Crimson Angel

by Yume

Seventh space

  The Peril

  A big gift was waiting for me at home. It was a large box wrapped in blue eye-catching paper with red ribbons. For a second, I just paused there, thinking it might be one of Winnie’s tricks. Winnie made her way into my room and gestured to me, directing me to open it.

  “Thank you, Winnie.” I said, shaking the box, but I could only hear something rattling inside.

  “No, it’s from Len.” Winnie said. “That boy sent you this.”

  Surprised, I placed the box back on the table.

  “But why?” I asked. “Where’s he? Did you see him?”

  Winnie shook her head. “Someone handed it to me this morning, his guard I think.”

  “George!” I cried out. “Why didn’t you ask him where Len is?”

  “Why?” Winnie’s brows pulled together and then I realized she didn’t know Len had been absent.

  “Er…nothing.” I smiled.

  “Alice, is something wrong?” Winnie walked to me, observing my expressions. “Did you two have a little row and that’s why Len sent this to…”

  “No, no.” I refuted. “We didn’t fall out.”

  “Good then.” Winnie’s smile reappeared. “I suppose this boy is quite charming, isn’t he?”

  I didn’t reply. Len was charming, of course. He had always given me the feeling of a prince, a fantasized prince in this real world.

  “Come on, open it.” Winnie urged. “I can’t wait to see what’s inside.”

  She could behave like a child sometimes, even more childish than me. Her youth never left her as she aged. With her, we were always equally like two adolescents heading to adulthood. Seldom, I could quite stand her when she was even more eager than me in teenage issues like LOVE.

  I forced Winnie out of the room and shut the door.

  “Tell me later!” Winnie persisted.

  I neglected her words and returned to my gift box. What could be inside? If Len had the time to prepare and send me such gift, why couldn’t he have come out and met me?

  I hesitated before I tore the wrapping paper. It was so beautiful that I regretted having broken it. It was blue, the color I fancied.

  The box opened and a pair of dolls came into sight, together with a bracelet. I was not particularly into girlish things like dolls but these two were unique. They were Len and me! I could see the boy with blonde hair and enchanting blue eyes. A big friendly smile spread around his face and his top was painted with “LEN”. The girl looked exactly like me with two long red ponytails nearly reaching the butt and a pair of glasses. I could also see my green mega- like eyes and my dress was carved with my name “Alice” on it. It was fun to see how you appeared in animated-like dolls. I took out the bracelet. The blue stuns were gleaming.

  In addition to what I had found, there was a piece of paper. It was Len’s handwriting.

  Alice,

  I’m terribly sorry I can’t stay by your side these days. So many things are keeping me away. I know you don’t really love dolls but I hope you’ll see these two differently. And the bracelet. I haven’t actually seen you wear one, so when I came across this in the street, I thought it would suit you.

  Love, Len

  I folded the paper and kept it in my drawer. It was the first letter from Len. Though it might look more like a small message but he must have spent time on it. I had to treasure it anyway.

  I smiled at my gifts, satisfied. I placed the two dolls on my bedside so I could see them every night when I went to sleep. I took good care of the bracelet too. If Len thought it fitted me, I would wear it the day when he came back.

  Winnie was so thrilled when she heard what I received. I couldn’t blame her. She was always like a girl. The dinner went happily because I was in such a good mood. People said love is crazy and it was exactly how it was. A gift of love was enough to stain sweetness round my mouth.

  I jumped onto my bed and hugged my pillow. The feeling was fresh after taking a shower. Switching off the lights, I went to bed.

  It was around mid-night when something woke me. I leapt out of bed as soon as I saw the bats outside my windows. Those bats had come back and this time, it wasn’t one but three!

  I almost screamed but I swallowed the sound because I didn’t want to wake Winnie. There was a possibility that I had imagined things again. Plus, they couldn’t get in without me opening the window.

  However, I was WRONG!

  The window creaked and broke into pieces of glasses spattering everywhere. The bats were marching into my room in all directions. I screeched but the words came out sounded “Len! Len!”

  And then, in a fleeting moment, a pair of hands gripped me and the bats fell dead on the ground. “Are you hurt, Alice?”

  The moment I heard the voice, I turned. Len was standing next to me, his eyes glowing red.

  “Len?” I was still in much shock to speak. Everything had happened so fast. AND I REALLY MEANT FAST.

  “Yes?” Len stepped forward and his fingers reached my cheeks. It was then I realized I was crying.

  “Len…” I whined, more tears welled up in my eyes.

  “It’s okay.” Len had me in his arms, pacifying me. “You’re safe now, Alice. Forget the bats.”

  “I’m scared, Len.” I whimpered. “I’m scared…”

  “Yes, I know.” Len held me even tighter and I started hitting him with my powerless hands.

  “Where’ve you been?” I blamed. “Don’t you know I am so worried about you?”

  “I know.” Len nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  Len lifted up my still trembling body and took me back to my own bed. I was so fatigue that within seconds, I returned to my dream.

  The next morning when I woke, the room was fine. There were no broken glasses, no corpse of bats, nothing.

  So what happened the previous night? Did I dream about Len and all those bats?

  A piece of paper was left on the table.

  Alice, call my name and I’ll be there. I’m glad you love the presents.

  Then, I knew it was no dreams at all.

  Len was there because I called out his name.

  He had protected me and killed the bats.

  But how?

  “Len.” I called out, feeling rather dumb.

  Nothing happened.

  “Len.” I made another attempt. Still he did not appear.

  I was just thinking what a liar he was when I heard someone whisper.

  “Night.”

  My heart fluttered to a stop.

  I turned around but there was nothing, no one. Yet, it was Len who spoke.

  “Night?” I pondered and immediately I got his meaning.

  So, he would only be there when I called his name at night.

  And how did he do that?