Heyyyyyy!!! I'm back.

Sorry for the late update. I was having a major writer's block and I wrote this chapter twice because I wanst satisfied with the first one.

ALSO. can somebody please tell me how to hide a draft? For some reason... when I write something in a draft and leave it for sometime then.. at the top it shows that it's already viewed by someone. I'm still lowkey new to Wattpad... so I don't know how to deal with this. Anyone who knows a solution please tell me.. thanks

Also... This is more like a filler chapter... major things are yet to come to screw with your minds so fillers are filled with cutesy stuff... so enjoy it while it lasts.

Lololol

Anyway happy reading.💜💜💜

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The rusty smell was the first thing that hit my nose. Like a distinct memory the smell grew only familiar as my fingers began trembling, trying to reach out to hold something.. anything. Like every other time, I was broken, lost yet again. The darkness had its veil around me and voiceless screams left my throat.

A faint snap echoed, followed by the creak of the door, making my soul jump out of my body. Fear surging through me like roaring waves hitting the cliffs. A familair dreading clink of metal was heard and I snapped out of what other people called sleep.

Gasping for air, I sat upright holding my hands together to stop the shivers. My hair stuck to my face from the sweat off my forehead.

Whimpering with burning chest I made my way to the bathroom, hands searching for a small white bottle in the cabinet. I unscrewed the lid, tilting the bottle and popping two pills in my mouth without water.

I looked at my reflection. My eyebags prominent. Cheeks hollow and skin pale. My hair plastered to my face.

Needlessly to say... I was a mess. A dying sick mess.

Sighing, I washed my face acknowledging the fact that I wouldn't be able to sleep, even if I tried.

I made my way back to my bed and sunk in it, feeling the cold sheets under my palms. I stared at the floor trying to block out the recurring images in my head.

Every night I went to bed, hoping for a nightmare-less sleep and out of all the extreme oddness if I did get a sound sleep I couldnt help but be filled with anxiety on the next morning. My nightmares were the only things that hurt me both physically and mentally.. and hurt was an understatement. They reminded me of what I was running away from. The times where I wished I was dead. The times where I was scarred and stripped down from my innocence. The times when somebody else's blood resided on my hands.

Pain shooting up my chest, I tried to calm my breaths down in exchange. After two or three minutes the pain faded away and I felt the depressant kicking down in my veins. The relaxation coming in way too quickly. I sighed and laid back staring at the ceiling again.

What am I going to do?

*****

" what did I tell you about working?" The red haired girl stomped her way towards me.

"Ellie, I need this job okay? The treatment, college fees...I"

"You didn't even include food or grocery in that list of yours!" She shouted alittle gathering attention from the customers. I gave them a guilty smile and they went back to their chattering.

"Listen.. this is the only way. "

"No missy, you are supposed to be taking rest as of right now. Eat food and rest!"

"But I have to live Ellie!" I frowned at her.

She sighed and pressed the bridge of her nose. She then looked at me "just ask for help.." she paused, sadness washing over her face "just allow me to help you... I can look after you. I can help you with your fees. The Orphanage would certainly help you. You are not alone in this world Justice. Maybe you do notice it, or you don't- but there are people who call you a family. Who love you unconditionally and it is okay to seek help from them."

My heart swelled at her words, guilt flowing through me. I looked down and played with my fingers, with tears threatening to fall down from my eyes. I heard Ellie sigh and soon was embraced by a warm hug.

"You are not burden to me Justice. I can take care of you.." she mumbled. I hummed in response, sighing a little.

The door chimed and we broke apart, looking at the customer who just walked in.

Wrinkles cascaded down her face but a smile etched on her face. She necessarily didnt seem to be as old as she looked. Mrs. Lenny surely did live her life as lively as she did in her late 20s.

She smiled at us and we both returned the smile.

I picked up my notepad and made my way to the table she occupied.

"The usuals Mrs. Lenny?" I asked.

