Mysterious Chime (Book #1)

C H I M E 6

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When Axel said "Let's get out of here" I thought he meant us going away from the mall but from his retreating figure with two coffee cups occupied in either hands, I figured he was talking about the cafeteria. A drink would actually help me especially after seeing those flashes.

Flashing a tight smile Axel passed me my coffee.

"How did you find me?" I asked after taking my first steamy sip.

"I was in the next aisle choosing something for you and when I returned with it to ask you try out you weren't there. I started searching every aisle thinking you've gotten lost and like a call from an angel I overheard someone talking about a girl freaked out in the fitting room. That's how I found you."

"Thank you," my voice came out meekly.

"There's no need to. On serious note, however, do you want to talk about it? When I saw you in that feeble state I wondered what could scare you off that much."

I sighed deeply keeping the coffee cup aside. I should probably open up a bit for he deserves it. "An untolerable noise kept ringing in my ears suddenly. The time I clearly exposed my weakened state to you I was having an inner battle with my past trying to get a proper picture of the blurry memories that flashed constantly."

At this point, Axel had his brows furrowed in concern like he's playing chess-carefully laying a strategy against the opponent. "I assume you must have caught onto something." His calm yet sharp eyes fixated on me with an attempt of getting an answer out.

I did cling into a small piece of memory. Hoping to keep it to myself I looked at Axel with sadness in my eyes, "Is it okay if I not tell you about it?" Axel nodded his head rather quickly with an "Of course."

"I know I'm complicated and by now you must have realised what sort of a mess you bumped into. You still have time to turn around and walk away, Axel," My voice came out hoarse as I gave him the opportunity he deserves. I know I yearned for a stronger bond with him yet I didn't have the heart to show the cross I carried within me. To show what dangers await for me. It would be selfish of me if I keep relying on him, making him worry whilst putting his life on line.

Axel shook his head with disappointment."I thought we already talked about this. I told you, Nora, I'm okay with this. You are not somebody I 'bumped into' infact I approached you, accepted you for who you are and is still willing to help you. You can't keep pushing me away like this, love. Specially when you know that it's my arms you'd run back into." The last statement was told in a hushed tone as if another purpose was served behind those words. A chill ran down my spine but shrugged the feeling off putting the blame on paranoia.

"Now that we've taken a breather how about we finish what we started?" Axel asked with a smirk on his face bringing a quick groan out of me in response. Stupid stain!

"Don't worry, love, for you have my sole assurance on staying by your side this time." With a wink passed in my direction Axel took me with him and together-hand in hand, we came back to the place where my second nightmare began. First the beach now the mall.

What location awaits next?

Don't blame the place when it's all on you, Nora. I reminded myself because it was true that everything I'm experiencing now was brought upon me.

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The person who said that they'll be sticking with me by my side left me alone with a girl around the age of ten who Axel thought would help fit in without a doubt. "Find me in the sixth stall if you finish first," He had told before leaving.

"Hey I think that looks pretty on you," She complimented with a wide grin.

"You think so?" I questioned. Unsure of what I'm having in my hand, I inspected; it was a short sunflower print sundress. Will it look better on me?

"Yes. Just try it on," the little girl pushed me towards the trial room. Exhaling a lump of air, I stood in front of the body length mirror that made myself to gasp at the scary reflection. I wanted to do nothing but be six feet under. My puffy tired eyes scanned deeply at every part of my body. How did Axel even look me in the eye when all I've appeared to become is a total disaster not only from the inside but also from the outside?

Its obvious why some people gave pitiful looks at the two of us--higher proportion to me while he was safe sided.

"Are you stuck with the zip? Need any help there?" In came the voice of my little helper from the other side of the door. Not wanting to make the little girl wait for me, I stripped down quickly.

"I'm alive,"I shouted playfully making the girl laugh in return.

Fastening my hands I attired myself. I felt comfortable though, when the dress hugged my body without any burdens of loose fit. Taming the wild strands of my hair with my fingers and the palm at the end of the process--I groomed well. The only thought killing me was the craving for a warm shower to rid myself off the essence of the salt water, dirt and sweat.

Shoving off the disgusted thought about my body being a complete sewage, I took a huge breath in and opened the door to meet the pairs of black eyes I've met minutes ago. She had her jaws slacking sideways which made it hard for me to assume whether it was for good or for bad.

"Something wrong?" Believing my confidence went down the drain seeing the girl's reaction, I turned back around in disappointment. Did the dress suck that much?

"Are you kidding me?" my head snapped in a second to see each of her hands now on her hips, with a frown settling her flushed face.

"Huh?"I raised my brow.

"That dress looks perfectly perfect on you. I'm sorry if my face gave you the wrong impression that told you otherwise but I think the dress really looks like some tailor made. I even rate 10 out of 10 from the scale of beauty," She gushed her compliments like she was trained to do so.

"So you think this is the one?" I was relaxed to hear her opinion now.

"Yes it is. Although I could really help you find some more if , you are planning to buy more that is" The little girl offered making me feel small. The situation I was dealing was quite ironic and I'm being pathetic to my best, showing it all in action since I couldn't even choose and try out a dress properly without someone's help. And that someone having to be some preteen.

Changing back to my nightmarish white dress, I walked further down the aisle, with the little girl whose name I learned later as Kylie. As planned we somehow roamed around, dropping by at the same spot once or twice but barely failed to collect clothes one by one.

"My task ends from here then," Kylie's face crossed with the emotion of sadness as mine mirrored the same. When I had asked about her parents she told me that she was given 2 hours to be in the mall as she rendezvoused with her father. The kid seems to come out rich with more liberty otherwise no parents would allow a preteen to roam around a busy mall for two hours.

Crouching down a bit to her level, I spoke,"Don't you worry, I'm pretty sure that we would meet once again---sooner or later."

The sadness in her face was soon washed over as the thought of meeting again influnced her to stick onto it. With glistening eyes Kylie stretched her hand forward with only her pinkie raised up,"Pinkie promise?"

Attaching mine with hers I sealed my promise and with that being done, I finally showed my gratitude I was awaiting to give at the end of the day, through a bone crushing hug,"Thank you, angel," I whispered feeling bad at the thought of seeing her depart soon after the return of the hug with a kiss on my cheek by her.

I needed that.