Find me

Chapter 75

Alice

One month later
Nothing has changed since I came back. The moment I left the village that whispering has been returned. There must be something in that village that kept this whispering away from me.
I haven't talked to him since that day. And it frustrates me every single day. He's always in front of me, talking, and laughing with others. But we didn't talk. I ignored him and so do he.

When I arrived at the campus, Laura had tons of questions for me. And basically, I answered every one. I told her about everything which happened in the village and between me and him. At first, she refused to believe but when I told her the whole story she slowly got to believe. But when she heard about our breakup. She felt sorry for me.
I told her about my magic and she was so excited but unfortunately, I still can't control it. One thing I noticed was that my magic woke up whenever I got upset or angry. So practically I am not superior in this. It won't come or go according to my wish. I need to learn its controlling method. Thankfully, at the campus, they are training us.
There is still no sign of Dorian and it's killing me. I'm just praying wherever he is right now, he's alright. Because no one has any idea about him. I watch Gloria every day and she seems worried too. She always stays alone like she doesn't want to be with anyone. Even at the canteen, she sits alone.
What the hell has happened?
I open the Golden book again, wishing it'll tell me something.
'Where is Dorian Wilson?' I ask.
And here again, it starts glowing.

I scream, but no one hears me. I laugh, no one hears me. I cry, but no one hears me. What am I?

I looked down at this puzzle word, wondering what could be the answer to this. I scan my area. What if I scream here? Is anyone hear me out? I doubt. But let's try.
'An empty room?' I answered.
Nothing happened. I think I guess the wrong answer.
What the hell will be the answer?
I read the sentence over and over again. When does no one hear me? Well, when no one is around me.
'Lonely person?' I answer quickly.
And it did the glowing thing again. My whole room lightened up. And after a moment it stopped, showing me another sentence or I can say another riddle.

I am neither a guest nor a trespasser, to this place I belong, it belongs also to me.

I'm sick of this. What is this now? It will be much easier if I found him and asked him by myself where the hell you have been. But since I don't know where is he. It will be better if I focus on this riddle.
I took a deep breath, focusing my mind on this.
Groaning, I closed the book. It's like my mind is not working right now.
And as expected, it open up again. It won't get closed until I'll give it the correct answer.
God, I miss my old life. No worries, zero problems. Wait, I read the sentence again. Damn, I think I get the answer.
'Home?' I say.
It glows again, brighter than before. Yes, I literally jump on my seat.

You get what you want to know.

