Connectors of the Two Worlds

Chapter 17

It was a very typical day for me. Rex and Joe were very early to call at 3:50 in the morning, respectively, making sure I'm taking my meds. They bombarded me with questions and reprimanding. I suck at medication schedules, so they had to remind me over the phone.

I still continue my medications even though it has been about a week since I was released from the hospital. And it was almost one week since the last time we spoke, so I guess their reaction was a bit delayed on their part.

After the call, I came back to sleep. Approximately, it was quarter after four. The moment I opened my eyes again, I saw a shadow standing at my bedside. I was shocked and made my eyelids narrower to see the object clearly but it was difficult without my glasses on. I saw it getting bigger and bigger until it was near me.

I widened my eyes. I saw how the shadow lifted up its arm, ready to strike. It's going to attack me!

It is in a human form and his hand was about to attack me. It was when suddenly, another shadow barged in and prevented the other shadow from harming me. They clashed like two sharp spears in my sight. Faster they meet and swiftly they go.

The sight was blurry and unimaginable. I was certain that they are real. They're like shadows dancing around my room like the fastest tango ever danced. Every second they improve their speed like how the light travels faster than its sound and how milliseconds could not measure them. I was bewildered.

I was amused and curious, so I tried to get up and looked at them closer. My feet were trembling as I slowly paced forward those shadows. But to my dismay, they suddenly disappeared. There were no movements in my room at all, except for my breathing and of how I circle the area.

I wanted to panic but my throat became a little sore. I couldn't utter a single word. My whole body started to tremble. I quickly grabbed my glasses on. When I tried to look everywhere, I saw nothing.

No shadows moving swiftly and no windy slashes like swords being whipped against the other.

I relaxed and closed my eyes. I breathed in and out. "It's just a dream. Just dream..." I repeated to myself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The other shadow released a shrill cry, like a cursed sound of a wicked witch being punished. He has released partial ashes from his body as Alfred wrung him to death. Adding up that this de Evo can not stand his skin. Alfred can change his temperature into coldest or hottest. That's how he was made as a Daemon.

If it would be nice, he'll just have to finish him up to protect me even more from the creatures who wanted me dead.

"You will pay, Marcovee. She will be your poison! She will bring you death!" the shadow cried, then he shouted again in pain as Alfred continues to wring him even more in an excruciating manner.

"No. You will go and deliver this message to your father, Lockgarf. Mess around my connector and I will pulvurize you!" he threatened him.

Lockgarf laughed cursefully. "I will not be the one to bring you what I think is desirable for your punishment. That connector. That fake woman of yours! She will bring your abomination. Mark my words..." He laughed again like he won over him.

And damn he won. Alfred's jaw tensed. If only he could kill this filthy de Evo right now without causing any trouble to Mantra from entering into a war, he would gladly do it. But he has to do the tasks one by one completely by the book.

He scoffed and suddenly he waved his hand in mid-air. The anger in his eyes was set to lock in Lockgarf's position. He set the wind to push him away from Alfred. Lockgarf screamed and was sent afar.

Alfred looked at my window again. He was the one to defeat the shadow that was about to attack me. He saw my figure standing at tge window while my back faces it. He suddenly whispered something. "You can not die. Not on my watch..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the first period of class, I met up with Joe and updating him about earlier "after the call part". I don't have anyone to talk to. It seemed like I'm more comfortable when I'm with him.

"You're hallucinating, Clan," Joe commented after my speech.

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"Frankly speaking, no. It's just a product of your imagination. That's what you get from reading too much vampire stories," he retorted.

"But that's what I saw!"

"Of course you do. You have eye defects, remember? You can't possibly be believing such things."

And that was the time that I couldn't answer back anymore.

Maybe he was right. And I hope so.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Lorraine was throwing a slumber party at their place. It is an advanced despedida celebration as an outgoing Senior High School Student. The party was beaming the star lights at seven in the evening after I had been on the beach with Auwie and Marrianne.

Joe and his gang couldn't come tonight--- probably because of some errands of a Mayor's son--- so Wesnesday is my date.

The party was terribly a bit cool and glamorous, everyone's teenage dream concept, except that I really don't enjoy myself being just an observant. Girls filled the house with chats, drinks, make ups, and makeouts every corner. The so called "Flammable Sororities" ignited some dress fight and shoe conflicts that were making my eyes roll and roll all over again. But the center of attraction is Lorraine, dressed up in an off-shoulder pale blue dress.

Her hair hung down with big loose curls and blue highlights. Her oval-shaped face glittered a little and lips colored in matte were marvelling her assets. She's proud and beautiful.

I looked at myself, happily contented at my simple blue spaghetti top inserted in my black skirt. You can call this underdressed again and again.

Wednesday, on the other hand, is not minding how she beautifully wore her sundress with flowers around the curve of it. Her hair recklessly rolled up in a bun and with a chopstick. She chatters with other girls who have been planning to go to a university after graduation.

