BENEATH THE MEMORY LANE

LORELEI'S POINT OF VIEW

"They are slaughtering us one by one," Sloane uttered grimly while staring at the casket where Samantha lies.

It's Saturday, and we decided to attend her funeral. Seeing the grief on my classmates' faces  makes my heart twitches in pain, especially Alexandria. She's been crying on the entire time that we are here. Even during the class, she's always pre-occupied most of the time.

Her, Sam and Claire were inseparable, they were the best of friends. We still couldn't find Claire, and now, her other best friend is gone. That's why it's completely understandable how she's behaving to cope up with the situation. I pity her, but all I could do is to comfort her. I have my own battle too that I need to deal with.

"Why did this happen to her?! Sam is a good daughter. Why would they kill my lovely child in the most heartless way?! Why?!"

I turned my gaze to the weeping mother of Sam. Beside her is Alexandria who's also crying while looking inside the casket. The latter is trying to calm the mother despite her current emotional state. I averted my stares from them as I felt tears threatening to fall from my eyes.

"Where are you going?" Lauren asked me when I stood up from my seat.

"Outside, I just need to unwind," I answered and exit the place.

The perturbed atmosphere inside that room is too much for me. I couldn't handle the melancholy surrounding us, so I decided to went outside.

I breathed deep and feel the afternoon breeze caress my skin. The tension I was feeling calmed down a bit. I roam my eyes around and saw a bench situated under the thick branches of a Narra tree over the distance. I decided to go there.

Sam's house is the perfect place to relax. It's an exclusive subdivision, with several trees leaning into the sunny rays as if they were lovers in eternal trance, they were lashing against each other like drum sticks in the hands of a giant. Rays of mellow sunlight filtered through the verdurous canopy, penetrating through the leaves and casting an unearthly green and gold luminescence over the ground.

I smile while staring at the landscape in front of me, it resembles our house in the province. Trees are actually my taste of heaven. Whenever I get fed up with all the bullshit of this world, I always find a tree where I can reclined.  For me, trees stand as cheerleader to each passing spirit in every jocund day.

I lifted my face, letting the light and shadow dance across my skin. The bees hummed in and out of the pennyroyal. I inhaled its minty smell and continued on.

I was pulled out of my reverie when I heard giggles not far from when I'm sitting.

"Hey! Don't push me too hard!"

"I'm not!"

"Yes you are! Aish!"

I found myself smiling while listening at the bickering of the two children. If it wasn't because of them, I wouldn't realized that this is a park, but it seems like it was rarely visited. The tall grasses and moss have occupied the ground and rust can be seen in the swings and slides.

But the smile on my face immediately faded as waves of memories came clashing inside my mind.

•••••

10 YEARS AGO

"Yaya, can I play with them?" I asked my personal nanny while pouting my lips.

She smiled and ruffled my hair. "Okay, but don't sweat too much, alright? Your mother will scold the both of us."

I nod my head happily and skipped towards the group of children who were playing on the park.

"Guys, can I play with you?"

They stopped on their track and looked at me curiously. The two boys stop swinging while the three girls left their toys on the mat.

"And you are?" the girl asked while raising an eyebrow. She looks like a brat but I don't care, I just want to ease my boredom and play with them.

I smiled widely. "I'm Lorelei Shin and I'm already seven years old. Can I play with you?" I repeated my question.

The girl hissed and turned her back.

"Brat," one of them said while shaking his head. I turned my gaze on the boy sitting beside him and my eyes widened.

I scoffed. "Woah, you guys are twins?!" I asked in awe.

The one who called the girl earlier a 'brat' smiled at me. "Yeah, we're twins."

"That is really cool!" I said, my eyes twinkling in astonishment.

He chuckled. "I'm Ethan, the handsome one, and this ugly bastard is Evan," he said while pointing to his sibling. They look alike but I really think they have clashing personalities. Ethan looks like a buoyant and bubbly kid while Evan seems withdrawn and aloof.

The latter glared at him. "If I'm ugly, then you are too. We're identical twins, you idiot," he said scornfully and fend off Ethan's arms that was wrapped around his shoulders.

I giggled at the scene. After having a little chitchats with the two guys, though Evan was not speaking at all, I sit next to the other girls.

"Hi guys, can I join you? I have a lot of toys too but my nanny didn't bring it with us. Is it okay if I borrow from you for the mean time?"

I pouted my lips when they ignored me and continue playing. Tears brimmed my eyes as I watch them with envy. But I couldn't contain my sadness anymore and so I burst out crying. They panicked and looks at me with concern.

"H-Hey, why are you crying?" one of them asked while caressing my back.

"I just want to be your p-play mate, why won't you let me j-join you?" I asked in between my sobs.

She huffed and hit the arms of the other kid. "It's your fault, Amber! Now she's crying. You told us to ignore her!"

The latter rolled her eyes at her before looking at me. "Fine, you can join us, but don't you dare steal our toys or I will tell my brother to hit you!" she warned while glaring at me.

