Heyyyyyyy! Welcome back!

Spoiler alert: The protagonists meet in this chapter! Yas!!!

Happy reading!

Justice POV:

I woke up to the sound of my alarm. I groaned, as I tossed and turned in my sheets. I finally gave up and sat upright on my bed pulling the tempting sheets away. I stretched my hands and raked my fingers through the knots formed in my hair.

It was still cloudy outside and I wondered how it could be 7.30am. Last night was horrible and I had trouble finding sleep. I came back home safe and sound, but the fact that yesterday could have been my last terrorised me all night.

I clutched the cold metal around my neck. The little gold heart, with my name engraved on it gleamed brightly. I sighed as I felt the memories rock back into my mind. I quickly shook my head to shut off any memories that would find its way to me.

This is how I survived.

Running away.

From the pain, the horrors, the place that I once called 'home'. Gone. Everything that was tied down to my past, was just a burnt splinter in my heart. Although, they were just flashes of mere forgotten memories, it still would always remain the burnt splinter that I would want to avoid.

I made my way to the bathroom to finish with my morning routines. My apartment wasnt anywhere close to be called a luxury.... heck- it wasnt even anywhere close to a normal sized apartment. It had a small living room and an attached dining room. The kitchen was small, but it was convenient enough for me. All the walls were of a dull blue and dark grey shade, which added to the gloominess.

The bathroom had a toilet and an efficient-sized tub so that I could shower.  The owner was not a very nice man... not his temper at least. Paying off college was an already Strike one to me and paying off rent was another. Despite the temper and the frequent tantrums of the owner, he would allow a 15-minutes of decent hot water into the showers, something that Im really greatful of in these cold rainy days.

I quickly washed myself and wrapped a towel around my body, before walking out.

I made my way to the wardrobe and pulled out a plain shirt and a pair of black pants. As of clothes, I did not own many. There was no reason for me to buy clothes either and it was also because, I couldnt afford to buy new clothes with my college fees hanging around my neck.

My bedroom wasnt that fancy either... except, for the walls. There were numerous photos taken at different occasions. My obssession with taking pictures began when I was gifted a camera for my birthday at the orphanage. Sister Margaret was nothing but an angel to me and she saved her share of pay, just to buy me something so insignificant yet, so great at the same time.

The walls of my bedroom were a constant reminder to me that there are always good things that happen, despite all of the bad things.... worser things...

It reminds me that the slightest smiles in all of these photos, is what defines me who I am today.

The past lingers, but it is the present what is the most important.

It is in the present you bloom into the flower. It is the present, that makes way for the warm sunlight. It is the present, that unfurls the soul.

Just breathe... just breathe...

I took deep breaths, opening my eyes closely. The white scar that curved its path on my skin from my 14th left rib to the bottom of my navel, stood out against my pale frail body.

I ran my index finger on the fading white scar, pushing my nightmares away.

I sighed as I pulled my shirt over my head. I grabbed my backpack and my phone, walking out of the room. I put on my shoes and walked out of the apartment, locking it behind me.

I am tainted.

And it was all my fault.

Only if...

only if, I had stood up... only if, I had killed the monster, instead of dying everyday in those days.... only if, I could turn back time...

I would still run away...

Far... far away...

*******

I walked out of the gates of my college and headed down to the Mart, where I work. I had only two classes for today and it turned out well. Usually, I would head down to the Cafe for my shift... but, for about a week the Cafe is closed due to some repairs and the new decor. And for this reason, the owner let the employees on a week's leave.

The sky was gloomy with grey clouds floating around. I didnt mind this weather, as long as it didnt rain.

I hummed an unknown tune as I walked on the cement pavement.

My phone began buzzing and I removed it out of my pocket.

I smiled at the name the screen showed. Clearing my throat, I answered it.

Conversation over the phone-

"Hello, Sister..."

The voice beyond the line lighted up as I heard the soothing sweet tone of Sister Margaret, "Hello dear... how are you?"

I jumped over a small puddle and landed perfectly. "Im fine... how are you? What about the others? How are they?"

She spoke up, "Im well...and so are the others. They all just want to meet you." She chuckled over the phone and I could imagine her eyes crinkling right now.

I sighed, smiling " I want to meet them as well..."

