"I was here."
Terra had repeated the phrase for the fifth time. At first, she spoke in a questioning tone, as if it made no sense. But the more she said the three words, the more it formed a mental puzzle piece.
She and Slade had finally arrived at Markovia, her hometown, her birthplace. It had been so long, she almost forgot the name of the little country.
Markovia is a European nation right beside the small, but still bigger than Markovia itself, country of Liechtenstein. Because of its diminutive portion of land, it merely resembled a simple French village. The market square was packed with stalls, vendors and buyers where baskets of fruits and veggies, fresh chicken eggs, and multiple spices in jars were being sold. There was bargaining almost everywhere, mothers with their children, young male sellers flirting with the single women, and overall a small but functional society. Seeing it all made the super long trip worth it.
"I was here," she said, breathless in her sixth reiteration. And, with a sound step, she began exploring the little place she had at one point in time called home.
I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time
Know there was something that meant something that I left behind
When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets
Leave something to remember, so they won't forget
Terra took her steps, entering the marketplace. She was observing the stalls, so intently she didn't notice the little children playing and running, accidentally bumping into her. She looked down at the laughing girls, and saw herself as one of them. The image took her to her childhood memory, one she had for a long while stopped recalling.
Tara outstretched her arms and pretended to be a plane, zooming in circles, cheerfully stepping on the autumn leaves as she ran, resulting in crispy sounds. Two other girls followed suit behind her. The three were laughing very happily. Their smiles and innocent laughter made the fall season appear jumpy and enjoyable.
The blue-eyed blonde did a tumble and then skipped, her followers giggling joyously right behind. The three little girls then ran aimlessly but purposefully as the twilit sky, the source of physical brightness, accompanied the source of emotional brightness, their lighthearted faces.
"Look! Look!" Tara suddenly screamed in excitement. The two other girls rushed to Tara and checked where her fingers pointed at. That lead them to see the ground, where a ladybug was crawling on leaves covered in lightly dried-up soil.
"Fly!" shouted one of the girls happily. "I want to see it fly."
"Why does it have white circles?" the other asked out of plain curiosity. "Is it sick? Does it have chicken pox?"
"Iduno," Tara answered, looking much more closely at the insect. Wondering if something would happen, she cupped her hands together and scooped up a small portion of the soil the ladybug was on.
"No, Tara, what are you doing?" one of her friends asked. "What if it hurt you?"
Tara did not reply. She gently rubbed the soil without hurting the ladybug so that most of the soil dropped. She felt like she was taken to a secluded spot of fascination, between her and the ladybug and the earthy soil she was feeling.
That moment ended when the ladybug flew away, followed by extremely disappointed high-pitched "Aww"s from her two now-pouting friends.
"I'm sorry, miss," the girl apologized.
Terra chuckled and patted the girl on the head, "It's okay," and the girl ran off to continue playing. Terra walked on, as pieces of her childhood memory returned to her.
I was here, I lived, I loved
I was here, I did, I've done
Everything that I wanted and it was more than I thought it would
I will leave my mark so everyone will know
I was here
"Wow," she giggled, spotting a stall under the name St. Pierre's Bread. "That was there since I was just six."
"Daddy, daddy!" Tara called to her father, tugging at his waistcoat.
"D-Don't pull d-down my coat," her father responded in a shiver, smiling adoringly at his daughter, brown bushy mustache buried in flaky glitters of snow. "What is it, m'dear?"
"I want a cheesecake!" Tara squeaked, pointing at the market stall selling baked goods.
Her father laughed, his dark blue eyes glistening in the winter, "Of course, Tara, let's go purchase one."
Tara cheered and hopped onto her father's back to be carried. "I want the one with pink jelly please!"
"Fine morning, Mayor Markov!" the baker greeted joyfully. "What may I offer you today?"
"I'll buy the strawberry cheesecake for dear Tara," Mr. Markov told the seller as he took off his wallet and placed the required money on the narrow counter. "Keep the change."
"Grateful decency, Mayor," the baker said with a cheerful smile as he took the money and gave the cheesecake to Tara, making her grin widely.
"Pleasure's ours," the Mayor replied and he and his daughter continued their morning stroll.
"This is my most favorite cake, daddy," Tara said with cake smudged on her mouth as she ate the delicacy. "It's so sweet and jelly and tasty! And that's my most favorite bakery EVER!"
But the shopkeeper had changed. Before it was an old man, now a younger man, a little older than Terra herself, was running the stall. But the products on sale were the same as ever. Probably as yummy as ever. She'd love to try some after a long time, but she had no money and so she continued walking on the cobblestone street.
Terra reached the end of the stretch of stalls, and from there she could see a castle from quite a distance.
"Dad, Mom," she whispered to herself. "What if I can see them?"
I wanna say I lived each until I died
And know that I did something in somebody's life
The hearts i have touched will be the proof that I leave
That I made a difference, and this world will see
Terra had arrived at rows and rows of cottages. She immediately recalled the name of the place she was currently standing on.
