Monsterstruck

Chapter XXVI: The Aftermath

        Vylet shoot a glance at the crime scene as the police filed around it. She clenched her fists, feeling angry to herself and for everything that happened this day. The spasm of insanity was starting to pull her under. She willed her thundered heart back to the hotel feeling the weight of the crime scene drilling holes in her heart.

    “Where have you been lady? I haven’t seen you in our gig.” Jake asked with his usual happy go lucky tone in a full swing.

    “Sorry for not being able to watch you guys I was caught in a…”

    “Haven’t you heard the hot news? There was this teenage boy murdered under the shades of coconut tree!” Cameron butted in with his voice filled with morbid horror.

    “Yeah, I came across the murder scene as I was taking a stroll along the shoreline and it kinda spooked me out.” Vylet said as she could feel the frisson of guilt and fear twisting in her veins.

    “So that’s why you bailed on watching us?” Alex speculated as he took a shot of his booze.

    “Sorry.” Vylet apologized hoping to sound remorseful.  Although that was not the reason why, she was still feeling sorry for the way she acted on Craig lately. Her eyes darted among them, and she didn’t see Craig, maybe he was already in his room, hitting the sack.

    Then, Cameron started to jabber about the morbid crime to his band mates and Vylet could feel herself stuck in a desolation row as they went on the topic which unbeknownst to them was all her fault.

    “I need to sleep. I am already pretty tired,” she excused herself and bid them goodnight.

    Vylet braced herself as she took a heavy step toward their room, she would be seeing Vygnet again. She didn’t know what to expect with all these mayhems that happened in their very first day at this paradise. She couldn’t shake off what she had just found out; her best friend is a yoma. As she entered in the room, she was surprised not to see Vygnet there, she only saw Rachelle, snuggling on a big blue bear with a smile plastered all over her face. She suddenly felt a pang of envy on Jake’s girl. She seemed to be very happy, the serenity on her face and the way she was with Jake. Where will come a time that she gets to put that smile on her face without worrying what may come after tomorrow, and without being tormented by her immortality? She wished that she were just like her- human, happily in love and living the most out of life. She sniffed at her wishful thinking and willed herself to sleep.

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    It was a dewy morning. The atmosphere in Boracay was still alluring despite of what transpired last night. Vygnet wrenched her back upright and got up from bed. She had spent her night at Verona’s room for she didn’t want to share a room with Vylet anymore.

    “Good morning,” Verona greeted as she prepared their breakfast. She made some pancakes and the aroma of it wafted in the air.

    “Morning,” Vygnet replied as she stretched her arms and sank low in the chair.

    “I’m already missing mom.” Vygnet pressed in a melancholic voice.

    “Yeah, me too. The doctors said that she seems to be slowly responding at her environment.”  Verona announced happily.

    “That’s great! I can’t wait to get home!” Vygnet chirped as she stuffed a forkful of pancakes in her mouth.

    “Well by the way, a lot had happened last night.” Verona piped in as she poured some honey onto her pancake.

    “Aside from Paul’s revelation, what else happened last night?” Vygnet probed.

    “A murder and the anticipated Blaze’s unveiling to Vylet,” she told her bubbling with buoyancy.

    “He already did? What did Vylet say?” 

    “Of course, she got mad at him as expected,” Verona replied saucily.

    “Oh right, If I were in her shoes, I’ll have the same reaction too.”  Vygnet retorted as she squared her shoulders.

    “What about the murder? Who did it?”  Vygnet asked incredulously as she poured the honey syrup onto her pancake.

    “Vylet did, according to Blaze and that’s when his revelation took place,” Verona countered.

     “Wow she is really becoming a monster.” Vygnet retorted.                                                                                                                                   

    “Well, she can’t shun it. It’s inked in us forever no matter how she tried to abstain from preying.  By the way, how it went with Paul last night after he confessed?”

    “Yeah, and it still didn’t sink in my thoughts. Paul kissed me last night and I quickly pulled away,” she confessed, shamefaced.

    “He kissed you? I can’t imagine that wimp has these guts to kiss the girl whom he’s secretly yearning for,” Verona retorted.

    “I don’t know how I will face him now after those gruesome revelations.”

    “Well, I like him for you. He really cares for you unlike that Craig.” Verona cringed upon saying his name.

    “Craig cares for me too.” She pressed indignantly.

    “But he’s not in love with you. I mean he’s not into you.” Verona puffed.

    “Okay, that’s it. What a great start to ruin my morning. Are you always like that Tita Verona?” Vygnet taunted putting off her eating utensils.

    “I’m just being realistic Vygnet! Why can’t you see it? You and Craig aren’t compatible. He’ll be the death of you. It’s okay to stay friends with him, but don’t you dare to cross over that line!” She chastised.

