2
I accidentally deleted this whole story, not even thinking about what I was doing and now I had to rewrite this whole second chapter that I had halfway written. I can't even remember what I had written, except for a few small things. Thankfully I had this story uploaded to ao3.
I did go back over the prologue and first chapter to see if anything needed a touch up and there were a few spots that I fixed up. I even went in and added a few places for extra added detail. Enjoy!
I jolted awake in an upright position to heavy rain and thunder pouring outside my bedroom. I jumped out of bed and ran across the room to close the tall glass door, along with the curtain so I couldn't see the lightning. I'm not afraid of storms but being woken up by them sends my heart racing. Which I hate the most. Walking back towards my bed, I noticed my alarm clock read just after two-thirty in the morning. I don't even remember the time I fell asleep last night, which I hate because I could have been asleep for an hour or two.
The lightning and thunder caused me to jump again. Knowing I had gel ear plugs, I retrieved them from my toiletries bag, and my sleep mask too. Anything to help draw out the sound of the outside will do. Back home I wouldn't need these, but tonight I do.
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I felt myself turn from one side to the other and not even a second later I was falling out of bed to the hardwood floor. Damn it! How? How does this even happen? I remember putting myself in the middle of the bed after being woken up by the thunderstorm early this morning. I got up off the floor, rubbing my lower back side to stop the throbbing pain I was having. "I am sixteen and I now need a crib protector it seems like."
I removed my eye mask and ear plugs. I looked towards the clock to see it was only five in the morning. Come on! If I were back home, I would still be asleep and waking up at eight since it's the weekend. "What's the point of going back to bed," I told myself quietly.
I turned my side table light on, got back into bed, retrieved my phone, and looked at the screen. No messages from Mom or Kisuke. "So, I guess they are either asleep or close to their destination." I don't even know how long their flight would take to Italy.
I sent mom a message anyway to let her know I was awake. I miss her already. When I was younger, there were times I would wake up from horrible nightmares and would run to her room for comfort. She always let me crawl up against her and hold me tight under the covers. I always told her what my nightmares were about, and she would always reassure me that what I saw in my dreams wasn't real. It was at a time like this I wish she could hold me right now and tell me that all will be okay being here, even though I don't want to be. I want her special hot coco, with a hint of vanilla and hazelnut. Plus, I just want her cooking. The food here will never compare to mom's home cooking.
Since I still wasn't going to try and go back to sleep, I decided to look up about this supposed demon lord that ruled these lands centuries ago with his human wife. In the search bar on google I typed the name of the school and with a few added details, clicking the first article that appeared.
Mount Ishikari, the greatly wandering river, is a breathtaking mountain in the northern part of Japan. Surrounded by the mass majority of trees are hidden small villages and a castle that is home to an elite private school for high school students to the wealthiest of families in Japan. But Mount Ishikari is also known for more than its rivers. It is said that demons roamed freely throughout Japan many years ago.
Centuries ago, close to five hundred years, it was rumored that a very strong demon lord, whose name we don't know, once ruled the vast majority of Mount Ishikari. The demon lord was rumored to be very ruthless and hated all humans and wanted nothing to do with them. Any human that tried to approach him in a threatening manner would either end up badly hurt or dead. All humans and some demons avoided him at all costs to avoid an uncertain death if they crossed his path… until he was spotted walking with a beautiful lady that was human.
Word had spread that she was nothing but a farmer's daughter of a poor village and was sold to the demon lord as an offering for her father to keep his home. Others speculated that she offered herself to the lord in order for her father to save what was left of her family's home. No one knows for sure, but a connection was made between the two of them shortly, and they were soon married after one year when she went to live in the castle.
So, a Beauty and the Beast type of scenario. If my memory serves me right from the story or movie I once saw, beauty did voluntarily offer herself for the beast to save her family from poverty, but the beauty did come from wealth at one point, eventually falling in love with the beast during, and after his transformation.
I continued with the story.
No one knew her name either, but it was said that her beauty caught everyone's eyes when they saw her walking with or without her lord husband. They said her raven hair shined when the sun hit it. Her skin was a beautiful slight tan. Her eyes were the most beautiful almond shade of brown. They said if she walked into a room all heads would turn and her smile had everyone's heart beating a million miles a minute. Some villagers have been rumored to have seen the lord smile to his human wife when they were together.
