"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!" Skyler jolted awake.
Her heart was pounding so violently it felt like it might burst through her chest, and for a moment, she couldn't even breathe. The terror from the black figure still had its icy grip on her. She sat there, staring dumbfounded at the ceiling of her room, trying to make sense of where she was.
"Haa… Haa.. Haa…" Skyler gasped for air.
She finally managed to breath, but it was shaky, unsteady. Her pulse raced in her eardrums, a frantic rhythm that matched the fear still coursing through her veins. The sharp sting on her shoulders brought her back to herself, her breath catching while she realized the disgrace she had done.
"Holy Son of Nature, I did it again…" Skyler thought, quivering her lips.
Her nails had dug into her skin, leaving angry red marks that throbbed with each pulse of her heartbeat. She hadn't even noticed until the pain broke through the haze of her thoughts, leaving her to feel the burning of her wounds.
"Where is it? Where did he put it?" As she struggled with her thoughts, Skyler hastily searched the drawer of her desk, her hands trembling.
She finally took out a vial containing a bluish liquid.
"Just what I was looking for, thank goodness it was there." Skyler removed the cap from the vial, stuck the index finger of her right hand inside the vial, and applied the bluish liquid to the wounds on both of her shoulders.
A sense of relief grew inside her, easing the tension in her muscles.
"It seems like it was just a dream…" Reorganizing her thoughts, Skyler frowned as she looked at the window. "That little girl… who was she? Why did I dream about her?…"
Her mind was clouded by thoughts, slowly recalling what she had dreamed. Although she'd periodic nightmares ever since she moved to Prestwich City from Blackley, it was the first time she'd a dream in which she was shrouded in thick fog.
To her, the reddish-haired girl felt like she was some sort of a child she must protect at all costs. The sin that the middle-aged woman had committed was outrageous, and she felt that she couldn't forgive her at all.
Her mind then quickly drifted to the black figure. That meeting was also the first time for her. Her body trembled just thinking about it. What were those words it said? What sin had she committed? Why did she dream of that figure?
What if this had something to do with what happened to her mother during her birth?
"Maybe I wasn't meant to be born after all…" Skyler thought, feeling a strong lump throbbing in her throat. "I understand now… like Selena said. I'm just a miserable sinner who… led my parents' death."
The words of that figure echoed in her mind, sending a long shiver throughout her body. She felt the figure's cold hand touching her face, akin to ice. It was as though it had deliberately entered her dream just to remind her of her sin.
"May the Son of Nature bless me." Skyler drew the leaf emblem, her eyes shining as she half-turned. "Benson will definitely be waiting for me in the living room for training."
Shaking her head to forget anything related to the dream, she struggled from her chair, and opening the closet, she rummaged inside until she found the boxing gloves.
While the image of the black figure was still clinging in her skull, Skyler saw the black-haired, brown-skinned man sitting in the corner of her room hugging his knees as usual. Albeit the man's facial expression wasn't much different from the previous evening, she felt that his gaze was sharper than usual.
Skyler bowed her head, "Thank you, for making the healing potion again."
The man just stared at her, narrowing his sharp gray eyes. A pang hit her while she looked at him wistfully. After thanking the man, Skyler walked out of her room, closing the door behind her. Going down the stairs, she reached the living room, seeing Benson moving the single sofa to the corner of the living room.
She put her boxing gloves on the floor and helped her uncle move furniture to the corners of the room.
Once they were done moving the furniture, Benson wiped the sweat from his forehead with the towel and closed the red curtains. "Are you ready for today's session, Skyler?"
"Yea, hoping you go easy on me today." Skyler chuckled.
"It's what you'd like, but I don't know if I'll satisfy you." Benson advocated whilst putting on his boxing gloves.
Once she gets her gloves on, Skyler strikes—a jab aiming at Benson's face.
Benson reacted instinctively, snapping his head to the side as the punch whistled past his ear. He countered with a quick hook to her ribs.
Skyler instinctively took a step back, narrowly avoiding Benson's hook as she felt a bead of sweat roll down her back "If I had dodged it a second later, things would have been bad for me."
"Come on Skyler! I know you can do more!" Benson shouted.
Hearing her uncle's shouts of encouragement, Skyler surged forward, launching a barrage of punches that forced Benson to retreat, blocking and weaving Skyler's fists.
