ZEN
The morning sun cast long shadows across the room, its light barely reaching the corners where darkness still lingered. Zen stood at the window, her mind racing with questions that seemed to have no answers. Noah's presence was like a puzzle she couldn't solve, each piece more baffling than the last.
She turned to look at Noah, who was still sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes vacant but unsettlingly aware. His silence was a heavy weight, pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe. She needed to understand, to find the truth hidden behind his enigmatic eyes.
"Noah," she said softly, trying to keep her voice steady, "I need to know what happened. I need to know why Aunt Sarisa left you here, why she... why she took her own life."
Noah's gaze shifted to her, but he remained silent, his expression unreadable. Zen felt a surge of frustration. How could she get through to him? How could she make him understand the urgency of her need for answers?
She took a deep breath and decided to start with the basics. "I'm going to look through Aunt Sarisa's things," she said, more to herself than to Noah. "Maybe there's something there that can help us understand."
Noah didn't respond, but Zen felt his eyes on her as she left the room and headed to the attic where Aunt Sarisa had kept her personal belongings. The attic was dusty and cluttered, filled with boxes and old furniture covered in sheets. Zen felt a pang of nostalgia as she looked around, remembering the times she had played here as a child.
She started with the boxes closest to the entrance, opening them one by one and sifting through their contents. Old photographs, letters, and mementos filled the boxes, each item a piece of Aunt Sarisa's life. Zen carefully examined each one, looking for any clues that might explain the mystery surrounding Noah and Aunt Sarisa's death.
Hours passed, and Zen was beginning to lose hope when she found a small, locked box at the bottom of one of the larger crates. The box was old and ornate, its surface covered in intricate carvings. Zen's heart raced as she realized this could be the key to unlocking the secrets she sought.
She took the box downstairs, determined to find a way to open it. Noah watched her silently as she searched for something to break the lock. Finally, she found a small hammer and chisel in the kitchen drawer and carefully pried the lock open. The box creaked as it opened, revealing a collection of letters and a small, leather-bound journal.
Zen's hands trembled as she picked up the journal and opened it to the first page. The handwriting was familiar—Aunt Sarisa's. She began to read, her eyes scanning the pages for any mention of Noah or the events that had led to her aunt's tragic end.
The journal entries were a mix of daily musings and more personal reflections. Aunt Sarisa had written about her struggles with raising Noah, her fears and hopes for his future, and the darkness she had seen in him. Zen's heart ached as she read the words, feeling the weight of her aunt's pain and love.
Then, she found an entry that made her blood run cold.
"July 15th
I don't know how much longer I can keep this secret. Noah is not just my son; he is a part of something much darker, something I cannot control. The Dela Cruz legacy is a curse, one that I fear will consume him if I don't do something.
I have tried to protect him, to guide him, but the darkness within him is growing stronger. I see it in his eyes, in the way he looks at me. I fear for my life, and for his.
I have made arrangements to hide him, to keep him safe from the world and the world safe from him. But I know this is not a permanent solution. The darkness will find a way to escape, and when it does, I fear the consequences will be dire.
If you are reading this, Zen, know that I did everything I could to protect you and Noah. But some things are beyond our control. Remember that you are stronger than you think, and that you have the power to break the cycle.
With all my love, Aunt Sarisa."
Zen's hands shook as she closed the journal. The weight of Aunt Sarisa's words pressed down on her, filling her with a sense of dread. She looked at Noah, who was still sitting silently, his eyes now fixed on her.
"Is this why you can't speak?" Zen whispered, her voice barely audible. "Is the darkness within you so strong that it took your voice?"
Noah didn't answer, but his eyes seemed to darken, a flicker of something dangerous and primal lurking beneath the surface. Zen felt a chill run down her spine. She knew she was getting closer to the truth, but the path ahead was fraught with danger.
Determined to find more answers, Zen turned her attention to the letters in the box. They were addressed to Aunt Sarisa from someone named Dr. Elias Mendoza, a psychiatrist who had apparently been treating Noah. The letters detailed Noah's sessions, his progress, and the doctor’s growing concerns about his mental state.
One letter, in particular, stood out.
"August 22nd
Dear Sarisa,
I regret to inform you that Noah's condition is worsening. Despite our best efforts, the darkness within him is growing stronger. He has become increasingly violent and unresponsive to treatment. I fear that he may pose a danger to himself and others.
I urge you to consider more drastic measures. There is a facility that specializes in cases like Noah's, where he can receive the care and supervision he needs. It is not an easy decision, but it may be the only way to ensure his safety and the safety of those around him.
Please contact me as soon as possible to discuss this further.
Sincerely, Dr. Elias Mendoza."
Zen's mind raced as she pieced together the fragments of information. Aunt Sarisa had tried to protect Noah, to keep him hidden from the world, but the darkness within him had been too strong. Dr. Mendoza's letters suggested that Noah's condition had been deteriorating, and that Aunt Sarisa had been desperate to find a solution.
But why had she chosen to hide Noah in the house instead of sending him to the facility? And why had she taken her own life?
Zen knew she needed to find Dr. Mendoza and get more answers. She quickly wrote down the address from the letter and decided to visit the doctor the next day. As she prepared to leave, she felt Noah's eyes on her, a silent plea for understanding.
"Noah," she said softly, "I'm going to find out what happened. I'm going to help you, I promise."
Noah's gaze remained fixed on her, his expression unreadable. Zen felt a surge of determination. She would uncover the truth, no matter how dark and terrifying it might be.
As she left the house and headed to her car, Zen couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. The shadows seemed to stretch and twist around her, whispering secrets she couldn't quite hear. She glanced back at the house, at the figure of Noah standing in the window, and felt a shiver run down her spine.
The drive to Dr. Mendoza's office was filled with unease. Every shadow along the road seemed to harbor hidden eyes, every rustle of leaves a whisper of something lurking just out of sight. Zen's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her heart pounding in her chest.
When she finally arrived, the building was unassuming, a small, brick structure nestled between larger, more modern buildings. She took a deep breath and walked inside, her determination renewed.
Dr. Mendoza was an older man, his face lined with years of experience and concern. He greeted Zen with a warm smile, but there was a tension in his eyes that set her on edge.
"Ms. Dela Cruz, it's a pleasure to meet you," he said, extending his hand. "I've been expecting you."
Zen shook his hand, her mind racing with questions. "Dr. Mendoza, I need to understand what happened to Noah. Why did Aunt Sarisa hide him instead of sending him here? And why did she... why did she take her own life?"
Dr. Mendoza's expression grew somber. He motioned for Zen to sit, taking a seat across from her. "Sarisa was a remarkable woman," he began, choosing his words carefully. "She loved Noah deeply, but she was also terrified of him. The darkness within him was something she couldn't control, something she feared would one day consume him—and possibly those around him."
Zen listened intently, her heart heavy with the weight of his words.
"Sarisa brought Noah to me when he was just a child," Dr. Mendoza continued. "Even then, I could see the darkness she spoke of. It was more than just behavioral issues; it was something primal, something I couldn't explain. We tried various treatments, but nothing seemed to help. Noah grew more violent, more detached."
He paused, his eyes reflecting a deep sadness. "Sarisa couldn't bear the thought of sending Noah away. She believed that by keeping him hidden, she could protect him and everyone else. But the strain of it all took a toll on her. She became increasingly paranoid and isolated."
"Why did she take her own life?" Zen asked, her voice trembling.
Dr. Mendoza sighed heavily. "I believe she felt there was no other way. She thought that by ending her life, she could break the cycle, free Noah from the curse she believed plagued him. It was an act of desperation, of love twisted by... fear."
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