Chapter 5: Ridge clan

The surroundings are SILENT, I can still feel the coldness of the snow trying to hug my skin. I’m up here. They locked me here again. Ameer or even Wendy did nothing to help me.

They said Lester, I can leave if I want. But it is said that my death will be premature if the Ridge clan meets us immediately.

They agreed for me to stay here to hide because they are friends with Ameer--- or should I call him, West. When the Ridges foumf out that West told someone about their secret, West will also be punished. What’s worse, he can even be killed.

They gave me a condition after all I already know their secret. They said I despised them at the same time because of what I did to annoy Ameer. That condition, I joined the Landrice--- whom I used to call Wendy’s sisterhood.

The question I asked earlier replayed in my mind and then how they answered it.

“Do you know each other?” I will ask.

“They just don’t know each other, *Ate,” Shivani interjected. “They are siblings, Sister Wendy and then Brother West.” She said smiling at me.

*Ate is older sister in Tagalog.

I still wonder why they don’t have the same last name. Wendy’s real name is Landrice while Ameer’s real name is West Spencer. Why is it the other way around? Or maybe I just don’t get it?

That’s all I’m thinking about right now, including whether I’ll agree to the condition or not. After all, I already know.

To this day I am still amazed by what I see and discover.

There are six of us here---or are there more?

Me, Ameer, Wendy, Shivani, Ravenne and Lester.

Wendy, her black hair is moderately curled. Her lips turned pink because of the cold, thicker than mine.

Shivani and Ravenne, they both have straight hair and they also have thick eyebrows and eyelashes. The only difference is, Ravenne has bangs and her aura is more intimidating than Shivani who is just calm. Shivani is also thinner than Ravenne. Shivani also has large earrings that are circular compared to Ravenne who only has four earrings in one ear.

As for Lester, I don’t want to talk about him even though he explained to me earlier that he had nothing to do with what happened to me that night. I don’t believe him especially because he annoyed me so much earlier. He seemed to be laughing at what happened to me that day.

“I didn’t do that to you,” he said to me seriously. “Believe it or not, Ravenne and I looked for you but we didn’t see you that night. We have seen West and his parents are looking for him so we left you behind.”

I don’t know what to believe because it’s hard to trust these days. Especially with people like them.

I looked at the window when Ravenne peeked in there. “Hey what? Are you just going to stay there forever? Just tell them if you’re afraid of their family, I’ll kill you to get it over with,” she said gruffly.

I stood up to open the wooden door.

Shivani was with hee. She was just behind her but shw preferred to let that girl without bangs in than herself.

“Hi!” Shivani greeted me.

She looks kind but I know she is brave inside because I can see many wounds on her arm and near her chest. It was visible because she was only wearing a black shirt.

“Are you cold?” She asked me when she saw my jacket.

I looked there, then I looked back at her thin shirt. It is obvious that she has more right to my coldness. “Huh? I’m fine. You? Are you cold? Why are you wearing a shirt?”

She chuckled, “Yes, it’s cold, but we’re all used to it so it’s okay,”

“Are you sure?” I asked again. “You might get sick from that,”

“What a show,” Ravenne whispered but I ignored her.

“What the hell, Ravenne? Can you please be nice?” she whispered to Ravenne, then elbowed her slightly. I still heard it because they were so close to me.

The person next to her glared at her, “It’s up to you, that girl only does a show but in the end, we are only going to be used. You will see eventually,”

“It’s still late,” Shivani said jokingly so Ravenne glared at her before she completely left the room.

“I’m sorry for Ravenne, she’s not menstruating anymore that’s why she’s moody. When you know each other for a long time, she will also be kind to you. Or when you join Duressa. I bet she’s jealous of you,” she laughed and said to me as she sat on the floor – she sat next to me.

“Huh? She is no longer visited every month? Pregnant?”

She laughed again, “No, silly,” she said and looked around. “It’s menopause,”

“Come on—”

“Shhh, don’t be noisy.” She scolded me. “I’m not joking about her menopause, but Satan no longer visits us every month,” he added.

“What is in there? Who did that?” I changed the topic.

“Where? In Duressa?” she asked back. I just nodded at her. “Landrice a. k. a Wendy did it. She has been here on Earth for a long time and has a lot of experience, so she created a Sisterhood.”

“For what?” I’m like a child asking what will happen next in a story every time I ask her.

“Your Duressa Sisterhood is like a feminist group but with a more special purpose. Because, isn’t it, the Ridges kill vampires who reveal secrets to others. Then they kill those who know because they want peace,”

“Ahh,” that’s all I said.

