Chapter 3

"Do you have anything planned today, Eli?" As they walked home from school, Sheila asked Eleanor.

Another week has passed, and Lucas has yet to be found. Eleanor was becoming increasingly concerned, but she remained confident that Lucas will return.  She was constantly reminding herself to be patient and simply wait for him. In case that something happened to him, he had already been reported missing to the police.

"Nothing, why?" Eleanor answered, looking around their neighborhood and shivering slightly as the chilly breeze brushed across her skin. She then put on her sweater on top of her school uniform.

"I’m just wondering if we could go to the nearby boutique to pick up some gowns for the ball next week," she says.

Yeah, I forgot about that.

"Sure, but let's stop by our houses first so we can change into more comfortable clothes and leave our heavy school bags." Sheila agreed with the thought. They separated, three streets from each other’s houses.

Eleanor walked on her own way home, thinking about what color of the gown she would wear. Eleanor took the mail from their blue mailbox before going inside.

It was quiet inside, and no one was home. Her mother and father left her a voicemail saying they will return in the evening.

She quickly changed her clothes, wearing a black tube tucked into a gray cardigan and black shorts. She walked to the kitchen after changing and noticed a sticky note on the counter that read, “Heat the food I cooked if you’re hungry -Mom, I love you.”

She went to the refrigerator and opened the door while holding the paper. She noticed a tupperware filled with food inside.

That's a little too much. It appears like they will be gone for quite some time.

She microwaved the pasta. While she waited, she sat in one of the kitchen table's seats and gazed out the window, watching cars drive by and people stroll by.

*ting*

She stood up to get the warm food and went to the table again to eat it. She smiled a little as she tasted the sauce. It was her favorite recipe of her mom.

Eleanor tried to turn the knob again as she walked out of their house to make sure it was truly locked and secure. She took her phone out of her pocket as she walked to see whether Sheila was already on the street where they were supposed to meet up again.

Sheila didn’t answer, but from afar, Eleanor saw Sheila in her pants and tank top, standing and just staring at her rubber shoes while talking to someone who was wearing black cap and baggy clothes, turning its back on Eleanor.

As soon as it heard Eleanor’s footsteps, it walked away without turning, leaving Sheila alone and still staring at the direction it went.

"Sheila." she said as she approached her.

"Oh hey." Sheila was taken aback, as if she hadn't seen Eleanor approaching.

"Let’s go?" Sheila asked, smiling, recovering from the shock.

"Yeah, sure." Eleanor agreed, trying to smile a little but failing to do so. Sheila looked at her and noticed.

"You seem worried though. What’s the matter?" She said as they started walking. The boutique wasn’t that far away from their neighborhood.

"Nothing, I’m- I’m just thinking about what kind of dress I’m going to wear. That’s all." Eleanor said, trying to avoid her gaze.

"Really? Come on, it’s just a dress. Loosen up a little bit." Sheila smiled sweetly, trying to make Eleanor more comfortable by holding her arm.

"Yeah." Eleanor said, attempting to relax and cease worrying about anything.

"By the way, do you have a partner?" Sheila asked. Eleanor grabbed the handle of her sling bag.

"I wish Lucas would come on the day of the ball, but it’s kind of-I don’t know if that’s possible. But yeah, I’m going to wait for him." Eleanor smiled bitterly, looking at every person they were passing by. "How about you though?"

"Nah, you know me, I always go solo." They both laughed, aware that Sheila isn't the type of girl who flirts with people.

A saleslady greeted them as they entered the boutique and gave them a selection of dresses and gowns. They spent three hours trying on various gowns, and by the time they were finished, it was dark outside.

Eleanor's phone rang in her pockets as they walked back home. She picked it up to answer a call from her mother.

"Eli, where are you?" her mother asked, worried.

Eleanor slapped her forehead silently as she realized she had forgotten to leave a letter or message on her phone informing them that she was out shopping for her ball gown.

"Mom, I’m sorry. I’m with Sheila and we’re on our way home now. I just went to the boutique to buy my dress for the grand ball." She explained. On the other line, she heard her mother exhale.

"All right, take care, and try on the dress when you get home." With a hint of demand in her tone, her mother said. Eleanor chuckled and waited for her mother to hang up the phone.

"I'll see you next week, Eleanor," Sheila gave her a friendly wave and turned away. Eleanor waved at her while she waited for her to disappear entirely from her sight.

