CHAPTER T W O

AELARI'S POV

It was once a beautiful castle but now I can see vines running up the wall, so much of it that you can barely see the palace. It's beauty now just a memory because for ages it's been abandoned by its people.

Everyone fears the kingdom of Alexandrite. The place that was once said to be magical. All the magic including the enchanted glow surrounding the whole being of each citizen born in Alexandrite was gone. There is nothing left in the fallen kingdom. No one stayed... not even one loyal subject. No one wanted to face the wrath of the sinister demon behind the cursed ruins.

Some people called that demon, Diablo. The demon that the King of Larimar freed and made Princess Ilaria as its vessel. The last heir of Alexandrite that is now left at the castle for years. Her name is now like a curse whispered in the wind, a forbidden word that not many wanted to remember.

I know the story so well but I don't know what am I doing here.

I raise my hand and push the massive doors in front of me. I was expecting it to not even budge but it opened so easily. I stepped inside, my feet like having a mind of their own, continued their journey until they reach the circular stairs.

My entirety is telling me to run back and never look back at the castle but I have no control of my body. I continued ascending the stairs and when I made the top I was compelled to turn to the dark empty hallway. The end of it is a door that looks so ominous and yet familiar.

I can feel sweat started to run from the side of my face. I need to leave. I really need to get away from this place.

My whole body started to tremble when the door at the end of the hallway suddenly snap opened. Like a force that only a magnet could do, I flashed forward as if being pulled to the room.

And that's when I saw it.

They were right. She's still here trapped in this place. She was abandoned by their people and no one tried to save her. Her own family was left to rot for years with her inside this cursed place.

She has her eyes close as if she's in a deep sleep and her hands are clasped together in front of her. She's sitting on a chair with dried blood drawn in a circle around her.

"You came at last."

I looked at the princess but she's still sleeping. Her lips remained unmoving. The voice wasn't coming from her.

"Free me."

I shook in fear when I heard the voice again... but this time I saw where it's coming from.

The black smoke that is surrounding the princess became larger. It moved around and around until the shape of it started to come to life.

"Let me be free."

"No," I whispered.

"Then she won't be too."

The smoke grabbed the princess by the shoulder, the black smoke turning into a hand. The smoke became clearer and clearer, becoming more solid as it held on to the girl.

"Free me so you could save her."

"No."

A guttural scream came out of the demon's mouth and I stumbled backwards. Not just in fear but in shock when the face of the demon became completely visible to me.

"You won't be free too until you set us free."

I know the demon. I know her too well.

Because I've seen her countless of times in front of the mirror.

The air felt rough on my throat as I suck it in harshly. Napatayo ako mula sa kama at kaagad kong inabot ang cord ng lamp para buksan iyon. I know I left it open. I always do. Ilang beses kong pinindot ang switch pero walang ilaw na nagmumula roon.

I searched blindly for my phone but it fell on the carpeted floor. I slide down the bed and grab it but when I tried to open it my phone screen remained black.

"No," I whispered. "No. Please no."

My generator should have opened by now. But by the looks of it I know that I should have it checked weeks ago. Hindi naman na kasi nagkakaroon ng power outage nitong nakaraang dalawang taon kaya hindi ko na rin iyon napagtuunan ng pansin.

I also have a lot of emergency lights that I haven't charged for months.

Damn it. Bakit ba pag minamalas ako hindi lang isang beses kundi sunod-sunod?

I've been too relax this past few months. I got too confident that my life is finally going smooth. But I should have known. The word "okay" doesn't last long for me. That's just how it is since before.

Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng katawan ko nang tumayo ako mula sa kama at pakapa-kapa akong naglakad papunta sa pintuan. I stumbled out of the room and search for the storage cabinet near my room.

Nang magawa kong maramdaman iyon sa mga palad ko ay nagmamadaling binuksan ko ang cabinet para kunin ang emergency light. Pinindot ko ang buton no'n pero katulad ng inaasahan ay hindi bumukas ang liwanag no'n.

"Fuck my life," I whispered.

