THE TRUTH
T H E T R U T H
I wanted to know the truth about this place.
Little did I know, the truth was completely disgraceful.
TANZIE’S POV
“I know this place.” Yuan said when we reached Kiyo’s place.
“Of course. You’ve been here before me.” I replied. I was wishing he’d tell me when he died.. or how..
“Kiyo. Kiyo took care of you.” He stated. I realized it wasn’t a question. It had a sense of realization.
“Yeah.” I replied even though he wasn’t asking. I looked at him curiously.
“I gotta go.” He scoffed and took off. That --- was weird. Why do people here just disappear when you’re talking to them? Tsk.
I entered Kiyo’s place once again. I didn’t know where else to go. This place, obviously isn’t familiar to me. I sat on the nearest chair coz’ I wasn’t feeling good. Pain was brewing inside my body and it continued spreading. There it was again.. PAIN – pain beyond imagination. I shouted. I shouted yet again coz’ the pain was just too much. I fell out of the chair and I was writhing with pain on the floor. I felt a pair of hands on my shoulders. Kiyo? Have you come to save me ---- again?
“Drink this. It’ll take away the pain.” I heard a person say. I wasn’t sure who it was. I couldn’t open my eyes. The mystery person opened my mouth and poured some liquid into it. It had the same taste as of the brownish fluid Kiyo made me drink. Seconds later, the pain was gone. And I was able to open my eyes. Right in front of me was a girl. She had short hair and was beautiful. Like Yuan, she was like an angel. She was about my height and about my age too. But I don’t think you age at a place like this.
“Thanks. I don’t want to be rude, but who are you?” I asked her.
“Ysxa. I take it, you must be the girl Kiyo saved.” She answered.
“Yeah, but how did----“ I asked but she cut me off.
“I know? Kiyo told me.” She continued.
“You know him?” I asked.
“Well, yeah..” She answered. She looked at me from head to toe and shook her head.
“Wh-what’s wrong?” I asked. She was making me nervous.
“Kiyo was right. You’re fragile—and precious. Grayer would really want you as his slave.” She stated. I didn’t quite get what she said.
“Grayer?” I asked. Who was Grayer? Kiyo never mentioned him.
“Oh I’ve said enough. Kiyo should be the one explaining this to you. Wait for him here. He’s the only one that can tell you what this place is.” She said. She shook her head once again and said her goodbyes. Once I nodded, she walked out of Kiyo’s house and was out of my sight. At least she said goodbye, unlike the others.
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KIYO’S POV
His voice echoed inside his chamber. He was mad---I could tell.
“DO YOU KNOW WHAT I COULD DO TO YOU?!” He shouted. Oh c’mon, I’m not deaf. I could hear him even if he didn’t shout.
“SPEAK UP YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF CRAP.” And again he shouted.
“SHE NEEDED MY HELP.” I shouted myself. If he shouts, I shout.
“SHE IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED, AND YOU TOOK HER AWAY!” Oh he was really mad.
“Well, you can’t take her away from me now. I found her, and I’m gonna keep her.” I know I’m making him madder but I don’t know what with that girl. It seems like I want to protect her from the wrath of Grayer.
“I’LL MAKE YOU PAY MATSUMOTO. YOU’RE FORGETTING THAT I’M YOUR MASTER AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY SLAVE!” His voice made the floors vibrate. His madness was sure to hit the other residents of Grayer’s Hill.
“You can’t have her unless she surrenders to you or I give her away. And neither of that is going to happen.” I retorted. I was braving his madness because of what? Because I wanted to protect her? Dang it, what was I doing?
“Even if I do this?” His voice was almost a whisper. I didn’t see what he was doing. What did he mean by-----
“AAAAHHHHHHHHH!” I shouted. I couldn’t control myself. He was making my whole body painful and I didn’t know how to stop him.
“You don’t know who you’re messing with. I can’t hurt her but I can definitely hurt you.” His snake-like voice echoed among the walls. I closed my eyes and the next thing I knew-----
The pain was gone.
I opened my eyes, and right in front of me was …… the girl I was trying so hard to protect.
“Hey, what happened to you?” She asked. Care and concern was painted on her face.
“UH—I passed out.” It was all I could say. I didn’t want her to know about my encounter with Grayer.
“Can you stand up?” I didn’t realize I was already kneeling down. I nodded and stood up.
“How did you find me?” I asked due to my curiosity.