"Yes dear.. and if there are any of those brownies I took last time.. then have them packed too." She said placing her handbag on the table.

"Sure! Anything else?" I asked her.

"No, that's it thankyou. Oh- and dear... is talking to wind.. is it uh- what do they call it these days.. " she closed her eyes to recall what she wanted to say "right! A trend?"

"What?" I giggled at her odd question.

"I tell you.. this mysterious young man outside is talking to the wind." She said with a snicker "and he is having a heated argument" she said in a hushed voice with her hand covering the side of her mouth.

We both ended up laughing at her action.

"Men are weird these days.." she said shaking her head and then looked up to give a mischievous smile.

I beamed at her reaction and smiled at her.

"Alright Mrs. Lenny.." I said closing my notepad and sticking it into my pockets.

"Oh- look he is here!" She said in a hushed voice when the chimes above the door chimed.

I turned around to see someone who made my heart beat a little faster. His head trained to the counter but, I recognised him right away.

Shrugging his jacket over his shoulder he turned around and stopped midway as his sea-green blue eyes struck with mine.

Esther gave a small smile, to which I returned it with the same gesture.

It was not until 10 seconds later I caught Ellie enacting a Baseball player swinging the bat from the counter, snapping me out of my trance. I subtly glared at her smirking face, making my way to the customer.

"Hello."

"Hi!" He grinned.

"Uhhhh..." I paused moving aside "take a seat, I'll be right back."

He hummed, nodding his head and walking over to an empty table a little away from the other customers.

"So is it only the coffee he comes for or is there something else sweet?" Ellie grinned at me as I walked into the counter.

I sighed and ignored the red haired, subtly also ignoring the soft thrumming in my heart.

It wasnt really much after that. Esther ordered an Americano with extra ice and Ellie prepared it. The oak brown haired man asked me to sit down for a while.. and suprisingly I did, not before secretly asking for permission from Ellie who was gawking with a wide smile.

We talked for few minutes on the most trivial things.. and honestly? I felt myself getting comfortable around him. My stereotypical mindest of all men being cruel hid itself whenever I met Esther. I forgot my pain, my concerns, my fear... it was as if I had lived a normal life. And I was happy... eventhough it would last for a moment or two I was happy.. thankful.

He gave a small smile, which honestly looked so precious.

"So you were talking to the wind?" I asked him grinning a little.

"You mean to Ga-" he paused, his eyes wide as if he had done something wrong.

He chuckled a little awkwardly shifting in his seat "yeah.. I was talking to the wind, how'd you know?"

"Mrs. Lenny" I said pointing towards the lady who was peacefully drinking her coffee.

"Ahh.." Esther exclaimed slowly.

I excused myself and headed back to the counter.

Although the said man with oak brown hair was seated facing his back to me, I couldn't help but get this eeiry feeling that he was watching me.

It was like a sharp tingle ramming in my bones that made me secretly glance up to Esther only to find him enjoying his drink.

God... I'm being paranoid again..

My paranoia was cut short when I heard some muffled shouts of a certain red head.

Confused, I turned around to look at Ellie pacing back and forth with a phone pressed to her ear. She was fuming but then her face was washed with sorrow and fear.

I waited till she hung up on her phone.

Ellie made her way towards me a frown on her face.

"Justice... Im sorry. I can't make it up to Esther's birthday party with you. My f-father.. h-he got extremely s-sick last night and no one told m-me about it."

"Hey... it's okay... I will be fine. Just, worry about his health okay?"

"B-But how will you-"

"I'm a woman Ellie. I get your concerns... but you need to be with your family right now. Your father needs you."

"B-But-"

"Its final... I'm going back to Conejos on my own. It's really okay.. you dont have to worry about me... okay?"

Ellie hugged me again, for the second time today and I returned the gesture with equal warmth.

"Thankyou... thankyou so much" she said breaking away first.

