Repeat and Retribution

Chapter 8

The loud and upbeat music had already died down and was replaced by mellow and soft tunes. There were only a few people that were still there, just chatting and finishing their remaining drinks.

“I don’t want to go,” She mumbles as Brittany tried to pull her out of her seat.

Crystal was already unable to keep her head straight, due to the number of drinks she had, yet she continued to shake the few bottles in their table, trying to see if anything would still come out of it.

“No! It’s time to return to base and hit the sack,” Brittany states as she tries to pull her up again.

The woman was still quite sober since she only had about three bottles the most, unlike Crystal who drank every single one.

“But, I still don’t want to go home yet.” She waves her hand to try to get her friend to let go.

Though she was barely able to move on her own and her vision was mainly blurry from the effects of the alcohol, she still felt so down and low.

It was like her very being was being drag down by gravity, that she just wanted to stay slouch and steady where she was.

“Crys, the place is already closing, we can’t stay here no more,” Brittany hoist her arm on her shoulder as she tries to keep her up.

Her friends three inch heels clacked as she tried to lift her all the way up, sensing that her friend was having a hard time she was forced to muster her remaining strength to just follow along.

“Then let’s go someplace else,” she states as she tries to walk.

Though her knees felt wobbly and unbalance she still tried to walk by herself, though she remained grabbing on her friends shoulders.

“And where do you think can we go at this late hour.” Brittany chuckles as they began their slow and meandering walk to the parking lot.

“I don’t know, you think of a place, just not to your place, not yet, please,” Crystal murmurs.

She did not want to return to her friends quiet and calm place as she knew it would just make her remember all the things she was trying to forget.

A smile formed on Brittany’s face. “All right, I got an idea,” she shimmies her way to the car when she had managed to open the passenger side for her.

Knowing her friend had a great idea in mind that would ease her worries, Crystal had no hesitation in getting into the car.

Brittany’s small red vehicle skidded into the road as soon as they both got in. There weren’t much vehicles, thus they zoomed straight for the main highway of into the suburbs away from the buzzing and lights of the bustling city.

Crystal was able to slouch on to her eat as she looked out the window, watching the intermittent lights of each pole they pass by. It made her relax a bit as it reminded her of old times lost.

It was the time when she and her family would go places commuting via jeep or the train, whenever they would go home she would be sit on her parents lap, looking outside the window being cradled as she lulled herself to sleep while watching the lights that looked like fireflies being left behind.

It was the days when she didn’t really had to worry about much nor care about a lot of things, a time were she would just rely everything to her parents and not think of anything else because she knows they knew better.

She suddenly went back to the time when her mother would scold her and tell her of things that she should have done. She was suddenly regretting those days when she didn’t listen and rebelled against them because she wanted to do other things, realizing now that she could have just done what they wanted and while also continuing to do the things she liked. Since her parents never really had any issues with it, so long as she was following what they wanted.

She began sobbing again as she remembered the time that her parents were agains her dating Clyde, since they did not really like him that much, pointing that the man was too happy go lucky and had an unsure future nor had any plans in life.

At first she thought they were just overbearing and being too protective but now she realize all of it was true. To make things worst, she actually went up against them, the moment that Clyde proposed they live in together, totally putting a dent on their relationship.

She only stops when she feels the warm and playful pat of Brittany on her shoulder.

“You’ll get over it eventually, you’ll see,” Brittany says with a half smile, all the while keeping her eyes straight on the road.

Crystals could feel a certain sense of strength emanating from her friend, yet there was also that part were she could sense that her word came from something much more deeper than just wisdom. It felt as if Brittany also experienced the same thing as she did.

“Thanks,” she answers back.

The remaining hours of their travel were shrouded in silence. They just listened to mellow music playing on the cars stereo.

Poles were replaced by the soothing and shadowy figures of trees, though it was already that late the moons brightness gave enough light to show the quiet and grassy area that they were traveling to, sometimes they’d even pass small rivers or rice fields, giving a sight to be hold that late at night.

It was a sight to be hold and gave them a refreshed feeling from all the noise and business of the city. They take a turn at an old broken down but cemented pathway, covered by some bushes and trees, there was a sign that showed the number of kilometers it would take for the next town, so they both knew they had a few more minutes on the road.

The whole trip on that way was basically just a calm and dark road full of trees, fields, a few mountains and small waterways.

It was in that moment that Crystal thought of something really fun to do, as there wasn’t any houses nor other vehicles around.

“Crys, will you get back in here!” Brittany scolds as she tries to grab on her skirt.

Crsytal had opened the window and slid right out of there before screaming her lungs.

