MATCH MADE FROM HELL

CHAPTER THREE

The next day, Sophia decided to leave her home. She had been in there for weeks and was beginning to feel like furniture. She walked down the streets of Moonstone City while admiring nature, when she bumped into someone.

"I'm so sorry," she uttered. "It's fine," a thick masculine voice echoed.

She looked up to see who she had bumped into. He was tall and had blue eyes and black hair. Just as her maid described. Could this be him? Luca?

Before she could say another word, he left at speed. Sophia tried to follow him, but she lost track of him. She took a few turns again but still couldn't find him. She stood there, thinking. After many weeks, I finally saw him. She thought to herself. Sophia was determined to talk to him, at least to thank him for saving her life.

Sophia went back. Her maid, gentle and wise eyed, noticed something unusual. Her mood was very different and bright. "Did anything exciting happen out there"? Are you…talking to me? Sophia asked. "I'm sorry, ma'am," her maid uttered. "I saw him. I finally saw him."

Her maid’s brows furrowed. “Saw who?” The maid asked. " Luca" she whispered like a secret, then paused. Why was Luca in her dreams? She asked herself. Now that she thinks of it, it's strange and she couldn't get over the part of the dream where she was bitten on her neck. Anyways, it's just a dream. She shrugged it off.

The next day, Sophia woke up with fires in her veins. She was feeling excited, hoping to see him. She hurried through her routine, her mind fixed on her place, the corner where fate had touched her. Hopefully, she will see him again. She rushed out of the house. "Your breakfast is ready, ma'am!" her maid said. "You can have it," Sophia’s voice floated back like wind through the curtains.

Sophia reached the same spot where she had met him. Sat down on a bench by the corner and waited patiently. Time flew, hours passed. She was getting exhausted and hungry. She decided to go get something to eat, but was afraid that Luca might pass and she would not get the chance to meet him.

After much thought, she went to get something to eat, and she'll be back just in time. When she got back, she sat for a few more hours, then got exhausted again. She gave up and decided to go home when she spotted a man in all black. She approached him and in a few seconds, he vanished from her eyes. It was Luca. She didn't understand why he always fled when he saw her.

She was confused. Am I unattractive? Or do I smell? She asked herself. She went back home, planning to go back there the next day. At least she knows one thing for sure. He's always around that same spot.

*****

"How was your day, ma'am?" Her maid asked.

"Are you asking if my day was okay or if I met Luca?"

"Both," her maid replied.

Well, I did see him, but he disappeared as usual. It's frustrating. "I think you should use a different approach," her maid said. "What do you mean?" Sophia asked, "Catch him off guard. He'll be expecting you to be back there by tomorrow, and he will flare, but if you catch him off guard, I think you'll have a better shot at talking to him," her maid said.Sophia gave it a little thought and realized her maid was right. She had also noticed that Luca, whenever he saw her, took a particular right turn. She was going to be in that alley waiting patiently for him. That way, he has no escape.

Sophia requested coffee and went into her room. She sat on a small stool facing a mirror, looking at herself and wondering. In the past few years, she has been wasting her time with someone. She did not want to think too much about it.

She was happy that she at least had something to distract herself with, as she couldn't get over the breakup between her and Thomas.It was night time. Sophia took her bath, did her night routine,drank her coffee and read some articles waiting to fall asleep feeling excited about tomorrow.

The next day, Sophia did her routine extra, put on her most beautiful dress, looking all radiant. She stepped out of her house with confidence.

" I wish you luck!" Her maid said.

"I am lucky already," Sophia said.

Sophia went out into the streets of Moonstone City, but instead of sitting and waiting for Luca, she decided to have some fun since she had never really felt good since the incident between her and Thomas.

A few hours later, she went to the particular alley Lucas always entered and vanished. Within a few minutes, she saw him and they both locked eyes. He was about to leave, then she said

"I just wanted to say thank you,"

"for what?" He asked, backing her.

"You saved my life. I just wanted to return the favor."

He finally turned around and walked towards her, leaving a whisper in the distance. He then leaned forward, looked into her eyes and whispered, "And what do you think you can offer to me?" Sophia was short of words. She had never seen such eyes before. They were as blue as the ocean and the way he talked sent chills down her spine.

"Noth...nothing really," she spoke, feeling nervous. Luca smirked and turned, leaving her behind. "Can I at least know your name?" She shouted in the distance. He stopped. "Yes, I would like to know your name if you don't mind." He smiled and turned around. "You know my name already." She became quiet for a few seconds before she said again,

"Why have you been running away from me?" "I've not been running away from you. I just have things to do." He said with arrogance. "You always have things to do when you see me?" She asked inquisitively. "Yes," he replied. "I'm not buying that," Sophia said.