Sister Margaret spoke up assuringly but was interrupted soon after "I know dear... -Oh wait. Esther! Im talking to Justice...alright alright I will let you speak to her..."

I heard the Sister speak to one of my most favourite kid in the orphanage.

"hello?" I called out, only to hear the adorning little voice squeak up

"Juju!"

I laughed at the voice and almost screamed out her name, "Esther!" I smiled as I recalled the brown haired, deep brown colour eyed 11 year old...

The little voice beamed in, "Juju! H- How.. how a-are you?  I-I-I miss y-you.."

I heard her happiness seeping out of her voice. Esther was my most favourite and I loved her beyond the galaxies and stars. She was the most heart warming girl Ive ever seen and she was like a little sister to me.

She stuttered a lot while speaking, but I didnt mind it at all. It was very hard for her at the same time, to formulate sentences and words, and for this reason she alone called me 'Juju'... beacuse, for her 'Justice' would stop right at 'Just'...

I smiled as I continued talking, "I miss you too... so so so much. I will come to visit you soon..."

I heard her gasp on the other end. "R-Really? I-I-I'm so happy r-right n-now..."

I heard her squeal in excitement and it was enough to fill me with the same happiness.

She continued, " Juju!!! my f-front t-teeth are g-going to fall off s-s-soon... I-I-I will b-be able t-to s-see the t-tooth fairy.."

I hummed in acknowledgement joining in her little fairytale enthusiasm, "Im sure you will see the tooth fairy.  If you see her, then make sure to tell her I said 'hi'..."

Esther giggled and she spoke up "I-I-I will.."

I chuckled as I took a turn on the familiar path, still smiling. I heard Sister Margaret's voice come back on.

"Justice, you will have to attend Esther's birthday party. She will be heartbroken if you miss it." She said softly and sighed shortly after.

"I cant promise you Sister, but I will definitely try to come... " I replied in a soft tone.

"Alright alright.... please do take care of yourself. Dont skip your meals... Ellie has been telling me you skip breakfasts and Im sure you did that today as well... Dont forget what I say, your body is the temple of God.."

I sighed, hanging my head low. Elliehas been snitching on me and she will have it later.

She continued, "... so, please take care of yourself.."

I let out a chuckle, "did you ask Ellie to spy on me?"

"Its called looking over a friend..." she explained and I could hear her laugh on the other side. "Okay dear, I have to go now... tell hi to Ellie from me..."

"I will... take care of yourself, Sister... bye."

"Bye dear.."

I smiled as I pulled the phone away from my ears. I gave a small smile, still staring at my screen.

I walked into the Mart, as the doors flew open when I came close to it.

*******

"Justice..." I heard Ellie groan on her chair.

I lazily glanced at her as she huffed out air.

"Do you think its possible for Prince Charmings to be real?" She asked gazing at the ceiling.

I leaned back into my chair, facing to her now. "Did you just watch a Disney movie?"

She nodded, pouting. I chuckled at her reaction. How can she be possibly be 22 with that mind?

"Its just unfair that all those girls found the Princes! What did they even do to have those men in their lives? Half of them were pretty dumb eitherways..."

"Your theory of Charming Princes does not apply to 'Tangled'... or 'Frozen'... heck- the Hans dude tried to kill Anna and Elsa in the movie!" Ted perked up sitting on the counter.

I laughed at his comment. I myself, did not own a TV... but Ive seen many movies with Ellie and Ted.... not to mention all the Disney movies. They are always a little clichè with an expected happy ending... but I didnt mind a happy ending in someone else's life, even if its just a fictitious animation.

"Why are you talking about Disney movies the first thing today?" I asked her.

"I dunno.." she shrugged "maybe its about time I start dating men and have boyfriends and all..."

"What about the hoodie-boyfriend-dude you were talking about yesterday???" I questioned keeping my chin on the heels of my palm.

Ellie rolled her eyes and she groaned again, "I like men who pay attention to what I speak. That dude has barely lifted his chin up to see my face in the past encounters... also, he is not of my type."

I shook my head, listening to her rants. Ted listened to her keenly and I smiled looking at them.

There was no mistake in figuring out the love triangle in this room. Ted, Ellie and Ellie's imaginary ideal boyfriend.

