Chapter Eleven: Curiosity kills... if you're not smart enough

Matthew P.O.V.

Some say love can bring you to all four corners of the world, but I say curiosity does. I know that my decision is stupid and reckless if I want a normal life, but that's just the thing. I don't have a normal life, the moment I was born into this world I was already different from the rest.

To me, a happy and complete family is something I could never have. Don't get me wrong, I would like to have one but it's impossible. I long for something, but I know that is not it, I just have no idea what yet.

That is why I'm doing this and I won't back down, not now, not ever.

OOOOO

The night grew cold and snores filled the entire city. (Not literally… just a hyperbole… it's just really late at night) I slipped out of bed and tiptoed all the way to the door.

As soon as I twisted the door knob and pulled on it, every inch made it squeak, and every squeak would pierce through the silence and echo throughout the entire room and stab at my poor precious heart.

I hate it!!! I have always hated creaking doors and that one especially.

"Huh?... Whatcha doing?"

I turned around to see Albert sitting up from his bed while rubbing his eyes. "Oh God Whyyy!!!" was the only thought that went through my mind. I quickly but silently walked over to him and thought about what I should do.

"It's nothing Albert, just going to the comfort room. Go back to bed."

"Alright, but you should sing me a lullaby mom. You never do it anymore?"

What? Mom? He's still sleeping. . . Chance!

"…Alright then. What do you want me to sing?"

"The song you always sing."

This sort of creeps me out… I mean, you could almost never imagine him like this during the day. I guess he really is younger than me, almost like I have my own little brother… except he called me mom.

And how am I supposed to know the song she always sings to you?! Why couldn't you just be normal and say the title in case I actually knew it?! For a moment I didn't know what to do, until a memory appeared in the back of my mind. Replaying before my eyes as if I was really there, as if these memories were my own. And I begun to sing.

"A gentle breeze from Hushabye Mountain

Softly blows over Lullaby bay

It fills the sails of boats that are waiting

Waiting, to sail your worries away

It isn't far to Hushabye Mountain

And your boat waits down by the key

The winds of night, so softly are sighing

Soon they will fly your troubles to sea

So close your eyes on Hushabye Mountain

Wave goodbye, to cares of the day

And watch your boat from Hushabye Mountain

Sail far away from Lullaby Bay"

. . . Holy mother! It actually worked! But how did that vision. . . Nevermind. I guess it's one of the strange things that happens to me all the time. After staying still for a few seconds to make sure he is asleep, I head to the door and make my way out.

I head down, alone, in the dark hallways not even sure where to go.

Walking farther and farther away, I come upon an area of the hallway that was lit with a faint dim orange glow coming from a window beside a shut door. Just my luck, but at least the door was closed.

I crouched down and went closer, crawling just bellow the window pane. I was about to pass through unnoticed when curiosity got the best of me and I peeked through the glass. I meet eye to eye with the father. Immediately I ducked down hoping the impossible, that he didn't actually see me.

Shoot! I should not have peeked. I should not have looked! Why was he even looking directly out the window as If he already knew someone was already there? Was I too loud?

I turned around ready to leave until my forehead bumped into something or rather someone. I fell on my butt and couldn't help but glance up to get a better look at this person. I was fully expecting it to be father, exiting the door but it was just a little girl.

She looked like a little girl, or at least she would be if it wasn't for the gash straight across her face just below grey murky eyes that had some sort of devils' crest around her pupils, and reptile-like skin.

I don't know why but everything about this just made me want to scream and run away. Could it be because of the murderous look in her eyes that glared upon my stupidity? Or her scales reflecting the little amount of moonlight that bounced off her. . . scales. hmmm. It was probably. . . All of the above! I was about to turn and run before that brunette hair of hers that a few seconds before, just fell down in waves down to her waist, now wrapped me up like a newly smocked sweet potato.

I couldn't even breath let alone move, and only one thought circulated my head. "Am I gonna die?"

No I don't want to die! I can't die! Not yet!!!

I felt tears escape my eyes before everything was clouded black. A loud shriek echoed through my ears as the once suffocating feeling I had disappeared. My back was getting hotter and hotter before feeling it getting ripped in half.

"Help me. – S-Someone, please stop it! - Please! - It hurts! It hurts!" I was able to make out between breaths.

My eyes opened to a world once again filtered in red. The little girl that tried to suffocate me was no longer there, in her stead was the father holding some sort of weapon in the shape of a cross, looking at me with murderous eyes, but I couldn't care less.

I clasped on his clothing with both hands, feeling my fingertips go numb the same time as a scourging pain ran through my left eye. The look in his eyes did not change but I definitely felt the murderous intent lessen.

He knelt down, laying down his gigantic cross, and holding up my chin. I hear his last few words before passing out into exhaustion.

