APPLE

My heart felt safe before I met your soul.

You make me both unsafe yet free at the same time.

From: A poem with your name –by: Adi. K-

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This was not the first time Apple saw this sight. Actually, it has been two days since she saw those hair-raising creatures near this area.

Those creatures looked like humans, but they wore black cloaks with hoodies that covered all of their faces.

At first, Apple thought they were human. She thought maybe there was a carnival around this area, thus they were wearing such weird costumes, but when Apple looked at them closely, only then did she realize that they weren't what he thought they were.

She could see a round hole, like a black hole on the part where their mouth should be, and those eyes were the reddest eyes that she had ever seen. As if they wanted to suck your soul out of your body, though they were not the first astral creatures that she had ever seen.

Apple saw them only briefly, but that was enough to make her shudder in fear. It was one of the most horrible creatures he had ever seen because she could see various strange creatures since she was eight years old, which means, it was nine years now.

The sound of thunder startled her and when the first droplet of rain fell on her cheeks, she opened her umbrella slowly, while the other people were running, looking for shelter.

Somehow, Apple always knew when it would rain, though the news said today would be a sunny day. Did this have anything to do with those creepy creatures?

She walked past those creatures that seemed didn't even bother with the change of the weather and today Apple took a note; there were many of them now, more than yesterday.

There were around twenty of them with the same style, height, and posture. It was a good thing that people couldn't see them, or else there would be chaos.

And just like usual, Apple would pretend that they were invisible. She didn't want to have a problem with those creatures from the astral world, since she wouldn't be able to ask for help if she were being attacked.

One thing that she learned: If she could see them, they could see you as well.

The last attack that she managed to escape was five years ago and that almost cost her life.

For now, Apple just came back from her school and the only fastest way to reach her home was through this small alley, which people rarely passed by.

Yet, from the first moment she turned around to this alley, she felt there was something strange in her surroundings, she could feel her heartbeat faster when she heard that...

There was a beautiful sound of the flute that made Apple stop walking and listen to it for a while. She thought there was someone else in this alley, who was playing the ute, but that was not the case, since Apple looked at her surroundings and found no one except herself was there.

But then, when she thought about it again, who would play the flute under the rain like this? And this alley was rarely walked past by people.

Her instinct told her to find another way, but for some reason, her heart told her otherwise. There was this strong desire from within her heart to follow the sound of the flute, which was so calming and beautiful, though she didn't know what kind of song that was played.

The sound simply mesmerized her, she felt it in her stomach the weird sense of longing…

"What is this?" Apple murmured to herself, as she walked with caution.

The sound of the flute gave her this feeling… sadness, though she didn't know what she missed or who...

Out of her instinct, she walked down the alley. After all, she had to go this way to reach her home, and then when there was a fork in the middle of this alley, on her right, Apple found the most beautiful sight that she had ever seen and this made her heart beat faster.

There, not too far from her, was a man sitting with beautiful black wings behind his body. The wings were very big and if they were open, the wings would be able to cover his whole body.

Apple thought its wings could create a strong whirlwind when he flapped them.

Could he fly?

Apple has ever seen flying creatures before, but not a man with wings. And above all, the feathers looked very soft that made her want to strum her fingers on them…

Apple couldn't help but become curious about him, since this was the first time she saw a man with wings and not such horrible creatures that she saw a few years ago, which almost killed her. Not to mention this man's figure…

Even though he was lowering his head and her long black hair that is like a curtain covered most of his face, but, Apple could still see his jaw and his perfect nose.

The perfection of this man, made Apple overlook the fact that he was injured badly and there was a pool of blood beneath him, which mixed with the heavy rain.

And the moment Apple realized that she was already squatting down in front of him while staring at the man intensely as if she was studying this beautiful creature.

Apple waited for the fear to come, especially when the man opened his eyes. They were the color of silver!

Apple's breath hitched, but then she spoke in a low voice that filled with concern. "What happened to you? You are injured badly… I will help you." Her voice didn't even shake when she said that.

And upon closer look, Apple started to realize something… his face, those eyes, the cold and ignorance vibe that emanated from him was not something new for her.

She knew this man, she had even met him before this.

He was the man who had saved her life five years ago when she was being attacked brutally and left without a single word.

Apple stretched out her hand to touch him, but all of a sudden gold dust appeared from the tips of her fingers.