Chapter 3

Elara

After a couple of hours, I heard a voice calling me.

“Miss... Miss... we’ve reached your destination.”

I stirred from my nap more like being completely knocked out. My whole body screamed in pain, but I couldn’t care less right now. I nodded weakly and paid him. Fortunately, I still had my phone with me; otherwise, I didn’t know what I would’ve done.

I know I should report Brayan and Aalya, but I can’t do that. They may have forgotten me, or perhaps they never thought of me as a person, but I did care about them. Even after everything, I couldn’t bring myself to hurt them.

I walked toward my parents’ house, the place I had called home since childhood. This house had witnessed countless footsteps and held so many cherished memories of my life.

The moment I saw the front yard gate, I felt like everything would somehow be okay. The air was crisp and chilly, and a storm loomed on the horizon. Low rumbles of thunder echoed now and then.

The forest behind our home had never frightened me, unlike people. I always felt comforted in nature’s presence. I usually went to my special place deep in the woods, where there was a little pond beneath a giant willow tree. Most days after school, I would go there alone to play or finish my homework.

I was sure my left eye now carried a dark bruise from Brayan’s kick. My legs were numb from too much run. I walked toward the red door, the one I had painted with my father years ago and was about to knock when I noticed it was already open.

My stomach twisted with fear.

What if they had followed me here?

What if they had hurt my parents?

My bare feet allowed me to move in near silence as I stepped inside. I walked cautiously toward the only source of light, which came from the dining room.

When I reached it, I saw my parents sitting there. They looked fine, though both appeared tense. I sighed in relief and was about to call out to my mom when her words stopped me cold.

“We should have left her in the forest,” she said bitterly. “I told you she looked dangerous.”

Dangerous? What was she talking about? Me? And left me in the forest?

Why?

My racing thoughts came to a halt when my father replied, “Dear, what are you saying? She was just a baby... lying alone on that cold rock. How could I leave her there?”

My mother scoffed. “Yes, a baby covered in blood. And don’t tell me it was birth blood. I may never have had a child myself, but I know no newborn arrives drenched in that much blood.”

He sighed heavily after her words.

So that was it. They weren’t my real parents. And my mother hated me. I had no more tears left to shed tonight.

How has my entire life turned upside down in a single night? First my job.

Then the two people I thought would stay by my side until the end. And now my parents who were never truly mine.

I quietly backed away and walked toward the back door through the dark hallway. Once outside, I began walking toward the forest, toward my special place.

After I had gone deep enough that only thick branches surrounded me and the trail disappeared behind me, I felt a light drizzle begin to fall. I guess even the sky was crying for me.

When I reached the clearing, I could feel the heavy rain pouring down. I could barely see what stood in front of me. The rain fell in thick, merciless sheets. I just wanted all this pain to disappear. To feel peace.

My bare feet began to grow numb. I reached the pond, which had now overflowed with water. The small wooden bridge was gone. I guessed it had been swallowed beneath the rising flood.

I walked toward the giant willow tree, which looked almost sinister tonight.

But I didn’t feel afraid. I didn’t feel anything anymore. I guess after realizing my entire life was built on lies, I no longer knew what I was supposed to feel.

Then suddenly lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a deafening crack of thunder. And for one brief second, I saw a tall silhouette standing beneath the tree. It looked as though he had been waiting for me.

I didn’t know who he was and despite everything, I didn’t want to die tonight, not after learning the truth about myself and my life so I turned and ran. I didn’t look back for even a second to check if the dark figure was following me.

I just ran.

And ran.

And ran.

Until my lungs burned and my legs grew weak. Suddenly, a root caught my foot, and I tripped. I was literally launched through the air toward a steep slope. I knew this was how my life would end.

My entire life flashed before my eyes.

I shut my eyes and waited for the crushing impact. For all this pain to finally end.

But instead I hit the water with a violent splash. I sank deep beneath the surface, and the icy water felt like a thousand needles piercing my skin all at once.

I kicked my legs desperately, forcing myself upward until I broke through the surface. I gasped for air. The pounding rain and fierce current made everything worse.

Without my glasses, my poor eyesight turned the world into a blur. I tried to swim toward the shore, but I couldn’t even see where it was and the current dragged me forward.

I managed not to drown, but I couldn’t fight the wild water either.

After a few minutes, I heard the terrifying sound of water crashing from a great height. Panic surged through me. A waterfall. Was I about to fall?

Just as I feared, the current dragged me over. As I began to plummet, I screamed at the top of my lungs. It was a long fall. I could feel the pressure around me and my heart pounding so violently it felt ready to stop. If I hit rocks below, I would die instantly.

My thoughts shattered when I crashed into water again with another massive splash. This time, the water wasn’t as deep, I could stand.

The rain had stopped and unlike before, the water here was calm. Still and silent. I stumbled toward the shore, my vision far too blurred to make out much.

I had been running all night from one place to another. My whole body trembled from the cold. Then I spotted a large rock. Slowly, I climbed onto it and collapsed. Somehow, the rock felt warm. I instinctively snuggled into it.

For the first time all night, my mind wasn’t drowning in chaos. I inhaled deeply. The scent of nature filled my lungs with herbs, leaves, flowers, wild earth, and something unfamiliar. The gentle sound of water nearby made everything feel peaceful. This was all I had longed for tonight and somehow, I found it here with a rock. Peace.

But nothing ever stays still. Breaking through my fragile calm, I heard a voice.

“You are here.”

My eyes snapped open. Who was he?

Had he followed me all this way? What did he want? Every thought was shattered when he spoke again.

“Come on. Everyone is waiting.”

Everyone? Who? Why? Before I could think any further, his voice turned firm.

“Hurry.”

I didn’t have the strength to anger another soul tonight so I slowly stood to my feet and climbed down from the rock. Without another word, he, turned and walked ahead. I guessed I was meant to follow so I did. I didn’t know who he was, I didn’t know where he was taking me and I didn’t know what he intended to do.

But none of it mattered anymore. Everything ends someday. Maybe my time had finally come.