To Want You

16

As expected. 

After checking up on the flowers, Mrs Parker decided to hit the newly opened mall that's supposedly an hour drive away from the flower shop. On the bright side within the hustle and bustle, the weather's rather refreshing. It's not too hot. And if we're lucky enough, a little shower of rain should arrive any minute now. The mall's massive than what advertisements give them credit for. The walls are structured with glass that give off the amazing view of the city and the shops inside sure are roaming with costumers. So far we've already visited ten exclusive designer boutique. 

Abel's stuck close to me like glue ever since Mrs Parker suddenly vanished from our side. A sigh escapes from my mouth as I scan our surroundings, still unable to catch the figure of the woman who abandoned us. The apple doesn't really fall far from the tree as Abel possesses the same habit of leaving without a word as well. I turn my gaze to said person, handing him the rest of the shopping bags I was holding. Unfazed by my actions, he takes them without a word and I release a huff of air, fishing me phone right after. It hasn't been long since we've lost Mrs Parker. She couldn't have gone that far. There's no way she'll leave without us too. Not when all of the things she bought are with us. And her purse. Oh god. She left her purse.

After a couple of rings, the call finally goes through. 

"Elka, sweetie." Says the woman in a cheerful voice. As if she hadn't left us to go wondering around on her own. "Where did the both of you go? When I looked behind me, you guys were suddenly gone."

Either my ears heard wrong or Mrs Parker's tone shows no hint of remorse or worry at all like how a normal person should feel when they've lost someone. I'm probably just hallucinating right? Nope. She did it on purpose. 

"Where are you auntie? We'll head there right now." 

"Me? I have no idea sweetie. The place looks the same." She giggles. "Tell you what. Why don't you and my baby Abel enjoy today? Consider it a date. My purse's with you am I right? Use my credit card." 

"Aunt-" 

She cuts me off with a stern tone this time, leaving me no room to protest. I shut my mouth tight like a clam. Why does it feel like her presence's here? 

 "Come home later. I've sent someone to pick up my bags. You guys are still young. You should have fun. And lots of it. Watch a movie. Rated eighteen or whatever. You only live once you know. I'll see you two babies later. Toodles!" 

And she hang up. 

"What did she say?" 

Turning to face Abel, I notice the bags from earlier have disappeared from sight. Except for a black card sitting between Abel's fingers. Even he looks confused. Guess Mrs Parker wasn't joking at all. 

"She said to have fun." I scratch my head lightly, looking around the area. Frames of the latest movie release hang in massive proportions, decorating the walls from here and beyond. About five to ten people are standing in line, waiting to pay for their tickets if not getting themselves some snacks and popcorn. So she wants us to have fun uh? Makes sense why Mrs Parker suddenly disappeared just as we're about to pass the cinema. 

"You sure you couldn't use your..'enhanced ability' to track her?" I hesitated a little there. It'd be weird to use the term 'sniffing'. Abel shrugs his shoulders, waves of muscles flowing beneath his white shirt. Clearly he didn't notice my dubious pause.

The card swings between his fingers. He's playing with it the same way a joker plays with their cards in movies. The only difference is. That card has worth and he's not a joker. He's a wolf. "She hid her scent."

In other words, Mrs Parker hid her smell with a very strong perfume that even Abel can't get through. "Shall we get going then?" He says. 

"Uh?"

"Didn't she say to have fun? I was planning of watching this horror movie some time back but never got the chance to. We should watch it." 

I blink my eyes. "But I hate horror."  Not a fan of them since the day I was born. I remember crying a river the first time I watched one when I was five. It wasn't a pleasant experience. Not to my parents and me. 

Abel tosses the card in the air, where it does a little flip. As it lands on his palm, I'm not sure if I'm ready to know the meaning behind that mischievous smirk he's showing. "All the better then." 

Everything that happens next takes place in a snap of a finger. I'm suddenly facing the ginormous screen with a cup of Fanta Klare Zitrone- which is just a fancy way of saying sprite- and a bucket of caramel buttered pop corn in my hand. Abel's getting cozy beside me as the first seconds of the movie takes place. Honestly, I don't even know what we're watching. I'm nervous and at the same time I have this impulsive urge to beat the crap out of Abel for dragging me into this. 

"I'm leaving." It comes out as a whisper but he definitely heard it. Clasping his hand around my wrist, I'm then yanked back down to my seat as he tosses a popped kernel inside his mouth. "Stop being a kill joy. If it scares you that much, then you can grab on to me." 

Can he not notice the tears brimming my eyes? I feel like if I stay here longer than what's absolutely necessary, I'll start crying tears worth covering the whole pacific ocean. 

"I hate you." 

Just then, the screen hovers over a gloomy, dark forest that's devoid of life. There's a scratching sound coming from the speakers that sends a massive chill down my spine, goosebumps erupting from my skin. A little cabin then comes to view, structure full with debris, and left broken to rot. Two teenagers dressed like they've survive a zombie apocalypse enter the screen. And just like any other stupid characters, they enter the hunted warehouse. It's a movie full of foreseen scenes. It's just a matter of expecting the expected. However, even if I do know what might happened, I still can't get used to this. 

I quickly close my eyes shut when they start flickering a lamp inside the room, thunder roaring loudly beyond the walls of their shack. Messy varieties of wallpapers paints the wall surrounding them, colors chipped if not scratched by large class of a huge beast. It's at that moment I feel a warm hand sliding into mine. 

When I reluctantly peak my eyes open to confirm that it's Abel, a hand drapes around my head before I'm pulled to hide my face between his neck. 

The same time a hideous, inhumane shriek reverbs from the monstrosity of a screen.