• THE PRETTY LADY


    She ran into a dark forest, hoping that the lady had not followed her. Her heart thumping against her ribs, tears rushing down her cheeks, her feet pounding against the soil. She kept turning back, praying that she'd be safe.
    She kept thinking that she was going to die. To never see her loving family anymore. To never be able to apologize to her boyfriend, whom she loved so much.
    She tripped on a long wooden stick, extending from a willow to the pond. Cool mist began to surround her as she tried to get up. But her strength was too weak, and so she kept falling. She finally took off the shoe, but as soon as she was about to start running again, she saw the old lady pounce at her! The girl immediately fell to the ground. The old woman went closer to the girls wet face, and smiled an ugly smile.
    "Tsuki," the old woman hissed to the girl,"why are you running from me?"
    Tsuki suddenly opened her eyes, and realized that she was safe. She looked around and saw nobody, only her little Barbie dol with its silver dress shimmering in the moonlight. Tsuki lifted her doll up to her chest, and kissed its blond hair, letting tears run down her cheeks.
    Tsuki greeted her teacher goodbye the next afternoon, and went home with her loving boyfriend, Takuto. She looked up to Takuto with sorry eyes. And he could tell what she meant. Tsuki was sorry she had slapped him, without knowing the whole story.
    "It's fine," Takuto said, "you misunderstood. everyone did." he smiled.
    "Takuto. I really am sorry," she apologized,"i should've-"
    "It really is fine, i would've been the same way if you stopped spending time with me, to hang out with another guy, who was your brother from Japan." he interrupted.
    Tsuki smiled at Takuto, with thankful eyes that he had forgiven her for acting like a spolied brat. After all, Yuki was his sister from Japan, and he HAD mentioned her alot over the past five months. They walked home, hand and hand, side by side with eachother in silence. When they reached Tsuki's home, Takuto kissed Tsuki gently, hugged her, and left. Tsuki face turned red, she still can't believe that she still blushed after being with Takuto for several months already.
    "I guess this is what love feels like." she whispered with a smile.
    Tsuki, suddenly woke up to the loud drums of thunder. Cold sweat was filling her face, and her face became pale. She had that nightmare again. That same lady, that same forest, those same words. Tsuki took a glance at her alarm clock, the glowing purple light hit twelve o' clock A.M. Tsuki placed on her thick black jacket, and left the house quietly. Hoping her mother wouldn't hear the door.
    Tsuki walked to the cemetary, to her father's grave. She sat next to the grave mourning for a couple of minutes. Then, she looked at her father's smiling face. With a hint of sadness in his eyes. Tsuki stared at her father then whispered,
    "I miss you. It's been years since I came here, hasn't it? I'm sorry. I thought by not seeing you, I could forget you. But I can't. I love you too much. Dad. Things been really scary for me." she shook her head,"I've been having nightmares of this old lady, chasing me. Haunting me. It's so terrifying Daddy." tears rushed down her cheeks,"chase her away for me...please." she whispered.
    Tsuki sat next to her dad for a few more hours, then noticed a shining light in the sky, a person started to decend from it, clouds under her feet, her blond hair blowing gently to the side, while her white dress spun around with ease. Tsuki immediately hid behind her father's grave. The pretty woman, set her small feet on the floor, and had a bright smile on her face. She turned to where Tsuki was hiding. Had she found Tsuki? The woman began walking towards Tsuki, still smiling brightly. When she reached Tsuki, she place out her small hands, and whispered,
    "I've finally found you, my love." she said, "I must have terrified you in your dreams, I am so sorry."
    Tsuki hesitated for a moment then said, "W-who are you?"
    "Why, I'm that old woman in your dreams."
    Tsuki stared in disbelief for a moment. Then she opened her mouth to scream, but the pretty lady covered her mouth.
    "Listen to me, I meant no harm. I'm not fully trained yet. So I wasn't able to send pretty pictures into your mind, but horrifying ones instead. My sincerest apologies." she explained, "Have you heard of the tale Con Gai Tien(Girl Angel.)"
    Tsuki nodded.
    "Your her." the lady smiled.
    "Huh?" Tsuki said confused, "Isn't it just a legend?"
    "No, Buddah made that story to reveal hints of the future to human-kind."
    "I'm no where near as beautiful as Tuyet, or magical."
    "Trust me. We need you. Your people need you."
    "Those Ghatos don't exsit!"
    "Boy, your more stubborn then your great grandmother."
    Tsuki stared at the lady,whose blue eyes twinkled in the moonlight. Great grandmother? What does Grandma Mae have to do with this? Tsuki thought. The pretty lady grabbed Tsuki's hand with one hand, and with the other she raised up high, almost like a kid in first grade who really wanted to answer a question, or use the bathroom. Then the bright yellow light appeared from the sky again, and the pretty lady and Tsuki floated up to the skies...

    TBC.