Chapter 5

BEAVERTON, OREGON

Cirilla's point of view

The sharp sounds of heavy thud echoed in my ears, and my heartbeat skyrocketed. A wave of fear and panic crippled my insides and my breathing came out short and fast. I felt my body tremble, sharp pains building in my insides, and the frightful image of blazing red eyes crept into my mind, making me jerk up from my bed. The beeping of my alarm clock startled me. I turned it off, and glanced around my room, heaving a tired sigh of relief.

It was only a dream. I breathed loudly, calming my nerves. Warm rays of the sun wandering in and instantly warming me up.

It was only a dream, I repeated calmly, releasing another sigh. Rubbing my palm against my face, I leaned into it, getting a grip on myself as everything flashed through. I remember it vividly. Almost as if it was real. So real. The insane fear. The sharp piercing at the side of my stomach and the loud growlings of those beasts. And then the nonhuman figure that burned with flames. Everything from my dreams passed in my mind. I've been having a recurrence of the same dream recently. I keep having the same dream every night where I'm running in the woods. Being chased by some beasts. Wolves. Or what it looks like. They aimed at me wanting to kill me. I was injured, and everything from there became blurry. The last thing I could recall was being rescued by someone. A figure who doesn't seem to be human either.

It was only a dream, I kept telling myself. But something in me knew it could be a piece of memory from the night I forgot. Everything made sense, I woke up with an injury on the side of my stomach. My head was injured as well. Everything indicated I went out that night and for some reason, I can't remember. If these dreams were in fact from the missing pages of that night's memory, it means someone or something wanted me to forget.

I paused, thinking of the possibility. That was impossible and I sounded insane. I glanced through my sketches. Pausing on the man having bright flames on his body with eyes having a unique greenish-yellow color. He was the one from my dreams. I'm more convinced that it wasn't just a dream. I'm most definitely sure it was from the night I can't seem to remember.

It was a sunny morning. No different from yesterday. I peered out my window. It was that time of the year when the leaves had grown a shade of yellow and orange. The Autumn breeze flew gently into my room. I grabbed my bag, all dressed for another day in school. Frankly, it hasn't been so bad. I gave a final look over at myself in the mirror's reflection. I was wearing black denim jeans and a dark blue cropped top. It was long-sleeved and stopped slightly above my waist. I decided to go with black ankle boots. My long blonde hair cascaded loosely down my shoulders. I grabbed my phone and rushed out.

The stench of alcohol evaded from the room across from mine and Mum walked out from it, half naked. She was only in an extra large button-down shirt that certainly wasn't hers and in her black laced pants. I could see her exposed cleavage from the undone buttons. Gosh! I wish I could unsee that. We locked gaze for a short seconds, her despiteful brown eyes eyed me up, while I had my blue eyes fixed on her.

"Where the heck are you off to?" As she lazily strolled closer, the smell of cigarettes killed my nostrils. I had to take careful steps backward.

"School" Was all I could grasp. I was keen on not fighting. Today was a good day. My first day at work at the bar a few blocks from school. I had scouted the area and there's a gym on the opposite side of town. Hopefully, they need an extra training hand. I would kill for some extra bucks. Plus, I'll be working out.

Her hateful glare was still on me. "School?" She laughed, which turned into a series of coughs. "You're still going there? It won't make a damn difference if you do or not"

'Just because your life didn't turn out great, doesn't mean that mine will be the same' My inner thought ranted. It had a stir for trouble. I reminded myself that today was a good day.

She backed away to the attached kitchen, grabbing another bottle of liquor. Doesn't she ever run out of that?

"Be home right after school. It isn't safe out there" Oh. So now she cares. She drank from the bottle, her fixed dark brown eyes on me.

"I found a job. My shift begins right after school. I might be home late" I said, she only raised a puzzled brow.

"What the heck do I care? I told you to be home early and you're to obey. I'm your mother! I'm the one fucking raising you, ungrateful brat!"

I laughed dryly. Fighting the rage that brewed in. Not uttering a word. I had a feeling where this was going.

