Their Possession (Crescent Falls) - English

Leaving Talavera

'How did I go from being a brokenhearted mature female into a sweet hormonal teenage girl in just seconds?' Like damn, I'm still a few blocks away from Jared's place where I saw him in bed with my best friend! I'm supposed to be crying and be in so much pain right now, or come back inside Jared's house and confront him. Or hurt him like he hurt me. Not wanting to jump into this stranger's lap who's name I still don't know. I mean how can I even be horny with a stranger? It’s not something I feel on a regular basis. Not even with Jared. Heck, I don’t even feel excited making out with him.

Yet, maybe I am really in pain that I wanted Jared to figure out that I was here. I wanted him to see the keys I threw somewhere inside his house, I want him to notice the bottle of champagne I left at the counter.

I wanted him to see me a few blocks away from his apartment, inside this stranger's car. I wanted him to feel what I am feeling right now. Jealousy. Like I wanted to kill both of them but I don't want to go to jail either. They're not worth it.

“Ummm, so Sasha, what happened? When I drop you off less than fifteen minutes ago, you look so excited. Now you look like someone sucker-punched you in the stomach.” He chuckled. Okay, first of all, how did he know my name?

“H-how?” I asked. I move slightly away and was about to bol out. He may look delicious, but knowing my name without even telling him sounds creepy. I don’t know what I did and why am I surrounded b creeps tonight.

He picked up the book I left inside his car, “Your name is written here. Unless your name is Bogart and not Sasha. Please don’t be a Bogart.” He said, the side of his lips rising in a smirk. God, he’s really hot. And I don’t even know his name.

“You’re right. I am Sasha.” I manage to smile. I took a deep breath and look outside. There are still movements inside Jared’s room and my smile left my face as soon as I remember what I am doing there.

“Damn, I don’t know what happened but if you ever needed someone to talk to, I’m here to listen.” He said, he sounds so genuinely concerned that I’m contemplating on telling him everything. I mean, we won’t be able to see each other, probably so he won’t be able to talk to anyone about it.

“I... Uhmm… I came here to surprise my boyfriend but he surprised me." He move slightly so he's now facing me. Attentive. Nice. "I… I found him naked in bed with my best friend.” I said trying so hard to swallow the lump Inside my throat. I don't want to cry in front of a stranger, but a tear escapes and I immediately wipe them using the back of my hands. “ God!” I exclaimed. “I am such an i***t for not noticing it! Imagine they are even planning to steal my money! And that's what made it worse! To think that I don't even have that much. I can forgive them if they really wanted to be together, but Jared not breaking up with me because of my savings is just too much! They're evil!"

I didn't realize that I am crying continuously until I felt the stranger's fingers on my cheek.

"I was too busy planning for our life together while he's busy banging my best friend behind my back." I continued. Trying so hard to ignore that slight hammering inside my chest.

"Honey, you're not an i***t, they are. And you're right they don't deserve anything from you. You are meant to do something bigger than this. Than him."

" And what was that?" I asked. I wipe my tears away and look at him.

" I don't know. I mean who knows, maybe you're meant to be the future president. It's just a wild guess." We both chuckled as he took another piece of pizza from the carton box. " Anyway, what do you want to do now?"

"Like I said earlier, I wanted to go back and confront them but the longer I'm talking to you, the more it clears my mind. Ritchel can have him. I realize he's not worth it. There's nothing extraordinary about him. And I really don't want to see them in the morning."

"If you like, I can bring you back home, grab some stuff and take you to your parents house." He said nonchalantly. "I'll do it for free. In exchange for the pizza." I laugh with him. Why do I have a more meaningful conversation with this guy than I have with Jared?

But…

"What's wrong?" He asked. Maybe he saw sadness in my eyes.

"I'm an orphan. I don't have a parents house to go to. Jared and Ritchel are basically my only family." I sigh. "I told you a lot of things about me and I don't even know your name."

He smiled at me and he look outside. Like he's thinking if he should tell me his name or what.

