ARAIA’s P.O.V

"Finally!" Joseph shouted, then threw the papers he’s holding in the air causing it to fly everywhere.

“Goodness, I thought we wouldn’t still make it today!” Bea scoffs.

It's only been a few minutes since we finished our exams for this semester. Everyone is happy because apart from the fact that we can breathe easy, it is a vacation tomorrow.

"I agree, especially our last professor, he arrived late and I thought we still need to come tomorrow." Kourtney looked around as she adjusted her pink shoulder bag.

I took the comb from my bag and addressed them, "it's nice to have a vacation."

Their faces lit up at what I said as if someone had thought of something.

“OMG you’re right Araia!” After saying that Bea confronted Sky, her boyfriend.

The man raised two eyebrows and wondered as he looked back at Bea.

"What?" It’s question is full of wonder.

Bea approached him and sat on his lap. This kind of scene is not new for us who are always around the two, they are always sweet to each other and they rarely quarrel. Nor is it obscene to look unlike others who have a relationship.

Bea wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's neck. “How about we go on a vacation?” Suggest it.

Everyone agreed but we still didn’t know where to go.

"We can't go too far, we cannot go to a strange place,right?"

Everyone agreed again. It's only been a month since something bad happened to one of our batchmates. They wandered around to have fun but a colleague had an accident, even if the circumstances were unintentional, it would be better for us to be careful especially now that we’re graduating.

“Where are we going? It's boring when we’ll visit the places that we've been to. " Hasel asked, this was my first friend in class because she was loud and friendly.

"Somewhere fun and safe." Joseph stated as he cleans the mess he made.

The direction of our heads was focused on Joseph. He returned the gaze to us with astonishment.

"Oh, why do you look at me like that?"

"Of course we shouldn't go to a place that isn't safe, come on!" Hasel, as if she’s already done with Joseph.

Joseph scratched his head and said, "Of course."

A few minutes of silence around, each of us seemed to be thinking.

“Where should we go?” Hasel asked, prolonging the pronunciation of the last letter.

Suddenly, Bea stood up thinking.

"Don't you have a vacation house in Bicol?" She asks her boyfriend.

Sky thought for a moment before speaking.

"Yeah, I just remembered."

Then, our group decided to go to Sky’s vacation home in Bicol. Sky is one of our friends who is the son of the owner of our school. He’s wealthy enough to offer us his house in Bicol. He said that we can go there since they’re not using it often anymore.

During lunch break, we talked about when we should go to his house. We planned and agreed that we should all ask for our parents ’opinion first. They also discussed what vehicle we were going to take there, and others suggested renting a car.

Joseph volunteered to be the one to answer for the vehicle we’ll be using for our ride to Bicol because they have vans that they use every time their whole family leaves, their family is quite big so they use big vehicles also.

We were dismissed earlier than expected because It is just our exam day. I went straight home because I worried that I might miss my parents again, though it happens all the time. They were doctors in a private hospital

near BGC. We rarely see each other because they are always busy and their schedule changes every time.

I remember when I was still a child, I always prayed that they would come during family days. I also pray that they will sing me to sleep every night, specially I pray every year that they will come on my birthday but that never happens. They hired me one nanny instead and continued their busy life.

Our relationship isn't that bad but they always tell me that what they're doing is for me, that they're working hard to give me a better life. I grew up as a mature child. That's why I always tell them that it's ok even though I am hurting, I always tell them that there's no problem with being alone and I understand them but the truth is my heart was broken already. I tried to talk to them about it but they just said what they always said.

I remembered, one day when my friend from our neighborhood came along to play with me, I accidentally pushed her a little but the girl was pushed back like someone strongly pushed her. Our parents scolded me, I tried to tell them that I didn’t push her hard because we’re just playing and it’s part of the game but they never believed me. They didn’t talk to me the whole day because of that, telling me to reflect on what I’ve done.

There's never a time where they spare their free time with me. It's either they will go abroad or go to their friend's house. I can't also remember waking up beside them or eating together with them. I was so broken-hearted at that time but now everything changes. I am not that child anymore and now i don't long for them anymore. I just want to see them but I don’t want their attention anymore.

When I got home, I saw one of our maids cleaning the dining table. It must be my parents’, they eat already and are going to bed now. Maybe it's better to not tell them that I'll go somewhere, they never care anyway.

