The Crystal Knight

unexpected reality

Nathan opened his eyes. He stared at the ceiling of the room that felt foreign to him. Half staggering he got up and looked around. The atmosphere in the room felt strange, so he tried to remember what happened before. Nathan immediately coughed, feeling the vampire's hand still strangled around his neck.

"You are okay?" asked a girl he didn't know. Nathan immediately stepped back.

"Sorry, I'm Luna. I'm Rosaline's sister. I accidentally found you on the street," said Luna. The cute girl gave a glass of water to Nathan.

"Drink it, you must be thirsty," said Luna.

"Thank you." Nathan accepted the glass and then drank the water in it until it ran out.

"I saw a stray dog. It looks like he attacked you, your neck is slightly injured." Luna pointed at Nathan's neck which had been plastered.

Nathan felt his neck.

"Are you sure it's a stray dog?" asked Nathan.

Luna nodded confidently.

"There are dogs who have been annoying lately. The officers have already combed the direction where the dog ran," said Luna.

Nathan fell silent. He may experience hallucinations again. It had been a long time since he had experienced this.

"Did I ruin your party?" asked Nathan.

"Party? No." Luna looked a little nervous. "My brother and I are not that close. I never got together with him. So .., that's how it is. We are only half-siblings," said Luna.

Nathan now understood why Luna seemed more modest and sincere than Rosaline. Even Luna's room was very simple and all the furniture was so-so.

"Is this house separate from Rosaline's?" asked Nathan.

"That's right. This is Grandma's house. Rosaline's house is on the left side of this house. I choose to live here. Meanwhile, Rosaline is with father and mother." Luna told Nathan so easily. Even though they were meeting for the first time. "All right, I'm glad to see you weren't badly injured. Here," Luna handed over Nathan's cellphone.

"Your father called many times."

Nathan immediately reached for his cell phone. He saw dozens of missed calls from his father.

"Thank you. Looks like I have to go home soon."

Luna escorted Nathan to the courtyard. After waving his hand, Nathan stepped half running towards the main road. He immediately ordered a taxi. Luckily the taxi immediately came to take Nathan home.

At home as expected his father had come home. Eve howled at his arrival.

"Where have you been. I'm very worried," said William.

"I should have asked. Why don't you come home," said Nathan.

"My job is in trouble. Sorry." William apologized immediately. He did not want the issue to continue to be debated.

"Are you hurt? What happened?" William asked, worried. He tried to check the wound on Nathan's neck, but Nathan's hand immediately brushed it off.

"I am alright."

"You didn't show your real face, did you? You didn't stand out on your campus, did you? Did you get into a fight?" William was suddenly worried.

"What are you talking about? Me, as you can see. Satisfied?" Nathan emphasized his appearance which was far from attractive. William could see this. "Stray dogs attacked me and ..." Nathan sighed. "I thought it was Dracula or a vampire. Due to shock I passed out. Luckily someone helped me," said Nathan.

William was very surprised to hear all this. Maybe Nathan was still thinking that he was hallucinating. Because since childhood William had insisted that what Nathan saw was only a hallucination. To this day, when the vampire is right before his eyes. William's confidence collapsed in an instant. However, he could not possibly say that vampires existed. He still wanted Nathan to think that the creature was just a hallucination. That way, it was hoped that Nathan could live his life like his other friends.

"When did that happen?" William asked calmly.

"Last night. I had to go to a party for Max's sake."

William smiled. "It's just your feelings. Because I know, this is your first time out of the house. Right?"

Nathan nodded. William patted his shoulder.

"Calm down, it's only because you are tense. But I hope you don't attend such parties again, until your hallucinations heal."

"Good idea," Nathan replied. He stroked Eve's head attentively.

"Why don't you come looking for me, Eve? Don't you know I was attacked by a stray dog," said Nathan.

Eve placed her head on Nathan's lap.

"I have to go back to the laboratory immediately. Take care of yourself. Remember, don't stand out and if disturbed don't fight," William said.

"What do you mean? With an appearance like this, friends outside the class can bully me. Are you happy?" asked Nathan, not understanding. He thought William did not understand his predicament. He was shunned by many people according to his expectations. But there are people who try to suppress or disturb him.

"That ..." William fell silent. "Fight smartly," he said finally, then left.

Nathan just watched William leave in silence. His life was never normal. He never wanted to live like other people. Happy passing the day, even if only the two of him with his father. But that hope was dashed when his father signed a contract with a well-known company. Coupled with his illness, which often hallucinates seeing vampires in the dark.

"All right, it can't be helped. Life can't be our way. So, we prove it to fate. Whatever happens, I'll be the winner. You agree, right, Eve?" asked Nathan excitedly. As if she understood Eve immediately barked and placed her head on Nathan's shoulder.

"You are indeed my best friend. If you are a girl. I will definitely propose to you. How? You want to be my wife?"

Eve looked at Nathan.

"Hey, why are you staring at me like that. I'm so handsome. This outfit is only so that my good looks are awake. Why are you looking at me as if to say I'm ugly," protested Nathan.

Eve barked back.

"If you don't agree I'm handsome. Don't sleep with me tonight. Sleep in your own yard," Nathan pretended to be angry, causing Eve to lick her face.

"Stop it," Nathan laughed. He was helpless when Eve's huge body was on top of him.

***

In the car William calls someone.

"Have you got the location I requested?" he asked someone he was calling on his cell phone.

"Are you sure that place is where my wife does research?"

William was silent for a moment. He listened with a serious face.

"Okay, I'll apply for leave and see you soon." William hung up his cell phone. But soon his cellphone rang again. William stared at the screen. The name Dr. Richard, his best friend.

"Hey, how are you? Really, okey, I'll stop by your place for a moment," said William. Finally he drove towards the hospital where Dr. Richard works. It didn't take long to arrive. They had not seen each other since the last medical examination of Anne's uterus.

"You're getting more handsome," said William.

"You too."

The two of them sat in Dr. Richard's office.

"I'm sorry about the death of Anne. At that time I was still abroad," said Dr. Richard.

"It is okay."

"You two love each other. If only Anne wasn't barren. You would have had children by now."

"Barren?" William was surprised.

"That's right. I told Anne at that time. She asked me to keep it a secret from you. She wanted to tell you at the right time."

Time seemed to stop running. It's impossible for Anne to be barren. She became pregnant and gave birth, even the labor itself William did. Thinking of all that, William remembered Anne's notes in his diary. About Anne's Dream Project. Could it be a project so that she can get pregnant?