“There are a lot of us in Duressa because… in 2007, everything went haywire. Everyone, including us. Because those foreign vampires came here. They will hang those innocent women they raped after feeding them with human body,” she continued.

Fed by human body!?

“Huh? Why do they feed that girls with nothing but their hearts?” I asked.

“It’s like a punishment, because they are strippers in another country and then they went to a client who turned out to be a vampire and then according to everyone they found out the secret about our race so they want to punish them if they don’t agree to be like us.”

“Woah,” my brain can’t process all the information I receive now. “Doesn’t it mean that when you bite a human, you become a vampire?”

She looked at me in surprise. It was as if I had told others about the embarrassing incident she had experienced that she told me about.

“Huh? No! That’s not it!”

“So how?”

“What should be done is to be baptized. They have to agree to it willingly. They cannot be forced because the one above us knows that if it is forced. There are so many rules that you need to know if you want to join us,”

“To be baptized? Ameer told me you don’t have the right to pray?”

“That’s it, because what you worship is different. It’s wrong, we are worshiped the same but we are sinners because of temptation so he said we have no right,”

“Are you finished?” It was Ravenne’s voice that was just outside.

“You fool, you’ve been there for a while!?” Shivani asked him in shock. “We’ve only been talking for a while, wait a minute!”

Ravenne ignored what she said. “Hurry up, we’re going back to the camp near the barracks by the way.”

Shivani’s eyes widened, “Now? Today immediately? We just left yesterday!”

“If you don’t want to come,” she shifted her gaze to me. “Then, don’t come.”

Shivani stood up from sitting. She even patted her butt then offered me her hand, “What? Are you with me? We will talk to you at the barracks.”

I saw Ravenne turn her head towards us when Shivani said that to me. “What? Are you going to take her?” it asked.

Shivani shrugged, “Why not?”

Ravenne tormented her, “That’s a human, isn’t she?”

“So?” The person next to me turned to look at her.

Ravenne was stunned because of Shivani’s answer to her. “Are you kidding me? I’m not playing.”

“So am I, Ravenne,” she replied, then looked at me again. “What? Is it a game? Will you join me?”

“Uhm---”

“You won’t include that,” Ravenne interrupted what I was about to say. “If you take that girl with you, I won’t go back there with you.” Her tone was still hard when she said that.

Ravenne slammed the door shut and marched out.

The person next to me sighed when it was just the two of us again.

She tried to smile at me, “Uhm,”

“It’s okay, follow her,” I said as I smiled at her. “Besides, I’m not interested either so don’t worry, I’m fine!”

“That’s not it,” she sighed again. “Sorry about her attitude. That’s how she is when she meets someone new. Then…”

“I’m also a human,” I continued what he said. “I understand her so it’s okay.”

“Are you sure?” She asked me.

I just nodded at her.

“I will talk to her! I’ll try to calm her down so you can come with me later, promise!” she even raised his right hand to sign a promise. “Hey girl, I’ve been calling you for a while. You’re not even paying attention to me? Huh?” she shouted after it.

She left in front of me but immediately came back again. “You’re already with me. Let’s eat. Come on down!”

I followed her down.

I felt ashamed when I saw Wendy’s face again. She’s focused on her cellphone right now while she’s eating--- what is she eating?

“That’s a deer,”

I looked behind me. Ameer was there who had just come from somewhere.

I just nodded.

My annoyance with him still hasn’t gone away because he let his relatives manipulate me.

Shivani came to me and gave me a paper plate, “Oh,” she said. “Let’s eat.”

We don’t have a table, so we do our own work.

I don’t eat deer. I have never tasted it before but I really don’t want to taste it. Maybe the taste is weird.

I just took the fish. That’s cool.

Someone approached me. I knew immediately that it was Shivani who had just returned from there after she threw away her paper plate after she finished eating.

“Hey. They said you’ll go with us.”

“Huh?” I asked, putting down the rice I was eating. “’They said’? Who said that?”

Come on! Maybe she forced Ravenne. Shame!

Why are you shy and you were the one who was taunted by that girl earlier even though you didn’t do anything bad to her. You deserve to come so just let her act.

I strained my head to get rid of what my other brain was saying.

“Ravenne doesn’t speak but Landrice says it’s possible. Just don’t leave behind me, maybe someone will suddenly pull you when we enter the barracks. You will be mistaken for food.”

“Landrice?”

“Yes. Wendy.”

“Ravenne---”

She cut off what I was about to say, “Leave Ravenne alone. She will accept you someday too. Just wait.” She said and gave me a smile. “So what, will you join me?”

“Uhm…” I thought. “What is…”

What’s good to sneak in? I don’t want to go! It was awkward because Wendy was also there with me.

