FUKUSHŪ

CHAPTER 14

Chapter 14

"Katarina! Katarina!" a small girlish cry echoed throughout the wide, open hall.

"Ney... Katarina.where are you?" yet there was no answer to her call.

Silence...

"Katarina.." only her own voice was ringing back.

"Katarina..." feeling weak, she could feel a coldness sting inside her heart. It hurt. The coldness she never once realized before.

"..."

"Sharon..." came a serenity voice from behind her.

"Katarina!" turning around she felt excited and happy that she found her friend.

"Katarina...where have you been? I've been looking for you!" running toward the white girl, hastily she took and grip the cold hand and smiled brightly.

Katarina avert her gaze, turning her face sideway.

"Katarina...?" Sharon tilt her head questioning the silent girl. "What is it?"

"Sharon..." Katarina grit her teeth. "Its time for you to go" The words came out as cold as the castle itself. Without any emotion.

"Go? Go where? Ney Katarina..." as if pleading, Sharon gripped hard on the cold hand inside hers.

"Leaving. Your friend, Cain is here." another cold answer.

"No. I won't leave you." Sharon raised her voice.

"Sharon, you can't stay here. You have to leave or you'll die from my spell."

"Why? I want to stay with you. Forever..."

"Leave..." Katarina paused, inhaling before she continued. "Leave. The feeling you have now is just from my spell. Once you're out of this castle, you are free. Forget about this castle, forget about me. Leave..." Katarina tightly closed her eyes and yank her hand out of the grip.

"Katarina.." feeling rejected, Sharon sobbed.

"Leave!" with a loud scream, a gush of wind push Sharon through the big crystal door. With a loud bang, the door shut close leaving Sharon outside of the castle by herself before she heard a call from Cain in the midst of fierce snow storm...

_____

A loud crash sound from upstair alarmed Mina as she jumped in her seat. Panic started to creep into her heart for she knew, the only room upstairs is Chaeyoung's room. Closing the book she read, she threw it aside clumsily and rushed toward the sound. Pushing the door open, she found Chaeyoung laying on the floor. Blood smear on her shirt. The room was in disarray. Sheets everywhere, broken vase and glass on the floor. Cold wind blowing from the broken windows.

"Chaeyoung!" Mina run toward the body on the floor.

"Urgghhhh..." came a reply from Chaeyoung as she flinched in pain.

Inspecting closely at Chaeyoung's form, Mina  could see a wound on her stomach.

"Chaeyoung..." carefully putting Chaeyoung down, Mina  reach for the phone and call the number that came into her mind. Nayeon.

Five minutes later, a siren could be heard stopping at the house lawn. Nayeon rushed toward Chaeyoung's room after kicking the door open with a loud bang. Inspecting the wound, Nayeon reach for first aid kit and wrap the wound. Sweat already wetting her shirt and forehead but her action swift and controlled. She moved calmly and unhesitantly, while Mina still frozen in her panic, unable to do anything. For the moment there, Mina  could feel her heart stop and her knees weak. She shivering in fear. She feel lost.