Paige's Club

Chapter 10. The Stranger With Green Eyes

It took 1 hour and 5 minutes to arrive at Alicante Airport, and this was even worse. Clayton was like a fish out of water. Looking around, he felt like disappearing from here to Newington.

Sadly, there was no going back now. He was already in Spain…for safety, he thought, trying to reassure himself. With his luggage beside him, he stood, glancing at people moving to and fro. He observed how the majority of people spoke Spanish.

He exhaled.

** 

About an hour…

Passengers' luggage had already been kept. The passengers got on the aircraft one after another, heading to diverse seats. Clayton was about to get on the aircraft when he turned and felt like his heart just leaped to his forehead, slamming violently. He stiffened, feeling numb as chills swept inside of him. Tension began to soar inside him. 

W…was that her for real? Was that her?! He panicked almost in tears.

He couldn't believe his eyes. The shock was overwhelming, he could hardly breathe…

"Oye, ¿tú qué miras?" An aged lady yelled from behind.

He didn't realize he was blocking the people behind him. He was so lost.

"Con permiso!" Another person let out.

Clayton's wide blazing blue gaze was fixed on her. There she was, amidst the passengers behind. He could see profuse blood sliding down her empty eye sockets while gritting her black teeth, and her massive black hair was like a mane around her small pale face. 

Sh*t! Does she wanna come in as well?!

"¡Estás bloqueando mi camino!" Someone tapped him…

Instantly, he blinked as he regained consciousness, and he realized.

 "Oops! I'm so sorry!" He said, adjusting for the people to pass, then he turned again but she had vanished.

It's not real. It's just an imagination.                                 

He kept telling himself while shuffling to his seat, fixing his speculating glinting blue gaze on each person. To his greatest astonishment, he saw the girl whom he had mistook for that ghastly demon a few days ago at Newington. She was sitting close to the window, swatting her phone. The seat beside her was vacant.

Wait. What?! What the hell was she…"Hey!" He said, looking down at her.

Amazement glinted in her green eyes when she raised her head. "¡Tú otra vez! ¿Qué haces aquí?"

From his raised eyebrows, and puzzled gaze to the way he shrugged innocently she could tell he didn't comprehend Spanish. "My bad." She smiled slightly.

"Was someone sitting here?" He asked.

"Nah," She said, peering into her phone screen.

He sat, blew out, and glanced at her briefly. For some reason, he felt weird about her. She looked kinda shady or something…

Coincidentally, she turned to him as well. "What are you doing here?!" They chorused and burst out laughing.

Laughter still gleaming in his eyes, he said, "I mean, seriously, what are you doing here? Seeing you here surprised me."

"Wanna get together with some crew." She said and lifted her eyes

"What about you?"

For the life of him, those green eyes of hers were igniting terror in him. Not that he knew her, but from the first day he saw her in Nelly's Lodge Newington he became more insecure. She was a stranger. A mysterious stranger. It's time he began to wonder if Paige was a twin.

Clayton blinked, composing himself so that he could answer her question. 

That was the question he had wanted to ask himself before now. Why was he here?!

***

The fact that she was also going to stay in San Lucia was even creepier, he thought, feeling the pressure of his heart banging gingerly against his chest as they arrived at their destination. Staring at her from behind, he could swear she was up to something…probably spying on him.

He started breathing unsteadily.

***

The short drive from a lovely sandy beach to San Lucia was epic. Sitting in the front seat of a taxi, Clayton couldn't help but admire in awe the grand magnificence of the environment. How calm the breeze was blowing and how leaves from towering trees were rustling here and there. He watched how boys played around the beach, people sitting on their umbrella shades, while others were swimming. Broken waves wobbled over the coastline.

They drove past a golf course, watersports, various splendid courts, and a fish pond.

He turned to look at the girl who wasn't looking as fascinated as he was. "Seems like you've been here before."

"A couple of times tho." She said, looking up. "But I swear this place never dims. The more frequently you come, the more sophisticated it looks. Is this your first visit to San Lucia?"

"Yep." He shrugged.

"I see."

Within 30 minutes they got to extensive beautifully landscaped grounds where imposing iron gates were, then they followed the winding driveway through glorious gardens. On either side of the garden were manicured lawns, lush palm trees, distinctive statues, and exquisite stone fountains.

Now, here they were, beholding the charming villa– San Lucia. Clayton got out of the car, lifted his glistening blue eyes, and observed the features of the villa.

Rich ochre walls and cobalt-blue roof tiles shimmered in the sunshine surrounding the landscape against the Mediterranean sky. An elegant stained glass dome crowned the central tower, providing an eye-catching ceiling feature above the sweeping wrought iron staircase inside. 

Oh my!

With the girl behind him, they walked past the shaded Terrace overlooking the pool. 

"Bienvenido a San Lucia." A tall gorgeous woman stood before them, smiling elegantly at Clayton.

"El no," The girl answered for him when he tossed a puzzled look at her. " Entiende español."

"Oh, my bad." The lady swapped to English. "Are you an American?"

"British," He smiled, feeling pleased with the lady's courtesy. "Although I've also lived in America… Georgia."

"What about you, pretty?" The lady asked.

"I'm an American," She replied.

What! 

Clayton glanced at her.

"North Carolina." She concluded.

No way!!!

Clayton's heart sank. 'Don't tell me you're from Raleigh', he prayed inwardly, feeling desperate to hear her say she was from Raleigh…

"I'm a Russian tho," The lady said. "I learned Spanish in Middle school." She smiled. "I'm Sasha, and you're?

" Clayton Milton." He said, glancing at the girl.

"Poldi Elmer."

Poldi… what?!! "Did you say, Elmer?" He tried to hide the uneasiness looming inside him.

"Did I stutter?" She said sarcastically.

"Alright, Poldi and Clayton." The lady smiled. " Welcome to San Lucia! Let me show you around."

Poldi was rolling her box behind Clayton, while he was carrying his suitcases and briefcase, walking amid other people as the lady led the way. He was in the middle.

 Lost in thought, he wasn't hearing the music anymore.

Poldi looked exactly like Paige. Poldi Elmer…Paige Elmer. Christ! Was this happening for real or a coincidence? The only differences were their hair color and voices. Paige's hair was black while Poldi was blond and her voice was sharper than Paige's. They both had glinting green eyes.

Turning back to confirm his thought, she was engrossed with her phone. But she instantly lifted her gaze and he turned away… only to find…

Holy shit!!

The lady was now…that ghastly demon? The figure in front of him was black, faint, and transparent such that he saw through it. Her legs were floating in the air…and everyone else was gone.

Clayton rubbed his eyes with his palm. 

He turned back and found Poldi glaring at him. Her arms were stretched downward and she had a small glistening knife in her right hand. Her face was slightly downward, and thick black blood welled up her eyes, sliding down her cheeks. She was bleeding from her left nostril and the left side of her mouth. She gritted her teeth.

As the blood dropped on the floor, the lights began to flicker, and both his briefcase and suitcase fell off his trembling hands in the dark villa.

***