The couple spent a many wonderful years together after they were married and were supposedly expecting their first child until the morning of one cool autumn day. The lady took one of many walks to her home village to visit her family unescorted. It was typical for her to go without a guard or two because she still wanted her independence though she was a lord's wife. They said their farewells as she would return that evening for dinner. That was last time she would be seen alive.
When evening rolled around that same day, and the lady had not returned home for dinner, the lord who grew very worried, and set out to find his wife, along with his many guards, fearing his wife was hurt somewhere along her walk or stuck and couldn't get out. It didn't take long that they discovered upon their search her body lying face down in a pile of leaves in the shape of a perfect circle. Her blood had not been spilled and no signs of anyone laying a hand upon her were found. No one knows for sure how she died, but some speculated that she was killed by an unknown force.
With the loss of his wife and unborn child, the lord couldn't bear to be without his true love. It was said he left his home through a secret tunnel within the castle that took him through the mountains to a trail that leads to a volcano where they believed he threw himself in.
Some speculate they possibly found each other in the afterlife, but others say otherwise. Some say that the lord never jumped in and is still roaming the forest to this day, keeping guard of his beloved's tomb where she was laid to rest. Some others believe the lady's spirit is walking the halls of the castle and forest, searching for her lord to be saved.
The story ended there. This article gives me such Hans Christian Anderson vibes, with double the tragedy, supposably. By tragedy, I mean you don't know who or what the villain is. A villain who used invisibility as a way to elude the hero.
I don't believe this place is haunted, inside and out. Ghosts aren't real and neither are demons. This is nothing but a fabricated story made up to get parents to bring their spoiled kids here, while they themselves enjoy their time away from their kids so they get a great education. Education that I don't need to learn of new things that I don't believe existed or happened.
Seeing that it was almost five-thirty in the morning now, I decided that I wanted to turn in again, and sleep. Hopefully I'll stay asleep till I'm ready to wake up. Plus, I better not fall out of this damn bed again.
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A light vibration moved against me and brought me out of another deep sleep. I knew it had to be my phone since it was the only thing close to me to vibrate. When I looked at the screen, I saw a text message from mom. Finally!
Good morning, my darling daughter. I wanted to let you know Kisuke and I made it to our destination, and we will soon be heading for our hotel to finally get ourselves some rest. I hope that you have an amazing day and if you would like to have breakfast in the village this morning, go ahead, and use the card. I love you and I will call you later today.
Another tear returned. Damn these female hormone emotions that I'm having. Usually kids my age would be thrilled to be away from their parentals. That's not the case with me. Mom and I were very close. She's the reason I have so much more freedom than most teenagers today. When she grew up, her parents were very strict with all sorts of rules that she had to follow curfews, no boyfriends, after school activities, and much more. They even arranged for her to marry a catfish fisherman that was the same age as her parents.
It was around that same time she met my deadbeat father at a restaurant where the preparations for the wedding were being planned. He was a server and when their eyes met, she said it was love at first sight, or so she thought until I was seven years old. She told me she excused herself to use the restroom, where he waited, and they exchanged numbers right there.
They started messaging each other that night. It took her a few days to finally tell him her situation of the arranged marriage she was being placed in and how much she hated it. It was there a plan was being made to where he would whisk her away the morning of her wedding. That he did. Mom, for the first time in her life, packed whatever she could clothes wise, snuck out her bedroom window, and ran to the pick-up location dad was meeting her at in the early morning hours. From there, they spent close to two years together, and became pregnant with me. Mom was elated to become a parent and she thought dad was too. Through the short seven years I had with him, he didn't do much as a usual father would, and left the day after my seventh birthday in the middle of the night to be with another woman he fell in love with.
Lifting myself from the bed, I finally noticed the time, and it was just becoming eight in the morning. "Might as well get up and eat." I might take up that offer and go have breakfast in the village.
I got dressed in comfy clothes, including walking shoes, and made my way downstairs. Some girls were beginning to leave their dorms, already in cheerful moods, and it's creepy to me. Some who have yet to see me, smiled my way, and from the way their mouths moved, they were telling me good morning. I just ignored them since I actually had my earbuds in while listening to twisted sister and walked towards the staircase of many paintings.
