Breakfast started off with a quick and graceful prayer that was said by my parents for how grateful we are to have food on our table and how grateful we are for another day. With our arms extended on the round wooden table to hold each other's hands giving thanks. Of course that is another day in a grimly town.
They aren't my real parents though. And of course anyone would notice the sparsely similarities in our physical features . I was actually taken in by the next suitable candidate to parent me and adopt me. A white middle age Christian couple that is by who I should refer to as Elsa and Adam Gilmore . Although the whole adoption plan was Elsa's idea. After all she's more of a children's person than her husband, well that's what they at least thought was better for me to know. The real story is that Elsa is barren and her husband Adam or Mr Gilmore has a policy about having their own children that will rightfully get their culinary legacy. There isn't much that I can say about them, except that they were sweet enough to take, willingly.
I spend most my days wallowing on my curiosities of other worldly forces, possibly from another realm. About the belief of supernatural forces that religion gurus believe in so much and cult leaders claim that everyone should follow, the "forces" that hold together our universe. Well except for me, I never felt the need to believe in anything that comes from a human's mouth other than the creator of human's himself or themselves. I am not saying that I have anything against people that follow religion, I just cannot believe in something only based on faith. Although I do envy them, because at least they have faith and believe in a deity or deities to give them comfort, because when they think of death at least they know they will be going somewhere but when I close my eyes I feel fear that that darkness will be all that I see when I die.
But mainly, because the order of the higher power and that our world could possibly be influenced by external spiritual forces challenges the idea of who or what really rules this planet and plus it gives me some sense of morality.
"Alessia, Alessia" a voice called me out by my name , while my window got knocked by small stones, mimicking the sound of hard hail on a cold day. I rushed over to my window and opened it up. And there he was, one of my first and longest friendships that I ever had, Peter. He smiled, flashing his perfectly white teeth at the sight of my irritated facial expression. The irony of our friendships is that we both don't compliment each other but contrast each other. He is more of an extrovert with a tongue and heart of gold, as most girls would describe him at school while their gushing over him. Then there is me the sarcastic introvert, that can pull off one hell of a resting bitch face without a sweat.
"Oach" I interjected after one of the rocks hit my forehead. "Do you need me to recite the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, to get your attention? Not that you have a balcony or anything" he said. I rolled my eyes and gave a wryly smile with my response " That would be better than trying to break my window and harm me. what do you want anyway, It is the middle of the night?" I asked while trying to keep my voice from awakening my parents.
"Remember that one house from up the hills, that we use to like making up ghost stories about and how it was the ultimate dare for anyone that dared to enter it but failed?" He asked with some excitement being withheld in. "Look I did not lend you my ear to hear about 'spooky' childhood stories " I rolled my eyes . "Listen!" He yelled but still in a softer manner while jumping with excitement, almost like a Toddler " The lights at this house are never but are on tonight" he said
"yeah, it's called moving into a house and living in it" I snapped
"You see that unlimited stack of bad jokes and sarcasm you have there, is the reason why you miss out on so much" he said
"Fine, let me know what you're planning to do" I sighed
"I was thinking maybe we should go give them a warm welcome and possibly applaud" struggling to contain his excitement he smiled as I agreed to come with him
After a long ride with Peter's car to the hills, we had finally arrived at the house. I face palm my forehead and sighed " really Peter? I thought you said that the lights were on, was this one of your jokes?" I said with an irritable tone. "Which one?" He ridiculed me. Within a few seconds after I snapped at Peter the lights flicked back on. Peter stared at me with the "I told you so face ", with a grin "so can we move on?" He asked.
He drove close enough for us to be able to go to the house. "There are clothes in the back of the trunk" he said
"You're joking? All of this just to go say hi?" I laughed
"Hear that ? That's classical music, we are going to get in" he said with excitement of doing something about his master plan.
I sat at the back seat of the car while I waited for Peter to get our clothes. He handed me over a red dress to change into, while he waited outside for me to finish changing.
I stepped outside the car and asked him "where is your tie?"
He scoffed and responded" I don't know how to tie one"
I attended him to help him tie it
"Red is really your colour and I don't know why you like treating your body like it's a glass house in need of laden curtains."
I softly laughed "Wow that compliment was so corny in so many ways" I rolled my eyes
"So you don't want to know how immaculate you look in a dress?" he continued to pursue this conversation
"Not even who I would like to take to the winter dance?" He raised an eyebrow. "This is getting too heavy and might hold us back from getting in" before I walked away.