Nakahawak sa pader na tinahak ko ang daan patungo sa hagdanan. Nang makarating doon ay tiniyak kong nakakapit ako ng mabuti sa barandilya ng hagdanan bago dahan-dahan na bumaba. Hindi ako sasantuhin ng kababagsakan ko kapag nagkamali ako ng apak.

Hindi ko pinansin ang mga nababangga ko na naglakad ako papunta sa sabitan ko ng mga susi. Mabibilang sa daliri kung ilang beses akong lumabas ng bahay ngayong taon na ito. Kung lalabas ako ay gabi naman at halos wala ng bukas na kahit na ano. I usually just drive around until the sun is beginning to rise.

I have no plans to leave but I need to go to my car now because it has lights.

I hurriedly open the door and run the distance towards my car. I wasn't expecting the ground to be wet and in the next second I found myself sliding to the cemented floor and my keys flying to the air. I uttered a silent plea but when I heard it clunk followed by a sloshing sound I know that I'm in for a bigger trouble.

I need light. I really need it.

This is not the first time I had those dreams but it's the first time that it became as detailed and vivid. Dati napapanaginipan ko lang iyong hallway at pintuan. I also dream about a child and it the same little girl in my dream but I never really saw the owner of the other voice. But what I had tonight is different. It blended with the game that I'm designing for B & A Tech.

I know that my dreams are not just dreams. I know how it can manifest into my reality and I can't have that. Not again.

I need light.

I searched for my keys but just like I expected, it went straight to the shallow drainage installed in my home. Mababa lang naman iyon at alam kong naroon pa rin ang susi pero hindi ko alam kung paano ko magagawang sungkitin iyon.

From above me, a thunder roared within the clouds. Ilang saglit lang ay kaagad kong naramdaman ang pagbagsak ng ulan sa akin.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

Niyakap ko ang tuhod ko ng mahigpit at sinubsob ko ang mukha ko sa mga iyon. I'm scared. I can feel the fear creeping through my bones and injecting my blood with it. It's colder than the rain pouring to me, harder than the ground beneath me.

I felt a pull like a weight was trying to drag me down. I know that feeling. Para bang ilang sandali na lang ay mawawalan ako ng malay. But I know I won't be fainting. I know that I wouldn't like the outcome.

"No. Not again. Please... please no."

The weight was beginning to be unbearable and I can feel my arms beginning to loosen with its hold but at the same time that they did, a tiny fleeting light hit me.

"Hello? Is everything okay?"

I gasped loudly and scrambled to my feet when I heard a baritone voice break the silence. Nagmamadaling nilapitan ko ang gate at akmang bubuksan ko iyon nang matigilan ako. I can't do that. I shouldn't.

"Hello?"

"I... c-can... can I borrow your flashlight?" I whispered.

"This is actually my phone. Ipapasok ko lang sana ang sasakyan ko sa garahe," he explained. "You haven't answered me. Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine. I just need light." Niyakap ko ang basa kong katawan at isinandal ko ang noo ko sa malamig na gate. His voice sounded rough but its calming me and I don't even know why. "I dropped my keys in my drainage. I need to go to my car... I... I don't have an emergency light and I can't stand... the... the-"

"Your voice is shaking. Do you have an umbrella with you?"

"N-No."

"How about you open the gate and I'll get your keys for you?"

That would be great except I can't let him in. I can't have him or anyone near me. Specially not now with those dreams and with the pull I felt earlier.

"I-I can't."

He was quiet for a moment. A part of me is scared that he will just leave me. I needed his help but clearly I'm not doing anything to make it easier for him to help me. Pero wala naman akong magagawa. I just can't.

"I'll get my flashlight and come back to you. You can leave the gate open para makapasok ako. You don't need to wait for me. Just lock yourself inside your house and I'll leave the keys on your porch."

"T-That... you don't need to do that," I whispered. "But... but thank you."

"Will you hold my phone for me?"

Nagbaba ako ng tingin nang makita kong inilusot niya sa butas ng gate ang cellphone niya. Maingat na kinuha ko iyon at siniguro kong hindi magdidikit ang mga balat namin. Nang magawa kong makuha iyon ay narinig ko ang mga hakbang niya na papalayo.

