52: Annabelle

"Don't make me a healer!"

Ms. Tough said as she slam the medical kit in front of me. It has the bandages I need and the juice of the mashed medicinal plant. I'm sure the application feels twinge.

I'm sitting on the bed, wounded but still lucky not a vital part was damaged; except my head, just a little.

"I told yah! I told yah! If I didn't informed Tough about your moronic decision then you're dead! You're suppose to be dead! Dead!"

Sermon will not heal my wounds so I move on my own to mend my body, then the girl earlier volunteered to nurse me. She sat beside me and applied the cure firstly to my pierced palm.

All the kids before remained on the living room.

"That lady... her name is Annabelle, the god of fear," I listen to Ms. Tough's message. "Her presence, her breath and shadow is enough to scare someone. And if her victim was blinded by fear, she's evolving stronger. Even if her victim are more step away from her, once she sense the fear she could get closer to her prey and kill them."

"A god? Seriously I thought gods are suppose to help, then why is she torturing them?! I've seen that case before and I really abhorred it!"

Poc was pertaining to Ino.

"Not all gods used their bestowed gift in righteousness. Others use it for revenge, just like her. She lost her love ones and even herself through torture. And now she's doing the same to others to convey her pain. When you are weak, you're humble. Trying to be kind. But when you received your might, pride lures you and use that power for selfishness. That is Annabelle."

All of a sudden, my fear towards her vanished. What I feel now is pity.

"We barely made an escape back there. I distracted the perfect function of those kids' brains to cast away their emotions, their fear. And as for that old woman, I made a temporal void in her Occipital to blind her, then... ran."

After her story, she stood up and pressed her finger on my head. That hurts!

"What presumed you to make a step in that place?!"

"I-I thought you can predict the answer-"

"If Asnoed didn't came there for reinforcement then you're dead!"

"That's okay! He's still alive, right?" said the girl nursing me. "We shouldn't think for negative things if the scenario had past. And besides, he rescued my people... and I can't do anything but run," she's smiling despite of the pain in her voice. Ms. Tough came back to her seat.

Both of my arms are wrapped even the wound in my leg. She's now coating the wound on my head and cheek with the cure; the soreness triggers.

I'm wincing a little. While looking at her, she's reminding me of a very familiar aura. I can sense it. Like she's been together with someone I knew. When she noticed my stare, she stammered.

"Ah! Y-Yeah! I forgot to... introduce myself! My name is Jenie! Not to brag but... I am a princess in the kingdom of Magi. I made an investigation with the missing kids so I came outside our borders and found them, I was lucky enough to ask help from you... Thank you very much!"

Magi? I know that. But I can't remember exactly how meaningful it is to me.

"No... not just him, thanks to all of you, beautiful lady, the... robot? And for you Mr. Gnome!"

"What?! Don't call me that! I don't like it! I am Po- Snitchie! Snitchie!"

"Done!" she had finished nursing me. "I don't need to stay here longer... even if I want to know you guys. But this isn't my territory so... we're leaving. I'm sure my father is worried about me."

She's so cheerful. Unlike before, too much demure bear false image to her. She left the room together with Poc and I looked at Ms. Tough with her odd, reluctant face.

"She's interested in you," she told me.

"How did you- of course you'll know." but that doesn't matter. "Ms. Tough... I'm sorry. I just wanted to do something."

She stood up and smashed my stomach. I twined in pain and laid on the bed.

"You made me worried. Next time, I will be the one who'll bury you."

"Really? Well if that's what the prophecy says," I teased her.

"I don't care about that," she sat beside me.

"About Annabelle," I started. "What if Queen Aronah is the same to Annabelle? They have that bleak that binds their kindness. My father told me, no one was born evil; they're made."

"I can't tell. I haven't seen that Queen in person."

"Then I better know it myself. Maybe she have her own reasons," I said.

Ms. Tough is smirking at me. "And how are you suppose to do that?"

I nod twice slowly, "Overcome my fear." I fake a smile.

"So you finally gave yourself some motivation to continue your journey." She walk away, but before she leave the room, she left me a message, "In other phrases, you want to help them."

She knew exactly my current mood and desire. I hope this remains.

"One more thing. I like your smile, specially if it's real," then she smiled and left.

I realized, they're aren't just training me to control these eyes of awe. They want me to reveal my long-gone nature.

Despite of my stagger, I walk and stood above the threshold, watching the kids leaving with their smiling faces. Waving their goodbyes for us.

"Alright! Just leave now! Shoo!" said Poc. And his hospitality amuses me.

When Jenie saw me, she came back and lend me a necklace.

"Take it! My father made it for me, but he can make me another one!" I want to decline. "That's my offer for gratitude!" she said and insisted. I took it to show my appreciation. She's grinning.

