"Ma, I'm heading out to town."
Her long blonde hair swayed along with her graceful movements as she bent down to check the pie that's inside the oven. Ma slowly straightened her back and smiled.
"Is there something wrong love?"
I placed my hands inside the pocket of my jeans so that I wouldn't scratch my head; a mannerism I often do when I'm going to do something really strange or that will make Ma and Pa worry.
"Umm, Cleo ran out of cat food," I raised my voice a little louder so that Cleo can hear me.
He immediately responded and ran towards me. He began to rub his body on my jeans while chanting,
"Chicken, schicken, my hooman will bring me chicken," I smiled at his silly chanting and patted his head gently as a thank you.
"Oh well, just be careful, love,"
I hugged Ma real tight before I ran off to grab my keys hanging inside our tool shed. The jingles from a couple of other keys made me want to stop and examine the tools that Pa arranged according to their uses. I stared at the metal rod that Pa kept in a corner. I remember him giving me the other rod which was a small version, I forgot if I misplaced it or someone stole it from me.
"If you ever need help, rub the ring. Someone will help you." the woman's words echoed and it made me wonder if I'm just daydreaming or not.
I took the metal rod and headed to my car that was parked near one of our farmhouses.
"I guess I need to see a doctor after this," I might have a serious case of maladaptive daydreaming.
I arrived in town exactly nine-thirty, which is the perfect time for me to go out and explore because there are no people around. I looked around and breathed the scent of freshly baked bread coming from Mr. Smith's bakery.
I immediately went to Mr. Nick's hardware store. As I went inside the store, a golden head crowned with glorious fur that shines brighter than the sun greeted me with a slobbery kiss.
"Athene, you're here! You're here!" Tony barked as he tried to jump into my arms.
"Whoa, Tony you're not a puppy anymore. You're a handsome alpha now," I said as I patted his head gently.
From the store's counter, a couple of heads turned and offered the same warmth that Tony gave me not through slobbery kisses but through their smiles.
"Here she is! Ace's little girl version!" Mr. McNichel said as he stood up from his usual spot.
Because of his back problems, I immediately walked towards him and assisted him back to his chair.
"Pops, do you want to stay in the hospital for the rest of your days?" Patricia's loud voice boomed from their storage room.
"Patty, it's your good old friend, Tinny," Mr. McNichel said as he pinched my face.
"You truly are your grandpa's girl version," He said as he slowly wiped off the tears flowing from his eyes.
The sound of his sobs made Patty's peak out of their storage room.
"Hey Tinny, don't start crying. Pops just miss your Pa," She said as she went out of the storage room.
I handed Mr. McNichel the box of tissue on the counter as he started to sob even louder.
"Pops, you're going to scare the customers," Patty said as she stood beside him.
"Sorry, I just miss Ace," he said while he was wiping his tears.
"It's okay Mr. Nick, I understand," I said.
I received a big hug from Patty before I told them the reason why I am here. The shock from their eyes was explainable and Mr. Nick was up in his arms when he found out that something big and mysterious destroyed the hen house that he and Pa built.
"Why that creature doesn't even know who he is dealing with!" He said as he pounded his hand on the wooden table.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Patty asked.
"I think I need to replace our old fence. It's not safe anymore, plus I am really worried about Ma,"
It's not that I am saying it will happen, but accidents are unavoidable. Whether the woman was telling the truth or not, I would still be concerned about Ma's safety.
"That's a good idea, I know the right handyman to do the job," Patty said as she smiled.
I smiled at Patty and the heavy air that I am carrying disappeared. My thoughts are still hovering on what the woman said, but hey, if I can solve my problems and get answers one by one, why not?
Patty and Mr. Nick invited me for lunch; I had to call Ma to check on her, and good thing nothing strange happened while I am away. After lunch, I decided to stroll a little more around town before I went home.
"Athene," a sing-song voice called me.
Chills immediately course through my veins when I heard that familiar voice. Even here she would follow. I'm not getting a good feeling about this.
"Athene, are you going to pretend I am not here?" She whispered to my ear.
I jumped and took three steps away from her while I continued to rub my ear. She wasn't wearing the clothes she wore when I saw her at the café. Her blue jeans emphasized her shapely legs and the black shirt that she's wearing actually suits her. She braided her hair nicely and it somehow showed her eyes which were actually ice blue.
"Surprised?" She said as she twirled around before she hugged me.
