Riana's Room
"Welcome Ria" the housemaid greeted but grievous Riana wasn't in the mood to exchange pleasantries with anybody as she hurriedly barge inside her room, throwing herself on the bed and cried bitterly.
"Melly! Melly! Mellyyyyyyyyyyyy! Where are you? She screamed.
Standing up and rushing towards the enormous golden table, grabbing a glass cup, she watch as it shattered on the ground. Such a beautiful waste. Quickly, she grab the wall mirror, hitting it on the wall. Angry she start throwing stuffs all of the room. Her heart is heavy and she wail sorrowfully.
Riana's mind is in complete mess right now. Fears of the unknown, worry, confusion and too many emotions bombard her. Her room already in a total mess as she laid about herself. A knock came on the door and she screamed at the top of her voice.
"Go away" She roared, picking up an object and throwing it at the door.
The maid stood at the door, each bringing their ears closer to the door to hear her destructive wailing. They can't hide the tears in their heart as they flinch each time a sound is hear from the room.
For Ria to be acting like this means she is passing through alot. How a lovely girl just changed over night due to pain. Mellisa is her sister as they always see her. Truly when they said" The change that comes with pain" is something one can't explain. Ria sudden outburst is a prove to that.
They bang on the door calling out to Riana to pity her mental health and calm herself down.
Suddenly the door cracked open and the housemaids fall in each ontop another.
"Sorry Ria" They echoed and rush towards her but she screamed at them to leave her alone.
"Just go...go...go...I need to be alone."
The maid looked at one another and shrugged. With a regretfully heart, they walk out. Their faces in full of disappointment.
Just as she wanted picking up another frame, her eyes finally dawn on a frame lying carelessly on the floor. Her tears welled up and it dropped freely down her cheeks.
For the past sixty minutes, she sat in the silence of her room, looking at the two beautiful girls on the portrait. That was her and Mellisa; the hood cat and dog. Their friendship being the most envious among their peers. Besties turn sisters like people always describe them especially their classmates and some residential occupants. The love they share, have common interest and goals. A true definition of friendship. Her heart break in tears and she said.
"MELLY! I HOPE YOU ARE NOT HURTING? HOPE YOU ARE SAFE? PLEASE TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND YOU?" HOW LONG SHOULD I WAIT....HOW MANY MORE NIGHTS SHOULD I STAY AWAKE."
She stood up from the chair and staggered to her bed and lie down, the portrait being held tightly and closer to her bossom. She held onto it as if she's shedding it from getting harm.
She covered herself with the blanket as she reminisces on her past relationship and the most sweetest moments of her life with Mellisa.
"Mellyyyyyyyyyyyy!!" She screamed as she ran towards the petrified figure standing, but as she approached closer, it looks like they were two worlds apart and she couldn't hear her amidst all the screams and calling onto her.
"Mellyyyyyyyyyyyy..." She keep chasing and running yet she couldn't reach her.
Mellisa stood facing the portal. The porous rocks surrounding her. Is she trying to cross to the next life.? She was bleeding, her shoulder dropped and her hands dropping blood. She look different and scared. They must have messed her life up. She looks mentally ill, scared and exhausted. Her eyes blazing with pain. She could read the meaning in those eyes as she advances but she couldn't reach her.
She keep running and running, yet the force keep dragging her foot and she struggled to wiggle herself free from whatever force pulling her back.
Tension crept over Ria as she approached her. her complexion already fading away and she's translucent now, literally looking like a ghost.
But something happened as Ria approach nearer, It seems the power tearing them apart began to release it hold; and Mellisa could hear her friend calling unto her, but immediately she tried to open her mouth and call on Ria. A gigantic mysterious bird appear from no where and flew her away."
"Noooooooooooooo..." Ria screamed, and she chased after the mysterious but she was too late as the force acting upon her, lift her feet and throw her off.
Mellisaaaaaaa..." her voice echoed in the entire room while her eyes flutter open. Her hand hanging mid air as if she wanted to grip on something.
Her mom rushed to her room as soon as she heard the loud scream emerging from her room. She barged inside leaving the door open and there she was sitting on her bed, tears welled up as she throw her gaze here and there in fear. What she saw made her freeze. The dream is scaring. Her heartbeat pounding heavily and sweats all over her body.
"Riana.." She draw her closer to herself in a tight hug.
"Mom, i saw Melissa but a mysterious bird took her away." She began to sob in her arms.
