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Chapter 35 - Black gem

Mila sat in the car , tapping her feet lightly . It was just her and Augustus. 

Not long ago , the man's phone rang and he only spoke a few words on the phone . 'She is safe' 'No' 'Nothing yet' 'Yes she was here' before he hung up the phone call .

Mila's golden brown eyes glance up at the sky . The white clouds were moving away , letting the black , angry clouds in sight . It was soon going to rain and she was not anticipating this rain .

She is not a huge fan of rain because everytime it rains , the sky turns dark , getting the land to turn dark and that is when the shadows come out to pay her a lovely visit .

Mila did not have the balls to stay with her family whenever the shadows come to visit her . She so feared their judgmental looks and them constantly asking her where the shadows are .

Maybe that is why her mother had thought the shadows stopped visiting . It's because she would run away when the time comes to lock herself in the room and hide under the blanket while the shadows roam around her room . In some strange way , they never reach her bed , they can only stretch their long clawed hands out and try to get to her , but their shadowy hands will evapourate into nothing but air in the next minute and they will soon vanish before they reappear . Just like that . That is the cycle . That is the routine of her everyday life , until he appeared into her life . And that is when the shadows started to stay behind her closed door only and never enter her room .

The car finally came to a halt . She opened the door and exited the car , Augustus soon coming to stand by her .

"I will be here waiting for you . Once you are done , I will take you straight to him ." He looked up at the sky while she nodded ," Make it quick ."

Mila nodded once again before she approached the building . Although her heart told her to trust Augustus , she did not follow it because her heart has always led her to nothing but trouble .

How would she believe the heart that races so lovingly in the presence of that man with silver eyes who clearly has nothing but bad bad intentions in store for her . So no - she will not listen to her heart but make out the plans in her mind to survive this rough journey .

She prays that whichever priest approached her father and told him about the shadows is here in this building so that she can get the help that she requires .

Upon entering the church , the warm air inside hits her skin while the harsh one from outside stops . The door closes on it's own with a loud bang , causing her to jump .

"It's the force ."

Mila turns to look at her side at a man dressed in a long black robe . He wore a heartfelt smile on his lips while he looked at her . "Good evening ." He greets her .

"Good evening ." Mila greets back , her eyes trailing to the black book he held in his hands . The book had a black gem in the middle of it . A real black gem it seems .

The man lifts up the book for her to get a better a view of it ," It's about all the deities that have ever lived ." The man smiled as he explained . "This gem over here - Father Ibris believes it fell off from the moon . I do not know the full story yet and he was just getting on with the details with me until we heard the door open ."

Meanwhile the man spoke , Mila listened attentively to him while her eyes took in his features . He looks young , fresh even with his smooth skin . His skin is pale , you'd swear he is sick but the lively smile on his face proved otherwise .

"Are you here to see the priest or to pray in the house of the Lord ?" The man questioned while he walked and Mila decided to follow behind as that's the only thing she is supposed to do .

"Both ." She responds , her voice raspy .

The man nods , halting at the front of the benches before he nods . "He will be down soon and the sessions will soon be starting anyway . People will be pouring in here anytime soon ." He spoke .

"What sessions ?" Mila questions before she cleared her throat , not liking the hoarseness in it .

"Praying sessions . People come in and we pray till midnight with the priest . It's very relieving afterwards . You should stay and see how it turns out for you , I can tell you have a lot going on in you mind My lady ." The man said . She nodded ," I'll stay , thank you ." She said before she sat down and the man bowed before he left .

This time , she completely ignored her guts - telling her to leave this place and go back home rather . Yes she will , but not back home . After seeing the priest , she will do as she had planned - ask him to sneak her out the other way where she will meet her mother and sister and they will leave the province , maybe .

Soon after , people started pouring in , just like the man had said . She decided to stand up and head to the confessional booth , where she will first confess everything and maybe hope for some advices . As she stood up and headed to the booth , she saw the loving family sitting on one of the rows . A mother , father , three sons . They were all smiling and chatting with one another . Her throat suddenly tightened and burnt as she looks at them with a small , hard smile that took every last strength in her to forge out . She envied them so badly . To be normal . She just wishes for that . And that only .

"Excuse me ." Mila stepped out of the way , letting the woman pass before she rushed over to the confessional booth , tears streaming down her eyes while she questioned herself and no one in particular again , Why me ?