3. PROTECTOR
I was not sure where I was exactly. It was dark, but I recognized walls surrounding me. I started to become aware that I was inside a room—a room that had no doors, no windows and no chance of escape.
Across the room, I saw a white figure of a man appearing slowly. He was wearing a glowing white shirt and pajamas. At first I couldn’t recognize him. It was too bright to see his face. I looked down at his feet; he was barefooted.
His face wasn’t clear. But after a few seconds I saw thin smoke cover up his face. The smoke lasted for a second. When it vanished, I could finally make out the man’s face. It was Jared.
His eyes glanced about the room, finding me after a few seconds. I stared. He smiled to me as if it were a relief to him to see me here. He raised his hands like he was welcoming me to this place. I hesitated, and came to a realization that he was asking me to hug him.
I stepped forward in his direction, unsure if it were the right thing to do. I wanted to go to him, to come with him. I took another step, but Jared started to fade slowly. What is happening? I thought. Why is he going away?
I stared at his face, and saw that his smile was fading as well. At first I did not understand. Was he already saying goodbye?
“No,” I shouted, trying to make my voice loud. “Jared, don’t go!”
I began to walk toward him again, but it just got worse. Why was it happening? Why was he disappearing? It seemed that someone didn’t want me to go to him.
I tried again. But in one another step, he had completely disappeared.
And I was alone.
Behind me, I heard a male voice call my name. The voice gave me a sense of familiarity. I turned around where the voice came from, but I could only see darkness. “Where are you?” I asked, desperate.
And I saw, a few yards away, another white figure. It was an adult man wearing a glowing white robe. I stared at him with my eyes half-closed, examining only the distinct parts of the man’s body.
After moments of watching, a cloud of smoke went by his face and made it clear from view. It shone brighter for a second, but the light quickly faded away. I stared, my eyes fully open, and saw his pupils shone bright to life.
When I studied his face, I thought there was someone I knew who looked like him. Dark hair, straight nose, thick eyebrows, square jaws, and pale-skinned. The man had an average body build which absolutely looked the same as my relative.
“Dad?” I asked, curious. “Is that you?”
I thought I was having a stupid dream. I had never seen Dad wear clothes like that. The man had white, glowing eyes while Dad had hazel brown. It was then I thought that that was the only difference between him and Dad.
The man’s lips formed a thin line. “No, Rachel,” he said, but I knew the voice belonged to my father. “I am not.”
Why would Dad pretend that he wasn’t him? Or why would someone pretend to be my dad? I went utterly and suddenly confused.
“If you are not my father, who are you?” I managed to keep my voice calm, trying to sound it as normal as possible. “You have my father’s appearance and voice.”
“Indeed, I have.” The man began to step forward, his paces short, slow and sure. I let him come closer, but someone at the back of my mind told me to tell him to stop.
YOU ARE READING
Rachel Stanton and The Darkest Night
RomanceRachel Stanton has lived a normal life. She knows it is at peace already. But when she suddenly finds out all the danger waiting on her way, she’ll now face the terrible circumstances that will change everything between her, her family, her friends...