Chapter 2: Trail

"Are you alright?" It was a voice, so warm and crisp it melts in Kara's ears. When she looked up at the owner of the strong arms that caught her, he saw a pair of brown enigmatic eyes looking down at her. He has a perfectly chiseled face, his jaws were clenching, his skin bronze and smooth. His total aura is emanating with goodness.

She gasped, is he an angel? She thought. But she could feel his arms, strong and hard. The man held her in a moment that seems like forever. He supported her to stand on her feet. She blinked off and blushed. Wait? She's blushing?

And most importantly his savior was the same man in the elevator whom she freaked out. She blushed even more.

The man walked to the top of the stairs to where Kendra is. She was speechless, perhaps was also taken by the man's heavenly charm. Her pink mouth was trying to find words but it cannot.

"I saw what you did, and if I was not quick enough, you could have harmed her." his tone is threatening. Kendra just shook her head, Miley and Shay suddenly sulks in the corner. He gripped her arm hard enough that Kendra felt pain.

He leaned to her ear and whispered "Do this again and I will take your little hand off…" he spoke slowly before he lets go of her arm.

The man gave her one last look and he left. Kendra was aghast, as if in a trance. Miley and Shay immediately went to Kendra and console her. They looked at her with accusing eyes, with this, she dashed to where the man went. She must at least say her thanks to him for saving her but he's gone as if he vanished in thin air.

***

A girl was sleeping in her bed, one arm is positioned near her head, the other holding the blanket tightly. In the warm glow of her night lamp, he could see her restless features. Her forehead furrows every now and then, her head moves swiftly from left to right, beads of sweat slides down her face. As he looks down at her, he knew it is another nightmare.

He looks around the room. A sinister air covers the air. And on the far side, there it is a dark, shadowy, grimy creature reaching out to her. It's ugly, elongated fingers is touching her exposed feet. The girl keeps tensing every now and then. With a metal grip, he hold the creature's hand and toss it aside.

"You are not to touch her!" He commanded and the creature gave out a vicious hiss at him. He gathered the moisture in the air with his right hand and formed a glinting sword in thin air. The creature hisses even more to size him up.

"Don't meddle, shadow!" the creature said in a slow, eerie tone in between his hissing sounds.

"You won't tell me what to do! Now, begone!!" And with that he swiftly swiped his sword to the creature and tore it in half, it did not even see the blow coming, and was not able to give out a cry. It starts to dissipate into thin air.

"You cannot stop us from coming, shadow…" it was the creature's eerie whisper before it's presence finally leaves. And as it does, the air in the room gets lighter. He looked down at the girl, still sleeping, but the creases in her forehead is now gone, and her breathing finally becomes steadier.

The shadow lowered himself on the bed, so he is now beside her. He hugged her, gently pats her shoulder and studies her face. She is no longer tensed, her features are now at ease. He smiled knowing she's safe and her sleep will be better now. Suddenly, the girl slowly opened her eyes and he thinks she saw him.

Kara opened her eyes finally waking in that bad dream, feeling warm and comfortable. She saw him beside her but the image of his face is blurry. One blink was all it takes to shake off the image. She just sighed, she might be still dreaming. But the feeling of terror, cold and then warmth and security was too real she can't no longer determine if it were a dream or not. She just tossed to her side to continue her sleep.

***

A cold liquid was splashed on her face, her eyes immediately flew open. The cold is making her face numb.

"Wake up you, lazybones!" Klarisse, her stepmother and her thundering voice echoed in her room.

"Do you intend to be served here? Now wake up and get your little ass working!" she pointed at her before throwing the small pail in the floor. It gave out a loud clang as it hits the tiled floor as Klarisse stormed out of her room.

What a way to greet the morning eh? But she's used to her stepmom's antics whenever she slept a little overtime. Cold water, loud banging noises, sometimes a slap is her way to wake her. She made her bed and fixed herself before going out of her room. This would be a long day today.

It is Saturday and they don't have classes. This is the day of the week when she will be drowned with house chores. Klarisse somehow is obsessed with cleanliness, she doesn't want to see any dust in all places. But given the condition of their house, her efforts of cleaning is futile. Dust seems to settle immediately even after wiping them off. And so, at the end she'll still receive those crispy mouthful of tirade from Klarisse. She wants everything squeky cleaned but leaving all the work to her. How charming, was her resigned thought.

Kara starts to gather the cleaning materials, so to begin her chores. Since her father died, and their family succumbing to debts, their life has turned upside down. All of their savings and properties were exhausted to pay those debts. The only consolation she received amidst what happened was her father being able to secure their education. He somehow got them an educational plan to an exclusive school. She won't have problems with her education until college.