"See you next time!" then they left the house.

Ms. Tough stood beside me, watching their backs.

"I think they need escort. What if Annabelle abducted them again?"

"They'll be safe," she said. I can't feel any anxiety for the kids from her face. Perhaps she had made her duty as a hero in legend.

※ ※ ※ ORC ※ ※ ※

Asnoed prepared our lunch today. I have a full plate in front of me but I haven't started to dig in. While Poc has smears of sauce around his mouth during his blatant munch.

I'm staring at the necklace, this isn't just an art work, it has conjuration inside. Ms. Tough joined me in the meal and place her plate on the table.

"Now what? An engagement necklace?!" said Poc then emits a great guffaw.

"There is no such thing, Poc," I said.

"It's not just an ordinary thing. It contains a godly amount of power."

"What kind of power?"

She didn't answered my question.

"Really?! Ugh! I want that kind of present too! Ugh! I hope someone will give the same treasure to me!" so I gave it to him and how great was his joy. "Aaaahh! Thank you! Thank you very much!! I love it!"

He loosed the lace and made the tiny white pearl an earring, just like he did to the brooch back in the beach.

When I took a bite to the curry, I remembered out of the blue about that Magi! I wanted to scream 'Ah!' but yet I choke! I was able to recover when Asnoed offer me a glass of water.

"I knew it! That Magi! That is the place I'm looking for my past 8 years!"

How could I forgot something important like that?

"Congratulations. I just erased your memories about that kingdom for you to forget it."

"You're kidding me! Then what for?"

"If you came with that girl, then you'll neglect your duty here."

"You mean my training? Aw you're so strict!" I bump the back on the chair.

"What... you're sulking?!" Poc asked me.

"Also to avoid further nuisance, I made her forget to ask your name," she added.

"Then, if I've finished this training I can go there?!"

"If. Also, you have to find that girl to lead you there."

If I've finished this... then I have to. I was persuaded even more to control this rampaging power. For now, I know Ms. Tough is hindering something in my nerves to stop the rage. And so, after the meal, she and I came outside the house, on top of the brink again to refresh some weariness. Apparently, I can't keep my eyes away from the hill where the circus hides.

"The death of your mother was traumatic, because you've witnessed it."

"I was thinking about my father too, if he's alive or not. I haven't seen them for years, and the last time I talked to him was... was the birthday celebration of the kingdom's princess, Jex. That morning he have to leave home early for the occasion's-"

"I have to leave home early for the occasion's preparation," he said.

I am standing if front of my father while him at the doorway. I have a complete face of pity this time. I don't want him to leave, I want more time to play with him. When he noticed my dismal, he knelt in front of me, matching my height. Then he scrub my hair gently like a dog.

"Don't lose your smile! I'll be back early today so we could celebrate together with the town! And besides, the Princess is one of your friends. Why don't you greet her or think of a present!"

That was his advice before he left the house, and he's still smiling at me.

The Princess' birthday celebration, this is the day of the tragedy. I was grievous when I perceived that! I chase him, I open the door immediately and I found him laying on his own blood. The kingdom is burning, Callions are hunting their own prey.

And not just one found my father, but many Callions devouring him. He's stretching forth his hand to me, asking for help.

However, am afraid.

My chest hurts again and I have to grab on the knob to maintain my stance. If I have the chance to save him this time, I'll surely take it! I run with my shaking toes and knees to get his hand.

I want to save my father. But, no matter how fast I run, I'm not getting closer to him. Until his arms broke. I thought I could lend him my hand, that was only my sweet delusion. I screamed in agony.

"Haris!"

I found myself gripping from pain and Ms. Tough calmed me, my rampage. I was worried when I saw her head bleeding. I lost my focus to that when the brink is falling. She pulled me somewhere firm and safe before the brink totally fell.

I made some eradication while I'm dreaming!

Ms. Tough managed to close her wound that gave me relief.

"I'm sorry. I failed again."

She took a deep breathe, "I simply shew you an incentive there. I hope you figured it out."

"You mean, you want me to tolerate my desire to help than my fear?"

"Indeed. Now, follow me."

She didn't just asked me to follow her, but she pulled me back inside the house, inside the room even if I'm crippling. She pushed me down to sit on the chair and, unexpectedly, bind me through blanket tight. Asnoed assisted Ms. Tough with the girding.

"What is this for?" The binding was fastened tightly! Not even my blood could circulate properly.

"You saw what happened before. Moreover, you're lucky enough that we don't have chain to use against you," she said. Poc is sleeping on the bed and Asnoed will be guarding me.

"Every now and then, I will stop pacifying your rage. The control depends on you now."

She pushed my forehead with her finger and my vision blurs and spins. I can see people, voices and a very familiar place. My training to escape my phobia continues.