CHAPTER 1 --- the apparition (1st part)

Three. Two. One. 12 midnight.

The second hand of the clock just kept on moving. No matter how much he stared at it and wished for it to change its direction and go back to an hour before or nine years ago, it’d just stubbornly continue. And just like any other August 15^th, as he watched the second hand make its journey, he subconsciously submerged deep in his own thoughts and was again lost in the labyrinth of mysteries that life had offered him from the moment he was six years old until now that Mr. Clock had announced to the whole world that he just turned 15.

He might have stared at the clock until God knows how long if his cell phone did not ring. ‘’Happy birthday!’’ was the message written on screen. It was from his best friend, Sam. That was their nine-year unbroken tradition --- to be the first to greet the other on his ‘’supposed to be’’ special day, his birthday.

And upon reading the message and finally giving up on solving puzzles from nine years ago, Daniel Taylor closed his eyes and his best half, darkness, was waiting for him.

* * *

The alarm clock was shrilling again...

Getting up, with eyes still half-closed, he looked at his reflection on the mirror at the foot of his bed. His hair was brownish and messed up which was natural. People often teased him of having the 'bedhead' hair style but he didn't mind. He liked his hair that way. His feet moved by themselves going to the direction of the bathroom. The water from the shower woke him up completely and he sighed. There was no way of going back to sleep. He needed to go to school and be the responsible student once more.

After dressing up, he stared at the mirror again. Daniel's eyes were so black but just like glass, they were too clear you would think you were looking at a lake during nighttime. He was tall and not the skinny type. His body was athletic and a little tan which was due to the sport he enjoyed the most --- basketball.

He went down the stairs and went straight to the kitchen. It's a good thing my parents aren't here for breakfast, he thought.

* * *

''HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!'' It was Sam ambushing him at the school gate. He pushed the door of his car closed and told his driver to wait at the parking lot at five.

''Thanks,'' he replied.

''Where do you wanna hang out tonight?''

''Not really in the mood to go out.''

''Oh come on! It's been nine years. Just be normal like most of the people our age who get really excited about birthdays. We promised that the incident from way back when won't affect the 'us' in the future.''

''You jump to conclusions, Sam. It's not about that. I'm just not feeling well.''

''Who are you kidding? I know that---''

''But in order to prove my innocence, let's hang out tonight! Invite some friends. My treat! Same restaurant.''

''You're the man!''

Sam was a blondie with his hair hanging until his neck, the kind of girl magnet who always got into trouble whenever trying to date five girls at a time. He was from a rich family. The only son of a famous architect who was abandoned by his wife when he was five. Daniel thought that this was the reason why he liked to play around girls a lot and he cannot blame him for that. He knew more than anyone else how sensitive Sam became whenever his being motherless was talked about by some bullies in kindergarten.


The day went on normally... until ten minutes past five in the afternoon. Sam and Daniel bid their goodbyes. While walking to the parking lot where his driver waited, Daniel saw a very weird-looking girl --- the kind who always got bullied in some movies that he saw. Thick-rimmed glasses, very thick clothing (take note: the sun was angry at the world at that time and decided to raise the temperature a bit) and strangled, long, black hair. He noticed that she was being teased by some arrogant boys, two years older than him. It was Daniel's nature to avoid troubles and lead a peaceful life. Well, not peaceful. That's a lie. His life isn't peaceful at all. Just quiet. A deafening silence and nobody, except Sam, ever dared to accompany him in his own world which was created to protect himself from despair and disappointment... Daniel was a sheep in a wolf's skin.


His eyes and the girl's met... but he still continued to walk.