I went straight to my room and started to pack my things. I texted my friends that I will come with them, then lie on my bed. This is how it is everyday. It's dinner time already but I'm not feeling hungry.

I tried to close my eyes. Before when I was still a child I used to pray every night to have a happy family but now I just want to graduate and leave our house.

I closed my eyes.

THE NEXT MORNING, we gathered in the capital. Thankfully, they were all allowed to go. They each carried a travel bag when they arrived at our meeting place. Some of them are wearing summer clothes but others wear comfy clothes that almost look like a rug. Just to be honest though.

They arrived one by one, the last one to arrive were the boyfriend and girlfriend Sky and Bea.

They were riding in Sky's car, a porsche.

"Good morning!" Bea greeted us.

She told us that they would take Sky's car and just follow our car, after a few minutes we boarded Joseph's family's mini bus.

"Move Joseph!" Later we heard of Joseph and Hasel arguing.

"What do you want this time ?!"

"You're so big!" Hasel shouted again.

They were sitting behind us, I turned to the two and saw that Joseph had taken some small medicine.

"What's that?" Kourtney asked.

Joseph went straight to drinking water so Hasel answered.

"Well, he’s still drinking bonamine." It's an irritable answer.

Bonamine for nausea and vomiting?

"Oh what's so bad about it!" Joseph asked.

"You're like a kid!" Hasel shouted again.

The two didn’t stop, they seemed to be quarreling the whole trip. We just ignored them and slept.

We woke up when the car stopped, it stopped at a restaurant because it was already noon. Sky and Bea are already there waiting for us at the front door. They suggest that we should eat first before we continue traveling.

"Gosh, I'm hungry." Hasel complaint.

"This is it, let's eat." Joseph replied.

Hasel just stared at it wickedly and proceeded to enter the dining room, she looked like not in the mood to argue because she’s hungry.

We immediately found a seat because there weren’t too many people.

"Gosh, it's so hot!" Bea said and used her hand to fan herself.

Sky took a handkerchief and wiped Bea’s sweat.

"Must be nice..." Joseph said suddenly.

We laughed because we remembered something. It was almost as if Joseph would have had a girlfriend but it was postponed because she mistook Hasel as Joseph's girlfriend. He said she was jealous and shunned Joseph.

Eventually the food arrived and we started eating. Hasel paid for the meal, she said it’s okay because her father allegedly gave him a large allowance.

After we finish eating, we continue to travel. Since the flight took more than fifteen hours, when we arrived at the village where Sky's vacation home was, we were exhausted. It was early in the morning when we arrived. It’s just past midnight actually.

Sky's housemates greeted us and guided us to the rooms we were going to use, since the house was big we decided to sleep separately.

I learned that the one who helped us fix things was Maria, a sixteen years old.

"Thank you Maria." I was grateful to her because she guided me here.

"It’s nothing ma’am, it’s my job after all." She formally said before she turned her back to leave.

After that, I arranged my belongings to the cabinet and when I had stacked them properly I decided to go to bed.

"It's tiring."

I picked up my cell phone and looked at the messages. No message from mama or papa…

“Hay…”

Nothing’s really new…

I closed my eyes and forced myself to sleep. It was almost three o'clock in the morning when I looked up, no matter how hard I tried I couldn't sleep.

Maybe because this isn’t my home.

I decided to look out the window. According to Sky, the area around this house is forest but it doesn't look scary because the caregiver took care of it. I opened the veranda, the cool breeze blew on me.

“It feels good…”

The fresh coolness of the air enveloped my body, I couldn’t imagine but it seemed like someone was inviting me to raise my hands, it seemed like I was enjoying the coolness of the air even more.

This is my first time feeling this. Maybe it’s due to the sudden change of air around me. You know, there’s a lot of pollution in the city. I closed my eyes, I don't want this moment to end, feels like this is the only time I can relax like this.

I lasted a few minutes in that position when I felt as if someone was looking at me, when I opened my eyes it stopped in the direction of the forest.

There I was surprised when I could see a shadow. The shadow didn’t come that far but I couldn’t see clearly what it was or who it was.

Even if I try to narrow my eyes in the hope that I can see better who the shadow is, I can't really see it. The shadow didn't move and seemed to be staring at me.

I became nervous all of a sudden. Who is that ?!

