Chapter IX: Umbra

Rain was pouring heavily, leaving some loose strands of hair dangling around her drenched face. Her black converse bonnet is soaking wet and it felt so frore on her head. Calming herself, she listened to the voice in her head, having no other options for help. The creature before her kept grunting as if speaking in a language she doesn't understand.

"Now Luna, orcs are VERY dumb. All you need to do is repeat after me, and by my signal you should sprint to the direction I told you—to that dark alleyway."

Luna mentally agreed but said nothing.

"Okay, repeat after me... Guergh ferga arghugheda—"

Her heartbeat was throbbing loudly against her ribcage as she listened to the voice creating some gurgling-like sounds. But she had no choice but to follow him.

"I can see you of-of course!," the normal answered him.

"Wait, a normal speaking their language?"

He stared at the normal. It spoke their language. Even though it's accent sounded funny, it was speaking THEIR language! No normal could do that. His brain was trying to process everything that was happening but the normal started speaking again.

"I'm o-one of you. I'm a humanoid orc, j-just here to rest. But I'll be going now," it said.

It took him a long time to fully process what it said. Then a sudden gleam of solace etched his face.

"Ah so that's why it could speak our language. It's one of us!"

He laughed hysterically as he found relief that he didn't need to think that much about it now.

Luna was gawking at the creature who let loose of a loud guffaw in front of her. It sounded so terrifying. Even with the chilly air and raindrops touching her skin, beads of sweat still managed to form on her arms as panic started to rise in her chest again.

"Stand up now Luna."

Schnek was approaching the laughing Fragado while carrying his capsule. He saw a being on the ground.

As he got beside Fragado, he was told that the being was actually one of them and laughed again. Schnek didn't understand what was going on but since his partner Fragado was snickering, he started to join him and laugh too. The senseless occurrence was too funny for him.

Now there are two orcs stupidly laughing before her. She slowly stood up and the two huge beings didn't even notice her moving. Gripping tight of her backpack, she cautiously managed to step a few feet back.

"Escape there. Now."

Gathering all of her remaining energy, she sprinted her way to the dark alleyway. The loud laughters from the orcs were slowly fading away as she was draped by the murk of the umbra.

It was fall and the air was already chilly. Wrapping herself with a warm blanket, she tiptoed and peeped through the French windows.  The others were playing outside, but she was having a cold that's why she was hauled up in the infirmary. And Sister Wilma told her to stay there and be well, for there will be visitors tomorrow. Visitors that might become her new family. Her new parents.

Giggling, she skipped back to bed and went under the sheets, daydreaming about what would they be like. Sister Wilma assured her that they're really nice people, a newly wed couple that loves to travel and go camping. They wanted to have kids but were not fortunate enough to bear one, so they agreed to adopt a child and welcome her to their family. They really looked forward to have a daughter of their own and the orphanage she's in is exclusive for girls. Sister Wilma promised her that she will introduce her to them first thing when they'll arrive. Smiling to herself once more, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Someone was poking her nose harshly when she woke up. Annabeth was grinning down at her from the side of the bed. Stretching her arms, it held an old ceramic jar with floral designs on it's handle. A gasp left Luna's lips as soon as she realized what was happening.

"Annabeth, please... it's in the middle of the night..."

Ignoring her pleas, the girl scrunched her bushy eyebrows and raised her arms further, aiming to drop the jar noisily. Hastily getting up, she jumped from her bed and tried to stop her when she felt a sudden wave of dizziness that made her slip. She stumbled upon Annabeth's body, landing on her, making the jar drop. Luna was too dizzy to comprehend what happened, and a few moments later, footsteps were heard entering the infirmary. Two rough hands yanked her up and she looked up, only to see Annabeth feigning a loud cry, babbling lies to the angry Mother Superior standing by the door. She accused Luna of throwing the jar at her. Still feeling nauseous because of the cold, Luna tried to reason out and tell the truth but was tugged by a maid, following the fuming Mother Superior down the hall. She stared at Annabeth, who was now grinning mischievously at her when no one was looking, as she felt hot tears fill her eyes. Sister Wilma came rushing to the hall, but her bewildered look told her that she can do nothing against her Mother Superior. Seeing this, she stiffled a sob.

Next thing she knew, she was kicked by the maid into a dark room. The furious Mother Superior was lecturing her, about things she didn't really do and ordered her to pray and repent to the Lord a hundred times the whole night. She kept her mouth shut, trying to push away the bile that started to climb up at the back of her throat. After her scolding, they locked her up inside the darkness. The only illumination she had was the light coming from the door's underside. Weeping with her misery, she laid back on the floor and saw a shadow, darker than the darkness, creeping out from the corner. Her heart was thumping so hard, along with her head. The shadow was nearing her, approaching her. It's tendril-like hands reached out to her face and strangled her. She tried to scream, but no voice came out from her mouth.

"It's okay Luna, it's nothing but a nightmare. I'm here."

The lady had a veil wrapped around her head. Her high cheekbones complimented her arch eyebrows that nestled above her sharp, narrow eyes that looked softly at her.

"Sister Wilma?"

She sat up on the bed and immediately felt the soreness of her calf muscles. Shaking her head to forget the memory that had become her nightmare, she looked around and saw that she was in an unfamiliar room. The walls were beige, and the wooden floor was adorned by a rectangular red carpet with animal patterns.

"Where am I? Why am I here?," she asked breathlessly. Just then, the distant thunder stirred her memories. Sister Wilma was about to say something when the door opened, revealing a blue-haired man with bright emerald eyes. He had a squared jaw that accentuated his pointed nose and broken chin. His hair was dripping wet as he rushed into the room, panting.

"Is she okay??"

Luna's eyes widened as she recognized his voice.

"Y-you... You're that voice talking to me!"