It was such a rush, but I could still see the deep feelings in Ted's eyes, however... my dear friend Ellie was completly oblivious of his feelings. Ted knew, that I knew that he had feelings for Ellie... but, I did not go into investigating or interrupting whatever they had. It was not my place to meddle with things, unless he would ask me for my help... ofcourse.

I turned my attention to the doors zooming open and the whole room came to standstill silence. Ellie and Ted, both stopped talking and kept their gaze fixated on the customer.

The jet black hoodie pooled over his head and he zoomed past the aisle, not looking at the awkward silence that sprouted its way out when he walked in.

My eyes followed his every move as he walked to the Drinks section. He put a crate of beer cans into his trolley.

I glanced at Ellie and she covered the side of her mouth with her right hand and mouthed inaudible words,

"That dude is the mean hoodie guy. The no-face, no-talk one."

I raised my eyebrows in realisation, understanding why the whole atmosphere went damp in two seconds.

"Him? He is the one?" I mouthed pointing my thumb in the direction where the hoodie-guy went.

Ellie nodded and I let out a out a small 'oh' escape from my lips.

Five minutes passed by and I watched him approach out of the aisles. I looked over Ellie, who was looking, firm but intimidated a little at the same time.

As of the dude in the dark hoodie didnt even lift his head up. He pushed his trolley as quietly as ever and occasionally the wheel squeaked over the tiles.

He walked over to the cashier-counter where I had stood and stopped infront of me. His gaze fixated to the floor, he silently picked up his stuff and placed it on the counter. I glanced at Ellie, who was gawking at me like vigilant hawk and I gulped for no reason.

"Hi.." I said softly, hoping for him to follow my greeting... but he said nothing.

I bit my lip in awkwardness and began scanning his stuff.

I noticed that there were very little things that he bought. Beer and some random snacks, just like Ellie had told me. I caught hold of one of the chips packets and scanned it, but stopped abruptly.

"Im terribly sorry, but.. this one's expired.. Ted- please get a new one of these and clear out the old ones. The section seems to be expired."

I looked back at the hooded-guy ,"Im sorry for the inconvenience... it usually doesnt happen like this."

"Its okay..." I heard him mumble in a silky smooth voice.

His tone was so soft and low, that I couldnt contemplate, if he was actually speaking or Im just imagining things.

I just stood there awkwardly, waiting for something like an eternity. I tapped my fngers impatiently on the counter completely focusing my gaze someplace else.

I looked back at the customer and caught his sea-green coloured eyes looking right at me. My breath hitched for a moment when I saw his face.

His dark eyebrows and his sea-green coloured eyes blended in smoothly with his angular face. His pale skin was shadowed by his hoodie and his dark hair covered half of his forehead. His lips were of a pale pink color and for a split second I thought how would he look if he smiled.

My face flushed when he didnt break the eye contact and I looked away staring at the glass window. I felt a little stuffy from the closeness and his intense gaze. Like I've mentioned, Im not really good with men... even for the slightest, insignificant reasons, I feel afraid when I'm close to them.

"You're new..." he said in a low breathy tone.

I looked back at him and stuttered not knowing what to say,  "uh.. uh... er- no. I.. I work here. Been, working here. Its just that my actual shift begins from the evenings. Some things came up, so... Im here for the morning shifts."

He didnt reply anything for that and simply pulled his hoodie over his head. Assuming that he didnt want to converse anymore I shifted my attention to Ted, who was coming with the same chips packet in his hands. 

I thanked Ted for handing it over to me, but the thankyou was more for rescuing me from awkwardness.

I quickly scanned it, without any further ado and looked back at the guy. "That will be $7.29. "

He handed me the cash and I took it without looking at him. For what I did next, I had no control over it.

"I'm Justice.. by the way.." I said softly and looked at him with a small smile.

His striking sea-green eyes met with mine and I simply stared into them. The sun that had been hiding behind the clouds came out, allowing the rays to reach in.

"And... you are?" I asked back, since I could feel myself being hanged upon a string of ignorance.

He shifted uncomfortably on his feet and his hoodie slided down a bit, allowing the sunlight to reach his face.

Thats when I felt lightening strike me, when my eyes caught his deep oak brown colored hair.