I seem to be stuck in my position, who is going to be in the forest at this time?

Then the shadow moved, in a second I couldn’t see it already. I tried to roam my eyes and saw it above the tree it’s standing a while ago. W-What was that?!

My eyes widened at what I saw but before I could react, the shadow suddenly jumped again, this time it was in every tree. The direction it was heading was towards the depths of the forest.

All the time I was just staring at what was happening, unable to believe what had happened, when the shadow disappeared from my sight it was the only time when I could move.

“Hahh…” I sat on the veranda floor. My body couldn't stand what I saw… Who is that? What is this? I can feel my legs shaking…

Chasing my breath, I looked again at the forest, the shadow was no longer there and the forest was very quiet as if nothing happened. Afraid of seeing the shadow again, I immediately entered my room. I made sure every door and window that could be entered was locked.

I went to bed and wrapped my body in a blanket.

I couldn’t sleep the whole night.

ARAIA’s P.O.V

"Good morning everyone!" Bea greeted him as she came down the stairs.

"Good morning too!" Hasel replied.

We are now in the living room, everyone woke up at noon because they were tired from the trip, but I only slept for two hours. What I saw in the forest early in the morning kept me awake all night.

I wanted to ask Sky because he might know it but I'm not sure if what I saw was true or I just rolled my eyes.

I'm sure they'll just laugh at me when they hear it.

"Hey do you know, there are stories here," said Sky. Later Bea says.

All of us sitting at the table stared at it, interested in what it had to say.

"What's that girl?" Hasel asked.

Bea sighed a little as if wanting to whisper.

"There are unknown creatures living in the forest." It says poorly.

My hair stood on end. Is this true?

"Oh, how unknown is that?" Joseph asked.

"It is said that many people see shadows in the forest especially when the sun is about to rise…" It continued.

"Maybe they're just imagining it?" second by Hasel.

My mind was focused on what they were talking about.

"Many are said to hear crackles and footsteps in the forest, even though they have no one else with them…"

My hair stood on end at what I heard. Does this mean that what I saw earlier this morning is real and not just a fantasy?

"It's scary…" said Hasel.

"Yes, so the advice here is that no one comes out from midnight until dawn- to be exact, before the sun rises."

I stared at it. Wasn't it before the sun rose when it happened?

I closed my eyes. Let's just assume that it doesn't exist…

"Araia, are you okay?" Unbeknownst to me, my table companions were already looking at me.

"Y-Yeah, Of course!" The smile I gave them.

“Are you sure? You look pale. ” Hasel asked.

I nodded at the question and smiled again. Maybe I won't ask them what I saw.

Eventually, their attention was diverted.

"Do you want to go around here in the villa?" Sky asked.

Everyone agreed.

"Of course bro!" Joseph happily agrees.

"Good idea!" Hasel followed.

There the plan was formed to tour the villa this afternoon. After lunch we tried to rest in the garden of Sky's house.

There was a hammock and chairs with engraved angels. As can be seen in the shows at the time.

"The beauty here in your house is Sky." Said Hasel.

"Thank you." Sky replied aloof.

It’s really stingy to speak often but it’s kind.

"Hasel, catch!" After a while Joseph cried out.

Hasel quickly turned to his habit and in a flash there was mud on the girl's face.

"Oh my gosh!" Tili is Bea. Sky immediately grabbed the bride and pulled us away.

"Joseph!" Hasel shouted angrily.

The young man replied with a laugh.

There is even equipment there for making clay pots. It turns out that Joseph threw clay at Hasel.

Hasel angrily chased the young man and they threw stones at Clay.

"Who makes the Clay pot here?" I asked Sky.

The two sat side by side, a few meters away from us.

"My uncle." its answer.

“Oh…” I came a little closer to the Clay pot factory.

There is a lot of equipment here, a variety of mixers and evenly, there is also a lot of clay but you will notice that it has been on the ear for a long time.

Sky looked at me again. "Where is he, your uncle?"

It took quite a while to answer.

"He passed away last year."

"Oh ... I'm sorry."

It just smiled at me as if to say it was okay.

I looked again at the place where the clay pot was being made. I don’t know why I'm so interested in it, I have no history of being involved with someone making it or being interested in this issue before.

I tried to hold one of the seemingly knives that were there. There was a lot of dirt around it but I noticed what seemed to be etched on its handle.