"Really?" He said while smirking.

"Yes!" Sophia replied.

"Okay I don't just like hanging around you,"

he said just to see if she would at least feel hurt and leave him alone, but it was quite the opposite. Instead, she asked again, "Then why did you help me? Why did you save me that day? You can't tell me it was some kind of coincidence?.” Sophia asked.

"I just happened to be the only one who could help you at that moment. You're welcome anyways," Luca replied."I'm Sophia, nice meeting you Luca " she said stretching her hands for a handshake. Instead he held her hand, gently lifting it up and kissed her knuckles . "My pleasure," he said, smiling mischievously.

Sophia wanted to have a conversation with him but she didn't know what to say next. "Are you new here?" she asked. Luca was silent for few minutes before he finally spoke. " yes I'm knew here." Sophia wondered. How did he know moonstone city so well if he was new here? Maybe he had someone as a guide or something. She thought to herself.

Sophia and Luca started walking around. They were getting along and Sophia was happy with it. He made her seem happy, and at that moment, she had forgotten about all her problems. She asked him where he resides in Moonstone City. He didn't tell her where he lived. "Why don't you want to tell me where you live?" She asked. "I don't like visitors. Especially female ones ." He said abruptly. "Get over yourself. I don't have plans on visiting you." She replied. "Says the woman that has been stalking me" He said with a sly grin on his face. Sophia just looked at him and strangely did not deny it.

After conversing for a while, the sun dipped low. She told Luca that she would love to see him here. Same place, same time. Sophia looked over her shoulder one last time and something unspoken passed between them. She wasn’t sure what this was or what it could become. But she knew one thing with certainty; her life wasn’t the same.

Moonstone city had awakened something ancient and wild inside her… And Luca was the key to it all.

I was running, terrified. I was running for my life, and something was chasing me. Something dark. Something with the intent to kill. I couldn't see it, but I could feel its

presence. It wanted me. It was hungry and angry and it wouldn't stop hunting me until it caught me. I ran so fast that I stumbled on my own feet and fell. It was close now; it would catch me.

A dark figure slowly appeared from the shadows. It had hollow eyes and long fangs. It stretched its hands toward me. I could see its nails, which looked more like claws. They were coming closer. I shrieked a high, panicked sound. It had caught me, and now it was screaming my name.

"Sophia! Sophia! "Ma'am!"

My eyes finally opened. I was panting and sweat dripped down my face. I was scared and confused.

"It's just a dream, it's alright." Her maid whispered. "Relax and sleep."

Morning….. Sophia woke up. She was very exhausted. It felt like she had been running for her life the entire dream. Stood up from her bed and sat on the small stool facing her mirror. She looked at her neck, and it was redder. She felt intense pain, more than usual.

She couldn't shake the feeling off anymore.

She became worried. She didn't know how to help herself. She did not know anyone she could talk to about these dreams. In her heart, she prayed for night not to come. She was scared of her bed now. She was scared of shutting her eyes. This time, she could remember the dream vividly. The monster's fangs were in her neck. Her body and clothes were all soaked in her blood. She was helpless as she faced her own death.

These dreams were hunting her. And they aren’t just dreams anymore They're nightmares now.

Sophia's room door opens. It was her maid. She brought herbal tea. "It's herbal tea, ma'am," she said while placing it on the table. "It'll help calm your nerves," she said further and stood still. She wore a worried look on her face.Sophia went back to staring at herself, going into deep thought. The memories of last night's dream still lingered. It haunted me. I couldn't shake the feeling of being helpless and alone in the dark. Those images refused to leave her mind. Her heart was still racing.

Sophia could remember that when she was little, her grandmother would tell her these weird stories. Her grandmother told these stories as if she believed it was real. Like she had seen those creatures with her own eyes. Creatures that were able to shapeshift. Some had horns.

Some had claws and fangs and would only appear in the dark or as shadows. They were not part of the normal world. They were supernatural. Could it be that those stories she was told were real? Was the supernatural real? Do these creatures really really live amongst humans? After a long thought, she noticed her maid was still in her room standing patiently like she needed something.

"Anything else?" Sophia asked "Noth...nothing really" she said with a mortified look. "

How are you feeling?" She blurted out again.

Sophia then remembered her maid was with her the moment she was having her nightmare.

“I feel fine,” Sophia replied. "I don't think you feel fine, ma'am.

“I noticed you have red bruises on your neck," her maid said.

Sophia placed her hand on her neck and groaned slightly. "I must have slept on the wrong side of my neck," Sophia lied. Her maid knew Sophia was lying. She knew something was wrong with Sophia.