"What are you?"

OOOOO

That morning I woke up in a white room, chained to the wall, my feet hanging about 2-3 feet in the air, and my back heavier than ever.

Slowly I tried to move my fingertips which felt like lifting ten tons. on each finger, then noticed that the chains weren't the only things attached to me. There were tubes sticking out on my entire body. I tugged on my hands, attempting to get free but the only thing that did was ___ the chains.

"Who are you really? If you want to live it would be wise to answer my question." A low and familiar voice said.

I looked around the room to see who did all this. It was a man about 5.8-6 ft. in height with curly orange hair dressed in similar clothing to the fathers. I blinked my eyes to get a clearer look on his face only to see a fast object slash across my stomach making me shout in pain.

"I ask you again! Who and what are you?!"

I close my eyes before the next hit came that definitely bruised my left cheek.

"How am I supposed to answer if you hit me before I could?!" I shouted at the top of my lungs pissed off at how he acted and treated me.

Every single thing just made me want to scream; aside from the major cuts and bruises throughout my entire body, being tied up in chains, tubes sticking out here and there, and a feeling of being crushed underneath boulders, a killer headache!

I just wanted him to shut up already!

"Well then, who are you and what do you want." He pointed his weapon at my chest threatening to cut me again if I refused.

"I know! How about we play a game. I answer your question and you answer mine. However I will lie once, the rest would be the truth. If you can tell me which lie I made then you win. Oh yeah, and you have to tell the truth."

"Alright then but what do I get if I win?"

"if you win I will… follow your every order for the rest of my life as a slave. If I lose you set me free and never bother with me again. So can you open the door?"

"Fair enough."

He walked over to the door and unlocked it. leaving it wide open as well.

"And… *I shackled my chains* would you mind letting me go? I promise I wont try to escape now."

He nodded his head and proceeded to remove the cuffs from my neck, waist, wrists and ankles; afterwards, removing all the 'medical' tubes from my arms and legs. I rubbed my wrist hoping to get rid of the lingering feeling of being held up for so long.

"Alright then, Where is this place?"

"Just beside the church, its hidden by the forest. What is your real name?"

"I don't have one. Mathew was the first name I thought of, no reason in particular. Why did you bring me here all chained up hanging on the celling?"

"I thought it would be better to prevent a Ghoul from wreaking havoc again."

"What is a Ghoul?!"

"Nu-u-uh~ it's my turn." He said while pointing his finger to his mouth.

"And it seems you are not a ghoul so what are you?"

"That my question."

"Then shall we disregard that?"

"Sure. Since both parties have no clue. Well then my turn."

"What? No its mine!"

"No it's not your question was if we would disregard the last one." I heard him tsk then gestured for me to continue.

"You already know. What is a ghoul?"

"Were not sure but we believe they are corpses brought back to life with extra inhuman body parts who serve a witch. We usually exorcise them using our Valances but it didn't work on you. Why were you in that village?"

"I lived there for all I could remember. In the windmill. Why did you say i wasn't a ghoul?"

"Ghouls would somehow already know that they are. You asked what they were, it erases the possibility since you would just be wasting a chance. So why were you in that village?"

"I live there, or at least used to. Do you know anything about this key?" I put my hand in my pocket and took out the key Rege gave me.

"No. There were no records of you in the village. Why?"

"I lived in the windmill. Who ordered this?"

"No one 'ordered' this. Why did you live in the windmill?"

"Tch... I think it has something to do with our village's legend. The Chief or something fell in love with a witch who his people burned on the stake. The chief or something cursed his village to die the same way they killed his love and left, later on the village turned into a city of crimson, that even the sky turned red. They say the witch also put a plague on them but no one knows exactly what it is, some say she had a child who would soon bring suffering onto the village once more, others say… well… the entire thing never happened."

"I see… and you are that child?"

"Hey! It's my turn, but… I don't know. My brother said that the elders abandoned me because when we were born, the sky was red and that I didn't cry. A bunch of crap if you ask me. "

"Well then it's your turn."

"Is there anything else you would like to know?"

He looked confused for a bit then shook his head and finally spoke after a few seconds.

"What is your lie?" He smiled and I as well.

"You're quite smart father."

"Then it's my win?"

"Maybe."

"Why is that? If you answer my question then I would know your lie and won."

"Tell me father. How would you know that my last answer would not be the lie?"

"Because if I asked if you were a boy, you would have to lie and answer no."

"And you are correct. I have already lied once."

"Then it's my win."

I laughed at the thought that he never figured it out. But also glad that I was able to keep my calm. My hands were sweating like mad.

"Alright then Father, shall I tell you my lie?"

"Go."

"if you win, I will follow your every order for the rest of my life as a slave. Good bye father." I gave a last smile then rushed towards the door glad that I was free.