He then gently grabbed my hand and said" please wait, let me button the back of your dress properly"
He sighed and said "I know that you don't believe in anything or in anyone not even in me. Including love, but I cannot promise you that I will stop feeling the way I feel I do,I can't just..." he paused for a moment as I turned to face him "then what about pursuing me, will you stop ?" I asked. He continued "Emotions are not like the ideas in our minds, you cannot change that light bulb above your head and screw a different one.
Plus we have our whole lives ahead of us". Speechless of any other words to use,
I gulped and said "Let's just go".
While we're headed to the gate
I noticed two identical twin brothers with skin that was as pale as a corps' skin. You would think that they don't know that the sun exists .They were both dressed in the same ivy green suits. Not only to mention that they stood there like guards. They approached Peter and I with an extended hand while oddly taking the same steps at once and at the same pace. In return both Peter and I extended our hands, foolishly we thought it was a hand shake, but instead the twins both bent down to kiss our hands. "The gates are open" they both extended their free hands to the opening gates, with an eccentric accent. They waved their hands.
As we entered the mansion I thought to myself that the smell of deliciously prepared food, the sound of classical music, the glasses of champagne getting clinched together, ball room gowns, and anything that was enlisted under the lifestyle of the rich and wealthy was definitely better than going to a party that was hosted by my peers.
While I was fixing myself a plate. Besides me there was a stunningly enchanting woman, she had almond shaped eyes ,with almost what I would say an enchanting colour of green eyes. With perfectly put together facial features and that silhouette, she was the kind of woman that demanded attention when she swooped with her presences. She made me wonder if it was odd that someone could look so appealing.
My stomach was bloated from all the gourmet food I wallowed in and the drinks I consumed, I went to the toilet.
While in one toilet stall I overheard a woman talking.
"I can't wait for feeding hour. To hear all their cries for redemption hoping to not go to hell , while no one can help them" said a woman, while I washed my hands besides are right side.
Another woman on her left was dressed in a silky black dress, that outlined the silhouette of her body. After hearing that, I panicked and the sounds around me of their voices became faint as I was overwhelmed with worry. Worry of how Peter and I were going to leave before tonight could become our last night.
One of them caught me gawking at them with tears on the edge of my eyes
"Umm are yo.." before she could finish her sentence, the stunning lady from the buffet came out of the bathroom stall, and said with a grin
"There will be no screams tonight. I have given the violinists musical notes to recite with cantations, this will make the experience more magical." She left with a grin on her face and said "I do not think that anyone would want to miss this, so do not be late". One of the two women then checked her watch to look at the time and exclaimed while chuckling "ah it's 2:30 am!" she raised her glass and recited this line with the women in the toilet " To the next many many years, centuries and eons we will live for"
After they existed the cloak room, I rushed out to look for Peter. "Don't panic, Don't panic, Don't panic" I repeated these words of leisure with the intention to stop myself from panicking, but to calm down. While rushing, I tripped and fell and hit the hard ground. I covered my face and curved into ball in fear of getting trampled on by the people dancing. I felt someone's hands grip to hold me and catch me. " Woah" the person replies. I instantly looked up with relief and recognition from hearing that soft voice. I hugged Peter as tight as I could and I released him to say these words in a rush " We have to get out of here. Whatever these people are, it's definitely sick"
"Please slow down and explain to..." before he could finish his sentence he was interrupted by the music as it got louder and people started grabbing partners from out of the circle to dance.
I quickly plugged my ears with my index fingers and hid the sight of my ears with my hair.
When I looked up the musicians were preparing to leave, while the violinists opened their cases and placed the violins on their laps. And there he was, I never admitted it, but I've always liked the way his blue eyes glittered like an ocean being shun by the light of the sun, and how he brushed his long and dark hair back.
In a matter of seconds before I could reach him, time went by so fast and I knew I had to get to him as quickly as I could, but I couldn't. A man had pushed me back forcefully, I fell hard on the cold floor pushing me under the table of food. Covering my ears and eyes wouldn't help, because I panicked and froze in shock of such a monstrous scene. I was still able to see the gruel violence and the room filled with gore ,while they were feeding on these people. Although they were stiffened by the spell that was played from the music notes, they could at least tear up from the pain of getting ripped apart and feasted into like meat getting pulled away from it's bone. I shut my eyes closed and held unto myself with my arms crossed on my knees, while I wept inconsolabley like a baby. For the first time I was not bored by the idea of prayer, because that was all I could do while waiting for the horror to end, in hopes that Peter was alive and ,that may this not be my last night alive.
