Ungullible

CHAPTER2: WHERE DO I STAND?

Running is the thing I do best , I don't literally meaning running like how I run away from that man or how athletes run for an Olympics but as in turning away from problems, like avoiding situations. If the was an award I would be the first to receive it. Don't judge me it's not my fault I think that's my best option or my escape of things .

After running for sometime , I felt restless. My legs were wore out and my shoes weren't helping at all with the little heels at the back. I stopped and took a deep breath and analysed my surroundings and noticed I do not know where I am . It was almost dark and I dislike the dark although it is part of me.
I didn't want to start panicking so I searched my bag for my phone and called the number I only call on it . The person I at least know I can rely on. My caretaker. In bold written 'Nannu Sam' I dialled her number waiting for a minute or two for her to pick up. And then finally she did

' Hello, Novia? Is that you?' she asked worriedly.

'Ye..,yes ' I stammered my response

'Can you come pick me up I think I'm lost.'.I said shakely 

' Oh, deary, don't worry I'll come for you , okay? Everything is fine , hmmm... ' she simply said after a long pause come along.

' So why don't we find a place to sit and the turn on your locations on your phone for me so I can track you ,okay' she said as calmly as she could .

I nodded and looked around and sat on the path walk .

'I'll call you back when I'm almost there 'she said.

'No! Please don't hung up' I shouted on the phone in a haste panicking to be left alone with no one around.

'Ok, ok I'll still be on the line , Is that cool?'. She asked me to be certain

'Yes ..' I responded shortly

I could hear some rattling and sound of keys jingling ot the other end . I sat down calmly trying my best to stay as calm as I could.
' You're fine , everything is fine ' I tried convincing my self .

It got dark eventually, the sun couldn't stay with me like how I hoped like how everyone I knew left so did it. Just a few passers minding their own business walked past me and a dog ravaging through a trash can .

I wondered being lost in my thoughts all over again , thinking about the young man that led me to this situation.
' who was he ? ,why did he approach me? What did he want?' I asked my self .
Still on the line with my caretaker I could hear her hums at the other end. Which made me recall

Flashback

' Novia, come back, stop running away from me, I heard a voice chasing after me,
Caught you she said grabbing and spinning me around. With our laughter's in the air. She sat under a tree and lay my head on her lap listening to her humming the song that always keeps me sane. Until I was yanked away from her.
'Didn't I tell you not to entertain her in such a way, lying in the ground playing all day?' I heard the masculine voice scolding her.

Being dragged away from the person that gave me peace by the man I best know the man I fear the most in the world the man I feel terrified to name. I hear shouts behind me as he takes me away from her from my peace.

End of flashback

Then I hear a car honk and pay attention to my surroundings once more. I notice Nannu. I get up and walk towards the car shivering and then sit in.

' Oh, you poor thing, you must be cold' she said handing me one of my cardigans she brought with her.

' Thank you for coming for me ' I said wearing the cardigan.

'You don't have to thank me it's my responsibility to ' she replied

'Now let me get you home' she said and drove away.

With my head leaning on the window, I thought 'home'

Should I call it that, is that what that place is called because what a home is defined as is not mine a place I dread, a place I take a risk going back to, it can't be called home certainly but that's what I have and can't be changed.

' Novia? we have arrived. I heard not knowing when I had drifted off to sleep. I blinked my eyes and opened the door. There stood in front of me my so-called home. 

I walked towards my house and opened the door, walking past the living space dragging myself to my room I felt restless and drained from all my thinking. I threw myself on my bed and faced up staring at the ceiling.

'Novia, wash up I'll make you something to eat' I heard Nannu shouting from the living area. I closed my eyes clearing my mind from the world surrounding me. I didn't know how long I lay on my bed before she shouted again 

'Foods ready!' 

I sat and walked out to eat, silently I moved like a prey approaching a danger zone. I stood by the doorframe and observed Nannu arrange the table for us both. 

I live alone, no parents, no siblings but just a caretaker. I'm not sick or anything but that's how it has been for years as long as I can remember.

'Come, sit I made something little since it's late' she said to me taking my hand and leading me to where I mostly sit. 

I took my seat and pulled the plate closer to me. Munching on my food slowly. I was done and thanked her for the food and went back to my room. I climbed into my bed and took a book to read and off I went to my dream land. 

In the dream...

I found myself in an abyss. I wasn't sure where I was; there was no sky, no ground I could recognize but standing in the distance was a large tree. From somewhere unseen, a soft humming drifted through the darkness, a song that kept me calm.

Drawn to it, I walked toward the tree and sat beneath its wide branches.

The moment my back rested against its trunk, it began to decay.

I scrambled away, watching in horror as the bark darkened and cracked, leaves falling lifelessly to the ground. I tried to cry out, but it was as though my voice had been stolen. I gasped for air, my chest tightening as I forced myself to scream yet no sound came.

The tree withered completely, sickly and worn, collapsing into itself.

Tears streamed down my face as I reached out and touched it once more.

Then the humming stopped.

The tree vanished.

But I remained alone in the abyss.

I began to run. There was no direction, no end in sight. My body grew heavy, exhaustion burning through my limbs, yet my legs refused to stop moving.

I ran... and ran... and ran.

And when my body finally decided to give out, I woke up.