Alyssa's Cup Of Tea

🐇 Chapter 4

The swirly, hypnotic eyes became more solid and conjuring behind was a form, solidifying to give appearance to the distorted snicker that filled the labyrinth. A huge glob standing upright of what seemed to be a caterpillar. Its heavy mass was supported mid-air by a mushroom that sprouted from the ground below. With deep inhale from the bizarre creature, the thick misty darkness spread in the labyrinth partly faded and Gino finally saw its malignant detailed appearance. A towering caterpillar indeed with such rough texture and small pricks sticking out of its jelly-like form.

Gino did not budge from where he stood, the disgusting and frightening form was not fazing him at all. He continue staring at the caterpillar with his previous confusion gone. "So it's you"

The freaky bluish-purple caterpillar smiled and took another hit from its drug disguised as a huge cinnamon bread. "And you knew you will get lost because you knew the purpose will be found when you get lost"

"What the fuck" Gino scoffed, he shook his head and approached closer. "Stop talking to me like a madman and tell if this is the way to the Hidden Garden"

Laughter flowing with amusement came from the caterpillar, it breathed on Gino's face. "That temper of yours never changed no matter what skin you wear. But you are not wrong, this is the way to the oasis, only they can enter freely"

"And I can't"

"He said only they can enter freely" It repeated.

Gino squinted his eyes, irritated and feeling a restriction in his chest but he wouldn't try his luck to get past this creature. He knew that if he firmly instructed it, there would be nothing they could do. That he person was someone Gino didn't want to mess with.

He paced back and forth murmuring. "I need to find another way."

"You are not far from what you are aiming to grasp, you're in the right track. Get lost further and you will find the answer" The caterpillar declared, inhaling from the cinnamon roll drug.

Gino straightened his posture as he glanced back at the massive bizarre creature. "I do not believe Anneliese died a natural death in the hospital, I may have been beyond her reach during those days but I knew in my heart she didn't have any illness"

A deep chuckle reverberated from the caterpillar. "Indeed. She hardly died a natural death" With those words, it slowly melted out of Gino's sight and the labyrinth became quiet again except from the cricket noises and wind.

--

Alessa was a Laceheart in papers but she never felt the sense of belonging in her extended family; always cold they were and dismissive, regarding all her perspective as boring and not worth listening to. She always wanted to become a writer just like her mother, rooting from the endless fascination of reading classics, fairy tales and trends, Alessa found it within that this was what she wanted to be and the dream to weave scenes, worlds and lives through writing didn't fade.

As a Laceheart it would have been a piece of cake to get what she wanted, however, reiterating that she seemed to be only sharing the family's last name and nothing more.

But Alessa wanted to try despite the blatant hostility and discouragement for her writing skills, she didn't want to give up the pen and this dream so that morning, she mustered the courage to go to father's private office.

"Father, will you allow me to take the opportunity of submitting my manuscript? I have finished a novel lately and the theme is befitting one of the brand our publishing company is promoting" This was Alessa's composed statement mid morning prior to the joys of the party, her siblings had not been around—Alyssa needed to be in a photoshoot in the business district of Marchen whilst Alessio was also working since he was one of the family's best critique and proofreader in the company. "I have the manuscript prepared..." She had brought the thick compiled papers which she had printed yesterday and placed it on the huge expensive polished hardwood table.

Ramon had been concentrating counting stacks of money from two suitcases on the floor, he didn't look at his daughter nor said a word related to her statement. "This should be enough to get those assholes moving" He countered the bills one by one.

Patience. Alessa had lots of it, she learned this early after mother's passing, as they majorly sculpted somewhere in her mind that to be prioritized she would never be, the strawberry blonde young lady learned to wait so she stood there with her hands in front of her and waited like a servant.

...

"—Father?"

Ramon lost track and count of the money, his face immediately morphed into raw anger. "Fuck! I am almost finished!" He growled like an offended beast, throwing the money on the floor and turned to glare murderously at Alessa. "You stupid bitch! Are you blind and you didn't see me busy?!" His large hands grabbed the manuscript laid on the table, crumpling and tearing it to pieces in front of her.

Seeing the fruits of her hard work gone an instant made tears welled in Alessa's eyes, she whimpered meekly. "Father...I just want--"

"No! No! No!" Ramon grabbed a handful of Alessa's long hair, pulling it without holding himself back and hit her against the concrete wall. Then he unclasped the belt from his pants and began hitting her with its buckle.

The private office had been filled with cries and pleas, ironic to say when it was such a gorgeous weather and bright day—outside everyone were excitedly preparing for the evening occasion to celebrate Midori's consistent performance.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It hurts!" Alessa sobbed, every hit she got from the buckle on her forearm were painful and made her cry louder but the man towering over her fallen, cornered form—the man whom she must refer to as father, the man she always hoped to notice what she could do.

This man was a raging beast who reflected no guilt nor remorse.

Ramon grabbed her chin tightly, squeezing too hard. "Learn your place, bitch. Be fucking grateful I'm keeping you here and letting you eat on my table, and letting you have my last name." He pushed her back on the wall.

.

.

"Alessa, I asked a question" The sternness and impending anger was palpable in Alyssa's tone, it pulled the girl back to the current situation. She found herself stuck cold between two intimidating sentinels who mirrors each other's appearance yet contrasting aura.

These two...they were the only people in this household who made her feel she matter.

Alessio had been watching their exchanged, the room did go colder and he sensed the cutting tension like a blade. Things were not going to end nicely for people tonight. "Perhaps we should find out the hard way, twin. I do not mind, it will be a good way to close the evening for our dear visitors"

"Right, I have enough strength to entertain them, are you coming, Alessio?" She scoffed, pulling Alessa again close to her on the beanie plush, hugging the shaking girl. The white-haired model wasn't oblivious to the fear that clouded those tourmaline pink eyes. She didn't need to hear who caused the bruises because she already knew. "Enjoy your food and get some rest after, we will be back."

Alessa tried voicing a protest, "Stay with me, let's eat together" She gripped her older sister's arms. By entertainment, it only meant one thing and that was nowhere near being entertaining.

"No can do, our love" Alyssa gave a small smile, gently caressing the girl's cheek. "Since father thought it was amusing to hurt you, then it is only fair we do the same"

"Well said, Alyssa" In those onyx black and sapphire blue eyes of Alessio, a manic gleam could be seen. Calm as a lake he might have been but he was not so different from his twin.