Rayla's POV
After the program at school, I went straight home. I didn't enjoy it anyway because I couldn't get what I saw out of my mind. Why does he always show up in front of me? Is it just me, or is he really after me?
I mean, if he's not really after me, it wouldn't be normal for him to keep hiding behind trees like an assassin, right? But if it really is me he's after, then why??
I don't want this feeling.I'm anxious, like something bad is about to happen.
I'm here in my bed right now, still thinking about who that person is or whatever they might be.I just closed my eyes out of frustration, and the next thing I knew...
I was walking through a dark and overgrown forest, with no clear idea of where I was or where I was headed. As I pushed aside a plant, a ferocious animal suddenly appeared in front of me. I stumbled back, while it slowly crept closer, its glowing red eyes glaring at me.
Without any warning, I ran as soon as I felt it pounce. I sprinted aimlessly, with no destination in mind. I cursed under my breath when I stepped on something unfamiliar and tripped.
I winced from the pain of my fall and immediately searched for what had caused me to stumble.
A dagger...
I looked at the wild beast, ready to make me its dinner. Its eyes burned with even more fury, and its nostrils flared in anger — probably because its prey had dared to run. It planted its feet firmly on the ground and charged at me with incredible speed.
I knew this was it. This was the end for me. I wouldn't even get the chance to figure out how I ended up here.
The moment I saw it nearing, I just closed my eyes and braced myself for the end.
"Raylaaaa!!"
I heard a voice that was so familiar to my ears. I opened my eyes and saw him — running towards me.
I wanted to close the distance between us, to run to him, but before I could, something suddenly grabbed him and dragged him into the darkness. It pulled him so far that I could no longer see him.
"Noooooooooooo!"
"Bring him back! Where is he?"
But the wild beast was still there, its eyes locked on me, ready to attack.
Why? Why is this happening?Why am I even here?
"Raylaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
With that scream, with him calling my name once again —
I woke up!
Yes, I woke up!
A dream. It was just a dream.
Again.
I woke up drenched in sweat, even though my room was air-conditioned. My throat felt dry.
I don't want to sleep anymore!
What does all of this mean?Why is this happening?
'Why??'
I must have fallen asleep without realizing it earlier because I was so exhausted.
"Rayla??"
Someone was calling my name. I opened the front door, and there they were — Jane and her mom. I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. If maybe...
'Ugh, come on, Rayla!'
"H-hi Jane! Hi, auntie! Please, come in!"
"What happened to you? Do you have a fever? You look so pale!"
"Huh?"
'Pale? Is that even possible for someone like me?'
"Ahh, um... maybe I'm just hungry. I haven't had dinner yet!"
That's what I said to cover up what really happened.
"That's perfect then! Jane and I brought food. Come on, let's eat!"
"Ahmm, Bess, is it okay if Mom and I crash at your place for a bit?"
"Of course! I don't mind. Come on in."
I let the two of them set the table since I had lost my appetite after that nightmare. I didn't know what the dream meant, but deep inside, I knew it wasn't a good sign — not for me, and not for the people around me.
Fear crept in, something I had never felt before. But why now?
"Ahmm, Rayla, can I ask you a favor?"
"What?"
I replied without even glancing at her.
"Mom and I are leaving for two weeks. I'll be staying at Uncle Rod's place since Mom wants to spend more time with me. So, I was wondering if you could look after my house for a while — just check on it occasionally in case of break-ins. I'll leave you the keys so you'll have access in case you need anything. Would that be okay with you?"
"Ahh, okay, I don't mind at all. Besides, this is your chance to spend time with your mom, so go ahead."
Since Jane's dad passed away, her mom remarried. Jane accepted her mom's new family without any resentment. She's lucky. At least she still has a family.
Our dinner went well, filled with laughter and stories. But when Jane and her mom finally returned to their apartment, I was left alone with a crushing emptiness. I wished they had stayed longer.
It's already 12:00 AM, and I'm still wide awake.
I don't want to sleep.I don't want to dream.
'Rayla.'
I felt the coldness creeping through my own room as I heard that whisper again.
I closed my eyes, trying to focus, trying not to think about anything. For Pete's sake, it's 12:00 AM.
'RAYLA.'
I tried harder to block it out, but —
'RAYLAAAA."
Over and over, louder and louder. Was it another nightmare? No. I wasn't sleeping. I could hear it. It was real.
'RAYLAAAAAAA!'
"WHAAAAAATTTTTT?!What do you want? Why are you pestering me? Who are you?"
I yelled, my voice shaking with frustration. I didn't know. I didn't know what to do anymore.
Why is this happening?
I heard my window opened but the moment i looked on to it there was nothing in there or someone. I felt my body trembling I was not ready for this. Im not ready for this.I never expected that after all this time, I'd experience this now. I thought this moment would never come.
'Rayla, remember this. No matter what happens, no matter how much your way of living has changed, the time will come when your past will come looking for you. When that day comes, I want you to be ready. If you truly wish to bring justice for their deaths, you will. You may not remember anything now, but one day, your memories will return, and you will choose to leave this place.'
