Silver Night

Chapter 1: Catalina

Restless nightmares of my father's head in my hands violently terrify me, so, I had developed a bad habit of not properly sleeping. Instead, I lingered operatively awake, listening to music and painting my fears away at the witching hour. After, I would hang them on the walls of my art studio. The sun had risen with its beautiful glare bursting through the windows. I slowly packed my portraits and empty canvases with hesitation to throw them away or keep my morbid sketches I called, Deadies. My grandmother, my mother, and I had been packing for hours while the sun beams weigh heavily on our skin. I will miss Kyoto, Japan. I will miss all of my friends... But, as everyone's destiny, all must end, and I must say goodbye.

My mother was unalterably certain it was time to go to a new hiding place where we can exploit trips throughout the new area. Our journey was toward Forks, Washington. My mother, Adriana, told me that we own a permanent abode there and we've once lived there before. Sadly, I don't remember that. Honestly, I don't remember much of anything from my past. All I knew was the issue that caused us to hide from murderers, who killed my father and took my memories in Forks. But, I absolutely believe we could accomplish finding some answers about the past once my family and I reach the house. In the meantime, starting October 2016, I will live as an ordinary high school student as usual. Like... normal. How I am supposed to be.

I am a normal high school girl. Even though I have travelled to many small places and survived many situations that weren't normal at all, I'm normal. Right? I turned on my music and listened to "Ride" by Twenty-One Pilots, gradually turning it up loud enough to nearly burst my ear drums. The hours rushed by as I heard my mom and granny talking with their old friend on the car radio. Soon, we had reached the airport and changed our tongues to English along the ride to America. The flight was long, but pleasant, since we eased into napping along the way. By the time we finally landed in America, I had completed a few sketches of the world by bird view. I kept them folded in the shoulder bag to place them on a wall once we reach home. 

Finally, after nine years, we were on our way back to the place we ran away from for so long. The whole place was clean and decorated in family antiques, passed down from generations. Other parts of the house were furnished in a cultural eclectic style. The living room had an Asian theme up until the start of the kitchen, which had luxurious Hispanic decorations all over. The rest of the house was furnished with a blend of traditional and contemporary furniture. It amazed me! I felt like I was walking through a small museum, exhibiting primeval to 21st century objects. HECK'IN SICK AF!

I never noticed how much we moved, or how much money we owned until seeing this a huge place. It's bigger than our other houses, aside from our residence in Japan. My mother lured me up a spiral staircase, which lead to our bedrooms. My room was so large I couldn't make out the difference between it and the living room.

"Sorry, Cati. But, this time you won't have an art studio." My mother informed me. She knew about me sneaking throughout the night to draw in my art studios, my drug of choice.

"That's alright. I could definitely use this room as my workplace... I mean, it's so big." My eyes wandered around the room, taking in the details. "Yep, it's perfect," I complimented, happily.

My mom looked amused as she exited my room. I started setting up all my sketches and canvases on the walls. Phew! Ferreting out of my bags were annoying; but, I managed to get everything in place and then rested on my bed. It felt so good to lay there, staring out the windows... Hm? This one window in front me captured a beautiful view of the surrounding forest. I tilted my head and thought. The moon looks bigger than I thought it would be from this angle. I stood up and placed my easel beside the view, then started painting. I really caught a likeness to my surroundings as I stipple and daubed the still-life portrait in various colors. Once done, it was fixed onto the wall next to its inspiration. Window to compliment.

"Cati, dinner is ready!" My grandma intensely called from downstairs.

Hm? She sounds a bit irritated. I pondered. I knew mom and grandma must've gotten into another clash about me; that's all they ever beef about. I walked out my room, closing the door beside me.

"Coming!"

On my way downstairs, I started hearing whispers from them bickering, again. I hid behind the corner of the wall to bend an ear on the topic. They sat at the table surrounded by food. There was a silence. My grandmother, Jeong, hesitated for a bit with her mouth hung wide open. Then, grandma closed it and looked away from my mom. Her left palm tapped on the table as she thought of something to say.

Suddenly, grandmother begins to speak again, "Adriana, I am just saying that Catalina won't be a child forever. We don't know how much longer we have with her until..." She whispered something, then returned volume in her voice, "Those journals need to be found and viewed, right now. You haven't even told her about it, yet. Have you?"

My mother stood up and fussed in a much louder whisper, "I will tell her when it is the right time. Now, is not that time, mother."

"Oh! Sit down and stop making a scene before Cati sees us fighting again. You know what's best for her, even I do. But, sitting here waiting for the 'right moment' will not help her prepare. She needs to know what she is. What her father was! She needs to know and find people like her so to teach her, train her! The poor girl has no experience at all, except to run. Run! If those monsters come back, we will all die. You promised her father you would-"

"I know what I promised..." Grandmother was halted by mother's input. My mom held a long pause, then turned my way. "Catalina Arisu Yong, how long have you stood there?" She asked.

I came out of the shadows of the wall and replied, "Um... Since grandma tapped on the table."

