~ KIERA ~
I'm in the darkness. I'm not scared of the dark but I'm scared of what's lurking in it... But what can I do when I can't see? Is this what blind people felt?
I'm scared...
Ever since I arrived at the last round, where the egg is, I couldn't move. I was so scared that my chest, well, my oval head rattled!
What if I move and there's mucus waving at me?
What if one more swim I would bump again somewhere, what if this time it's the egg and I might destroy it? That would be impossible but there are still chances of it.
What if not just a mucus out there but new creatures that are much more disturbing? Don't want that!
Besides, even if I reach the egg calmly, how would I fix the puzzle? In the end, I couldn't see, I wouldn't see the puzzles...
But what if just like blind people can read through their alphabets, what if there is a way for me to do it too? Pictures!
What if... Arghh! If I keep saying what if, there's no end to it! I sucked all the air I could find in this liquid face before exhaling everything even though I have no mouth. I swim slowly in the dark not knowing what's ahead of me.
"Be brave you little sh*t! You're dead already, what's there to be afraid of!" I told myself while swimming as I shiver.
I swim slow but easy until a few seconds after, I bumped into something. It wasn't painful as I swim slow, the impact is nothing, and the same only as my head meets with a pillow.
I don't know what's ahead so I raised my tail to feel it... It's smooth, creamy, and circle... It's bigger than me... But, when do eggs have tails like us?
Tails? Circle? Oh no... It's a sperm!
I jolted when I realized what it is. How rude I was touching someone! This is worse than meeting mucus!
However, I can't believe what happened next... That sperm also touched me! It caressed my tail before pulling me somewhere.
Someplace it's unimaginable to think of... Huge and there's no end! This is the egg, right? Why would the sperm help me reached here?
I started groping the egg hoping there's a chance I would feel the puzzles... But it's useless... The places are all the same! If not smooth, it's smooth! If not squishy, it's squishy! All the same!
While I was pondering what to do, a tail grope mine again. At first, I was startled that I couldn't move but that sperm pull me somewhere. It uses my tail to touch the same smooth and squishy egg... Then I heard something... A click!
The sperm is helping me to do the puzzle! But why?
Is the sperm alright? Or was it testing if it's safe and I'm just a bait? Either way, it's fine with me. But what if there's no time left, what if I succeeded to fertilize and the sperm didn't?
While my tail moves with the help of the sperm and I was in deep thought, a voice was heard.
[Congratulations to player Ady! First place! 45 minutes left~]
Who? Wait, 45 minutes?! How long did I stand at the entrance?
The sperm who was helping didn't quit doing the puzzle with my hand... What is this sperm doing!
After a few minutes left... Another voice was heard!
[Congratulations to player Liliana! Second place! 10 minutes left!]
No! No! The sperm didn't plan on fertilizing, he was giving the spot to me! 10 minutes would be enough to finish the puzzle if he starts not, or at least if he already knew the pattern.
However, since he was helping earlier, he should know by now the pattern! I shook my tail and shook my head indicating he doesn't need to do this!
However, that sperm held my tail tightly and didn't bother my disagreement! And since he is way bigger than me, I'm just a weakling compared to him. My poor tail! Poor sperm!
After a few moments again, something ate my tail! The sperm let go of me and push me down!
[Congratulations to player Kiera! Third place! 20 seconds left!]
Noooo!
....
~ KIERA at 13 when she's still alive ~
"Are you okay now?" The boy who embraces me asked.
I hugged him tightly scared that he might see my snot! I couldn't speak because if I do, I might accidentally eat my snot! No way!
I nodded instead...
He rubbed my back, "If you won't let go of me, your snot would go to my shirt..."
Feeling embarrassed, I spank his back and tightened my embrace to him.
He let go of me using one hand as he searched for something in his pocket. Then passed it to me, "You can have it, just don't let the snot reached my clothes, please."
I accepted his handkerchief and blow on it until there's no space for more. I let go of him as I rubbed my eyes using the back of my hand without looking back at him.
Out of nowhere, he wiped my tears, "Don't just rub it, you'll lose your beautiful eyelashes. It's long and thick, losing a few would lessen your beauty."
I nodded and let him wiped my tears instead of rubbing them.
"Don't play in this place, it's dangerous." He said. I didn't say anything. "Suicide is the worst sin people could do, it'll be straight to hell. So don't think about that again."
I looked up and stared at him, I met his ash gray eyes that stunned me with their beauty. I couldn't see it properly earlier as I was focused on myself.
But now looking up close, those eyes that flutter to the light, and his enchanting smile made me wonder, what kind of foreign kid would look so beautiful like this? Is he gay? I hope not, I would feel bad for my beauty.
"I'm not playing... I want to be free..." I wanted to share what happened or a glimpse of my life but I'm bothered with his hair... It was long but the cut on the right wasn't symmetrical with the left. Too much cut as it reached to the ear while the other reached the shoulder.
