Trapped In The Vampire's Kingdom

Lavelle wakes up in a hospital bed. She sings painfully throughout her body, like the wheel of a big tow truck. Slowly, she touched his forehead, which was still wrapped in a heavy roll of gauze.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake. How can I lie down here,” Lavelle whispered.

Lavelle tried to grab a call button on the top right corner of the hospital bed. The squeaking noise of the worn bed wheel seemed deafening at the time. On and on, she was angry that she couldn’t get to the button.

A few minutes later, she decided not to push the call button. One hundred and seventy-three men entered the room with an irritating smile, which made fun of Lavelle.

“What are you doing here?” asked Lavelle, with sarcasm.

“I should have asked: why do you enjoy lying here? Don’t you get bored?” answered the man.

“About fatigue, Mark. I don’t understand the difference between boredom and fatigue in my life,” Lavelle said.

“Do you know, since you jumped into the river yesterday, your mum fainted several times? What the hell are you up to, Lavelle? Don’t get too selfish about your own life. I didn’t want to be a toxic sidekick. But try not to torture yourself,” said Mark, “You always say you don’t have anyone who understands your feelings, but you misjudged. Many dote on you; you’re just fixated on your severe sense of trauma. You’re sane, but what makes you think you’re insane? Stop hurting yourself for your mom.”

“You say that because you were never in my shoes. Even though you live alone, you have a daddy who always makes you feel safe. It’s not like I'm living in an iron cage.” Lavelle took a heavy breath. “Can you imagine three girls being treated badly like that. Domestic violence and obnoxious swearing? I’m not a crybaby, I’m tired of this suffering. Freaking exhausted ...."

“So, what else do you want to do? Still insisting on dying and being reincarnated?” asked Mark in an exasperated tone.

“Before I answer it, may I ask you what the purpose is of being alive?” replied Lavelle.

Mark Wantemalon was silent. He could not answer Lavelle’s question immediately. He scratches his neck slowly, though, always trying to look a little calm in front of Lavelle. 

“I need an answer if you know the answer.”

“Of course, life has various purposes. It’s not just about one thing that’s certain. That life has nothing to do with anything you want, Lavelle. There comes a time when people must accept and get ready to get back on their feet,” Mark replied later.

“It’s difficult to figure out why I was born into such a bad family. I don't have any regrets, but I’m tired. My life was such a mess, I didn’t know about myself either. Look, just talking to you, I have a feeling of fear that I can’t explain through words.”

“It’s okay not to be okay, Lavelle. You have a right to cry aloud as much as you want. But please stop hurting yourself. See, your mum adores you so much. You must know it. You are the youngest daughter, she cares about you the most.”

“You know about my life, Mark. You know how I choked to death from this trauma.”

Mark sighed when he asked Lavelle what she wanted right now. Lavelle really didn’t have any other wish than to leave this world. The trauma she suffered was so bad that Lavelle hesitated to continue her life.

“I feel the way you feel.”

“You won’t feel it.”

“All right. But it’s okay if you start dealing with your own situation. It’s what’s best for you,” Mark said.

“What kind of pain haven’t I been through this whole time? And what kind of misfortune, I refuse to accept?” asked Lavelle.

“Hey... Trust me... If you can embrace your inner child, you can do whatever you please. You know, there are a lot of people who love you. You’re the ones who don’t realize it.”

“I don’t have feelings... How can I figure that out? I get really numb.” replied Lavelle.

“Lavelle Wynstella, how long do you want to stay the way you are? Understand that your whole family awaits you at home,” said Mark.

“I don’t give a hoot. They won’t understand how I feel. And when I told them, they answered as I did about a trivial matter. I am lonely as hell, Mark.” Lavelle burst into tears and wept in silence.

“It’s just your negative thoughts. See, I am right here... on your side as well... I heard your heart... and so on. Then why do you feel like you’re alone?” Mark pointed at himself before Lavelle.

