Echoes of the Abyss (Delaney Series #2)

Prologue

"Sometimes you think that you want to hide and disappear but all you really want is to be found, Adelaide."

Those were the exact words he said when he saw me sitting in the darkness alone. After saying those, he sat with me in silence and just settled himself in the darkness with me.

Every time I feel like losing myself in the darkness, hearing the echoes calling out my name. It is his voice that I seek shelter in.

"Come home, child." I heard the voices again.

I will not. Auroravale is my home. This is where I belong.

"You belong nowhere but the abyss, child," the voices was loud. Parang mga nilalang na sabay sabay na nagsasalita.

"Breathe, Adelaide," I told myself.

Sinubukan kong pagaanin ang paghinga ko. Napabuga ako ng hangin ng hindi ko na marinig ang boses na tumatawag sa akin.

The darkness cannot consume me. I will not let it.

I gently ran my fingers to my hair and leaned back to the wooden chair inside my library. It was late at night and I'm still here trying to stop the voices from bugging me.

I wanted to rest, and just sleep but it's been hours since I tried. Ngayon lang tumigil ang mga boses na kumakausap sa akin.

I glanced at the painting hanging on the wall. And I saw the smiling faces of my parents. They looked so in love and peaceful. The painting itself screams peace.

"The darkness will not come to you, Adelaide, as long as you don't let it," my smile faded when I heard my mother's voice inside my head.

"It is slowly eating me, Mama," I answered as if she could still hear me.

It's all my fault, right?

I don't know why I have been hearing the voices. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dahilan ng paulit-ulit na pagtawag nito sa akin at sinasabing umuwi na ako.

May iba pa ba akong tahanan bukod dito?

My parents never told me anything. Wala namang kakaiba sa kanila. At wala rin silang sinabi kahit na ano sa akin.

I was filled with questions that I cannot find answers to and it's slowly urging me to step in the dark.

What if the answers are those echoes calling me?

Paano kung hayaan ko itong kunin ako?

Baka sakaling may sagot na sa maraming tanong ko kung hahayaan ko sila.

"Auroravale is where you belong, Adelaide," it was my father's voice this time.

Right, Auroravale is my home.

I cannot let this unknown force take its toll on me.

"I'm sorry," I said while looking at their painting.

There were vines slowly crawling at the bottom of my feet. I accidentally summoned my powers because of the emotions I was feeling.

If only I can hide somewhere the voices cannot reach me, I would've done it before.

It's hard to have your own mind as your enemy.

Sana maglaho na lamang ako. Maybe it would be better if I'm gone.

I wanted to disappear, to be forgotten. Maybe death is the only way that I can be free.

I have to calm myself bago pa maapektuhan ang mga pananim sa Erderos dahil sa kagagawan ko.

The silence inside my mansion was loud. I could even hear the wind blowing from outside. The light of the moon was creeping inside the library, hitting my face.

It was like the night they died.

I clenched my fist, stopping myself from going back to that painful memory.

Walang mabuting gagawin ito sa akin kung hahayaan ko ito.

Hindi pa ba sapat ang lahat ng sakit na nararamdaman ko at kailangan ko pang balikan ang alaalang yun gabi-gabi?

I brought my hand to my chest, taking deep breaths as I was fighting with myself.
Alam kong hindi ko ito kagagawan.

"Go home, Adelaide, you do not belong here."

No...

"You are a gift to us, Adelaide," narinig ko ang boses ng aking ina. "Regalo na uulit-ulitin kong tanggapin."

If I'm a gift, you should've declined.

A gift shouldn't bring a disaster. Hindi dapat ito makapinsala sa taong pinagbigyan nito.

A rose appeared on my hand and its torn dig into my palm.

The blood dripped from my hand and my eyes were glued on it.

Red crimson blood dripped to the floor from my hands and it was the only thing I could see.

Wala akong maramdaman na sakit na dala nito. Kahit patuloy na sa pagdugo ang aking palad ay hinayaan ko nalang ito at pinagmasdan.

The blood dripping reminded me of that tragic night.

Why do you always remember the memories you try so hard to forget?