"When are you leaving?" I asked, propping my hand on the counter

"Tonight..." she sighed, still frowning a little "Justice.. you could ask Ted to accompany you"

"Ted? Look... Ted is a nice guy.. but we aren't really that much of friends or strangers... it will just be awkward the whole way.."

"C'mon.." she groaned "no?"

"Uh uh.." I shook my head in denial.

"What am I supposed to do with you?" She sighed.

I rolled my eyes "Ellie.. I will be fine."

"No offense, but you suck at directions. If I let you go by your own you'll probably wake up in another continent"

I scoffed looking at her "that's some major accusation right there" I tried to smack her arm but she dodged it, smiling widely.

"Maybe you could ask Captain Green eyes?"

"Huh?"

"Him" she said pointing towards where Esther was seated, enjoying his drink.

"What?! No!" I whisper shouted at the red head, with a horrified look plastered on my face.

"C'mon... I can see your heart eyes pop out when he talks to you"

I passed her a what-the-heck look moving away from her. But, Ellie wasn't one to give up.

She followed my trail, practically teasing and making me embarrassed.

"He just fits perfectly to your description of wanting somebody who's a friend who'll accompany you but will also be a stranger and won't bother you as much with questions"

"Stop!" I hissed turning around to face her.

Her Cheshire grin only widened at that and I let out a huge sigh,walking to the other end.

My heart raced a little at the thought of the said Oak brown haired man accompanying me. Reasons unknown... and I clearly didnt want to find out.

Ellie, however left me alone after Esther bid his goodbye.

Esther...

His name was something peculiar. Not that I had anything against unisex names... it was just... I couldn't recall if Esther was in fact a unisex name. And to add that he actually stared at the charity board for good 30 seconds to tell his name, never left my mind alone.

But it wasn't my issues.

I met him accidently.

Obviously... it was just out of nowhere.

******

I held my backpack close to me. I pulled down on my beanie to block out the cold.

I teetered on my feet, constantly checking the time on my wrist watch and then back at the empty road. The road wasnt that visible either because of the early morning dense white fog that had descended.

There was a teen and an old man in the same bus stop as me, probably waiting for the same bus.

I sighed, wetting my lips feeling exhausted already, the chill wrecking me inside the layers of warm clothing.

I sub consciously smiled thinking about how excited Esther would be if she'd see me. Everyone at the orphanage was anticipating for this week and the excitement wasn't any less for me.

At last, what seemed like a century later.. there was this familiar faint rumble down the road.

Soon the huge vehicle came into visibility and stopped infront of the stop.

The grey paint was peeling off the exterior but I didnt stay longer to look at it.

Swiping my pass near the driver's seat, who gave me a faint smile.. I headed down the aisle taking my seat in the middle next to a window.

The bus began moving again but, it came to an abrupt stop, jerking forward.

I sighed in relief of not getting hit in the head, while the doors opened again and a fairly tall person climbed in. A hood pulled over his head as he swiped his card near the driver's seat.

My mind wasnt really focused on the person that entered the bus, but rather on the old man who began muttering things and scurried away, getting down from the vehicle.

I was a little bewildered looking at the scene unfold as I couldn't really understand what went down.

The rest of the passengers had the same confusion splayed on their faces but then just like me then went back to minding their business.

That was weird

I shook my head and accidently my eyes met with the stranger who got onto the bus.

My eyebrows scrunched into confusion as I tried to look harder at him, ad he averted his gaze almost stumbling.

"Esther?"

At my voice he turned around to look at me and smiled sheepishly.

He came and sat in the seat adjacent to mine.

"Hi?" I said confused.

"Uh.. hi." He smiled through his pursed lips "I'm not stalking you."

I chuckled "you're not?"

"I had to go somewhere, so I climbed on this bus. But then I saw you and I was shocked. But then I thought you'd think I was stalking you, so I was contemplating what to do then I-" he began rambling, gathering everything in his side to put up a serious face. But I couldn't help but smile looking at him struggle for words.

"Hey! Its okay" I smiled.