"Whoa, wait, chill, I'm completely overwhelmed at this moment," I told her.
She moved her face even closer to mine and the silly me has to move it away from hers. She giggled at my silly movement and finally let go.
"I'm just worried, I thought you lost the ring," She said while she was playing with her hair.
"Why aren't you wearing it?" she said as she held my hand.
"Well," I began to fidget upon hearing her question.
She silently stood there while her ice-blue eyes were staring at me. She suddenly snapped her fingers and I automatically covered my ears.
"Oh, sorry, I guess the teleportation magic traumatized you,"
Wait, what? Did she say teleportation magic?
"You are a product of my maladaptive daydreaming," I said as I placed my hands in my pocket.
I closed my eyes and breathed as I continued to repeat the same phrase over again.
"What are you doing?"
"This is a joke, right?" I asked when I am still hearing her voice.
"Actually, darling, I don't want to offend you but you're the joke," She said.
Now, that's a huge slap on my sensitive skin. I slowly opened my eyes and breathed.
"Okay, so you're real?"
She nodded and smiled.
"You don't believe me..." She said.
I shook my head and gave her a weird smile.
"I didn't know your name," I said as frankly as I could.
"You knew mine,"
She smiled once again and showed me her fangs. Is she a vampire or what?
"I am a vampire,"
Wait, she can read my mind?
"Yes, I can read your mind, Athene,"
Hot diggity-dog! I shook my head and slowly pinched my face.
"Okay, what is your name?" I said while I'm trying to act like everything is normal.
"Oh, so if I tell you my name are you going to trust me?" she asked.
Her movements and mannerisms literally remind me of Lulu, I guess she must be my best friend's alter "vampire" ego from another realm.
"My name is Myrtle Dorothea, nice to meet you, Athene,"
I shook her cold hand gently. She slowly pulled up my sleeves and slipped a silver bracelet on my wrist.
"Now that you trust me, do me a favor, darling,"
I stared at the silver band on my wrist and examined the symbols carved on the precious metal.
"That is a Còmhdìon, a protection bracelet. It'll protect you from harm, so don't take it off,"
She suddenly raised her finger and pointed to the sky.
"You better head home; your Ma will be waiting for you,"
The bubbly and cheerful Myrtle that was hugging me a while ago completely melted and was replaced by the serious and Don't-mess-with-me façade.
"Okay,"
I was about to turn my back on her when she placed her hand on my shoulder.
"If it glows the color red, be careful,"
I nodded and hugged her real tight. I don't know I just felt that I need to do it. Was it a sign that I'll be okay? Or will it be the last I hugged someone?
2:45 P.M says my car's neon clock as I drove my way home. While my thoughts were floating in and out of my head, my car suddenly bounced on something big. Oh great, now I'm an animal killer.
"Oh no,"
I immediately got off my car to check the wounded animal but when I crouched down I saw nothing, except for some weird-looking feather that seemed to be covered in tar. I breathed slowly, trying to calm my panicking nerves.
I got back into my car and started driving again I suddenly stopped when I barely even got away from the weird incident. The sky began to darken which is really creepy. I checked out the clock and it was still three in the afternoon.
I started to hear weird eerie noises coming from outside. I turned on my car's headlights and a terrible scream made me jump from my seat.
"What the hell..." I muttered as the còmhdìon emitted a bright red light.
The eerie noises continued and I slowly saw the terrible creatures come into the light. They are tall and thin black creatures with long sharp fangs and long arms. Their eyes emitted red light which reminded me of the color of blood.
I froze from my seat. Is this the danger that Myrtle is trying to warn me about? Are they the ones who destroyed the hen house?
One of the monsters roared, it sounded like screams of people; the people it might've killed. Will I be their next victim?
My car suddenly started like it has a life of its own and the light from the headlights grew brighter. I shielded my eyes from the bright light then it disappeared along with the creepy monsters that just showed up.
"Hooman, hooman,"
I rubbed my eyes for the 3rd time and was relieved to see Cleo and Ma on the porch. I ran out of my car as my heart re-emerged from a near-death experience.
"Love, what's the matter? " I hugged Ma as tight as I could and cried on her shoulder.
Cleo started to go around in circles and meowed in concern. I've never cried this hard not when I've experienced something so dangerous.
What was that? What do they want from me?
Run, run...
The wind echoed mockingly as I sought refuge on Ma's embrace.