Inception

I have always liked the sound of freedom and love, the love that is not temporary, the love that shall last forever, the love which is not at all infatuation, the love which shall never contain obsession.

“Avyanna, the new customer is here, go take his order!”, Ordered my colleague to me since she was busy taking the other’s order. I work in a small cafe which is ever so beautiful and vintage. Clean white walls, wooden floor, small round tables with miniature chairs, both made of wood covered with white table cloths. Chandelier hanging accompanied with money plants creeping upon it giving it an old and wise vibe. The entrance had two gigantic windows replacing the walls with a wooden door in-between. The whole place was basically made of wood with the combination of white accompanying giving it an ethereal vibe--“Earth to Avyanna!”, A sudden voice interrupted me out of my thoughts which made me realize that I had an order to take for the sake of my job, a full stomach and roof over my head.

Turning my heels, I marched towards a tall and muscular guy which had this creepy aura surrounding him which sent shivers down and to the end of my spine. He was wearing all black, and he was also wearing a mask but somehow judging from the look of his eyes, I saw that he was quite uncomfortable on the tiny seat that he was sitting upon, though that seat wasn’t so tiny and small but for him it was and seeing him, an accidental snort passed by from my nose which surely caught his attention. Clearing my throat, trying not to laugh as he just sits up from his seat giving up completely. “Welcome sir, what would you like to eat or drink?”, I asked. “The seats here are too small, I’ll just go home now.”, He replied with disappointment visible in his tone. “But I would really like to have your number.”, He shamelessly added to which I tickled in pink but ended up giving it to him, why? Because I am looking for someone to love me or at least get me out of the title of being a ‘single’.

I saw him leave as everyone got out of his way getting dominated by the dark aura that surrounded him.

The whole day then continued to be the same as everyday but the whole time I was getting a feeling of something weird and bad coming my way, like how a snake slowly comes near its prey as the prey gawks at the snake in shock while the snake wraps its way around the prey’s death nice and slow as the prey knows it is hopeless and in the state of despair.

My shift ended at 8pm and I was immensely tired. I knew a short-cut back to my apartments by changing the route with an alleyway but I never took that route back home but I was tired. Slowly, I put on my jacket, opened the door to exit the café and then marched my way towards home.

I reached the alleyway-- and god-- it was highly dark there but enough for me to see through and make my way back home. Walking that I was but I suddenly felt warmth--Like warmth of human being behind me. I was a cowardice and I knew it so I didn’t turn back to look but I did fasten my steps.

I shrieked when I felt someone grabbing my body and putting some kind of cloth above my nose. I was panicking but then I remembered the self-defense techniques my mother taught me before she left me at the age of thirteen.

“Now Avyanna, never be hasty while you fight but don’t be slow too, my girl.”, Told my mother to my young self. “Use your mind to activate the actual strength that hides beneath the strength that comes with your muscles.”, She added.

Her words echoing in my mind as a rush of anger coursed through my veins. I grabbed his hand that was on top of my face as I stuck one of my legs in between his, twisting his legs with mine. He got distracted with the actions that I pulled. Then I took his hand and also twisted it earning a painful bark from his mouth. Taking my leg out and kicking his genitals as hard and harsh as I could, because he was man and I knew it was his weak spot. Seeing him grunting in pain on the ground, I made my run for it. But as I was running I saw a bunch of men wearing the same black attire, gathering up. I couldn’t really run away as they had me surrounded so I then his behind a dumpster. Heart beating so fast and the heavy breaths which I tried to muffle were not really helping much. I knew that they were in some sort of gang or something, judging by how similar their attire was. They looked like they were discussing something but I was too far to know what it was about. One of them raised their phones and then ordered something to the others, I guessed that he was the leader because of how he was talking to the others. They all nodded and agreed on something, and then spread out in different directions but the leader stayed still at the same spot and from the looks of it, it seemed that he was doing something on his phone and just then my phone rang.

Waves of panic rushed through my body. My phone was inside of my purse and I couldn’t find it in my purse as I had dumped many things inside of it. A sigh of relief passed through lips as I found it and cut the call. But that relief didn’t last for too long, now did it?

I suddenly felt muscular hands creeping around my body while I screamed as hard and loud as I could, but that did not at all work since I felt something sharp and pointy inserting inside of neck. I was panicking too much to realize what it was. My mind was a train wreck at the time and then the numbers started to count down and they were none other than 1, 2 and 3.

Darkness, Pure irresistible darkness that pulled me ever so harshly inside of it. The darkness that kills, the darkness that only some are able to escape. The darkness which is unforgettable.

“Wake up.”, Said a confusingly familiar voice.