“L.A…” These are probably the initials of Sky's uncle.

When the intensity of the sun was gone we decided to take a walk around the villa.

We carried only a fan, except for the easily thirsty Hasel. It carries water.

“Let’s go!” Joseph said excitedly.

We have Sky’s house staff included. Sky is also not very familiar with this place, according to him he only went there once last year.

We first went to the horse stable which was on the right side of the terrain.

"Lots of horses!" Joseph shouted, still excited.

"Hey reunion." Hasel teases him.

"HA.HA.HA." Joseph had a fake laugh.

They’re teasing each other everyday. A day wouldn’t pass without them teasing each other.

"Can we ride?" I asked the keeper of the stable.

"Opo mam, pwede po."

"One!"

Manong's horse picked us up, mine was white which was not very big. It's just my first time riding it and I haven't thought of a bigger horse yet.

Hasel and Joseph got black, while Bea and Sky rode the same horse.

We were taught the basics then the old man guided us as we sat on the horse and slowly made it walk. He left us after thirty minutes when we finally got some of his words.

We rode the horse for almost two hours, we just stopped when Bea seemed tired. She has a weak body after all. They told us that they will go first and we can still continue our tour but we decided to just go home instead.

That night Bea had a mild fever because she over exerted herself. We felt bad that's why we took turns taking care of her. While Sky reassured us that it’s normal for her and it’s kind of her fault we still took care of her.

We also decided that we will do the tour the next day or anytime we’re free since we’ll stay here for two weeks.

THE NEXT DAY we wanted to go horse riding again so after we ate breakfast, we went back to the horse stable. This time Bea and Sky aren't around, she needs to stay in the house so she won’t be tired again. She can’t risk her life so we advised that she stays home for now until she gets fully better.

We go early in the morning because Hasel told us she wants to feel the fresh air here in the province that we barely get in the city. I wear a sweater because I am weak to cold, while Joseph and Hasel seem to enjoy the cold breeze that they didn’t even put effort into their clothes.

Thankfully, the old man who guided us yesterday is still there.

“Hello manong!” Joseph greets him.

“Hello to you too young boy!” The old man happily accepts us.

“Can we ride the horses again?” Hasel asks.

He smiled and said, “Of course! There’s no problem with that.”

He let us sit for a while because he’s still finishing something. He wants to guide us because according to him, we’re still new here and we still didn’t know the direction so we need a guide- a tour guide.

After a while,we finally got to ride the horses that we rode yesterday.This will be our second time doing horseback riding but I’m still excited. This is a once in a lifetime experience though, especially to me, a city girl. Horseback riding in the city is quite expensive.

“Yeehah!” Joseph shouted as soon as he got to the horse.

The horse started running and he looked so excited. Meanwhile, Hasel and I just keep our pace, old man’s still guiding us not until someone calls him and asks for his help.

We thank him before he goes.

“OMG Araia! I’m still nervous!” Hasel exclaimed as she grabbed the rope tightly.

“I am too…”

We’re side by side while riding the horse. Later on, Joseph came and told Hasel that he will help her.

Hasel agreed and joined him on his horse. Aren’t they mortal enemies? I can’t really understand what is happening between the two of them. Now they’re okay but later they will start fighting.

Minutes later, I can’t see them anymore.

They didn’t even pay me a glance! Are they that excited to be with one another that they forget their friend?

Hello! I’m here!

“Did they just leave me?” I raised my eyebrow and took a deep breath.

I look around, there’s just trees and trees, nothing more. The morning sky looked so great which makes me want to set up a camp here and stay here forever. If only I could do that.

I stayed in that place for almost thirty minutes, waiting for Hasel and Joseph to show up but they didn’t.

“Where the heck are they?”

I can’t hear anything besides the natural sound of the forest, bugs and such.

I comb Angel’s hair, this horse’s name is Angel. I was really starstruck the first time I heard about it because it suits the horse very well. From her white as snow long hair, soft and comfortable fur and her posture that looks like a queen of horses. I’m joking, but she’s really beautiful.

I waited for a few more minutes but I couldn't see them. Maybe it’s time to return to the horse stable since I don’t know where I am.

I was about to turn when my eye caught something.

“What’s that?” I lean a little to see it clearly.

I was stuck in my place when I saw the familiar shadow.

