Chapter 3 : Hues of Past

Zia Stephanie's POV

I gazed towards the sun-drenched angelic beach. The sunlight was glittering on every grain of sand, the beach was idyllic, white, and fresh. I smiled the moment I saw the beautiful, big blue ocean's waves crashing against the cliffs as I watched the seagulls joyfully flew around in circles in the air. The warm, golden sand ran between my toes with the gentle breeze. As I walked along, I found gorgeous, shiny shells that have been washed into the shore by the rippling of the water. It was as if I am inside a fairytale story book. 

Through from the distance, I could see the waves crashing against my skin as the sun was setting. I could hear people laughing, embracing the sunset. I averted my gaze towards the sand that squished slowly through my toes as I gaily walked down the shoreline of the Redrmur's coast. I bent a little every time I picked up the small dashing shells. The weather at the beach pierced through my skin, quarrelling of all places in the world.

I sat engrossed as I allowed the foamy mist from the rampant ocean sprayed my face lightly as thought it was the touch of a feather. Off in the distance, I could see the sun which begun to set in a sleepy unhurried fashion. It was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. The colors swiveled together in a muddled mass across the sky. Crash! Flash! The sky turned wild.

"Brent! Brent!" I yelled as I called his name, running towards him. The beach's waves were of many colors, sizes and sounds that make noises like a 'crash' noise. The colors of the waves of the beach were like a colorful rainbow just coming out from the mountain of happiness. "Look at these!" I said as I reached him.

He looked at me, furrowing his brows. "I don't like them," he said. The corner of my lips formed into a frown, pressing my lips tighter to fight the urge to cry.

I wiped the mixture of sweat and water from the ocean from my face and asked, "Aren't they beautiful?"

He sniffled as we walked towards the rocky floor at the white beach. He stopped for a while, eyebrows knitted.

I gazed towards my straight long scar on my arm.

"Where did you get these?" he asked, cracking his knuckles while averting his gaze straight ahead.

"Along the shoreline?" I said as I pointed the seashore. The corner of my eyes caught the colors of the waves. Red was when candy will in an instant spread throughout the whole big yellow beach. Blue was when big, fat and amazing blue dolphins showed up as blue shades appeared in the sky. My mouth instantly curved into a smile. 

"Where's mom and dad?" I asked while soothing, gentle sea breeze rustled through my hair, making me tucked it, leaving stands of sands into my face. "Look at me, Brent!" I shouted. 

He sighed, throwing both his arms behind him. "They were still at the tent house," he uttered,  giving me a blank face. As he shifted his face away from me, both the corner of his lips turned up. 

I creased my brows while following his gaze. I could see the large cruise ships on the worlds edge and the small boats swinging as they were kissed by the cold breeze. Empty crisp wrappers, chocolate wrappers, ice cream papers and half eaten cones scattered the yellow sand.

"What are you looking at?" I raised a question, still searching towards the crowd. Young children stumbled onto the moist sand, with small buckets and spades in their hands, they shouted and talked in excitement.

He shook his head, giggling. His index finger was pointed towards the shore and asked, "She's beautiful, isn't she?" The corner of my lips curved into a smile when I saw a petite beautiful girl with freckles, picking shells.

"Go get her brother!" I yelled, snorted.

He gave a dismissive wave on his hand and walked towards her. Damp sand was forced between my toes.

Straight away, the young children put on their swimming costumes and were smothered with thick white sunscreen, to protect them from the heavy radiation. I could see my brother talking towards the girl in the shoreline. "I won't tell mom!" I yelled.

I dropped the bundles of shells into the surface, not far away from the shore. I walked towards the sand, trying to build a sandcastle. First, I have to decide what type of architecture I am going to construct my castle around. The architecture could be old-fashioned, contemporary, or even imaginary. I snatched up one shell trying to fill that up with little sand, trying to mold it.

The lightning hurled itself across what was once the tame uncaring heaven. Thunder boomed while the atmosphere relieved itself of unwanted moisture. An explosion of heavenly emotion has replaced my peaceful evening. What could be more exciting than living in a place where everything seemed so peaceful? Or is it just my thought?

