Red eyes in the dark : part 3

The sound of the rain was deafening as Bia pushed herself forward, determined to reach the old tower.

She ignored the pain in her bottom and focused on her goal of reaching her destination. Finally, as she climbed the stairs, her clothes heavy and soaked through, she reached the top and collapsed onto the floor, exhausted and drenched, but proud that she had made it.

She couldn't tell if it was a bad idea to leave their house in the first place. But at least she got the peace she was craving. She could dry herself out here and wait.

Sitting down on the dusty floor, she removed her cloak and hung it on the nail she had embedded in the wall herself and then stood up to move to the edge of the tower, passing where the old bell had been, and from there she had a view of the whole village even as it rained.

This was when her mind went back to what her mother had told her. Leaving Ponlette suddenly? She couldn't, not because she didn't want to, but because she was scared her mom wouldn't be able to take care of herself.

After their father's death, she was the one who nursed her back to health and tried to give her hope to live. It was funny how her motivation and goal changed from wanting to gain her certificate and leaving the town to taking care of her mother.

She didn't want to be alone; if she lost her, she didn't know what would become of her since she was the only surviving child.

It was rumored all her siblings had died during birth, and she was the only one who survived. She didn't die from the illness that inflicted them all.

Her father was the only son in his family with no other surviving relative, while her mother had been said to be disowned for marrying her father, given that she had come from a very affluent home. So, in her world, there was no one else except her mother, and the thought of leaving her suddenly terrified her.

The cold shivers she felt brought her back to reality when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs of the tower. She drew back from the pillars to listen carefully, and indeed, someone was coming up the tower!

Who could it be? except she knew no one would dare visit the abandoned tower at this time of the night and in this weather. She was quick to grab her cloak, moaning aloud when her legs hurt; she seemed to have forgotten her dreadful fall.

She took her cloak and umbrella and hid in the corner of the wall. Whoever it was would reveal themselves. She held her breath as the steps came nearer and finally up to the pillar.

She raised her umbrella in hand to hit when the person got close because what kind of person would be here at this time?

The tower had been abandoned for years since she was little. It was one of those building structures nobody even dared to look at. So that is why she had taken it as her hideaway. And in the years of coming here, she had never had company except that of.....

"Hello." A male voice spoke, walking step by step as if looking for something. Due to the heavy rain, she couldn't hear the voice fully, so, when the person walked closer to the pillar, she raised her umbrella to hit him.

"Lord!" The man screamed under his cloak as he quickly caught her hands and escaped her hit. "It's me, it's me, Bia." He quickly pulled his cloak over his head to reveal his face. He was a blond man with wavy hair and brown eyes that showed shock, just like hers.

"Li…Liam?" Her face was filled with aftershock seeing the young man in front of her.

"What are you doing here?"

A heavy sigh of relief followed as she released her grip on the umbrella which she was about to struggle with him over, and sat back down on the floor.

"You frightened the hell out of me." She puffed a breath, still shocked, as she looked up at him. "I thought you weren't supposed to be back till the next two days."

"Well," he folded the umbrella and placed it in a nook to dry, then sat back down beside her.

"God, you're drenched!" He exclaimed when he saw the state of her clothing. "Did you even make use of that umbrella, Bia, or were you taking a bath in the rain again?"

Bia was about to say something when he took off his cloak and covered her. "There, that would do."

He seemed to know her so well. And that instantly brought a smile to her face as she looked at him. She had missed him dreadfully this past week he traveled. She nudged him. "So what brought you back so early?"

"I knew you would need someone to talk to today. I didn't forget." He said, then stood up and walked to the edge of the pillar, looking at the village and beyond as the rain fell.

The breeze tousled his golden blond hair in the wind. His brown eyes appeared darker as they looked into the distance.

Bianca sat there watching his tall, sturdy back, touched by his words. It was true she had always needed someone to be with during this day of the year, and he had always been there. Liam had always cared for her a huge amount from the day they met.

He was her late father's apprentice in his carpenter workshop, and it added that they lived a few houses away from each other in the village.

Liam lived only with his grandma in their old cottage. His parents were long dead, and he was the only surviving child the old woman had as his father had been her only son. It was sad. Very sad. But she hadn't known how sad and painful it was until she lost her father. And she thought it unbearable.

Liam's case was different; he'd argued, since he never truly knew his parents. He could remember vivid pictures of them but not much in the way of memories as he was too young when they went on one trip to a faraway town and never returned. No one knew whether they were dead or not. But to him, it's been years and they were dead.

"As you can see, I'm fine." She shrugged as she shook from the cold, holding tighter the cloak she didn't know she needed for warmth.

He turned back to her. He was dressed in a simple milk-colored shirt, black trousers, and long-worn brown boots. Boots like those a peasant could afford. Bianca noticed the mud clinging to his boots and messing with the floors of the tower.

"Did you come straight looking for me?" She sized him up as they finally settled on his eyes fixated on her.

"I went to your house and your mother said you have run away, and so I know no better place you will run off to than here."

She sighed as he came to sit back with her. "What exactly happened? I met Aunt in a bad state."

"I will tell you later, but not after you tell me how your trip was." She looked into his eyes and found the amusement and likeness there before he looked away.

"It was good. Nice." He said. "Pelinburst truly is the Town of trade and It is certainly a city you would love." He turned back to her.

"Really?" The longing was there as she stared at him. The longing to see things and travel just like he was doing.

Pelinburst was certainly one of the biggest cities in their state, and she had wished to visit it and many of the others. There were approximately five towns in Pelinburst city. And Liam had visited one of them. His carpentry work was indeed working for him. It had been a huge deal for him to be given a job to do in the city.

He nodded. "Old and modern at the same time. God, you should see Bia, there was a lot to see, a lot of histories, myths, and dark, dark secrets I tell you." His eyes were excitedly amusing.

Bianca smiled half-heartedly at him because in as much as she was happy for him, she couldn't help the itch and desire in her heart for such an adventure.

"Which of the towns did you visit?"

"Browmere." He answered. "It is the least and smallest town in Pelinburst but there were too many marvels and our village can never be compared to it. If only I had much money to travel I could have dared to step foot into the other towns. But as it was…" he didn't complete his sentence and just let it trail off between them.

As the silence dwelled between them, she asked. "And the work, how was it?"

"It went well and I got extra money to be precise since the man loved my designs and dedication." His hands moved into his pockets and lingered there as if he wanted to bring out something but he hesitated and brought back his hands and then looked at her.

"Why don't you tell me what made you run off by this time." His voice was soft as he asked.

Her breathing was steady as she stared into the distance. "She wants to send me away."

Liam blinked a few times. "Send you away? To where?"

"To the city, to a faraway cousin of hers."