Memories of the Dark: "Lianna Morris"

The sound of crickets can be heard from outside the window as the sun is about to set. A blue-haired girl opened a letter excitedly as if it was from someone dear to her. The girl reads the letter with eagerness and she soon finished the letter.

"That's it?" She looked inside the envelope for more, however, there seems to be nothing else. She sighed as she was disappointed that there was nothing more.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Lianna!" An old woman's voice could be heard. Upon hearing the voice, Lianna immediately hides the letter and opens the door.

"Yes, mother?" Lianna asked her mother politely with both her hands on her back.

"What were you doing— and don't you dare lie to me!" Her mother became suspicious of her, insinuating something incredulous.

"I was just reading a letter from Cedany..." Lianna looked down at the floor as she knows she can't hide anything from her mother.

"How many times have I told you not to talk to the girl— she brings upon curses! A suspicious man had already gone by earlier trying to take you to this Acantha thing. Haven't you had enough of these curses happening to us?!" Lianna's mother was outraged upon hearing Cedany's name. Lianna can't help but say nothing as she was scared of what her mother would do to her. "You're grounded for a month." Lianna gasped at what her mother had just said.

"You can't do that-" Lianna cried, "I've already done whatever you wanted me to do! I stayed away from those lowlifes you told me to stay away from and learned to sew just because you wanted me to be more ladylike!" Flames engulfed her eyes by the way her mother had invalidated her.

"You never learn, don't you know how much I've sacrificed for you?!" Lianna immediately put both her hands on her ears as she was trying to block all of the words coming out from her mother.

Hours have passed and Lianna is sitting down on a chair inside her room. She looked at the glasses that were shattered and the water was spilt on the table.

Lianna got up from the chair and went towards the window. She saw the man with the green cloak still there and was looking at her. "This guy gives me the creeps. However, what he said earlier is kind of a nice offer." Lianna nods to herself, her eyes closed as if thinking about the guy's offer.

She opened the window and looked at the guy directly. "Psst! You!" Lianna called out to the guy from Acantha. The guy pointed at himself as if asking if it was him she was talking to. "Yes, you!" Lianna said irritated because the guy was a slowpoke.

The guy walked near Lianna's window. "Yes?" The guy asked. Lianna brought out her longest blanket and threw it to the guy.

"Hop on!" Lianna said holding onto the blanket as the guy hurriedly went to the blanket. Lianna tried her best to pull the guy up with her blanket, the guy just stared blankly as if he was processing what was happening.

After Lianna successfully brought the guy up to her room, she put both her hands on her hips while looking at the guy. The guy stared at her as if he was in disbelief of her strength. "What are you staring at?" Lianna rolled her eyes at the guy staring at her.

"You're so strong for a girl." The guy said as Lianna looked at him with disgust.

"Again with the whatnots of a girl: can't carry a large pile of laundry. I could carry a whole building if you want me to." She grumbled as the guy stared at her in awe as if to consider the statement. "I'm just exaggerating but don't you say anything sexist in front of my face again or I might just beat the shit out of you. Tsk!" Lianna looked away from the guy as she was angered by the sexist ordeal caused by the guy.

"Pardon my manners, my lady, I do not mean to offend you. Have you considered the invitation?" The guy looked at Lianna with a hopeful look.

"My mother would never let me go, however, I've decided to go. Is it alright to have no approval from a parent?" Lianna asked the guy. The guy nodded in response. "Okay then, I'll go today! Let me just pack some important stuff." Lianna went to her cabinet and brought out her stuff excitedly.

"Umm—" He paused, "It doesn't have to be today." the guy was uncomfortable as he realized he is inside a woman's sleeping chamber, an unspoken rule to never cross the door leading to a poised lady's privacy. To relieve his stress from the situation he backed away towards a corner and waited.

"But if I don't go now, my mother will find out that I plan to depart from her." Lianna zipped her bag as she was done putting her things inside it. "I'm done! Now, escort me to that boat." Lianna exclaimed, excitement evident on her face. Bags ready in both her tightened hands.

"If that's what you want. How are we going to go down from here?" The guy looked down to see that they are on the highest floor of the mansion.

"The same way you got in, of course!" Lianna tied the blanket to the pillar inside her room. "Let us go down!" Lianna happily went out the window and soon her feet landed on the grass. "Throw out my bags!" Lianna said to the guy who was still in her room. The guy threw the bags and she successfully caught them. "Hurry up and go down!" The guy was still thinking if he should as he was scared that he'll fall.