"Is that all your grit? I know you can give so much more!" Benson looked at Skyler.
Skyler's knuckles throbbed with every punch, while she felt her heart and lungs burning, but she didn't slow down. Her forehead was covered in sweat, her vision narrowed to a tunnel, blocking out everything but Benson.
"His chin is exposed, this is my chance!" Skyler was driving a powerful uppercut into Benson's chin, and then.
"Daughter of the devil!" She heard the same childish female voice that was in her dream.
Skyler felt the same cold tendrils of panic curling around her mind, squeezing tighter while her body froze just like in her dream.
Benson took a step back, got into guard position, "Sorry Skyler, but I don't think I'll go easy on this."
"Huh?" Skyler felt a pain that exploded in her gut, sharp and radiating outward like wildfire.
Her knees buckled, her butt hit the ground, she wrapped her arms around her gut and gasped for breath that wouldn't come. At that moment, she realized that she'd been punched in the stomach.
"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts."
Benson took off his boxing gloves and walked to the kitchen without a word.
Skyler lay there, overwhelmed by the echoes of her nightmare. Her mind wandered in a blizzard and her body fought hard to resist the excruciating pain.
"Why does every single thing always have to go wrong for me?..."
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Skyler was lying on the double sofa.
Her body burned from the intense session, pain twisted her stomach.
Benson arrived in the living room with a glass in his hand. He sat down on the double sofa where Skyler was lying, and said, "I brought you a remedy for your problems."
"Didn't they teach you to go easy on amateurs?"
"Skyler, in training I might take it easy, but in life, however, you have to prepare for everything, even in the worst scenarios."
With her hand holding her stomach, Skyler sat next to Benson, took the glass from his hand with the other hand. Her smile faded as his words sunk in. She took a sip of the water and stared at the ceiling, mind heavy with thoughts.
"Tell me," Benson said, his voice was softer, "Why did you stop when you were about to throw that uppercut? Did you happen to have one of your usual nightmares?"
"He knows…What do I say? Should I tell him the truth?" Skyler felt the weight of his gaze oppressing her whilst her mind was in turmoil with excuses.
Benson sighed, "You won't be able to deceive a person who raised you for 10 years. I heard you screaming before. Is everything alright?"
Skyler's chest tightened. She had been so sure she'd hide it. But now, sitting next to Benson, she realized how futile that was.
"Forget it, uncle, I'm not suited to live a normal life anyway." She muttered, more to herself than to him.
Benson sighed deeply, his blue eyes reflecting a mix of concern and determination. "The problem isn't you, but your way of acting in general. You interact with people, but you avoid them knowing you for fear of rejection. You let the past influence your present, and by doing so, you'll never be able to stay at peace with yourself." Then, he stood up from the double sofa and turned to Skyler. "Let's use this example. You're able to throw a fist at your opponent, however, you're also able to stop the punch before it lands."
Skyler remained silent. She couldn't find anything to say to him. There was no reason she could have. But she kept her gaze fixed.
"Relating to others works the same way, Skyler." Benson looked directly into her eyes. "You have to interact with people, hurt them, get hurt by them, learn about people, and learn about yourself too." He paused, kneeling down beside Skyler whilst placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You'll never be able to understand others if you don't understand yourself first. You must keep fighting, without running away, and who knows, maybe one day, you might even find a person who loves you for who you really are."
"Such a thing could never happen!" Skyler exclaimed, her voice tinged with bitterness.
How could she live a normal life? How could anyone love a woman like her? It didn't make any sense. She didn't deserve all of this. She had to live with mere loneliness.
Seeing Skyler's expression, Benson closed his eyes for a moment, then placed his hand on Skyler's head, his touch gentle and reassuring. "Just as something like this could happen… the future is uncertain, and offers endless opportunities," He stood up, giving Skyler one last reassuring look. "I'm going to work. Look after the house while in the meantime, and think about what I just told you."
Skyler didn't answer. She didn't make a single sound. She wanted to believe him, but doubts tormented her relentlessly.
"Take care, Skyler." Benson smiled gently and softly placed a hand on her shoulder for a brief moment.
After that, as he was heading to the main door, Skyler ran up the stairs like she had something urgent to do upstairs. Her mind was reeling with thoughts and emotions whilst pressing her lips together.
Arriving in her room, she sat down on the messy bed, hugging her knees tightly.
