Chapter 2

I quickly gathered my things when our professor dismissed us. I went to my bike where I parked it and drove my way to Lily and Darah's school. It was ten minutes drive from my University. My mind kept on replaying on what Klare had said earlier that I can't even focus on my classes.

I decided to wait under the tree nearby the gate. It was a joint school so many parents where here outside with me to fetch their kids too. The bell rung loudly and it didn't take time when the students swarmed the school grounds.

My eyes were quick to move to find Lily and Darah. I moved my bike and approached them when I saw them walking out of the gate. Both of them were shocked upon seeing me, especially Lily.

"Meymey!" Darah jumped excitedly and asked for a hug.

"This is a surprise. What are you doing here, Meyan?" Lily asked in confusion. I understand her because this was the first time that I've waited for them to finish their class. They usually wait for our mother to went home together.

"Mom will come home by night and she told me that we should go home together," I lied. "Here, you can take the bike. I'll just walk."

We only have one bike and it guilts me that I'm the one who's using it. It's not much a big deal to them because they said that my class were earlier than them. I was just glad that some of villagers were kind enough to take them along whenever they go to work here in town.

Lily shakes her head in refuse. "I prefer walking. Just take Darah with you."

I didn't pursue her anymore. Even though Lily was quite and timid, I know that she hates arguing.

The sun was setting as we take the road back in the mountains. Darah was sitting behind me who keeps on talking about her school today. I kept the bike in a slow and steady pace for the sake of Lily who's walking silently beside us.

"How's school, Lily?" I dared to ask, trying hard to be a good eldest sister.

"It's good." Her answer was plain, ending easily my attempt to start a conversation. I really want to talk to her but she has this invisible barrier telling that I shouldn't come closer to her. I don't know what's running in her head. She's like a big puzzle to me. Or maybe she doesn't deemed me good enough to talk to.

"Did you heard the rumors? Some villagers saw a group of men earlier here. It seems like they were looking for something."

My neck snapped back to the women we passed by. We are already in the village and during a time like these, after the whole day chores and work, everyone were outside for small talks to kill time.

"Yeah. I heard it from my husband. He immediately closed the door when he saw those men. He told me that they're like observing the surroundings. Though they didn't do anything, it was still scary."

"I saw them! They looked hoodlums, I swear. Make sure to lock everything tonight."

I gulped. I shakes my head. It was just a coincidence... It was just a coincidence..

I was startled when someone touched my arm. I looked down at Darah. "Meymey, let's go. I'm starving," she complained.

"O-Okay."

Lily on the other hand seems serious and quieter than usual. I know she heard that too. I continued to pedal and that's when I got to noticed that my hands were trembling, my legs were wobbling too that I almost lost the balance of the bike.

I became restless after what I've heard. I know that I shouldn't be panicking but I shouldn't take this lightly either. I don't want them to get harmed because of me.

I'm helping Darah with her bath while my mind was battling if I should stay here with them or go downtown for my mother. This situation almost got me crying. What should I do?

Darkness covered the entire village and the only light outside were the torches and the bright moon. I decided to stay here for a bit. Darah was doing her homework in the room while Lily was cleaning the dishes. I was pacing around our small living area, feeling antsy.

It was now 9 pm and my mother will be home by 10 if she had an overtime like this. What I was afraid is that she needs to walk by herself because I'm pretty sure that all the villagers were already went home. The mountain path was dark and scary. It was said to be the time where supernatural creatures tends to wander and lure anyone they see. But that's not what I'm afraid of, it's the fact that such place was a perfect spot to hide and to fulfill some dark intentions. Murder and torture.. I shakes my head to erase the gruesome thoughts.

"Meyan."

I turned to Lily and was slightly taken aback when I saw her worried face. This is the first time I get to see her with that expression.

"Go," she said in a stern voice. "We'll be fine here. We have the villagers around. Mother needs you. Please bring her back safe."

I think that's the cue that I've been waiting for. I took some lamp and place it in my bike's small basket and went off. The road downtown was dark and eerie. This is not my first time to travel at night but the atmosphere tonight is something hair-raising.

The creaking of my bike that I used to treat as a melody was now giving me chills in the middle of the night. The surrounding was quiet I couldn't hear any night insect's noise. I'm literally having a goosebumps right now as I keep on glancing everywhere. The dim shade from the lamp was not even helping me to relax, it was like I was in a horror movie.

I know that I'm anxious because of Harry and the rumors that I've heard earlier but there's something more— more terrifying feeling.

I stopped my tracks when I heard the rustling of dry leaves. I grip the lamp with my trembling hands while trying to look around.

"W-Who's there?"

The footstep stopped but I felt a strong wind that went behind me. I directed the lamp up and the next thing I saw was a shadow that traveled fast in the branches of the tree.

Cold sweat rolled down on my forehead. W-What was that?