"I am Arden, at your service." He held his hand out for me to shake and I did. And I immediately felt an extraordinary kind of comfort when our skin touched. "So, if you don't have any idea where to go, then how about this place?" He took a paper from the back seat and hand it over to me.

"Where did you get that?" It was the letter from Crescent falls.

"Uhh.. at the backseat of my car? I told you I stopped by a few meters away to clean this car before bringing it to the garage. I found your book and that letter but that letter got stucked in between the seat so I didn't know if it was yours too."

"Yeah. Mine too." I opened the letter. "I don't know. This letter sounds suspicious. First of all, I didn't know where Crescent falls is. Heck, I don’t even know if that place really exists. I tried Googling it but there's little to no information about it so it must be a fraud. And most of the articles are about superstitions. Second, there's no way someone wanted me somewhere. I'm just a nobody, whoever wants me is just plain stupid."

"Sasha," Arden exhaled loudly. "Crescent falls is not a fraud. It actually exists. And it is magical, not superstitious. You can't find anything about Crescent falls on the internet because the people who live there wanted to preserve it. Think of it like an exclusive subdivision that only VIP's have access–"

"Then, there must have been a mistake-"

"In Crescent falls, there is no such thing as a mistake. You are chosen. You may not know why but they know the reason.

"They?" Okay, this conversation is getting weirder and weirder.

"The all seeing."

"Huh, sounds illuminati to me." I tried making a joke but he didn't laugh so I stop.

"Illuminati is real too." He said seriously. How can he stay serious while saying all this kind of bullshit?

"Are you staying at Crescent falls?" I tried changing the topic. Maybe he's insane. And I should stop teasing him. He may be good looking but he's still a stranger.

"No. But I know how to get there. I can take you."

—

I was not able to protest when he started the car and drove back to Talavera. Surprisingly, he knows where I live even though he picked me up at the pizza shop a few houses and establishments away. I didn't protest when he told me that he'll wait for me downstairs to carry my bags. And I followed him like an obedient child. When I was done packing my things, I grab my phone and turned it on. Ritchel and Jared's messages came in.

'Hey bestie, I'm not going home tonight. Don't forget to lock the door. XOXO.' Ritchel said.

'Hi love, I missed you so much. I think about you everyday. Wish you were here tonight. I love you so much.' Jared's message. I snorted and laugh a little. Oh, but I was there. I heard everything. I don't know how long they've been doing this to me and I don't have any plans to make it any longer. They belong to each other. A trash and a trash can.

After making sure I took all my stuff away, I opened all my social media accounts to block them. I have a friend who works in the bank and I told her about my situation. I asked her to void the insurance Jared took for me. After that I blocked their number in my contacts. I need to buy a new sim card because I'm about to throw away the one I'm using. No one's gonna miss me here except for Leonor, who'll probably get her hands full tomorrow when I leave all of a sudden.

I went inside the grocery after coming down. Arden is waiting for me while he's stuffing all my stuff inside the trunk of his car. If he turns out to be a serial killer and if I might end up dying tonight, maybe it's so much better than living with pretentious people around me.

I bought bottled water, bread and chips because who knows how long the travel going to be.

"Are you ready? You're not missing anything?" Arden asked.

"Yup. I am ready now." I exclaimed. Oh, who am I kidding, I'm not ready. I don't know what's waiting for me once I set my foot to Crescent falls–If I even make it there.

"I'm not gonna hurt you so stop thinking about that." The backseat is full of my stuff to so I have no choice but to sit in the front. Good. He can choke me while driving. Dying via asphyxiation is not in my bucket list, especially if I'm not having fun. Arden burst out laughing. I look at him as if he has lost his mind.

"You should stop thinking about nasty stuff especially when you don't know how to keep it all to yourself." He said. He is smirking and I have no idea what he's saying.

There's no way he figured out what I was thinking?

"I can read your facial expressions, dear. You should learn how to control your emotions, especially in Crescent falls." He winked before starting the engine.

This is it, I'm finally doing it. I'm finally leaving this place and my shitty friend. I don't know what's waiting for me there, but this is so much better that turning a blind eye to everything.