My hands were shaking as I slowly opened the box. My mind was in haze, I can't believe what's happening. I know I'm like a freak, maybe a total freak since I have an odd ability, but witnessing someone do the same odds as mine gives me shivers and uncomfortable feeling. Is this how my friends reacted when they first witnessed my ability? I say, it's freaking astonishing. I can't believe.
When I opened the box and came out, the face of an old woman smiling was exposed. My heart thumped loud, she's smiling— should I take this a threat or just a simple greetings from her? I know something's up. She would not react like this if nothing's a problem. I'm in jittery, I want to run away but I'm scared I just get cornered and accused of anything. I need to be careful, I still have to come back home.
"What are you doing? And why are you hiding there, hija?" She asked. I looked away, I still do not know her but I knew I couldn't lie at the moment, not to her atleast. So I did not answer.
"You know this place is more dangerous, need I remind you that you're in the Palace right now." She said, still smiling widely.
I sighed nervously, "I — I don't know what to do ..." I answered weakly. I wonder if I answered the old woman correctly. I feel like there's a right and wrong answer in this place, and I should always get the right one.
"Once the guards see you they will arrest you."
I know, I truly know. They were the ones who brought me here in the first place to have fun. I cannot let them find me or else I'll be doomed. I just looked down, looks like disaster will really meet me in this place. I've been chasing storms and cyclones are on the hunt for me as well, looks like I've found my place to cease.
"Come, follow me."
I stilled. Her smile still lingered. She stared at me for a second, measuring if I'd follow her or not. Regardless of what I'd do, she still walked away. So when she left I did nothing but follow, I carefully walked to the place where the old woman entered. It was a small room full of books, the amazement never left my face. I always wanted to go to a library like this, but I never got a chance to do so.
"It's not a library, this place is my room."
I almost fell to my feet when the old woman appeared in front of me.
"W —— who are you?" I can't help but ask in fear. At that time the old woman turned serious with me and stared straight as if piercing the dept of my soul.
"You hija, who are you?"
I stood there, dumbfounded. I'm still on the place, but I felt so lost when she asked that question.
Me?
I don’t know who I am.
"Manang? Manang Omeng?"
Shock and fear flashed across my face when I heard a man's voice. My eyes dilated, I roamed around to look for a place to hide as the voice gets louder.
"Hide in the back and don't leave!" The old woman said and pointed the slot behind a cupboard full of books. I immediately followed, I have no time to be stupid.
"Manang Omeng?"
Moments later I felt a strong aura. It's not just a mere presence, it's so freaking strong that my eyes rolled back in unknown fear. The person who walked in seemed to be authoritative, imperious, I could feel it behind the cupboard.
"I thought you were in rehearsal, my dear Prince? What are you doing here Zavan?" The old woman replied, she's probably Manang Omeng because who else would have that name aside from her in that very room?
Zavan? Isn't he the prince? Shit! My heart thumped louder, I can't believe I'm just getting more anxious. I feel so stupid for robbing at the second district, I've never felt remorse like this. I just hoped I never did such thing, because if I just stayed at home and worked at the center, I'd be in a different situation right now. Probably not too good, but not this bad as well. Urgh, I have what's going on with my life.
"I've heard the package has arrived. But I saw these dusts inside the box, it looks like someone has entered the palace!"
Oh my gosh! I covered my mouth when I remembered the shit I got, it looked like a trace had been left on the box. I feel so stupid once again, how could I be so reckless? Of course, I've fallen several times and was hit with dirty shoes and legs. The dirt I got was imprinted on the package leaving stupid traces of mine.
"Calm down Zavan, if anyone has gotten in I know they're not dangerous." Manang Omeng replied. Is she a seer, fortuneteller or what?
"Are you sure?"
"Sure Zavan, go back and practice. Your search for the stones is approaching."
The baritone voice slowly ceased, "I'll get going then."
Eventually I felt the prince finally leave the old woman's room. Manang Omeng did not return immediately so I took advantage of that time to run away. I know it was not the best decision, but I'm such a mess and all I just wanted to do is to run away and escape that freaking place. I don't belong here, once I get caught they'll punish me to death.
But escaping was indeed the worst choice I've ever done, because at the door where I was about to approach, stood a man in his uniform, I saw the palace guards. I immediately hid and tried to listen to them with my ability. They were too far away from me but I forced myself to hear them.
I felt the color change of my eyes, it looked like I had reopened my ability once again because their voice were getting clearer.
"I put a woman in there! Inside the truck earlier, she suddenly disappeared!"
"You idiot! What if she manage to wander around the palace? What if that woman was a bad person, we're in danger now?"
"I need to find her, it'll be fine. In case, I kill her the moment I see her!"
"Let's start the search before something bad happens!"
I covered my mouth to muffle my voice, to prevent the slight shock at what I heard. Looks like it's time for my doom, I really need to escape here. From where I was hiding I went back to Mang Omeng's room, I didn't see her there so I looked for the exit door. The palace is so big and there are so many detours, any time I can get lost. But I didn't let myself wander longer, I looked for a door to get out. Then I found one! I went out to the grassy part of the palace, I think it was the back of the palace because there was a lot of woods and plants. It is also not well taken care of because the surroundings are old.
I was startled by the heat and light coming from the sky. Looks like I found a way out.
"What is a witch doing here?"
My eyes widened as I turned to the speaker. I gulped when I saw a man holding an ax, but that's not just it. That's not what totally freaked me out. It was his hands! His hands are smoking!
Am I seeing things correctly?
His hands are smoking! I've been witnessing a lot of freakish things lately. I got used with my ability, but seeing more odds which are usually greater than mine— it's insane!
