Under My Skin

Chapter I: Monster

"Thank you, Mang Kano!" I said with a smile after our driver helped me down to the car.

"Oh, you have so many stars on your arms!" he exclaimed in awe when he noticed the five stars on my arm.

When I looked at it, I couldn't stop giggling. I raised my arm and showed it more to our driver.

"A lot of stars, right? The teacher put it on me because they said I was very good in class. I'm the only one who can always answer the recitation!" I happily told him.

"Wow!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands and giving me a thumbs up. "You did fantastically, Miss Cresancia! Ma'am and Sir will surely be happy with you!"

I was even more excited to tell Mommy and Daddy about the stars I received from my teacher. I'm sure they will be happy, especially Daddy! And maybe through these stars, they will stop fighting.

Every night, I always hear them fighting in Daddy's office. I don't understand what they are fighting about, but I always hear Mommy yelling at Daddy and saying that he is no longer the man she knew and loved.

When I once asked Mommy why she always said that to Daddy, the only answer she gave me was, "You shouldn't listen to what elders talk about."

I sighed and pouted.

"Oh, why did Miss Cresancia's beautiful smile disappear?" Mang Kano asked worriedly when he noticed the sudden change in my mood.

I looked up at him and raised my arm again.

"Mommy and Daddy will be happy when they see my stars, won't they?" I asked, hoping.

He sighed and chuckled. "Of course, Miss Cresancia! Every parent is pleased when their child excels in school," he replied with a smile.

"They'll stop fighting too, and I won't have to make Dahlia and Ophelia stop crying every night, right?" I asked again.

Mang Kano's smile faded slowly, as if something was wrong with my question. When I realized the answer to my second question appeared to be no, I felt a heaviness in my chest, but it quickly vanished when Mang Kano smiled again.

"Yes, Miss Cresancia," he replied, ruffling my hair with a small smile on his lips. "Go ahead. Go inside, and I'll just park the car in the garage."

I quickly nodded and waved at him as I dashed towards the mansion. When I got to our mansion's main door, I came to a halt and quickly adjusted my sling bag. I tucked my long hair behind my back, making sure it didn't cover the star marks on my arm.

Dahlia and Ophelia, my two younger sisters, always greet me excitedly every time I get home from school. They are five-year-old twins, and Mommy has not yet permitted them to attend school because they are still babies. That's why my sisters look up to me and think of me as a cool sister, because they say I'm no longer a baby and can go to school.

I can't wait for them to see my stars. They will undoubtedly praise me and express their desire to be like me!

I smiled as I pushed the door open and walked in.

"Dahlia! Ophelia! I'm home!" I yelled, and it echoed throughout the mansion.

I remained standing in front of the door with a smile on my lips, waiting for the twins to rush down the stairs to meet me, but a few seconds passed and no one greeted me. I looked around and noticed that not a single maid had come to pick up my bag. The lights in the entire mansion were also turned off, and only sunlight from two large windows provided light inside.

"Huh? Did they go out without me?" I asked, confused.

I moved closer to the kitchen to see if Manang Loreng was there to prepare our lunch, but when I entered, all I saw were scattered ingredients in the sink.

"Manang Loreng?" I called her as I walked into the kitchen.

When I saw the broken plates on the floor, I frowned. I came to a halt and quickly stepped back to avoid stepping on them.

"Manang Loreng!" I called again, but no Manang Loreng appeared.

Where is Manang Loreng? Where are the maids? Why are Dahlia and Ophelia still not coming down the stairs? Did they all leave?

I frowned and silently ascended the stairs. Because the mansion was so quiet, I felt it was a sin to make noise, so I took care that every step I took made no noise.

I walked over to our room and slowly opened the door.

"Dahlia? Ophelia? Cool sissy is here..." I said softly, but I was stunned when I saw that they were not in the room either. Just like in the kitchen, our things and toys were scattered on the floor.

My chest immediately thumped.

Did a thief break into our mansion?!

I dashed to the other room without hesitation.

"Mommy! Daddy!" I yelled, but when I opened the door, I was stunned once more. Our family's big portrait and broken glass things were scattered on their floor, and Mommy and Daddy were not in their room either.

"M-Mommy? Daddy?" I called again.

I was about to go inside to look for them, but I stopped when I noticed the red water on the floor. My body trembled as I quickly took a step back. I slowly followed the long red line, coming to a halt just in front of Daddy's office.

The long, red water made its way into Daddy's office. I quickly grabbed the door knob and breathed a sigh of relief when I realized it wasn't locked.

I need to know where the red water is coming from so that I can inform our maintenance personnel. Perhaps there is a broken pipe inside Daddy's office again, like the last time.

"Daddy?" I called him, slowly opening his office door. I took a step inside but was startled when I stepped on something. I quickly looked at it to pick it up, but when I saw it was a small hand, my eyes widened.

I gasped in shock when I saw it bathing in red water.

Why is there a hand on the floor?

I slowly looked to see where that little hand was from. I opened the office door wide, and that's when my eyes widened when I saw two young kids lying in front of me. There are many stab wounds on their bodies, and both are bathed in red water.

I seemed to be a statue in my place. My lips began to tremble as my eyes watered as I stared at the two girls in front of me.

"D-Dahlia..." I called her trembling while watching the continuous flow of red water from her body and mouth. "O-Ophelia..." My tears started to fall when I saw that I could hardly recognize Ophelia because of the many stab wounds on her face.

I immediately fell to the floor. I could barely feel my body. All I can feel now is terrified while watching my two sisters unconscious and bathed in red water.

Shivering, I crawled closer to them. When I saw how many stab wounds they had, I burst into tears. When I touched their necks, I screamed in pain as I felt the deep cuts on their necks.

"D-Dahlia, O-Ophelia... W-What happened? W-Who did this t-to you? Why-" I jumped in surprise when the door to the library inside the office suddenly slammed.

When I saw Mommy come out of the library, my eyes widened. She is crying, and her white dress is also stained with red water. She quickly shut the door and appeared to be about to run, but stopped when she noticed me. Her eyes were filled with tears and fear.

"M-Mommy..." My voice broke when I called her. I slowly stood up and was about to approach her, but we both jumped in shock when the library door slammed again and opened.

"R-Run, Cresancia!" Mommy screamed as she saw Daddy exit the room.

My feet rooted to the floor when I saw Daddy's expression. His eyes and entire face were red as each breath was heavy. His jaw moved violently, and his eyes glared at me when he saw me.

When I saw the large knife he was holding and covering it with red water, I immediately backed away in fear. From there, I could hear every drop of red water on the floor coming from that knife.

I think I've figured out where the red water comes from...

There are no broken pipes...

And it's not just water...

It's blood.