SERRA “So, you mean that demon wasn’t after you but the portrait? Why?” Gugu asked George. “I trapped a group of selfish and powerful umbras inside the portrait. Devouring them could make that demon as twice as powerful as it is now.” He tightened his fingers around his paint brush. He was shivering and barely created a straight line. He was like a kid learning back the basics using his right hand. “Why would you even trap them when you can burn them to ashes?” I shook my head but was too late. Gugu doesn’t know George story. I forbid her to tag along since she’s still a soul, she might end up getting devoured. We brought her here because George refused to meet any of us. I noticed that he looked up to Gugu and I was right. He let us in when we said that Gugu wanted to talk to him. I haven’t thought Gugu would brought it up. I didn’t warn her either since I don’t have the right to disclose any information regarding his personal life. “That was exactly the reason why I trapped them
I ran out of the room and head at the end of the hallway. “Serra, what are you doing?” Amanda ran after me. I sprinted in a zigzag way knocking on each door from left to right alternately not missing a door. After I reached the opposite end of the hallway the door of some of the occupied rooms opened, room 672, 673, and 678. “What’s going on?” Xyrus swung his towel over his shoulder. He was wearing nothing besides his boxers. “Hot, hot, hot!” Amanda whispered poking my sides and watching him over my shoulder. “Just look how the grains of water slid on his defined abs and v-line,” she added tugging the hem of my shirt. “I was in the middle of my vlog.” A girl with shoulder length hair stepped out of room 673. She blew on her newly polished nails. “OMG! Are you the owner of Doro’s Thing Channel?!” Amanda ran toward her and looking at her nails with clasping hands. “And if I am?” The girl gave Amanda cold eyes. “I really love how you do your nails.” Amanda clapped her hands like
I slowly opened my eyes and a radiant light forced my eyes close. The light was bright enough that I have to blink multiple times to take it in my stride. Amidst the blinding light bedazzled brighter than the light was her smile. She was standing there looking back at me beaming the prettiest smile that sparkled up to her eyes. Behind that sweet smile was her bidding goodbye. I gasped. “Gugu!” “I’m here!” Gugu panicked and appeared in front of me. I gazed at her and for some seconds she glitched like car’s blinkers. I lunged at her seizing her for a hug. For split seconds I was able to touch her. “Woah! Did you just touch me? Another upgrade?” Gugu twirled in excitement. “Do it again! Do it again!” she told me hopping. I did it again but my grasp passed through her washing away her excitement. “Trial card?” She lowered her head turned around and passed through the wall. I scratched my nape as I watched her leave. I rolled over the bed and rushed to the kitchen to make breakfast.
SERRA When I went out of the room, the door of room 675 opened, there went out Kate. I waved my hand at her smiling. “Good morning!” I greeted high-strung. “Good morning,” she greeted back in a low voice not throwing me a glance. “I’ll go ahead, Serra, I’m going to be late in my photoshoot.” She promptly turned her back at me and walked fast toward the elevator. I hastened my pace walking after her. “Hold it, please.” She busied herself on her phone leaving me dumbfounded when the elevator shut close right in front of me. She obviously intended to ignore me. “What is wrong with her?” Gugu’s face turned grumpy. I turned around and head toward the other elevator at the opposite end of the hallway. I don’t remember doing something that upset her. “That is how fame change a person.” A low baritone voice sounded in front of us. I tilted my head back upfront and then he greeted me with a smooching sound as our lips touches. I lifted my chin and caught him looking at me smiling with
“Gugu, can I ask you a favor?” “Sure!” She smiled at me after taking a big bite on her sandwich that I made. “Can you watch Amara the entire day? I have a feeling that someone will harm her.” I brought my index finger on my mouth and bit my nail. My heart is racing since I received that vision. “Does it have to do with your vision the other day?” She stuffed the last piece of sandwich in her mouth. I nodded and glanced at Amara who was approaching in our direction with Mandy. She waved her hands at me from the distance. I waved back and I couldn’t help looking at her bulgy tummy. It was getting more visible in the eyes with her tight shirt choking it. “Why don’t you tell Grip about it?” She was looking at Amara. “I’m afraid that he might end up reaping the baby instead of helping.” I looked away. I know Grip. He’s not allowed to intervene with the living’s businesses. He will do what he was told to do. The heaven’s will is his supreme priority. No one could sway him, not even me
I went back to our table and their were three strangers, girl students, mockingly looking at my girls. “Of course it’s alright for you to get attracted with a twenty-nine years old hottie since you were attracted to that old Murray. Like how old was he? Forty? Fifty?” The girl at the middle flipped her hair and laughed with her friends. “Eavesdropping? Are your lives that boring for you to listen to someone else’s conversation and meddle?” Amara stood up looking at the girl straight in the eyes. “Look who’s talking? Are you poorer than rats that you threw yourself at one of the Collins, get pregnant, and get rid of him right after? Poor Bruce brainwashed by a golddigger.” The girl on the left pushed Amara’s chest. “You should be expelled for getting yourself pregnant without a husband,” she added and was about to push Amara again. “Lay your hands on her one more time and you’re dead.” I warned drawing all their attentions to me. “Here comes the knight in no shinning armor.” The gi