Nagmamadaling inakyat ko ang daan papunta sa bahay ko at kaagad akong pumasok doon. Kipkip ko sa akin ang cellphone niyang nakabukas pa rin ang flashlight. He could have used this instead of going back to his house to get another one just to help me fished out my keys from the drainage. But somehow without me telling him, he knows that I couldn't stand the dark anymore.

Nilapitan ko ang panel na malapit sa pintuan at pinindot ko roon ang number keys ng gate. My locks specially for the gates has an automatic battery backup. Thank god for that because apparently, I needed my generator fixed again.

Imbis na i-lock ang pintuan ay hinila ko ang isa sa mga upuan na nasa front porch ko at inilagay ko iyon sa tapat ng pintuan. Ipinatong ko roon ang cellphone at pagkatapos ay umatras ako para makapasok sa bahay. Isinarado ko ang pintuan pero hinayaan kong nakaawang iyon para nagagawa pa rin akong maabot ng ilaw.

I waited for a few minutes and not long after I heard a rustle at the gate. Sa tulong na rin ng hawak niya na flashlight ay nagawa kong matanaw ang kabuuan niya. Of course. Of course he's my new neighbor. Sino pa ba ang magagawi sa lugar na ito samantalang ang layo nito sa iba pang mga naninirahan dito?

"You okay?"

"Yeah," I whispered.

"This won't take long."

Nakita kong tumingin siya sa direksyon ko at bahagya akong kumilos para maitago ko ang mukha ko sa pintuan. Hindi naman siya nagkomento pa at sinimulan na niyang hanapin ang susi ko.

"I brought you candles. Just in case this happen again."

I answered him again with a quiet voice, "Thank you."

I appreciate his concern and the thought but I never used candles. Kahit na mas convenient iyon pagdating sa mga ganitong emergency. I couldn't used them because I'm afraid of fire. My gas stoves are even flameless because of that fear.

"You have a generator," he commented after awhile.

"I have. I forgot to have it routine checked. Halos dalawang taon ko na atang hindi nagagamit 'yan."

"Do you want me to look at it tomorrow?"

"You know how?"

"I think so. I have a bachelor's in electrical engineering if that helps."

Sa kabila ng lahat ay hindi ko napigilan ang maliit na ngiti na sumilay sa mga labi ko. Nakita kong tumingin siya sa gawi ko at bahagya ulit akong nagkubli pero alam kong nagawa niyang makita ang mukha ko bago pa ako makapagtago ulit.

"You work as an engineer?" I asked.

"Not really."

"Magpapaschedule na lang ako sa admin. I'll call them tomorrow. Baka mamaya lang din naman bumalik na ang kuryente."

"Okay then. Pero kung kailangan mo ng tulong nandiyan lang naman ako sa tapat."

"Yeah," I said in a low quiet voice. "You're my new neighbor."

"Yeah."

"Hi."

Nakatagilid siya sa akin pero tanaw ko ang pagkurba ng ngiti sa mga labi niya. He looks handsome when he doesn't smile. Paano pa ngayon na ngumingiti siya?

"Hi, neighbor," he said back. "My name's Bryson."

"That's an unusual name."

"What's yours?"

"Aelari." Bahagyang tumawa ang lalaki na ikinapagtaka ko. "Bakit?"

"You think my name is unusual? Wala pa akong nakikilalang Aelari sa buong buhay ko."

I could say the same. Though paano naman ako makakakilala ng mga tao in the first place samantalang hindi naman talaga ako nakikipag-interact sa kahit na sino maliban sa mga nagtatrabaho sa B & A Tech.? Kahit siguro nasa harapan ko na ang taong may pinaka-common na pangalan ay tunog bago pa rin iyon sa akin.

"I'm probably wrong. This might take awhile. Naipit kasi iyong susi mo kaya hindi ko basta mahila."

"It's okay. As long as I have the light, I'll be fine." Ako na nga ang nakakaistorbo sa kaniya. Sa tantiya ko ay madaling-araw na. Imbes na nagpapahinga siya ay napipilitan pa tuloy siyang tulungan ako. "Sorry about the trouble."

"It's fine. We all need help everyone once in awhile."

