Chapter 1

Wake the fuck up, Sleeping Beauty! You just lost your prince and there's no way you'll be kissed! Kumisap kisap ang talukap ng kaniyang mga mata bago tuluyang nagmulat nang dahan-dahan. Mahapdi ang mga iyon dahil sa matagal na pagkakapikit.

She tried moving her pale arms but it took minutes before she finally felt her soiled skin.

She found her body lying on a single mattress covered with dust. She can hear nobody else. There is only this small streaks of sunlight filtering through the window cracks, hitting her wondrous face.

Oh, morning rays! It's morning! Thank goodness! I am awake! I am alive! Pagpipiyesta niya sa isipan.

She stood up, not minding the twisting and cracking of bones and muscles. Naglakad siya patungo sa maalikabok at malawak na salamin, tsaka sumulyap sa kinaroroonan niyang mundo.

Lily...

Lily of the Valley?!

It's gonna be long, tiring day for you, Trudy! Of all places, why here again?!

"Suzy! Please, hear me!" Nangapa pa siya sa pagsasalita. Tuyong-tuyo ang kaniyang lalamunan at mahirap tawagin ang elementong hindi nabibilang sa mundong ito para lamang magpapakita ngayon sa luma at abandunadong selda na ito.

"You're awake! You've finally made it to eighteen..." The lady's voice is soothing, wheezing somewhere inside the room. Her hair is caramel, and straight. She is their aphrodite, their Suzy of the West, Trudy's senior.

"I don't get this! Why... why here?!"

Lingid sa alam ng karamihan, mayroong maliit at tagong mundo na kung saan kapag tumungtong sila sa edad labing-walo, iyon ang hudyat para lisanin nila ang kanilang mundo at tumapak sa iba't-ibang dako ng daigdig. Silang lahat ay nakatadhana para hanapin ang nag-iisang taong kailangan nila para maisagawa ang kani-kanilang misyon. Human or not, in land or in water, at North or at South... they must meet them to get closer to their heart until they win fate.

"You broke the rules... you should never link threads to someone unless he's a soulmate and most importantly, the top rule, a maiden like you should never abide promises to a stranger, Trudy."

He was never a stranger. Namula ang kaniyang mga pisngi nang sumagi sa isipan ang lahat tungkol sa lalaki. She met him somewhere in a place called Hazelwood and she never had the chance to tell him that they were breathing in two different worlds. And maybe by now, he doesn't have the glimpse of their memories anymore. Their time has run out and he will no longer remember her... even her boring name... her whole existence.

"And why am I still here? Grandma Eden told me about Thornbury ... not this place!"

Her granny said that Thornbury is the place where she could start her journey to her soulmate's trails. Bihasa na ang matandang iyon kaya hindi siya maaaring magkamali. She has always believed in her cards.

"Trust me, young lady."

"What about Miles then? Am I not seeing him anymore? Can't you give me another chance? Please, Suzy, please..."

He was her first love. Nakilala niya na ang lalaking iyon kahit hindi pa siya tumutuntong sa tamang edad. Nagustuhan niya na ang lalaking iyon bago niya makilala ang nakatadhana sa kaniya. And she already promised him that she'll come see him again with no more goodbyes. She will always find a way to cross paths for a second chance and for lifetime.

"Come with me."

Suzy just smiled, her body fading till fully vanished into clean air.

_____

"Shoo! Alis! Kapag nadungisan ang paninda ko... argh! Talaga naman!" Someone yelped.

Her tone is high... eyes are hateful. I am right! She's mad! Uhm, did I do something wrong? I am just looking at tho se fancy dresses. 'Cause I badly need one! Just one... I scanned sight down my body, giving myself a hug. Oh, poor you, Trudy.

After I got back from Suzy's place, she let me out the door, packed me thoughts and questions. She said that the full moon will come out tonight, and tomorrow is when my mission will begin.

Humans are all throwing stares at me. But I don't care anymore! I am occupied by all the beautiful stuff in here. Is this what they call a town? Oh, I just wanna stay in here and be one of these people walking under sweather weather!

"Ineng, mukhang bago ka rito? Hindi kasi ako pamilyar sa mukha mo eh... may problema ba?" An old woman asked, her lips are curved, eyes are concern.

No... No way! Could I trust her?

Maybe she could help me all the way to the central?!

"I am definitely lost in here, perhaps a map will help? I need to find the tower!"

"Ay hala ka? Hindi ko mawari ang sinasabi mo, Ineng. Pasensya ha?"

W-what?

Argh!

I need to get to that weird looking tower!

Suzy's book said it's located central, uptown. And I honestly have no idea how to get there. I mean, I'll catch up a lot. Maybe it's kilometers away. It'll be much more easy if I had the ability to teleport but my power cannot simply grant it.

In our secret, little world, our practices shall remain a largely private unless if it's for our mission. I was eight and was helping my grandma Eden sew my ragged doll's dresses when she told me stories about hidden abilities. I was nine when I discovered that I can heal. I shared my gift for a couple of years but then on, I forgot about helping the villagers when I turned seventeen. All I can remember was I opened my eyes, and I am eighteen years old and had no idea where I was. Then lately I knew it was Hazelwood. I was in Hazelwood where I met Miles... and where I left him forgetting all about me.