“She said she wasn’t interested,” it was Ravenne’s voice. I know that’s sarcastic. Just in tone.

Shivani ignored her still waiting for my reply. “What..?” She asked me.

“All right.”

When I answered that, they all looked at me. Even Wendy who was on her cell phone earlier also looked up. Also Lester with food in the mouth.

Shivani’s smile widened. I was surprised when she suddenly hugged me. “Hey! Welcome to the fam!”

I hugged her too. We were just hugging each other when we heard Ravenne throw the paper plate. There is still food inside and a glass with only water, it will be broken so you can really hear it.

Lester followed her upstairs.

“Hey.” Shivani whispered while still hugging me. “Come on, let’s get ready,” she said before letting go of my hug.

I don’t know what I’ll do next or what I’ll bring because the things I brought earlier are gone. Only my cellphone is left – it’s still charged now.

When I met Shivani, Lester, Wendy and Ravenne, I immediately noticed their red eyes. I don’t know the reason but I’m sure there’s a reason why their eyes are bloodshot again.

“I can feel them,” Shivani whispered.

I looked around but I didn’t see anything there. “Who?” I still ask.

She signaled me to be quiet. Whe put his index finger on her lips.

“We have to go.” It was Wendy’s voice with a gun in her hand.

I don’t know what kind of gun it is because I just saw it today. But I’m sure that just one shot of that gun and you’re dead.

We went there to a room. There is no roof so the snow still comes in from outside. I’m the only one wearing a jacket here while they’re still wearing thin clothes.

Shivani is wearing a black shirt. She has a moon-shaped pendant on her black necklace. I can also see more of his tattoo on his lower abdomen. It’s a butterfly.

I know what that tattoo means. Has she lost someone before? What happened?

Even though I was very curious, I chose to keep my mouth shut because we weren’t very close yet. We haven’t even been together for a week.

She’s the only one with a simple butterfly tattoo. They all have celtic butterfly or anchor tattoos on their bodies. Ravenne has a celtic butterfly on her foot while Wendy also has a celtic butterfly but on her back-on her neck.

From the beginning I knew that Wendy had a tattoo on her neck. Our teachee even scolded her once for that.

“Wendy Ridge? Is there a Wendy Ridge here?”

I looked behind me. Wendy’s seat is behind my seat. She was writing when a student from the other section called him.

“There is,” I answered. “This is her.” I pointed to Wendy who was behind me and still looking at me cluelessly.

“Huh?” She asked.

“Someone is looking for you, it’s chic bro,” I said and laughed before I continued drawing the calligraphy of Wendy’s name on the back of my notebook.

Wendy passed by my side so I looked up again towards the door where she was waiting for the female student who was calling her.

Wait, that student is Ma’am Larosa’s son? Wow, a teacher’s daughter.

We even heard their conversation from here.

“Do you have a tattoo?” the woman immediately asked as Wendy approached her.

“Did someone call me?” Wendy asked back.

“Yes, Ma’am Larosa is just asking something.” The woman answered. “Someone saw the tattoo on your neck. Can I look?” She asked again.

Wendy looked at her curiously. “What for?”

“Just look.”

“I do not want.”

Wendy wasted no time there. Dhe was about to return to her seat when the woman suddenly pulled his clothes from his neck, causing Wendy to choke.

I stood up in shock. My classmates are the same. We quickly approached Wendy to remove the woman’s hand from the collar of our friend’s uniform.

“Deputy, keep that away from me,” Wendy said when she got out of the girl’s stranglehold. Dhe was still coughing because she couldn’t breathe properly earlier. “What the hell is your problem? “ She asked the woman while giving her death stare.

“That’s it!” the woman pointed to Wendy’s back.

She has a tattoo on the back of his neck!

“Hey girl! How did you get a tattoo? That’s not allowed in minors, right?” I asked her in surprise while still looking at her butterfly tattoo on her neck. It’s small but it’s obvious because the ink is black and it’s obvious that it’s just been applied. “If possible, you should have taken me with you!”

I’m stomping around.

“I’m really panicked,” whispered our president who happened to be next to me. “Go back to your seats. I will report you to Ma’am! Wendy, come with me to the Guidance Office.”

She went with her to the guidance office.

I asked Wendy after she left the room. “What does your tattoo mean?”

She faced me even though we were far away from each other. “Celtic Butterfly. Transformation and rebirth.”

“It’s a blast,” Shivani commented, making me go back to my senses.

“Huh?”

“We are leaving,” she said. “Are you okay? Didn’t you sleep well?” Her eyes were full of worry and had returned to their original color.

