Wind Arrow

Chapter 6: Chamber of secrets

"Fa-ther?" The crack in my voice comes from the shock within me.

He doesn't retort.

I observe the obscure surroundings and discern that I'm somewhere I've never been before. The trees around us blend to the ice cold breeze that embraces us in the night. I glance at the sky, perceiving no moon but only the stars sparkling above unlike the scene a few hours ago. How strange. The damp grass where I woke up finding myself lying on, adds to my uneasiness forcing me to stand up.

"Father!" I repeat in my own voice.

Still no answer.

I pace nearer, reaching my hand towards his shoulder expecting him to hear me out. All at once, my hand passes right through him. I situate my hands in front of his eyes scrutinizing if he could see me. Yet, he doesn't respond like nothing happened.

No, it can't be. I'm invisible. He can't see or feel me nor even hear me. In his eyes, I do not exist.

Or maybe this time has existed a long time ago. But I wonder how I got here. All I can remember is Zylle. He probably knows what's happening. But where is he?

"Zylle! Where are you?"

"Look at your father". I hear Zylle's voice.

I look around finding no one.

"Don't joke around with me! Where are you? Show up!"

"I'm in your thoughts so you can't find me. Just please do as I say."

"Get out of my thoughts! Bring me back! Why is my father here? It's not real right? He can't even see me. Where am I?"

"Stop ignoring me or else I'll be hard up on connecting with you. Look at your father. Everything you see is a memory."

I look at my father and a memory of him ponders upon me. I miss him. I miss him so much. I want all the times when I was with him to be back. Where I'd hug him and feel his warmth. I want him to be here with me. I want to believe in Zylle. But how can I if my own mother who raised me up told me herself that he's gone?

I stay in silence watching my father under the gleaming stars.

"This memory of your father was in our world. It's good that I put you in your own body when I brought you here. I'll explain everything to you later."

I again stare at my father's face. What a usual handsome bright face despite signs showing his age. His expression seems gloomy. His eyes flicker darker reflecting with his inner emotions.

Suddenly, he perambulates toward an unusual stone. The stone was strangely shining, I don't know if it's just a mere reflection from the luminous stars from above. It's size about three feet long and wide. I step closer and observe its peculiarity. Until my father touches the writings engraved on it. The writing inscribed really confuses me.

Daniel Zalton

Can this possibly be a tombstone? But it doesn't have a date or anything else on it. It only has my father's name inscribed on it. But why is my father's name on it?

No. He might have planned this after all. He might have planned his death and is falsifying it after all. But why would he!?

"Why father?"

After that question full of desires and confusions, my vision gets black.

"Open your eyes." I can hear Zylle's real voice.

I open my eyes seeing a glimpse of his face. Everything's normal. We're still here in this room with his hands on my chest. He removes it slowly and I get dazed all at once.