by Faulina Arif
"Do you want me to teach you?"
Aria nod enthusiastically. "Aria wants to! When Irise still busy helping daddy in farm, Aria will not feel bored anymore."
"Hehe, I will teach you after this."
Aria nod, and not long after that Aria pointing someplace with her finger. "There! Aria will be first!" Aria runs toward that direction. Leaving Irise, she can only smile to see Aria behavior.
Irise really liked Aria very much. The blank spot in her heart is filled because of Aria. She can feel her heart became warm not as cold like before. Is it fine if she stays in here? Not only for a while, but for a longer time. She feels that was impossible, she know that. Reality is cruel and wretched, but still Irise can't ignore her selfish desire.
"I . . . Irise . . . ," Aria call to her with trembling voice.
That little girl trembling, her eyes wide open. She gulped, turning her head toward Irise that walking not far away from her, Irise looks like still daydreaming.
Irise can feel a stare in front of her, she look at Aria and then look at a direction Aria was pointing. Immediately she was surprised. a large bear with 2 meter in size standing not far away in front of them. That large bear still eating a rabbit. That rabbit seems like it was killed recently by that hungry bear.
Before that large bear noticing, Irise slowly approach Aria then she quickly grab her shoulder, she pull her to the back slowly. Irise try not to make any sound and want to quickly get out from this place. Unfortunately a lot of bird in the tree that located behind them flew away all at once, they made a loud noise. That large bear suddenly turn its head and stare at them with intent to kill.
Not wasting any time Irise suddenly grab Aria's hand and quickly running from there. That bear not stay in silent watching a big catch running away, it then quickly give a chase leaving rabbit corpse that it eat recently.
Aria tries to run as best as she could, but she can't follow Irise running speed. She quickly ran out of breath. Aria turned her head behind and can still see that bear, it's still chasing them. The fear and fatigue that she feel make her foot off balance, then she helplessly fall to the ground because of tree root. She falls down very hard to the ground and accidentally her head struck by a stone. She fell unconscious, Irise stopped and kneeling beside Aria. She shakes her body slowly, trying to awaken Aria.
"ARIA! ARIA! Wake up please!" Irise call to Aria loudly.
Panic and fear filled Irise's mind, she don't know what to do. Meanwhile that large bear drew closer and closer. And finally that bear is right in front of them, it standing up and lift its large hand trying to attack. Suddenly Irise stand up, she throw the wood in her bag toward that bear.
That wood hit the bear right in its head, but it seems ineffective at all. That bear didn't even flinch, only make it became more furious. That bears strike its hand and hit Irise right in her head. Because of strong force her body is thrown far away and then fall to the ground. Irise can't move at all, her eyesight now blurred, she felt pain across her body. She got a severe headache and she can't even turn her head. When she can slightly move her arm and head. She look at that bear, it still standing beside Aria. For a moment that bear stare at Irise, Irise then try to wake, slowly she managed to stand normally. Irise look at that bear, it slowly walk toward Irise and then suddenly stopped. It turns its head and look at unconscious Aria.
That bear then walking toward Aria, not wasting any time it suddenly bite Aria's body. Irise eyes wide open in disbelief. That bear is eating Aria right now, for a moment Irise can't move, she was confused.
Aria body was slowly torn apart, at that time Irise felt a surge of power. She screams loudly, her eyes turn to red and let out a terrible glow. She let out a knife in her waist. With flame of anger she runs toward that bear with an amazing speed. She then jump toward that bear and suddenly thrust her blade to its eyes. That bears screaming in pain, it's rampaging and strike its claw toward Irise. Irise face was cut deeply, letting out so many bloods and once again she was thrown away.
Not like before, this time she doesn't feel any pain. Anger that dominating her mind now made her body strong, and dulls her sense of pain. Irise once again standing up and ready to charge. But that bear is escaping, maybe it can feel the immense anger that came out from Irise.