Eleanor walked alone, silently recalling how they used to walk down those sidewalks, holding hands, being sweet, teasing each other, telling silly jokes, and laughing. It all flooded her mind, filling the empty spaces with thoughts that she hadn’t entertained for days.

*     *     *     *     *

Eleanor smiled in front of her full-body mirror. She was excited, but at the same time, she felt empty. Wearing a cream-colored ball gown, she turned around and gazed at it with full admiration in her eyes.

The feeling of wearing a gown was different when it was just an imagination of a young girl dreaming of being a princess. But tonight, she gets to feel like one. But like in any fairytale, princesses always wait for their prince charming or they get to be saved by a knight in shining armor.

While staring at herself, Eleanor was startled when her mother knocked on the door. "Eli? Someone came and was waiting for you." She heard what her mother said.

Her heart began to pound too quickly, and her eyes expanded with delight. She grasped the hem of her gown and took it in her hands. Eleanor shut the door open, her heels hitting against the wooden floor. She walked quickly, and when she arrived, her mouth was numb. Her entire system went blank all of a sudden. Her smile faded, and her eyes were on the verge of tears.

She tried to grin at Sheila, who was dressed in a ball gown and smiling at her, despite her disappointment.

"Hi, I decided to pick you up, just in case." Eleanor was at least relieved to have Sheila there, caring for her and not giving up despite Eleanor's inability to concentrate.

"You two ladies should be careful, okay?" Eleanor’s mom said, while looking at the two beautiful ladies standing in front of her dearly.

"And no alcohol or wine." Her father added, looking at them with a serious look on his face.

"Yes, mom and dad, of course." Eleanor replied while smiling at both of them. She embraced her mother and father tightly.

"You look so beautiful right now, Eli." Her mother whispered.

"Enjoy the night." Her father also whispered.

A black sedan was waiting for them outside, and Sheila's father was inside. While the car was on its way to the school, they sat there discussing about what to expect at the ball. Lucas's name was never mentioned, and they had a friendly conversation till they arrived.

Eleanor smiled as she stepped out of the car and smelt the cool air. She then thanked Sheila's father before being taken excitedly into the campus by Sheila.

The entire space was covered in gold and white designs. There are lights all across the school, illuminating the entire ground. People have already poured into the venue, conversing and laughing in their assigned seats. Everyone was well-dressed. Eleanor and Sheila soon made their way to their classmates' seats.

After a minute, a woman in the front began to speak, announcing that the party had begun. Eleanor was, as usual, easily distracted by her surroundings. Looking around to see whether Lucas will show up.

But, sadly, he did not.

"Shei, I have to go to the bathroom. Wait for me here." Eleanor spoke to Sheila, who was listening to the woman in front. She just nodded and Eleanor walked into their building’s bathroom.

After retouching her make-up, she walked outside into the dark, silent corridor. Hearing the loud noise of the event from afar, she continued walking until she heard voices.

She quickly hid behind the walls, trying to figure out who was arguing. There, she saw a figure of two girls arguing about something.

She eventually realized who the two people were when her eyes adjusted. Sheila and Ava were yelling violently at each other. Eleanor didn't try to listen in on the conversation. Because she already knew what they were arguing about.

She took a deep breath, turned around and walked around the building to the other exit, which led to the back.

She carefully shut the door behind her and sat on the bench near the building. She felt warm tears flowing down her cheeks despite being in a relaxed state. She sobbed as sadness crept into her heart and weighed her down.

Eleanor sat there for minutes, covering her face using her both hands while silently crying. As she breathed deeply, something caught her attention.

Since when is this here?

She stared at the strange trees in front of her, perplexed.

Maybe I’m too caught up in my studies. That’s why I didn’t notice that it was here.

She got up from the bench and proceeded slowly to the forest's entrance. There were also lights hanging there, illuminating the path as if it were beckoning her to follow it within.

Eleanor began walking in the direction of the lights, allowing the woods to embrace her.

As she walked further, the light bulbs appear to dim. Eleanor's heart began to accelerate as she became aware of it. She was terrified as she walked into an unfamiliar wilderness. Her eyes widened and she shouted as she felt a powerful force pulling her towards something she couldn't describe.

A water? Was it cold? Or was it hot? Did it hurt? She couldn’t remember. But it is surely strange.

Eleanor's entire surroundings changed as soon as she opened her eyes.