"I know it's a silly thing. Being scared of the dark and all-"

"Lahat naman siguro may kinatatakutan. Lagi namang may rason kung bakit tayo natatakot sa isang bagay. It just sound silly when we don't understand it and we don't know the person."

I was taken aback by what he said. He doesn't react like how people usually do. "You don't know me."

"But I'm familiar with your fear."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa naging sagot niya, "Takot ka rin sa dilim?"

"Not exactly. Kung nasa open space ako at madilim ay wala naman akong problema. If I'm in a small room with the lights off then it's different."

"Your claustrophobic?"

"Yeah."

I didn't asked him why. Iyon kasi ang normal na response ng tao. I remember when I was living with my uncle and auntie how it was unbearable to be around them and their children. Ang daming tanong na alam naman nilang hindi ko kayang sagutin. Ang dami nilang opinion na akala nila ay ganoon lang kadaling gawin.

"Why don't you talk to someone?"

"Maybe you just need a hobby."

"You're too old to create imaginary friends, Aelari. Why don't you go out and actually make friends?"

"There's no such thing as monster under the bed. Ilang taon ka na ba para maniwala sa mga iyon?"

Pero ang pinakamahirap ay iyong sagutin ang tanong nila kung bakit ako ganito. Kung bakit ako takot sa dilim. Sometimes people curiosity get in a way of their compassion. Not everything is all about getting your facts. Minsan kasi kailangan mo rin isipin iyong pinagdadaanan ng taong kausap mo.

Like Bryson's claustrophobia. Anong kasiguraduhan ko na hindi lang mababaw ang dahilan no'n? What if something happened to him that cause it? If I ask him it's either he will just answer or I will pull out things that he rather not remember. It's better if he will willingly share not just because he don't want to be impolite.

Nagsalita siya pagkaraan, "Can I ask you something? Hindi mo kailangan sagutin."

"Ano iyon?"

"You never leave your place and you don't want me to see you or maybe to be just near you. Are you afraid of people too?"

My heart thudded loudly that I'm scared that he could hear it, "I-It's not like that."

"You don't really need to tell me anything."

Yeah. He's really not like everyone. Dahil hindi lahat ng tao ay kaya akong bigyan ng choice na hindi magsalita.

"No. I mean... I have a condition. I couldn't be around people." Shouldn't.

"Like you can't touch them?"

"Technically... yes."

Mas tamang sabihin na hindi nila ako pwedeng hawakan. I never tried to touch anyone to know if it works the other way around but I can't explain that to him without telling him everything.

I was waiting for him to ask more. People are always curious. Even delivery men that frequented here tried to ask me about it. But I never tell anyone anything.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero pakiramdam ko kung si Bryson ang magtatanong ay kahit hindi man lahat ng katotohanan ay sa tingin ko pilit ko pa rin siyang bibigyan ng kasagutan. Pero sa halip ay nananatili siyang tahimik at hindi na nagtanong pa.

After awhile I saw him straightened up. Sa kamay niya ay natanaw ko ang susi ng sasakyan ko. Imbis na lumapit sa kinaroroonan ko ay naglakad siya papunta sa sasakyan at binuksan iyon. Siya na rin ang nag start no'n at nagbukas ng ilaw.

"I'll walk there to get my phone."

He didn't need to say anything but he did. He tried to warn me so I could move away from the door. Hindi niya ako kilala pero mas madami pa siyang nagawang tama para sa akin sa sandaling nakasama ko siya kesa sa mga taong nanalaytay ang sarili kong dugo.

"Thank you, Bryson," I said to the now closed door.

"No problem, neighbor."

A smile curved my lips at his answer. Sinandal ko ang ulo sa pintuan at pinakinggan ko ang papalayo niyang mga yabag. Nang marinig kong bumukas ang gate at umingit pasarado ay binuksan ko ang pintuan para lumabas.

I looked down at the chair in front of my door and I saw a candle and a lighter on top of it. Bukod doon may may isa ring maliit na papel kung saan nakasulat ang contact details niya at ang pangalan niya.

Bryson Castellan

CEO, CastlePro Enterprise

__________________End Of Chapter 2.