    “I just care for you Vygnet , why you’re always misinterpreting my words? I know that you’re in love with him, that he meant more than the world does to you. Yet here you are hoping that someday he’s gonna love you too notwithstanding that he’s already in love with somebody else. I can’t bear to see you in pain Vygnet.  I don’t want to lose you that’s why I try my best to make you see that Craig isn’t good for you, that he’s going to hurt you emotionally and physically and if he dares to hurt you physically with his cresclunar, you might get yourself killed. But because you love him, you will let him do that! But I won’t allow that to happen that’s why I’m here for you. I know we fight a lot over some matters especially with Craig, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want you to be happy. Your happiness isn’t with him Vygnet, it’s bound with the people who truly care for you no matter what you are, and that’s us; your mom, me and Paul.” Verona interjected.

    Verona’s words rang in her bloodstream up to the fibers of her heart. There was a pang of guilt etched in her words. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing that her aunt really cared for her. It was the very first time she heard it from her. Vygnet was too stunned to speak.

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    “Hey man, so what are we up today? It’s our last day here.” Cameron pressed.

    “Don’t know, how about you guys?” Craig answered as he stuffed a forkful of egg in his mouth.

    “Err… are you guys kind of spooked on what happened last night?” Alex piped in.

    “Our first day here is exhilarating, after we found out that Paul is already on The Red Pistols and that murder that occurred last night. Damn, I never imagined those transpiring in this place.” Jake retorted as he sliced some bacon.

    “Yeah true, hey where are the girls?” Eric asked as his eyes darted around.

    Rachelle and Vylet hovered at the dining table and greeted them a good morning. Craig shot a glance at her who sat beside Rachelle which was parallel to his seat. Vylet looked at him, but he averted his gaze from her, focusing on his meal. She could feel the cold tension radiating between them from his cold stares.

    “Where’s Vygnet?”  Eric asked as he sipped his coffee.

    “I don’t know, she just disappeared after the concert. I think I saw her aunt here last night.” Rachelle shot back.

    “Really? Well, is there a need for her to transfer?” Craig probed dubiously.

    “I dunno.” Rachelle answered but Vylet could see that she was playing dumb about it. Rachelle knew her reason and Vylet was the reason why. She felt a twinge of guilt as she thought of those people she had hurt, Vygnet, Craig, the teenage boy, and she hate to admit that she had harrowed Blaze’s feelings too. Slowly, she had lost her appetite upon those sickening thoughts.

    Vylet just gulped the milk and she fluidly rose from the chair.

    “Whoa seems like you’re in a hurry, eh?” Eric noted.

    “Yeah, I forgot to call my mom since we got here.” Vylet answered tentatively.

    The Clamor dudes threw a bewildered look at Craig as if to ask him if there was anything wrong with them because they seemed to notice that they hadn’t spoken a word.

    “Dude is there a cold war between you and her going on?” Alex asked incredulously.

    “Nothing, she’s fine,” Craig mumbled glumly as he stood up and excused himself to smoke.

    “Uh oh.” Jake mumbled to his peers, and they all look bewildered.

    Craig lit a cigarette and blew a thin stream of smoke as he watched the sun merrily basked outside.

    “She didn’t even apologize to me!” Craig mumbled to himself, pissed off.

    Then his thoughts wandered in the murder that transpired last night. He saw the corpse of the teenage boy which had a resemblance to his dad; body contorted in strange position like it had been ripped off by some creature, his complexion was translucent white like all the blood had been sucked dry ravenously, claw marks all over his skin; would suffice to say that a yoma did that to him.

    He knew that it was bound to happen at any circumstances, even at this paradise. He despised himself for he couldn’t see people’s aura that would determine if they were a yoma or not. He wanted to save someone’s life in jeopardy, to give them an early warning about yomas lurking around.

    Suddenly, he saw Vylet emerged from her room.

    “Vylet!” He called in a low husky voice.

    “Craig,” Vylet croaked looking at him morosely.

    “Where have you been last night?” He asked casually, his glossy chestnut eyes smoldered as he blew another ring of smoke.

    “I took a stroll,” she answered feebly.

    “Took a stroll along the shoreline? Are you aware with those monsters lurking around?” He asked brusquely.

    “I am…” Vylet said tersely.

    “What if you are the one who got killed last night huh?” He retorted laced with fear, but in a serrated voice.

    Vylet wanted to let out a hollow laugh upon hearing that.

    “You don’t have to worry Craig, there are many people abound this place, strolling along and frolicking at the beach even at night. If it is my time, then be it,” she countered indignantly.

    “Well, your mother entrusted you to me and I’m also responsible for your safety Vylet. Next time you want to take a stroll, ask for some company,” he chastised.

    So, he only cares about me because mom entrusted me to him? Nice I felt like I’m being babysitted.

    “You could ask Blaze to stroll with you since you guys are best of friends,” he retorted in a bitter tone.

    She cringed upon hearing it and cowered away from him.

    “Where are you going?” He asked as he seized her one arm and grounded the cigarette into the ashtray.

    “I understand that my mom has a big trust on you Craig, and honestly if you only care about me because of my mom…”

    “I really care about you Vylet! Because… I love you. Why can’t you see it?” Craig interjected as he looked at her catlike eyes that pierced his soul.