"What happened to your hair? It's bothering me." I honestly said it.
He chuckled, "Bubble gum. On my way to the salon and will get a new haircut." He pats my head and rubbed it, "Death will only bring you misery, not just here but to the other side. If you want to be free why don't you make it yourself?"
I frowned, "How do you make freedom?"
"You are the one who controls your life, no matter what others say. You can choose what you want, you just need motivation, inspiration to do so." He replied.
I bit my underlip, "I have none. I have no dreams anymore as they would always break them. Every time I dream something, if not people break them, fate would. And I'm tired of hope. It only gives me disappointment and pain."
"When I want to show my talent and exceed my limits, no one would appreciate it and they would bring me down whatever method they used."
"Every time I'm selfish, always disaster happens. It's like, I have to choose. If I choose myself, people would be hurt, or worse, die. If I choose to be selfless, they are in great self but I would lose myself, I would be despair."
"I chose them but what do I get? More pain..." I held my tears from going down as I will be dehydrated soon.
He touched my face, "Take your time and decide what to choose then. If possible, choose yourself without hurting anyone."
I sneered, "I'll die before that happens."
He smirked, "How about this when you grow up, find me, or I'll find you. Show me at that time that you achieve something without hurting anyone. Show me that you are capable of choosing both. That you fight your way from fate."
My eyebrow went up, "What do I get from showing you that?"
He pondered, "Me! I'll marry you!"
I was flustered but didn't show it, I showed him a disgusted face, "You? Who wants you?"
He flicked his hair and smug, "I'm beautiful! And in the future, I'll be successful! If you don't like anyone when that time comes, I'll marry you myself!"
I rolled my eyes, "Alright, don't marry anyone without knowing if I like someone else, okay? Don't forget your promise!"
He nodded and raised his pinky, "Promise!" I accepted it with my pinky and we stamped using our thumbs.
"I'll show you my freedom when I grow up!"
"I'll wait for you then! Let's meet again in the future!"
13 years later...
One week later and I'll graduate! When I graduate, I can have my freedom back!
My mother and I had an agreement when I'm done with my school, I can do whatever I want. I can be myself!
Years of controlling my emotions, living as a puppet, as a babysitter, even as a dog sitter, I had one goal in mind. After my purpose is done in this household, I'll have my freedom!
I persevered just to keep my promise! Choosing myself without hurting anybody! I'll show him that I am free!
I didn't tell anyone about that boy and kept it to myself. Afraid that I would lose him too. All the things I like, I didn't tell anyone. When I am hurt, I never told anyone. I kept everything to myself and only followed what they want. Even the course I took was because it's what they want.
I didn't complain and didn't dream. No hopes but I have a goal. Survive and be free.
I was on my way to meet my lovely friends who are the people who gave me comfort, sweetness, and belongingness when I received a call from my sister.
"Something happened in mom's company!" She panicked.
I called my friends I can't go with them today due to a problem and they understood. When I arrived at the company, I met my sister on the way, and just like me, she was summoned too.
We ran where the office of our parents are and found three people there. Our parents and an old man.
We greeted them. It was a trap.
They wanted to have an arranged marriage between our family. My mother owed that old man when she just started this company and in exchange, he asked for a marriage between his son and her daughter.
I was stunned. I could feel something boiling inside me but I controlled myself. I didn't say anything.
My older sister has a girlfriend whom she loved deeply. Marrying a man means misery. My younger sister is still young and didn't reach an adult yet, the son of the old man is too old for her. There is only one available left, and exactly before I could get my independence.
I am single, successful, and free. They were waving at me.
Ha ha ha, she said she wouldn't force us into our marriage and let us choose but look at here, guilt-tripping us. My sister shivered. Our mom doesn't accept her sexuality even though she knew her daughter's girlfriend's existence. I know why she was trembling, my mom would use this as an excuse to straighten her as she was the oldest.
I don't care about the marriage but I love my sister and knew her suffering all those years especially when we were apart. I sighed, "I'll do it. On one condition... Let me enjoy my single life for... two years." I shrugged, "I'm still young to be chained..."
"...again," I mumbled.
Hearing what I said, I knew mom felt guilty. After all, she imprisoned me in her home, and now I'll be imprisoned once again, in a different home. She didn't say anything and the old man agreed as long as I don't do any inappropriate things especially with a man except his son.
I accepted. I have no one anyway...
Well, except that boy...
As I requested after I graduated, I move house and got my freedom for 2 years. I felt horrible thinking about the contract but I'll live my life and travel while I still can, I'll forget about it for two years! I invited people for my housewarming party on an upcoming day, and I invited him...
I didn't know that instead of a housewarming party, they would be a guest for my funeral...
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KircheLeaf
Arc 1: Enhantrix Race!
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~END of CHAPTER NINETEEN~