7:45 AM, Sarah Anderson, Mansion gate.
The entrance door slammed shut behind me. I ran across the front yard like a total nut job; it felt like I was being chased by bulldogs and that my life depended on how fast I could get out of there. What has got into me? Why was I reacting that way? I ceased all my running and stopped near the shiny grey car by the gate of the manor. The car's hazy window rolled down and I saw Suzu slightly lean herself onto it.
"Hey, Anderson!" She seemed to be in a cheerful mood. "What's the rush? We have more than enough time to get there!"
Absent-minded, I took a quick glance back at the mansion before approaching the car. I opened the back door and entered without saying a single word. The car took off.
Naomi, one of my best friends, who was sitting in the passenger seat, shifted her body back so she could get a better view of me. "Is everything okay, Sarah? You look troubled."
Suzu raised her gaze from the road and looked at me through the rearview mirror. She also showed some concern too, even if only silently.
"Just had a rough start. Don't worry Naomi." I tried to reassure her that everything was fine.
"Are you sure?" Naomi insisted, still hoping to get a different answer.
"Yeah... are you really, Anderson? You look like you've seen a ghost." Suzu acted accordingly; one hand firmly on the wheel and the other gestured the motion. "Better one, have you been bitten by a vampire? 'Cuz you sure look like you're turning into one."
"Suzu!" Naomi scolded her in obvious disapproval of her poor choice of words.
"What?" She rolled her eyes in annoyance. "You're such a suck-up, Naomi. Relax, I'm just teasing her."
Naomi gasped and covered her mouth scandalized by Suzu's straightforwardness."If I'm a suck-up, then you're the inconvenient one," She gave her companion an angry glance. "--That you can be so rude."
"I'm not rude, I just say what everyone else is thinking." She shrugged her shoulder and flashed her signature smile.
Wanting nothing more than to end their fighting, I cleared my throat loudly for a fourth and final time, "I'm fine, guys. I just didn't get any sleep last night because of a nightmare. Can we stop fighting already, please?" And at last, catching their attention.
Both of my best friends look at each other. Despite my attempt not to make them worry, now, they definitely knew something was up. With a deep and long-drawn sigh, I prepared myself for a lengthy talk. I wished I hadn't said anything. Now, don't get me wrong. I loved them very much and often talked with them about my troubles, but sometimes it was difficult for me to open up.
"Anyway... if you need to talk, cry or even yell, you already know who to turn to." Naomi said, offering me a shoulder to cry on properly.
"Same here, Anderson." Suzu enhanced the idea.
"No, I'm okay, honestly," I assured her, dropping my gaze to her hand placed on my knee; she gave it a light squeezed, smiling back. They were worrying over a silly thing. Yes. That was what it was. Just a silly nightmare. Also, a nightmare which I couldn't tell them about because involved someone I loved, who happened to be a demon. In addition to no one never ever believing in me, I had to protect him, to protect all of them. I had to continue to keep this major secret to myself. "I'll come to my senses soon. Just give me a minute."
(...)
13:30 PM, High School.
The bell struck and school was dismissed. The classes went down smoothly compared to other days. Besides, no confrontations with Lisette, no troubles. Mostly, I tried to avoid her in every way possible, but today seemed easier than usual. I didn't know where she was and didn't intend to find out, I was beyond thrilled with the fact of not having to deal with such a despicable person.
Suzu and Naomi gave me a ride home. The ride was quieter than usual, which was completely natural; I had a lot in my mind to think about. In less than thirty minutes, we arrived at my house.
"We'll call you later to check on you, okay sweetie?" Naomi said with her usual smoothly flowing voice.
"Yeah! Have your phone with you, Anderson." Said Suzu with a wink and a smile.
I nodded in agreement and exited the car. We said our goodbyes through closed windows and each of us went our separate ways. I watched the car vanish into the distance of the road before turning around and climbing up the small set of steps at the entrance. I took the keys from my pocket and opened the door. I was so damn exhausted that I left my school's bag right there on the floor and I went upstairs, dragging my feet to my room like a zombie. As I allowed my body to fall on the sleek mattress, a sigh of relief escaped my lips. I nuzzled my face on the soft feather pillow and my consciousness slipped into oblivion immediately.
