Unnamed

TWELVE – i had somewhat an idea how it’d go so yeah

Talking to one person was easy but I didn't know how I would hold up against a bunch of (hot) rowdy boys. Leo had been so nice to me and I didn't want to refuse him so I agreed. We made our way toward the boys. After the initial moment of overwhelming shyness, I slightly opened up. I had to crane my neck to look at them until a girl that had joined us later suggested we should sit somewhere because she didn't want Fay to break her neck. We all huddled on couches and started chatting. Though most of the times we didn't have anything in common, it didn't affect our chat. Rather they were quite intrigued with me. It was going smoothly until I felt someone's presence behind me. From the unexpected goosebumps and a slight hitch in my heartbeats, I knew who it was before he spoke.

"Fay, would you mind coming?" Yes, I would... a lot for a matter. I looked behind me. He was closer than I thought. From his stoic expression, it was hard to tell what he had in his mind. I shifted attention to the guys who had fallen eerily silent at his arrival. Not wanting to argue in front of them, I stood up half-heartedly.

"It was nice talking to you guys. I'll see you later." Not really.

Surprising me, Leo planted a small kiss on my right cheek before speaking, "See you soon, Fay"

I didn't think much of it until Dylan took me back on the dance floor and twirled me around to face him. Not much changed about him. If any, then he scowled that intensified noticeably.

"Isn't it some tale of love at first sight? I didn't know you are interested in younger boys."

I frowned at his words. Was he drunk or something? "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Sure you don't." He scoffed as he twirled me around and dipped me low. Dancing with Leo was fun. Dancing with Dylan was like falling off a cliff without knowing whether it was water or land at the end. My heart was accelerated, breathing was rapid and senses were fogged with adrenaline. Not knowing whether would he drop me or hold me kept me on edge, excited.

"I really do not." I said when he pulled me back again. I had no idea why was I dancing with him when I should be getting the hell out of here. I had no power when it was him who held me down.

"Leo," he jerked his chin where Leo was sitting with his friends, "Weren't you getting too cozy with him?"

Understanding dawn upon me in a flash and I recoiled from his arms. "Do you have any idea how sick you are?" I speed walked away from him, dodging people as they came my way. I had no idea where I was going but away from him sounded like a good plan. Not that he would leave me alone until he made me absolute murderous.

"Maybe you should tell me." He sounded too smug and arrogant for my liking. I just had to stop and slap him. So, I did, ruling out the slapping part.

"You are very sick. Leo is just a friend. We danced if you can call it that, talked and he actually was civilized unlike you. However, you would not know that. What is there you know about being a decent human? You always act high and mighty when in reality you use your physical strength to bully people under you. You are a thoughtless monster," my pent up emotion unfurled like an angry wave crashing in a raging ocean. I didn't know if he was capable of being hurt but I wanted to payback him for what he had said about my dad earlier and about Leo now. "I don't know why you talk about my dad when you should be concentrating on your own parents. What happened that you have to live off alone without any help from them? You know, I felt really bad about you when you told me this but I was wrong. I should feel bad about your parents who had to tolerate a boy like you. No wonder they don't want you. My dad never left me; neither would he have let me. He loves me, unlike your parents. As for Leo and I, there is nothing between us. Rather than wasting your time, you actually should take some pointers from that kid to how to treat a girl. Maybe you'd learn to not to be a jerk all the time."

"You are just as bad as me." He spoke calmly. The undertone amusement in his voice surprised me first, fueled my anger later. Challenging me to run again with his eyes, he moved forward until we were toe-to-toe. His fingers curled around my both wrist while he put the other hand on my lower back. The loud music and people were just insignificant lines on a palm. "You don't know anything about me, yet you judge me. You judge me for what I say rather than trying to see what I do for you. You are just a little frustrated at the world and you want to take it out on me because you wouldn't dare in front of your dad. I would just suggest you to learn to live with it since you are not leaving this place anytime soon."

"You are-" wrong, that's what I was planning to say but something happened next that froze me and everyone else around me literally. Dylan was kissing me. My thoughts went something like this-

No stop- my lipgloss!

What's happening?

Holy s**t, why is he kissing me?

What a bipolar!

