It was in a spontaneous struck when we were walking further in the forest to their so-called Zone. There was no mum back or because maybe I didn’t focus on them catching two. When we got close, I just woke up.
I realized the argument of my two companions in a whisper.
"I told you she will be one of us! I saw it in her eyes, they have uncertainty!" Psyche said with certainty, looking at the person she was talking to.
"Then we shouldn't argue about that. What if she becomes a survivor like us? It's not essential to argue about this unnecessary thing, and there's no need to focus on it," Riley calmly said while he's gripping in the strap of my bag that he's holding.
"Uh, why is it you that I'm talking to? I know it's just not your thing." She tsked three times and shook her head slowly. "Sorcha and you are exactly the same."
"If you're going to argue, choose Freyja or Titus. You know those two." Riley laughed at what he said.
When we were in front of the Zone, we saw the remaining four sitting on the plywood lying on the ground. When they saw us, they came quickly to meet us.
"Stay here," Psyche said holding my shoulder. "We, the official zoners, will be discussing this important matter."
I could do nothing but lean against a tree close to my seat while watching the shady clouds enveloping the dark sky. It's like doing what she wants me to do.
They gathered around a few meters away from me so I couldn’t hear what they were talking about. I have seen their shocked and confused faces as Psyche and Riley keep on talking.
I even noticed that the conversation didn't seem to be going well because they were getting into trouble — arguing — or maybe they really needed to argue. But the two remained calm as they explained everything they knew.
Riley looked at me and smiled. Psyche did the same when she saw my concern before turning her attention back to her colleagues for their decision-making.
I averted my eyes.
I just focused it on the dark forest where I was. Slowly the clouds creep across the galaxy to obscure the unique light that illuminates the atmosphere. The swaying and traveling of the wind in the air became even more fierce as the breeze intensified with the cold.
It embraces my whole body, but even though it is changing and not the same as before, the smell I inhale through my nose remains fresh and natural-scented. It still gives me serenity and calmness at this moment and henceforth.
"New gal."
Less than a second later I looked at the speaker. It's Paris. He pouts and can't look directly at me.
When I looked behind him, his companions were gone. Where are they?
"Come, you need rest first." He supported me behind me and carried my arm in the front of a cabin that was between the branches of towering and ogre trees like the others.
It is positioned on the right, third, if the counting is on the left, and in front of it is on the right too.
It's still new. It looks like someone has already settled down because of the cleanliness and comfort even though it's just outside. Even the stairs upstairs were only painted about a month or two ago.
"Even though you're not officially here yet, it's . . . We've decided to let you use that tonight." The man sighed. "They went to the House Discussion to discuss your stay in this place. We're sorry for we can't offer you food right now. It's too late so it's good for you to rest first. I'm the one apologizing here. "
I just watched him speak. He was restless and frowning. Maybe he was confused and didn’t know what to say.
But he's a cute stranger.
Earlier I was holding back my smile because he was not comfortable talking to me. It's not that I'm being weirded out, his reaction is just really cute. But when he mentioned food, he influenced me in a certain manner for my tummy silently growled.
I can't do anything about that anymore.
"Uh, just," he said, stopping midway, also discontinuing to finish the sentence. He scratched the back of his neck. "Just for tonight, I repeat. This will be your temporary room. Also tomorrow, at seven-thirty, you have to wake up or else Freyja will wake you up. It's the right time because we haven't done anything yet, and you're about to face our Leader in this place for good. . . o-or perhaps bad.
"But you can also call him Gideon, his codename, just like we call him. It's up to him whether to allow what you want to happen or not. After all, he's the one to be obeyed. We're just a zoner here and under him in this place. "
My forehead furrowed.
These still linger on my mind. It would be better to answer this.
"Someone said earlier that he is also its coheir. How many of them? Who are its founders? And why did they build this place?" I wanted to say everything that bothered me, but upon eyeing his uncomfortable expression, I discontinued.
Paris smiled bitterly.
He blinked twice.
"I can't answer your question. Rules are made to be obeyed and not just to break it."
Even though he didn’t directly say what he meant, I understood him. I nodded. If that's the case, again, then I can't do anything about it.
All I need to do is to keep my queries inside my intellect.
"You can go in there. That's up to you today." He leaned over so I could pass and climb there.