I felt the eyes of the painting watching me walk down the staircase since I didn't stop this time. I wasn't worried about it anymore because I was too preoccupied about getting a bite to eat. I found a place on the net that would just be opening when I arrived there. It sat next to what looked like a stream from a waterfall within the back mountain. I'm not going to lie, it looks tranquil, and calming. Something I needed at this time.
In order to get outside to where I needed to go, I walked through the dining room, where students were taking their seats, and receiving menus to order what was being served that morning. Not me. I want to eat in private alone. I made my way outside and the first thing I noticed was the sky was very gloomy and gray. It doesn't look like it will rain just yet, so I should be good for a few hours.
That same feeling, I was being watched like yesterday could be felt once more. This time I looked back with the corner of my eyes, and it looked as if a dark shadow was watching from the top floor of the castle. I couldn't tell if my mind was playing tricks on me or if it was just a random person scooping me out. Either way it was creepy.
I made my way to the path alone, listening to the one and only queen. Even though their music is not punk, their music is what gets my heart pumping, which gets me motivated to get through the day. Hopefully I can make it through the month because the way mom and Kisuke talked I will be here for that long.
Along the path, I saw multiple other pathways that labeled what each path took you too, one of which after walking half a mile was a smaller pathway for the forbidden temple. Reading that article this morning makes me wonder if that lady took that path there to get to her destination to her family's home. Did she encounter an individual that was passing through, asked for directions, attacked in a way, and cleared their tracks? Or is just some made up story to get people's attention?
With all that thinking of that one article, I made it to the village that I found quite large. Larger than most hidden villages you would think were a tad smaller. The restaurant that I planned to eat at was on the edge of town. It wouldn't be hard to find. I just had to follow the stream of water coming down from the mountain.
Walking through the village, I felt like I was walking through the olden days of Paris in the opening of Beauty and the Beast when the song Belle is being sung. Except people here weren't singing about my beauty, they were staring at me as I walked by with what the hell is her issue because I don't look like most typical teenage girls. Most girls my age would be dressed a bit more casually and not so over the top like I am. But I don't care, it's just a faze for now.
I arrived at the restaurant and at least this place didn't look whimsical like the other places here. There was an open patio that barely had anyone sitting there and from what the sign I saw posted outside I could sit freely since they just opened. I took a seat by the iron fence near the long stream of water. Mist blew from it and to be completely honest it felt great against my skin.
The server arrived a minute or two after I took my seat, placed the menu in my hand, and I gave my order for hot tea to drink and a glass of water, while I looked at the menu to find something to eat. The first thing that caught my eye was to build your own breakfast. I didn't even care whatever else was on the menu, picked out the four options that I wanted, and gave my order to the server when he brought me my drinks.
When my meal was ordered, I handed back the menu, and looked back towards the stream that sent mist flying once more. The sound of the calming stream has its own zen feeling, which is something that I kind of needed, but nothing will beat the white noise of the rain at my home in the city.
As I sat here, I heard the gate open that I came through, and I turned to see who it was, and I was not amused. That person was the male headmaster's oldest son. I don't remember what his name was, but he had that same stupid rich boy expression from yesterday. He took a seat at the table ahead of me, facing towards me. Great! There was no point for me to move since I got here before him. I'll just keep my focus on the stream and ignore his presence.
Taking a sip of the hot tea brought a warm feeling that I was missing from home, but what was missing was my mother's presence. She always had something cooked and ready for me before I left for school. She had my tea made and ready the way I like it, even my lunch for school. I know when I finally can leave this place, I want her to cook me a special breakfast, and dinner like she used to make me before she got married.
With another sip of tea, I saw the reflection of the same server going towards the rich boy and asked what he would like to drink. "Hot tea and lemon water. I will also have the traditional breakfast, please." So, the rich boy has manners? The server wrote down what he ordered and left, but I could still feel his eyes on me. "You know you're very lucky this school doesn't have strict rules on appearance like at most schools here in Japan! Especially city schools," he announced in a snarky tone.
I ignored him.
"How did you get away with that hair style and piercings at your old school?" Still ignoring him and none of his business. "You must thrive for attention!"