Irise quickly approaching Aria. She kneeling beside Aria tries to lift her little body to her lap. She ignored the wound in her face that still let out a gush of blood. That blood fall to Aria's wound in her neck and then seeping inside her body. With a heavy tears Irise try to make sure Aria is still breathing.
"Aria . . . Wake up please! You must not die, please!" Irise plead, Embracing Aria's body while still crying.
"H . . . Hurt, it hurt. . ." A little trembling voice can be heard from Irise embrace.
Irise eyes wide open and her tears were halted. She releasing her arms and surprised to see that little girl in her lap. Even though she still unconscious, but her breathing became normal now. The one thing that makes Irise feel so surprised is not that, but because she saw all of Aria wound is closing rapidly, and not leaving any scar. Her skin and flesh that full of wound became smooth like nothing was happened before. The one that left is only her tattered clothes.
Irise eyes once again opening wide, she gulped. Suddenly her sad feeling turned into an inevitable worry that make her fell in silent.
Slowly Aria opened her eyes "I . . . ri . . . se . . . ?" she call Irise with soft voice while at the same time stare at her calming face.
Irise look at Aria, she let out a sigh of relieve and her eyes let out a little tears. She can't hide her tears and smiled. Irise is indeed feeling glad, she can still hear Aria's voice. But in the same time she can't help but to feel worry inside her mind. Is this possible? Did this little girl become more similar like her?
"Thank god you are fine." Irise kiss aria's forehead.
"Wh-what just happened? Where is that bear?"
"It was gone . . . ."
"Gone? Really?" Aria asked in disbelief
Aria became quiet and her face looks relieved "Thank god . . ." she said in low voice.
"Forgive Aria sis, Aria didn't think there was really a bear in here."
Irise embracing Aria without let out a single word. Her guilt made her heart painful. Because of her Aria lives will change, it's possible that she will have a lonely and vacant life like Irise. She should say sorry to her. But, she can't say a word, she will not say a word.
"Thank god Irise is fine, Aria didn't want to Miss Irise. Aria doesn’t want to lose Irise." Aria hugged Irise.
Aria did not want to see Irise getting hurt even just a little. This is all her fault and if Irise was wounded it will add guilty feeling to her mind. For once Aria heard about that rumor, a large bear sometime was sighted in this forest vicinity. Because of that, lately Albert forbids his only daughter to wander in the forest alone. But, Aria did not believe that rumor. Even more today Aria is not alone. Aria goes to forest to find fire wood with Irise and that's why she feels more daring. Aria was sure she will be fine, until she really saw that large bear with her own eyes. She really feels sorry.
Irise did not know what will happen after this. But she promised, she will keep Aria safe throughout all her life to atone her mistake. Irise will protect that little girl in order to prevent her from suffering. Yes, she can only do that. She will make sure that Aria will never be a cursed human like Irise.
White Haired Woman
After removing her wig and her contact lenses, Aria changing her clothes. Aria put the giant long sword in her back to its sheathe in her harness and two magnum pistol in the back waist. She then taking a shoulder bag, it contain a few throwing dagger. She wears that shoulder bag in her body.
These weapons are like a toy to Aria. All the night, Aria always equipped herself with these weapon and roam around in many places. she get out from her hideout only to lure and kill those transgressor that always targeted her.
Done with her equipment. Aria gets out
from the room and climb down to the dark stairs. Not even a shred of light was there. Aria is only using her instinct to walk down in this old building with 20 floors high. She never falls or stumble, she can walk normally as if she can see in the darkness.
For a human that always live in the darkness, a place without a light is a safest and comfortable place. Only in the darkness Aria can be calm and sleep well. It was always like that ever since
She now outside the old building. Aria then approaches her sport bike that she kept hidden in vacant garage behind the building. Aria uncovers the black cloth that covering it completely, and then climbs into its seat. She gallantly rides that bike, leaving her hideout. She go through the side of security station, no one is there now. This building was abandoned for a long time.
