Unveiled

Prologue

Heavy footsteps clinked against the floor, creating a thunderous sound around the hallway as I continued to run in the midst of this place. In every move of my limbs, I would feel my body pump upward along with the endless bump of hair strands against my shoulders. My face started to get damp, sweat forming on my forehead slowly combined with the raindrop-like tears on my cheeks. Not minding the body that had been following me, I chased through the hallway to reach the living area.

I had always been doubtful about the trust I had given people. Ever since I was young, that has become my habit—I do not even know myself deeply. It seemed like I was only living in this world to fulfill other people’s expectations. Certainly, I was not a robot, but the situation urged it to happen—even in reality. In this case, even if I convince myself to not be a slave of other people, I just can’t. Fate leads the situation and this controls my life. I have no hold against choices.

He wanted me to run and start the chase, and it was the only option in my mind right now. I could not defy, partly because it was what my mind had been telling me to do.

I was scared of everything; I was afraid of being caught and being punished without any failed action. At this rate, there were no answers given about the consequences of these actions. I was sure that I had not done anything wrong, but why did I have to experience this? Why did I have to suffer?

“Yes, Revana!” Hair rose in my skin when a deep, serious voice echoed in the hallway. “Run and hide, no one can save you unless it’s my pitiful punishment.”

My hands began to tremble at the sound of danger in his voice. I felt unsafe in my own home; I could not even consider this as my home. This place reminded me of hell. No corner of this house assured me of safety. I could feel sharp eyes everywhere—even bullets that could kill me once I made a simple wrong move.

“No, please…” I shook my head, almost copying the movement of the tornado. “Don’t do this—”

“Wow!” the tone of his scoff resounded as he exclaimed, “Revana Holega, begging me?”

Tears continued to stream down my cheeks. This man changed a lot. He was not the same person I used to know. I had no idea when it started. I just woke up one day looking at a different man. The presence of warmth suddenly turned to hostility; I could not touch him. It felt like every time I hit a weak spot, I would be placed at the edge of the tiny rope. With one mistake, I could possibly be burnt and trapped under a vast dusk.

I did not give myself a chance to respond to his remark. I did not stop running until I started gasping. I parted my lips to breathe, but every sprint felt like losing air out of my lungs. My knees began to shake, and my whole body weighed heavily. I was starting to get weak.

I held onto the fence of our spiral staircase. I let my palm slide against the softness of its material as I wandered my feet to the floor of the stairs. Stepping onto the stairs gradually, I assumed that my speed was enough to avoid the guy who had seemed to grow two horns on his temple. At this point, I was not certain if I should thank or loathe the long length of our stairs because of the house’s wideness. I came from the third floor, but it seemed like going down to the ground floor is worse than having a heart attack. My chest began to tighten, and I could not follow the right tempo to maintain stable breathing.

“Aw, it’s closed.” From behind me, the menace in his voice can be heard. It was followed by a Santa laugh which echoed throughout the whole area.

I had already reached the kitchen, but I still couldn't escape the grasp of this man. I was living in this house, but it felt like he was more knowledgeable about every edge of our house. The backdoor of the kitchen, which I thought would be my way to escape, was shut by him. The door to our balcony, even the windows, were closed too. On the few floors of the house, I also knew that he had closed the doors I could have used to get away. That was why I decided to go to this floor—I hoped I could find escape and be peaceful; it turned out I was still unsafe.

“Mom, Dad…” I whispered, hoping they could hear me, but I knew that it was impossible. They were out, miles away from me.

The only thing left to me was this man. When I thought I had finally found the person I could trust and lean on to, I suddenly fell into a deep hole. Now, I could not lift myself. It felt like I was only taught to trust someone, only to once again fall into misery and pain.

“No…” I swallowed hard as I crossed my arms in front of my face, trying to protect myself from the harm. “You can’t do this. This is—”

“It’s not.” In countless moments, his loud laughter once again echoed throughout the entire surroundings. “You said we’re dating, right? You declared it in front of my face. Why would this be…” He smirked, deciding not to continue his statement.

Hot liquid fell onto my cheek. My heart was beating in an abnormal state, and the pumps in my chest were too much to ignore. Using my trembling hands, I pushed him on the chest in an attempt to avoid his action. However, while he was coming near, our eyes locked with each other. I could not understand how he suddenly managed to change his expression. If earlier he seemed like he was about to kill someone, now the only thing filling his eyes was softness. His eyes turned weary and soft—just like the emotion I saw from the moment we first met.

My eyes observed his face—his features that I missed. His eyes, amidst the drowning rage, I still saw the deep and mesmerizing side in every gaze. His brows were thick, they could even meet at the same point if only a small distance did not interfere. My gaze dropped to his nose. It was sculpted like a Romanian goddess. His jaw looked sharp enough to cut through something because of its pointedness.

I folded my eyes when I felt his hand against my cheek. I thought he would slap me, but he ended up caressing that part of my face instead. I did not understand why, despite everything we had been through, I could no longer bring back the same heartbeat I used to feel in my chest whenever our skin would touch. Right now, all I could feel was shiver. The hairs on my skin rose, and my body started to tremble.

“Why?” The sound of my voice turned like a soft breath. “How did we end up like this? How could you do this?”

I felt the worst. I suddenly hated myself and this skin that I have. I do not want to own this anymore: the physical structure, the emotions, everything about me. I wanted to erase the liquids that had flowed in my veins. These fluids seem like they will leave a mark on my skin and spread through my mind, remaining there for a lifetime.

“What the hell—” A familiar voice roared through the surroundings, unable to finish the sentence it was about to shout into the air. “Revana!”

Despite my weakness after a few pounds, I still managed to lift my gaze to the man who called me. Certainly not the evil, but the person I did not expect to come to my aid. However, instead of feeling hopeful, I was conquered by fear. I shook my head repeatedly to reject his plan. I did not want him to come near and save me. This man against my body was too dangerous. He could get involved if he continues to come closer to me.

“Don’t,” I muttered in a lifeless tone, “Don't come any closer, you'll just get caught up in this!”

“What the hell is happening here?” Instead of listening to my warning, he still asked the obvious question.

I heard the devil’s laugh in my ear. His hand crawled to my waist. All my body could do was tremble.

In an instant, the body pinning me down disappeared. When I opened my eyes, I saw his body sprawled on the floor. The devil was being punished by the angel. His face gradually became covered in bruises from the countless punches delivered by the one towering over him.

My gaze shifted to the man I once trusted. He did not look tormented or hurt. Instead, a wide grin remained on his lips, as if he did not mind the pain from each blow landing on his face.

“You're too late,” he said, crawling his hand under my savior’s body. “Look at Revana—completely exhausted.”

The jaw of the man who saved me clenched tightly. His fist, hovering above the face of evil, trembled even more intensely.

Unconsciously, my eyes flew to the devil. My eyes widened when I realized that the movement of his hand was an act of defending himself. He had a sharp thing in his hand. Even before I could warn my savior, I was already blinded by the splash of blood around the kitchen.