I tried to move my face but the hand that rested on my back moved up and forced my head into a position that would give him better access. I was obligated to memorize the way his lips moved gently, sucked desperately and bit lightly. His cool breath, soft lips, slight stubble grazing my skin as he moved, the want, undisguised possessiveness and a tenderness that was so unlike Dylan was sure going to be etched on my mind forever. No one forget their first kiss; I had more than one reason to remember it besides the butterflies and fireworks.

As he continued kissing me, it became like a bird learning to fly for the first time. It was as scary as it was thrilling. By my captivated hands, he pulled me closer. The heart that was painfully lodged in my chest started racing again. I felt like someone had put me in a washing machine. Disturbed by the need for oxygen, I whimpered giving an urgent yank of my hands.

Understanding my discomfort, he pulled back. Bereft of his warmth, a shiver ran down my spine. I dared not react to the slight tingling left on my lips; they probably were red and swollen. The music was stopped, so were any other noise including the chattering and laughing of the people. Afraid, I didn't open my eyes and check whether it was my imagination or really everyone's curious gaze was burning on us. I stubbornly refused to admit that Dylan had just kissed me and I let him without an ounce of protest. It was just his way to mess with my feelings. He knew he could hurt me emotionally more than physically. He had done this countless time since the night he had kidnapped me, yet I fell for it every time.

"Let me go." I said, barely able to finish it. Right now one kiss had drained me so much that I could just forget about my escaping plan and sleep these emotions off.

He never listened to me, he didn't now. He leaned his forehead against mine with a sigh. The cool minty breath was a contrast on my hot face. "It's dangerous to step into uncharted territories alone for a girl like you, Fay. You'd be lost before you could find."

The music blasted again. This time it was a really sappy love song that made my inside cringe. People went back to what they came from after clapping and cheering for- I didn't know. Maybe they were happy that the stars of the party put on a show for them by kissing. Maybe it was normal for them. It was not for me. They didn't even know what was happening here; that I was kidnapped. Or they were aware; they just didn't seem to mind.

This time Dylan had left me standing alone. I didn't see any of his friends or him. I only saw a gate that was a one-way ticket to be away from all my problems. I didn't think much about my plan or anything as I started taking tentative steps toward it. People noticed me. They gave me either friendly smiles or curious glances. I still had my purse with me, so, that was a good thing. I didn't feel Dylan around me. I would have known even if he were looking at me. Trust me I would have known. Right now, I did not feel any gaze burning intensively on my back, so, that was again another good thing.

It was more exhilarating and terrifying than sneaking out from the house with Paz. We were together those times and I believed that she would save me if we were caught. Today I was alone. It was all upon me if Dylan caught me. No one would be there to save me. Should I want to risk it?

Even when I was on my best behavior, he made it intolerable for me. What would happen if he'd find out that I escaped even after a thousand warnings? What would he do later? So lost in my thoughts, I didn't realize I had crossed the faint line that marked as the end of the property, etched on the asphalt road. The warm temperature dropped a little, lights dimmed considerably. Behind me was a caravan that would end by the dawn, before me was a road that I didn't know if it had an end. I knew what I wanted.

Without looking back, I pushed my leg with all I worth toward the dark path. Never once I glanced back as my feet thundered in the silence of the night. I was too high on thinking about my freedom that I overlooked every small thing that scared me like forest, darkness, unidentified echoes of animals and that fact that I was alone. I had never run like this before in my life. I stopped only when I was sure I had come far. Now road before and after me looked same with traces of darkness. The moon today hung low in the sky, giving enough illumination for me to make out some of my paths but I decided to take out the torch as well. Who minds an extra help? Not me.

I fumbled a little with the clutch before I managed to open it and produced the torch. I flicked the switch and pointed it ahead. I kept walking, keeping my mind occupied so that it didn't wander and make me paranoid. I realized that escaping was easy but deciding whether to go was the hard part. The sudden chillness in the wind made me regret not grabbing a jacket before. The dress being short and sleeveless was not helping at all. I wrapped my arms around me as I continued my trek.

What am I gonna do when I'm out of here? I wondered. Probably find a way to contact my dad. I had no money on me or something of value except the small diamond studs in my ears. I didn't know if any jeweler here would want to buy it without asking for my ID first. I'd have to see what was to be done once I was out but I felt like I was going in circles with same trees and path with every step. Maybe it was not as straight as I thought it would be.

I was just wasting my time. I needed to make a plan before I do go further; I decided as I stopped by the sidewalk and took out the map and compass from the clutch. It would not be long before they would realize I was not there and even less time to find me, after all, they were more familiar with this place.