Suddenly everything went dark, the lights were out. I was on all fours to crawl out from under the table. But then a sudden blue light appeared, what seemed to be a blue fire from a portal with screams and cries for help. Around me everyone has kneeled down while reciting prayers in a different but eccentric language. People were getting dragged into that flame by peculiar but monstrous figures, while some that weren't feasted on pleaded, begged, kicked and cried " Don't let them take me".
I got up as quickly as I could and I left. Knowing that if I had stayed longer I would've got caught and probably killed.
On my way to the gate, the twins looked at me suspiciously and asked " You're leaving before the final ritual?"
My heart began to race faster and a pile of bile was flowing up my throat until I threw up.
"Never mind, she's one of the new members. You can leave" with their faces cringed and they waved their hands in disgust.
As I got out ,I walked and walked as fast as I could. While I was walking my vision became impaired and turnt vivid. I began to feel dizzy and drowsy, I felt myself losing grip of my reality, and collapsed. I uttered the words "I've got to get... home..." with an attempt to finish my sentence.
I lied awake on the cold and wet ground of the streets, being unable to move my limbs, but I at least could move my eyes and blink. At least I didn't lose all my senses, and the feeling of my immobile body laying on the cold ground. My vivid eye sight and inability to take the opportunity to admire the stars. The inability to inhale and exhale the oxygen of a late night and feeling my chest getting pressed on while I suffocated. Lastly the terrifying feeling of having my feet get dragged by a complete stranger that I was unable to identify and defend myself against.
My eye lids were shutting to what felt like I was falling a sleep, I felt weak like I had been sterilized.
The morning after...
The faint sound of my alarm clock and inaudible voices of Elsa reminding me that I still had school to attend, became louder and louder. I rose and shun for a new day, while I scratched my head in confusion of my amnesia from last night and being unable to retrace my steps or recall last night.
While I was approaching the dinning table to eat breakfast with my family, Elsa turned her back with a grimace. She was ready to interrogate me with her curiosity about my being last night. "Would you like to tell us what made you feel too preoccupied to remind us of your well being,so that we didn't feel the need to call the police?" She asked with a sarcastic content facial expression. Mr Gilmore couldn't care less to say anything else than clearing his throat and shooting a quick glance at me and back to resuming the news feed that he was reading on his newspaper. I could tell by the way his finger tips were pinned on that paper, he withheld harsh words.
I fiddled with my scarf and twirled my fingers around it ,because I was running out of lies and excuses to use since I do not even remember anything about last night. Weirdly ,not even how my day began. I blurted out the first response that came to mind " I was with Peter last night. At his house and... and I can call him right now and put him on speaker phone"
"Sure" Elsa stood up from her chair and leaned closer in interest as I dialled his number.
I received a surprising response as I pressed the call icon"The number you have dialled does not exist"
Elsa nodded her head and sarcastically replied" So 'Peter' or who ever he is, snuck you out on this romantic date, then left you with a fake and none existent number. She widened her eyes with her response.
"No and no. You know Peter, we basically grew up together and he use to come by for the past 5 years" I raised my hands in the air with the frustrating feeling of knowing how ridiculous this was. "Fine I will show you pictures of us together from my photo album that he bought me" I stomped to my bedroom pumped with confidence to prove my innocence and pulled everything apart until I uncovered a turquoise photo album covered in crafted material.
"I am waiting to see this 'Peter' that we've apparently known for 5 years" she made air quotes when she said Peter's name to emphasize her sarcasm at how she couldn't be believe a word that I was saying.
I rushed over the album, until I realised that there were no memorable pictures of him and I. As if he'd never existed and that I was a fool with a mind that managed to conjure a person that was capable of caring about me as much as I did for them. For the first time in... well never.
At this moment I gulped as I felt my saliva run down as a lump in my throat ,that made my face flushed with red from the pain and anger I felt and barred in my fists. My eyes filled with tears that I could no longer contain. I felt my chest and heart getting heavier and heavier from bearing all kinds of emotions that led me to feel perplexed of how I really felt. Except I didn't know what to think or what to feel.
But you were real, are real, I meant. In every place that you once existed in and everyone's life that you were once a part of was a reminder that you were real. I couldn't describe the daunting feeling of your absence. I wouldn't know how to mourn a person who never existed, a person that merely felt like a pigment of my imagination.
I was filled with a myriad of emotions I didn't how and where I could've began to describe them. Since I too had no idea of what was draining me. I didn't feel this way when you were still alive ,because I only realised how much I actually cared about you after you were gone, because I reminded myself that instead I felt at fault and guilty for what had happened to you.
After spending a day filled with despair , continuously reminding myself that you weren't coming to any of the classes that we attended together, you weren't coming with me to the winter dance, you weren't coming to walk me home, but most of all, that you weren't coming back at all.