“Oh my…”

It wasn’t really far from me but I couldn't see it clearly. A few seconds later, the shadow started running away.

I was so scared for a minute that it might run towards me but it didn’t. It ran in the opposite direction, I didn’t know why but my hands started to move as well as the horse I’m riding.

I just realized that I’m heading towards the shadow’s direction a while ago, I can’t think clearly. All I want this time is to see who that person is or whatever it is that I keep on seeing and giving me creeps.

It’s still daytime so there’s nothing that shadow can do to me, or so I pray.

The shadow started running fast as if it felt my presence and wanted to run away.

“It’s fast!”

I need to keep up!

“Heeyah!”

The horse started running faster, I can now see the shadow but still, not that clear. The air started to feel colder as I got closer to the shadow.

I keep on chasing the shadow until I can no longer see it.

“Where did it go?!”

I look around one more time but I really can’t see the shadow anymore. I became nervous again, am I really imagining things? But I’m sure I saw it with my own eyes!

I let out a frustrated sigh. I’m going to be crazy!

My mind keeps telling me to look more into the forest but my instincts say otherwise. After a few minutes, I’ve decided to follow my mind. I better go back now and talk to my friends about this.

Maybe I’m just imagining things and if I really did, I need to see an expert. I can’t live like this!

I pulled the reins, telling the horse to turn back but I was shocked when the horse suddenly went amok.

“Woah!”

“Angel!” I called for her to calm down. What’s happening to her?

Is she hurt?

“Angel, calm down!” I was gripping tightly to her reins while calming her down, afraid of falling.

She’s going everywhere, I can’t handle her!

“Angel!” I called her one last time before I felt my hand slowly slipping to her reins. What is happening to her?!

Goodness! I don’t know much about horses!

I was calling her but she kept on jumping, she looked scared all of a sudden. I can feel my hand aching because of the reins!

“Help!” Someone, please! Oh my gosh!

She started running faster deeper into the forest.

“Angel, calm down!”

Why isn’t she stopping?

She continued running until I saw a cliff in the direction she’s heading to.

“Angel, stop!” I tried to stop her.

I pulled her reins and called her name, hoping she’d stop but instead, she ran faster.

I still keep on pulling her reins while praying, I don’t know what to do! Should I abandon her?!

If I jump now I’d still make it! I think of another way but as she goes faster to the cliff, my head feels blank.

I called her one last time and waited for a few seconds before I decided to jump off her now. I let go of her reins and look for a bush where I’ll get less hurt.

I counted up to three before I jumped.

ARAIA’s P.O.V

“Excuse me miss?”

I can hear someone speaking…

“Miss?”

There it is again…

I tried to open my eyes but my vision was blurry…

“She’s awake!” Everything became louder…

What’s happening?

Few seconds later, my vision became clear.

I saw a girl looking at me, on her left was an old man with a long white beard.

“She’s finally awake!” The girl shouted.

“Let me help you.” The old man said as he helped me to sit.

The old man helps me slowly, I can feel my whole body aching.

“Ouch…” My left hand feels like burning.

“Careful.” The girl said.

When I was finally sitted, I looked around me. Last time I remembered, I fell from Angel and accidentally fell off a cliff.

Are they the ones who saved me? But where am I?

“Who are you?” I asked them.

I looked at the old man, he had white hair and a long white beard, he looked like he’s in eighties. While the girl looks young, she looks a year younger than me. She has a cute ponytail and her hair has a pink highlight.

They’re wearing something on their head like a head accessory. I can’t figure out if it’s a turban or what, it looks like what the people are using in old movies.

They looked confused all of a sudden. What’s wrong?

The girl looked at me, she looked like someone who doesn’t get anything.

“No miss, who are you?” She asks.

“Me? I’m Araia. How about you?” I casually asked her. Is she the one who saved me?

“Well, I’m Freya…”

“Oh, thank you for saving me Freya.”

She opened her mouth.

“Save?”

I looked at her.

“Yes? You saved me from the cliff right?” I stated.

She looked at the old man beside her.

“You should get up first.”

The old man and Freya helped me to get up and told me that I can go to their house so that we can talk much clearer. I accepted their offer because I feel like my body still needs to rest.

While we’re walking, I noticed some things that I’ve never seen before.

