The Half Wish

Ellie's POV "Hey Miss! Hey wake up! It's not safe sleeping in the open" I heard a manly voice said almost near me.  Thinking that I am still dreaming, I just decided to ignore it and continued to sleep. It's still early, Becky will wake me if she thinks that I'm going to be late, I thought to myself. But when my hands searched for some of my pillows and found none, I jolted up on where I was laying. Becky only hides my pillows when I'm being difficult in waking up that may cause myself to be late in work. "f**k! What time is it? I overslept! I'm going to be so late!" I scrambled off from where I was laying and noticed that I am not on my bed but I was laying on dirt.  I looked around me and the surroundings made me panic a little. My eyes wandered around thinking I was still sleeping and was dreaming. There was a man who was almost beside me. With dark braided hair and had the greenest eyes I've ever seen. He was sinfully attractive and I felt immediately drawn to him, especially his eyes. I felt around for my phone to see what the time is. Five thirty in the morning. I opened and closed my eyes repeatedly to wipe off the sleepy haze I am still in and realized that it was real. The man, the dirt, the roots, everything. I slept under the roots of some tree I am not familiar with. Dirt, roots or whatever, I didn't think that I would feel comfortable with it and slept through the night. Then be waken up by this man. A hunk of a man. A delicious hunk of a man. "There you go! It's not safe sleeping around the woods, Miss. Someone might have robbed you of your valuable things " the man yapped on me.  "Oh s**t! Now where am I? Am I still in the city?" Questions floated to my mind as I tried to recall what happened to me and why was I sleeping on the ground. Well, not exactly the ground because I'm under a tree. I mean the roots. Big, big, big roots. "Well, obviously, you're sleeping under these roots of this big tree in the middle of the forest" the man answered. I just stared blankly at him, trying my best to ignore him. Note the word 'trying' because he is really an attractive man and it's not the first time I met one. I can feel my blood burning as it coursed all over my body. Note to self, he is not a danger but he is dangerously attractive. I have to shake my head off these foggy thoughts that's creeping in my brain. Memories from last night came back to me in full force. From clocking out of work, to the crime in the dark alleyway. To the endless and tiring run, well yes, it was endless to me. And to the voices that kept saying they will kill me when they catch me. They can try doing that though. But they will miserably fail. And then awareness for my safety stilled me as it's daylight now and it made me suspect of the surroundings. Anyone especially a girl who would have find themselves in my kind of predicament would easily get frightened but I am not. I started to look and feel the things that surrounds me.  Who is this guy? What if he was one of them? One of those guys that I failed to notice last night. But he's so goodlooking compared to the ones who were chasing me and I don't feel any malicious intent coming from him. But looks can be deceiving and sometimes instinct fails.  I know I didn't have to worry about my safety. Zeke trained me for this, I may have not ended liking it as a work but he trusted my skills and instinct. Zeke had agreed on my decision on taking a different route after I told him I am not interested anymore. Those good tiring days. I released a sigh. If this guy is just acting nice he will surely regret it. Very much. "Got to keep moving, Becky's probably on her way to work. Great! I need to call her, I just hope she didn't checked up on me at Zeke's place or he will definitely kill me" I thought to myself, pouting as I can already guess what Zeke will say. He's such a mother hen, always clucking about us. Good or bad, he clucks. The man looked at me, and was puzzled probably from what I'm saying or the fact that I am ignoring him. I grabbed my bulky knapsack and reached inside to take my phone out. I also took a granola bar to eat and a big bottle of water. What! Don't judge! It's not a crime to be always prepared! And having a big bottle of drinking water and on the go foods are a must have on emergencies like these. The man just stared at me, with his mouth wide open and his eyes bulging. Good! He knows I'm ignoring him, thank God! "Ah! Good thing I always have these on my bag! I missed out on a hearty meal from Becky this time, hopefully there's still something to eat when I get home" I said, my stomach grumbled at the thought of homecooked breakfast. The man laughed at hearing the sound my stomach made. A very attractive laugh that made me feel hotter but I am still ignoring him. Even if his laugh can make me hot and sexually bothered. He inhaled and smirked at me. I shrugged him off as my stomach loudly protests. Becky's homecooked meals filled my head and my grumbling stomach as I walked. I always tell her that she cooks the most delicious food in the world and she would just give me a grateful smile and her long litany on how she prepared the meal will always tear my ear off. I decided to offer some to the gawking guy but he just shook his head off. Still trying to see if there would be a network signal in the middle of nowhere. Alas! I'm out of luck! I had finished wolfing down my granola bar and gulped a few drinks down while sneaking some glances at the handsome man. He's really hot, I said to myself as I gulped some water. It would be wise if I drink little by little since I don't know how far I am going to walk to reach the roadside. It is only by then that I really took a good look around to find something that would look