I was about to pivot my way towards the shore to have some little amount of water but then I saw a red flesh...an arm into the shoreline. I was frozen on my spot for a brief of moment. But the screams from the other kids made me back on my sense. I ran towards my castle, screaming my brother's name. The boy was found savagely beaten and laid to rest inside an old bassinet box, but his flesh was washed by the waves.

I smiled bitterly, laughters turned into sobs as the teardrops went running down to my cheeks. The scenario changed. So many blurry images went flashing through my mind.

An intoxicating feeling ran through my spine as I woke up lying down the soft duvet. I was in a room of someone, I think I have already been here before. The sense of familiarity lingered in my heart, looking at the pictures and spacious space of the room. It was so dark. I tried to find a switch, walking towards the door. The moment I turned it on, I saw a blue colored room which was full of stuff toys around the bed. I shook my head as I felt home.

I walked towards the pathway, away from the room. A cool shudder trickled down in my spine. Glancing around nervously, I could see somber portraits staring at me from behind layers of dust, seemingly penetrating my very being.

Cold, hesitant light streamed in through a cracked window, casting eerie shadows on the walls. As I walked forward, I could not help but feel that someone was following me. Whirling around, I could see nothing but the empty hallway and the faces in the portraits staring at me. 'Turn back' they seemed to say, but I swallowed a nervous whimper and continued into the dark bowels of the house.

My eyes landed towards the pieces of antique chandelier's glass scattered all around the four corners of the room. Goosebumps were rising all over my body. The window's glass was also broken as well as the statues and the wall designs. My heart pounded fast when I noticed that the cabinets were in a complete mess, like someone badly looked for something.

Suddenly, I walked through a cold dark hallway that gave me chills as coldness crept onto my spine. A bile rose in my throat and sweats started to form on my forehead. I felt gravity pulling me down as if strong invisible gazes stared at me. A little light was visible at the end of the hallway and I pushed myself farther and farther into the endless path.

Shadows of the unknown become visible or wait, is it just my imagination? I saw a blurry image of a boy talking to a suited man. Seemed like that the young boy does not care because of his cold expression. My knees started to shake because of fear. I saw that the suited man gently pulled his gun out. I tried to scream but I could not. It was as if I was stuck on my place, frozen in spot.

My hearted was pounding fast, my hands were trembling. It was quick. I heard a gunshot... One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Six gunshots fired continuously. In a blinked of an eye, I saw another man lying to the ground. The scene switched.

I was walking towards the dark room, feeling the cold metal door touched my skin. The air cooler was as if broken, sending sixteen degrees in the room. Each step that I took was giving me a heavy feeling.

"Dad!" I heard a yell. I searched towards the dark room and found a boy crying beside the dead corpse of a man, bathing on his own blood. I covered my mouth using my palms, making me sob for what I have seen. Pieces of flesh as his organs were scattered towards the floor, brains were splattered towards the walls. Then, I walked away from them.

"Mom! Dad? Your little princess is scared," she screamed. I could not see her, but I could hear her voice, there was a feeling of wanting to find her as soon as possible.

But then again, the place was so dark and as I followed the piece of light, I saw a room full of laboratory equipments and machines. There were Ilizarov apparatus, scalpel, dermatome, forceps, different kinds of scissors, trocar and other instruments used in a surgery. I roamed my eyes towards the white walls now turned into red coopery paint.

I stepped back as I have felt a dropped on the ceiling. I looked up and saw different heads facing me. I ran and ran, heart beating fast. I could not utter any words as if I was muted. And then I stopped, a dark chamber. I prevented myself to throw up as my nose smelled the coopery pungent decay. I looked down and saw blood stains on my path.

The corner of my eyes caught a tub. My chest rose with rapid breaths, I walked and walked until I have reached it. I stopped, almost stumble on my place when I saw a figure of a girl drowning herself into her own blood. I saw it with my own eyes...these pair of eyes. The girl's body moved, eyes towards me, grinning from ear to ear with a stitch on her mouth. It can't be. I must be dreaming.

I started screaming at the top of my lungs, beads dropped rapidly on my sheets. A loud thug made me back to my senses. I winched after I fell from my bed. I looked at my open window. It was still dark outside, chirping of the crickets and barkings of the dogs muffled into my ears.