"Tarbal Avenue," Terra received goosebumps at the mention of the name, even more at the sight of the houses. She did not have the best time at Tarbal Avenue. In fact, it was a haunting history. But she couldn't change the fact that she was there before, and that she was there now.
There was no mistake, Tarbal Avenue was where all the non-high-class villagers reside. She clearly remembered the standardized structures, the paved road in between, the chimneys in every three houses. She didn't live in any one of them, but she still had memorable times spent there.
"Mommy, this is where Clare lives!" young Tara exclaimed to her mother, all dressed in utmost formality.
The adult female bore a businesswoman's suit, her hair had been trimmed to a blonde bob and for a 30-something-year-old she had stress streaks on her face. But her bright blue eyes and sober posture indicated no signs of exhaustion.
She looked down at her daughter and responded, "Clare lives in Tarbal Avenue? Not in Uptown Heights like your other classmates?"
Tara nodded enthusiastically, nearing the welcome sign. "She is the smartest in my class, and she is nice! May we visit her, please?"
Mrs. Markov chuckled, she knew what her answer would be.
"I'm sorry, dear, I don't think we have time for that."
Even though it was only an hour after grade school and Tara didn't think it was late, the young girl obliged.
Three days later, on a Saturday morning, Tara begged her elder brother that they visit Clare in Tarbal Avenue while their parents were out at work. Maximus was reluctant, but he loved nothing more than to make her little sister happy, and so he agreed.
Tara and Maximus knocked on the door of the Clarence residence.
"Fine morning, Mrs. Clarence," Maximus said kindly. "Tara here wants to play with Clare for the day, if that's okay with you."
"Of course, the pleasure's ours!" Mrs. Clarence said, and Tara rushed in once she spotted Clare. "Wow, Maximus Markov, you are as cute as ever."
Mrs. Clarence pinched and pulled Maximus's cheeks as she stared at the wonder before her.
Maximus had the looks of a fictional Prince Charming; dashing blond hair, a handsome face, the ideal body, radiating the protectiveness of a knight, and has a kind soul. Maximus chuckled as he backed away from Mrs. Clarence to avoid anymore pain.
"So, uh, I'll be back at around 4 p.m. to pick her up. Grateful decency for your time," Maximus said as they bade farewell. "Nice place, by the way."
Not only good memories, unfortunately.
One week later, Clare's father had gone missing.
"Poor Jonathan Clarence," Mrs. Markov said pitifully as she flipped to the next page of the newspaper. "Wait, isn't he your classmate's father?"
Tara wept for her friend once she heard the news, but she wasn't shocked at his disappearance. It was terrible news, but no one was. It was urban legend came to life for people in Tarbal Avenue to never been seen ever again. It was a mystery that no one could solve.
"What is happening there, mommy?" Tara said, pulling her mother closer to her. "Is there magic there? Or is someone doing this?"
"I don't know, honey," her mother comforted her, hugging back. "But grateful decency that hasn't been an incident here in Uptown Heights. We're safe here, darling, which is why I don't want you to go there ever again, you understand? Please, dear, I don't want this to happen to you."
Tara cried and hugged more tightly. "I promise, ma!"
Terra was wondering if the incidents were still going on, she wouldn't be surprised, it had gone on since even before her birth. But now, at least she had her powers to protect her. Could the disappearances be the reason Slade told her to come back to Markovia; both homely and haunted?
I was here, I lived, I loved
I was here, I did, I've done
Everything that I wanted and it was more than I thought it would
I will leave my mark so everyone will know
As a stampede of childhood memories ambushed her, Terra started to be able to recall why she ran away in the first place. She reached the end of Tarbal Avenue, and was now at Serenity Pid Park. She shivered at the recollection. The irony of it was that Serenity Pid Park was the end of her peaceful childhood.
It was the last, and the worst, memory of her childhood. It was the time she began her runaway. And after seeing the park again, now deserted and rusted as if the whole nation had unanimously decided to let it be after the events that went down, she remembered it all too well.
"Stay here, Tara," Maximus told her sister, sitting her on one of the pristine benches. "I have to talk to someone."
His sister obeyed and he ran into the trees. Tara had been playing in Serenity Pid Park under Maximus's supervision. It was night, around 8 p.m., and most families were at home, and they were alone in the park, but it was still fun playing under the lamps. She wasn't scared under the lone light alone at night, because she had done that several times already before, and Serenity Pid Park was safe from the Tarbal Avenue curse.
But she did grow curious why her brother had to leave her and go off to someplace she didn't know. So, when she noticed minimal movement, she decided to see what was going on.
"Elder brother?" she called quietly, walking towards the trees. She peered through gaps from leaves and saw her brother Maximus, with someone else. It was a woman from Tarbal Avenue. She kept quiet and intently eavesdropped on their conversation.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Livingston, I really am," Tara could hear Maximus apologize, followed by sounds of ropes rubbing against each other.
"You let me go, you sicko!" the woman yelled, kicking and screaming.
"I don't want to do this, miss!" Maximus told her. "Please, I'm helping you!"
"Help me? What are you saying? You are a beast!"
And with a swift kick, she tumbled Maximus down and ran screaming for help.
