****2 Years Later in The Human Realm****
I was bouncing on my toes as I waited for my team mate to pass me the baton. I was already at a pretty slow pace in order for her to be able to hand it over to me.
“Please, Rose. Hurry!” My teammate pleaded with me.
I gave her a reassuring smile as I got the baton in my hands and began to run. My mind focused on my own path. As soon as the wind hit my face, nostalgia suddenly hit me and I feel as if I was running in a different with different people. One was a red-head and the other one was a brunette.
Despite the crowd in the background, all I could hear were the cheers of these two imaginary men.
‘Go on, Rose. You can do it.’ The brunette boy cheered as the redhead followed.
‘He’s going to be pissed if you’re late.’
As always, the two figures would run faster, and not wanting to be left behind, I would always double my speed. It’s like having this sort of traumatic feeling that I don’t want to be left alone.
Or I don’t want them to leave me.
“Rose! Two more people. Keep up!” I could hear my team cheering for me, but I wasn’t running for them anymore.
I was running for the feeling.
This sort of event happens occasionally whenever I run. I don’t know how to explain this type of phenomenon but it just sort of does.
Then, as always, whenever I neared the finish line, I would always see a dark silhouette waiting for me. His arms would cross over his chest and his head would tilt cockily to the side.
‘Hurry up, you dumb blonde.’ I could hear him whisper in the wind.
I have no idea who he was or why my feet would automatically move faster wherever I get a vision of him. Especially when I see the figure extending out his hand as if to reach me.
I did the same as my hand automatically reached out to the man. And just before our fingers would touch, the vision would end.
And I was back in the real world once again.
Suddenly, my team huddled around in a group hug as they began to cheer. “You did it, Stan! The first time that our university actually won the relay race!”
I looked around me as saw the ribbon from the finish line just by my feet.
Right. We won I guess. I know I should be thrilled, but winning never mattered to me. Especially not after every vision I get.
“Rose? Why are you crying?” Sherley, one of our teammates asked.
Natasha, our coach, laughed. “It’s normal. She always cries after she runs.”
I immediately whipped the tears off of my ears as I looked at my team. “Of course I am crying. Who wouldn’t? We won, right?” I forced myself to smile in order to look happy.
For the last 2 years, it’s all that I have been doing. Fake a smile like nothing bothers me.
And I have actually become pretty good at it.
****
“Rose, are you sure that you won’t be coming to the victory party?” Miranda, our team captain, asked when she saw me starting to pack up my bag.
Sherley glanced at me. “Seriously, Rose. We understand that you have a curfew but it’s not like your parents are here, right?”
At her comment, Miranda nudged her with her shoulder before looking at me. “Rose, you pulled our team out of a pinch again. We know that you and your sister are still wary of this town but we could really help you out.”
I pursed my lips before smiling and giving her an apologetic look. “Sorry, captain. Maybe next time.”
“I wonder how many ‘next time’ that is,” Sherley says and then caught herself when she saw me flinch. “Wait, I’m sorry, Rose.”
“It’s fine,” I told her with a shrug of my shoulder. “I’ll see you guys on Monday.” I didn’t wait for them to respond as I hurriedly made my way out of the gym. Before I closed the door, I heard our coach scolding Sherley for saying something unnecessary.
I couldn’t help but feel bad and guilty that I keep on blowing them off for a get-together.
“Trouble with your team again?” I looked back as saw my sister waiting for me at the gate with her arms crossed and flipped her hair behind her back.
“Hey, you. How’s school? Did you get the scholarship?”
Stella pulled something out of her bag. It was a white envelope with the stamp of the school that she applied to. “I’m going to Waynard High. I swear, the new owner of the school just adores me already.”
I stifled a laugh as Stella and I started to walk side by side to our apartment. “How exactly can you say that she adores you?”
“She wants me to call her ‘aunt’.” She chuckled. “Weird, right?”
At her words, I frowned. “Yeah. It definitely weird. Is she like that to all of her students?”
Stella wondered and when I looked at her, I still could not believe how she has grown. She’s currently 12 and was now about to catch up to my height real quick.
Stella shook her head. “No. She told me that I reminded her of her husband who passed away. She says he died protecting their child.”
“Wow. Sorry to hear that.” I mumbled.
“Amy?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you really have no recollection of...the things that happened to you during those years? Or even a hint of where we’ve been?” She started staring off into space again.
“No. I don’t.” I answered her truthfully.
Five years ago she was just 7 and it also around that time that I went missing. Three years after that and Stella went missing as well. And around 4 months later and we were found. Just sleeping in our rooms as nothing happened.
3 years and physically I looked the same as the time I simply vanished. At least according to my parents.
And on this exact day marks the 5th year anniversary of when I first disappeared. Strange coincidence but I had stranger things happen to me.