Half an hour later, Aria arrived in her destination. Tonight she chooses an abandoned twin apartment building with 15 floors high. She parked her sport bike behind that building. Then, Aria climbs the stairs until she arrived in the top floor. This is not her first time waiting in this kind of place. She was doing this for several times 4 until 5 times. But that luck is rarely comes.
Aria didn't always encounter those monsters, moreover meeting the people that controlling them. Sometimes, she can only encounter two or single monster in a day and can't find what she looking for. Aria dealing with a coward, someone crazy that always hides behind the scene and only commanding their pawn to deal with her.
Aria walks toward the edge of building, she sits in there. Aria look at her watch, the times now shows 01.00 AM. Aria stares at the scenery below her. The city still show it's activity, there still many people doing their activity in the main road even in this hour. In her eye, these sparkling light and people from the city is no more than a light originated from firefly. Its light become faint and can die anytime.
Aria takes a deep breath. If she was lucky, tonight she can kill more than 10 of those monsters. She thinks to herself, for several days she was lucky.
Killing those monsters is not a right thing to do, she know that. They have no right to live, at least that was what she thinks about those monsters. If she let them to live, they will become a nuisance and moreover they can become tools for destruction. To herself or anyone else.
In the past Aria always run and hide. Aria can never forget those painful memories. Inside the darkness, running away from the truth and covered by fear.
But after a hundred years everything was changed. Painful memories forced her to change her way of life and principle. Grudge and resentment made her heart polluted, it force her to not stay idle. Aria did not care if her will to life was based on a grudge and resentment. Because of those feeling, she can make her strong and survive even now. That grudge and resentment gave her a new purpose in her life and know what she will do to fill the void inside her heart. Maybe she can even kill her guilt that always haunts her in all of these years.
Moreover, Aria did not know until when she's able to run and hide. As long as she lives, those people will always hunt her. It was possible she will stumble and everything will be over for her. The best way to do is to kill her cowardice and stop running away, her only option is to fight.
Although she don't have any hope, although she doesn't know until when she can survive, and although all of this rottenness will not found its end. But she know this all along, only with this feeling, she will have the will to live. Yes, living with a wrong way but more logical than from straight way of living but will always be haunted by those rottenness.
Aria smiled. She was happy because she noticed a shadow that fall in her thighs. Today is my lucky day, she think and at the same time shoot her magnum pistol to behind her shoulder without looking.
A scary monster now lying dead in the rooftop. A big hole was seen in its head, its blood still flowing from its wound and made a pool of blood in the rooftop.
She stand up and look at that scary monster, she feel astonished. What is this creature? She was confused. This is her first time seeing this kind of creature. It’s not agile like a werewolf. This creature movement is so slow compared to werewolf. It’s look like an . . . octopus? She evaluate its appearance.
All of its body is black colored and greenish, it had a big sized weird shaped tentacle growing everywhere in its body. Its leg is like a normal human but its hand consists of 5 tentacles and its split in the tip. Although that tentacle did not have a hole like an octopus, but that tentacle always let out a weird liquid.
Suddenly several werewolves appeared and attacking Aria. She jump to the back, with a good reflexes she take her other pistol in her back waist. With that dual magnum pistol she tried to shoot them. But their movement is fast and those werewolves successfully dodge all Aria bullet.
Damn, now they are more agile. She thought.
One of those werewolf jump toward her in right direction, it try to attack her. With fast movement Aria duck to dodge that attack then she shoots its belly behind her shoulder without looking. That werewolf falls to the floor but it's still alive. Aria turn around, aiming her dual pistol to that dying werewolf head. She will shoot, but she forced to cancel it. The other two of those werewolves attacking her together. Aria have a hard time to dodge those attack, her dual pistol is fall from her hand.
Damn! Their attack speed is troublesome. She thought.
