The woods totally covered by the thick mist. Only the moonlight could pierce through this pitch darkness. The coldness successfully hit me, and I just realized that the cold could invite pain. It felt like there were tiny needles pricking my skin. I hugged myself for more warmth. But it's too cold out here. The warmth within my body was unable to burst its way out. I bring my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around, curling up on the wet grass. I'm lost in the woods. And I couldn't even promise myself that I could last much longer. I'm too tired and shivering.
Until, about an hour later, I felt my body being lifted by something, or someone. My eyes squeeze and then open little by little. I can't see the face clearly due to my heavy eyes, but I can tell it's a man. His hands felt vastly cold and hard as a stone under my nape and legs. I have no idea where he will bring me to, but gradually the warmth came over me. My eyes closed again. He moves so gently it's as if he was afraid to wake me up.
"You found her?" A heavy hoarse voice broke my comfort. Then the man who took me, slowly moved my body onto a hard object, like a table, and it's too damn cold. "What a lucky you are. She's beautiful."
I force my eyes to open, but it's so damn hard. Not only that, but I also find it arduous to lift my body. I'm just lying weak and nebulously glancing around. This place has a high, tapered ceiling and it's dark. The combination of dark red and black colors on the walls made this place even darker. Only the lit torches mounted on right and left illuminate the room. And to my horror, there are several people in cloaks surrounding me. They're standing at some distance from me. Except, for a man who's standing very close to me, right on my left. But they all have blurry faces. Where am I? Why can't I see clearly? Who are these people? This is so weird, and eerie!
A cold hand brushed my face, making me jerk away. "Just relax, beautiful." The man who owned a heavy hoarse voice spoke again.
I swallowed, "Who are you? Where am I? And what are you going to do to me?!" My throat felt so dry that my voice couldn't come out clearly. No, it's not even close. It only stuck in my throat.
"Shh! You don't need to be freaking out, baby. You won't feel the pain." After saying that, the blurry face drew closer to mine. His hand gripped my neck strongly, making me couldn't breathe. Is he going to kill me?!
"Please don't!" I said through the rest of my weak voice. I struggled, trying to release his grip, but it was too strong. I am so defenseless right now. But I need to survive. I won't let this happen. I'm not going to die by this vile hand. I won't let him win. As his grip got stronger and stronger, I put all my strength to scream and struggled as hard as possible to free myself.
"No!! Let go of me!! No!!"
Just in a second, I was startled and immediately got up. I'm extremely panting, and my forehead was covered in sweat. My eyes now open easily that I could instantly recognize this room. Also, I'm not on that hard object but on my bed, alone. I rubbed my face and swept back my hair. I let my mouth slightly open so I could breathe easily, to get more oxygen into my body. Thank goodness it was just a dream. However, it felt so real as well as my throat felt so dry.
After the calmness came over me, my eyes darted to the window seat with the completely neatly arranged cushions on it. I Frowned. Hey, didn't I lay there last night? Yeah, I was there, definitely. I remember kicking off the blanket that now wraps me before I moved to the window seat. I couldn't be wrong. But how can I lay on my bed right now? Did I unconsciously walk during my sleep last night? That never happened to me. And there is no way that I arranged the cushions first before getting into the bed. I've never been like that. Since I must be too sleepy for doing that.
I sighed. Whatever happens, let it happen. Maybe it's just my first time sleepwalking and tidying the corner of my room while I was in that phase. Nobody knows, including me. That was weird, but real.
It's five in the morning, I'm awake, and couldn't back to sleep. Still too early for me to start doing some activities, plus, it's still dark outside. But I need to get up and drained water down my throat that was as dry as a desert. So, I spread the blanket over my body, like a cloak, to keep me warm and go downstairs.
As I walked down, I freeze for a moment. Wait, I heard a little noise in the kitchen. Who the hell is that? I tiptoe to sneak towards that sound. The lights in the living room haven't been turned on while I passed it, so it's likely Davis isn't awake yet. I bravely keep moving with no weapon in my hands.
As I peek into the kitchen, I found someone squatting between the lower cabinet and the small kitchen island. All I can see is just the brown-haired. "Davis?" I called. No answer. So, I call again with a higher tone, "Davis, is that you down there?" Still no response. I quietly grabbed a hanging paddle from my left and use it as a weapon. My plan is to jump right in front of whoever it is, and bang! Sounds heroic, isn't it? I took a deep breath and square off before action. Here we go, in three, two, one, "Got you, poltroon!"