“I don’t know… I just feel I am lonely because there’s not somebody doting on me.”

“What the hell are you talking about? Who doesn’t dote on you? A lot of people dote on you, Lavelle. Just open your mind, you must know it.”

Lavelle sobbing. “I don’t think so. They’ve bullied me all the time.”

“They’re pieces of junk. You’ll just waste your time thinking about all of them. Forget them, and you’ll be okay. I’m sure.”

Mark took a long, deep breath, and then he stood up. Mark walked over to the big windows there—he pulled out the curtain’s string. A beautiful view was exposed. A big and tall building in vibrant light, it’s made everything about Georgia so magnificent. It’s just 3:00 am.

But everything looked so memorable because of the beautiful light. Lavelle always said that she loved the beautiful light so much to Mark, but she hasn’t talked about it since she got into a domestic problem with her dad.

Lavelle changes so much, she’s devastated, like a mirror when it's thrown to the stone—it’s broken. And nothing can combine them like it used to. Although the formula for combining it is strong or awfully hard, still, it cannot be.

This is not the first time Lavelle has gotten away with this. For the umpteenth time, she went through domestic problems and misery in life. For the umpteenth time, she wanted to commit suicide. Mark can’t do anything about it but tries to persuade her.

Lavelle, the poor girl. She’s lived a miserable life from the time she was eight. She can’t get away from her trauma, she hurts herself every chance she gets. And it made Mark feel guilty.

Mark is not a perfect sidekick for Lavelle, but he will do everything for Lavelle because Lavelle is the one who can accept him rightfully. Lavelle can accept him without any complaints. As far as Mark is concerned, Lavelle is such a sweet girl.

“See, the light in those buildings is so perfect. How beautiful would it be if you made a picnic dinner under the beautiful light?” Mark pointed to those buildings outside.

“I can’t ever fly as high as you think, Mark.”

“But why not? You’re such an intelligent girl. You can—”

“Besides…. Talking too much. Did you bring anything for me?”

“I bring nothing.”

“But why... Wantemalon? I told you to bring a little gear and please take me to the cabin,” Lavelle mumbled in a desperate tone.

Mark hissed in an angry manner. He put his hand on his waist. Slowly, he walked over to Lavelle without closing the curtain. He bit his lower lip and looked at Lavelle with teary eyes.

“What are you up to?”

“I want to sneak out. Then live in the cabin. I can live in peace there,” Lavelle said.

“Then, what should I do when your mum asks me about the whereabouts of my sweety Lavelle?’ Have you thought about it before?”

Lavelle fell silent, then closed her eyes. Her tears still flowed down. Mark flopped his body into a chair. He grabbed Lavelle’s hand and squeezed it.

“You know, I don’t mind helping you, but not to sneak out. Please be steady, you’re not okay yet. You must get better treatment.”

“But I can’t hold it anymore.”

“You can hold it.”

“Although I can hold it if I can. I’m going to be a burden on everyone.”

“Just think about yourself, Lavelle. You must focus on yourself first, then you can get away from your trauma. Human like you usual—”

“Why are you making it sound like you’re not human?”

Mark looked away to check other things and sighed. He swallowed his saliva in an awkward way. Minutes later, he told Lavelle to do some preparation.

Lavelle fell into the confusion, but she knows that Mark will help her sneak out.

“I’ll give you a hand, but look me in the eye.”

“But why?”

“All you need to do is do it.”

Lavelle made it happen for a second, Lavelle gasped and fell asleep.

Several minutes later, Lavelle woke up when she felt some air hit her face. They were out of the hospital now, Mark holding her on his back. Lavelle gaps in disbelief. She couldn’t believe it if they were out of the hospital right now.

“Mark…”

“Don’t talk too much. A few more steps and we will arrive at the bicycle rental place.”

“But how do you—”

“Just keep your mouth shut, Lavelle.”