Chapter 4 - Unexplainable Feeling

Publicly pretending to act

Most aren't aware of the fact 

Within the shade, they watch 

While the dark itself they catch 

Blood flows over their path 

As abominations follow with wrath

And gore fills the gaze

Of those whose homes were covered in blaze

          -Page 2, Chapter 4. Poem of the sacred heart by George J. Northtooth. 

……

Letting out of the swelling tiredness within her heart in one, heavy big sigh, Elizabeth walked down the road to the subways since the college's hours had ended. After she had parted away with her best friend, Ellie, they were already on their way to the college's gate whenever the study's period had finished. 

With a calm, yet not a slow pace, the atmosphere around her was vastly different than when she started this morning. This has been her cycle for as long as she knows. By trying to start out the day with enthusiasm, and only to end it with fatigue. 

To be honest, the things she had done so far wasn't purely her real passion. So, in order to stabilize her mindset and lift her spirits throughout the day, she could only begin with positivity. Or else, things might take a toll on her.

While the sunset shone on her figure and created a long shadow of her, she put a halt to her steps and tried to enjoy the small beauty of nature, which most people always missed in their days. Painting the blue sky into a scarlet color, the crimson hue was glowing out of the horizon. Such a phenomenal display of the mother's nature, however she could only enjoy and share the sentiment of this moment with herself. 

To her surprise, a familiar visage of someone she knew had appeared within her vision. While the person who had attracted her attention hadn't noticed her presence, he acted like what Elizabeth had imagined him to be on the other side of the street. 

In both of his embraces were two girls who dressed in one piece of dress that showed their feminine figures and allures to the opposite sex. Although it was inconceivable for the others to think that a nerd-like someone who took a mythological history major would be able to utilize his charm and get closer to the ladies, however, it wasn't the case for this particular man. 

Roy Barnes, a son of a CEO in one of the leading companies in the smartphone industry, TechVio. It was a wonder as to why a figure such as him was taking a mythological history course instead of programming or the like. But one thing for sure, is that wherever he goes, boot lickers and gold diggers soon will follow. 

'Let's ignore him.' 

Deciding to avoid any eye contact or the like with the rich playboy and the biggest douchebag in her class, Elizabeth pretended to not see anything while facing her face in another direction as she awaited the traffic light to light up in green so she could cross over the road. 

Fifteen minutes later, the sun was fully set and disappeared from sight. The light dimmed, and soon, the glimmer of stars had emerged within the void of the night. Blinking their existences as the darkness covered the sky. 

The light of the lamps on the street started to illuminate Elizabeth's path. Although the night time had arrived, the streets were still as boisterous as ever. Every building within vicinity already activated their lightning device, bathing the city once more in radiance. 

Around this time, Elizabeth took a shortcut path where she would walk around a neighborhood instead of the main street. The neighborhood was infamous for its slum-like appearance, while many unrevealed crimes had taken place. 

In normal time, she would definitely avoid using this road, but somehow, today she just wanted to get back as soon as possible. After all, she had watched the road of the neighborhood a lot of times when she crossed the main street. So it felt that things might have been a little exaggerated around this place. 

'There shouldn't be any problems. Besides, the road seems so quiet.' 

Unlike the main street, the slum-like neighborhood was unusually quiet this time. Another reason why Elizabeth would rather take a gamble to see if things were as bad as it was told to her. 

'If things get worse, then…' 

Preparing her smartphone, Elizabeth typed a quick emergency number and let it stay like that in her display. In case anything would happen to her, she would be ready with a call to the police. 

Not wanting to waste any more time, she jogged on the road while one of her hands was still inside of her slightly opened bag, holding her smartphone. Meanwhile, her other hand took hold of her bag, so it wouldn't sway every time on her jog. 

'Ugh… This place looks so dirty.' 

Many trash was littering around the road and the front yards. Even though most of the houses in the area didn't have any courtyard because of how small they were, that wouldn't change that many trash bags were situated besides the main doors and piled up like a miniature mountain. 

Still, she wouldn't mind the scene or the stench that much and focused more on the road. It's true that a part of her was seemingly very bothered by the scene of all the trash around her, but she tried to not think about it that much. 

'Something doesn't feel right…' 

It was already six minutes after her appearance in the neighborhood. Besides her figure, she saw no one else within her surroundings. Although there were a few houses that had lightning up their lamps, along with the light of the street lamps, the rest of the houses appeared to be abandoned by how dark it looks from the outside.

She would expect some delinquents or hooligans would wander around the area to search for prey. At least, that was what she had imagined it to be from the neighborhood's reputation. But this, this ominous silence and desolate atmosphere only caused a part of her consciousness to be cautious and anxious. 

Because of that, her heartbeat became a little faster, while her mind began to be slightly disturbed. Then again, maybe this was all inside of her head. Too much of watching those fictions or movies had made her over think such stuff. 

But then, out of nowhere, the street lamp on her right side had flickered inconsistently. That suddenly attracted Elizabeth's attention as the stamp started to become heavy somehow. 

Without her knowing it, faint fog had appeared around the area. Chills run down her spine, while her breath lets out a faint mist in the air. 

'Eh?'