Meet Me Here

Chapter Two: The Outside World

I woke up drenched in sweat. My heart is thumping really fast. I’m having a nightmare. I stared at my clock just beside my bedside table, 2:13am.

In my dream, I was in the school grounds as I sat at the middle of it deep-looking what lies ahead of the deep, taunting, dark forest. Looking afar, as if I was in the blurry view of a black hole, it’s as if it is begging me to enter its cave, ready to claw me on the way in. Just then as I was ready to turn my back and run, I saw a glimpse of Red entering the dark forest. Frightened, I run ahead not caring what would happen to me as I try to save my friend only to be met by some guy I didn’t know. He enveloped me with a hug and dragged me inside.  That and I came to a halt and woke up.

The morning wind continues to blow my curtain. Wait a minute! I don’t remember opening my window last night. Just then, I stared with something inhumane. Those red gleaming eyes keep on looking, it’s like waiting for its prey to grow up and be ready to serve for its full course meal. I slammed shut my window fast, layered it with the curtain and roll into my bed.

I didn’t feel myself getting asleep only when my alarm clock rings. It’s already 9am and I am already late. It’s okay to leave my class and be late but not on my friend who is parting ways with me for almost 6 years.

Traffic’s already been a problem lately. So I guess accidents are already prone too. I get off from the taxi and ran like a mad dog to the airport. I don’t care about the honks and curses being thrown to me for not following the law.

In case you were wondering, I didn’t make it. I’m 15 minutes late from the intended departure. I can feel myself crying right now even though I’m old enough not to cry. I don’t care if people judge me if I am crazy or sensitive, crying over nothing or maybe gay because for they see, men don’t cry. You get judge eventually no matter what’s behind your stories.

I don’t want to talk to people. I just hid. You would think that my story revolves just around us but no. If I could make my life private I would.  I didn’t show up to sparring, I’ll get head-snapped with my nose-flaring coach eventually.

***

It’s surprising how I manage to get myself up despite what happened. But coach Espada managed to help me up through his harsh words telling me to man-up and prove that I’m not a nutcrack but just a nut.

I don’t feel like wearing the white robe. I don’t feel like stepping into the platform that used to be my stage. I don’t see myself competing in a moment where I’m battling with myself. Still, I have bigger challenge today: Man vs. Self and Man vs. Man.

Surprisingly, I got into the semi-finals and I’m up with this guy whom I barely saw through my competitions. Maybe he’s new. I got up from my seat and met with his intense stare.

It feels like he’s seeing me underneath this robe I’m wearing and it’s awkward. This stare suddenly shifted to me. His grey-eyes I met turned to black and it gives me the chills. It feels like he’s up to something I’m not or he’s not capable off.

He shakes his head, grabs his bag, tells his coach he’s forfeiting and leave without turning his back. That suddenly gave me the outburst. Who the hell does he think he is!

I ran up to attack him but only to be tackled in the end. It’s a good thing we’re in the dark alleyway and no one saw my failed attempt. I’m literally being pinned down by this guy and I’m fighting the urge to struggle from his grasp. All my trainings are worthless, what the heck?

“Nice try, mate.” He said beneath my ear lobe which gave me the tickle and the creeps.

“Fuck off stranger!” I burst and continued to struggle. There’s a good and bad thing when it comes to when you are alone with a complete maniac. The good thing was that no one saw my embarrassment earlier, and the bad thing is you don’t know what’s going to happen in between.

He kisses my neck and I can feel his hands trailing in my abdomen. “St—op.” The only word that manage to come out. Stupid. Stupid.

Just then I felt him moved off of me. My vision starting to get blurry and I passed out not knowing why.

***

I jolt awake from the bed that wasn’t mine. The room is urbanised concept packed with a list of punk rock band that lined up the walls. Not my kind of room. There’s a stack of DVD’s by my side and a glass of water that’s lying on the bedside table.

I stared at the clock, 10:12pm. How long was I out? I stared at my cell and there are 10 missed calls from my coach. Where the heck I am?

“Oh, you’re awake”. I stared at Adrian who is currently leaning on the door frame. The light illuminates his body making it hard to see.

I stand right-up, ready to gather my belongings only to realise there was none? Either I left it or someone took it. “Do you uhm... do you know where are my belongings are? And how did I get here?” I asked Adrian.

“Uh no. I just found you in the Lever Complex. I thought you were dead as you were lying unconscious to the ground". He said and I believed him. Even though we're in constant battle, I will still believe him. This for the fact that, it’s the first time his eye sparks clear as he said those words. On the contrary, fishy, how I ended up in Lever Complex ground but the last time I remember was that I was in the carpark. That’s basically, almost half kilometre in the destination I was found.

“Ah gee. Sorry about that but thanks.” I grabbed my phone and I walked to the door. “Thanks by the way.” I said.

Before I could open the door, “But it’s late. It’s not safe walking down through River Lane considering you’re alone". Adrian said. Yeah, I know it’s not safe to walk alone but River Lane? Take me a piss. I nearly smiled to the joke Adrian is making but then I remember that River Lane is connected to that obscure forest—the forest that intercepts the rumours inside the school. But hey, I’ve got my pocket knife with me and I don’t want to sleep the night with a person whom I barely knew off.

“Nah, I’m good.” I said and dashed off before Adrian could say another word.

The night is chilly and I’m only wearing the robe I used before what happened. The lights that illuminate the city continue to flicker. There was no one in this area but me. The wind continues to blow, the trees keep on slapping each other with their branches, and the leaves are being blown in all directions. I should’ve stayed. Regrets.

There was a fierce growl. Someone’s in this area. I should’ve known that River Lane is dangerous and it is known to many for its unbalance nature. I look around and pointed my pocket knife in the direction of the sound. “Who’s that?! Come out! I’m not afraid of you!” I shouted.

Then in the corner, I saw a silhouette. A man whose back I don’t quite forget. Red.

I dashed to the silhouette shouting his name. He goes deep into the forest not turning his back and my instincts urge me not to follow him but I did.

Before I realised what I have done, I entered to a place where something no human can bravely do. I thought only they were fallacies and that they are being told to children as scary tales to make them obey and sleep early. This place was never a straight-up fallacy or even fantasy, it was part of reality, contrasting the world in balance.

This is the Outside World.