Kara is now scrubbing the stubborn dirt in the sink. This is her third chore of the day, her laundry is up next. Sweat after sweat is sliding down to her neck, her shirt now damp. She is intent on removing the dirt but she can't shake off that feeling that someone is watching her. She looked back but the house was silent. Nobody is home but her. Klarisse and Kendra went out early for their usual mother-daughter bonding. You know that feeling when somebody's watching you, the hairs on your back are tingling, that is how she feels right now. Actually, she has been feeling this for a long time now. Like eyes boring holes at her all the time, following her every move.

***

"Ready or not, I will find you!" Kara said brightly as she looked around. She's playing hide and seek with Kendra, one summer day when they went on a family vacation some eight years ago.

"Kendra, where are you??" she said playfully. She starts to scan the area. It was a warm sunny afternoon, they have rented a rest house in the middle of the woods. The location is quite popular for those who want to have a quick getaway from their stressful workplaces. Aside from having a crystal clear lake famous for its rich marine life, the woods is not that heavy, the air is cool and it is not far from the city. A 30-minute drive to this place will already provide a quick change of scenery.

She gingerly walked around the area, inspecting every bush and trees nearby. Meanwhile, Kendra was hiding in behind a small pine tree. Giggling as she follows Kara looking for her on trees and bushes.

"Kendraa, where are you??" Kara repeated cheerfully.

"I'm here… ." Kendra chimed brightly. Kara automatically followed Kendra's voice. Kara finally noticed Kendra hiding behind a tree, the hem of her skirt showing.

"Got you!!!" she shouted, Kendra was startled. The two kids laughed.

"I'm tired of playing Kara. Let's do something else… " Kendra chided. "Let's explore a little, to the woods!" she brightly suggested.

Kara hesistates. Their father warned them not to go exploring just by themselves.

"I don't like to go, Kendra. Dad said we must not go anywhere without him…" she said softy.

"Come on, Kara. Don't be like that. It would be fun!!" Kendra said energetically, with that she dashed to the woods. She even looked back and gestured her to follow. Kara does not want to but her father might scold her if she just let Kendra go. She must stop her, so she followed her to the woods.

"Kendra, Kendra!?! Where are you?" she shouted. Perspiration are forming on her delicate forehead. "Kendra!!" she repeated.

Kara continued to walk on the trail. Where have she gone? She thought. In not a far distance, she could hear Kendra's laughter. She looked around, and it is getting dark. Their parents must be looking for them now.

"Kendra, come on. Let's go back!" she shouted, her voice coming back to her as echoes. Kara decided to go back and just tell her Dad about Kendra.

She walked back the trail slowly, looking back and around. The crickets are now chirping, she could even hear random hoots from an owl in the distance. The woods suddenly became alive.

Kara dashed as these sounds plays with her imagination. She stopped running, looking around, she could sense something following her. She saw a branch lying on the ground. She picked it up and hold onto it tightly.

"BAAHHH!" Kara stumbled as Kendra jumped infront of her. The latter laughed hysterically.

"What a baby!" Kendra teased. She could see that Kara are now in tears. She laughed even more.

"Come on Kara, let's go back. You are such a crybaby." Kendra said as she walked back to the rest house. Kara brushed off the dirt and dry leaves that sticks to her legs as she stood and followed Kendra.

But she cannot see Kendra anymore. Did she left her that fast? But Kendra emerged from one of the trees, startling her again.

"I saw something peculiar over there. Let's check it out…" Kendra motioned and hold her arm.

"No, it's already dusk, soon it would be dark. We must head back." Kara hesitates, she already feels guilty for being out here in the woods without her father's consent, and worse to stay here until dark. She knows pretty well the dangers of the woods.

"No, you will follow me!" Kendra stressed and dragged her. Suddenly, Kendra's grip seemed tighter and stronger. This time they are in front of a wall covered with vines,moss and wild flowers.

"See? It's just an old wall. What do you think it is?" Kendra asked to her. She just shrugged.

"We have seen it already. Let's go." she urged Kendra and immediately turned her back. But Kendra grabbed her and made her face her.

"Where do you think you're going?" Kendra hissed, her eyes dark, and then pushed her to the wall. As soon as her back hits the wall, it gave in and crumbled. Kara fell back and she was supposed to be buried in debris but she felt like falling, and falling deeper, into the darkness. And then everything finally went dark.