To be honest, I didn’t really sleep well but that’s not the reason. It’s just that I miss going back to what I used to be. My friends and I are still very close at my old school but now… Wendy and I don’t seem to have anything in common.

Wendy’s eyes were only looking at the cellphone. She is always tickling something there every time I look at her. I don’t know if she did it on purpose or if whe was always talking to someone.

“I’m fine. Thank you,” I smiled at Shivani. We’re leaving. “Are we going to be nearby?” I will ask.

“No. That’s a bit far away.” Shivani answered again.

Since yesterday, West---Ameer and I have not spoken. I don’t know if I did something bad to him or he is avoiding me because he is ashamed that he didn’t defend me yesterday?

Protected? What the hell. Are you a damsel in distress?

Why should he be ashamed that he didn’t defend me? Fuck that. My brain is really different. Everywhere goes.

I looked around but I couldn’t see anything that could be ridden. How will we leave if we don’t have a car?

“We will not leave with the car.”

I looked up in shock when I heard Wendy speak. Just now I heard her speak again as if she answered the question in my mind.

“W-What shall we use?” I asked while looking away because she was also looking at me.

She just gave me a grin before looking at Ravenne. “I’ll get going first,” she said goodbye to her and looked at Shivani. “Take care. I’ll see you later.”

I was surprised when suddenly there was a strong wind. At the same time as the wind, Wendy suddenly disappeared as if she were ashes that went with the wind.

My eyes were still wide while my friends laughed at my reaction. Did they make a vampire joke to me? That’s really surprising!

“Great,” I whispered.

Ravenne disappeared next, followed by Lester and West. When Shivani and I were the only ones, I looked at her. “Where did they go? How did they do that?”

She just laughed. “West and Lester went to another country. They are looking for someone. Ravenne and Landrice are already in camp.” She says. “We don’t even know how we do it but it’s really amazing.”

“How can I leave? I’m not like you---”

“Shut up,” shw interrupted what I was about to say. She even looked at me. “That’s why we became last so the two of us can be together.” She said while still snorting.

“What are we going to do?”

She took my hand and put it in her hand. “There. Just hold on to me. It just feels like an elevator. Elevator flying wahaha!” she said laughing. “When you feel that we are about to fall, don’t open your eyes. Maybe we’ll end up somewhere else.”

“Okay,” I answered. Still in shock.

Suddenly there was a strong wind. I closed my eyes because of that. As soon as I closed my eyes, I felt that we were about to fall, so my grip on Shivani became even tighter. It’s like I’m in the Enchanted Kingdom’s Space Shuttle because even though I close my eyes, I can still feel the depth of what we’re going to fall into.

“Hey, we’re here you should open your eyes now,”

When I opened my eyes, another paradise appeared before me. The weather is beautiful. I could only hear the chirping of birds and the lapping of water from the sea.

“Wow,” I said.

When I looked around I saw girls like Shivani. They were all white and had red eyes. They were all dressed in black and had tattoos. I also see foreigners, that’s what Shivani was telling me about earlier.

“Welcome home, Shin!” the girl in the ponytail said happily. She hugs Shivani.

I looked at her. Black bralette and leggings. She had a large cut on jer chest near the neck. Because she was wearing a bralette, it was obvious.

When they parted from the embrace, the woman looked at me. “Hi.” She greeted. She looked at Shivani again, “Who is she? Brought by Landrice?”

“No bitch, she’s my new girlfriend,” she answered jokingly with a laugh. “She will join us.”

The woman’s mouth was covered. “Come on? Really?” She looked at me in surprise, “What’s your name? My name is Midnighte. Midnighte Ezekiel, You?” she even offered to shake hands.

I accepted her hand. She still flinched slightly at what I did but she smiled at me again. “Rackhie Sun Mendiola.”

She nodded and looked at Shivani again. “Shin, can we talk?”

“Okay, later,”

“Later?” Midnighte raised an eyebrow at her.

“I already know what you’re going to ask.” Shivani says seriously. “Yes, Rackhie is human. We brought someone, Landrice will make her join in Duressa.”

I heard the gasps.

“A human? Impossible. Landrice will not join let a human in our group.” Midnighte said.

“Don’t worry, he won’t last long.”

“What do you mean?” Ravenne suddenly appeared from there through a large door. “It won’t take long? Will she be removed immediately?”

“Nope.” Shivani replied looking at me. “She’ll become one of us soon.”

“Oh. I thought it was something else. It’s only in Duressa.” Ravenne seemed to lose interest when she heard Shivani’s answer to her.

“You’re right in thinking.”

Ravenne stopped what she said. Even I was surprised by Shivani’s words. I have no idea what I should do first to understand.

“We will make her like us. Rackhie will be a vampire too.”