“f**k you Clyde! f**k you, for wasting those years of my life! I wish I’d never met you!” she shouted not caring about the strong gush of the wind.

She reveled at smack and slice of fresh air, enjoying the cool breeze and the grassy smell that came with it. Her voice barely echoed into the nothingness as it was answered back by crickets and the rustling of the wind into the trees.

“Okay that’s enough, I’m parking here,” Brittany puts the car to a stop at a nearby opening of trees just a few meters away from the main road.

“What, why’d you stop?” Crystal turns to her friend, disappointed at the sudden halt of the cold wind on her face.

“Hell girl, I still want to wake up tomorrow, but that ain’t happening if we end up in an accident,” Brittany face creased as she slaps her behind.

They both get out of the car giggling after that. Their heels sunk on the soft grassy soil, making them removed their shoes.

“Where are we anyway?” Crystal frowns as she turns her eyes around the whole place.

They were in front of a hill covered in different kind of trees and shrubs, some even had flowers and fruits. The whole place was calm with the sound of crickets, frogs and brush of the wind.

“This is an old forgotten road that leads towards the next town,” Brittany tells her.

“Why’s it so deserted?” She asks looking back and forth.

There wasn’t nothing but a long winding road along a field of trees and hills. There was even barely any light post ahead, giving the whole place a shadowy ambience.

“That’s because people like the wider and brand new highway more than this old place,” Brittany sat on the hood of her car as she looked unto the hills in front of the them.

They were facing two of the large body of earth, on the middle of it was a mountain that maybe just a few kilometers away.

“It’s kinda peaceful here,” Crystal hugged herself as she felt the chill in the night air.

“We’ll this place used to be a very secluded forest,” Brittany says as she was now lighting up a cigarette, puffing a few smokes as she talked.

“Is that why there aren’t any houses nearby.” Crystal states.

She noticed since the moment they took the road to that place, she only saw two houses at the very least. And the two were both old looking and were quite far from one another and was even unsure if there were any people living there as there were no lights on them.

“That and the story surrounding this place,” Brittany turns to her with a mischievous smile.

Crystal couldn’t help but raise a brow. “What, you planning on scaring me now,” she laughs.

The place did seem a bit scary, with the darkness creeping in from almost every corner of the forest. It was like something was even looking back at them at that very moment.

“It’s not actually scary, more of a happy one actually,” Brittany says back as she huffs at her cigarette again before talking. “It’s actually the reason I keep coming back here,” she said with that low sad tone as if remembering something.

“Tell me, since I really need something happy right now,” Crystals jumps unto the hood of the car, landing her butt on the top of it as she positioned herself properly on it.

Brittany let out a giggle as she turns in front of them again. “We’ll, you see the mountain over there,” she points with her cigarette.

The place looked so majestic right now as the peak looked like it was already touching the moon at that moment.

“Yeah,” she nod as she looks at it.

“They say fairies reside there, and long ago they used to help the people that lived around here. They would grant wishes to those whom they saw fit and punish people who would try to harm their mountain. The people around here were so into this story that the locals kept this place well maintained and untouched.” Brittany puffed a cloud of smoke that quickly vanish as the wind suddenly blew towards the forest.

Somehow that little tale lifted her heart, thinking that the effects of the alcohol was still strong in her system, she disregarded the strong feeling that was making her feel drawn to the place.

“Maybe they can help me with my problem,” she laughed out loud, remembering the part about the wishes.

Brittany rolled her eyes as she finished her smoke. “Girl please, don’t tell me you believe those things,” she let’s out a soft chuckle before moving back into the car to dispose of her smoke.

“Are those fireflies!” Crystal’s eyes widened as she saw several flickering yellow lights among the trees.

The yellowish glow would blink and move around several trees, giving the whole place a mystical feel.

“I think so, there should be a nearby pond here, that’s why there are so many of em,” Brittany says as she was now sitting on the driver seat, relaxing.

“Really, can we go see it?” Crystals turns to her friend, smile wide and eye twinkling.

“Girl, we are in the middle of nowhere, do you think it’s wise to just leave our car here and go exploring,” Brittany shakes her head at the thought.

“The path looks good enough, can’t we park a little closer there,” Crystal says pouting while holding her hands together while begging in front of her friend.

Brittany let out a deep sigh. “All right,” she rolls her eyes before closing the door of the car.

Crystal was giggling as she ran towards the passenger seat, quite excited at the thought and anticipation of seeing a new view.

Though it was dark and in the middle of nowhere, there was just really something in the place that made her want to venture further down that road. She’s not sure if it was the effect of the alcohol kicking in or it was the serenity and beauty of the whole place, making her feel relaxed and at peace.