My Badass Dragon Girl

Chapter 1: Virgin Valley

*ZORRO SPARK*

Roars of laughter filled inside my room. I and my neighbour, Luke who were also my childhood best friend, were playing an online game. These were the only things I could do at home: Playing online games with my buddy, reading books and taking home class. 

Since young, it was like this. I was f*******n to go out and explore the outside world because of my serious heart disease problem. Which sucks me badly.

I love adventures but I was unable to do so.  If I hadn't treasure my short life, if I didn't resist my naughty side and rebel from my mom's house arrest, I might already be dead a long time ago.  But the doctor's limit of my life still remained unchanged. I could only live 'till at the age of 22. Now I was 21, that means my death was approaching. 

"Dude, what are you thinking?" Luke nudged me with his shoulder. We were at the center of my wide room. Our legs were folded crossed as we sat on the floor and faced a big TV screen. 

I didn't notice that I was already spacing out. "Did I lose?" I asked, rubbing the back of my neck like a fool. 

"That's not important. It's you, what is in your mind?" He put down the remote game control and rested his arms at the bottom of my bed.

"Luke, I decided to go out. Help me to escape. Didn't you go visit your mom's hometown tomorrow? Let me come with you, okay?" 

Luke eyed me up and down, pouting as he teased, "What? You don't love your life anymore? Want to rebel?" 

"It's not that. Even if I am here, obediently following mom's set-up, I will still die and it is already coming." I rushed to stand up to sit on my bed but my heart suddenly twinged and my vision tripled. Before I could sit, I lurched and then collapsed. 

" Zorro!" I barely heard Luke's voice as he caught me. 

****

"I'm sorry to tell you Mrs. Spark but your son's life descended fast. He could only last 'till next month." The breaking news that greeted me right I opened my eyes. 

"One month?" I butt in between my irregular breathing. I sat up slowly from the bed and watched my mom. She sobbed with her palms covering her mouth, leaning her back helplessly against the wall. She was unable to say any single word. While Luke, for the first time, I saw him stunned in shock. 

"Let me excuse myself out." The doctor said and immediately left.

Luke and Mom went over to my bed. Their faces were terribly scared and sad. Mom reached out my face and then just pulled me for a hug. She bawled like I was already dead. Luke rubbed mom's back. 

"Mom, I want to come out and enjoy my days, can I?" I whispered in her ear which only made her cry more. 

She helplessly nodded her head while on each other's embrace. "Okay! I will let you out this time."

---Virgin Valley---

It was already dusk before we arrived at Luke mom's hometown. It's name was Virgin Valley. Indeed, the valley lived up on it's name, Virgin. 

The Valley was at the foot of a green mountain. In front of the mountain was surrounded by green fields planted with different crops. 

The houses were lined up close to each other on every opposite side of the road. The roofs were either thatched made of sword grasses or nipa palms and the walls, doors and windows were made of bamboo. 

Air was refreshing to sniff and the wind was blowing extremely cold like you were in a place raining with snow. Good thing I wore a thick coat. From not afar, I hear a loud sound of a dropping water like it was singing. 

Villagers were naturally warm and friendly. As Luke's car slowly marched in the narrow dusty road, to those who my eyes looked at, smiled at me genuinely. 

Everyone was happy. Adults were chatting with their neighbours and kids were playing anything with the other kids. 

I closed my eyes, spread my arms wide and snuffed the air, it was really a beautiful place to live in. Far from pollution and human distractions. I suddenly had a thought to settle here if I only had a chance. 

At the back of Luke's house, about 200 meters away, there was a wide old forest. As I was staring at it for long, the forest seemed to be calling me. An unclear noise came from there, whispering in my ears. It wanted me to go in there badly.

I flinched when Luke suddenly laid his elbow on my shoulder. "What are you thinking? Wanna go over inside the forest?" Luke motioned his head, pointing at the forest. 

"Do you hear any noises from there?" I asked, still eyes from the forest. It was barely visible because of the dark sky. 

Luke furrowed his brows on me as he glanced, "Noises? Dude, you must be tired from our long journey. I don't hear anything other than chirp of birds."

"Seriously? You didn't hear other sounds or got a strange feeling?" I glanced back at him. 

Luke poked my shoulder, "Don't tell me you want to come in there now. No way. That forest is dangerous. There are a lot of wild animals living there. I can stroll you to any good sites here tomorrow but you can't go in that forest."

"Oh okay!" I replied hesitantly but deep in me said I had go in there tonight.

"Let's get inside to eat so we can take a rest. Early in the morning tomorrow, I will surely tire you exploring around." Luke flashed his brow and smiled. 

As I still didn't move, he hit my back softly and pushed me inside the house. My feet walked along with his push. As I looked back to the direction of the forest, I saw the inside of it suddenly lit up with fire. 

God, is the forest burning?

"Luke, the forest is on fire." I informed him, poking his shoulder for a quick turn.

I heard Luke breathe an audible sigh, "Dude, there's no fire. Look, there is nothing!"

Indeed, the fire was gone. Impossible. I clearly saw it earlier. No way. I had to check on it later. 

'I will go alone if you don't.' My mind protested. 

I had been living in restriction my whole life. I was sick with it. Furthermore, if the forest all burnt as we wake up tomorrow, I would be living in guilt for the rest of my days. 

Also, weren't I here for an adventure? Then why not choose the most thrilling one.