His face was clearer and his facial features were so prominent and masculine than any other man Ive seen in my life.

No... it cant be... it cant be the creepy guy...

I shook my thoughts away kept my calm. I cannot just jump to conclusions.

There are a million people who have deep oak brown hair, who also wear hoodies. Just dont panic Justice...

The awkward silent grew so much that I finally cleared my throat to get him do anything than stare dead into my face.

He snapped out of it and I gave him an awkward smile raising both of my eyebrows.

"E-Esther... my name is Esther." He said slowly.

The name clicked in my mind and all I could imagine was my most favourite person who lived in Conejos.

"Esther?" I asked as I tilted my head to the side. I gave a small smile, "an unusual name... for a guy"

He looked at me confused as his dark eyebrows furrowed.

I sighed, eventually smiling, "an unusual, yet a beautiful name"

His sea-green eyes gleaming at me. He quickly grabbed his bags and headed out of the door, without another word.

Esther?

I watched him disappear as he walked ahead and I sighed in confusion thinking about the name that he just told me.

I heard Ellie screech and frantically make her way towards me in excitement. I turned away from her questions and turned around to gaze the little board.

"What did he say? What were you both talking about? He never spoke to me in all these days, eventhough I tried to... yet he spoke to you like it was some magic trick! What did he tell you? What did you ask him?" Ellie threw out all of her questions at once and I found myself sighing.

"Did you ask his name? Did he tell what his na-?"

"Esther. He said his name was Esther." I sighed looking at the board. Ellie followed my gaze and scoffed.

"No wonder why he took so long to tell me his name." I said staring at the board, which was infact the Charity mission for Esther's birthday party. We have been collecting and saving all the tips to surprise her and all the other kids at the orphanage with a grand party.

Ellie shook her head and walked away, annoyed.

I just laughed at her and turned away from the board behind me. I sat down on my chair, sinking into my thoughts.

So, thats not his name.... and if he doesnt want to tell you and lock it away himself, you have no reason to be bothered over it. However, you have so many secrets to hide away and inviting another person into your life, is going to be even more than stupidity, Justice.

You are a runaway.

You are a coward.

You are a victim.

And they will judge you, for what you are, for what they did to you and for what you did to them...

They will hate you too... eventually.

End of Justice POV:

********

Unknown POV:

I walked away from the store clutching the bag in my hands. It was weird, of what I felt back in there.

Since when did I begin to feel so stupid?

How can I be so ignorant to my rules?

All these years... all these cursed years I dodged that questions from these pathetic creatures. And now what? Now I just give in to the very first person I see this morning?

Esther? Is that even a name?

I stopped walking and closed my eyes, trying to calm myself. I recalled the small, frail human that conversed with me.

The way she looked at me in those curious icy blue eyes of hers. Her firm stance and her quiteness in her words was so mysterious.

Memories flew by, and I stood alone looking at the same person crying to spare her life on the night before.

Crying... to have mercy on her, from a monster like me.

Eventhough I had done nothing to her, I could see how much she could fear of me... if she would know what I am.

What I am called.

But, the way the word 'Beautiful' slipped out of her mouth took me back to the time that I loved what I was, to the time where I was loved.

And, no matter how hard I lock it away into the deepest caverns.. I still remember it.

I still remember him.

The person who called me beautiful, despite knowing what I was, what I could do, what the consequences would be, if we were caught...

The same person who showed me what happiness meant...

The same person who made me smile everyday...

The same person who fought for me...

The same person who I let die brutally.

The same person who brought the monster out of me.

The same person who ignited the devil in me.

And I hate him for it.

I hate him, for making me choose the path of immortality.

I hate him, for making me name myself.

And now, I already hate her, for making me name myself....

Again.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Authors Note:

Well well well, I know its a pretty confusing plot, but dont worry... the story is worth it.

I named the hoodie-guy as 'Unknown', just because nobody knows what his real name is.... yet. From the next chapters, I will name it as 'Esther's POV'... since, Justice is the protagonist and according to her (as of now) he is Esther.

If you liked this chapter, do like and comment.

Lemme know your thoughts down in the comments. Dont forget to share. All the help, very much appreciated.

Have a great day! Love ya guys!