Runaway

I filed for a leave, an indefinite kind of leave. Being a partner in the firm has its perks, it means if I have done enough work hours I can file for a long leave, or work from home. I decided to work away from the office, but definitely not at home, I need to get out of this place. The farther the better!

"Beth, where do you plan to go?" my mom said in concern

"I... uh... I just need to get this whole thing out of my system Ma. I just need some time, everything... everything is just... difficult", I hugged her and said goodbye to them.

That's what all I want, I want to be away, away from Ciel, away from the Traveller shit and the so called demonic entity that wants me dead. I backed out the driveway waved goodbye and drove away. I had enough things in my car to last me for some time, and I know all the addresses of my father's properties if I needed a place to crash. I put my feet on the gas and started driving, no particular destination just driving.

Somewhere in the Metro I decided to stop-over at a cafe, it was important that I had lunch, check my emails and maybe start my concept on the building that Mr. Saldivar had commissioned me to design. I brought out my laptop and began my tasks, as I waited for my orders, browsing through the photos of the area which the building will stand. The land seemed to be a forested area, trees were abundant and the lighting will be a problem if some of the trees are not cleared out. Mr. Saldivar had informed me that he wanted the building to merge into the environment, but it would be nearly impossible to do that if he intends to build a school. Then my order came, as I looked up I saw the smiling Ciel. He placed the plate down and gave me the most irritated smile I have ever seen in my life.

"I went to your office today", he began, his tone controlled and his movements measured.

"Really? Sorry but I really don't care", I responded with sarcasm, trying to forget my bruised and bloodied legs.

Ciel sat across from me, snapped his fingers and everything went to a sudden halt, and he was now wearing a bespoke suit, sitting haughtily.

"What do you want?" I asked before biting a spoonful of rice and eggs

"What do you think your doing?" answering my question with his own

"Eating", I responded, gesturing to my lunch, "what do you want?"

Ciel didn't respond and gestured back to my lunch as if telling me to finish it first. I did and the world returned to normal with people bustling around and the glorious background noise. Ciel ordered coffee himself and smiled at me as if I was his friend, he didn't even bothered to speak to during the whole meal. I was going between eating and looking at my emails, and by the time I cleared my plate and paid the bill, Ciel has put everything into halt.

"I guess now we can talk", he said, but this time there was an edge in his tone as if he was going to hurt me if I said otherwise

"I guess so", I responded flatly

"What in the name of Christ are you doing?"

"I'm running away. I don't want to be part of any of this mess! I just want to be away Ciel. Away from this Traveller business, away from you, and away from all these chaos. I just want to be free." I felt my leg sting a little, my leg is bleeding a little, I silently choking down a wince of pain.

"Running away will not solve this Beth, you should know that."

I looked away, I knew he was right, I heard him sigh. "You need to kill your demons, before they kill you." Just like that Ciel was again gone.

Damned! Don't make people feel like you care if you really don't! I said to myself as I was driving to one of our condos. I hated that Ciel can find me whenever he wants and just vanish whenever he wants. But if he can do that easily, I realized that those things can do pretty much the same, I felt chills run down my spine. When I arrived at the unit in Ortigas I immediately called my family letting them know that where I was and that I'm okay. Hearing my mom's voice was soothing enough that, for a moment I was calmed, but after the call I had to attend to my wounds, they need to be cleaned and redressed, afterall I don't want to bleed on the carpet. I took off the bandages and saw the ugly wounds on my legs. I sighed, I might need to get some laser surgery if any of these leaves a scar on my used to be smooth skin, I laugh at myself, still trying to make myself happy despite all the crazy things that has been happening with my life.

Into the night I continued with my work and began my preliminary designs for the building, consistently checking the images of the location and the adjusting based on the things that I have noticed. The aerial and topographic survey done previously showed that it will be a challenge to build the type of structure he wanted without disturbing the nature too much. I sighed again, but this time I can't help but smile, this type of problems are more welcomed than those of that I have been going through the past weeks. I was cleaning up the lights flickered,it happened twice and then it was gone, I stood in the dark with my things in my arms, I felt a shiver, a power outage? I questioned and at the same time trying to calm my heart, this is not the time to entertain some stupid supernatural shit, I walked cautiously towards the bedroom, I need to get a flashlight. This is just a power interruption, I breathed in, but then I felt something brush my shoulder, shit. I ran out of the room and saw something that made my heart sink, there was a light in the corridor. I saw the light seep through the door, there is something wrong. I rushed to the door, but something stopped me in my tracks, there was someone standing in front of the door. My heart began to race, there was someone inside the unit, how they got it I don't have the answer, I wanted to cry. Help! I wanted to scream but I can't find my voice, I was scared.

It stood there, eyes shined red in the dim lights from the skyscrapers outside the window, it's built was twice my size and would tower above me. All I could do was stare, petrified. I heard a low growl, then it pounced at me. I evaded, it missed me an inch, I ran towards the door, as it was still trying to regain bearings, but caught my ankle. I fell face first on the carpet, I felt it's claws on my skin drawing blood, I screamed in pain. I dragged me by the foot and it was about to bash my head on the wall when I somehow managed to hold on to something hard and kick whatever it was that held on my ankle until it has let go, it fell on it's back; it writhed in pain I must have kicked something that hurts but only one thought ran through my mind, I gotta get out of here, I ran for the door. I tried to pull hard on the knob but it wont open, I screamed and banged the door to catch any attention from the outside, please anyone help me, I was crying.

It stood, limping in pain... It was coming towards me, I can hear it's snarls and the grinding of its teeth, I was crying, I looked at my side the bathroom and the sink, what am I going to do? I ran to the bathroom as it was about to pounce and shut the door on its face, the thing was trying to break down the door, I grabbed my dad's straight razor, sat on the floor crying, when it broke the door and launched itself at me I closed my eyes I wildly waved the razor and felt it slash something. Then a foul smell infiltrated my nostrils, I felt something dripping on my face and fell on my body, I opened my eyes and saw the demon slumped on me, a huge gash on its neck. It was bleeding on me, bleeding and dead. Immediately i pushed it off of me and ran to the door. It opened I limped out as fast as I could, the hallway lights flickered, as I passed each blew up, I looked back a black clawed hand gripped the door frame. I shouted for help but no one seems to hear, I banged on every door but there was no response. It was then I realised this may not be what I think, that thing has done something and has trapped me, I was panting. It was coming my way fast bleeding on the floor, i ran to the elevator pressed the button even though I know it may be pointless, but it opened I almost ran inside when I saw another one of those things. I backed up on the wall, was cornered, I was out of breath, this can't be the end, at that moment I whispered something I didn't expect to say in my final moments , "Ciel... Help me please", the two things lunged at me at the same time but as I was about to be devoured I bright light enveloped the whole place and the last thing I saw was angel wings.