"Please, Grandma."
Eleanor's phone started ringing nonstop. "We shall talk about it tomorrow. For now, pack your belongings." She left the room to answer the phone, leaving Eirin stumped.
"But I don't want to leave."
Eirin walked out of the room, but Eleanor was not there. She learned nothing about the situation she's in, and she's still clueless about how their house ended up in a bloody mess. All she learned was that her grandmother knew of what had happened that night, but hid it from her. Despite her jumbled thoughts, Eirin decided to clean. As she put out the garbage, a cracking noise came from the sky. Her phone vibrated at the same time and almost gave her a heart attack.
"Ava?"
Her best friend sent a message saying,
It looks like it's going to rain. There might be thunder and lightning. Do you want me to go and stay with you?
Eirin teared up after reading that, but there was no way she could let her best friend see the mess their house was in. The rain started pouring, covering the sound of Eirin's sobs as she crouched and cried.
. . . . . .
The moment Eirin opened her eyes, she woke up in an unknown place. 'It's happening again.' She thought as she stood up from the floor and stared at her hands while her body moved on its own. Regardless of trying to stop, Eirin's feet continued walking into the alleyway near a huge old building.
'Why does this place feel familiar?' She thought while roaming her vision. Eirin cannot control her feet, but she could control her eyes and head.
"Where is this place?"
Eirin's forehead furrowed after she spoke those words without opening her mouth. As if something else was controlling her body, it wouldn't follow what she wants to do. 'Am I dreaming again?' She thought. Eirin looked around and saw the abandoned place giving eerie vibes. There was no hint of humans living there, making Eirin's heart race. 'This doesn't look good.' The teenage girl thought as she wanted to run in the opposite direction, but her body kept moving.
"Excuse me, do you mind if I ask something?"
The two unknown figures wearing black cloaks stopped walking after hearing Eirin's voice. "I just want to–" Eirin felt her heart drop after seeing what those people were holding.
"Uh-oh. Why is there another human in here?" The voice that sounded like a man said, dropping the severed arm he was holding to the ground. "This will be fun." He added as he faced Eirin.
RUN.
Even though Eirin wanted to run as fast as she could, she couldn't control her body.
"Aren't you going to run for your life?"
It was only then her feet started moving. Eirin tried to run fast, but it felt like no matter how much she tried, she was in slow motion and barely making any movements. It was as if something was pulling her feet to the ground.
'Help.' she thought as she closed her eyes. It was the memories of that night that she lost. She soon realized that it all happened, and none of it was a dream.
"Help me!"
"Eirin! Wake up!"
Sweat came dripping out of Eirin's temple as she chased her breath. "Dear? Oh, my dear Eirin." Eleanor pulled her granddaughter into a hug. However, dreaming about that terrifying incident caused Eirin to break down.
"They were right, Grandma." Tears welled in Eirin's eyes as fear enveloped her small heart. "It was my fault. Those creatures are after me."
Eleanor's heart felt heavy, and as if being shattered into pieces, she could not bear seeing her granddaughter like that. "It was not your fault." She said, patting Eirin's back. Eirin did not even notice the awful weather outside as she continued crying. "It will be fine. We will leave this place."
Eirin sobbed louder. "But I don't want to leave… I don't want to leave Ava." She said, being the mature child she has always been, it was rare for Eleanor to see her granddaughter cry like a vulnerable child.
"But your life will be in danger." Eleanor could not bear seeing her only granddaughter miserable like that. "You might get hurt further if we stay here. Those creatures aren't the only ones that might hurt you. Would you still choose to stay despite knowing that?"
No matter how terrifying it was, Eirin could not imagine being far away from Ava than that. "Fine." Eirin looked at her grandmother. "There is something you must do."
Eleanor stood up and went out of Eirin's room. "Grandma?" Eirin called out to her after being left behind, but Eleanor soon got back, holding a small vintage box with wood carvings.
"If you still wish to stay in this place, promise me. You must wear this at all times."
Eleanor opened the box, revealing a pastel blue butterfly-shaped pair of stud earrings. "This will protect you from harm, but this does not mean that you will never get hurt."
Eirin's forehead creased. "What harm? I need to know what I might be facing to avoid them," She said.
