NSC2015 - Prefinals

AN ANGEL'S EMBRACE

AN ANGEL'S EMBRACE

By: Syrelle France S. Paterter

Genre: Fantasy

Location: San Isidro, Libon, Albay

I've been running for hours through this forest. My hamstrings are already calling for a break but my mind says I can't. I have to continue running to save myself from that madman. Half-blinded, I continued my escape.

I was almost at the end when I tripped on a root of an age-old tree and fell to the ground. My ankle is now throbbing as I try to get up and walk. With this injury, it will not be that easy to continue.

I can now see the end of the track. But a few meters away from it, the madman appeared. Goosebumps run through my nerves as I look at his face and saw the bloodlust in his pitch black eyes. He walked slowly towards me, clutching the same axe he used to massacre my family. I guess this is already the end of the line for me. I rested my back on the tree and closed my eyes. It's over.

I was expecting for the axe to hit my body but nothing happened. I opened my eyes and saw that he is nowhere to be seen. Only his axe was left on the ground and a few unusually large black feathers.

+ + +

I awaken with the cool autumn breeze that kissed my cheeks. It was that dream again. The same dream that is haunting me for ten years now. Witnessing the death of my family is not that easy to forget. Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of my sleep feeling that there's someone watching at the end of my bed and was planning to kill me. I am really thankful for whomever or whatever saved me from that madman.

It was already half past six in the morning. I must get up or else my foster Mom will come barging in my door and tickle me to wake up. Besides, I have to get ready for school.

This will be another first day of school for me. My mom and I have to move to this new town because she has to write another book. I was already accustomed with this set up. She is a writer so whenever she has to write a new book, we have to move from one town to another. For her, a new place means a new inspiration. I just hope we'll stay a little longer here.

+ + +

It was my first day but I have to make up with the lessons I have missed for the last months so I have to stay at the town's library to research. Poor Lorie, she'll have a solo dinner tonight.

It was already half past 8 in the evening when I decided to go home. Good thing, our house is just two blocks away from the library; I don't have any trouble going home.

Down on the second block, I pass by a gang of teenagers having their beer on the street. I wonder what their parents would feel if they found out what they've been doing at this time of the day.

"Hey, sweetie. Wanna have some drink?" I heard one of boys shout when I was already a few feet away from them. I just ignored the call and hurriedly walked.

In my peripheral vision, I saw them ride their motorcycles and drive their way towards me so I decided to run. But I tripped and they began to drive; encircling me. After a few rounds they stopped and walked towards me whom was struggling to get on my knees. Two of them, grabbed me by the arms and dragged me towards their leader.

"End of the line, sweetie." The leader said with a voice that sounded like it came from underground. The rest of them laughed with the same sound. I looked at their eyes and saw that all of them now how pitch black irises.