When the paddle in my hand is half swinging, I found Davis shocked with his butt bumping on the floor, so hard. "Shit! Fuck! Shit! Fuck!! Are you going to kill me?!!" He cursed.
I can't help but burst out laughing as I watched him that panic. I put the paddle on the floor and reached out, helping him to get up. "I'm sorry, Dave. It's totally my bad."
"What the fuck are you doing on that ... costume?! Are you pretending to be Casper, so you could booing me?!" Still grumbling, he's patting his butt which may hurt a little.
"Casper? Dude, he's not scary at all. I'm sorry, I can't." I cleared my throat and tried to stop laughing, then say, "I thought you weren't awake yet, but then I heard some noises in the kitchen. So, I just tried to figure it out. And ... I thought there was a ... " I paused, thinking of what I am going to say.
"What? What do you think was here??"
"Bear. Yeah, I thought there was a bear sneaking into our house. Besides, I could only see the top of your hair. You were bent down here, remember?" I pointed to the area where I found him falling off.
"A bear? You think my hair is the same as bear fur?? What a ridiculous! Your guess is nothing compared to how shocked I was." He calmed himself down by drinking a glass of water.
I chuckled, "Don't get me wrong, but we live surrounded by the wildlife here. So, there's a possibility that the bear will visit us, right?" I am blinking with feigned innocence.
"Whatever." He rolled his eyes at me, and that made me laugh again.
"Okay, okay, let's forget about that. What makes you awake this early?" I take a seat on the stool right in front of Davis and turn on the faucet to get a drink.
"Well, actually I'm going to make breakfast. And I was bending down here, unboxing, searching for my favorite pan. Without that pan, my pancake would be horrible." He then disappeared between the lower cabinet and this table, again, unboxing a quite big box which we brought from Detroit.
"Breakfast? Isn't it too early for having breakfast? Even the digestive systems are still sleeping right now."
"Found it!" he stood up and swayed his dream pan. "I know, but since I have to go to the hospital in Fairbanks today, so I have to wake up, cooking, have breakfast, and everything earlier."
"Fairbanks? How far is that from Healy that makes you do everything this earlier?"
"Not too far actually. It's only about two hours long drive." He starts to toss the pancakes one by one into the air and never missed catching them back. He's such a professional.
"So, you won't go home as soon as yesterday?"
"Yup. I might be late for home today, but don't worry, I'll make it as soon as possible. So that we can have dinner together like we always do."
I shook my head, "Don't worry about me, Dave. I can take care of myself. You better have your dinner right after work, before driving back home. Besides, my tummy probably can't wait that long to be filled."
"Oh, that really touch my heart. My little rebel is now a grown-up." He gently stroked my hair, then ruffled it. Now it's my turn to roll my eyes upward at him. "So, how about you? What makes you awake this early? It was once in a blue moon, wasn't it?"
Keep sneering at me, you bear. "Well, I ... " I'm going to tell him about the truth, but I know that he would only laugh at me for that reason, so I say, "I was thirsty so bad. So, here I am, get some water and drinking." I raised my glass of water at him and took a shot of it.
"Really? Thirst is good for you then. You know, it makes you finally feel the morning fresh air."
"Okay, early bird, are you done sneering at me? Cause you better stay focused on your pancake instead of keep tweeting. Meanwhile, I'm going back to my nest." I turned around, stood up, and walked away. Leaving my busy cooking brother in the kitchen.
I heard Davis chuckle, "Don't forget with your breakfast, D!"
"I won't! And thank you!" I said on the way back to my bedroom.
Actually, I don't know whether I would be able to sleep again or not but being alone in my bedroom is heaven. I can let my mind wander wherever it goes, without anybody interrupting. I lay on the window seat like I did last night. You know, it's been my favorite place since the first time I got here.
What I have in my head as I am slouching in this comfy window seat and gazing outside is, dear Mr. Neighbor, when will we meet again? Could it be today?
My cheeks felt warm only by mentioning his name. Correction. That's not even his name. I don't know who the heck is that guy, though.
Dammit, this is the weirdest feeling I've ever experienced in my entire life!