I roamed my eyes towards my room. A spacious sanctuary with comfy sleeping and lounging areas. The color scheme was a variety of blues, whites, and cream. I stood up from the plush carpet in a soft ivory color. A skylight of motion sensor lit up installed around the corners of the room.

"Here we go again," I mumbled as I massaged my back. I heard rushing of footsteps banging towards the door and was forced to open.

I scratched my head as I found that it was my brother wearing his boxers with his t-shirt, leaving his four packed abs at my sight. "What happened?" he asked, fear crossed his face.

"Just a nightmare like usual, bro," I said as I heaved a sigh. I drew my lower lip between my teeth. The corner of my eyes wrinkled as I saw him adjusted the air cooler at the room beside the oversized wall art hanging near the family picture. I wrapped my myself with my arms, trying to hold back my composure.

Nightmares that seemed so realistic...usually, composed of the ghost from my past. Like nuts and bolts screwed up in the wrong places, red and blue shards just out at irregular angles, I could not help to think. A million pixels made up on my mind, still puzzled about what was happening.

"Hit the emergency button. I'll sleep beside your room," he said, walking towards me, kissing my forehead. "Have you taken your meds?"

I nodded as a response and shut my eyes, tugging my comforter up to my chest. I heard him walked away from me, closing gently the door so I just drifted off to sleep.

The loud yet annoying sound of the alarm clock woke me up. I tapped the stop button and noticed that the sunlight was passing through my windows. After I did my daily rituals, I went downstairs. I simply wore a faded pants, fitted cropped tee with white and blue stripes and a high cut rubber shoes.

The size of the glass material used was larger and was dominant inside the house. Hues of blue were the concept of the house, detailed marble tiles in the living room were visible. In fact, the size of the tiles also looked exceptionally good and has an interesting concept of character. White dominance was visible into the furnitures and the cabinets.

Being aware was intriguing experience that first begun as a small breeze at the base of my neck - a minute whispered and a gentle, even pressure grew from my spine. This was getting out of my hand.

"Good morning, Brent!" I said as I sniffed the mixture of the burnt and lavender odor which lingered through the four corners of the house. I walked down towards the spiral staircase. "Love you," I added as I skipped towards the kitchen, waving my hand as I raised my middle finger.

I saw him sat in the soft leather sofa, placing his feet at the surface of the glass table. The glace table was as big as the fifty inches television with its corner of blue. The placement of the glass table was in the middle of the sofa. The air conditioner pierced through my skin, almost made me shiver.

I met his eyes. I looked up and saw him glaring intently as if he was going to kill me with those pair of eyes. "How's your sleep?" he uttered while gazing back his sight towards the newspaper. He snatched up his coffee near the small stand on his left, drinking. He looked incredible old reading newspapers.

I scrunched my face as I walked towards the kitchen counter, smelling the burnt cook. I pursed my lips fighting the urge to laugh.

"Where's Aunt Mira?" I asked, furrowing my brows towards the burnt sandwich and egg.

"She left for a while, buying some stuffs," he said. He dropped his newspaper, massaging his temples. I gazed towards his black tuxedo paired with a black necktie. He was been terribly busy these past few years. I reeled, shifting towards the fridge. "Aren't you going to eat your breakfast? I cooked that," he added, raking his fingers through his hair, smiling. I chuckled.

"Well, I don't think its edible," I uttered, grabbing the milk from the fridge, pouring the contents on my glass. I walked towards the garbage bin, throwing the empty box. But my eyes widen as I have seen the garbage full of burnt foods. "You're so terrible at cooking. Perhaps, you need to work a little more."

I drank the whole glass at one shot, wiping the corners of my lips. I undid my ponytail and shook out my hair. "I need to go, bro. See you later," I said as I bid my goodbye. His expression scowled, then it went hard.

I tried to douse my hopes in case of disappointment, but to no avail. The happiness was coming to an end. I could sense a weight as if it was giving me a warning. But I just can't. I was about to take another step when I heard his dark, cold voice that made me shiver, and he said, "Eyes on the crowds, Stephanie."