"HELP! HELP! Somebody, help! I know who the culprit is!" Ms. Livingston screamed as she ran for Tarbal Avenue. "It is Maximus! He's been kidnapping us!"
Tara gasped. She could not believe her ears. Her brother, the kidnapper? Tears were about to fall upon the revelation.
The squeaky gasp did not go unnoticed by her brother. He saw her eyes from behind the trees, and was scared to death. He ran to her.
"Tara, please, don't be afraid!"
Tara just looked at him with all the anger she had, but she didn't have any. She just shook her head in confusion, unsure of what to do.
Maximus had no choice, he had to escape. "Run, Tara! Run! I'm sorry! RUN! Don't look back!"
And with adrenaline, she did as told. But she was so scared she wasn't thinking. She was just running. She was running away from Markovia. She didn't even think about her parents. Besides, she wouldn't be able to tell them the truth that her dearest brother had been the kidnapper all along, for she feared Maximus would make her disappear as well.
And within seconds, she was gone. Out of there.
Terra sighed. The trees were gone. They had died, just like how her childhood had been crushed because of one revelation too tough to swallow. If she saw her brother again, she would definitely make him pay for his actions. For separating her from her family. For disrupting her childhood. For removing that sense of safety and having to run for dear life, for fear of being caught.
I was here, I lived, I loved
I was here, I did, I've done
Everything that I wanted and it was more than I thought it would
I will leave my mark so everyone will know
I was here
Family. She had to see her parents again. She must. She walked away from Serenity Pid Park, towards the castle.
The Markov Castle was a local landmark, both because it is the residence of the Royal family of Markovia, and because of its beautifully built bastion bringing bliss before the people. The regal style and colorful coatings of teal and yellow was pleasant to the eyes of many a Markovian. To Terra, Markov Castle wasn't a landmark; it was home. Was home.
But that thought didn't stop her from regaining pictures of her past that she had put aside for a few years already.
The Markov household were having a normal nighttime. It was dark in the castle. Everyone was asleep. Almost everyone.
"Mom, tell me a bedtime story," Tara requested drowsily.
Mrs. Markov shook her head slowly, giving Tara a warm glass of milk. "Drink this instead, it will soothe your throat and comfort you to sleep."
Tara thanked her mother and gulped down the dairy contents.
"This milk tastes different, mom," Tara pointed out.
"They ran out of our usual, unfortunately," Mrs. Markov responded with a widening smile. "I am so excited for your twelfth birthday."
Tara stared sleepily at her mother in curiosity.
"But my birthday is not until..." she counted her fingers to count the number of months. "Iduno."
Her mother giggled and then gently laid Tara's head down so that she could sleep. "Just go to sleep, dear."
"Mother," Maximus called from outside Tara's bedroom, looking closely at her mother.
"Yes, dear, I'll be right there," she responded. "Sleep now, Tara."
"Can you take me to Serenity Pid Park this Sunday?" Tara said, almost drifting to slumber. "I want to go there. I never go yet."
"I'm sorry, dear, I and your dad will have work then," Mrs. Markov said. "Goodnight, sweetie."
"Goodnight, mommy."
Terra took a deep breath as she arrived at the entrance of the castle grounds.
"I'm here now."
I just want them to know
That I gave my all, did my best
Brought someone to happiness
Left this world a little better just because
I was here
"I see you have re-explored the environment of which you have lived your childhood."
Terra spun back to see Slade walking towards her, mysteriously masked as ever. She had spent overnight with him, she could really make do with not seeing him for the rest of her life.
"I know," she responded. But Slade knew something about her, maybe something even she didn't know about. "Do you know if my parents are still...?"
"Yes, they are alive and well," Slade told her, standing solidly beside the geomancer. "They really want to reunite with you."
"Why do I have a feeling that's not the main reason you tried to convince me to go here?"
Slade didn't talk further, he walked onwards, Terra following him. The guards let them enter, as if they knew that was coming.
The two walked up the marble steps, officially into the castle building. Since Terra had grown taller, the place looked shorter, but it was still a humongous place of artistic elegance.
They then walked up concrete and regally carved wooden spiral staircases, walking and walking to where the Queen and the King sat. Or the Duchess and the Dutch. The Mistress and the Master. The First Lady and the Mayor. This part of the castle was unfamiliar to Terra, for she was to young to be allowed access to the High places.
I was here, I lived, I loved
I was here, I did, I've done
Everything that I wanted and it was more than I thought it would be
I will leave my mark so everyone will know
I was here
With each step on the castle high grounds, the beat of Terra's heart quickened, the anticipation increased, the excitement intensified. She was going to see her parents again, and she wondered what their reactions would be.
They were there. They finally arrived.
"Tara Markov, meet your parents," Slade said.
Terra stared at the two royal seats before her and saw the two people she loved the most. Tears of joy began streaming down her eyes.
"Mom. Dad."
I was here.
(Author's Note: I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! I'm sorry I marked this story as "Completed", I overlooked that! And thank you all who read, reviewed, kept on alert, etc. I love all of you and I'm loving writing this story! The pleasure's mine!)