What happened to Stella and I after we disappeared and reappeared became the talk of the town after that. And we just could not live normally with all the weird looks and whispers that would emerge as soon as people saw us. Reporters tried to juice us with stories and details that Stella and I couldn’t provide.
All the interrogations weren’t helping with our recovery process because every time that we would leave our therapist, people would swarm us and we constantly have to cover our faces just so it won’t spread to the media. Other posts that those get our photo were legally sued.
But as much as they tried to force us to remember, all that we can say was that it just feels like we were waking up from a dream. That’s it.
Eventually, our family decided to leave and start a new life. And right now, our parents sent us to a small town where we could start fresh. No one knew us and people here rarely talk about things outside of their area.
I know that I should try and enjoy my fresh start in this new place, but still, I lost three freaking years of my life! Do you think that two years will be enough for me to forget all about it?
NO!
I looked at my sister. “Are you cold? Do you want to borrow my varsity jacket?” I offered when I saw her shivering slightly at the cold wind tonight. She was only wearing jeans and a very thin shirt.
She shook her head. “N-No!” She denied. “I like the cold, Amy.” She says.
“Like my ass. You’re shivering. Just take it!”
“I said no!” Now she raised her voice at me. “Please, okay? I just...I just want to feel the cold again.”
Here it is again. Another one of those strange behaviors that we acquired. Five years ago, before I disappeared, I was weak and slow. Now, I was pretty athletic and have this strange habit of sleeping while hugging two plushies with me.
The same goes for Stella. She has become interested in science and even joined the tennis club for her fast reflexes.
Sometimes, I wonder if those theories back in our old hometown that we were abducted by aliens and experimented on were true. If that were the case, then we should at least have a bit of recollection about it.
My fingers blindly touched the red necklace that has been on my neck these past couple of years. Stella noticed it.
“You’re still wearing that?”
“Yeah.” I said. To be honest, I don’t know where I got it but I just can’t seem to even get rid of the jewelry.
It is the only one that I refuse to take off. Ever.
As we reached our apartment building, I suddenly stopped as I was craving for something unhealthy. “Stella, do you want to go to the convenience store and buy some cup noodles with me? I’ll pay.”
Stella scrunched up her face at me and pursed her lips. “You’ll pay whatever I get, right?” She grinned.
“Really? Stella, you’re going to scam me again, aren’t you?”
“Come on. I got a scholarship. At least we should celebrate a bit?” She pleaded.
I let out a sigh. “Alright. Fine.”
Stella and I went to the convenience store just beside our apartment. My sister volunteered to go inside and buy our food while I go and reserve us some seat outside of the store.
As I waited for my sister, I can’t help but feel that someone was lurking in the shadows just behind the store.
I fixed my gaze at that spot and kept glancing worriedly at Stella. As I said, this was a pretty small town. Murders and kidnappings often happen here.
That was why Stella and I had a curfew that we set ourselves to. After all, we didn’t want to become a victim of yet another kidnapping.
My eyes left the spot when I saw a couple of guys coming out of the store while holding cans of beer. From the looks of hit, they were already drunk. One of them met my gaze and I immediately cursed and looked away.
At the corner of my eyes, I saw them whispering to each other as they headed my way. I pulled out my phone and texted Stella to buy more food in the store to keep her busy. Whatever was going to happen, I don’t her to get involved in this.
“Hi, miss.” One of them hiccuped and came close enough that I could already smell alcohol from his breath. “Who are you talking to?”
“No one,” I answered as I hid my phone in my bag and kept a stern look on my face. “May I help you?”
The two men exchanged a wicked grin. They both look young, like a couple of high schoolers if I presume.
I’m already in college but because of THAT weird phenomenon, I still look young.
“Actually, miss. We’re a bit lost and drunk. We need someone to help us get back to our place.”
“Get a cab.” I told them.
“But cab drivers look scary. We need a pretty face like yours to make us feel safe. Besides, our place is very warm.” The other one said.
I scrunched up my face in disgust as I realized what they were hinting at. I badly wanted to beat them up into a pulp so they would leave me alone. But being a troubled girl who’s still struggling to start a new life, I don’t think starting a fight would do me any good.
“I’m busy,” I said and made an emphasis when I started to ignore them.
The two suddenly cackled. “She’s shy! Here, missy, allow me to help you up to your feet.” One of them grabbed my hand and started to pull me up.
“Hey!” I let out a protest and glared at them.
Alright fine. I don’t care about my reputation. If anyone asks, this was self-defense!
At least that was my plan, but before I could even do anything, another stranger came and grabbed the guy’s hand that was holding my arm. I could not see his face because he was wearing a black hoodie that he pulled over his head.
“I don’t think peasant like you have the right to touch her.” He says and then I heard a sickening snap as he dislocated the guy’s wrist.