"That's okay baby, it's just a dream. You must has overthink the whole situation and end up dreaming about it."
She console her, holding her for a while and when she calmed down; she tucked up on her and laid next next to her.
Riana hold on to her mother. She is a lover of horror movie, but having such scary dreams seems to intensify the pain in her eyes.
She blinked repeatedly, the thought of Mellisa being taken away by the mysterious bird makes her heart scared and bleed for answer.
If it was before, she would have disregard the dream. But things aren't as before and Mellisa is missing.
Now this dream scared the life out of her.
She lay still, her eyes still searching the whole room for any threat of danger.
She shut her eyes tightly, slightly praying for Mellisa's well-being and after some times of staring at the ceiling; drove off to sleep.
Riana woke up the next morning with a slight fever. It must be the nightmare she thought. She stretched herself, dragging the alarm to check the time.
"7:30a.m she scream, standing up and sluggishly walking to her en-suite bathroom to empty her bowls and cool of some thoughts. She dip herself in the hot water and scrub herself gently. Buried herself inside the bathtub just to get a freshener feeling of the water. Her thoughts drive back to yesterday dream and immediately she thought of it; MELLISA" she screamed, picking up her towels and running inside her room.
She felt much better now after taking a warm bath mixed with lavender flowers. Such a soothing scent.
The room already back to it normal and beautiful state. Thanks to the maids who do justice and clear up all the mess she caused yesterday before she wake up from her sleep.
"Morning darling" Her Mother greeted. "Here i make your tea, brewed from Camomile tea-pot.
"No..Thanks Mom." She pace up and down bringing out clothes and testing each on the dressing mirror.
She wanted to ask her about her dreams but she wanted to wait for her to tell first. But it seems she's not ready as she keep pacing round the room getting ready.
She clad herself in a black trouser, a sleeveless shirt, comb and style her hair in a ponytail and stare angrily at the mirror.
"Honey let's have breakfast and talk about your dreams."
She paused, turn and stare at her mother.
"Mom... Mellisa is missing and you are thinking about a tea party; Are you being serious right now?
"Heyyy....I visited the Kellers' yesterday after work. They told me the investigation is still ongoing...We just have to hold our hope and pray about her safety return." She countered her.
"Mom... We should sit and wait for that punk to do something...He couldn't even give a reasonable explanation of Mellisa's way about and y'all hoping for something positive from him? Can never be me." She spat, scrambling around picking things and stuffing inside her bag.
"Language Riana..."
"Fine...fine...fine Mom; Here.... She pat her forehead: picked up a Chipolata from the plate, rolled her eyes for a go ahead order from her Mother and shove it inside her mouth immediately her Mother nodded at her.
"Can we talk about your dreams now?" She urges her.
"Nevermind. It's just a dream." She waved her off, picking another Chipolata from the plate and grabbing her tailcoat. "See you later Mom."
"If you are not going to talk about your dreams atleast have proper breakfast Ria."
"Not for all the tea in 'China." She joked, move towards her Mother and peck on her cheek. "Love you Mom." And she is gone.
Mrs McCarthy shook her head, her heart gladden and she placed her hand on her chest. Riana always have a way of making her heart flutter with joy.
She understands what the Keller's are passing through right now. Looking for a grown up daughter is something she never wish to experience. She could feel her adrenalin zingled around her as thought of losing Riana. She understands that Ria's mind will be in a complete mess and she seriously wants to help.
Her visit to the Keller's weren't how it used to be as she was welcome with the glooming house. The whole house looks like someone died. Not that there's any different emotions express between a missing child and a dead. A lost is a lost; the only difference is that there is a tiny hope for them and she prayed it happens so quick.
They have being feeling miserable and sorry for themselves for not protecting their daughter. But who is to be blame? Nobody controls situations like this. Nobody pray for tribulation to happen to their family. Mellisa doesn't deserve what happened to her. Nobody deserves such painful experience.
Small coffins are always the heaviest to carry.
The way her heart races when she heard news like this!
Losing a loved one generally is painful but watching your offspring go before you is a pain she haven't experienced and never wish to. But she is sure there is no pain greater.
Mellisa is like a child to her. Watching Belinda weep her eyes. She tried to control her own emotions but unfortunately emotions seems uncontrollably sometimes and she break down in tears too.
She can only imagine how devastating this period is going to be for the family.
"For Mellisa to be found and let everything return to normal." She prayed to the universe.