The houses here are concrete and bungalow type, there are plants everywhere and each house has a fence that has a sharp branch of tree that can surely pierce a whole into your body when you accidentally fell on it.

That’s kind of creepy… Is what I thought.

A few steps and we finally get to their house. As expected, it’s a bungalow type of house. Its color is brown but what’s different is it has a cute decoration outside. I bet it’s made by Freya.

We were welcomed by their family, there I met Shoyo, father of Freya, Mui, her mother and her two younger siblings named Vin and Xin. They’re twins.

They ushered me into their small receiving area and served me an orange juice.

“So, miss Araia. May we know what you mean by we ‘saved’ you?” The old man asked.

“Uhm… I just want to thank you for saving me from the cliff…” I was getting nervous, why are they asking me that?

“But Miss Araiai, we didn’t know where this cliff you’re talking about.” Freya said.

W-What…

Does that mean… They’re not the one who saved me?

“We just saw you there near the well lying and unconscious.” She continued.

“But I fell from a cliff!” I exclaimed.

What is happening?

The two looked at each other.

“Miss, there’s no cliff around this place.”

I was dumbfounded.

How come there’s no cliff around where they saw me? I’m not dreaming, I’m sure I fell off a cliff!

“I’m not lying… I’m sure I fell and-” I suddenly remembered the bruise I got when I fell.

“Here! Look! These are my bruises from-” I showed them my arm but to my shock, there’s no wound in it.

“-when I fell…”

Where are they!?

“I can’t see any bruises in you, miss Araia.” The old man said.

“I-I…” fear consumed me.

Am I dreaming?

Where are the bruises that I got? Is there any chance that they healed while I’m still unconscious?

Maybe there’s someone who healed me, but why did Freya and an old man find me lying on the ground if someone helped me heal my bruises?

I don’t get it!

I looked all over my body that my eyes could reach. There’s no signs that I got bruises!

“Where did they go?!” I panicked.

I even looked at my feet, there’s nothing there!

My hands are now okay but I’m sure I used it to avoid falling from Angel!

Oh wait. Come to think of it, maybe they know Sky?

“Old man, may I ask you, do you know Sky Fuentabello?”

The old man shook his head.

“I don’t know that name, young lady.”

Maybe I need to describe him!

“He looks handsome, old man. His family is the owner of the Hacienda Fuentabello near the city here in your province!”

The old man seemed to be thinking.

“Miss Araia, may I butt in?” Freya asks.

I nodded.

“There’s no such thing as hacienda here, and I’ve never heard of the name Sky or Fuentabello.”

I looked at her, it even made me more confused!

Is this place too far from Sky’s house? Where the heck am I?

I was looking at them when the old man asked.

“May I know where you are from miss?”

“I’m originally from Manila but me and my friends came here to have a vacation, we’re staying at Sky's house right now.” I explained.

He looked intently at me.

“To be honest, young miss… There’s no such thing as Sky Fuentabello, hacienda or a place called Manila here.”

There was a moment of silence after the old man said that. I couldn't talk, I couldn't open my mouth to ask what was happening.

Everything feels like a dream.

I couldn’t understand why they were acting like this. Am I filming a film that I didn’t know?

How come they don’t know anything, even one from what I mentioned?

Is it because they’re living here for too long that they don't know what’s happening outside?

I looked at them, they looked serious that there isn’t even a possibility that they’re joking.

“May I know what day it is today?” I asked instead, since I don’t know how long I am sleeping, I don’t know what day it is today.

Freya searched for the calendar and said, “Today is Agate 6, 76.”

Wait. Is that it?

What’s with that day?

“No, I mean, the day, like monday or what?”

They tilt their head this time. They seem to be thinking.

“What’s that?” They asked in unison.

I gasped.

“That’s…”

I don’t know what to say at this moment. Everything feels weird. Am I still in shock?

I can’t recall a place where they have their own calendar. It feels like I’m not on Earth. Lol.

Wait…

“No, no, no…” Don’t even think about it. That’s the most hilarious thought that I’ve ever had.

After that talk, I also ask them if they can help me to get to Sky’s house but to my surprise, there's no means of transportation here. They also don't have police or local government here. Which I find really weird!

Even a small bicycle, they don’t have that here. So since I don’t know anything about this place, I asked them if I can stay here for a short period of time just to familiarize myself with the place and to find a way to get back home.

Thankfully, they agreed even though they just saw me the first time today.