Skyler's mind drifted to Benson's speech.
"You'll never be at peace with yourself."
The statement echoed in her head like a symphony, intertwining with painful memories of her nightmare.
"Her mother took her own life after she was born."
The thought was a constant shadow, always lurking in the corners of her mind. Skyler clenched her fists, trying to push the memories away, but they surged forward, relentless.
"I know very well!" She screamed with all her might, her voice trembling with melancholy and resignation. "But… it's difficult…"
Why can't she just move on? Why does the past have such a hold on her?
She wanted to be strong, to prove Benson wrong, but the weight of her past was a heavy burden.
"Staying at home thinking about it will only make me feel bad," Skyler muttered to herself, looking for any solution to escape from these thoughts that plagued her. "It's better if I go somewhere else, just to clear my mind."
She stood up from the bed and smiled at the man next to her. Then, she opened the closet and took off her pajamas, taking care to cover the window curtains as she put on the long bluish dress she had worn the previous day.
Skyler took the pocket watch that was on her desk, and with a deep breath, she left the house, locking the door behind her with a thud.
Tap! Tap! Tap! Taking a few steps, she approached a public carriage parked next to the road intersection.
"Good morning, ma'am." The carriage driver greeted politely.
The ticketing officer beside him had his hand to his mouth while yawning.
"To Crescent Moon Library, please." Skyler scooped out four pennies from her bag.
"Two pence," The ticketing officer replied without any hesitation.
After paying for the ride, Skyler got into the carriage to Center Borough and found it empty. It exuded a clear loneliness.
Looking out of the carriage window, the bustling streets of North Borough bathed in the light entered her field of vision. The roads were busy with people, their footsteps echoing against the cobblestone as the sun's rays illuminated her.
As the gas lamps lined up, Skyler watched people pass back and forth, the various street markets and hawkers around the district as the sweet, mixed aroma of food entered her nostrils.
"Come and taste our smoked fish!"
"Vegetables, fresh vegetables. Buy our vegetables for only five pence!"
"Taste our low cost mushroom and vegetable soup!"
The mobile hawkers who sold vegetables, fruits, and hot food shouted along the streets as they beckoned the rushing pedestrians. Some of them would stop and carefully compare before purchasing. Others would impatiently wave their hands as they had yet to find work for the day.
"Maybe the library will have more information about the murders," A thought swirled in Skyler's mind.
Serial murders were the only thing that could distract her from negativity.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Center Borough, Storm Street.
Skyler got out of the public carriage and walked down the street. She entered the Crescent Moon Library, the heavy wooden door creaking as it closed behind her. Shortly after, she came across an elderly woman with ginger hair and a pair of glasses at the front desk.
The woman looked up from the book she was reading, her eyes warm and welcoming.
Skyler coughed twice, the sound echoing throughout the entrance, and took a few hesitant steps forward.
"Sorry to bother you, but where's the crime reporting section?" She asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
"You aren't bothering me at all," The older woman replied with a kind smile. "Take the stairs behind me, go to the second floor, and there you will find the area dedicated to crime news."
Skyler nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. Glancing around the library, she took the rows of bookshelves before heading at the stairs.
Upon reaching the second floor, she saw shelves, many shelves filled with newspapers and articles. The faint smell of aged paper and ink filled the air, mingling with the quiet rustle of pages being turned.
She walked to the section where 'this month's articles' are displayed and took a couple of newspapers from the shelf. Checking nervously her surroundings, she found a free table a few steps from her. Despite the uneasiness, she took a few steps forward, pulled out the chair, and sat down, placing the newspapers on the table.
Whilst unfolding the first newspaper, her eyes were drawn to the bold headline on the front page: "Woman Murdered in Ravenport Alley." A chill ran down her spine, and she felt a knot form in her stomach.
Taking a deep breath in an attempt to steady herself, Skyler began to read the article.
"Ona Miller, 24 years old, she worked as a waitress in a restaurant. She was found dead in a narrow alley behind the DanceEarth bar in Ravenport. Her body lay on the ground, dressed completely in white, and her throat and stomach savagely slashed. Part of her intestines protruded from the gaping wound in her abdomen. The police are currently on the case, working to uncover the identity of the serial killer responsible for this and other recent murders. The gruesome nature of the crime has left the community in shock and fear."