I immediately backed away. Sweats toppled down my face, with the mixture of fear and nervousness my chest has been carrying causing me pain, I carefully took steps back. They’re still looking for me, and I don’t think they’ll stop until they find me. I can't let this man notice me or else I'll be dead.
"I found the girl! There she is!"
My eyes rolled and out of shock I suddenly ran. Just an instinct of mine but I abruptly ran away not minding if I'm catching attentions. The guards chased me, and since I did not know how to get around the palace, they found a way to corner me. I held my throbbing chest and looked again at the man I had met who's now staring at me with furrowed brows, his hands are no longer smoking but he was still holding the ax. His eyes are asking, and I think he’s kind of dangerous.
"You can't escape!" The guard shouted and suddenly grabbed my arm.
I struggled hard and ran again, but suddenly my knees hurt so I stumbled on the grass.
"Say you're no longer a fugitive!" The guard grabbed me again and pulled my hair.
"ARRGH!" I shouted as he almost cut my head off because of the force and suddenness of his hauling.
"You look nice, you'd be a perfect concubine if only you're not dangerous!" The guard said and looked at my whole being. I looked at him sharply because the way he stared at me seemed to be planning something bad. He's disgusting, he disgusts me, I want to freaking punch him in the face right now.
"You're really nice." He repeated and then lick his lips. Annoyed, I punched him in the jaw and spat disgustingly.
Damn you, yuck!
I saw the extreme annoyance on his face because of what I had done. In less than a second, I stumbled again on the grass while writhing in pain in my stomach. The guard just kicked me in my stomach and it freaking hurts.
"Naughty woman!" He shouted and kicked me again, he still seemed not satisfied of my suffering because he kicked me more until black spots covered my stomach causing me to vomit blood. I tried to gain my composure and sat down. I violently wiped the blood out of my mouth and glared at the merciless guard who was torturing me. He was about to him me again and I were to reverse our situation when someone yelled from behind.
"STOP!"
We all stopped when the man with the ax authoritatively screamed and approached us.
He watched my whole being, as if watching a wretched in the street. At the same time, a he was observing me I was observing his physical appearance as well. Looks don't lie in the palace, he looks like a high class elite. Even his sweat was glowing, it was embarrassing for me, my sweats never even glowed under the sun.
His beautiful eyes stared at me sharply, even the curving of his lip and the raising of his thick eyebrow did not escape me. Amusement filled his face, he's fully aware that I am observing him. My heart pounded when he smiled, he also seemed to know I was trying to read his reaction. He gripped his poleaxe, and I saw how his biceps firmly showed beyond his see through ripped shirt.
"Too brave sir, need to teach a lesson!" Suddenly, the guard groaned.
The man's forehead furrowed and the guard was taken aback.
"It is needed--"
"I said stop!" The man spoke authoritatively as his piercing gaze stopped on me.
I looked away, I crouched down due to stomach pain. I suddenly squirmed, but despite my miserable reaction I couldn’t even read a shock nor sympathetic expression on his handsome face. It was as if he was so used to seeing someone in trouble, and I was suffering for nothing.
F*ck this life!
"The team is still practicing right?" He questioned.
I saw the guards nod, the lip of the man holding the ax again curled and then laugh.
"Bring her to the labyrinth."
At first, the guards stared at each other, as if asking if the man was serious about what he had said.
"To the maze! NOW!" The man yelled startling the guards. Because of that they moved quickly, they grabbed me recklessly to take me to the place the man told them so.
Labyrinth?
"ARRRGHH! YOU SHIT!" I cried out in pain again when the guard ruthlessly dragged me away. We entered the back part of the palace and then exited a wooded area. It was dark, like a forest inhabited by wild animals. It was too late when I noticed I was standing in front of a huge maze.
I gulped, ‘What is the meaning of this?’
"We have a pawn now," I heard the man who captured me whisper. He don't have his ax anymore, "The team is still inside right?" He questioned once again to the guards and the men in uniform nodded as a reply.
"We'll be having a ride then." The man said and fearlessly entered the Maze. I was left dumfounded, standing in front of the maze, not knowing what to do. I want to faint due to the pain I'm feeling, I just want to fall on the grass. But I literally collapsed when the guard suddenly pushed me.
He later pointed a gun at me. My breathing became rapid, is this idiot going to kill me?
"Get into that Maze or I'll blow your head off now!" He threatened, I swallowed hard and turned into the dark Maze.
Fuck, I don't know what to do now. I was just lost, and now I'm experiencing this kind of hell. I don’t know if I’ll ever get out alive, but if I don't obey, I will instantly lose my life.
"One!"
I almost jumped in shock, I slowly walked towards the labyrinth.
"Two!"
I finally turned my back on the guard and faced the labyrinth, I sighed and started to step into the maze without having any knowledge of what's inside.
"To get back, you have to get an important stone. This stone is different from a normal stone, it glows so you will notice it right away. You can't go out without holding one," said the guard and laughed slightly, "If you don't get one, then you won't get out alive." He added.
I shut my eyes, this guard is getting into my nerves.
I couldn't hold back. I turned sharply to the guard with an insulting grin on my lips, "Glowing?"
The guard nodded, "Yes."
My grin faded, replaced by my sharp gaze against the guard who eventually flinched by the expression I made, "You're a bullhead cuckoo."
I felt satisfaction when I saw a messed expression from the guard. He looked like he had been hit by a stone, he quickly aimed the gun at me. But my evil expression didn’t change, that habit of mine came out because the guard had gone too far. I just let him belittle me okay? But I don't intend to just sit still and do nothing in return. Don't abuse me, I also know how to get angry.
I stepped back, all I had to do is find a precious stone. I will come out alive here. I can't die, I have to come out alive. So I stepped inside the maze with a whip courage.