"Let me introduce you to the members of our family." The old man said.

One by one, their family members came.

"First or all, I am the head of this family. My name is Radia Marmui." The elder said.

"We have a total of four omega here and two beta." He continued but I don't quite understand.

"What's that?" I asked them. Is it some nicknames?

All of them look at me.

“Can you transform young miss?” Mui asked me.

What do they mean by transform?

"Of course not." I stated. Isn't it obvious? How can I transform? I'm not some kind of ghost or what not.

What kind of question is that, though?

"Then you're an omega." Mui said.

What are they talking about? I don't really get it!

I was about to ask when they explained what I should do while staying here.

They didn't give me much work but I can't live here for free, and I don't like the idea of having debt.

IT'S been two days since I got here, so far I can't find anything that will help me go home. Even the slightest possibility isn't showing, but the people here are all nice even though they're sometimes weird.

They even have a hierarchy here like what they called the beta and omega.

One afternoon, Freya and I are doing the laundry near the lake not too far from their house. It is also near the place where they found me lying.

"How's everything so far?" Freya asked as she poured the soap in the basin.

"It's okay, everyone's nice to me." I replied.

"Do you enjoy living here?"

I nodded. It's true, everyone's nice to me and they're teaching me the things that's new to me.

I just always think of my friends, I'm sure they're looking for me at this point. I don't know about my parents though. I'm sure they don't care whether I come back alive or not.

"Do you really not remember which family you belong to?"

It's this question again.

"I told you, my family name is Madrigal." I already told them my family name a hundred times but they don't know anyone with that name here, they also assumed that I lost my memory when I mentioned that I hit my head.

"Anyways, since it seems like you don't know anything about this place, it's better to stay away from that place." She pointed at the tower near the well.

"Why?"

She comes near me and pointed to my ears, it seems she wants to whisper the answer.

"It's because that place belongs to another Alpha."

Alpha?

"What's that?" Another term that I don't understand.

"The leader, the ruler." She said.

"Is it something like the one who gave rules?"

She nodded. "Exactly."

Oh…

"But why can't I go there? Is it that dangerous?"

"Of course, they might kill you because you belong here."

I was too stunned to speak.

"Kill, as in I'll be dead?"

She nodded again.

Why would someone kill a person that goes to their place? Isn't it illegal to kill just somebody?

This place is really weird!

We chatted while doing the laundry, we were about to finish when we heard something explode.

"Oh shoot!" Freya hissed.

I looked at her then to the direction the sound came from.

"What's that?" I asked.

"They're causing another commotion again!"

She started to gather the laundry.

"Who?" We're now gathering everything. Even though I can't understand what's happening, I followed her. Who knows if it's really dangerous!

She stopped for a moment to answer me.

"The Bones." She said.

What!?

"The bones are causing trouble?!" How come a bone causes trouble?!

"No! What I mean is-" She was cut by another explosion.

"I'll tell you later!" She shouted.

We hurriedly ran to leave the place. We're near the border when something blocked us.

"Hello, ladies!" He said, smiling.

I screamed when I saw it. It has fangs! It was a man but he looked horrible!

I didn't get to react when Freya threw the basin to the man and held my hand before pulling me. We're running faster than before.

What was that?! What's that creature?!

Freya's holding my hand while we're running. I thought that we lost the man before but it suddenly appeared in front of us.

"Ah!"

"Where do you think you're going!?" The man shouted.

One second, he grabbed Freya and pulled her, causing us to separate.

"Run Araia!" Freya shouted as she struggled to keep the man away from me.

"But-"

"Run! Don't look back!"

What should I do?! I can't leave her here!

I was thinking of running or helping her but instead of running, I searched for something that could attack the man. I need to help her!

I found a branch of a tree that had a sharp end, I immediately grabbed it and without thinking, I stabbed the man, it pierced into the man's left arm.

He released Freya and we started running.

"Let's go!"

We ran faster, we're about to enter the border when we heard the man scream.

I didn't look back, I don't want to see it!

We're a few steps left when the man appears again. He looks mad!

"You b*tches!"

He was about to grab me but another thing appeared.

Everything went fast, in a blink of an eye, the mad man's not breathing anymore.

What shocked me more is the thing in front of me. The one who killed the mad man.

"W-What…"

Is it… a wolf?!