I'm going to continue to ignore him.
"Typical stuck up rich brat." What I would give to sucker punch him right now for that comment. I am by no means a stuck-up rich brat. Never have. Never will. The reason I dress like this is none of his or anyone's business but my own. "Are you going to talk?"
Nope.
My breakfast was finally brought out and was steaming hot. I put the rich boy at the back of mind and began to eat. It was good, but not as great as mom's delightful meals. I'll have to remind myself when I talk to her that I want her home cooking when we're all finally home.
What would make this meal more calming if that rich boy didn't show up to ruin the mood and mock my style of choice. I should tell him that hair color doesn't suit him. But then he could try a comeback to really piss me off more.
I knew once I finished here, I would go back to my dorm, and stay in there till I was ready to leave again. Which meant around dinner time. I wasn't the one for eating lunch. I rather eat a big breakfast and a big dinner since it always satisfies me.
Halfway through my breakfast, the server returned with asshole's meal, and I happened to look up slightly to see a family sized breakfast placed before him. Is he planning to eat that whole meal himself? If he is, he is crazy! That looks like it could feed a family of four.
It was then I didn't realize our eyes met for a mere two or three seconds when I finally looked down to a meal meant for one. "Are you intrigued by this meal that I ordered, rich girl?"
I'm not saying one word to him. No! I'm not intrigued by that meal you ordered. The only thing I can think of now is your gut thanking you later.
"If you're looking for a rave in this part of the mountain, there are none." I don't go to raves! Yes, they're up my alley, but I never wanted to go to one. I'm not one to bounce it all out to music type people. I play punk and rock music to calm my nerves from my past. A past I want to erase from existence. "Are you going to say anything? Or are you one of those types of girls who decided to go mute?"
Under my breath I whispered, "bastard."
"I may not have good hearing, but I can read this lips, rich girl." Oh, big deal. A lot of people can, you stuck up asshole. "Why did you come here?"
What kind of question is that?
"Your parents must have been thrilled to drop you off to leave wherever they were headed." Keep your cool Rin. I gave him the finger, taking the last bite of food from my plate. "How ladylike of you." There's more to come.
The server brought me the check and I handed him the credit card. Asshole can make all the remarks about me having a card all he wants too. I'm not ashamed of being given one even though I have no other plans to use it unless necessary.
I had cash for a tip and handed it to the server when he returned, filled out the rest of the receipt, signed, and got up to leave. I know from here I'll spend the rest of my day in my dorm. I might as well unpack because I have nothing else to do. I hope I can get back before this dude can catch up to me.
As I walked out, "check please," I heard him from behind.
Damn! I know I want to get far from him, but I could find a different route back to the school. I hope there is one. If I remember correctly, there is a map by the trail I came from, and if there are multiple trails to the school, I'll pick whatever one catches my eyes.
When I saw no traffic along the streets, I started to cross in time for a car to come flying around the corner at a fast speed. Dodged a bullet on that one. "Asshole driver," I whispered under my breath.
Regaining my composure, I found the map at the start of the trail. "Now let's see…" The map showed the typical colored corded routes. Most led to different parts of this village, but only one showed for the school. Great… Well, I hope I can get a bit up this pathway before he catches up.
Though just in case, I pulled out my air pods so I could listen to music. I think pink is what I need to hear at this time and the perfect song to listen to would be So What. I can relate to this song because with all the stuff I've been through with certain people, what they did could not change the person I am now and bring me down.
Going back, I felt like I was being watched once again and this time I already had a feeling who that could be. Turning my music off and coming to a complete stop, "you should know that I don't care to be followed around like a lost puppy!" Turning in the direction I felt eyes on me, I found no one there. "Okay… I swear someone was right behind me just now… but it felt more like in the woods right there." I pointed in the direction of an open path. "Should I take this path?" Will it lead me to the school?
Why not? I have nothing else better to do today. Maybe it will get me closer to where I can get to my dorm much faster. I started my music again and took the path to my right. Hopefully I will be the only one along this path with no disruption.
What do you think is the cause for Rin to dress the way she is? What kind of trauma do you think she endured? Do you think that path she took will lead her to school or somewhere else?
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