Eleanor sighed. "It is still not the right time. You may use this if you sense yourself being in danger, but you must first run away. This is a magic shield that will only activate if it senses danger. It can sense blood thirst."
"How do I use it?" Despite how ridiculous it seems to Eirin, she still wanted to avoid all the dangers that might come her way.
"It will activate on its own if you touch it," Eleanor said. "For now, I must deal with something first, and you still need to go to school."
Their morning ended with tears falling and fear filling their hearts. Running away might be the normal thing to do, but Eirin could not imagine a life where Ava was not there. The teenage girl prepared for school, but she could not shake the feeling of being helpless and clueless about everything.
'Why can't Grandma explain anything to me? If I at least know something, I could at least defend myself.' She thought. "It's still not the right time? But when will it be?"
Eirin walked the same path she would always take to school with her heart heavy as a rock. Everything seemed normal, and it was supposed to be an average day. However, realizing that everything that happened was true messed up her thoughts.
"Ei!"
Eirin jumped in surprise after being grabbed by the waist. "Ava." She gasped. "Please, don't surprise me like that."
"Hmm? Did something happen?" Ava's pale face caused Eirin to wince as she stared at Ava's lips as white as snow. "Could it be? Were you too scared of the thunder and lightning last night?"
"What?"
"Is that not it?" Ava clung to Eirin's arm. "Then, what's bugging your mind?" Seeing Ava like that calmed Eirin. It was because she could stay by her best friend's side that she could still hold on.
"That's not it. I'm still a little out of the weather." Eirin lied. "But seeing your face made me feel better." That one was not a lie. "What about you? Are you feeling well today? You look paler than a blank sheet of paper."
Ava's smile grew as she snuggled with Eirin. "Of course! I'm glad the rain stopped so that I can snuggle with my Ei like this without holding an umbrella." The way Ava's voice sounded so cheerful comforted the chaotic mess inside Eirin's head.
The pair arrived in the classroom and Eirin's classmates showered her with attention and compliments, but for her, they were just empty praises.
"She's being praised, but she looks so pissed. Talk about being ungrateful." One girl in the class said.
"Stop being so jealous," Ava said as they took their seat. "Instead of spouting nonsense, why don't you focus on improving yourself?"
"Said by the girl who keeps skipping school because she's dying."
Silence enveloped the classroom as Eirin felt her left eye twitch due to anger after hearing that. "What? Isn't it true?" The girl kept laughing.
"Hey, it's not funny." One of their classmates tried to stop the other girl, but she didn't stop there.
Ava smiled and shook her head. She knew that Eirin was too tired to deal with what was going on, but anger filled Eirin's heart hearing that girl insult her best friend. Their classmates tried to make the girl stop talking, causing different voices to get in and out of Eirin's ears as she patiently waited for them to stop. However, the jealous girl continued. She kept going on and on about how rude and ungrateful Eirin was as if she did not make a rude remark herself.
Eirin paid her no mind as she gazed at the window, and her eyes soon went wide. She saw a familiar figure sitting on a tree branch just outside of the window, and that familiar figure was staring right at her.
'That…'
Eirin slammed both of her hands on the table and stood up, stunning her classmates and making them shut their mouths. Even the girl who kept talking nonsense froze in fear of what Eirin was about to say.
"E-Eirin? Is there something wrong?"
"That jerk."
Everyone heard the words that came out of Eirin's gentle mouth.
"W-What did you say?" The girl stuttered.
Eirin turned her gaze to the girl, who kept insulting her and her best friend. "Why do you care so much about me being rude and ungrateful?" The girl gulped after Eirin spoke those words. "Insult me all you want, but don't get Ava involved in this." Her piercing gaze caused the girl to back away and tripped on one chair behind her.
"I'm not in the mood to deal with your jealousy."
Eirin sat back down, leaving everyone speechless. It was a first for them to hear her talk like that. However, she was influenced by the anger she felt towards Shade.
'Is he watching me?'
"Ei? Is there something wrong?"
Eirin calmed herself down. 'Ava wouldn't understand. Even I don't understand.' She thought as she shook her head and forced a smile. "Just saw someone and felt annoyed."
"That's weird." Ava tilted her head. "You don't get annoyed that easily." She chuckled and cupped Eirin's cheeks. "That person must be amazing."
'So amazing that flames come out of his hands.'