The Town Ball (Part 2)
Everyone felt ecstatic. It was their most awaited event. Soon, gentlemen will ask the ladies for a dance and surely, it will be a once in a lifetime chance to meet somebody special.
At last, a loud chime was heard.At the strike of twelve, people came rushing towards the center of the square. Gentlemen lead their ways to finding their ladies of preference. Everyone but Maliya and Lucas felt indifferent in the joyful atmosphere.
Giggles of young women were heard as they held the gentlemen's hand waiting in front of them.
" Are you two not planning to dance?" asked Marianne as the two scuffled. They had really shown great disinterest in dancing.
" Why not pair, the two of you?" she asked as teased them continuously with a naughty smile. Lucas felt awkward in the situation and as she looked at Maliya, he knew she felt the same way too as she tried to avert her gaze into the crowd.
"Ughhh." Marianne acted as if she's in pain as she rested her hand in her forehead. " This old woman just had only one wish to see her son dance with a pretty maiden." she exclaimed, while acting terribly hurt. " I hope my wish will be fulfilled tonight." she added.
Not too long, James arrived with a smile and gently asked for the hand of his wife. " May I ask for a dance?", he said as he slowly placed a kiss on the ladies' hand.
Marianne's face distorted as she thought of how her husband can't read the moment. Rather than feeling flustered she stepped on her husband's foot instead and pinched the tip of his ears. The couple just looked incredibly cute with each other Marianne gently whispered to her son's ears, " Goodluck" as she winked and smiled at her son's reddened face and strode out of sight with her husband.
Lucas didn't know what to do. He maybe a bit uncomfortable about the situation but he also would like to be a bit close to Maliya. At home, they didn't get the chance to talk to each other for more than a minute because Maliya always avoided him. And because of that, he became hesitant in starting a conversation with her.
But tonight was different. Maliya's walls seemed to thin out a bit. And Lucas gathering all her courage tried to asked her.
"Maliya, may I ask for a dan--". Lucas asked when suddenly the town fell into complete darkness. When the lights suddenly returned, Maliya was nowhere in his sight.
Suddenly, he heard a soft voice behind him.
"Uhmmm, would you care for a dance?" A girl wearing a purple dress was standing in front of her was asking him for a dance as her hands waited in the air.
Lucas wanted to turn the lady down but as he saw the ladies gathered around them, he became worried about the ladies' dignity. So he took the ladies hand as he bowed.
" I should be the one asking for this Milady. May you dance with me?" he said, gently pulling the ladies hand away from the crowd. Of course he couldn't care less about the missing Maliya.
"I'm sorry Milady but something urgent came up." Lucas started to explain the situation. " During the blackout, I lost my friend and I'm afraid she will be in danger." he said as he tried to sound considerate in standing up the lady he just asked for a dance. " I'm really sorry that I can't dance with you." as he bowed many times.
He turned her back from the lady hastily but as he does, the lady shouted at him.
"Judith! Judith's my name! " as she struggled to get his attention. Lucas stopped and looked at her.
"Please dance with me the next time we see each other." she added as she bowed gently. Lucas replied to her with a smile.
....
" Hey! " Maliya shouted as she tried so hard to shake the hands that's been holding her arm for a while now. " Why the hell are you taking me!" she shouted as she cursed the man in her head.
But the young man didn't budge a little. He just continued his pace until Maliya got tired of struggling. Finally, for almost half an hour, they came to a stop and it seemed to be a place that no one would frequent. Just a silent place where nothing but trees are seen around the narrow space. And most importantly, it's creepily dark.
Several things were circling in Maliya's head. This guy is surely a bad person and no doubt would do something bad to her. If only she had slid a dagger from home, then she wouldn't be defenseless as she is now.
Maliya was preparing to kick the person's ass when suddenly, he turned around and bowed.
His hair was black like Lucas, with a pointed nose and a pair beautifully thick eyebrows. But what caught her attention were the pair of crimson eyes glittering in the darkness.
" I'm really sorry to do something so unmannered to you, miss. The fact that I just dragged you here was really undignified." he said as he acted sorry in a sarcastic way.
Maliya recognized him in an instant. She had seen his face several times.
" Your the man that's been following me right?" she asked as she curled her arms and raised one if her eyebrows. At this, the man laughed.
" Haha , you're quick- witted Missy." he said while holding his stomach in laughter. "But hey, hey, I'm not someone weird okay. I just want to help my friend." he added.
"What? How in the wor--" Maliya asked but was cut between words as the man raised his arm.
" Let me introduce myself first, okay? I'm Cain Ascart. You are?"
" Haha why would I tell you my name? You just drag me in this dark---"
"Oh yes sorry sorry, I'm quite used to this place I forgot. " Maliya's face was distorted because the man always cut her in the middle of her words. Just then as he said "Light" and clicked his hand, the dark forest illuminated.
Maliya was flustered. "What in the world are you?" she said as she stepped backwards. However, there was no fear in her eyes. For some reason, she already accepted that their were people who were born different from others, like....her.
And the truth is she was quite amazed to see peculiar people and is happy to befriend them. The reason why she's stepping back is maybe because of the strange approach that she was just dragged here. However, as she continued to step backwards, she stepped unto a stone and fall out of balance. Cain held her hand to prevent her from falling but a man reached for her waist instantly.
"Get your hands fucking hands off her." Lucas was enraged in anger as his purple eyes glint. Maliya could feel the anger in Lucas' eyes as his grip on her shaked uncontrollably.
Out of nowhere, Cain said, " Oh I see, she couldn't."
" Then, I've got no reason to be here." he said to Lucas. Then looked at Maliya and smiled, " Until the next time."
He turned his back from them and as he said "withdraw", the whole place fell into darkness.
None of the two spoke a word until they came out of the forest. The whole family was curious of their disappearance but Maliya, who didn't want to say it all just said that they just got lost in forest while unwinding themselves.
Everyone fell into silence and dismissed the topic until they had ridden into the carriage.
* snap
A loud snap was heard and in an instant, the whole place was spinning. A loud scream was heard and then everything went black.