Chapter 2 CHAPTER 2

AVARA

If anyone should ask me when the last time I felt happiness was, then my answer would be... I don't remember.

Here I was under a tree in the pack, looking sad, lonely, and pained, as I watched a couple of happy families walk by with their kids, looking so happy.

It made me envious.

"Why can't I have that kind of life?" I bit down on my lip, craving something that can never be mine.

I was trying hard to recall any happy times from my past to feel at ease, but there were none.

In fact, my head was empty of such.

The only flashback I could recall —till now— is from the day I opened my eyes in my room and saw my parents by my side, looking at me strangely.

That very day felt weird, and it marked the beginning of my loneliness.

"I should have seen this coming," I sniffed, wiping tears off my face.

"If Dad can be such a jerk, then who says Mom won't do the same?"

I'm not speaking out of anger, but the truth.

Mom's not the only one I had caught doing this before. I've also seen Dad in bed with two women, messing up like he was still in his youth.

He saw me that day gazing at him in horror, and what did he do?

"Get out of my sight," He had ordered, humiliating me in front of his dolls.

That wasn't the only crazy thing he did. That man once crept into my room one night and stood at my bed, watching me sleep while stroking his chest disgustingly!

It scared me to the core, and at that moment, I lost every last bit of trust in him.

I no longer felt safe around him, nor did I keep the doors unlocked whenever I was alone with Dad.

Since then, I didn't tell Mom because I was concerned about her feelings.

How wrong I was.

"Despite her harsh nature, I still thought she was better than Dad. But she proved me wrong," I said sadly, looking up into the sky with sorrow in my heart.

"If you can hear me, Heaven, then please... Please help me. I don't want to live like this anymore. I'm tired," I sniffed, shutting my eyes.

At around six in the evening, I left the pack and went back home with no other choice.

Tomorrow, there's going to be a trip to the city's museum, and I really don't want to miss it.

I have a thing for history and people from the past. It brings this kind of relaxation to my soul.

When I got home, I discovered Mom was absent, and Dad... He was back home early.

I could hear his voice in his study, so I quietly tiptoed to my room and locked myself in, so he won't know that I'm back.

By the time I was getting ready to sleep, a knock came on my door. And it was Dad.

"Avara dear, won't you come out and eat with your father? Let's have a father-daughter moment. Then you can tell me how school went," He spoke with deceit laced in his voice, as he knocked over and over again.

I didn't give him a reply but slowly got into bed, with my eyes fixed on the barricades I made on the door.

Even if he bangs with his whole body, he's not coming in.

.

The next day, I woke up early and left for school before Dad would wake up.

Reason is because Mom wasn't back from heaven knows where, and I didn't want to take the risk of being alone with that man.

At school, I felt so happy as every student who signed up for the trip, queued outside, stepping into bus.

We were all singing and celebrating like it's the last day we'll ever get this much fun.

I had to join in the moment, dancing like all my problems were over.

That's until I spun around with the others and saw someone I never expected to see on this trip!

"Oh God!" I heaved in fear, looking back at Stella!

She stared back at me deviously, and even gave me a wave which signalled trouble.

At the sight of this, my excitement flew right out of the window, as I slowly sat in my seat, panicking.

"I thought she doesn't attend this kind of trip? God, no!" I trembled, wrapping my arms across my chest, wondering why she was here.

Then it dawned on me.

"I've searched every past outing, and Stella never attended anyone. For her to be among this trip means..." I gulped, realizing the terrifying truth.

Stella is after me!

Just then, one of our professors who joined us in this trip, told everyone to sit down as we were arriving soon at our destination.

When he made that announcement, I sneakily took a peep behind and was horrified to see Stella standing a few inches away from my seat!

She was coming and I didn't know!

The professor's announcement just saved me.

I watched how she went back to her seat, throwing me a nasty grin that scared me deeply.

"I've got to stay away from her," I planned in fear, clinging to my bag.

As soon as we arrived at the museum, I hurriedly rushed to the front of the queue and came out of the bus, drawing nearer to our professors who were busy ordering every student out from the vehicle.

I made sure I kept my distance away from Stella, waiting for the right moment to flee.

And just as we were about to walk into the museum, I immediately held one of the female professor's hand and claimed I was really pressed.

"Right now? Goodness. We just got here," She murmured, tapping her forehead.

I kept on with the act, watching Stella and the other students walk into the museum, leaving me behind with the professor.

But the eyes Stella gave me said she's not gonna let me out of her sight.

"Come with me."

I followed the instructor into a different passage in the museum, and we met a female security, who gladly helped me over to the ladies' room.

Like my professor just dumped me with her and hurried back to meet the others.

Seeing I was alone, I thanked the security for her assistance and said, "Don't worry, I know my way back from here."

"Alright, dear," The security accepted, walking away.

Once she was gone, I snuck out of the bathroom and began to move around the museum, having my own tour of the place without any interruption.

"Wow!" I gawked dreamily at different statues of powerful men and women of old, reading about their bravery and achievements from a board.

But that wasn't my main reason for coming to the museum.

What stole my heart more were the rumors of artifacts and portraits of supernatural beings that once roamed this city many years ago.

Fairies, Vampires, Beasts of different kinds... And most especially werewolves.

I've heard myths about these creatures being real, but many said it's just tales to amuse we humans.

But if there's one thing I've learnt about museums, it's that every item within this building never lies.

"Where can I find them?" I shrieked with joy, rushing over to a guide map to locate the section.

Just as I was searching, I began to feel...strange.

Like I was being watched from behind by someone. Someone... Deadly.

To ignore this sensation was hard, even for a second. The hairs at the back of my neck rose like an alert, warning me to leave!

Shaken, I trusted my guts and turned around to look.

That's when my eyes met locking with Stella's terrifying gaze. She was standing a few inches away, holding... holding an iron rod!

"Ste...Stella?" I stammered, glancing at her hand then back into her scary eyes.

She smirked at me and said, "You shouldn't have turned around, Avara. Now you're trembling like you just saw a ghost."

I drew back slowly in fear, as my knees wobbled before her.

"Just a swing to the head and everything would be fine. But your curious ass had to turn around to see if you were alone. Well..." She grinned, clenching the rod tightly. "We can still make that work."

"Stella, why are you doing this?" I questioned, feeling my heart pounding.

But Stella didn't give me any reply.

She just gazed at me for a brief moment and... "AHHH!" I screamed, jumping out of the way as her rod came smashing right into a statue!

This girl is insane!

Is she trying to kill me?!

I saw how she furiously looked into my direction like a beast out for flesh, gripping the end of the rod with all her strength.

"You should have kept quiet, Avara. Now I'm going to make sure you don't speak anymore," She threatened, coming at me!

Without waiting, I fled into the passage to my right, running for my dear life!