I have also spotted Ashley, wearing her glittering green dress up to her thighs exposing too much skin and that Rex had to cover for her from lusting eyes of the crowd.

Rex.

I sighed long. This is too much to bear. How my conscience still kills me when I see him like that. But I waited for a c****x, and there was none in my heart. I feel so numb. I think loneliness can make the heart go numb. It was always like that.

Being so frustrated, I excused myself away from the crowd. My feet brought me into the wide rooftop of Lorraine's house.

It was windy and it is not the type you usually feel everyday. I feel the wind whispering like it's telling me that there is a storm coming. It shivered me. My dress gliding with it and my hair swaying violently. The blue ribbon I used to ponytail, almost flew away from my league. Thank goodness, I'd been able to grab it before it flew away. I sighed in relief.

My tears began dripping again. It landed on my cheek before it had to fall on its own because of the wind.

"Must... see... the signs..." A whisper suddenly became audible.

I stopped crying and slowly turned around, but there was no one there.

That was weird.

"What took you so long?" Another whisper came. Now, it is very near my ear, like a pair of lips was touching my ear and came whispering. I hurriedly turn around, gasping at the goosebumps crawling in my skin. But nothing appeared.

My heart starts beating real hard, so fast, it almost skipped.

What's wrong with me? Is this a part of my hallucinations again?

I wondered many times in my mind how my burnt scar under the sole of my feet can trigger such hallucinations, but I couldn't find anything.

The sound of the wind gets me creeps and paranoia.

It has to stop, I said to myself as I closed my eyes tightly. My shoulders shaking and my thighs trembling.

"There you are, at last!" a shout interrupted my thoughts. I hurriedly turned around again and was relieved to see Lorraine waving her hand to me at the door.

And with her, a guy with the most dull and mysterious eyes I had ever seen.

"Lorraine!" I called out to her, a bit startled. It was evident in my voice. I sighed. I should be relieved.

She walked towards me and sighed gladly. "I finally found you! Why are you sobering yourself out here? Wait--- are you crying?" She moved closer to me and noticed my wet eyes and red nose.

I shook my head and smiled. "N-no, I'm having a hard time with the colds," then, I sneezed on my handkerchief as evidence, though I must really do that to breathe air.

"Really? That's terrible!" she commented. "By the way, this is Alfred V. My cousin from California," she introduced the guy with her as she grabbed his arms and hugged it to hers.

He smiled. A weak smile that is being careful. He is guarded. He offered his hand to shake. "Lorraine is talking a lot about you lately. And now we finally met," Alfred said, like implying something. Like a code I can not c***k but I knew that it was for me. Like he was there all throughout my life. He's implying that I have longed to meet him, too.

"A-Alfred..." I repeated. "N-nice name..." I smiled an indifferent smile. My eyes blinking many times to elsewhere and avoiding either of Lorraine's and of Alfred's sight. It is of no ordinary explanation. I'm really shaking and I have to endure the cold wind to hide my restless thoughts about this new guy and his voice.

The whisper I have heard.

Couldn't it be...?

I turned to him again and looked at his face.

How could that be possible? How can a dream be so real at this point in time?

"Umm... I'm gonna let you two know each other, so I'm gonna have to leave you here because my gang is downstairs and finding my whereabouts. Are you two cool?" Lorraine interrupted.

"Yeah, sure. That's okay with me," I answered when the guy had nothing to say or really doesn't have plan on answering. He just looked at his cousin and nodded as she left us there.

It was almost a minute before any of us had to say something.

I just stared at his wholeness. His details and his suit. He appeared to be very formal, a businessman, I guessed. His eyes look brown from afar but close-ups they look a little bluish. When the light of the rooftop glowed at him, they look olive green. He has a narrow, oblong face with angular cheekbones and a pointed chin. His features made me think he's exotic and rare. A gem or a very bright diamond. Like the way how everyone describes a deity.

Then, I remembered where did I see him before. In my dreams.

Yes, he is Alfred Voulner.

He's the man in my dreams.

His voice, that cool tone--- that makes all the emotions of being safe. I know it was certain enough to remember. But not his face, a picture of a enchanted creature, so beautiful it makes me be attracted and bewitched. Of course, he is not a Filipino descent. Maybe a Western descent from California.

"May I have your hand to shake, Clarrianne?" He interrupted my thoughts and I drowned in his voice, a bit late to notice his waiting hand in mid-air.

I took his hand and we finally shook. It was warm and it was big compared to mine. Suddenly, my hands shook like feeling a static frequency.

All the while, it made something so amazing, to be able to see in rapid slideshow, the memories I onced knew. The one that I was shown of. The memories of another person, of how they are looking and guarding a little girl from the day her mother conceived her in pregnancy and the day she was born, up until the day she was standing right next to him.

The pictures were gone. There I was looking at the man who owned the memories. The one who is guarding me all along.

"Alfred..."

He is Alfred Voulner.

My saviour and guardian. The Daemon who was looking for me.