Chapter 3 The Beast

• Daniel twisted the knob and pushed the door open, it
• produced a creaky sound. Considering how old this mansion looked, I'm not even
• surprised if all doors here create sounds like this one. It's as if I'm in one
• of those horror films.  
• “It's not that grand but I hope it'll make you as
• comfortable.” Daniel smiled  
• I shook my head, "It's perfect."  
• Daniel scratched his head, “There's a bathroom just across
• your room if you wish to clean up. Feel free to use the clothes in the closet
• for the meantime.”  
• I smiled, “Thank you, Daniel.”  
• “If you need anything else, I'm just at the end of the
• hall.” His lips twisted into a boyish smile before leaving the
• room.  
• My eyes scanned the room. It's not that dusty. It has that
• smell of old books. I think they've already cleaned this room while I was
• asleep. The walls were painted of light beige. There's a queen sized bed at the
• center and a bedside table. There's also a closet beside the door.  
• I burst open the window and I was caressed by cold air. My
• red strands were all over my face and shoulder. A small smile appeared on my
• lips but it didn't reach my eyes. I should be grateful to finally have a
• shelter even after everything. Suddenly, I feel lonely and just as lost as
• those flying dandelions. They never know where they'll land. They just flew
• with the wind to find themselves lost in the field.  
• The sky is in its brightest blue. Clouds float like the
• softest cotton. In front of me is the view of the grassland. On the far east is
• the forest, covered with the tallest trees. Below the window, I saw a garden.
• The fountain by the gazebo is half empty with green water. Moss sticking on the
• marble; It looks like it has been like that for years. The area is almost empty
• and dirty, it doesn't even look like a garden anymore. The flowers have dried
• up like they haven't been watered for years. The ground now piled with dead
• leaves. As a person who enjoys a good view of nature, it's a disheartening
• sight to see.  
• “I should go clean up.” I mumble to myself as I reach for
• the closet. Picking an oversize black tee and shorts, I head straight to the
• bathroom across the room.  
• Inside the bathroom is a sink, a toilet, a shower area and a
• bathtub. Yes, their bathroom is quite huge. I'm not surprised because the
• mansion itself is massive too. From the long, carpeted halls, glass chandeliers
• to the old paintings pinned to the walls by the staircase. There's something
• about the mansion that's just enticing.  
• I stared at myself at the mirror. The reflection was blurry
• because the mirror was foggy and dirty. I turned the faucet and splash water
• towards the mirror. I grab a tissue on my right and wipe the mirror. Now that
• is much better than before. These gentlemen must be very busy to not even take
• a second to clean a freaking mirror.  
• Untying the robe off of me, I put it on a rack. Taking a
• glance at my body, a shaky breath escaped my parted lips. It's all pale and
• bruised. I have a long scar on my right rib. Dark bruises on my legs and ankle.
• My thighs grew thin and the bruises were just ugly. Pity and hatred filled my
• heart. What the fuck happened to me?  
• After a refreshing bath, my feet lead me outside the house.
• My hair flew again with the wind as soon I shut the huge, oak door behind
• me.  
• Boy, it wasn't just a mansion. It was a castle; Old
• fashioned and mossy on the exterior. The proud, mossy stone walls outside were
• almost ancient. Vines and flowers bloomed inside the cracks of its wall; it’s
• enchanting. Where in the world am I, really?  
• With a huge grin on my face, I stood before a huge field of
• dead grass. On the sides were enormous, dead trees that added to the eerie
• ambiance of the place. Everything here looked dead. Perhaps, the soil is not
• healthy for keeping plants.  
• Noticing that it was almost at dawn, the castle looked a bit
• more dark and abandoned. I don't know but I find this place beautiful. Surely
• it will be more pleasing to see the place with the morning sun.  
• Not minding the cool wind, I decided to take a quick stroll
• around the castle. The castle was surrounded by forest. It looks as if the
• people here clearly didn't want anyone disturbing them seeing they picked the
• right place to live. I'm wondering if there's a marketplace here or somewhere
• with more people because this place is unearthly quiet.  
• I hummed and kept walking along a trail towards the back of
• the castle. I went past the garden and I came across a metal, rusty gate that
• seemed to be locked. It is the way to the forest. I shrugged since I'm not
• planning on continuing my tour there.  
• I sensed a movement on the bushes in the dark forest. Out of
• nowhere, an angry growl erupted. Flocks of cross fled away from the forest.
• Fear rushed through me and there I saw it. The pair of glowing eyes, almost the
• color of blood red, is sinister.  
• The beast lunged in my direction but it hit the gate
• instead. The old gate flew open after the second thrust. I was frozen in my
• place, like my feet were rooted deep on the ground. I could feel my insides
• churning. Is this how I'm going to die?  
• The hideous creature slowly ascends towards me, ready to
• pounce any seconds now. And it did. Its sharp set of teeth dug into my skin, a
• piercing pain hit me.  
• “Ah!” I yelped in pain, gripping my thigh. The agonizing
• pain kept going until my throat strained.  
• The black wolf did not stop dragging me along the fence. It
• is leading me towards the forest. I shut my eyes, biting my shaking lips. The
• excruciating torture did not stop. It kept dragging me whilst I used my other
• leg to kick it in the head. Finally I hit him in the nose. It pulled back its
• pointy teeth from my flesh and stumbled backwards. My kick was strong but it
• wasn't strong enough to knock the beast cold.  
• How I wish someone will save me but I know it won't come to
• that because my body couldn't take it any longer. Slowly, I fell into darkness.
• My heart beating was frightfully deafening but still I heard it. The loud,
• distress growl echoed in my ears.