Dark Fairytale (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Chapter 3: Unquiet Slumbers

CHAPTER 3: UNQUIET SLUMBERS

His eyes were so dark and cold that fear started to creep inside my chest. It was as if he was staring right into my soul and I was starting to believe that I had been swallowed by my nightmare. But he blinked and a short smile made its way to his lips. Somehow, it made me feel that I was safe and everything I feared would remain in my dreams.

"Bad dreams?" He asked.

I blinked and stared at him. With just two words, he convinced me that everything was just that—a dream–that it could never harm me anymore. I nodded and pushed myself up to sit on the bench. He stood from kneeling in front of me and kept his distance.

"You're in my personal space again," sa halip ay wika ko sa kanya.

Inilibot ko ang aking paningin at napatayo mula sa aking inuupan nang makitang madilim ang paligid. Masyado bang napahaba ang tulog ko? Sinipat ko ang relo sa aking kamay at nakita na 6:30 pm na ng gabi.

"I need to go home," nagpapanic kong wika sa aking sarili at kinuha ang aking bag. Tumakbo ako patungo sa bukana ng school at nanlumo nang makitang wala na ang sasakyang maghahatid sa akin pauwi. Kakailanganin kong maghanap ng taxi na maghahatid sa akin pauwi kina Uncle William. Bukod pa roon, alam kong hindi maganda ang naghihintay sa akin sa mansyon. Iniisip ko pa lang ang sasabihin nila ay tila nais ko nang batukan ang aking sarili.

Naguumpisa na akong maglakad patungo sa gate ng Elford High School nang isang itim na Ducati ang nakita kong papalapit sa aking kinaroroonan. Sakay nito si Declan na mas nagpadagdag pa sa pagiging misteryoso nito. Tumigil ito sa mismong harap ko at saka iniabot sa akin ang isang itim na helmet. Sa halip na abutin ay tiningnan ko lang iyon.

"There's no cab driver who would think that someone from Elford High needs a ride. You'll have a hard time getting one," wika niya.

Kunot-noo ko siyang tiningnan at ang iniaabot niyang helmet. I had never ridden a motorcycle before. I didn't even know how to ride a bicycle. I was scared that if I put myself on that two-wheel thing, I would just lose my balance and fall. But it was getting darker and there were fewer people around the school. I was beginning to imagine myself on the side of the road, waiting for a cab that would never come.

"Why would you help me? We just met each other yesterday," I asked suspiciously.

I didn't know anything about him. Who knew if he was planning something terrible and I would be his next (or worse, first) victim? I just saw him leap from a branch of a high tree. What normal person could do that? Who wanted to risk suffering with broken bones or falling dead by jumping off a tree?

"Why am I helping you?" He asked silently.

Mas lalong lumala ang pagkaka-kunot ng aking noo. Ngayon naman ay hindi ko masiguro kung ako ang tinatanong niya o ang sarili niya. Binawi niya ang kanyang braso na nag-aabot ng helmet sa akin.

"I'll be on my way then," sa wakas ay wika niya at akmang isusuot ang helmet.