Bronwyn ran until she was in the middle of a lost place. Her mind is full of uncertainty, for she never knew what happened before she was there. Her recent memory was a sudden blank.
What happened to her?
She stopped in the middle of running, as everything was a total illustration of a town she never knew. Like an abrupt schema, or a kidnapping scene on television. Everything seems pretty uncanny, except she never knew what the scenario is all about. She doesn't have anything with her that will give any clue.
She ended up on an empty road -- where the only person is her, and nobody else. Though, it looks like a decent town, except nobody was there.
Looking from side to side. It was in the middle of dawn and death, dim lights and some darkness, but neither of it scared her.
Bronwyn cannot remember anything. She is very agitated to know where everything of it starts. It's driving her crazy. Imagine waking up on an empty space and you didn't know what happened or how you got there?
She didn't know where to start, and things suddenly became a mystery for her to solve.
[her footsteps recede]
Bronwyn tried recalling her recent memory, nothing clicks.
Just a bunch of random stuff on her childhood; when she was ten, her mother used to have cancer. Her dad have suicide when her mother died. And then-- that too, when she and Nate, her boyfriend, broke up. That was the one she thought cracked the codes for her -- that's the most recent one she can recal.
Nate, where are you? it keeps repeating, echoing on her head.
She felt being alone all of a sudden. She needed him.
but since Nate is just an ex, she thought nobody got her back.
She continously whispers to herself as she continued to walk down that solemn street in a random juncture of time; 2:00 am. She tried to reciprocate the longing – like it was the feeling she has been searching for years; she tried to make herself like the broke up was a feeling of being free from him – independence. The relationship she was into was full of ups and downs, like how other couples do. Nate thought, they were just.. not meant to be.
After ending their relationship a few hours ago, still recalling that recent memory, she knew somehow it would be the first step of becoming the stronger version of herself. and this moment where she has nobody can prove every damn thing. "He won't ask me to come back. I know him. He's good with or without me. He's tough.. and I guess it's time for me to become one." she thought.
One reent memory and it was very clear on her head now -- but why did she end up here, alone?
[Skeptic and full of doubts]
Bronwyn took longer steps trying to find somebody on the empty road, wandering in the middle of the night, barefooted. She was wearing the same dress Nate gave her on their first anniversary: white, long-sleeved shirt with a print of words "I Love You" in it. Looking at it made her realize, today was their 2nd and last anniversary.
Everything seems pretty clear, and her fear started to change to anger. She feels angry about Nate, but the context of "how" and "why" is still jagged.
"I shouldn't have accepted this shirt at the very first place." She whispered.
She continued treading the road with nonchalance and devoid surrounding her – silent, except the sounds of crickets and other nocturnal insects. Placing her right hand unto her pocket, then sigh, "Why do I feel burdened? Why do I have this feeling of.. fuck I don't know what this is. We didn't work out. And I guess what happened is just.. the way how things should happen. Why do I keep thinking about Nate. Fuck."
It was a tiring day for her physique and emotion. It feels like she had been heartbroken for a long time before she ended up being on a random street. Having that thought in mind, she figured out that she should talk to him again when she got her way back home. She needs to go to him and try to fix things. Her heart is on a dilemma.
As she turn her back and ran across the same empty road, her heart raced like a jet – like a lost child seeking her way home. Although, at the back of her mind, nothing could change how their relationship went; a disaster.
Somehow, Bronwyn knew it was a sign for a second chance. She loves him. Her heart wants what it wants.
[Mind distorted; images of different people flashed on her head]
Bronwyn felt aching on her head, when different people started popping in her head.. None of them she remembered, but Nate. They were all blurry and hazy on these flshes; and it ached so much like a vertigo.
She started walking across the street holding her aching head, then stopped for a while. Her mind was interrupted by a sudden imagery of catastrophe she saw, in an instant.
"What is that?—"
A scene of accident between two cars was seen as Bronwyn gasps in shock; The white van hit a black car – severe damage like huge collision.
"Wha-- what happened here?Oh my God!"
The premise was full of cracked car parts, shattered glasses and broken mirrors. No caution tapes was found in the vicinity like it just happened a while ago. Bronwyn stammers as she placed her hands to cover her mouth in shock. Based on how the community is silent, she figured no one could have reported it.
"I-- I have to report this at the police station!"
She ran again by herself, almost out of breath, she searched to find the nearest police station in town. The community still haven't got any trace of people awake; it's 2:00 am early in the morning.
