Chapter One
LILYAN'S EYES FLEW OPEN and her gaze met with a stark darkness that trapped her inside. She was lying on her back, her body stiff and cold. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay. She lifted up her hands a little to try and push the wooden lid but panic set in as she realized that she was locked inside and was unable to fully move her arms, only her hands moved.
With a surge of adrenaline, she slowly pushed against the lid, her hands scraping against the rough surface. It was hard but surprisingly to her, she was able to apply more strength against the lid and made a room to move her hands. The creak of the coffin echoed through her mind as she broke free, her gasps for air filling the silent void. She sat up, her eyes adjusting to the dim lights, and that's when she saw it: her own name, engraved into the gravestone above her in bold letters.
LILYAN MOORE.
Nothing else was written on it other than her name. However she caught something at the corner of the gravestone, an unfamiliar symbol carved neatly at the corner.
Lilyan's mind raced as she stumbled out of the grave, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. She was in a cemetery, surrounded by rows of headstones and crumbling mausoleums.
The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and the sky above was a deep, foreboding grey. She stumbled barefoot, her legs weak and unsteady, as she made her way through the maze of graves. Her heart pounded hard in her chest, her thoughts a jumbled mix of fear, confusion, and disbelief.
She staggered through the cemetery, she caught glimpses of her own reflection in the polished surfaces of the headstones and another gasp escaped her lips at the terrifying appearance. Her eyes were sunken, her skin pale and clammy. Her long, dark hair was tangled and matted while her clothes were tattered and stained. She looked like she had been buried for years but before that, it looked like she was fighting something she had no idea what it was.
There were a few cuts all over her body, a few more bruises and her whole body ached.
But how? Why? And what had happened to her?
The questions swirled in her mind like a storm, but she had no answers so they remained unanswered. All Lilyan knew was that she had to keep moving, and so she did. It was surely winter, the air was frozen cold which made her shiver.
The grass felt cold as she stepped across it, as it was full of frost.
The road was empty, with streetlights brightening a few parts of it. A car passed by, making her startle and a dog barked a few houses away.
Her legs were numb and cold, yet she didn't feel any pain from them. The road seemed very long as she dragged her feet to the house she recalled from her memories.
She knocked, another knock then she blacked out collapsing on the floor with a loud thud.
✧✧✧✧
Lilyan's whole body was very numb. She couldn't feel much as she slowly opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was the white ceiling covering the roof.
The room she was in seemed familiar yet she didn't know when last did she see it. Memories were a bit fuzzy in her head. Scanning the room, her eyes fell on a middle aged woman with slightly red eyes and black hair, though the strands of white hair was very visible.
"Ma." She half whispered, causing the woman to look at her. She rushed by Lilyan's side in cries, holding her hand.
"Oh Lilyan! You're awake! You're finally awake." Pulling her daughter in her arms, she sobbed while she softly muttered under her tears. "Where have you been? Do you know how long we've been looking for you?"
"Mama, surely I wasn't out long." She whispered jokingly, unknowingly to her, time had long passed since they last saw each other.
Lilyan's mother shook her head in distress, "What year do you think is it now? You've been gone for years! I've been looking for you all over! The police has been all over the place as well, looking for you."
"What do you mean I've been gone for years Mama? I don't think it's been long." She said slowly.
Lilyan's mother shook her head, "You've been gone for four years now. We last saw you the night before your graduation. Do you remember? Do you remember what happened that day?"
Lilyan's eyebrows frowned, she couldn't recall what happened. The last thing she remembered was that she was in a party with friends.Then, then what happened?
"How long has it been Mama?" She asked anxious.
Her heart was pumping fast out of her chest.
"It's been four years already," she cried. "It's been four years already, Lilyan. Do you know how worried I was?"
"I'm here, I'm here Mama." Lilyan really didn't know what to say. If it has been four years, then the past four years remained vivid in her mind, the only thing she remembered were a pair of strange eyes, glowing in the dark at the party before the rest of her mind remained blank. It was unnecessary scary to think about them.
Julia, named after her grandmother was Lilyan's mother. She had Lilyan at the age of eighteen, a few months after she got married. Lilyan remained her only child so the news of Lilyan's disappearance had ripped her apart throwing her on the sick bed for months before she found her feet again.
Finally, her beloved child was in her embrace once again.
She was here.
"You've lost so much weight." She scanned Lilyan's thin form then she peaked at the door and shouted, "Princilla prepare something to eat for your cousin."
"Mama I'm not hungry." She was really not hungry but her throat was burning. It felt very strange, like she was thirsty for something yet she didn't understand what she was thirsty for. She wasn't craving for food though.
"You haven't been home for years, you should eat something." The warmth coming from her mother forced her to remained silent. She was not hungry but she thought she'd be able to have a few mouthfuls.
After all, her mother had suffered a lot in the past years.
"Where's dad?" Lilyan's eyes darted around the room, looking around for that familiar mainly face but there wasn't any sign of him.
Lilyan's mother sighed, "Your dad passed away a year ago. He was diagnosed with cancer then he passed away a few months after his chemotherapy."
Shock was suddenly written all over Lilyan's face as she looked down, she kept clutching the blanket, not knowing how to react and what to say about such thing. Her father has died, it was shocking enough and Lilyan was left speechless.
"He… He died?" Her eyes slowly traveled to her mother, her expression that of hopelessness. "Dad passed away?"
"Yes, he died missing you." A small sad smile was playing across her face. The air was suddenly thick with grief.
Footsteps echoed across the hall and Princilla made her way in with a tray of food. "Here's something to eat."
The plates were filled with rice, beef and side salads. If she was the same Lilyan as before, her mouth would have watered and she would have devoured the whole meal without looking back. However for some reason, the meal before Lilyan gave her creeps.
"Eat, eat." Lilyan's mother urged the plate towards her.
Lilyan took the spoon and swallow a mouthful, she immediately forced a smile. Her heart was still heavy with grief. "It's good, very good."
Lilyan's mother smiled, "Good, I own a little restaurant down the road. My cooking had improved so I'm glad you're here enjoying something I've made. Unfortunately those are the left overs from yesterday, I'll make you something much better later."
"Mama, you should not trouble yourself much. I'm this old, I think I won't have a hard time to take care of myself."
A hint of kindness rolled over her tone.
"You should sleep once you're done, it's past midnight already." She said.
Lilyan nodded, eating her food. She was done in a few minutes so her mother took the plates away, urging her to sleep. She remained seated on the bed for while.
Once her head hit the pillow, she immediately drafted off to sleep. Her breath remained uneven, soft and sound until she gasped and her breathing stopped.