"It is? Y-You're not creeped out?" He asked almost unsure.

"Well..." I paused a little "I am.. a little.. but, well.. isnt that how I first met you?"

He looked a little confused

"Well... that night, where you tried to return my locket chain but then I actually thought you... were stalking me.."

"You remember?" He asked amused

"I connected one to two... and well, here we are." I sighed, shrugging a little "I never got a chance to thank you.." I said looking down at my neck to see the thin gold chain glimmering faintly "this.. my mother gave this to me"

I looked back at him and smile "Thankyou Esther"

He smiled back, nodding a little "your welcome.."

We stayed silent for a bit, but then he broke the silence..

"So where exactly are you going?"

"Hmm? Oh me.. uh.. Its um.. Conejos.. Its my friend's birthday tomorrow.. she is like um.. like a sister to me."

"Oh.. I see."

"What about you?" I asked.

"There was a demon on the bus."

"What?!"

"I- I'm kidding... obviously." He chuckled a little, scratching the back of his head "I have a meeting with Ian somewhere a little farther than Conejos... probably.. 3 days later?"

"So.. you're going today?"

"Uh yeah.. yeah. I thought.. uh.. I could use a little pre vacation on my vacation."

"You're weird.." I chuckled, shaking my head.

"Mm.. I know." His sea-green eyes looking crystal clear "but by far... that's the least offensive comment. I've been called worse.."

"Like what?"

He smiled, leaning forward "you dont want to know"

I scoffed at him but smiled nevertheless.

"You know.. you can tag along with me, if you're planning to get down in Conejos.. I mean I understand if you dont want to.."

"Sure. Its my first time here anyway... I could tour around before meeting Ian.. so yeah.."

I hummed in response and we soon began talking on things and little jokes.

We both laughed a little and a lady seated in the front seats turned around and hissed at us to keep quiet.

We both immediately sushed up but that made us laugh only more.

It was a weird feeling being around him, to be honest. The way he could understand me was hitting me in my heart.

I know what I had promised to myself years ago...

But every second I spend with him.. the promise fades. It would be like.... I've never gone through bad things.

Maybe.. maybe, Ellie was right. Maybe I should give my soul a chance.. but then I'm afraid that I would fall deeper.

I knew for a reason... I did not have much time left.. and chasing something that wouldn't last would only leave me broken.

And that was something I didnt want... so I pushed it away.

Feelings and all.

******

"We're here." I heard Esther's voice and faint nudge on my shoulder.

I squint my eyes to look properly. A little line of drool ran down my lips and I wiped it away feeling gross. The sunlight streaming in blinded my sight.

I looked up and saw Esther standing straight ready with his backpack.

"You're coming or what?"

"Oh? Oh yeah.. right sorry." I hurriedly got my bag from the top but Esyher took it from my hands and slung it over his shoulder.

"I-I can take care of it.." I mumbled.

"You look like you're gonna pass out.." he said walking ahead of me. I frowned at his back as I climbed down from the bus.

"I'm sorry.... Its just that I don't get much sleep at night." I confessed looking down at the ground when I felt his eyes on me.

"Its okay... I understand you." He said sighing a little. "So.. where to now Ms. Justice Waters?"

I looked upto him, feeling lighter and smiled.

******

"Really?"

"What?" I asked him.

"This.. this is the place?" He asked again, his face a little pale.

"Yeah.." I answered looking at his odd behaviour "I.. I grew up in this Orphanage."

"Oh." He mumbled dazed, but not taking a step."its.. a.. church ground." He mumbled to himself but I heard it well.

I stepped forward onto the lawn carrying a box in my hands. I laughed a little looking at him "are you a demon? Or a vampire?"

He visibly tensed a little. "What? No.. what kind of question is that?"

"Well.. you're actually hesitating to step onto the church grounds." I said pointing at his frozen feet.

He chuckled a little "that's stupid. I'm not really Catholic.. nor do I go to churches.."