She had heard her screaming in her sleep a few days back. She wanted to ask further, but thought she might be bugging her with too many questions, so she decided to leave. “Do you believe in the supernatural?” She asked her maid who was about to leave her room.

“I’ve heard stories about them.” Her maid replied. “Tell me about them,” Sophia said inquisitively.

Her maid started telling Sophia about an encounter she had partially witnessed. Before she came to Moonstone City, she had resided in a small town called Ravenswood. The town was small. Everyone lived in peace and harmony. Until this night came, Ravenswood was obscured in darkness. The atmosphere of Ravenswood became eerie.

A chill wind swept through the streets, and it became misty. All residents began to lock their households. Mothers called upon their children, and husbands locked up their houses. Ravenswood were filled with these fierce apparitions. These creatures had glowing eyes and moved with an unnatural hunger. There was a thirst for blood.

The villagers panicked with fear. By morning, Ravenswood was a blood bath. All the villagers fled from Ravenswood in fear. No one spoke about that incident. After that, these creatures only existed in myths and legends. Her maid concluded.

Sophia was filled with terror. She never believed the supernatural was real. Maybe I should just tell her about my nightmares. She thought to herself.

“ I have been having these nightmares,” Sophia confessed.

“I sensed that a few days ago,” the maid said.

Sophia was a bit skeptical. Hmm, she observes. Sophia thought to herself.

“They aren’t just nightmares. It feels real. It feels like I’m being dragged and torn into pieces,” Sophia said with fear.

“If I may ask, what is this dream about?” Her maid asked.

Sophia then looked… Every night, I see this huge creature. Glowing eyes, fangs and claws. Chasing after me, hunting me. It wants to kill me. I run as fast as I can, but still end up in the hands of this creature. It will hold me down and sink its fangs into my neck, rendering me helpless. Sophia said with so much anguish.

“Could it be a vampire?” Her maid asked with so much curiosity. “No…..no, it was much bigger and also strangely had fur,” Sophia replied. “Wolf?” Her maid whispered to herself skeptically. “Wolf?” She asked her maid. “I’m….i’m not sure ma’am” she said as voice cracked.

Her maid knew it was a werewolf. She tried so hard to believe those creatures didn’t exist anymore. “I heard you say wolf. Do not lie to me!” Sophia snapped. “It could be a wolf. I’m not sure.” Her maid said again. Sophia didn’t say anything for about five minutes. “The books were my grandmother used to read those stories to me…. I took them all and kept them in the basement. Since then I haven’t touched them.” “Why?” Her maid asked. “I missed her so much, I couldn't read them.” She said with her voice breaking. “I want to get those books.

Maybe they’ll have some information about these creatures and maybe explain my nightmares” Sophia said. Those books contain stories for children. They won’t help” her maid said “how will you know if you don’t try or…. Do you have another solution?” Sophia asked, belittling her maid. “No ma’am. I don’t” her maid replied.

"Okay. You're dismissed." She said to her maid. Her maid shut the door behind her and left Sophia alone in her room. Sophia did her morning routine a little bit extra. She wanted to relax her nerves. She had been exhausted from all the running in her dream. She could also feel a little pain in her toes.

"Ding dong," the bell rang. The maid quickly rushed to answer it.

She opened the door and saw a tall man. Wearing shades and all black.

" How may I help you?" The maid asked,

"I'm here to see Sophia." The man replied with a smile.

Her maid rushed over to inform Sophia about her unknown guest. "Ma'am, you have a visitor." "And who dares to disrupt my morning routine?" Sophia asked with poise. "He said his name is Luca". Her maid replied. Sophia's eyes brightened. Luca? What is he doing here? She asked herself. Sophia quietly rushed through her routine, wore her clothes and stepped out of her room.

"It is not healthy for a man to knock on a lady's door at this time of day," Sophia said as she walked gracefully and sat down on the couch. "How may I be of help to you?" She asked Luca. Having trouble sleeping? Luca asked. Sophia's eyes widened. How did he know? She thought to herself. " And why would you say that?" She asked calmly. Luca looked at her neck. She instantly noticed his gaze fixed on her neck and quickly used her hair to cover the bruises on her neck.

"I have things to do, and your presence might cause distractions," Sophia said arrogantly.

"I could help you," Luca said. "I do not need your help," Sophia quickly snapped. Her maid quickly rushed over and whispered something in Sophia's ear. "The basement is dark and scary; you may need him." Luca already knew what they were up to. Sophia gave what her maid said a good thought. She finally spoke," Fine, you can join me as I rummage through my basement for old books and journals.