Chapter 4: The Promise

JILLIAN

His hand is tightly holding my hand taking me away from the house. I don’t know how he took all those chains away but I don’t care. All I want is to get free. I was with him during the night and still woke up in front of the house’s door. It’s disappointing but he whispered something last night.

“Sleep. Sleep and you will wake up the next day. You won’t get tired anymore. You won’t feel the pain anymore,” he whispered caressing my hair last night.

“So you are awake already,” my stepmom said. She pulled my chains in. “Can you move faster?” She kicked me but I can’t feel anything anymore. It’s like I’ve gone numb. 

I worked the whole day but I didn’t feel tired. It’s like everything is done fast and easy. My body feels light and renewed. 

The days passed very slowly and my world become a cycle of me holding his hand every night and working at my prison every morning. My parents didn’t notice anything since they started leaving the house for business. When I am alone, Angelo visits me to do some of my works and we laugh together. My feet are still chained but whenever I want to go, he helps me get it off easy.

The years passes and I fell something for him that I shouldn’t. My heart flutters whenever he is near and I was longing to all of his touches. He is the same and it’s odd. His face is still wearing the same expression through the years. Wearing the same outfit and aura he comes to me. Every day, his face brightens my day though I never saw him smile.

“Just what are you Angelo?” I asked out of the blue one night watching our hands entangled to each other heading to the forest. He stopped and look at me.

“I am what you think I am,” his answer is confusing but I ignored. 

“Do you think we should stay like this forever?”

“No. things will change as the time passes by Jillian.”

Waking up the next day alone surprised me. My parents didn’t come home yet. I just did what I should and waited but they didn’t come yet until the second day. He is there for me and I got contented for my life for a moment. 

While cleaning the mess I made at the table cooking, he is sitting on a chair facing me. I’m not looking at him but I know he is watching every move that I make. It feels very weird but I try not to mind it and act as normal as possible.

“Do you think; they will come back?” I asked to break the awkward silence.

“They are coming actually,” he answered confidently sounding so sure. I even checked on his face, he is indeed serious but it’s weird.

“How did you know?” I sat on the other chair and face him with both arms on the table.

“I know a lot,” he just said with his eyes locking with mine. His stares are affecting me very well that I feel like melting.

“What do you know about me? How did you know me?”

The place gone all silent when he didn’t answer the question. His face is unchanging but he is not talking too. We are still staring at each other intently almost forgetting to blink. 

“What did you do to me? Did you casted a spell or anything?” Another question escaped my mouth. He is unmoved still with his hand moving closer to me. His right hand reached for my cheek cupping it. 

“I did what you think I did,” his answer is confusing. It’s like it’s all he can say. 

 The peace I’m experiencing right now without my parents is something I once dreamed and it’s happening. No more shouting, no more demands, no more force thrown to me too. It feels new but it’s all I wanted. I’m not raised to be bad but I’m wishing they’ll just forget about me and never come back.  

“Can’t you just take me with you? I mean, it’s a great chance that they are not here. I can finally go to you without anyone chasing me,” I said starting up a new topic. I badly need to escape or my life would be worse than hell.

“I can’t do that, I’m sorry. I can feed you nothing,” he said.

“So that’s why I always wake up back here.” He gave me a small nod not taking away his eyes from me. Disappointment ran over me making me feel sad and confused at the same time. “Why?” I asked.

He stood up and turn his back at me to walk away. The view of his back only made me feel a lot sadder. It looks like he is leaving me and I don’t like the thought of it. I stood up too to chase him and pull his white long sleeves from the behind.

“Where are you going? You can’t just leave me!” I started being hysterical.

“I’m not leaving you. I will come back, I promise.” His words made me take my hands off his long sleeves and shook my head. I’m just 16 but I like this man a lot. “They are almost home,” he added and turn his body to face me. His cold hand touched my face down to my chin lifting my head to look at him.

“When are you coming back? Tomorrow, right?” I asked trying to read him. 

“Remember my face Jillian,” he isn’t answering my questions. Staring at him feels like I’ve memorized all the details of his face. I can never forget his face. 

“Why are you saying that now?” 

“I actually don’t want to but I don’t like leaving you wondering where I went and if I’m coming back.” 

“What do you mean? I really don’t get you.” I took his hand off my face. “You said you will help me!” Tears flowed down my eyes for disappointments. 

“Jillian, listen.” He tried holding both of my shoulders while I’m taking his hands away from me. I kept on doing so until I gave up. “Jillian, I promise I will come back.”

“When?”

“On your 21st birthday, I will come to you. I will come back and change our fates,” he whispered and pull me close to him for a tight embrace. “I’m sorry if I have to disappear that long. There are just things that we can’t control.” 

“Why?”

“Some things are fated to happen.” His last words are like the wind’s whisper and I can no longer feel his presence. He vanished through thin air and I didn’t even see how it happened since my eyes are both tightly closed.

He is gone.