AN ART TO REMEMBER

Chapter 2

JAN. 14, 2000

Vanesa sighed before leaving the bed. Last night was her unforgettable moment. She thought she would be caught but fortunately she left immediately before he could finally raise his head.

Until now, she still thinks what happened last night. Until now, she can't believe that she saw the man who always in her dreams.

Is he really him?

That's the question she always asked to herself but whatever she does, she still returning to the answer of yes.

And again, she sighed.

Her eyes wandered around and she  realized that she was the only one left in the room.

She was momentarily dazed and awoke in a blank mind when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to the woman with a frown on her face. She didn't notice it entering, probably because her mind was too occupied by that man.

"Why are you still here?" She asked her, confusely.

"If I tell you... would you believe in me?" She wasn't on her mind when she said that.

Maria's forehead furrowed even more. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

Vanesa stared at Maria before sighing. "I-i saw him, the man I always saw in my dreams."

Maria's eyes widened and couldn't believe to what she said. "H-how? W-when? M-maybe you're just hallucinating? Or m-maybe that was your dream again?" Maria didn't know what to say because she was still shocked by what Vanesa said.

Vanesa quickly took Maria's two hands. "No! I actually saw him last night. I went out around six in the evening because I was thirsty and then I heard a loud noise coming from the dining and when I went there, I saw him. He is really him. I know him, I-i've seen him?" Vanesa's shoulder dropped as her voice faded. "Do you really think that was just a dream, again?"

Maria nodded and shook. "Didn't you say before that you thought you were awake but it was a dream?" She nodded at her. "Maybe that was your dream again."

"B-but ..." Vanessa nodded. "I-I'm out at six PM." She repeated.

"Haist! You actually told me not to come out but you came out anyway."

Maria pulled Vanesa out of the room and down the stairs but when they passed the dining room, Maria stopped walking so Vanesa also stopped.

"Why?" Vanessa asked in surprise.

"Did you say dining?" She stammered.

"Huh?" Only Vanesa said and followed Maria's gaze. She almost fainted at the look she saw inside the dining room from its open door. She paled at the sight. Her lips parted but not a word came out. Her heart begins to make a strong throb. They couldn't believe to what they witnessed.

Broken chairs and overturned tables, scattered skins of dishes, open cabinets, and most of all there was a blood on the floor.

"H-how? Oh my gosh!" Maria was released from her grip and covered her mouth.

She could not speak to what she saw. She did not know how to react in such a situation.

What's going on here? And why was there blood here? Where did it come from? Yesterday the dining was good until last night-

She was stunned when she realized something.

"M-maria, that man-"

They looked at each other and seemed to understand each other. They quickly climbed to the second floor of the house. They opened the doors of each room one by one. They don’t care if they are aggressive and they seem to be lost in the way they open the door. The important thing is that they find the man they are looking for.

When they could not find what they were looking for on the second floor, they immediately went straight to the third floor. As before, they also opened the doors on the third floor one by one. They were stopped at the last door they had not yet opened. It is at the very end where it is dark and not exposed to sunlight from open windows.

"L-last door." Maria said breathlessly.

She nodded at her.

This is the last door,

She swallows repeatedly because her legs start shaking again. Her body was weakening and she could not understand herself.

She did not know what her strong heart was beating for. Was it because of the way they ran and the quick action they took to open the door or maybe she was nervous because the man might be here in this room? But whatever the reason, she was sure no matter which of the two she chose, she would still come back with the answer that it was still because of that man.

She sighed to somehow get rid of her nervousness but it seems that her heart pounded even more.

She grabbed the lock and turned it gently. They heard a sound unlocking the door. She was swallowed before she slowly opened the door a little but even before she could open it completely, they were startled by a loud voice calling to them.

"VANESA! MARIA!" They were stunned and turned to Zhera. When Zhera approached and pulled them away from the front door they were standing there doing nothing but to follow it. "I've been looking for you two for a while, it's already eight o'clock and you need to eat so we can start the thesis. We just finished eating but you two didn't come down and you're just here? What are you two doing here?"

Maria and I stared at each other and sighed at the same time. They were speechless and both pursed their lips. They kept drifting to Zhera when they got down to the second floor.

Maybe later,

That was her words. She believed that what she had seen before was not a dream and if her prediction was correct — she and Maria, that man was responsible for why the dining room looked like that.

AFTER they left the room, the door suddenly opened wide. A tall, dark, and handsome man with a hazel color eyes suddenly came out to the door. He leaned against the door as he folded his arms in his chest and stared at the three women who were moving away from him.

Gradually the tip of his lip lifted at the ominous grin.