As soon as I opened my eyes again, I was back at that beach again. I smelled the slightly typical moldy seaweed that was caressing the soft sand. The sand beneath my feet glittered brightly in the sunlight. Half-crushed seashells of different sizes were rocking against some mini bays formed in the sand. The sun was dizzy and the air crisp. The beach was quiet except for the soft crash of waves against the sand. Suddenly, a muffled giggle captured my attention. Out of curiosity, I spun around in my heels trying to figure out where it had come from. In the distance, I saw a man and a woman, a pair that emanated charm and sophistication, holding hands as they stood near the water. I could not see or hear them clearly so, I decided to get a bit closer to them. Upon approach, I could see that the woman was wearing an elegant outfit; a black and white frills shirt, a tight black skirt, and high heels in her hands. Why be dressed like that if you're coming to the beach?! I thought to myself. That was definitely weird. Also, her head was adorned with black straight horns, and she had green eyes and braided hair as dim as the darkest sapphire on earth. A female demon? From where I stood, I could perfectly see the wide smile on her lips and the rosiness on her cheeks. That view of her made my heart ache somehow. It made no sense to me, but I felt as if I had a weak spot in the middle of my chest. I brought a hand to my chest and focused on brushing away the pain. Why does it hurt? I don't know her and I definitely don't know the man she's with-- When I shifted my gaze to the man in front of her, my whole world collapsed; my knees buckled beneath me and I fell forward onto them, my arms following nimbly. The man standing in front of her was Erik, my loved one. All that I could think about was, 'what the heck is going on here?!', 'who is she?!', 'why is he with her?!' and 'what does this mean?!'. I grind my eyes closed and crossed my fingers. "Please disappear... please disappear... please disappear..." I repetitively mumbled to myself. I ground my teeth back and forth, as tears silently filled my eyes. My shaking hands became clenched fists and I dug my nails into my palms as I bit my quivering lip.
"Irene." His voice muttered a different woman's name.
My eyes widened in surprise and my heart lurched at the mention. I looked up again and saw Erik wrapping an arm around her waist and hugging her to him. He took a moment before kissing her forehead sweetly.
"Erik?" She pulled slightly away.
"Yes, my love?" He replied with a thin smile.
She pressed her lips together for a moment. "Can you promise me something?" Her voice was velvety smooth, pronouncing every word with perfect clarity.
Erik pulled her even closer, leaning his forehead to hers. "Of course." He whispered. "Everything your pure heart desires to."
With her eyes sparkling in the light of the afternoon sun like a fresh sheet of morning dew, she put her heart's desire into words. "Promise you will never leave me. Promise we will be together forever..."
A moment of deep silence passed between the two of them as Erik buried his gaze into Irene's eyes as she did the same to him. "I love you more than anything in the whole world." He squeezed her arms. "I won't let you go. Ever. It's a promise." Erik leaned in and captured her lips, making her release a pleasured sigh against him and grasp his shoulders with frustration. As he slowly pulled away, he gave her a genuine smile, the same one he usually gifted me.
I could not believe what my eyes were seeing. Despite perceiving it as a dream, It was the loss of him that shattered my world entirely. I flung my arms around myself, for it seemed as if my heart was breaking also. I was staring at both of them with no reaction whatsoever when I felt my body slowly sinking into the sand. "What...?" I look down; my legs were already half-submerged. I tried to get up but I end up losing balance again. At this point, the sand reached my waist. "N-No...! P-Please...!" The harder I struggled to pull my body out, the deeper I sank. I could feel the sand pulling my body deeper into the ground and my body felt the weight against me. After five minutes of struggling, I no longer felt my lower body able to move. My face heated up and constant heartbeats resonated more rushed inside my chest. I felt the painful rush of dry sand pushing onto my neck. Soon my neck was gone from sight. Fear caused me to let out a ragged sigh. In a split second... Well... I was gone.