DEFYING MY MATES

The Journal

It was freezing cold and too dark to see anything. My heart was drumming inside my chest furiously and I could feel the adrenaline pumping in my blood. The searing pain in my limbs was telling me a tale of torture I went through.

In the eerie silence of this dark place, the plopping sound of the droplets was the only thing I could hear and that too was my blood, as the metallic scent lingered in the air. I hissed in pain when I traced my wound. My limbs were bleeding as if someone sliced them with a sharp knife. My visions blurred with tears, not that I could see anything in the first place and I didn’t know where the hell I was running to.

I toppled over on the wet and sticky ground as the excruciating pain in my legs forced me to surrender.

I’m not going to die, at least not in this place with that thought in my mind. I dragged myself up with the newfound determination.

My surroundings cleared a bit and I could see that I was in a forest. A dark forest, to be precise. I ran and ran and ran, not even a sight of anyone who could help. I could hear the heavy steps of someone following but I didn’t have it in me to take a look. I didn’t know who the hell I was running from or what in the world did I do to get stuck here? But the only thing I knew was. I was running for my life and I was in trouble, a f*****g huge one at that.

I stumbled upon a tree root and fell on my face. The steps halted too and I scrambled back as far as I could. A shadow was lurking in the woods. I knew it was a male with his buffed up body as I could see the outline of his body, but couldn’t see his face with my blurred vision.

I rubbed my eyes with a little hope to clear my vision, but nothing of that sort happened. My body shivered in fear when I heard a deep, masculine voice, “At last I found you.”

I woke up with a jolt and I, immediately, turned on the lights, taking a glance at my room as if the shadow was right there somewhere hiding in the corner and was watching me intently. I was panting hard as if I was out of breath. My pj’s were wet with sweat. It was a horrible dream.

I hid my face in my palm and took deep breaths to calm down my racing heart.

I was worried for some unknown reason, as if my heart knew something was going to happen but didn’t know what it was.

Shaking my head to get rid of the foreboding feeling, I glanced at my clock. It was 4 o'clock in the early morning. The outside world was dead silent, no sun, no birds, nothing. I decided to sleep a little longer and covered myself up with a duvet. I didn’t turn off my lights because I was afraid of the shadow for some non-existent reason and didn’t want to see that horrid dream ever again.

I tried to sleep it off but it was no use. I tossed and turned in the bed for half an hour when I finally gave up the idea. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I know I get horrible dreams whenever my bed changes, but why, now? Why didn’t I get it from day one when I arrived here? It was my fifth day at home and I kept thinking about what changed in those three days for my dreams to kick in suddenly.

Too many questions, but I didn’t get even a single logical answer. I was confused. But, I don't know what frustrated me more, the horrid dreams or the numerous questions popping up in my head.

I wished my head was like false teeth so I could use it when it was needed. Alas! It wasn’t and now I had to deal with it in my own way. So, I thought reading might help and strutted towards my bookshelf and picked up a classic, The Great Gatsby to read.

Picking it up, I laid on my stomach with the book in front, supported by a pillow. Something felt off with the position, so I sat up straight with the book on my lap and I kept reading the same paragraph for the last 10 minutes, but somehow, my mind kept going back to the journal at my father’s office a few days ago. I was so curious to read it that I found myself dreaming about it at times.

The last 4 days at home were great. We spent time watching movies, playing games, painting, swimming in the backyard pool and it was fun. I tried to sneak into my father’s office but somehow he kept popping up out of nowhere.

I think now was the best time to sneak in. He might be sleeping and I could get my hands on the journal easily without anyone’s interference.

Yes!! I was going to sneak into his office. Giving myself a pep talk to boost my confidence a little, I removed my duvet, took my cell and tiptoed to the door to avoid any creaking sound which could wake them up.

I stealthy walked towards my parent’s door and put my ears against it for any sound. When I was satisfied that they were asleep, I scampered to his office and locked the door as quietly as I could.

I didn’t turn on the office lights as it could alarm dad if he walked through the hallway. So, I turned on my cell’s flashlight to look through his office. I moved towards his table, the papers were kept neatly on the side.

There was a map with the word ‘Phasyria’ written on it. I had never heard of a country with a name like that. It's not like I knew the name of each and every country, but it was unique and I quite liked it. Ignoring the map, I looked through his drawers. Nothing, nothing at all. There were papers and maps and files, but not a sight of what I was looking for?

I put the papers back as they were to avoid any suspicion and sauntered towards the bookshelf. I skimmed through the shelves, but it wasn’t there anymore. I tried to think of any place where he could have hid the journal.

Suddenly, it clicked in my mind. When I was about 10, I saw him installing a vault behind the horse painting hanging beside his shelf. What were the odds that he could have hidden it there? But the real question was why? Why would he hide a mere journal inside that vault if it wasn’t anything important? What exactly was in that journal?

My curiosity was increasing with each passing minute. I was determined to find out what he was hiding from my mum and I. Could it be an affair? What? Naahhh…not at all. He loves her so much. He won’t do something as low as that. Right?

Fuck my wild thoughts. I will find it myself. Sliding through the painting, I found the vault with the numeric password. s**t!!

One problem after another. What was this treasure hunt?

Okay!! Relax!! Deep breaths. I can do it. How difficult can it be to c***k the password set by one’s father? Right?

Flexing my shoulders, I cracked my fingers as if I was going to fight in a boxing ring. Heavy beads of sweat covered my brows and forehead in the pleasant night of mid- July, because I was beyond nervous.

With my trembling fingers, I typed my mother’s birth date as he loved her dearly. That was what I thought of. So I did, but no luck.

A big red cross appeared on the screen indicating the password was wrong. I tried again with his birth date and the same results. I tried mine and the f*****g vault clicked open. f**k! I should have thought of that beforehand.

And, there it was. The mysterious journal is hidden from everyone’s eyesight. I quickly grabbed the journal and made sure to close the vault properly. I stealthily walked out of the office towards my room. But, before I could even enter my room, the creaking sound of the floorboard was coming out of my parents' as if someone was walking. Now that I had what I wanted right in my hand, I was not going to be caught, at least not till I found out what was in the journal.

I tiptoed as fast as I could. Entering my room, I hid the journal below my pillow and swiftly covered my body with the duvet. I pretended to be asleep as soon as I heard someone entering my room. I tried hard to calm my furiously pumping heart. The sound of the steps walking halted near my bed. I could feel the person watching me intently. I didn’t know who that was; it might be mum or my dad. Who knows?

Nonetheless, I kept my breathing even and my eyelids closed. The person didn't leave, at least not for a few minutes, as I could hear the door click whenever someone opened or closed it. So, I was sure he/she was still there. My bed dipped and I could see the gentle caresses on my chin. But, the only thing was, somehow I knew that it was my mum or that was what I wanted to believe desperately. But, I made not a single movement to create any suspicion. I waited till the person left my room, closing the door quietly.

That was one heck of an experience.

I took a glance at the clock, it was 6:30 in the morning as the sun rose from its peaceful sleep and stars were nowhere to be found. I decided to ask my mum casually about it and not dad as he would question why I was even up at an ungodly hour. With those thoughts in my head, I felt myself drifting off before I could even take a look at the journal.