I wipe my snot and smiled at them. "Okay! I promise! By the way, what are your names?" I asked.

"I'm Airen. Nice to meet you Lauren," the girl with a strawberry blonde hair said, she's the one who caressed my back earlier too.

"Hi Airen. I really like your hair, it's so beautiful."

She blushes and uttered a silent 'thank you.'

"The name's Ashley. Sorry for our attitude a while ago, it was all Amber's fault," the other kid said with a chuckle.

The girl they called Amber scoffed. "Why are you guys conspiring against me?"

All three of us laugh at her tantrums.

"But for the sake of knowing the Goddess' name, I'm Amber," she said with a smug grin.

Ashley and Aerin rolled their eyes at her while I giggled. We started playing, they are really fun to play with!

"Pierce, Sloane!"

We turned our attention to Ethan who suddenly shouted. Two kids are walking towards us. The twin made a fist bump with the two new comers.

"Are they your friends too?" I asked them with curious eyes.

Aerin nods her head. "Yeah, that one is Sloane," she said and points the guy wearing a blue polo shirt. "And the other one is Pierce."

I wrinkled my forehead. "Why is he reading a book?"

Ashley chuckled. "Pierce is really a book enthusiast, don't mind that geek."

They introduced me to them and we resumed playing. Ethan and Sloane needed to drag Pierce's ass just for him to stop reading and join us.

"Lorelei! Come here for a moment and I'll wipe your sweats!" Aunt Miriam, my nanny, called me.

I look at them. "Wait guys, I'll be back," I said and run towards her.

"I told you not to play too much! You're sweating buckets!"

I just giggle at my nanny's scolding. After drinking my bottled water, I immediately walk back towards Airen and the others. But I'm not halfway towards them when I saw a kid peeking behind a tree, she's looking at the kids playing at the park.

I walk towards her direction silently. "Boo!"

She flinched and looks at me with wide eyes.

I laugh. "Your reaction is so funny and cute!" I said and pinch her cheeks that was now blushing, probably because of embarrassment.

"S-Stop pinching my cheeks," she said quietly and I abruptly obliged.

I stared at her for a moment. "Your eyes are so beautiful," I said while staring at her deep blue orbs.

She looks at me. "R-Really?" she asked timidly.

I nod my head fervently. "It is! Your eyes seem to hold a beautiful ocean, I'm envious."

"T-Thank you."

I smiled. "Anyway, why are you just peeking behind the tree? Don't you want to play? You can play with us!" I said enthusiastically.

She just beamed sheepishly. "I-I don't know any of them."

"Eh? I just know them a while ago too. By the way, my name's Lorelei. How about yours?"

She was about to answer when a woman walk towards our direction.

"I've been looking for you since ages! You made me so worried!" The woman scolds her.

The kid smiled at the woman. "I'm fine, Mom. Are we going home? I'm sleepy already?" she asked her mother somberly.

Her mother nodded her head before carrying the kid. Her gaze turns to me. "And who's this pretty girl beside you?"

I smiled upon hearing her compliment. "I'm Lorelei, Madam." I bowed my head because that's what my mother told me to do every time I introduce myself to older people.

She ruffled my hair. "What a respectful kid. You can call me Auntie Adriana. How about you, Blair, have you introduced yourself to her?"

She shook her head. "I was about to but you came, Mom," she responded and smiled at me. "I'm Astreia  Blair, but I prefer to be called Blair. Nice to meet you, Lorelei."

I beamed. "I am pleasure too meet you too, Blair. I'll be going now, let's play next time, alright? Bye Aunt Adriana, take care!"

I turn around and dash towards my new playmates.

Astreia Blair, what a pretty name.

•••••

"Are you crying?"

I opened my eyes and look at the children staring curiously at me. I look away to secretly wipe my tears away.

"I-I'm not crying, alright? Some dust just entered my eyes," I reasoned out.

The buy my excuse and just smile before going back to the swing. I smiled watching them.

How exuberant it is to be a child again, spared from all the bullshits of this fucked up world.

I look over the skyline and let the warm rays of sun bath my face. For a couple of moments, I just sit there motionless.

I breathed deep before looking at the person who called my name, it was Airen.

I smiled subtly at her. "Yes?"

Her brows snapped together. "What are you doing here outside?" she asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Just breathing some fresh air. The atmosphere inside is suffocating."

She just answered me with a nod. The other also came out of the house.

"Alex will stay here for tonight so she won't be coming back with us," Aeron announced.

I walk towards Lauren and swing my arms over her shoulder.

"Are you okay, Lei?" she asked.

I hummed as a response and she just pat my head.

Everything around us is now in complete chaos. We're lost in the midst of uncertainty and fear, with a mysterious killer eliminating us one after another. Deep inside me, I know that the darkness looming ahead of us has not yet to be concluded. Sam's death is not a mark of their cessation.

Whatever it takes, I need to prepare myself.