Culture Shock

Chapter One

There comes the footsteps again, trying to fright the barricade. They'll kill me, I know. My eyes sought for a table to hide myself where I've always hid. They can't. Not this time...

But before I could duck, a troop of odd-looking men kicked the wooden door of this historical pavilion, searching for the target they've been looking for. As his feet approach the table, the hope in my mind poured out, draining my body.

A heavy grip snaked around my wrists causing my blood rushing into my palms. His voice thundered as he commanded his men to tie me up. I could neither scream nor make a sound; just plain gasps in my mind.

They were too strong and I undeniably could not fight back. These men brought me to a huge tree, far from the normal, where there was a rope.

At a blink, I was struggling from being strangled with my feet meters from the ground. A flame was lit from the torch he was holding. The heat eating my skin and the smoke choking me held my breathing.

His eyes were as blank as emptiness, staring at the flames covering my body. Mine were occupied with plea, hoping for salvation.

Have mercy, Leonidas. Don't let me die.

I saw him took a step, but stopped. My shoulders struggled with purest anticipations though the fire has consumed my flesh.

No.

But he was too late. I died... For a millionth time.

My lids sprang. F that dream. F Leonidas. I've been dreaming of him since I was ten and until now, I'm completely confounded. Never did that man help me.

Sweat covered my body with warmth and chills. I climbed off the bed and took a piece of face towel from the closet to wipe my face and my back next. Great. No doubt it was freaking warm. The blinds were all shut.

I pulled them off and slid the panes sideward. Feeling the cool air rush through my nose was one of my easiest ways to loosen up. Closing my eyes would get me even better. But I couldn't for a man was staring at me from the neighborhood's gate.

Crap.

I shut my eyes and squeezed, then reopened. This can't be true. He ain't real. I abruptly hid behind the wall and secretly leaned to verify his presence.

A Spartan costume without helmet makes no difference. I am pretty sure the man was Leonidas. Insanity, pure insanity.

I ran and dove onto the bed for my phone. I gotta call Neon.

"Monday it is now and you're not in school? What is it this time?" he sounded exasperated. I know, it's the first day of the week, but this is not the time for lame excuses.

"There's a man... in front of my house," I whispered, trying to speak clearly.

"What?"

"You need to come here now."

I heard no response, just beeps.

While I wait for him, I proceeded to the kitchen for a glass of cold water. It felt very quiet as it always has. No one's here, just me.

I am all alone, as usual.

My mom died minutes after giving birth to me and that was when I lost my father. He's blaming me for his wife's death. I've never had a chance to stay with him as my father. All these years, he's been just a financial source and a terror CCTV camera, but never a father.

From day to night, he works his butt off as if to dig pennies for my better. I'm stupid, he thinks, for not realizing his method of evasion.

My attention was caught by somebody who knocked on the main door. Could that be Neon?