My Words Are Law

Run

The dream was real...

Facing Chryses' dark face, however, she doesn't know whether to be happy or scared. Happy that she no longer had to always be on her toes, or should she be even more frightened..?

Because if he wasn't that interested in continuously toying with her before, he was surely itching to do it now.

"Again... What did you do?" His calm and leveled voice pulled her out of the remnants of her confusion. She glanced at the people around them first before thinking of a response.

Chryses' earlier outburst seemed to have been quickly forgotten as the shoppers focused on their task, thinking it must have been a joke between friends slash couple- whatever relationship they may have. If not, then it's just another ridiculous prank to be posted in toktik or u-chube, which they might come across later if it were to go viral.

Meanwhile, some women couldn't help but steal glances at him with flushed faces after discovering the presence of a handsome man. Amaryllis completely understood their behavior. After all, if she didn't know him, too, she'd probably give him second and third glances. Right now, however, his good looks resemble the horror movies she'd been watching with Mia.

What did she do..? No matter how much she racked her brain to find an answer to his question, everything sounded ridiculous. In the first place, something like controlling a person's body movement is impossible!

She timidly bowed her head and pointed her feet towards the aisle exit, not wanting to pursue the topic but stilled as soon as familiar words echoed in her mind.

'Use it well...'

She wondered if the being that bestowed her the ability was watching this situation right now. Would it feel... disappointed?

After all, she was given this chance to change her fate, but is she really leaving like this again? Amaryllis wanted to escape from the confrontation, but she wouldn't be able to shift their dynamics if she did.

Her mind began to feel heavy with conflict.

All she wanted was to live in peace, but she couldn't really do that by running alone... It was something she'd never wanted to admit, but that's false peace! She gritted her teeth.

With a determined look, she lifted her chin towards Chryses, whose face was still composed despite the illogical scenario. Regardless of what he was thinking, she was going to say what was needed to be said.

To him... To Chryses Taylor, who became the reason for all the recent pain and anxiety she'd been through.

So... What did she do?

"You don't need to know... Just like how you... played with my ignorance last year..." Her voice was soft, almost inaudible, but she knew Chryses heard her clearly when his eyes slightly narrowed.

He didn't say anything, however, neither admitting nor denying her accusation.

"Chryses Taylor... From now on... Please don't involve yourself with me. It might be entertaining for you, but I..." She gulped before resuming. "...It's not fun for me. So... If you still insist on your whims, I will not hesitate... to use it... on you... Anyway, you can continue shopping, but I'll be going first." She felt disappointed that her voice trembled throughout her speech, but it was better than saying nothing.

She drew a line.

That was something she should have done a long time ago. And she's satisfied with it for the time being.

She slumped in the chair of the bus and exhaled a long breath. Her hands were shaking, she had to clutch them together to control it. It's okay... She can tell him to stop if he tries to do anything. She turned to look at the bookstore as soon as the bus began to move. The reflective glass made it nearly impossible to see the interior, but she felt like someone was looking back at her.

It must be him. Chryses Taylor...

Her small and pale face was a stark contrast to the colorful banners of advertisement on the building and it made her feel smaller. Biting her lips, she looked to the front, trying to appear as unaffected as can be.

When she returned home, Ivor curiously looked her over.

"Did something happen?" He asked flippantly as he took the books from her.

"I... stopped by to eat ice cream, but it tasted weird." The lie came out of her mouth naturally. It was scary how she was slowly becoming an expert at this, but it was something that was inevitable if she wanted to protect Ivor.

"You came back?" The voice of their Aunt Rosa drifted from the kitchen to the living room.

"Yes, Aunt..! I'll come help you in a bit!" She responded as she patted Ivor on the head before heading to the source of the appetizing aroma wafting under her nose since she entered the apartment. It had been a while since their young aunt returned from her vacation.

As soon as she came home, she immediately immersed herself in the household chores while nagging at Amaryllis.

That she should go and get a life out of the house and all her part time jobs. Aunt Rosa had also complained that the siblings had become too thin since the last time she saw them, and once she caught sight of the books that were lying messily on Ivor's desk, she had harrumphed and held her tiny waist while looking at them with squinted eyes.

"Have you really been properly caring for yourselves while I was away?"

"Of course!" The two siblings answered in unison. In the end, their answer was ignored, and their Aunt's sermon grew endless as she circled the house like a hound, looking at every nook and cranny to search for something even more to say.

Ivor and Amaryllis merely sighed as they accepted their fate.

Their aunt was being a worrywart again, but neither of them complained. After all, despite her sharp words, her heart was soft. She was the first adult who cared for them sincerely since their parents died. Amaryllis couldn't even begin to imagine what could have happened if they didn't meet the woman.

Their Aunt Rosa wasn't a blood relative, but she treated them like they were her own niece and nephew. The young and energetic woman was a close neighbor during Amaryllis' pre-teen years. Young as she was, Amaryllis was polite and friendly to everyone, including the young girl who was said to be a bad influence in their otherwise perfect neighborhood. There were many rumors surrounding Rosa, but her parents strictly taught her not to trust hearsay.

Amaryllis always greeted the troubled teenager, who ignored her initially but soon cozied up to her as time passed. The past Rosa was immature and haughty, and her words were very cruel, but one day, she came across Rosa's figure, who was staring silently at the sunset from the pocket park at the corner of the block.

It was the first time she saw a face that was void of childish angst. She was too young to describe it the way she thought of it now, but she remembered thinking Rosa looked like an adult at that moment.

The young teenager beckoned Amaryllis to sit by the other swing with a strange serene smile. She talked about a lot of funny things and treated her to food which she never did before. It was the kindest she had been, but Amaryllis didn't think any of it. She was just happy with the food and Rosa's kind smiles. When Rosa finally carried her home, she was reluctant to part with her, so she gave the teen her most treasured item, saying it would be like she was always with her.

Rosa looked like she was on the verge of tears as she looked down at her, but she blinked, and it vanished, making it seem like Amaryllis had imagined them. Rosa smiled and said, "Thank you."

Amaryllis never saw the teen again after that day. She went to find her at Rosa's home almost every day, but no one was around to answer her questions.

She cried all night after that, troubling her parents, who tried to soothe her as much as they could. She thought she would never see Rosa again until the woman came across her on the streets eleven years later.

***