Chapter 2: Angel from the dreams
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There was naught to seek after
Everything
To be or not to be
Defined just like light and dark
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I swerved sharply at an angle, not once turning my head and looking back to confirm whether I had lost them.
Run, run, RUN! Don't stop, don't look back, they'll get you if you slow down or look at them. Flee! Get away before they could have a hold on you!
I ran on blindly through the dark streets, not giving a care on where I was heading. The moon was shining upon me, but I couldn't appreciate its beauty. Not now. All I knew was that I had to go to that harbor. Flee. Flee. Flee. Everything else was solely based on instincts. My heartbeat was pounding rapidly in my ears as I felt more blood reach my head. I started experiencing giddiness from all the physical exertions for the past 30 minutes and I could feel myself slowing down bit by bit.
Don't care about it! Continue running till you drop! It would be much worse if they caught you! They must not catch up with you! You cannot be captured by them again! The 'thing' wouldn't let you live! It's almost as bad as them!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Footsteps were nearing me, sounding urgent and threatening at the same time in my half-drugged brain. It's their footsteps. From a distance not so far away in another direction, the 'thing' gave a loud piercing shriek – neither human nor animal could have made that noise – as it came nearer and nearer to getting me.
Can't you move any faster? It's gaining in on you! They're not going to let you go that easily too! Hurry! You're reaching the harbor soon! Escape is within inches already. Don't give up! Don't be surrounded by the 'thing' and them! Watch your steps!
I felt a forbidding presence near me and a sudden rush of cold air. It just tried to swipe me with its claws. My old torn shoes skidded dangerously on the wooden wet floor of the jetty as I strived to reach my destination as soon as I could.
Almost there now!
Splat!
My grip on the wooden planks slipped and I found myself on the ground. Just next to me, the 'thing' gave another mind-shuddering roar, as if it had triumphed over me. I squeezed my eyes shut and shut my ears out from the racket it was making; but try as I might, I could not force my legs to support me any longer.
Move! Get up!
I smelt a sudden foul stench whiffing through my nose.
A chill ran down my spine.
The smell of death.
I opened my eyes at the last moment.
Rows and rows of sharpened teeth fixated right in my face.
Save me!
… Is anyone there?
Claws were coming straight at me. Another yard more and it's the end of me.
Blue, almost dark hair swirled in front of me in an instant, shielding my eyes from 'it'.
I only saw the outline of her, before darkness took me over…
The face of my…
…my guardian angel…?
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Dreams are just realities denied.
What are you running away from?
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"Himeko, wake up!"
It must be nothing much… After all, dreams don't mean anything.
"Mphrgmm…"
"Himeko, are you listening to me? It's getting late if you don't get up now!"
But why do I always have that same dream?
"Hi-me-ko!"
Hands tugged at my pajamas, pulling at them while I squirmed around, trying not to wake up.
"Mou… Mako-chan… just five more minutes… Today's Sunday…"
I could feel her removing her hands from me, only to use them to frame my face. I kept my eyes closed, hoping that she would relent and let me sleep in longer.
Five… or even ten minutes more…
Something pressed in.
"Ouch! Ow! Pain! Pain! Pain! Mako-chan! Stop drumming your hands on my head! I'm awake! I'm awake!"
"Now, now, Himeko, get dressed or we'll be late for school! It's Monday today, not Sunday!"
Huh…? It's Monday today? Oh no!
"Mako-chan, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
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I moved hurriedly after Mako-chan, trying to catch up the school's athlete to my best ability without running flat-out. A sleek navy-blue limousine pulled up by the gates of the school as I passed by. The sunlight reflected off in a bright glare from its well-polished exterior as the door of the car opened to reveal a maid and an unknown girl dressed in the crimson uniform of Ototachibana Gakuen.
Who is she? A new transfer student to the school?
I caught a short glimpse of her face as she gracefully emerged from the car; her every movement fluid and natural like the flow of water from the skies in rain.
Midnight tresses of hair that fell straight to her back in one smooth toss of her head… Delicately shaped body that leaves no one untouched upon the sight… A posture that displayed an inner strength within all the elegance…
Bright azure eyes… eyes that encased a hypnotizing depth so deep that you will be lost in them…
Such beautiful eyes…
"Himeko! So that's where you are… standing here as if in a trance, aren't you? I thought that you fell asleep halfway or something while walking here – whoa! Who's that pretty girl I see?"
Mako-chan?
"Huh? Mako-chan, I thought you were already very far ahead of me? Why are you here?"
"Gods, Himeko, are you sleepwalking and sleep talking throughout the journey here? You aren't making sense to me here. C'mon let's go say hi to her, I'm curious about who she is. Maybe she'll let me hit on her a little! I'm getting excited at just thinking of all the possibilities!"
Mako-chan… she never changes that attitude of hers…
People were gathering around her, seemingly attracted to her as I was…
"Mou… Mako-chan… I don't think we should. Let's go now or we're really going to be late!"
I pulled her along and away from that beautiful person. We walked up the stepped slope of the hill, keeping our attention focused on the way up. I don't want to trip and roll all the way down the slope again… It hurts.
Just when I thought that she wasn't going to say anything else on that girl, her voice came floating to my ears.
"Hey, Himeko. That's really something for you to say eh? Who's the one who couldn't get up in the morning? Ohhh! I get it now… who's the one who stood there gawking at her and not daring to talk to her as well? And to think you're the one who's commenting that we'll be late from a little interaction with her!"
I felt my face warming up at her words.
My face must be really red now… must she always do this?
"Mako-chan… could you just tone down a little? I only just thought that she didn't seem the type that will like normal people like us."
A Ojou-sama like her couldn't possibly be bothered to have friends like me… Maybe she'll make friends with people like Izumi-san…
"Himeko, do you think Sugira-sensei will spring a surprise test today?"
Uh huh… she probably wouldn't even know of my existence… much less friends…
"I don't- eh?"
Backwards… backwards… I was falling backwards…
"Himeko!"
I tried desperately to reach for her stretched out hands I don't want to dislocate my leg again but I couldn't reach her grasp…
Backwards… tilting… moving…
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Help me!
Anyone…?
…my guardian angel?
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I felt a hand slink around my waist before pulling me in to a close embrace. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around the body for better support.
Warm… So soothing and warm…
Gasp!
The surroundings pulled me out of the comfort I felt, reminding me of where I was.
Something felt wrong.
I was still falling backwards… and dragging whoever my arms were draped around along in the descent.
"Himeko!"
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A/N: -coughcough- Well… all my plotbunnies and such ran away from me in terror of exams… I got stuck pretty much while writing this, so I hope that it's actually quite acceptable. I reached a dead end at the last sentence here… so I've decided to post it up first and pray for more bunnies to appear. Hopefully I can play (catch da bunnies) and win so you'll have an update soon. (: Uh… yea… really… I need some comments on it to give me energy to chase da bunnies. Hehe…