"Hello? Anybody in there? There was a major accident down Pasedana Street, 3 blocks away from here! Someone please help!" she continuously shouts in vain at every street she pass by, but no one responds to her call.
It ended her searching for the police. It's the only thing that mattered to her at that moment. Memory flashes stopped.
"I can't imagine nobody could have seen nor report such huge accident." She mumbled.
She walked thoroughly in an increasing manner. Her mind is blown away by that accident, and this amnesia-sort-of bullshit.
Along her way, she met a woman, wearing a black dress, long enough that it extends through her feet, holding a closed umbrella on her left hand. Bronwyn's face lighted, like a hope wa drawn in front of her. She immediately ran towards her and cried for help.
"Hey, umh.. excuse me, Miss. Could you please help me? I am currently looking for the police station. There was an accident down Pasedana Street and I--- I don't know what to do. Can you please help me? Please?"
The woman did not speak. Bronwyn felt a tingling sensation in her core as she looks through her eyes – she was shocked for they were colored red. The woman held her umbrella open and asked her a question. "you never knew how short life is, don't you?"
There, Bronwyn etched a crease in her forehead, making an expression of a frown. She felt ucanny.
"Oh.. kay. Does that mean you'll help me?" she asked.
"Of course, dear. And I already did." The woman answered.
As she said those words, the woman left Bronwyn and started walking slowly. She didn't even take a look back at her. It created a weird feeling towards the ambiance they both left but Bronwyn didn't stop there for too long.
So, she ran towards the road to search for the police station and report the accident she saw.
Along her way, she saw a group of men holding harps and flutes. They were just standing there without talking or looking at each other. These men are ideal – good looking, tall, and masculine. She thought they were musicians.
She approached them and tried to seek for help, for the second time.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. Could I ask for your help? There was an accident down Pasedana Street and it was a disaster! Could you help me report it to the nearest police station?"
As she said those words, the group of men cried, silently. Their tears fell, and rain started to pour hard. Bronwyn found it weird and.. not cool.
It is a moment she never thought would happen.
She tried to ignore them crying, and proceed asking for help.
"Will—Will you help me, please?"
The group of men turned their backs and started to walk away from her.
"Hey! Sir, please you need to come back."
[What the fuck? She exclaimed]
"Is that what people do in times of help? walk out? Wow. People are too selfish these days." She mumbled.
As the group of men faded in her sight, she ran away to search for the police station, again. She continuously shouted for help in the pouring rain like she was in distress. She felt like it's her duty to help the victims of that accident… She was soaking wet, trying to figure her next steps out.
[footseps recede, meters were trodden]
Fuck.
This is tiring.
I guess I should--
At last! Bronwyn found ta police station after a long run. She immediately went inside it and sit on the information desk.
"Sir, I am Bronwyn Shelly, living.. some blocks away from here. Umh, it happened that I saw a car crash accident kilometers away from your station. It was a total disaster."
The policeman she was talking to continued writing on the log book, like she was never heard.
"HELLO? SIR? EXCUSE ME? AREN'T YOU ON DUTY?" Bronwyn stressed her voice out to give emphasis. But neither of the policemen was paying attention.
"HEY? WHAT THE FUCK?" she made a banging sound on the desk as she expresses her anger. "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE?!" She said, then hurriedly went outside the place.
As she tread the roads in discomfort, her anger devoured her heart out. She was in totality of the negative emotion as if she's being pranked on. But then, she would try to make her own way of reaching help for the people, if there were, inside the wrecked automobiles.
[footsteps recede]
Reaching the car crash scene, it all entailed the same figure of distress when she saw the commotion the first time. She needed to help them for the policemen didn't take their part for it. "If they can't help, Maybe I could." she sighed, as she tries to resemble the wretch.
"Or I guess I need to call.. someone? Fuck." She reached unto her pockets and noticed that her phone was missing. "holy crap! can I find a phone?" she looked around until she thought of another way. "Shit. Maybe, the driver of this car, if he's still inside, must own a phone I could use."
She held the car's door and acted to open it. But before she could, Bronwyn saw the woman wearing the long dress again, reflecting its figure on the car window from her back. She turned around to face her. Startled.
"oh my god-- W-What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I am here, Bronwyn, to accompany you to your final destination." The woman stretched her arms as a sign of assistance. "let me take you there."
"Huh? Final destination? You must be crazy! I still need things to-----"
As Bronwyn opened the car door ajar, she faltered on what she saw – herself, on the driver seat, unconscious and covered with blood.
The woman spread her bat-like wings and revealed her sharp horns
"welcome to the gates of hell, Bronwyn."