""What about having lunch together?" Hone
SueThe door intimidated me through its silent stare. I was supposed to be in my class ten minutes ago but the trouble on the way to school impeded me from coming on time. The professor must have been inside, giving the lecture. I could sense the quietness in the room; no one had intrepidity to make a noise in his class. Lateness was the worst of all mistakes. I dropped my gaze to the floor in front of the door, hesitating whether to stay or leave. Compelling to bark into the classroom meant that I had to take the risk of being punished and scolded; the professor wouldn't easily let me free of the punishment. On the other hand, my father would label me as a loser if I missed this class. He was so strict that I couldn't even breathe under his surveillance. Doing anything as he required was compulsory. That weighed me down like putting piles of stones on my shoulders. However, as his daughter, obeying him was a must. There was no time for me to complain as the time was running. I had t
That psycho woman's sneer clouded her striking red lips which mumbled her name in a cold tone. "My name is Sue." It was as though even her name could summon the evil to confine me in the darkness. Completing her introduction, she didn't take her eyes off me. Her glare bewitched me. The horror reflected from her pupils shot me with a shiver that coursed through my spine. That lasted for a few minutes before she fished something out of her robe's pocket, a needle with pink liquid inside it. I could imagine the syringe flanked between her fingers needled my whole being, impeded the oxygen from my lungs, and left me lifeless. Even imagining it, I felt like throwing up with a severe headache. The effect of the substance she previously injected even still immersed my body into numbness. What prevailed was only my despair. Death flashed in front of me, hunting me like a shadow. The rhythm of my heart beat irregularly as a response to the hazard I might encounter in a second as now Sue
The megaphone no longer bombarded me with that woman's huge voice; I removed my palms from my ears and subconsciously flopped on the freezing floor. Who brought and detained me here actually? Who was that woman and what was her intention? If it was the head of the academy's idea to trap me in this remote place, why could he do this to me? Imagining how cruel he was, kidnapping and imprisoning me in this remote place churned my abdomen with terror and loathe at the same time. No matter what, I wouldn't let this situation suck all my hope; there had to be a door to flee as there was a way to take me into this room. Having this thought, my motivation to look for a clue of getting out of this room boosted. With my right hand propping my shivering body, I kneeled to stand on my feet. I did it in my third attempt. Feeling mentally exhausted, I wobbled close to the wall so that my hand could grope on it to help me keep stable. I carefully followed my feet ' lead with my palms sticking on
"Is it you, Mom?" With my palm on my mouth, I walked toward that woman whose body kept moving forward. "Mom…" I called her again but no response I heard from her. Nevertheless, her smile hadn't gone even until our distance was only one meter away."I am not your mother, darling." Her smirk frightened me even though she did nothing which could harm me. "You must be yearning to meet your mother so much that you hallucinated.""No, your face….""My face? Sometimes, someone's face can outwit people, darling. I may look like your mother. But, I am not her." I stuck where I was in silence, enchanted by her words. Then, her hand gradually groped jer face, peeling something from it. She wore a mask. In less than a minute, that mask unsealed and revealed her real face. A woman with purple orbs popped up. I moved backward. "Who are you?" "Does it matter for you to know who I am?" Her eyes dilated while her head leaned toward me. It was as if her mouth wanted to gulp me whole alive. This woma