'But Grandpa, what about you? If that day you're talking about really comes, what will happen to you?"
"Don't worry about me. I'm old, Rayla. My time will come sooner or later. Just remember everything I've taught you.'
"Is this it, Grandpa? Is this the day you were talking about? I'm not ready yet. I'm scared."
I couldn't sleep the entire night. When morning came, I didn't bother going to school.
I didn't want to see anyone today. I just wanted to be alone.
I still couldn't forget what happened last night, and even now, my body was trembling. I didn't know why.
It felt like everything inside me was turning upside down.
Someones POV
"Are you sure this information is accurate?"
"Yes, Elder."
"Good."
"Elder, what's our next step?"
"For now, keep an eye on her. Don't let anything happen to her. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Elder."
"Good. Now, I want you to return to that place and make sure no one sees you."
"Yes, Elder."
"This is only the beginning. The prophecy will not come to pass if we don't act. If we fail, we will be completely overrun — and the darkness will triumph over us. And we're not going to let that happen. Understand?'"
Hearing that, I immediately understood what he meant. The longer we delay, the worse things will get. We need to find her as soon as possible and bring her back to her real world.
It's not easy to pretend, just to keep an eye on her. Temptations will always be there, especially when you're not like the ordinary people around her.
Yes, we're not human. But we respect them and protect them — because this has become her world.
"Bro, what's up? Is your meeting over?"
"Yeah, it's done. Let's go. We've got a mission to complete!"
Rayla's POV
I felt a wave of hunger hit me after everything I had done. Imagine, I spent the whole day cleaning the house even though it wasn't even that dirty.
And now, here I am, eating my favorite food.
I didn't go out all day, and I ignored all of Jane's calls. Still, I made sure to check on her house every hour, just like she asked. Though I only peeked through the window — I wasn't exactly in the mood to step outside.
Until I heard a knock on my door
I wasn't expecting any visitors today. No one else knew my address besides Jane.
Curiosity started to build up in my mind, and without thinking too much, I opened the door to find out who it was.
It's Ashter!
"Hi."
He greeted me, flashing the best smile he could possibly give — one that seemed designed just for me.
"How do you know where I live?
What are you doing here?
What do you want from me?"
"Easy there, no big mystery. I got your address from Ma'am Silva, and she asked me to drop this off. That's all."
He said it with a grin, still plastering that same smile across his face. Seriously, doesn't his face get tired from smiling like that?
I took the papers he handed me. Since I was absent, this was probably what they worked on earlier. Ugh, this is why skipping school is such a hassle.
I closed the door, already flipping through the papers to check what I had missed.
"Ouch!!!"
Oh, shoot — I forgot!
"Shit, are you okay?"
He just stared at me in response to my question. I bet he's thinking how ridiculous I must sound right now.
"Yeah, it's far from my gut. Can I come in? I mean, I did you a favor, so you owe me one."
He said, holding up his pinkish finger from where it got pinched.
I sighed and opened the door wider — a clear signal for him to come inside. Without hesitation, he stepped in and made his way straight to the sofa like he owned the place.
"Have you eaten yet?"
I asked, still stealing glances at his finger. Honestly, I had no idea how to properly entertain a visitor. Jane's the only one who ever drops by, and even that doesn't feel like a typical visit since we're practically neighbors. Our houses are literally stuck together.
"Not yet. Who's this?"
He asked, his eyes fixed on the picture of a young boy.
It was him — the boy from my dream last night. I painted him. After all, I had no actual pictures of them. Not even of my parents. I painted them, too, though those were in my room, safely out of his sight.
I didn't answer him. Instead, I went to grab the first aid kit from the top drawer.
But before I could reach it, he must've figured out what I was doing because he got it for me.
"Sit down. I'll treat your finger."
He obediently followed, settling down as I prepared to tend to his wound.
"Are you alone here?"
He asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"Yeah."
"Where are your parents?"
"I don't have any. Just me, myself, and I."
"What about the girl you're always with?"
"She lives next door."
Why does this guy ask so many questions? And why am I even answering all of them?
Once I finished treating his finger, I decided to invite him to eat as a thank-you for bringing me the schoolwork I missed.
After we ate, he didn't stay long. He said he had something else to finish, so he left soon after.
After he left, everything went back to normal. I locked myself inside the house for the rest of the night, unable to get any sleep.
'Scared?'
Yes. I was terrified. I didn't want to dream again.
To distract myself, I decided to do one of my hobbies — painting. It's something I've loved doing during my entire stay here. It's how I express my feelings. Though, to be honest, it's been a while since I last touched my brushes.
While gathering my supplies, my eyes landed on a tiny bottle. It contained a dark red liquid.
I had no idea what it was or how it even got there.
Curious, I picked it up and tried to open it. The cap came off easily, like it hadn't been tightly sealed.
"Maybe it's just paint."
I didn't give it much thought and set it aside, cautious not to drop it. The bottle looked fragile — as if it would shatter with the slightest impact.
