03. The Sharp Pain

AMARA took the strap of her bag and placed it on her shoulder. She sighed while holding on her right hand the black tumbler and on her left hand was the map on the way to the mountain she planned to visit.

This is the day that she'll visit the mountain. That's why she woke up early to get ready. She was stretching a while ago to condition herself for later.

Amara sighed and closed her eyes. She knew that it would be dangerous to climb that mountain alone because she might encounter wild animals on her way to the top of the mountain. There's a big possibility that it will happen. No one will be able to help her.

But, Amara is so persistent to do it despite the danger that he was about to face. She doesn't know but something is really pulling her to that mountain.

There's another reason that she can't name why she wanted to reach the top of the mountain. It was as if someone or something was pushing her to do it. It's weird, of course. What is that? Well, it's for her to find out.

The truth is she wasn't able to sleep peacefully last night even though she already talked to her mother. She had a dream. A dream that is scaring her a bit. It's a woman that couldn't recognize her face. She was whispering words she couldn't even understand. The surrounding of the woman was dark like she was praying or something.

That's one of the reasons why she woke up early.

"Hey, wait up!" she shouted at the tricycle driver in front of her. The driver was about to go but she called his attention. She read in the information online that in order to reach the lower part of the mountain, you must ride a tricycle because a car couldn't make it since the road is not yet fully constructed.

The tricycle stopped. She saw the driver glanced at her. He was half naked and his chest was exposed. The only thing he's wearing is faded pants and a pair of sleepers.

Amara shook her head secretly at that sight. Really, huh? A man wearing nothing on top in a public place? Tss. It's not making her comfortable but the people here seem to not mind it.

"Ride on me, Miss Beautiful!" he said with full of malice in his voice. "It's good to ride my tricycle driver, you know!"

Amara's brow arched in a sudden irritation. She could sense that this man is emitting a pervert aura. It's still early and yet she was welcome with this kind of sight.

She shook her head in disappointment.

"Uh, no. It's still early. I'm waiting for someone, sorry." She lied to the tricycle driver.

"I'm not buying that, Miss! Come on! Ride here on my tricycle!"

"I said no--"

"Hey, Jopet!"

They both looked at the old man who had just arrived. He's riding her old green tricycle. This one looks more trusted than this man in front of her.

The malicious man scratched the back of his head as he glanced at the old man.

"O-Oh, hey, Grandfa Bernard! It's you!"

"I heard what you said to this lady here. It's still early and yet you're spouting nonsense already!"

"Huh? No, Grandpa! I was just friends with her. Right, Miss?" He looked at her like he was asking her to agree.

Instead of answering the man, she diverted her attention to the old man. "Can you lead me to my destination instead, Sir?"

The old man nodded. "Of course, my lady! You're from the city, right?"

"Yes, Sir. I'm from the city," Amara answered.

"Where are you going, Ma'am?" he asked with a smile on his lips.

"At the Mt. Destora, Sir. Can you take me there?"

The old man's smile faded when she mentioned the name of the mountain. She even heard the man named Joped beside her gasping. Why are they reacting this way? What's with that mountain?

"Why? Is there something wrong with what I said?" she asked with confusion.

The man named Jopet laughed awkwardly. "Oh, don't mind it, Miss Beautiful! Grandfa Bernard, you might as well take her there now!" it seems like he's dodging the topic, she could sense it.

Unlike Jopet, the old man's expression is serious. Amara shivered because of that.

"Don't go to that mountain, Ma'am. It's dangerous and you're also alone, right?" the old man asked. The coldness of his tone is evident.

"Yes, I'm alone but don't worry. I can handle myself. And if ever that I'll encounter wild animals--"

"It's not about the wild animals, Ma'am."

Amara got confused that made her brows furrowed a bit. "Then what is it?"

"No one was able to climb that mountain. Even the people here are not able to reach the top because of the rumor."

"What rumor, Sir?" she curiously asked.

The old man sighed as if he's in trouble explaining. "Just because. Just... stop what you're planning."

"Say it to me first why I can't climb that mountain," she challenged him and crossed her arms on her chest.

"Tell it to her, Grandfa Bernard. It seems like she won't stop until you tell her the reason. Why so persistent, Miss Beautiful?" Jopet said.

"It's because many people said that anyone who will climb that mountain will never go back--"

"Like what you said, it's just a rumor. It might be true, it also might not be true," she didn't let him finish what he's saying.

"Well, it's still your decision, Ma'am. I've done my part and warned you already but you're too stubborn to follow what I'm saying. But, nothing's wrong in believing, right?" the old man added. "But, fine. I will still take you there," he said.

Amara sighed and went inside the tricycle.

"WE'RE here, Ma'am," The old man informed her when they reached their destination.

Amara went out of the tricycle carefully. She looked at the surroundings and her mouth went agape. The photo from the internet wasn't a lie. There are plenty of trees here serving as protection from the sun's rays.

Amara nodded in satisfaction. This is a nice place.

"Ma'am, I gotta go now. Be careful, okay?"

"Yes, Sir. Thanks for taking me here," she said and handed her the money for her fare.

The old man shook his head. "Oh, no! That's yours, Ma'am. I really need to go now. My wife must be looking for me now."

"H-Huh? Okay, Sir! Be careful on your way. Thanks again!" She almost shouted as she placed her money in her pocket again.

The old man drives his tricycle away until Amara is alone.

And now, she's about to climb this mountain. She's hoping that it will go well.

IT WAS a deafening silence. That's the first thing that Amara notices when the sound of the tricycle from a while ago is gone. The only thing that she could hear was the sound of the leaves whenever she stepped on it. But that's not a big deal to her. Actually, she's liking it. She prefers silence to noise. That's maybe the reason why she rarely goes with her blockmates back in college to join their gimmicks and night lifes.