Grandma calmly sighed and coaxed, "I am so sorry, dear. Forgive us for our actions. Please, sit and let's pray so we can eat."

Mother gestured me over to the table and sighed out, "Come on, sweetheart. We're so sorry."

"It's okay. What's a family without a bit of collisions every now and then." I joked and sat at the table with a smirk on my face.

We grabbed each other's hands and begun praying. As always, for some reason it hurt to do so. The time felt as though it lonely extended. The name "Lord" or "God" made me jump bit by bit, caused by the ticking pangs to worsen and fade throughout my veins. Jeong made her prayer short just for me, because she knew something I hadn't about myself. Whatever it was, it's the reason it pained to pray in the first place. Although rather agonizing, I knew enough pain to accept it. And, still, it was my only source to keep my mind sane, including reading the bible.

After prayer, we impaled our faces with delightful food. Our conversations were joyful, despite the debate earlier. Everybody's belly became full to the brim before we set off to bed. Our shouting's of "I love you's" and "goodnights" echoed the hall. I laid in my bed, waiting for the morning to come. Hopefully, it would hurry before the constant torments in my sleep creeps in.

The evening passed by slowly in the darkest hours of the night. I kept screaming or "falling" awake. It hit the dead hours of night when I'd normally decide to evidently stay awake until sun up. I painted three pictures long before the wee hours and sketched comics at first blush. After an hour or two, I gathered some clothes and headed to the shower. I either kept the water hot or cold, never midpoint. Afterwards, I pulled on my long sleeve, laced shoulder shirt over my head; black denim jeans on my legs; and converse shoes on my feet that are totally 2006. I can't help my sentimental heart still trying to keep that style alive. I went back to my bedroom and closed the door. Then, I stepped in front of my mirror.

I picked up a brush to brush my shoulder-length and inky black hair, letting it cover one eye. I set the brush down and looked at my acne scars. Hmm... If only you'd disappear. I looked into my amber-ish brown eyes. It flashed red for a second. I gasped and wiped my eyes. Why do they turn red like that? That's so odd. Rarely, they would flash. The incidents only occur when I'm angry or thinking about something... horrible. That same nightmare... I. It's only that freaky right eye. I blinked a few times, then peered back into the mirror. I scanned my pale tawny skin, which glowed from the daylight coursing through glass windows. I did it to see if I still had the effect of glare lingering in my eyes after rubbing them so hard. I painted on my black eyeliner after the glare was gone. Once everything was done, I headed downstairs to the kitchen. I stood at the archway of the dining room. Adriana spotted me - she sits at the table, reading an old grey book.

I greet, "Good morning, mom," then goes to the kitchen! While I cooked eggs, I started to snap my mother out of the reading trance

Adriana, distracted still, drawled, "Good morning. How did you... sleep?"

"I slept better than usual I guess," I answered, projecting my voice, "Less nightmares than the last few weeks, so..."

"That's good. That's..." Adriana wandered away again.

I notice and then smirk, amused. With the egg sandwich, I walked to the dining table to eat.

I try to snap my mother out of the trance again for my own enjoyment. "What are you reading this time?" Quickly, I take a small bite of my sandwich so I could still talk.

"60 Shades of Soot," She answered

"Ugh..." I grunt in disgust.

Adriana looked up at me confused. "What? I love the book. The movie barely did justice and you used to be obsessed with Half-Light with that female lead not even..."

Adriana and Catalina in unison, "... knowing that wolves and vampires were natural enemies perfect for killing each other."

Adriana laughed, "Yeah. That was the biggest thing that upset you."

I smiled and nodded, "Yeah... true. But the two guys were cool though. Mr. Sootworth is just creepy. I mean, looking into my bank account? Now if I did something wrong, he could bankrupt me. I would not be, Angie."

Adriana waves her hand, brushing off what Catalina said. Catalina laughs and then finishes her food.

I finish my sandwich, giving my now smiling mom space to read. "Well, I'll take my leeeave for school now. Stay normal."

Adriana rose her right eyebrow. "What the hell is a normal mother, Cati?"

I blink and then daze at my mom... "True - true... Welp! Later!"

Mom chuckled and then remembered something, "Oh! Sweetie! Your granny and I are working on a hiking trip! We will talk about it after school, 'kay? I love you, sweetie!"

We quickly hug. I waved and ran out the front door. Before the door closed...

My mother yelled, "DON'T BE TOO REBELLIOUS!"

"Mom and these damn teenager stories," I gnarled through my teeth.

Shaking my head, I closed the door behind me. I entered my 2015 Honda Fit my mom gave me for my birthday last year. It was pretty awesome that she gave me this gorgeous gift. I don't normally celebrate my birthday, which made it all the more special. After the... attack, I couldn't. I drove off to Forks High School. During my drive, I watched the area and people pass by my car windows. Time reached the moment I'd finally pulled up in the Forks High School's parking lot and found a spot. Nevertheless, I did not know that this very moment was where my epic began.