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Chapter 1: The Man In The Forest

“LOOK at this! It’s done!” Adhara proudly beamed at her sister with a smile on her face. Ascella was exceptional in making flower crowns and she was teaching her how to do it.

Her twin put the crown in her head making Adhara’s grin grow wider only to change into frown right after the flower crown she made had dismantled and fallen off Ascella’s head which gained a heartful laugh from the latter. She shows her bunch of flowers and starts demonstrating the steps again to Adhara.

“Remember to twist each stem tight, like this—"

“Ah! You’ve been saying that for the 6th time already and, I still can’t make it”

Adhara laid down on the grass and gave up “Flower crowns aren't just for me” she said, followed by a short sigh.

To pass the time, the twins were out on the grassy plains, making crowns out of wild flowers. Adhara couldn't help but close her eyes and smile as the sunless sky and peaceful atmosphere soothed her. Unlike Adhara, Ascella has a talent in practically everything, her warm aura which makes you feel safe and her gentle smiles can make anyone drawn to her. Everyone in the town whether children or elderly are fond of her while Adhara may also be talented but she does not recognize it in herself and believes she is inferior to her twin nonetheless, the two adore each other so much as best friends, enemies and as twins.

Later on, she felt Ascella’s presence beside her and spoke.

“You must not give up, Adhara. Try once more and again and again…” Her twin softly said. Adhara opened her eyes only to be greeted by Ascella’s flower crown. She heaved another sigh and was about to shove it away when her twin just dropped it down, completely covering her eyesight. “You have your own color, it is unique and unparalleled you just have to keep trying”

“I’m good with what I am right now, Ascella” she replied with her utmost content.

“Hmm… I will be waiting for you, for that day to come…”

Adhara remained silent for a quite some time, for an unknown reason her heart seemed to have fallen heavy and felt uneasiness. She took off the crown of her face, sat down and turned to her twin beside her but she was not there anymore. Adhara wearily stood up and looked around.

Confused, she called “Ascella? Ascella where are you? Ascella? Ascella!”

Tears started to stream down as she found herself alone in the grassy fields. Lost and afraid, Adhara intinctly shut her eyes and covered her ears at the sudden explosions. She screamed and called out to her twin yet nobody responded. As she opened her eyes, she found herself in the middle of a fire outbreak.

“W-What is happening? Ascella! Help! Somebody help me… please”

Then she heard several voices, some cries for help and some were giggling which resonated all over the place, Adhara tried to run leading her nowhere as she seemed running in circles, the voices grew louder and louder yet there was no trace of anybody just fire.

Eventually, she had given up trying and sat down while hugging her knees, she closed her eyes to scream and screamed then a moment later everything became quiet, the heat was done in an instant.

The anxious Adhara looked around and saw familiar faces of her lifeless parents covered with blood and dirt on the ground.

“No.. this can’t be no… mother, father!”

Sudden disturbances in changes of scenes over and over made her nauseated until all of it became dull and black…

ADHARA comes to consciousness as she catches her breath. Her eyes grew wider upon realizing that it was all just a dream. She clutches her heaving chest.

It seems real… as if her twin was really alive.

She was surprised at Ascella's sudden appearance in her dream since the last time she saw her sister in her sleep was ages ago.

For an unknown reason, she felt nervous.

She took a deep breath and decided to get off the bed yet she was astounded as she found herself tied at the four bedposts, although the rope was quite long she couldn't take them off her wrists and ankles.

Adhara felt her body quiver in fear.

'Where am I?' She asked herself.

Her eyes roam around, inspecting the place she was unfamiliar to. All she could see were white, from the ceilings, walls and other decorations. The interior almost had no other color than white

Is she dead?

Is this where people called heavens?

However, why were her hands and feet tied?

She shut her eyes closed as she tries to remember everything that has happened to her. Glimpse by glimpse of flashes through her mind then she felt her chest tighten in pain.

Flames…

Chaos…

The voices of the two people who were laughing …

The wolves…

"Ahh!" she grunted

She instinctively clutched her head in her palm as it began to throb, as if it were splitting apart, and she became dizzy as a result.

What is happening to her?

Adhara takes a deep breath and keeps doing it in order to calm herself but it has no use.

The images of the flames engulfing the town kept racing through her head. She can still hear the residents of Citadel outcry, as well as the innocent children's cries for help. Even when she isn't physically present at the location, it is like her nightmare continues to hunt her?

Terrified, she held both her ears using her trembling hands as if the voices she’s hearing would stop.

However, it appears to be getting louder.

Outcries…

Wailing…

Begging for mercy…

Asking for her help…

Her fierce hold almost injured her ears as she tightly closed her eyes. They were becoming more obnoxious.

And soon enough, it was not just cries.

The two people's laughing, too. Those voices... they sound familiar to her...

They were the voices of a man and a woman…

They appear to be having so much fun…

Who are these people? Where are these voices coming from? Why were they making her head hurt this much?

"Aaah!"

Her head hurts even worse, and she's almost out of breath. She has little self-control and is unable to calm herself.

Who were the people behind the voices?

"N-No! N-No! I c-can't hear you! I d-don't hear you! Aaah!"

Adhara couldn’t help but to scream. She kept her knees together and crouched. She keeps herself small in the corners of the bed against the white walls. She was so terrified since she had no idea how to silence the voices.

She doesn't know who to turn to for help. She doesn't want to hear the conjoining variety of cries which make her insanity go drift.

In an instance, the voices had stopped the moment she remembered her dream.

Adhara gradually became calm though she was still hesitant, subtly opening her eyes then checking the surroundings if she‘s safe or not, like a paranoid. Moments later, she has relaxed as she explores the room with her eyes.

"A-Ascella…" She called her twin.

After she mutters a few words, the door opens unexpectedly. She quickly shuts her eyes with a thought that maybe the voices may come back then waits for a few minutes but she hears nothing other than silence.

Adhara gently opened her eyes to find a man standing outside the footboard of the bed, staring at her. The man has a refined body wearing a simple T-shirt and faded black jeans. His facial features were not friendly nor grim. Her gaze was drawn to the man's physique.

Then, her eyes grew wider as her memory recalls a man similar to the one on her front; however, she was unsure because the familiar man’s face was vague.

The only thing she saw that seemed the same was his stance and body, but the background was different.

Forest…

The man in the forest…

She blinked several times, it was unbelievable. Her eyebrows raised, horizontal wrinkles appeared on her forehead, surprised eyes were visible as she tried to meet his nonchalant gaze.

Who is this man?

What does he need from her?

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