When Dylan was out earlier, I had managed to do a quick calculation of the map. The place where his home was called Lazurna forest and this road was known as Lazurna FR. In the map, the road is more complicated than I had given it credit for. Most of the time, roads intersected and their path leading you in a circle, if you are unlucky, you'd end up getting lost. I had a suspicion I was one of those unlucky people. This whole place was like a labyrinth.

I concentrated on the map, trying to guess where I might be. I had walked pretty much straight here, that meant,

"If the mansion is here," I tapped my finger on the mansion sign and trailed it along the road I had initially taken. "I might be somewhere here. All I need to do is to keep walking a few miles before taking a left turn." I glanced up from the map and stared at the road in front of me. Was it too late to regret my decision? Sitting on the sidewalk of a road in the middle of a forest with nothing but some knick-knacks alone in the night was more spine chilling than it sounded. What if some psychopath murderer found me here? What if a lion or a wolf decided that I was tonight's dinner. That would be awful. I fixed on that it was better to keep moving than to sit and wait for your fate. At least, by that time I would be so lost for even them to find me.

I put back my stuff in the purse except for the torch and at the last moment, I pulled out a granola bar. I was hungry indeed. Aiming the torch in front, I started again. Even though I was scared, there wasn't much I could do about it besides giving myself a pep talk. Sometimes later I started humming a made-up song dad used to sing whenever he was drunk. It was calming though and before I knew it I was whisper-singing the lines and I speed walked.

"Let's

Measure the street

With our

Feet.

See, that

Quaint shop?"

Dad had told that mom had made this song. I had never known mom taking any interest in music. She was one of those science nerds with no taste in music except for that one special wedding song. Maybe that side of mom came only when she was with dad. I smiled a bit at their memory. They were always so happy together, like a couple out of a fairytale. Why'd they had to break up like that? None of this would have happened if they were together.

"That sells

Hearts and

Some affection

Too.

The alley with-"

I trailed off nervously when I heard some rustling over my own voice. You're just being paranoid, Fay. Nothing's there, I encouraged myself with all the optimism poured in it when I knew it was not true. I had no idea where the moon had disappeared. Instead of clearing, the trees had gone thicker around me. The Wind and its whistling through the leaves were chilling and sharp. Had I missed the turn that I had to take? I never noticed it when it came. Should I return and look for that turn? I checked back, took a few steps too but stopped. What was I doing? Nothing made sense.

"A d-dead end?" My teeth clatter from cold and fear as I started singing again. This time it had no melody. They were just plain words strung together.

"Yeah, o-on your

Left. There's

A m-man

Who recounts..."

I heard that rustling again and I took a sharp turn toward the sound.

"Who-who's t-there?" I demanded stupidly as if anyone was going to answer. I heard nothing but crickets and rustling of leaves. I waved my torch here and there looking for another presence.

"Some tales of war

That scars-"

I never got to complete that because as soon as I turned something jumped at me. My first reaction was to scream. As I fell back on the road, an ear-splitting scream shredded the silence of the night. Even when the sound stopped, the echo took on farther and longer. The torch fell somewhere else. In horror, I caught a glimpse of it flickering a few times before going out. I hastily got up, ignoring the pain in my ankle and ran like I did after I stepped out of the mansion's gate.

I didn't look back once. I didn't think of what had jumped on me. I was too afraid of recount the feeling of its heavy paws and fur on my body. Forcing back the tears, I kept my legs going faster and faster. I could barely make out what was in front of me because of the darkness. The music of night birds and crickets rose with vengeance. I had a hunch that it was a sign that something was about to happen. My lungs were burning and limbs hurt from the exhaustion. I didn't think if unluckily I tripped, I'd want to get back on my feet. I hardly knew where I was going. Even the map couldn't help me now. Something clicked in the back of my mind and I remembered what Dylan had said.

"It's dangerous to step into uncharted territories alone for a girl like you, Fay. You'd be lost before you could find."

It kept going over inside my head until it became like a mantra...

You'd be lost before you could find. You'd be lost before you could find. You'd be lost before you could find. You'd be lost before you could find.

As I said, I knew something bad was about to happen. I didn't have to wait for long before I collided into something hard and stumbled back. I was about to fall and scream again but his arms and voice stopped me.

"Fay?"