"Oh... its okay c'mon. God doesn't have anything against you."

Esther mumbled something like oh he does but I didnt give much attention to it.

"You don't have to be afraid of this place.. I mean.. unless you're a demon. The priest had once performed an exorcism on somebody... just to give you a heads up." I said smiling widely even more as he wrapped into his jacket pulling his shoulders closely.

"Hey- I'm kidding. Demons dont exist." I laughed walking beside him.

He chuckled a little again "yeah.. yeah. Right."

I shook my head smiling subconsciously.

People are worse than Demons... and I for one, know that myself.

We walked alongside until we reached a cobblestone path. The church was on a hill.. a little away from the orphanage. We walked in with a calming silence drifting between us, only the chirping of birds to be heard.

I was about to ask Esther something but then a squeal erupted making us both turn to the owner of the voice.

"Jane?" I mumbled to myself looking at the brunette who was running towards us.

"Jane!" I squealed on realizing it was indeed her.

The brunette hugged me and I smiled widely into the hug.

"Ohmygod Justice?!"

"Yeah.. I planned on surprising everyone.. but I think your scream may or may have not reached to the other end of the hill." I said smiling.

"How- when-" she gasped "you're here for the birthday party?!"

I nodded and she squealed again.

Jane Hudlow, was a brunette with fair skin. Freckles adorned her face and her raven eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. I met Jane in the year before I move out of the orphanage, for my education and work.

Unlike me, Jane plans to stick around Conejos as she wats to follow in the footsteps of the Lord.

We heard somebody clear their throat and I turned my gaze to look at the figure standing behind Jane.

"Sister Margaret!" I exclaimed as she came forward to give me a warm hug.

I sighed in content and closed my eyes feeling the warmth. I pulled away from her first and she smiled at me.

"How are you dear?" Her pale blue eyes sparkled. Early signs of old age were becoming more prominent on her face. But her smile, remained radiant nonetheless.

"I'm feeling fine.. how are you?" I asked her.

"I'm good as well." She turned to Jane "Jane dear, please hold in your squeals... we do not want the Birthday girl realise Justice is here, now do we?"

"Yes Sister." Jane replied quickly and headed away keeping her silence.

I smiled at her and then turned to face Sister Margaret.

"Jane will always be Jane" the older lady smiled shaking her head. "Oh- who is this young man, if I may ask?"

Relaisation hit me that I had completely forgotten about Esther.

I smiled sheepishly looking at him, pleading for forgiveness through my eyes to which he softly smiled.

"Oh.. um.. Sister, this is Esther.. he's my friend. Ellie couldn't make it up.. so, I came with him"

"Esther... hmm." Sister Margaret repeated, looking at the man. "Esther?"

"Yes Maam?... um.. Sister?"

"Sister." Sister Margaret replied with a small smile dancing on her lips. Old or not.. Sister or not.. she had a glint of amusement in her eyes as she watched Esther squirm in uneasiness.

I stifled my laugh and waited for Sister Margaret to stop looking at him fiercely.

"Are you strong?" She asked out of nowhere.

"Huh? Uh.. yeah?" Esther replied unsure. Esther looked at me and I assured him through my eyes that all of this is normal. "Yeah."

"Alright." She smiled "follow me you both.. we've got a surprise birthday party to set up before tomorrow and I need more hands." She said walking away.

Esther looked at me confusingly and I shrugged for a response. I picked up my box and headed behind Sister Margaret.

Esther jogged up to me "remind me again... " he smiled nervously "who's birthday is it?"

I stopped walking and chuckled looking at him.

"Esther." I answered "it's Esther's birthday party"
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"Right.. no wonder why Sister looked at me like that" he mumbled to himself.

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Author's Note:

This part (and the next few chapters) is gonna be one of those happy moments in an Angst book... so yeah..

Also.. the next chapter will be better than this. I promise.

VOTE.COMMENT.SHARE.FAN.

Love,
Jaye.