Obscure

Chapter One

I took care as I stepped up into the small bakery on Salisbury Street, looking for a bite to eat on my way to school. My face was hit with a comforting heat as I entered the cozy shop, adorned with rusted wooden floors and gentle lighting. I stepped up to the counter where Ms. Lin, the owner was sweeping, waiting for the exact moment a customer would come in.

"Good morning Mei," she greeted me with a kind smile, carefully setting down her broom, "Would you like the usual?"

However, I had already drowned out her voice as I became distracted by a sweet I hadn't seen displayed before, or maybe I just hadn't noticed - triple dark chocolate cookies. It seemed simple, yet something about it made me feel a rush a déjà vu. It was tempting every last particle in me to buy some and experience a moment of nostalgia that I couldn't recall.

"Mei?" Ms. Lin spoke up, finally pulling me from my momentary trance.

"Sorry," I apologized, "I'm out of it this morning. Do you think I can have a few of these cookies instead?" I pointed to the triple dark chocolate cookies.

"Of course." She got out a small bag and placed three cookies in the bag. I hurriedly paid for them before departing from the shop, stepping back out into the nippy spring air.

I felt oddly excited as I held the small bag. I carefully took out a cookie and examined every crumb and crack in it. It's scent was just as indulgent as I had imagined it would be. I lifted it to my mouth and took a bite. The flavor was much more rich than I imagined, but it filled me with a strong sense of nostalgia that I couldn't quite place. I can't recall ever having this kind of cookie, let alone eating enough of it to fill me with such a feeling.

Such experiences happened often to me. It could be a scent. It could be a sound. It could even be a certain area. I felt it when I smelled orange blossom. I felt it when I heard traditional Japanese music at festivals. However, I didn't ever feel it so strongly than when I was in a wooded area, a forest. It felt overpowering in the forest near my parent's house. Some days I went there just to feel at peace, yet the gnawing sensation of familiarity sometimes drove me to insanity. I've always been drawn to a large lake located in the forest, sometimes even tempted to jump in. However, I never did, as I didn't know how deep the lake really was, or what might be lurking in it.

I hurriedly finished my cookies as I reached my school's campus and hurried off to my first class. I quietly wrote down the notes as the teacher went on with his lecture. I envied the groups of people who sat about, quietly chatting between slides. I didn't have many friends, and the ones I did have didn't seem to know much about me. Maybe they were more like acquaintances and I was only flattering myself thinking of them as friends. I did anything to feel less lonely these days, and turning eighteen didn't help as I went through the school day without one happy birthday wish. Some people say they hate being sung happy birthday or having any attention put on them for it, but I would be utterly grateful for any attention for it besides from my parents. I wonder what it's like to be noticed in such a way.

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I lit up my phone's display, shocked by how late it had become. I quickly finished studying and packed up my bag so I could easily fling it over my shoulder in the morning. Since it was already past midnight, I naturally picked my inviting bed over the shower, setting an alarm for an hour earlier instead so I would have time to get ready. I changed into my nightgown and slid in between my soft sheets, wiggling around until I found a suitable position before checking my phone once more. Once again, I was reminded how nobody except my parents had remembered my birthday. I sighed and opened my music app instead, playing a playlist of rainforest sounds to help lull me to sleep.
   
The only thing that allowed me to sleep was music which imitated nature somehow. I wasn't sure why or what sort of psychological explanation there was for it. I have had problems sleeping for as long as I could remember. I've taken countless sleeping tests and been on many medications, but nothing seemed to work, so I had given up until I got my first smartphone. Only then did I test listening to music which sounded like nature. Sometimes I listened to ocean imitating music, sometimes crickets, sometimes even just wind. But the one kind that knocked me out the fastest was those related to forests or woods.
   
I was on the edge of consciousness and unconsciousness when I heard a loud crash. The loud and unwelcoming sound frightened me into an upright position, quickly pulling me back to my conscious state. My eyes naturally followed to where I had heard the sound and to my horror, I realized my window had been broken, pieces of glass decorating my wooden floor. In front of it stood a tall, dark figure which I couldn't quite make out.
  
