“Tell me, what is happening? You said that I can go wherever I want when we reached here. But now, what? You want me to live with people I barely know?” To say that Editha was angry was an understatement. She was fuming with rage. Amilia and her friends had picked her up from the grocery store and then drive her, not to Amila’s apartment, but to a diner where Amilia said she was working. That’s not all, Amilia also told her that the woman would be living there with the owner of the diner. “Editha, I can’t explain everything to you right now without sounding crazy. But I need you to believe me, just as how you believed me when we left your house.” Amilia rumbled. “Did Harold catch up with us?” The old woman asked which Amilia answered with a shake of her head. “Then at least tell me why do I have to live here? Amilia, I may be old but I’m not stupid!” Editha exclaimed. Amilia sighed. She really can’t explain everything to her grandmother. It was hard telling her that her granddaug
“Liz, are you sure about this? You know I am not forcing this on you or anything. If you don’t feel so good about this you can tell me. The plan can also commence either way.” Amilia explained to her friend. “It’s okay, Amilia. I’m okay. I want to help you guys. I also wanted to save those children. I grew up in a strict family but I love them so much and wouldn’t trade them for anything in this world. Thinking about those poor children out there, with no parents, no warm hugs, and scared… I want to help.” Lizzie said with finality. Amilia nods her encouragement. She knew she wouldn’t let Lizzie get harmed. She promised herself that they’ll get through with this. “Okay. Let’s go tell them.” ✒✒✒ “Now, put your hands to her chest and head.” Amilia did as she was told. They were now starting to gift Lizzie her ability on the Fallen’s command. He had already told them about the changes after the passing and they had tried to question Lizzie’s decision a few more times. The girl was
“Soon, my child. Soon heaven will come down to touch the ground. The choir will sing their beautiful song. When the sea was at its most calm state. When the tress bows down to kiss the earth. When the wind will help you kneel. Soon, the soldiers will gather to face you. But remember this child, you can always decide the day. Soon might be, tomorrow or the other day. Or it might be now. Choose, my child. Choose wisely.” ✒✒✒ Amilia woke up with a jolt. She had fallen asleep at the bedside table. After the small incident yesterday, Amilia and the others spent the remaining hours going through the grimoire again. Of course, sometime later, the Fallen disappear. That didn’t surprise Amilia but she needed to explain things to Lizzie. The Fallen had told them his fair share of knowledge about the Bellua and the Weaver’s plan. Or maybe, it was the Steward who was behind all of this. Amilia looked around the room. Lizzie was sleeping soundly on her bed. The grimoire was under her arms. Zephy
“Do we need to do this?” Lizzie asked her friend for the nth time. They were standing a few feet away from their first destination. The orphanage. And the plan was, that Lizzie and Zephyr would be posing as a couple who wanted to look for their missing child. Lizzie and Zephyr were both minors when Zephyr impregnate Lizzie so their parents took away their child. Now, both of them are looking for him. It was not a great plan but it’s better than nothing, as what Amilia said. And while the two of them are distracting the orphanage staff, Amilia and the Fallen would search for some children’s souls. “We can do this, Liz. You have been trained by the Acting Club for years during middle school. You can pull it.” Amilia said, also for the nth time, cheering up her friend. “Come on. We need to ask fast. We have many places on our list.” With that, Zephyr and Lizzie made their way to the front of the orphanage. Lizzie took a deep breath and then circled her hands around Zephyr’s arms. Zeph
“Oh my God!” Amilia gasp and clutch her chest as she takes in everything she was seeing. She had found the children. She didn’t know if it was a good thing or not. The good thing is that she had found them, the bad thing is their current state. They were not hurdled on the side like the ones she saw in her hometown, no. The children in front of her are doing different things. They were cluttered all around the place. Boys and girls, running around and chasing each other. Some were at the side of the room just minding their own business. It may look pretty normal but it makes Amilia nauseous. The children who were running around and chasing each other were shouting curses and saying bad things about the other. And the ones at the corner were doing something a child should not do. They are engaging in intercourse like they were being forced to do it. “Purest soul.” Amilia blurted out. “It was what appeal to them before they die. And their soul was stuck in here doing the last thing t
“Oh my God!” Amilia gasp and clutch her chest as she takes in everything she was seeing. She had found the children. She didn’t know if it was a good thing or not. The good thing is that she had found them, the bad thing is their current state. They were not hurdled on the side like the ones she saw in her hometown, no. The children in front of her are doing different things. They were cluttered all around the place. Boys and girls, running around and chasing each other. Some were at the side of the room just minding their own business. It may look pretty normal but it makes Amilia nauseous. The children who were running around and chasing each other were shouting curses and saying bad things about the other. And the ones at the corner were doing something a child should not do. They are engaging in intercourse like they were being forced to do it. “Purest soul.” Amilia blurted out. “It was what appeal to them before they die. And their soul was stuck in here doing the last thing t
There was a banging on the door that made Amilia pause midway in putting her spoon full of fried rice in her mouth. Lizzie had decided to make a bowl of fried rice for their breakfast. Lizzie, get up from her seat and opened the door. Amilia put her spoon down and listened to the conversation. She heard a familiar voice. “Help me.” Amilia also stood up and walk up to the door. There she sees the kid who was living with her father a few apartments down from her. She was clutching her door; her eyes were wide as a saucer and she was trembling. She looked at Amilia as tears swell at the corner of her eyes. “My Daddy…” The kid hiccups. “My Daddy, he…” She tried again. Lizzie was quick on her knees and put her hands on the kid’s shoulder. She smooths it down, trying to soothe the kid. “It’s okay. You’re okay. You can tell us everything slowly. You want to go inside?” Lizzie offered but the kid quickly shook her head. “No. We need to save my Daddy. There was… there was a… monster!” Th
“Are you truly, I mean, truly sure about this?” Lizzie asked Amilia. They were at the school library, crouched in the darkest corner of the room. The place was quiet and void of people. Ever since the previous librarian died rumors had been going around about her death. Some speculated that it was a heart attack. Some say it was one of the students and some say that there was someone who sneak inside the campus and raped her. But Amilia knew well what had happened then. But she brushed it aside, again. Not wanting to relish the memory. “Can we find some Stray here?” Amilia nod. She wanted to test her theory again. Stray would follow on the Shades movement. Anywhere the Shade can get a soul there was always a Stray following its movement. If Amilia and Lizzie were lucky enough they will encounter some Stray here at the library. Half an hour passed but they have not seen even smoke from Stray. No one enters the library either. “Amilia.” Lizzie was now leaning at the wall beside her