I was about to climb when he stopped me to do so.
"A second please."
I looked at him. I waited for him to talk.
"Just a favor." He stared me in the eyes. "Don't mess with the things that are inside. You wouldn't have to change their places first. We would like them to be on their current spot." He averted his gaze somewhere. "We haven't—”
"Paris!" someone shouted.
It's Freyja.
She frowned at the young man. "We need to hear your side. Come on, let's go," she said to his colleague.
The man turned to look at me and his face begged for permission. In the meantime, I looked at him in agreement for his departure. I can't do anything about it.
And I must accept what their decision is. I just hope that when I wake up, no bad news will come to me.
"Let's go," he muttered, walking ahead of her.
Freyja followed him. I watched the two of them leave until they completely disappeared from my sight.
I was about to start climbing the tree by stepping on the trees that were nailed to it that served as proportions to get to the wide and thick floor in front of the house. It is supported by four timbers under it also attached to the timber of the tree, entering the door currently closed. I just noticed something made of wood on its side. It looks like a crib without feet. There are two ropes tied on either side of it.
When I looked up where it was connected, I saw it hanging on a big, sturdy tree branch. It is pinched by a small but long and thick piece of iron that has been bent inside. It's just narrowed so it's not easy to get out of there. It's hanging with a long rope that even reaches the body of the object. It is an odd and unfamiliar thing that I just saw, but it seems it's the only way to reach the tree cabin above.
I heaved a sigh and test my assumption about it. I rode there. I pulled down the rope.
Good thing that equipment rose inches off the ground.
I tried to pull the rope down again, and again, and again until it reached the floor in front of the cabin.
I went down there and slowly laid my feet on the floor. I breathed a sigh of relief because it was still strong to this moment. I didn't hear any grunts coming from it.
I approached the door before opening it. It isn't locked. When I looked at the other cabins, even those weren’t padlocked either. My eyes went down and I was almost dizzy because of its height.
I pushed the cute, yellow-painted door and got amazed because of what I am seeing inside. The equipment is arranged in their locations.
Very clean.
It is appealing and has a good fragrant inside.
There is a turned-on lampshade placed on a side table next to the bed that serves as the light in the room so I can see its whole.
There is a bulletin board hanging in front of a study table. Many pictures from different places are also posted there. A few books are sitting on the study table on the bedside a mini cabinet on the other side. A ceiling fan, flower vases containing a variety of flowers, and spiral chandeliers can also be found inside the room. And its walls, their color is golden yellow.
Very comfortable to observe the whole room. Although a bit crowded due to most of the types of furniture.
I smiled.
If anyone lived in this room, I think he or she was close to them. And I hope it would last forever.
Just like I once longed for.
The next morning, I woke up because of the cold liquid that seemed to run down my face. I just got up and frowned, and with my dull eyes, I've seen the person who did that and smeared at her. It's when I realized it was Freyja holding a mug.Suddenly my wrinkles disappeared when the words Paris said to me came to my mind."Also tomorrow, at seven-thirty, you have to wake up or else Freyja will wake you up.I took a deep breath before closing my eyes for a moment. If I had known earlier that this was going to happen, I wouldn’t dare to sleep so long.I was so tired yesterday.I just think I should have slept that way because I need it."Great," I mumbled. I looked at her with an eyebrow up. "Now, what?""You won't wake up." She scolded me. "Don't blame me for splashing cold water on your face." She even lifted the one that had been used to pour water on me, a mug.Fortunately, there's a little f
Nothing could be heard inside but Titus tapping on the long table, Psyche humming an unfamiliar song, Riley stomping one foot on the tiled floor with a beat, Gideon turning the page in the book he's reading, and my every sigh that I heave.I already saw every side inside. It is quite simple. A long table in the middle, black wooden chairs, vases for the plant on each side, and a mini crystal chandelier dangling in the ceiling. The walls are painted white. Therefore, the room is also air-conditioned.Nothing else besides that."Okay, that's it." Freyja stood as she glared at the stranger who seemed to enjoy the story as he flipped further from chapter one.I just noticed that it is easy to break the ties of her patience, Freyja's patience.Despite that, I still have no right to judge him. Possibly, she wants this thing to end. Possibly, she couldn't just keep on letting him ignore us. And, possibly, she mig