familiar. And nothing ever comes to mind. Completely nothing and I have scoured and lived in this city for how long now. "Did I ran so fast last night that I have reached an urban town?" I thoughtfully whispered to myself as I dialled Becky's number but only heard a beeping sound. "Why did you ran? Who are you running from? And what is your name?" the guy asked, somehow he found his tongue now. I looked up at him, at those tantalizing eyes that seems to captivate my whole being. And rolled my eyes at him to prevent this growing attraction to him. "Ugh! No signal! Are you f*****g with me now! I will definitely file a complaint against this mobile company when I got home! I can't even call an Uber. Hope a car passes here" I sulkily said still ignoring the guy as I started the long walk. Zeke always tells me to never trust and talk to a stranger. "Hey! I'm talking to you! Are you in danger? What's your name?" the man asked again. Fed up with my situation, I turned to him. "No, I'm not in danger. If someone is in danger it's you or them, from me. And my name is not important right now, but going home is" I answered quickly turning to walk away. He just followed my steps, keeping an arm's length distance. "I'll just accompany you, in case someone tries to rob you or anything. It's not safe travelling alone especially for a woman" he said and was silent after. I just nodded at him. After walking for about forty five minutes and drinking five large gulps from the bottle, I reached a fenced border with an odd welcome signage. I blanked out and stared at it in wonder. "Let's go, this is my hometown. It's safe to walk around here. If you have any doubts or questions, just come and find me" he said as he walked away from me. I decided to go the other way. Away from the disturbingly attractive man. "Uuhhhh neat sign! Looks straight out of Harry Potter, must be the way to the Ministry of Magic", I giggled as I continued to walk and looked around at the wonderful sights before me. I was astounded as I pass on each candy themed roofs of the houses. Some were brightly colored and some have darker shades. Some have odd shapes, one looks like a dildo. That one was huge! "Geez! I must be Alice now and this is what she must have felt when she fell down in that rabbit hole!" I giggle. I had walked a whole block, and was surprised to find at what was the end of it. "Wow! This is something like a flea market! I've never been into those!" I immediately reached for my phone and took a selfie at the entrance of the market. "Becky would be so jealous when she sees this! Man, I got to find something for her here", I keep walking from stall to stall and looked for something that might have interest me and my best friend, Becky. I stopped at one stall that sells some accessories that I haven't seen before. Rings and earrings that gives off different colors when they catches the ray of sun, pendants that has moving images on it, bangles and bracelets with intricate designs. I almost gasp in glee as I saw a thin sapphire encrusted golden armband that seems to glow as I go near it. Neat! I screamed inside my head. I was amazed and bewildered by the trinkets that I failed to notice a small girl approaching me. "Anything catches your eyes, Miss?" a short girl with shy voice asked me. I jumped in alert and put my hands in front of me as my basic defensive position.  My body seems to be programmed that way that Zeke would be so proud of me. No matter how safe a place looks, dangers always lurks around and will bite your head off if you are not well equipped and well trained. Zeke taught me that. "Girlie, I know I'm short too but don't give me a heart attack. You spooked me there. Make a sound as a warning next time! Or you might end up dead by my hands" I told her threateningly. "Oh I'm sorry if I've frightened you. It's just you are taking too long to choose and you have a bit of a drool here" the short girl chuckles as she tells me this. Her eyes twinkling in mischief. I scrunched my face in irritation and rolled my eyes at the short girl as I kept on looking at the golden armband. I may be short but she is shorter. Don't laugh. You laugh, you die. "How much is that cute little thing?" I pointed and keep myself ready to haggle for the price. I was born expert on haggling that it sometimes embarassed Becky out. "Oh! The Qittemadena? It chooses who can wear her or him, I don't know what its gender now. It's not for sale." she answered. "The f**k? It has a gender preference? That kitty? My kitty is shaved but I know it's a girl!" I said to her in duh tone. Nonsense, I know, but so is that f*****g armband and the short girl's answer. "And why put it on display if you won't sell it? I'm probably not the only one who asked for it." I know I'm on the verge on ranting but a long walk with no bath will turn everyone into that. "Actually, you're the only one who wants to buy it. People around here knew how dangerous it is to touch the Qittemadena since it chooses its wearer. A fool once wore it and it burned him to death. Only him," she answered in a duh tone, too. I was about to say that quit 'duh-ing' me back but gulped out loud as I heard what the little girl said. But even when I felt a small fear, I seem to hear the golden armband telling me to get it. It seems like I was in a trance when I reached for the armband, touch it and take it out from where it was with my bare hands. "What are you doing? If you wear it without it choosing you, it will burn you to crisp!" the girl's garbled voice said to me. I did not catch what was she saying. I didn't hear any of the warnings that the little girl was saying as I put on the armband unconciously. I think I was completely captivated by its simple beauty as I put it on to my arms.