DREAMWEAVERS : THE DARK MOON

Chapter 1 : HOME SWEET HOME

Ping!

The FASTEN SEATBELT SIGN illuminated in the cabin as the aircraft started its descent into Iloilo International Airport on a breezy Sunday morning.

A flight attendant with baby doll blue eyes took the ceremonious walk down the aisle, swinging her head nonchalantly from side to side. She leaned effortlessly sideways to open the window blinds. The passengers were treated to her sweet floral scent. She continued to sashay down the aisle, swinging her head mechanically from side to side, ensuring all passengers in her area of responsibility complied with the aviation’s safety regulations at top of descent.

“Excuse me.” Deline Amaranthine raised her hand gently to call the attention of the flight attendant.

She was a woman in her late 30s with shoulder length jet black hair and pale yellow complexion. Her petite nose curved down into a cupid’s bow mouth.

“How may I help you Madam?” The flight attendant’s scarlet lips crinkled into a reassuring smile as she bent her knees but still kept them locked together to ensure she was at eye level with the passenger.

“I have my dog Moon in the compartment under us all the way from the Gulf. I just want to be absolutely sure again that I will get her in the the airport when I land.” Deline asked with a worried frown that smeared across her smooth forehead.

“Absolutely Madam. She is ok and ground staff already briefed us about your fur baby in the cargo.” Natalie as written on her name badge reassured Deline at the same time admiring the purple flecks fenced inside the petite passenger’s almond-shaped eyes.

They sparkled along with the rays of light shimmering through the window blind. They remained ensconced in the center of her coal-black pupils, almost obliterating them into exile.

Look at those gorgeous violet crystals in the eyes of Passenger 28A. I wonder if it is real or fake?

Natalie mused fondly, albeit with a tinge of envy.

“Thank you.” Deline breathed a huge sigh of relief and rested her head on the back of the seat as she stared out into the breathtakingly beautiful azure summer sky of Iloilo. An abundance of emerald grass glistened against the blue backdrop as little nipa huts scattered all over the fertile farm lands of Guimaras islands.

Out of sheer habit, she scooped her moonstone pendant in the shape of a crescent moon between her right index finger and thumb and started rolling it back and forth, almost like a gentle caress. It was her most valuable item of comfort and security. The moonstone pendant nestled on the hollow of her throat. It was held in place by the platinum silver chain. This was her most treasured item as this was the only piece of memento she had from her parents who passed away when she was 5 years old in a fire accident in their house in Iloilo. Plus, her Aunt Laya kept on reminding her incessantly to safeguard the priceless pendant with her life.

She remembered that tragic night as if it was just yesterday.

Deline sighed heavily and willed her mind away from the traumatic tragedy of losing the two people she loved most in this world.

Good thoughts only Deline.

She squinted her eyes out into the oval hope of plexiglass that was the only link between her and the outside world 33,000 feet above the ground.

She recently acquired the strange habit of squinting her eyes as they seemed to click away like telescopic lens. The more she squinted them the more they zeroed in like target missiles as they focused and amplified a particular location of her own choosing. She didn’t tell anyone at all as she herself wasn’t really sure as to why she was having this certain anomaly, along with other unexplained anomalies.

If I go and see a doctor for this they might succumb me to a series of lab tests and then eventually break it to me with pity in their eyes that I have a deadly disease.

Deline mused but in truth she was more scared of finding out that if the doctors might not even have a medical explanation for what she had…

Then where did that leave her?

Never mind.

Life is too short.

Some things maybe are just meant to remain mysteries forever.

Deline closed her eyes trying to ignore the unexplained anomalies she was lately experiencing in her body. She dreaded the fact that these anomalies might have something to do with her age. She instantly shook off the dark cloud of pessimism.