Flushed Back

Chapter 1: Dancing Vines

The sun generously gave its mighty rays to the city of Davao- so generously, just to reach the temperature of 36° C. It was summer break and it was the time to be at the beach, wearing the best swimsuit as the cool sea waves wipe out the weariness of the body and mind.

But definitely not for Dianara Eve Salcedo, a fifteen year old student. Summer student.

Considering that she had hostile feelings for the sun and sunburns, Eve was all armor-equipped with red-and-white long sleeves, dark blue maong pants, a big portable umbrella, and a fan for goodness' sake. Her long, wavy, black hair swayed along as she walked on the pathway towards the school entrance and past the corridors.

Dianara Eve, or Eve for short, never needed make-up classes. She was intelligent, and that was the exact reason why she was attending school. During summer break. Oh, her precious summer break! Along with other smart kids, she was trained for a big Science Fair Contest before the school year started.

And that was what bothered Eve: her last school year in Junior high. It was fast approaching, and that would mean she needed to choose her specialization for Senior High. For the rest of her entire life.

But it was not only what was bugging her since summer break started. There was a deeper problem, something she could not grasp- something she feared and hated to think about, It was something she had always denied.

Riiiiinnng!

"Okay class, 30-minute break. We'll be dismissing you later by noon," the moderator said.

The twenty-or-so students buzzed and started to go by groups, while Eve quietly packed her things back inside her bag.

"Hey, Eve?"

Eve turned around to see Samantha, her classmate since 7th Grade. They were more of "close acquaintances", but not that close to be called good friends.

"Wanna come join us? We'll be going outside to buy snacks," Samantha asked, pointing her thumb at her back.

Ever peered behind Samantha, where a lively group of four, two boys and two girls, chatted and laughed noisily. Though all of them seemed nice, Eve knew she would totally be out-of-place with them. She was a socially awkward 'penguin'. It would be dragging for her and for these people if she could not ride with their jokes and topics.

Eve politely, yet nervously, smiled, "I'll pass, I need to... Um, go somewhere. Ah, thanks by the way."

"Oh, right. Yeah, sure," Samantha responded.

After allowing her feet to guide her instinctively, she realized that she already arrived at the school's backyard garden. She turned down an offer, she just lied, and now she was at nowhere for no reason. After mentally slapping and cursing herself for being a chicken, Eve heaved a very big sigh.

She needed to change, but how? What can she do? Would she be able to do it?

Well, at least for the time being, she was now in a safe and peaceful place, with the company of grasses, small potted plants, and a big mango tree. Next to the tree was the wall which divided the school's territory from that of another taller building. Vines thickly covered the wall.

As a rather strong wind passed by, something caught Eve's eye. She observed that most vines hanging on the wall remained as they were, but strangely, those behind the mango tree were dancing.

The vines were dancing!

She narrowed her eyes and gulped as she slowly walked towards the green, lively, stuff. Oh, goodness! What if they were magically living beings? What? Of course! They were living things! They were plants, Eve. Plants!

As her heart violently beated off her chest, she picked up a stick she found lying on the ground. She poked the wooden stick on the vines, which were now settled back.

Nothing unusual happened.

With more pressure, she pressed on the stick and much to her surprise, she fell through the wall.

She fell through the wall!

Eve was lying on the ground, dumbfounded. The upper half of her body was in a place she never saw before. The lower half was left at her school campus. And there were the vines, dividing her body. But no, she did not find any magical dimension. As a matter of fact, she was just inches away from where she had been.

Helping herself up, she looked at the new surrounding with astonishment. No one in school could have ever known this place. She just entered a secret passage.

It was a narrow alley which led to the taller building. Everything around was crawled with vines, or other green living stuff. Yes, whatever Eve could see was green, except for the white walls of the building, its grey roller garage door, a big black doorbell, and the blue sky above.

Thrilled of her new discovery, she whirled around and let out a squeak and a giggle. This would be the best hide-out. No one would ever see her. No one would disturb her.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"

Eve stopped and blinked, her face frozen. She was all by herself last time she checked.

"A cute babe is at my backyard," continued the unseen voice.