Skyler read the newspaper in disbelief. Her stomach churned as she read the gruesome details.
"Let's see, this newspaper was written on May 2, which is last week." Her fingers trembled slightly while she opened the other article dedicated to the murder in Blackley.
"Vernie Heriot, 22 years old, she worked as a street clairvoyant. She was found dead in an alley on Ebon Street in Blackley. The young woman, dressed completely in white, lay in a pool of blood, her throat and stomach brutally slashed. Her intestines protruded from her abdomen, a horrifying testament to the violence she endured. The scene was eerily silent, save for the distant hum of the city. The alley, usually a forgotten corner of Blackley, had become a grim spectacle. The police have yet to release further details, but the community is on edge."
"This is creepy," Skyler muttered to herself disgusted by what she read. "The situation is more serious than expected… the murder in Blackley happened on April 2nd, while the one in Ravenport happened last week. The killer is again maintaining consistency with one murder per month, just like last year. What is its purpose?"
She thought back to December 1438, remembering the six brutal murders that the killer committed in Aetheria Kingdom, along with six other murders at Talem Empire in 1437, and Creria Empire in 1436.
For three long years, the killer caused havoc in the Northern Continent, leaving no trace behind. Skyler was in dread, the bitter truth hit her like a punch in the gut: First Creria, Talem, then Aetheria, and now Steatha. The path was clear, and the realization pierced her profoundly.
She was wrapped up in thoughts. Doing the calculations in her mind, and the fact that the killer committed six murders every year within the span of three years, and considering the murders that had occurred this year in the Republic of Steatha, she realized that the killer had committed twenty murders in total.
While deep in thought in disgust, she took the pocket watch that was on the table and checked the time.
"Blimey, it's already after eight? Seriously speaking, is it already evening? Well, I need to get home before Benson gets back from work," Skyler sensed a feeling of urgency.
Whilst she stood up from the chair, she carefully put the newspapers back on the corresponding shelf. Just as she went down to the ground floor, the soft glow of gas lamps provided a brief comfort. Skyler left the Crescent Moon Library, closing the door behind her.
Glimpsing a public carriage on the edge on the foggy road, she gave the ticketing officer two pence and got into the carriage heading to North Borough, her mind still buzzing with the unanswered questions. She peered out the window of the carriage and saw the half crimson moon in its brilliance, casting an eerie glow over the streets and buildings.
When the carriage approached the Ancient Path Bridge leading to North Borough, Skyler's eyes caught sight of a young, brown-haired woman dressed all in white who was very familiar to her. The woman moved slowly, almost mechanically, her dead eyes staring up at the moon with her arms hanging limply at her sides.
"But… that's Ruby... why is she walking like that? More than anything, it seems like an empty shell," Skyler worriedly watched her walking down the street. "Hey Ruby, it's me, Skyler, it's everything alright?"
Leaning on the window, she desperately called out for Ruby, trying to catch her attention, but it was all in vain, because the girl didn't even give her a glance. It was as if Ruby had been hypnotized by the moon and subjected to its commands.
Skyler couldn't tear her gaze away from Ruby while the carriage rolled past. Ruby's lifeless eyes seemed to follow her on her way to an uncertain destination, and a sense of unease grew within Skyler.
Whilst the carriage passed the Ancient Path Bridge and Ruby's image gradually dissipated into the fog, Skyler could do nothing but watch the fading image of her.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
North Borough, 15 Angel Lane Street.
Skyler woke up sitting in the chair in her bedroom, she hastily checked her shoulders and saw that there were no scratches.
"Good thing I didn't fall back into my habit," Skyler murmured, breathing a sigh of relief.
The memory of the black figure still lingered, but at least she hadn't hurt herself this time.
She got up from the chair and went down the stairs that creaked with every step she took. Skyler headed for the kitchen, seeing Benson sitting at the table who was reading the newspaper. But something caught Skyler off guard. As Benson kept reading, his expression became serious, and his fingers trembled with every page he turned. It was like he was shocked by something.
Skyler widened her eyes. "Good morning, Benson. Is something wrong?"
Benson looked at her, his eyes filled with sorrow, "Well, sadly, an unfortunate thing has happened, my dear."
"Unfortunate thing? What happened?" Skyler's heart skipped a beat.
Benson eyed her, voice full of concern. "A young lady was found dead under the Ancient Path Bridge last night."