12, PART TWO - Untold Scars

The moment she climbed the iron wrought gates, she felt liberated and so she walked aimlessly. Her feelings of fear were overwhelmed by excitement of what she was about to discover. She broke free from the townhouse that held her prison. 

Birds chirping, rabbits running frenzy, the sound of leaves rustling... everything around her made her either gasp, giggle and leap!

She journeyed unaware that it had been for hours. The numbing pain assaulting her legs down to her feet allowed her to realize. And her parched throat begging for water made her regret.

I should rest a little then return home, she decided.

However, her eyes landed on a small community below the hill. Her heart almost leapt out of its ribcage. She had never seen other people aside from the visiting lady caretaker, houseboy and Ramses. As she ran, she perceived herself as an Eagle finally spreading wings towards freedom.

She headed to the group of children playing tag by themselves.

"AAAH! No! Go away!" The children shrieked in chorus, cutting her earnest request off.

Some of them tripped on the land as they dispersed in all directions. This startled her, also knocking her off her feet. All of a sudden, some villagers came out of their shacks. The walls of rundown houses are not really soundproof.

"Monster! Get away from my child!" an angry looking mother yelled, enveloping her child protectively in her arms.

"She’s scary Papa?! " another kid cried, pointing his finger at her.

She stood stoned, hyperventilating. How she hoped to explain herself that they were wrong! Yes, she may be ugly and different but nonetheless a normal human being, so why?

Is her existence so wrong for her to be treated like trash?

If only her tongue wasn’t tied because of being trounced by anxiety, she would have shouted that at their faces.

"Mama, is being ugly contagious? It isn't, right? Right?!"

"Oh, gods, help! She must be a cursed spirit. How unsightly!"

"Begone, misfortune!"

One after another, they spat those hurtful words at her face. For some reason, she could not muffle their voices in her head. Deep down, she believed maybe she must listen to accept why her parents locked her up in the townhouse.

Convinced that she is seriously a wandering bad spirit, they sprinkled salt at her as if they were hurling stones.

"Please, stop..." she uttered in hoarse voice

The salt although mere pinches hurt when they landed on her skin. All she could do was hug herself.

The worst part?

An elder brought a torch lit ready to burn her!

Her eyes dilated, terrified and lost. Thus, despite her jelly turned knees, she forced herself to get back on her feet.

"AAUGH!" she whimpered in agony.

The tip of the scorching torch touched her side belly, roasting her skin there like BBQs. That pulled her will altogether to find strength. She trotted and tripped upon her escape till she reached deeper into the woods.

In the midst of wilderness, she bawled akin to a newborn infant. The only difference is, with babies, parents are there to embrace and soothe their cries. On the other hand, she was alone with a 2nd degree burn. Either inside the townhouse or outside of it, nothing good was waiting for her.

She snapped back to reality when a thumb brushed the tear on her cheek that left her eye. 

"Thanks." She muttered, facing Lark.

Half of his face dwelled in dim light. Thus she cannot determine the expression he had at that moment. The boy I thought was foolish is actually quite perceptive, she realized.

She leaned on him causing their shoulders to brush. He jolted at the contact, his body tensing at the same time. He shy away, unable to catch breath but the lady boldly took another step to bridge the gap between them.

"Am I unattractive to you?" she bluntly asked and continued after he didn’t reply, "Or are you turned off with my domineering behavior?"

Losing patience each passing second, she closed her eyes then proceeded to her final question.

"What is so terrifying about me that you won't even spare me a glance, Lark?"

"It's not you that I am terrified! I... I have liked you and only you for long... I cannot afford to dismay you! My apologies, Lady Cares-- I mean, Care! I do not intend to pressure you nor ask for pity."

"Loosen up! Being overtaken by overthinking and nervousness ruins things before anything could start. Isn't it a common saying to rather jump the fall than stay on the safe ground changing nothin'?"

He gazed at her for a while. In her, he saw a regal queen oozing with innate confidence.

"That's what I admire about you, the bold and daredevil Caress Aragon. I wish your confidence is contagious so I could stand proud, too. But I promise you! I will work hard to overcome my shyness. I dream to be part of the world you deserve! Yikes, sorry! I didn't mean to. I was not assuming you would accept me right then... I was..." he rambled.

A sly idea entered her mind just as she was dying to shut him up. Hitting two birds with one stone: she took his hand then held it tight. Instantaneously, the timid gentleman turned-statue. He even lost the ability to talk or breathe.

Thirty second passed swiftly for the lady. Whereas, it was a different case for Lark. He hyperventilated more and more every tick of the clock. The red string thread did not appear after the brief time duration Gallus specifically mentioned. It was both a disappointment and relief for her. Disappointed because she had to continue the search while relieved …. just because!

As she was about to let go of his hand, Lark collapsed right before her eyes!

He fainted! And to her utmost horror, Caspian and Ivy were standing behind them.