"If you're my fucking mother then act like one for Pete's sake. I do everything around here, even have to work to see myself through school and still put something on our fucking table. It's high time you start acting like my fucking mother, and not like some whore…." I whispered to myself, grabbing a bottle of water from the table. But I guess she heard it. Immediately, a painful stinging sensation erupted on my cheek. It felt like the bone in my cheek had cracked due to the harsh impact of Mum's slap.

I felt my cheek burn. I wasn't sure if it was from the harsh impact of her slap or the raging memories that flashed through my thoughts, but I burned nonetheless with the sickly, yet familiar emotions that I was forced to deal with growing up. I still had scars that reminded me of my younger pathetic self that did nothing while her psychotic mother beat the crap out of her. I never wanted to feel that way ever again. So I learned to defend myself against anyone who would try to harm me in any way, even if that person was my mum.

I felt a foreign sensation igniting from the flowery birthmark tattooed on the skin of my back, its sudden electrifying sparks causing an uncomfortable stir in the deepest cave of my heart. Almost as if my intense emotions had awakened something eager to be summoned. There was a sudden presence in my head. Like an inaudible second me that was infuriated and wanted freedom. Mum raised her hand again to strike me again.

And all hell went loose. Her hand went still mid-air. I grabbed her hand firmly. There was a streak of surprise in her sandy brown eyes. Later accompanied by horror and a dark rage.

"You wench! Let go of me" She spat each word venomously.

"Enough!" I whispered almost breathless. Fighting back the demon within me that was enraged and wanted blood. Something was wrong with me. I could feel it.

I snapped back to reality when Mum groaned in pain. I glanced back at my hand clasped around her wrist. It gripped tightly to her bones, squashing the life out of it. I gasped. I didn't want to hurt her. I didn't mean to. I tried pulling my hand away but it was as if it had grown a mind of its own. I felt like a part of me had been thrown at the back of my head and another part of me was in control. A different me, one that was furious and absurdly craved blood. It scared me. But mum was more afraid. Her expression screamed fear. She was terrified of me. In a fucked up mental way, I felt elated at her fear.

The door to her room jerked open. A half-naked, dark-skinned man emerged from the room, wearing only his pants to his waistline. He froze for a second, his eyes unmoving from us.

"What the hell is going on here?!" He scurried over, pulling Mom away from me.

Like a switch had been flipped off, I was in control of my body again. The presence in my head had retreated. And I was me again.

I gazed up to hold mum stare. It had crossed from fear to hate. "I swear by the moon, I hate you brat!" Her voice held so much contempt. I could understand she hated my father so much, but what did it have to do with me? I'm innocent in all of this. Why did she have to hate me so much? That I could never understand in my seventeen years of existence. I could never.

"Damn you!" She cursed at me. She sent one glare at me before retreating to her room. The dark-skinned man did as well.

Without thinking about the bizarreness that just happened. I picked up my bag and slammed the door on my way out. Heading to school.

The first period went by swiftly. In my second class, I was seated next to Niko. The weird guy from last time. He was friendlier and a little bit chatty than the last time. Surprisingly, we had more classes in common. Weird fact, I felt comfortable in his company. He wasn't all that bad. He had a wild sense of humor but was not so interested in school. He kept zoning out during class hours and would only wake up when I poked at him.

We had lunch together. That was a relief. I had dreaded having lunch alone. I didn't want to rub off as a loner which I'm fucking not. It was pretty nice to have company. Something I just realized I lacked all my life. I found myself glancing around in search of Lyra. It seemed she skipped school. I return my focus to my lunch.

"Looking for someone?" Niko glanced around the crowded cafeteria, munching on his burger.

"Just a girl I met."

"A friend?" His stare at me was intense.

I paused, unsure if Lyra and I had become friends. But she was pretty nice to me. Usually, one always assumed girls born with such beauty were instantly birthed with a bitchy attitude. But she was different. Good difference.

"I guess you could say so" I gulped my drink. Lunch was soon over and we trotted back to classes.

I received a call right after school ended from the gym on the other side of town. Training assistant job. That again was a cherry top on my day.

I head out the school doors when I hear Niko call behind me.