"Meyan...." I heard a gruff and cold voice behind my ear.

My body went stiff and when I felt my hair getting caress. My flight instincts kicks and I didn't looked back as I run for my dear life. My breathing was uneven. I'm sweating profusely as I drove in a high speed but nonetheless, I can feel that someone was watching me.

I tightly closed my eyes as tear started to brim down. I started to sing my favorite lullaby to ease my fear. I've been running in a full speed but the road seems endless!

It took me a lot of courage not to lose myself and overcome that dreadful ordeal. My nerves calmed down when I get to see a house. I fixed myself and looked at the mountain where I came from. I heaved a sigh of relief and went directly to where my mother was working. It was a small restaurant and she got to help with the kitchen stuff. The restaurant is still open and there were more like around ten people inside.

I spotted Mrs. Dorothy coming out while holding a bags of trash. She's one of my mother's co-worker. I approached her pushing through the bike beside me.

"Good evening, Mrs. Dorothy," I greeted to get her attention.

She turned to me in confused shock. "Meyan. What are you doing here? It's already late."

I scratched my head and peeked inside the restaurant. "Where's mom? I'm here to pick her up."

Her brows furrowed. "Huh? But she already left twenty minutes ago."

W-What? But I didn't get to see her on my way here!

My heart pounded in irregular beat. Horrendous thoughts started to flood my head. No.. Maybe she dropped by somewhere else..?

"Dear, are you okay? You're trembling. Stay here. I'll get you a water."

"I-I'm fine, Mrs. Dorothy." I stopped her.

"Are you sure? You look pale." Her voice was laced with concern.

I nodded my head and bid my goodbye. I need to look for my mother. I haven't even gotten far yet when I noticed a suspicious vehicle in the corner of the street. There were four men smoking inside of it and they were looking at me. I avoided my gaze and decided to return in the restaurant.

"Oh. Meyan."

"I'm sorry Mrs Dorothy but can I leave my bike here tonight?"

"You're walking home?" she asked in disbelief.

"I guess so.."

I didn't wait for her response and left her dumbfounded. I walked on the street silently while keeping an eye on the vehicle that was tailing me. The street were filled with drunken men and some bargaining women. I turned to the right and narrow alley and started to run fast. I may be living in the mountain but I know every corner of this town.

I looked behind and saw that two of them get off the vehicle to go after me while the car take another route to intercept me.

Adrenaline pumped through me as I doubled my speed. So Klare wasn't joking around. I know that Harry's family is influential but I didn't imagine that he would go this far, to harm my family. I greeted my teeth when I remembered my mother and the possibilities that they did to her.

"Hey, little girl! You don't need to run! We're just going to ask you something!" I heard one of them say.

"We have candy, you see." They laughed which made me clenched my fist.

"We have your mother, how about that?"

I halted upon hearing that. My chest was rising continuously as I turned to face the two brawny men.

"Where is she?" I asked in a deep voice that I couldn't even recognized.

The two caught up and I found myself being pressed on the cold wall. My hands were gripped tight behind and my face was rub roughly on the bricks. The man was sniffing my hair while the other one was on his phone.

"Yes... We've already got her."

"Hey, Ray! I never thought that our target was this beautiful."

The shaved guy looked at me and put his phone back to his pocket. He smirked and approached us. He holds my chin to stare at my glaring eyes. "What a waste. Maybe we can have some fun before despatching her."

"You don't have to tell me. That's what I've been planning to!"

Their maniacally laughed echoed in the narrow alley. My blood was boiling and I know that it will explode any minute by now.

"Where is my mother?" I asked in a serious tone.

They stopped laughing and the shaved guy pulled my hair back as he speaks. "Oh. Your mother? That was your mother? That dirty old rotten lady? I thought she's your granny!"

They burst out laughing which quickly ceased when I let out a low growl. "Where is she?!"

Seems like they didn't like the authority in my voice and smashed my forehead on the wall. "Watch your tone, bitch."

I groaned in pain as I heard an incoming car engine.

"Wohoo. Selfish bastards. Having fun time alone, huh? Sharing is caring you know."

"Of course. Let's get out of here first."

They tied my hands in a rope and pushed me inside the vehicle. Seems like they aren't satisfied with it and put a handkerchief in my mouth as well.

Before they closed the door, the shaved guy went inside and gently choke my neck. My eyes were brimming in tears, not in fear but in anger and distress.

"Well, since you were persistent to know where your mother is." He leaned closer and whispered in my ear. "Sorry honey but she's dead. She's dying when we left her so she's probably dead by now."

My body runs cold. It felt like my mind went black and my entire system stopped functioning. My temple started to tick painfully. My tied hands voluntarily moved and the ripping of the ropes was heard. I shaked my head. No.. My mother.. She can't be dead!

The man slyly smirked when he saw my reaction.

"And your sister's will be next."