“I heard you screaming.” She answered honestly. I was screaming? I thought I only did that when I was in his Chambers?
“Well, thank you.” I said.
“It’s the least I can do.” She smiled at me. It was the first time I saw someone smile at this place. She was really----different.
“Um, can I ask you something?” She asked innocently. I nodded and she continued talking.
“Who’s Grayer?” I knew she was bound to ask that sooner or later.
“Let’s walk. I’ll tell you about him, but not here.” Not where he can still hear.
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TANZIE’S POV
We walked for a very long time. He didn’t speak to me and I was too shy to ask where we’re going. He helped me through the pain and I shouldn’t doubt him.
“We’re almost there.” He finally spoke.
Within seconds, we reached a place overlooking the sea. I couldn’t help but smile. It was beautiful. I could hear the waves of the sea and the sounds of different sea animals. I looked at Kiyo and he pointed at the big rock. We walked to that rock and sat down.
“It’s so beautiful here.” I stated. I just couldn’t help myself.
“That’s all part of his plan.” I looked at him curiously.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“You asked me about Grayer. Then I should tell you about him.” He said. I looked at him anxiously and listened.
“This place is called Grayer’s Hill. Grayer runs this place. He’s considered the god here. He hears everything that happens in this place.”
“Then he hears what you’re saying now?”
“Yeah. He should. But I brought you to the place he would never bother to look. The sound of the waves irritates him. This is his least favorite spot in his world. I was hoping he won’t find out that I brought you here.” He admitted.
“Go on.” I encouraged.
“You’ve got to understands that Grayer lusts for you. He’s want you to be his slave----or worse, his mistress. Once he has you, he can do whatever he wants and you can’t be let go unless he’s tired of you.” He said.
“But why does he want me? There are many people here in his world, why me?” I asked.
“He wants someone like you, beautiful, charming, precious, regretful and different. You were full of regret once you came here, that’s why he was drawn to you. You’re different from the others. You can smile without him noticing. He always notices and I don’t know why he doesn’t notice you. Maybe because of you, you weaken his power and I don’t know how.” He admitted. He looked away and continued on what he was saying.
“Without you as his slave, he’s scared. He’s scared that you can find the way out of this place while he still lusts for you.” He said. I was curious enough to ask..
“There’s a way out?”
“Yeah. But no one has ever found it. Coz’ when they’re on the quest to find it, Grayer always stops them. You, on the other hand, can look for it without him knowing. He doesn’t know you’re on that quest since he has no power over you at all.”
“He has no power over me?” I interrupted. I was lost and confused.
“None at all. In this place, the one who first touches you is your founder and he has power over you. In your case, I found you so wherever you go, I know where you are. It’s like you’re a part of my body. And that’s why Grayer is furious with me. He wants you and he can’t have you unless you yourself surrender to him or I give you away. You must never surrender to him. You won’t like what he would do to you.” I nodded.
“I broke the number one rule of this place. And he knew that the moment I touched you. That was why I was screaming a while ago. I just came from his chambers.” He admitted. So he was hurting because of me?
“Maybe I should surrender. He’s hurting you because of me.” I said. I don’t want to hurt my savior.
“No. Don’t. Either way he’s going to hurt me. You surrender to him, he’ll keep me as his prisoner because I broke his rule, and he won’t let that happen again. Since you’re still in my possession, he can’t hurt me physically. He can only make my mind think that I’m in pain so my whole body would hurt. If I block that kind of thinking, it won’t hurt..at all. So, promise me you won’t surrender to him.” And once again I nodded.
“What are the rules of this place?” I asked.
“One. No one should touch a newcomer. That was pretty obvious. Normally, the newcomers are brought to Grayer so he could be their founder. If he doesn’t want that person as his slave or mistress, he releases them to this world where he can still play with them whenever he wants.” He explained.
“So, many of you were released?” I asked in which he answered thru a nod.
“Two. You cannot show happiness. That’s why we barely smile here. That’s the reason why he punishes anyone who shows a sign of happiness.” He elaborated. I nodded as a sign of understanding and he continued.
“Three. You should only follow your founder. In our case, we only follow him but in yours, you follow me.” I nodded once again.
“Last rule. You cannot love. That’s the most important rule of this place. You should not feel love. Once you feel it, he sends you to his chambers. And those who came in with that offense, never came back out. No one knows what happened to them.”
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