I started to paint…
Whatever I was feeling, that's what I transferred onto the canvas. Every brushstroke reflected the tangled emotions inside me.
"Drink this at the right time. Only drink it when the moment truly calls for it or when you have no other choice. This... This will save you from everything, and it will answer all your questions."
I froze; the brush suspended mid-air.
'What was that?'
Was I dreaming while awake? Or… were those fragments of memories from my past?
My gaze shifted toward the tiny bottle I had found earlier among my painting materials. There was something about it — something that pulled me in. Despite the unease creeping through me, I felt an irresistible urge to pick it up once again.
"Tawag ng laman," they say — the call of desire, an urge that defies logic.
And I gave in. I did what my instincts told me. I brought the bottle closer and took a whiff of its contents. The moment the scent hit my nose; regret washed over me.
My throat went dry. My breathing turned ragged. It felt like all the air in the room had been sucked out. My chest burned, and yet, a searing heat spread through me. Desperation clawed at my lungs. Still, I forced myself to snap the bottle shut. My hands trembled, but I managed to seal it tight. But the thirst — that unbearable thirst — consumed me. I couldn't understand it. I couldn't fight it.
I ran to my kitchen, gasping for air. I grabbed the nearest pitcher of water and chugged it down. I must've emptied the entire thing, but even then, the unbearable thirst barely subsided.
'What the hell was that?'
I had no clue what kind of liquid was in that bottle, but its effect on me was undeniable. And the strangest part? That memory—or whatever it was—echoed in my head.
'Maybe that was the thing I needed to drink, just like what I remembered.'
My thoughts spiraled. My mind felt like a chaotic mess. Without thinking, I rushed back to my room. The painting I had abandoned was long forgotten. My entire focus was now on that mysterious bottle. It was like it had some invisible force that pulled me in. I stared at it, questions swirling in my head.
'Where did it come from?How did it end up with my painting materials?Why can't I remember anything about it?'
For years, my life had been quiet — normal, even. But now? It felt like everything was crashing down. A twisted shift in my reality.
'Why? Like, what the hell is happening right now?'
"Drink?"
I muttered to myself, my eyes still locked on the tiny bottle.
"Answers to all my questions?"
'Ugh! Rayla, what the hell? You're driving yourself crazy!" I groaned, clutching my head. "Just sleep! You don't have to be afraid. Just. Sleep.'
But no matter how hard I tried to convince myself, the uneasy feeling refused to leave.
I threw myself onto my bed, my body sinking into the mattress. I tilted my head up, staring at the ceiling — and directly into the beady eyes of a lizard perched there. Great. Now I was locked in a staring contest with a freaking lizard.
I need to sleep. I want to sleep.
But I couldn't.
My body was still. My room was silent. Yet, my mind raced like a storm that wouldn't pass. There wasn't an ounce of exhaustion in me. My eyes felt wide open, like they were resisting the simple act of blinking.
No sleep. No fatigue. Just the unsettling hum of energy coursing through me.
And it terrified me.
After hours of staring at the lizard, I finally fell asleep. But just as I started to drift into slumber, morning arrived. Nice. Very nice.
Since it was already morning, I forced myself to get up and went through my usual routine. I decided to go to school today. Staying home alone again? No, thank you. I missed Jane. I really wished she was here.
Once I was done with everything, I grabbed my bag and headed out. The fresh air brushed against my skin as I made my way to school.
As I approached the campus, I spotted Jane sprinting toward me. Right. Of course. I'd see her here. At least the day wouldn't be completely boring.
"Rayla!" she called, waving her hand dramatically.
I smiled, already feeling a bit lighter. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Zup mate?"
"Fine, thanks."
"You don't look fine."
I looked at her and smiled to assure her that I'm fine, even if I'm not. I don't want her to worry about me. It's better if she doesn't think about me right now so she can be happy while her mom is still here.
And because I smiled again, there she is — stunned and unable to move an inch.
"Zup mate?"
I copied what she said earlier to bring her back.
"Bestie, you know what? It would be better if you smiled more often. Who knows, maybe you'll get a boyfriend, right? Come on, give me one more smile."
I responded with a cold stare and continued walking inside.
Yes, I don't smile. You're lucky if I smile at you — that means you're special. But I don't show that to others. I just don't want to. Maybe that's also why other students at school are afraid of me. "I'm cold like ice" — that's what I often hear from others. But I'm fine with that. I like being like this. This is me, and I love me.
We just continued walking to our class. Jane kept telling stories about how happy it was at her mom's new family home. I smiled, a genuine one. Seeing her happy makes me smile.
Jane is like an innocent child — everything she does seems new and exciting, despite all the silly things she does. Maybe that's why so many people like her, because of her innocence. Well, not in everything. But whenever I see her happy, her smile becomes contagious.
met Jane on my first day at this school. She was the first person who approached me to be friends. Aside from Grandpa Brent, she's the only one I feel comfortable with. Yes! That's how bad my antisocial tendencies are — my world revolves around just two people.
Heyyy chapter 2 is doneee!!!!