1.2

Oh shit, I’m not dead! Or am I? I tried moving but everything feels heavy, and every move causes pain to travel all over my body. Fuck. Just fucking great. After a while, everything felt numb. I tried to open my eyes, but my eyelids also feel heavy. I wanted to scream, but no voice is coming out and my throat feels dry. I panicked when I can’t feel my body moving. I tried thrashing around, but I can’t feel anything!!

“Calm down, woman!” Huh?? Where did that voice come from? I can’t stop panicking and continued to try and feel anything because I really hate the feeling of sleep paralysis. I don’t like the feeling of being restricted and not being able to do anything.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake!” After that, I felt something wet splashed on my face. I jolted awake and abruptly sat up, only to fall back again, causing my head to spin. I groaned as I can feel all the pain coming back again, only for it to worsen. Slowly, I tried to open my eyes again and adjusted to the new brightness I’m seeing. I took in my surroundings while I tried to recall everything that happened.

It seems like I’m in a cottage that somehow managed to not fall apart. The word ‘cottage’ is a little fancy to describe this ‘house’, but the said “house” comprises mixed materials. Some parts of the walls are branches of trees tied together, while the others comprise bamboo or wooden scraps. There’s no flooring but only the dirt ground itself. Old clothes that are sewn together served as my blanket and curtains (that served as the door), and a pile of clothes as my pillow. This is some low-level poverty shit happening here. I can’t even call this a house. Fuck those billionaires when people are forced to “live” like this.

Right, I just remembered. I got pulled into that black Friday sale mirror. Some people tried to kill me, and I fell off a cliff.

“Here, drink this.” I just noticed the young man standing near me. I looked at him skeptically as he handed me a drink. I raised a brow at him, and he rolled his eyes in response. He grabbed my hand and placed the bowl of liquid.

“It’s not poisoned, idiot.” He grumbled. I narrowed my eyes and took a sip from the bowl, my eyes never leaving him. When the liquid touched my tongue, my head jerked away from the bowl and let out noises of disgust.

“What in the bloody hell is that?!” I gagged at the aftertaste it left in my mouth.

“Medicine to ease the soreness of your body. Drink it while it’s hot. It will only become more bitter when it turns cold.” He said as he shrugged and went outside. I glared at the bowl in my hands before pinching my nose and downed the medicine. Disgusting shit.

I remained seated up and let myself fall into a daze. What am I going to do now? Where am I? Did I transport somewhere in this world, or is this another world? Then, how do I go back? Why are they trying to kill me? I don’t remember being this important that someone wants to kill me. I’m scared. I’ve read fanfictions like this but it’s totally different when you’re the one experiencing it. Wait, if this is some kind of W*****d-like story or some AO3 shit, then is it that guy who gave me this disgusting piece of shit that I just drank would be my savior? Maybe the male lead of this story? He kinda looks cute though, so it’s tolerable at some point. What am I thinking? I’m a strong, independent young woman! I need no man to save me. (Well… maybe, for now, I need them to survive…)

“I’ve never seen someone intensely glare at a bowl.” I heard a soft chuckle that made me look up and man, my eyes landed upon the most beautiful snack I’ve ever seen. There standing yet another guy, wearing some sweater-like clothes and something that looks like sweatpants. I think they’re called tunic and breeches. The young man from earlier emerged from his back with crossed arms, obviously amused by my awestruck at this beautiful man in front of me. I snapped out of my daze and tried to get out of my head. I need answers. I need to know where in the hell am I and their motives. I need to know how to go back home.

“So… How do you like your eggs in the morning?” I mentally slapped myself as soon as those words slipped out of my mouth. I was supposed to ask where I am, damn it! I heard him release a soft laugh. Good heavens, he sounded like an angel. Am I glorifying him too much? Oh, did I mention that he’s really handsome? Because he really is. Even the word ‘handsome’ is an understatement.

“I don’t know the reason for the question, though I prefer boiled eggs.” He smiled softly. I don’t know how to describe actions and he looks soft, so all of his actions to me are soft. He gently placed the back of his hand on my forehead, as if checking my temperature. You’ll never know. He might use this as an excuse to touch me.

“Looks like your fever is down.” He nodded his head, satisfied with what he found. For all I know, he’s satisfied he got to touch me. I looked around my environment once again and noticed that it got darker outside. How long was I spacing out? The two continued to look at me while I fidgeted in my seat. Now, I find my hands the most interesting thing in this place. What are you supposed to do when someone stares at you?

I raised my head and when I saw they were still looking at me; I looked away and avoided their gaze. I don’t really know what to do because I can still feel the rush I felt after I blurted out that question. Yep, still feeling it even if minutes have already passed.

