Umbra: Feed on my Fear

What's Left

By this moment I don't really pay much attention as he let out a frustrated sigh. The next thing I know, his blurry form disappears followed by the feeling that I am being engulfed into a bubble. It's quite warm but I can feel that the hairs on the surface of my skin become erect.

The warm energy starts in my abdominal area and spread through different parts of my body. The pain on my lower leg slowly dissipates and my vision is back to normal. My right hand moves to the cloth that was wrapped around my leg and with a minimal force, it comes off. To my surprise, it reveals an unscathed skin with no scar whatsoever.

I am aware that my body is moving but it's like I'm on autopilot that I can only know what's happening but I have no control over it.

This feels familiar to me. Did this happen to me before?

I let out a deep exhale as I tilt my head. It's like a burst of energy escapes from me. I breathe heavily as I wet my lips, trying to anticipate what will happen next without moving an inch.

My muscles relax when Austin's hand is on my shoulder. I look at him with tears forming on my brown eyes. Looking at him with wonder, I try to compose myself for the questions that are flooding in.

Patiently, he sits on the adjacent couch and waits for me to respond.

"You have to tell me everything. Now," I demanded. I look at him determined to fight if he refuses to explain to me. I have been kept from the dark and I am willing to do whatever it takes to shed light to my situation. I brace myself as I dig my fingers on my thigh.

"I think it's about time. You have to keep an open mind." He raises his hand to hold my hand but he withdraws it.

I feel elated, more than ever. Letting out a soft smile, I nod at him.

"Let's start with the basics. I am an Umbra. It is a latin word that means Shadow. We, the Shadows, are around for centuries we come from a different dimension where no human has ever step into. When we are being summoned, a portal opens up to your world."

He moves closer to me but refrains from touching me.

"My kind roams the earth by portals and cursed objects. They have fought alongside the British Monarchy to win two world wars and even grant the Pharaohs wealth and power in their land. Some of them were beyond sinister though. They caused accidents and plague."

"So, where are they now? Still roaming this world?"

"Yes. Since the portal back to our world died with their masters, they have nowhere to be. Others take form of animals and some just feeds off of greed, violence and lust," the magnitude of his words hit me with a string impact.

I gulp, "That monster back there it was another one of your kind."

"You're right. And it is pretty much alive taking a form of another being."

"It killed Gaby," I stare onto his face and his features show regret and pity for the loss of one of my loved ones.

"Yes," without breaking eye contact, he sternly said it.

I feel my chest swell as I feel like my tears are about to drop. However, I close my eyes and stops it from happening. I want some answers and I am not going to be a crybaby and ruin my chances.

With shaky breath, I ask, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't want you to find out and dig deeper to the evils that my kind has become. I don't want you to think that hundreds of us escaped that very same night when you played that game. The terror that you have unleashed into this world."

The feeling of guilt crashes through me. I can't believe that in that night my I not only changed our lives but for other people that are around us. People are going on with their lives. My eyes widen and palms sweaty, I stand up and goes straight to the cupboard.

"Heidi, where are you going?" I can feel him trailing behind me to the kitchen.

Where is my bottle of Xanax when I need it?

I feel a little bit of relief once I had my hands on a labelled bottle next to a canned beans. Austin snatches it away from me, holding me when I try to reach it from him.

"I need it, Austin. Damn it!"

"No. You can't get through this if you don't try to avoid taking these," he rattles the bottle then places it on the topmost shelf where I usually use a chair to reach.

"Wow. This is... we caused something like this? I don't know if I can get through this." my voice grows louder.

"Buttercup," his voice full of passion as he pull me onto a warm embrace.

"This is my fault. I did not stop them. I just let them do whatever they wanted and now those shadows are out there terrorizing people."

"It's not your fault. Forgive me for being selfish. I wanted you all to myself, to serve you without anybody getting in my way," he brushes some of the strands of hair off on my face that causes me to shiver.

He hands me another glass of water which I consume hurriedly this time. After a few seconds my heartbeat turns to its normal rhythm.

"I have to make this right. I have to. What do I need to do? How do we open up another portal?" I raise my heal to level myself to him- not caring about the coldness of the tile floors that penetrate through through my skin.

He hesitates for a moment. But decides to say it anyway, "It's been done before and it can only trap back entities within a two mile radius. You have to get back where you left off and finish the game."

"So, all of the entities- they will be cast away. Even the shadow who killed Gaby. Can they come back from the portal," I did not notice sooner but my face is getting closer to his that even when someone whispers, one can hear it clearly.

He smiles bitterly but his eyes are gloomy, "No. Death is the only fate."

"And you. You're coming with them."

I mentally slap myself for not knowing it sooner.

"I am a shadow too, Buttercup," his words seems so calm but being this physically close to him, I can definitely sense his grief. Licking his lips, he continues with pure determination and seriousness, "It doesn't matter. The shadow will keep on coming at you now that it's getting more and more powerful leeching off of your fear and anger."

"But, you will die."

My teenage me would have jumped with joy knowing that all of these will be over... but I am afraid that things are changing. I actually want him to stay. It pains me to the point that I don't care that even those shadows stay, as long as he's with me, I am satisfied with it.

I shake my head and try to push the thought away. I am being selfish. So selfish.

We are doing this to not only to keep the people that are close to me safe, but also save those who are under the influence of the other shadows.

"Don't worry about me. This is the only way for me to save you."

The smell of mint fills my senses as comes even closer to kiss my cheek. "You should contact him right away," he continued.

"Who?"

"Nolan."