"See you tomorrow Ci." He waves at me from afar. His bright chartreuse eyes beaming, his deep orbs having a bright greenish-yellow color that seemed uncommon, but yet stood out. He waved at me and winked. I can't help waving back at his gestures. Well, I guess I just made my very first friend. Today wasn't so uneventful. With a grin plastered to my face, I ambled to the gym.

I didn't need the beeping alarm to wake me up the next day. I was always an early bird. But I was looking forward to school today. I woke up with good vibes, maybe because I felt my life slightly taking a positive turn.

I took a cab to school. I was astounded to find Niko waiting for me outside the parking lot. His usual silly grin was plastered. He proved to me, smirking. He could be a total flirt sometimes.

"Morning Ci."

I chuckled at the nickname. "You shouldn't have bothered waiting for me," I said to him. Frankly, It felt nice he bothered. We got to class.

I got through classes as usual. It was a little bit more interesting due to the Niko company.

I strut into the school cafeteria with Niko during lunchtime. It was more crowded than usual and noisy. It seemed like there was a game later tonight with some rival school. Most of the guys were wearing similar red jackets that belonged to the football team.

I paid for my lunch, scanning for a seat with Niko. The spot yesterday was already taken.

"Cirilla!" I spun to find the perfect round face of Lyra, a beaming smile at me. She practically hopped over to us.

"Hi Lyra" I try to match her enthusiasm. But some things just can't be forced.

Her chocolate eyes scanned Niko, curiously. I answered her unsaid question. "He's Niko. Niko, this is Lyra" I think I'm totally bad at this. But I go along nonetheless.

Her ever-sweet smile appeared.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Cirilla's friend," Niko replied.

"It's a pleasure. Wait. You both should come sit with me and my friends" Her pretty voice pleaded. Looking expectantly from me to Niko. Her fingers pointed at her table with her friends. Their eyes were stuck on us like they were listening to us.

Uhm. I think I'll pass.

"Sure! Why not?" Niko managed to match her tone.

I sent him a warning look, which he flatly disregarded by grinning. Gosh, I hate him.

We reached their table and four pairs of eyes fell on us.

"Guys. This is my friend Cirilla and that is Niko" She chimed away. While I inspected everyone on the table.

"This is Stefan" She placed a hand on the guy's shoulder. "He's my boyfriend" She kisses his lips. Stefan sent a smile at me and Niko plopped into the chair next to his. "That is Wren." She points at a guy sitting next to Stefan. He was having a conversation with another guy. He simply looked at me, barely breaking a smile. Lyra pointed at the other guy Wren was conversing with. "And that is Dorian" Dorian's gaze met mine. I felt his eyes wandering on my body. A flirtish smile grazed his lips. He jumped from his chair.

"I'm Dorian. Where on earth have you been all my life beautiful?" He stretched a hand out.

I rolled my eyes at his tacky pickup line. Receiving his handshake. "In your dreams where I'll obviously remain"

He smiled and kissed the back of my hand, chuckling at my sarcasm.

"That's enough Dorian. And that is Julia." She pointed at a girl at the table. She barely glanced at me as she scrolled through her phone. Rude. I mentally rolled my eyes.

Niko introduced himself again while Dorian pulled a chair out for me, grinning from ear to ear. He was quite cute and manly. An adorable combination of both. But he wasn't my type. Although it wouldn't hurt to flow along. I dug into my lunch. I could see Niko and Stefan having a conversation. Their expression looked like it was something serious.

"Don't pay attention to them. It's nothing other than games. Boys. They are all the same. I guess Stefan has found his match." Lyra tossed a hand in the air, taking a bite from her lunch.

"Hmm. That explains it." I took a bite off mine. "You skipped school yesterday?" It was meant to be a statement but it sounded more like a question.

Her eyes sparkled. "Yeah." Suddenly her smile took a notch down. "Family issues"

I nodded. Not interested in pressing further. Family troubles were an untouchable topic for me. I had a handful of my own.

But her smile lifted. "I'm glad I have a girly friend like you" She curled her lips in a smile. "These boys are always a bore"

I shot an unsure smile. Wandering in what context did she put Julia.

"I swear we are going to have a lot of fun. I can't wait till you meet my brother." Her elation was on a different level. But it was nice.

I genuinely smiled at her. I'm glad I have a girly friend too.