One of the werewolves tries to strike its claw. With a good reflex she dodges to the back, that werewolf can only scratch her left arm.
It seems I will not win without a single wound.
Aria takes her giant sword that was in her back, and then she's at the ready and takes a stance to pierce. Afterwards, she dash toward the werewolf that successful in giving her the wound. With an amazing speed, she pierced its heart until her giant sword completely through its body to its back. feeling unsatisfied, with amazing strength she twist her giant sword, it made a big hole in that second werewolf body and so many blood gushing out.
Suddenly, the other werewolf came. It is attacking Aria from her left. At that time Aria kicked a dying werewolf in front of her, with a strong force. Its body is flying away and then fall far away from her position. She dodges that last werewolf attack and spins her body to the left while at the same time cut down its belly.That werewolf movement is halted for a second.And at that time with fast movement she beheaded it.
After making sure of the third werewolf death. Aria turned away and approaches the second werewolf, it's still alive but it can't move anymore. Aria sheathe her sword to her back then take her dual magnum pistol that fall to the floor before. Aria aim one of her pistol toward its head, then in second she shoot it several times. The gunshot was heard to the apartment vicinity. Its bullet was spent, and then Aria takes the spare bullet in her jacket. She calmly reloading it.
After reloading her pistol, Aria once again turns her body and found the first werewolf that attacking her before was there. It now standing and walk toward Aria slowly. Aria aiming her pistol to that werewolf and shoot its leg. That werewolf fall and kneel in front of Aria. Still aiming her pistol, she comes near to that werewolf. And at that time she accidentally saw a human shadow from the rooftop of apartment next to this building. Aria stares at that shadow sharply, and suddenly it was gone from her sight. Not wasting any time, she kicks that werewolf in front of her with all her strength. That werewolf flying away and then fall from the building.
Aria take a step back and at the same time slid her dual pistol to her back waist. After that, she dash with all her strength and jump toward that apartment. She succeed and landed there smoothly, she then go into the building and run down the stairs. Chasing that vanishing shadow, after running down the stair Aria stopped. She looks down at the gap of the stair in the middle. She saw that shadow was in two levels below her. She running once again and sometimes she jump, to quickly arrive in the intersection of the floor. Not for long she can hear its running step.
And now she can saw the back of the shadow that she pursues. That person was now broke
down the door until it’s opened, he then running fast once again. Aria still catching up to him until they were now in main hall of this building, it located in the ground floor.
Some delinquent was seen standing in the front yard, near the main entrance door that was opened. They seem like seeing something above them. Meanwhile, that mysterious man that Aria targeted running toward that main access door. Seeing those delinquent, make her concentration scattered. She failed to catch that man.
"BERIAL!", that man yelled in loud voice after going through the main access door.
Suddenly Aria saw a giant shadow fall from the main entrance roof. All of sudden she stopped.
BRAKK!!!! The ground vibrating strongly and a monster with a giant figure which wearing a black armor was fall from the roof, it was equipped with a black giant sword bigger than Aria sword with a grotesque design. That giant monster swing its giant sword in circle, it quickly cut down those entire four delinquent that before was around its position. Those four delinquent bodies were split in two pieces. They all died, their blood and intestines was scattered throughout the ground.
Aria eyes widened in surprise, quickly she take her dual magnum pistol and directly fire at it. But the bullet only hitting its armor and bouncing off. That giant monster looked at her then suddenly it running away leaving that place. Aria was confused for what to chase, she look to the right side where that man was vanished, whilst in her left side there was a dangerous giant monster. And that monster trying to escape from her. She decides to pursue that giant monster with six meter tall.
"He-Hey! Wait!" she heard a vague voice behind her
She choose to ignore that voice, Aria increasing her running speed until the distance between her and that giant monster is close. That giant monster then suddenly turning left, she follows that giant monster and there is nothing. That monster's vanished into a thin air.