Every inside chaos begins noiselessly. It is a human's own nature, it is an individual's greatest fright, and it is a creation's unending battle. No one had the ability to foresee it coming.It is one of the existing proof that nothing from the future and to what would happen next is inevitable.You just need to not abide by its flow.It is the rule of inevitability.Once you have been swallowed by its wings and blinded all of what you have in darkness, who you are— who you once were— yonder will rather be far more terrifying than to choose where you go.My fight started with my mother. She was the first that I wanted to battle with. That's why I still held on— never letting go of everything I had included even her. It was, for me, the longest war I ever had until unworthily bare vanished.This was her story."Mom, when I grow up, will you still give me a present?" I ask
After a year of suffering, I was finally moving on. It was the second month of schooling when I met Lincoln Haze Costa Edevez. I was a ninth-grader, and it was the third blow for me. Although, it's also the next battle I had waged.One by one the direction of the footsteps in the hallway as the noise coming from their mouth emitted a variety of news. I was swimming the ocean of strangers as I made my way to my section. Just a few minutes and I reached it as well.Just as I was about to enter, the noise from the inside could be heard immediately. At least, it wasn't the worst one for it was the star section. I also didn't take the test in seventh grade to get into the highest section here at Tyler University. I might just get more stressed.I went straight to my seat and hung the bag there. I was in the midst of seating when I noticed a letter from the desk of the armchair. I frowned as I picked up the lett
The other day, the classes were postponed because of the typhoon.It was raining so hard outside, I could see it clearly from there in the armchair I was sitting next to the window.The sky was covered with dark clouds having acid rain. The south wind was also very strong. It waves the most of all the creatures on the earth — explicitly, the trees. Some of their leaves fall off and were released from their grip.I was shivering because of the coldness that was caressing me and that I could smell. I'd rather just go home and sleep. Those were the times when I wished I could snooze in the bedroom.It was loud inside the classroom. It was unnerving because it was accompanied by the fierce breeze and the gusts of the wind in the atmosphere that hit everything they whacked. Earlier the lights were still turned off due to the recurrence of electricity.I heaved a sigh, nose getting itchy. I was chilled by the co
If anyone asked me the question which part of my memory would I change, I'd say to the moment my mother had this cancer that drove me in suffering for years. It's not Lincoln, and it's not the piece where I'd suddenly knew I was just an adopted child and never had been a real daughter of them.But it still hurts for me to be left behind again.The fire had melted and I was still trapped. . . back then.Little did I know that the emptiness I was treading on was engulfed by the ocean that would swallow me the moment I was completely destroyed. There are many waiting for me in the depths of it and I don’t want to be there.I was afraid that it's starting. But the third explosion was not over. Just try it on me.I was locked in my room then. Thinking of my mother's smile at me every time we ate dinner, her telling me of experiences that happened to her when she was a child, and our hug every time she was weak and couldn't stand
We're what we didn't seek.While to be lost's not an option.This was what always came to my mind when I was looking for someone who would be my ally no matter what happened.But how? And so I answered myself that I just need to be me. However, it became the opposite.I became desperate.I became someone that wasn't me.I was about to go inside our two-story house when I saw the piece of paper in front of me inches away from me. I forgot that out of curiosity. It was shocking to recognize Lincoln's handwriting.It's not just a paper. It's a white card. There was enough weight for it to not be carried away by the wind when he left. Maybe I could read what's in there.His name and number were written there. Below that was the message he wanted me to read.“I hope we can be friends.” That's what's written with a black marker.I didn't smile to myself when I read that.  
Enough of the past.I should focus more on The Game.I watched Freyja from inside the fifth House now talking to Gideon. I could clearly see the seriousness on his face as they quietly talked about it in front of the exit door. The woman nodded and seemed to be keeping in mind what the other person is saying."Wanna know a secret?"I turned to Sorcha as she spoke next to me. We were both leaning against a tree as we folded our arms and watched the two talk in the room. Psyche and the others went back to his cabin because they were going to take some equipment left by Leader.I knitted my eyebrows. "We're not supposed to tell secrets. I mean, whatever secret you're talking about that is too confidential."She shrugged and giggled. "I know but it's just . . . It's just about her," she was referring to someone inside, pointing at her with her snout.I blinked as many as I can. "W-What about her?"