    “I’m scared of losing you that that horrible killing spree made me think of what if you might get killed by them?  What if I lose you just like that?” Craig crooned as he looked at her intensely, cupping her face.

    His words burnt her to think that she was the damsel in distress where in fact she was the culprit in all these mayhems. It was written all over his face, his eyes, his words, he really cared about her. She looked down as she clasped his hand.

    “I don’t deserve to be treated like this,” she said wryly as tears started to roll down on her cheeks.

    “Vylet, you deserved to be love. I’m here to protect you away from danger.” Craig murmured.

    “What if I’m the danger?” Vylet interjected.

    “What do you mean by that?” Craig asked as his forehead creased. Suddenly the cresclunar glowed and a green light emanated from it. Vylet flinched at the blinding rays of light. Craig quickly pulled away as he held the cresclunar.

    “Green light? I wonder what this means. It’s my first time to see this glowing in green,” Craig mused.

    Vylet also didn’t have any idea by what that green light meant. She could feel her erratic breathing as she clutched her chest.

    “Sorry for what I said yesterday, I know I had hurt your feelings,” Vylet mumbled apologetically. The glowing had stopped, and Craig put it back in his pocket. He flashed a rakish smile at her.

    “Apology accepted,” he beamed.

    “I’m really sorry,” she quickly pulled him into a hug as she closed her eyes. He was too stunned to speak; never did she initiate something like this before. But he liked it, her apology sounded more sincere upon pulling him into an embrace.

    “Let bygones, be bygones,” he stated flashing his rockstar grin.

    “Sorry for not watching you guys last night,” Vylet mumbled as the look of desolation started to frame her face.

    “Forget about it, but I don’t want you lurking around alone at night, the next time around,” he reprimanded as he touched her dainty hands and looked at her fervently with all the concern buried in his glossy chestnut eyes, smiling at her soul.

    “Okay suit yourself,” she cooed flashing a grin.

    Craig went to her back and fastened the necklace he had bought at the souvenir shop which had these two crescent pendants that would make a full moon when bind together.

    “I’ve been wanting to give you this yesterday when I saw you alone at the shore, but you went into antagonizing this handsome figure that stood behind you again,” he jested, still standing behind her. She mused at the necklace, it was beautiful and to her delight she liked it. Even though it was just a fancy necklace, her heart smiled as she looked at it.

  “Say something,” he crooned as he anticipated her reaction. But she could see from behind that her cheeks are lifted in a smile.

    “What is this for?”

    “I’ve never gave you a gift before,” he reminded.

    “Sorry I’m not a materialistic kind of guy who loves to give roses, jewelries, chocolates or anything that will make a girl happy. I’m more of a ….”

    “I love this Craig!” Vylet blurted out.

    Craig wrapped his arms around her waist as he spoke “I’m glad you did.”

    “Vylet,” a husky voice called in a somber tone that caught their attention. He was wobbling there and grinning sinisterly at her as his black charcoal eyes telegraph bitterness.

    “Blaze.” Vylet mumbled as she threw her a deflated look.

    Craig strode in front of him and smelled the scent of alcohol reeking from his breath. Blaze just shot him a smug look and pointed a finger on him.

    “You jerk, why you always have the upper hand when it comes to her huh? You don’t play fair Davis, you don’t play fair!” He blurted as he continued to wobble.

    “Blaze stop it, you’re drunk!” Vylet chastised

    “I’m not! Tell me Vylet what is it about this scumbag that makes you drawn to him? Is it because of the cresclunar? I don’t understand!  We used to be happy before not until this jerk came into the picture and ruined everything we had. You used to loathe him and his band, scoffed when you hear their music playing, but now it seems like everything that we had shared together have gone the way of all flesh.” Blaze reeled.

    "Just like seasons, people change Blaze.” Vylet replied in flat monotone.

    “And why did you huh? I’m ready to give you the world right at the palm of my hands. You knew better Vylet, you knew it better that…. that guy ain’t worth your affection for he is a…”

    Craig suddenly pushed him that made him flew backwards in his full weight. He saddled onto his chest and collared him.

    “What, Craig Samuel Davis are you going to punch me? I’m scared!” Blaze reeled facetiously as he let out a mocking laugh.

    The cresclunar glowed again and emitted a green light. Blaze felt the stabbing pain as soon as the light struck at his eyes, piercing him in agony.

    “Blaze!” Vylet called with a panic-stricken face as she bustled at the two men.

    “Craig, stop it!” Vylet shrieked at him, and he cowered away from them, dazed.

    Blaze lost his consciousness as she held him and pecked his cheeks.

    She couldn’t afford to lose her best friend although he had betrayed her, but he did it for some reason no matter how irrational it sounded to her. He is the only one who knows her better than anyone does. He is her perennial buddy from alpha to omega.

    “I’m sorry.” Craig mumbled as he threw her a bewildered look. He couldn’t tune out what had happened to Blaze, he just lost his consciousness without doing anything. He didn’t give him a jab, nor did he kick him, all he could remember was upon the cresclunar glowed, he flinched and lost his consciousness.