Other people might be afraid of this kind of silence but not her. In fact, silence comforts her.

"So, let's do it, self! You can reach the top of this mountain! You can do it!" she said to herself with a determined tone as she continued walking.

SHE'S really tired now. Amara's foot was aching because of the unending walking for hours. Her sweat is freely cascading from her forehead down to her neck. Even her back is now wet with her own sweat. She couldn't help but to sit on a big rock just to take some rest.

She drank on her tumbler but was disappointed when her water was now gone! Geez, she's that thirsty, huh? "Damn!" She almost shouted and looked for another bottle in her bag but she was disappointed again when she saw that it's now empty.

She removed her jacket because she felt sticky because of her sweat. She had been really wondering since a while ago. It was still dark around like when he arrived earlier. It seems like the sun's rays are not really abundant here.

She glanced at her wrist watch and read the time. It's already twelve noon! She didn't even notice the time. At this time, the sun should be up already but no. Amara was stunned a bit.

Why is it like this? She gasped as an idea popped in her mind.

Is it possible that maybe a fairy is playing with her? Or maybe a dwarf? That's possible because basically, she's in the middle of the forest!

She felt the hairs on her skin saluted with that idea. That's scary.

But, she shook her head. Nothing will happen if she'll let her scary mind play with her system. She will reach the top of this mountain no matter what.

"FINALLY! I'M here! I'm here now at the top of the mountain! Goodness, this is great!" she shouted when she finally reached the top. The view is awesome from where she is standing. It's breathtaking.

She removed her bag from her shoulder and leaned on a huge root of a tree. It's very tiring but it's worth it. She looked for a better place where the sun rays could reach it. It's not that hot but it's perfect for her since she sweated too much and fresh air is what she needed right now.

She took a rest for a while. Minutes had passed when she decided to stoop up again.

Now is the perfect time.

She closed her eyes and then placed both of her palms at the side of her cheeks and ready herself to shout everything she wanted to say at her ex.

"Damn you, Alex! You're an asshole for breaking my heart! May you rot in hell together with your ugly new girlfriend! Just damn you! You don't deserve my virginity, idiot!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. Her voice echoed in the whole place like it would wake up the dead buried six feet under the ground.

After that, her toes suddenly turn into jelly and it seems like all her energy has gotten out of her system. She fell into a deep slumber without her notice.

HELIOS was alarmed when he noticed a presence of a stranger inside his territory. Even the book that he's reading fell on the floor because of that stranger who had the guts to enter his turf.

"Who the fuck is that?" he asked to himself with a threatening voice. He stood up from the rattan chair and clenched his jaw.

He suddenly felt livid and his eyes turned to red. His calm aura is now in rage. The color black veins on her arms came out even on his neck. He tried to calm himself and turn his palm into fist to avoid these long nails to come out as well.

He's confused right now. For the long years that he's been locked up inside this place, it seems like he suddenly couldn't control his system. It feels like something strange inside him woke up. He can't explain that feeling. It's been so long.

Using his unusual speed, he tried to locate where that presence was coming from that he felt a while ago. When he got out of the mansion where he's staying, his breathing became fast and heavy.

The presence that he felt is unusual. It's a... human.

A human that has a very fragrant blood.

It wasn't hard for him to find that human. His brows furrowed when he felt the blood on his veins run so fast like it was excited or something. His head is like spinning because of the smell of blood that is attacking his nostrils.

And then he saw a woman.

The woman was standing where there was light coming from the sun rays. While staring at the woman's back, he became calm all of a sudden. The flow of his blood on his vein turns to normal now.

He hid himself at the back of a tree trunk. He observed the woman's next move would be.

"Damn you, Alex! You're an asshole for breaking my heart! May you rot in hell together with your ugly new girlfriend! Just damn you! You don't deserve my virginity, idiot!"

And Helios can't help but to smirk at that sight.

Why is he reacting this way towards that woman? A human, huh...

He gasped secretly when suddenly, the woman fell on the ground.

"The hell," he muttered when he failed to catched the woman in his arms.

He was so stunned that he forgot to use his speed. The heck is happening to him? He shook his head in disappointment.

AMARA woke up and felt like she was floating or something. It feels like she was a newly born baby and being carried by her mother. She can't help but close her eyes again because of that nice feeling. She could even smell the nice scent of the one who's carrying her.

After a couple of minutes or so, something soft ther back. She wanted to open her eyes but she's still sleepy because of the scent that she's smelling.

But she tried. She tried to open her eyes and look for this unfamiliar man who was carrying her right now. But to her disappointment, it's blurry because she's really sleepy.

She was a bit shocked when she felt something cold caress her cheeks. She can't help but to moan in delight because of that nice feeling.

"W-What..." she whispered but unable to complete what she was about to say. This is a man. She's sure of that because of the roughness of his palm.

"I never knew that a beautiful woman would come to my territory," she heard a husky voice coming from the man. "Should I believe that witch now?"

She barely saw the man but she saw how he dipped his head on her neck. She absentmindedly looked up just to give him some access that he wanted. She doesn't know what is happening to her. It seems like her body has its own decision to do everything for her. But why does her body react this way towards this stranger?

She gasped when she felt something wet on her neck. Is that his tongue?

"Hmm," she hummed. And after that, she felt another sharp object playing and teasing that sensitive part of her neck. The next thing that she did shocked her. She raised her hand and gently caressed the head of this stranger busy feasting on her neck! Goodness, what is happening to her?!

"Damn, you're fragrant. I just want a taste, honey."

Seconds passed and Amara's sleeping soul woke up when she felt the sharp objects are now buried on her neck. She shouted in pain.