Chapter 19

Scarlet ran as fast as her legs could take her, through the forest. It felt as if she has been running for long but she knew she couldn't stop. Her legs were taking her on its own to where she doesn't know. She felt the wind of the forest sweeping past her face as she ran even harder. After a while, she saw another world open up ahead of her and she saw a vast sea which spread out wide. The smell of salt hit her nose and she recognized it instantly. It was familiar and she knew she was finally getting close. 

She ran up a hill and took the narrow garden-like path and she kept running until she came to stand in front of a large house which was mightily rooted to the ground. Pushing open the iron bar gate with force, she went inside, running up the cobblestone and past the pillars and she burst through the medieval door.

She panted for air and looked around the place. It was filled with old paintings and much more older items like the scrolls she saw in the shelf and feather pen and it felt like she had ended up in another era. Scarlet did not know the reason she was there or how she even ended up there but she knew there was something waiting for her.

She darted her eyes to the side, to the sound of a piano playing a sinister music and she started walking towards it. Her feet took her to a passage and she could hear the music reverberating through the walls. It sent cold chills down her body and she kept following the sound until she got to another door.

Bracing herself for whatever it is that was waiting for her, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, and she stared ahead of her to see a person sitting with his back turned to her and his fingers moving along the piano keys.

The music finally ended with a slow tune that seem to take forever and Scarlet stared at the figure of the person before walking to the front. To her, the figure looks familiar starting from the head, but she does not really remember who it may be because he has his back turned to her, but the hair looks familiar…very familiar. She stopped when she got behind him and she slowly brought her hand forward to place it on his shoulder.

The person did not move or flinch away. It was as if he was expecting her.

The person then turned his body slowly to the side and he raised his head to look at her.

Scarlet quickly moved away from him and she held a shocked expression.

"Damien?" she called, surprised and fearful at the same time.

"I told you we would meet again," he said and smiled, revealing his perfect teeth.

Horror filled Scarlet's face when she saw that behind those perfect teeth, there are fangs. It was long and sharp and she screamed out immediately when he jumped on her and sank his teeth deep into her neck.

Scarlet woke up with a scream and held her neck, breathing heavily and looking all around her, perplexed. She recognized the room she was in and the order of things in it. It was hers and she was in her bed. Finally, she realized she had been dreaming and she pushed her hair backwards with her hand before letting out a relieved sigh.

From the corner of her eyes, she saw what seem to be the reflection of the moonlight and she suddenly felt cool breeze on her skin which sent goosebumps down her body. Moving her head to the side, she saw the curtain parted and the window left opened. 

She got down from her bed and walked to it, staring outside and wondering if she had left it open or if her mother had been in her room. It was still dark outside and everywhere was dead silent. When she moved her eyes to the side, she suddenly froze when she saw the black raven from earlier, sitting on the tree and somewhat staring at her.

Scarlet developed an eerie feeling as she stared back at it, wondering what its deal was and the next she knew, it let out a loud croak that startled her and she quickly shut the window and pulled the curtain closed.

Scarlet had seen and felt enough horror and her mind went back to the dream she had where she saw Damien and the image of him sinking his sharp teeth into her neck was still fresh in her memory. It all looked and felt too real.

She made her way back to her bed and turned her phone on to see that the time is 2:13 in the morning. Releasing a sigh, she laid back down to sleep, but for some reason, she found it difficult to even close her eyes. She figured she must be too scared and she stared right up at the ceiling while also paying attention to any slight movement.

After about fifteen minutes, her eyes slowly closed and she dozed off.

Scarlet sat straight up in bed, eyes wide and she saw the morning sunlight reflecting through her curtain. She moved her eyes to look at the wall clock in her room and it struck her that she would be late for school

"Shit!" she cursed under her breath and got out of bed in a hurry before putting off her night clothes and dashing to the bathroom.

Scarlet threw on some clothes from her wardrobe and packed her books inside her bags before hurrying out of her room but as she was about to take another step, she heard someone call her name from behind. Turning her head back to see who it may be, she was faced with total blackness and her room wasn't there anymore. She was struck with confusion and she moved her eyes to the side and then forward and she found herself standing in the depth of darkness with not a single light.

Scarlet sat up straight in bed, eyes wide and chest heaving up and down. She brought her hand up to wipe the sweat on her forehead and let out a sigh. Her room was starting to have a little light in it and she turned her phone on to see that it was just 5 in the morning. Staring into space, she realized she had just had two dreams, both which were scary. It made her wonder if it was as a result of what she searched for the day before.

She felt too tired as if she had been working out her body and she decided to just stay in bed. She has never felt more lonely until now, knowing that there was no one by her side anymore. Everyone either turned against her or drifted away and she felt she was fighting all alone. 

She held her phone up and turned it on before going to messages. Not one from Melanie since the last message she sent to her. Her inbox was all dry. She doesn't even have anyone to talk to.

Scarlet decided to scroll up and read older messages. She spotted one from Melanie and she clicked on it.

It read; "Scarlieee! I bet your weekend is going great. I wish I could come to your place so we can chill and have fun. I'm just stuck with my aunt's kids here. They won't stop getting on my nerves. Gosh! Kids can be so annoying. Anyway, just a day more until I see you again. I'm coming with plenty of gist." 

The message ended with a smiley face and Scarlet found herself smiling to it. She and Melanie has never had any issues and it bothers her now they were going apart…had gone apart. It just felt like that.

Thinking about Melanie now, she remembered there was something she wanted to do and she stepped down from the bed before moving towards her desk. She sat down and pulled out her diary and she placed it in front of her, staring at it.

Scarlet was not sure if she was ready for whatever it was she was about to find out but she needed to know everything that happened before the accident, starting with how she got to know Melanie and if what she said about liking Johan first was true.

As her hand reached for the cover to open it, she suddenly heard two knocks on her door which startled her a bit as she diverted her gaze towards it.

The door opened a bit and she saw her mother peeking inside before her eyes fell on her. Now opening the door, a bit wide, she seems to be somehow surprised and she said to her, "I just wanted to know if you had woken up."

Scarlet gave a nod and she could feel the awkwardness between them.

Her mother then quickly moved her hand and she said, "I'll leave your food at the table. Make sure you eat before you leave."

Scarlet saw the expression on her face and it made her feel sorry for everything. From how she spoke, it seems she was trying to be cautious so as not to upset her or anything and Scarlet felt bad that she was doing that to her. 

The door closed and with her mother receding footsteps, she felt the need to apologize to her. She knows her mother is suffering inside and she knows she is the only one she has. It is only normal for her to look out and care so deeply. The trauma must have affected her too.

Moving her eyes back to place it on the diary, she brought her hand forward again and this time, without any distraction or interruption, she flipped it open and saw another plain white hard cover and then she turned it open to the very first page of writing.

Scarlet was even more baffled at what she found out and her eyes widen a bit. It was because the first page was left blank and at the foot of the note, she saw the date; June 6, 2015. It was not written but printed on it boldly. She brought her hand forward and touched it. They seem to be engraved on it. The date was the day the accident happened, the day when she lost her father…the day she believed to have lost her memory at the same time.