Finally, the angel broke the silence that is growing more awkward (for me) by the second that passes. “What are you feeling right now? Do you feel any ailments?” He cautiously asked, maybe noticing how uncomfortable I felt or he’s just being nice.

“Uhhh, thanks,” I said as I shifted in my seat. Now, I can really feel the awkwardness increase in the air. And for the second time that day, I mentally slapped myself (now with a brick). Oh good heavens, why am I like this? I heard the young man snorted and shook his head.

“Are you sure it’s her?” The young man asked, as if mocking me. Well, I feel like he’s mocking me with the way he eyed me from head to toe. I suddenly felt smaller under their gazes. I dropped my head and locked my eyes on the ground. I don’t know what they were doing, but it feels like they’re communicating with their eyes as I can’t hear any voice from them.

Ok. I think I need to ask them what’s really happening. I guess they’ll have the answers that I needed. When I mustered enough courage to look up, I tried to speak, but it seems like the words were stuck in my throat. Never mind. It’s good that I’m hidden behind this angel’s broad shoulders. What’s the point? It’s obvious that I’m in another world and it’s not like they’ll know how I can go back to my world.

“In what name shall I call you, darling?” the angel spoke to me once again. What name? What is my name again? Ah, right it’s—

“Yours.” I blurted out. I can feel my face burn as I covered my mouth. Just great. Why can’t I be normal? Am I this sexually frustrated that I try to flirt with everyone I come in contact with? Or am I trying to fill the void inside of me by giving meaningless flirts that give me temporary “fulfillment”?

“S-Sorry. It’s Maesie.” I stuttered as I tried to take my dignity back. FINALLY, I gave a normal answer.

“Oh… Ok dear, for why were you unconscious beside the river? Can you remember anything before you ended up there?” The handsome guy had to bend down to get to my level and asked in a gentle voice. I may be dumb most of the time, but not too dumb to actually tell them everything. For all I know, they might be one of them that wants to kill me. I waited for some time before shaking my head to make it look like I was thinking. Of course, I’m not a good liar. It looks like they’re not convinced but shrugged it off. I heard him sigh and got up.

“I suppose you ought to rest. You look tremendously fatigued.” He then patted my head and left. The young man looked at me for a while before following suit. When I’m sure they’re gone, the tears fell. I am scared—no TERRIFIED. I thought I wanted to die, but it’s scary that I can actually die anytime here. No, I don’t want to die! I just want to disappear! Like “oof you’re gone” then nothing! I don’t want to feel pain! God, I already miss home. I miss my mom. I miss that annoying little brat. I miss my friends. I miss having an average life!

I brought my knees to my chest and ended up sitting on the corner of the bed for hours—too afraid to sleep. They might have hidden motives. This is actually driving me insane because you’ll never know when they’ll try to kill you, or worse. Oh no, please not TORTURE! I’ve read and watch a lot of torture stuff, and as much I enjoyed it back then, I don’t want that shit to happen to me! Will they behead me instead? With all this overthinking, I did not notice that tears are streaming down my face. Every single sound scared me to death. Hah… Death. It is then that I screamed when someone came inside. I tried to hide in the corner, ignoring the pain that I felt with every move.

“H-hey. I’m not here to hurt you—Ah shite, you’re crying! Oh no! Not the waterworks!” I didn’t realize that I’m already crying hard until the young man from earlier pointed it out. I did not stop from crying as he paced in front of me, stopping sometimes just to look at my crying figure.

“Jayce, how’s the lady—Oh goodness! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!” The angel man came in and when he saw the scene inside, he asked the young man in a hushed tone. I hugged myself tighter and watched them, waiting for their next move. The angel man placed the bowl with water, which I didn’t notice he was holding before, beside the bed, and slowly made his way towards me.

“Ssshhh… Everything’s alright. We will not hurt you.” He sat on the bed and tried to comfort me, but I ain’t no stupid bitch. I know those moves. At first, they’ll make it as if they are your haven, and the next day your dead body is in some ditch somewhere. He tried to reach out, but it only caused me to flinch and move farther away from him. He stopped midway and dropped his hands. I heard him took a deep sigh before standing up.

“I understand your lack of trust. I shall leave this bowl of water for you to freshen up. I apologize for we do not have comfortable lodging for you to rest; however, that is our finest pillow and blanket that we can make. Please rest well.” He said before leaving while dragging the young man with him. Was that a threat?! What if the water is poisoned? Or acid? Is it that they want to ruin my face so no one will recognize me and it’ll make it easier for them to erase me from this world?!

Fear consumed my whole being that I eventually passed out.