A million different thoughts and ideas ran through my head as I was frozen in fear. Why would an intruder pick this house? Why would they choose my bedroom as their point of entry? Unless I was their target? Had I somehow become someone's target for attack? I felt my heart jump as the figure suddenly displayed red glowing eyes. It looked so real and natural. I wanted to scream, but it got stuck in my throat as the figure stepped forward, some of the moonlight finally filtering into my room and giving me some idea of who this person was.
   
It looked like a man, but he was dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, adorning a white sort of kimono with light designs on it which seemed to depict that of an ocean. His skin was snow white and his hair also looked to be purely white, gracefully flowing past his shoulders. His features were sharp, yet they complimented him. I then noticed his piercing red eyes, glowing in the darkness. Finally, I gasped as I took in the large ears on his head which looked to belong to a fox. They matched his hair color and slightly twitched as he looked me over himself.
   
"Akari, is that you?" the creature spoke up. His voice possessed a deep resonance within it, yet it had a smooth and calming quality to it as he spoke to me. It gave me a sense of comfort that I felt like I've known before.
   
"Who are you?" I finally got out, my breathing turning labored, "What do you want from me? My name isn't Akari!" The creature slightly tilted his head, seeming puzzled by my response. Before I could react, he was at my side and reached out his pale hand, softly caressing my cheek.
   
"No, you're Akari. I know you are," he insisted. I screamed and crawled away from him as much as I could. He jumped a little, shocked by my reaction.
   
"Get away from me!" I screamed, "I don't know you!"
   
"Mei?" I heard my mother call from downstairs, "Are you alright?"
   
"Help!" I screamed as loud as I could, "There's a stranger in the house!" I only heard a deep sigh before I was easily scooped off my bed. I let out a blood-curdling scream as I struggled to get out of the creature's arms. However, his hold on me was too tight as he jumped out of my window with no question. I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing myself for impact, but noticed nothing had happened. I opened my eyes and he took off like a bullet, heading for the forest near my house. "Let me down!" I insisted, fighting against him more.
   
"I can't do that," he answered simply, giving me no context.
   
"Why not? You want Akari right? I'm not Akari!"
   
"I'll explain everything when we go home." His voice was very monotone and took on a cold tone as he ran at supersonic speed. It was making me dizzy and I started to feel nauseous, but I pressed on,
   
"Home? I was home!" I garnered no response from him as he continued running. The trees around us were nothing but a blur. I wasn't used to traveling at such a fast speed. I felt as if I might pass out any moment. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping it would end soon, only to be startled as I heard a splash followed by the ice cold water enveloping me.
   
My eyes widened as I noticed we were already far away from the surface of the water, the moonlight ever so slightly lighting the pond. Despite the colorful fish and various underwater plants livening up the dark pond, I felt frightened and started to fight against the creature who still had a hold on me with my life. I didn't want to die like this. I didn't want to surrender to the dark abyss of the water, even if the creature dragging me down here was beautiful. My eyes then met with the creature's, his eyes glowing even brighter in the dark water, guiding his way. I felt as if I almost heard him snicker for a moment.
   
"You don't have to hold your breath you know," he said, tempting me to breathe, "This isn't a normal lake." I furrowed my brows, unwilling to believe him. I then noticed his features weren't quite as scary to me as they were before. They were much more soft and almost took on an angelic look. I felt a weird connection to this man - or creature, that I couldn't understand. Before I realized what I was doing, I took a breath, only to realize that he was right. I didn't feel any water enter my lungs. It was as if I was still above the surface, breathing oxygen.
   
I was scared out of my mind by the unknown. My consciousness faded as we dove deeper. However, despite the madness my mind was in, I began to feel an undeniable reassurance given by his sturdy grip. As my consciousness faded, I studied his countenance, trying with everything I had to understand why he looked so familiar, why he seemed like someone I knew. I still couldn't find a clear answer as my mind clouded and darkness completely enveloped me.