ZACK“Mr. Collins!” I called him grabbing his arm.He looked back and he was stunned to see me. The shock on his face was swiftly replaced by disgust. He shoved my hand and turned away.I swallowed my pride and dropped my knees on the ground. “I’m begging you, Mr. Collins. Sir, please help my mom. She’s dying. The hospital won’t allow her brain surgery unless we pay for it in advance and pay all our debt as well.”I’m willing to pay any expensive price. I could gave up my name, pride, dignity, everything just to save my mom.“I don’t have anything to do with you.” He stared at me like he was looking at a complete stranger.I sneered. I got up on my feet and wiped away the dust and sands on my knees. I clenched my fist. If my plea won’t work on you, then, I’ll use one last card on you. I don’t want to do this but you left me with no choice. “I will tell everyone your dirty secret.” I blackmailed him.“Are you threatening me? Do you think they will believe you?” He shook his head grinni
“Amara Beltran,” I mentioned his beloved ex-girlfriend’s name that made him stop. “She loves you and wants to get back with you but someone is stopping her. He’s manipulating her, brainwashing her,” I added staring at his back. I saw his anger through his clenching fist, heard it through gritting of his teeth, and felt it as the atmosphere tensed. It smelt like a perilous rage. “Who?” he queried. A single word that weighs vast anger. “Bruce Collins,” I answered. I smirked with how his reaction worsen. The veins on his arms were about to explode. “I heard and saw everything. How come? Because I am the Mr. Collins’ illegitimate child.” I justified bitterly to convince him. Labeling myself as his illegitimate son when I was the opposite didn’t hurt anymore. I was immune with the pain. What worse than that was watching my mom suffer in her hospital bed for years and I couldn’t do anything. I watched Mark McCoy went on his way to the place Bruce brought Amara to hide her from him, her
SERRA “Dad,” I called him.It has been days yet he was still sad and listless.“What can do for yoy, sweetheart?” He forced a smile but the sadness in his eyes was visible.“I-I want to ask you about someone.” I lowered my head.“Come here.” He tapped the space beside him. I obliged and sat next to him. “About who?” he asked.“About my mom,” I stuttered.Hearing the last word he was grief-stricken. I felt bad asking about it.“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t feel like it, dad,” I sincerely said.He shook his. “It’s about time.” He smiled genuinely. “What do you want to know about her?”“What does she look like?” I asked even though I already knew.He moved away and pulled something out of the drawer of his bedside table. He gave me a round object. It was metal-like and silver in color with gold Vines and red roses all over.“Open it,” he told me after handing it over.I ran my thumb tracing the vine and pulled the top part upward. I saw myself, my reflection.“You’re a carbon
The moment the water swallowed me I held my breath. There’s no way I’m letting the cold enter me. I looked up but it’s all water above me. My hair floats over my head like seaweeds. In the rashness of the moment, I began flinging my arms out.I expect to come back out and I did. I gasped for air before sinking again. I kicked my legs and flapped my arms and I was back to the surface again. But each chance to breathe became further apart. Each breath was less than the last.I tried once more. The more I struggle the more disoriented I became. I felt like I’m trashing inside an invisible prison. My first instinct was to get some air but there should be something else. I couldn’t fight for air forever. I need to find a way out.I pushed with my legs and arms and when I was able to bob my head out of the water, I breath as deep as I could. The water pulled me again. I looked around and saw a wall. The fear I felt was overlain by hope. I flicked my feet and tried to reach the walk. It was
“No... That couldn’t be.” Kate staggered backward. “It should be there. I should be there,” she repeatedly uttered pulling her hair.I run towards her. “Don’t worry, Kate. We are going to find Lulu’s body.” I assured her and patted her shoulder.She yanked her shoulder away from my grasp and took a few steps backwards. She kept on pulling her hair and her eyes were restless. She didn’t know where to focus them.“W-What if that thing took it? W-What if that thing swallowed it?” Her breathing turned shallow and fast. She punched her head with boths hands wandering with little steps. She’s mentally unstable. I walked near her and caught her hands stopping her from hitting herself.“Stop it, Kate. You’re hurting yourself,” I told her.She already suffered enough. I couldn’t bear watching her like this.“That thing swallowed Lulu whole!” she squealed oogling her eyes at me.I grabbed her cheeks and made her look at me. “What thing, Kate? What thing?”After a moment of touching her face m