And this is when it stopped the gleaming.  Home? He's at home, alone. And yet Edwin has no idea about this. Strange. 

~~~~~~

That night—hours into a thunderstorm that had been raging since after dinner—I snap awake, every muscle in my body tight and hot.
I clench the sheets at my side, my chest rising and falling with rapid breaths, and sweat dripping down my neck.
I gasp, trying to breathe, but I can’t fucking move.

Everything is dark around me. No one is here. I'm screaming but I can't hear my voice. Everything is deadly silent. Someone grabs me by my shoulder, pushing me back but I can't see him. I can't stop him. I'm trying to free myself but I can't. This is when I hear the whispering again.
'Alice...Alice...Alice...'
It's a female voice. 'Let me overwhelm you,' that creepy voice echoed in my surrounding.
'Wake me up' it whispers the same line again and again. 'Wake me up, Alice. Wake me up. Wake me up, Alice'.
I tried to close my ears, trying to run but goddamit my body isn't moving.
'Wake me up, Alice. Wake me up,'
My body feels like burning. I can sense the heat coming out of my body.
'I'll make you more than you can imagine,' it whispers again.
'Noooo...' I tried to scream. But nothing comes out. All I can see is fire coming from my hand, lighting the surrounding. And suddenly that creepy voice stopped echoing.

And my eyes flickered open. I try to swallow, but it takes four times before I’m able to wet my dry throat.
I roll my eyes around the room, fear lingering in my brain, but I’m not sure why as I take inventory of my surroundings.
The room is dark, the storm still rocking against my windows, and I hear the drops pummel the deck outside my room. Slowly, I stretch out my fingers, prying my hands off the sheets, and I sit up, wincing at the ache in my shoulders and neck from being locked up too long.
Did I dream? I close my eyes, the tears I don’t remember crying seeping out and joining the ones already wetting my face.
What was that?
Now, I can hear them in my fucking dream. Great.
I quickly glance at my door, relieved to see it’s still closed.
Thank God I wasn’t loud enough to wake everyone. I throw off the covers and walk to the chest of drawers to retrieve medicine for my headache.
My eyes glance down at Jake's journal. I picked it up before leaving the village. But ever since I haven't read it further. Maybe because I don't get time.
Well, honestly it reminds me of Luke because we always read it together.
I roll my eyes, and pick it up from the drawer, pushing it closed. I jump back on my bed.
Since it's only 4.15 am and my sleep is already gone. So this is the only option to spend the night.
I open his journal.

My mother is so happy for us. She cried during the whole wedding ceremony.
When the wedding starts, everyone was so much happy. Because this is the first wedding in our family.
My love, cheering with them too, enjoying every moment.
And the ceremony begins.
My father proceeds, 'Do you Jake Dawson take this beautiful woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?'.
I smile at her as I answered, 'I do,'.
Her smile widened, eyes sparkling with happiness.
He asks again, 'And do you Andriana Swan take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband to have to hold him in sickness and in health till death do you apart?'.
She grinned, 'I do,'.
'Since the bride and groom have chosen their own vows. You may proceed now.

I took a deep breath, holding her hands in mine, 'Andriana you have been my friend. You have seen light in me when I saw nothing but darkness. You hold my hand when I was in need. You saved me from despair. I never realised when I fall for you. Day by day, bit by bit, year by year, my love goes stronger for you. I love you, Andriana Swan'.
Tears filled in her eyes, but she was holding them from falling, 'I remember when I first saw you. At that moment I realised that you are special, kind and with whom I can spend my whole life. You love me the way I am. You never forced me. You understand my decisions, my choice, my desire. You complete me. And I promise one day I'll give you what you deserve. And I will always remember this moment, hundred years from now. I love you, Jake. I will always love you.

Then we exchange the rings.

'We may now pronounce you as a husband and wife. You may kiss the bride, little boy,'  father says.
The moment we kissed, everyone stood up from their chair, clapping and cheering for us.
Aurora showered the flowers on us. It's her speciality. Her power.

As I turned the next page. My body got paralyzed. Heat courses up my neck, my lungs empty, and I can’t look away. Everything hits me at once.
There was a picture of the bride and groom.
Mother.
Andriana Swan is not another woman but my mother, her one hand holding the bouquet while another holding Jake's arm. She looks flawless and the most happiest person on the planet. 
Absently, I drop his journal, but still hold the picture in my hand, trying to process what I'm seeing. They would never do this to me. He’s not my parent. My chest caves, too heavy to take in more air. Nausea rolls through my stomach, and bile rises up my throat.

Is Jake her first husband? Or my father is her first husband or second?
They had even gotten married or not? Why did he never tell me this? Why did nobody tell me? Why the hell do they keep everything secret from me?
Tears fill my eyes, I tighten my fist around the picture, and I clench my teeth.
I'm angry with myself more than him. He never told me anything. My chin trembles and the tears spill over. My mom, father…. I am forever the most pathetic fucking person I know. I am the lousiest person that no one deserves.

Wiping my tears off, I took his journal from the floor. I open it again, flipping the pages and disappointment hit me. Because this is his last entry.
He hadn't written anything further.
Clenching my jaw, I throw it, don't know where.
Drying my eyes, I walk out of my room and let my legs think. Pushing through the back door, I descend the wooden stairs.
My father has a lot to answer.