“I am sorry for ignoring you, guys.” Kate lowered her head. “I was just scared of Lulu. I’ve known her for years and I didn’t know she was capable of any of that. I know she won’t hurt any of you though. She was just after me.” Her voice cracked. I moved closer to her and rubbed her back. Comforting her is the only thing I could do for her right now. “Nothing of that is your fault, Kate. Monsters are made. Envy made Lulu into one.” I pulled her making her lean into me as she sobs. “But she is still the Lulu that we know. She’s a beautiful flower,” I added. She lifted her eyes to meet mine. “Will she become a flower forever? Are we going to meet her, the real her?” “No.” I shook my head. “In the next life I could be an animal or a plant or I could be in your body and you could be in mine. It depends on the decisions we make at this lifetime. That doesn’t mean we aren’t real. The real us is not our flesh but our soul.” I wiped her tears away. She nodded and smile. She leaned against
I dropped my phone after hearing what she said. I hastely went back to the elevator and ran again toward the gym. It was passed two in the afternoon already. “Serra, here!” Mandy waved her hand at me. I ran in thier direction. I gasped for air. “Where is Amanda?” “Amara called and they were together at the moment. What’s going on?” She looked both worried and confused. I looked at Lulu’s direction and Mandy already got what I meant. “Lulu!” I approached her. She turned around and faced me. She was wearing an ice-cold expression, far from the Lulu that I knew. Something was really not right here. I saw Kate died but her name wasn’t carved at the black scroll. I shook the doubt in my mind and focused to the present. “Lulu, grab my hand and get out of the body.” I lend my hand to her but just like before she just stared down my hand. “Yes, Lulu. Do it. Trust her,” Mandy encouraged. She looked at me and smiled. I was relieved to see her smile but my heart started to race pushing m
“Are you sure about that?” Grip asked. “Yes, bring me back to the mansion. I chose to front my fear.” I firmly said. He nodded and smiled. He was proud. He grabbed my waist and pulled me nigh him. Lulu’s and Dorothy’s name was already written on the scroll of death and today was the thirteenth day from Xyrus’ supposed to be death. I wanted to save them, to do that I need to watch dad’s every move. I was not certain if my plan would work but I have to try at least. “Grip, something’s off–” I turned around but he wasn’t here anymore. “Grip?” I sighed and just walked the long way toward the mansion. He was vanishing from my sight very often this days. It was a sign that he would leave and cross to the other side very soon. As I walk the garden I came across with bronze maids. They would avoid taking the same way as I do. They would even avoid staring in my eyes. I stared at the huge closed door before me. Just by thinking of going inside gave me goosebumps. I took a deep breath. I p
Fear enveloped me when I arrived at the mansion. Dead bodies of maids were lying everywhere in the front yard. The metallic scent of blood was giving me a feeling of gagging. I looked around hoping that I could find someone breathing but I was too late. Some were beheaded, some were stabbed multiple times, and chopped like a piece of meat. “Ahh!” I snapped my head in the mansion’s direction. I knew that scream and it was coming from the mansion. I ran and ran. Ran as fast as I could. I pushed the mansion’s door wide open. In front of me was dad wearing his usual coldness. In front of him stood Amanda. She was dressed like the lady in red. I saw no emotion in her eyes. Dad placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered to her, “say hi to your sister.” Amanda slowly raised her hand and waved at me like a puppet. “Hi...” Dad’s lips twitched. He didn’t like what Amanda did. His fingers turned black and grew long. Digging its sharpness in her shoulder. “Do it with a smile.” He gritted h
“Why did we stop?” I poked my head out of my carriage’s window. “A man dropped in the middle of the road, madame,” the coachman responded. I rose from my seat but a man stopped me by grabbing my arm. His face was a bit blurry but the longer I stare the much clearer his face become. My brows furrowed to see Xyrus who was wearing a weird looking clothes from the past. The breeches were long and fairly full in cut, reaching just below the knee. The doublet has a high waist at the sides and back, extending to a point in front. A deliberate opening of the seam on each sleeve allows the fine linen shirt underneath to be seen. He completed his attire with a cape that spans almost a full circle. I looked at myself. I was wearing a deep brown gown with a low rounded neckline and a small ruff paired with a winged collar. The tight sleeves have pronounced shoulder wings and deep lace cuffs. It has a matching petticoat pinned into flounces on a drum or cartwheel farthingale. I looked at him an
“D-Dad?” I whispered. He did not answer. I brought my phone out and opened my flashlight. I directed the light to his face. “Grip? What are you doing here?” He lended me his hand and pulled me up on my feet. “I should be the one asking you that. What are you doing here in the middle of the night? Are you seriously sneaking?” He made me turn my back at him and wiped the dust off my pajamas. “Yes, I am. So will you lower your voice now?” I scolded him in a whispering manner. “Do you think you won’t get caught? Maybe you passed through the elderlies but how about that?” He grabbed my hand and directed my phone’s light to the ceiling. I felt like my effort went to nothing to see the CCTV camera blinking red taunting me. I face-palmed. “You are lucky because you have a handsome boyfriend to the rescue.” He winked at me. “What did you do?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t looked at me like that. I just saved you from trouble. I moved the camera to somewhere that wouldn’t caught you.”