Ravenous

She could hear it. The thundering echoes of applause that shook the walls and the stage. The glaring spotlight aimed at her.

Center stage.

Her breathlessness hid behind the brightest smile. She could barely see the audience, but the sound was proof they were there.

“MIA!!”

Hearing her name being called out, her eyes refocused, and she could see a face among the crowd. A familiar face that nearly made her drop her smile. But she soldier on and wave at the man.

“MIA!!! GET OUT!!”

Her smile faltered as she finally could hear the words properly, drowned out by the applause.

“GET OUT OF THE WAY!!”

She glanced up and gasped. But there was no time to react. And then, as she tried to run, she saw it again.

His face. Smiling triumphantly at her.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!”

“MIA!”

Before she could hear the applause stop, she heard the screams of terror from everyone around her.

And everything turned dark. And the silence stretched on.~

The smell of rust and oil in the air gave Mia confidence there was truth to her prayers. A sense of freedom in the wind brought her peace of mind. She’s thousands of miles away from the city’s bustling streets, the rustling of crowds, and the roaring sound of horns during rush hour in Downtown Chicago. It used to give her comfort surrounded by people.

For years, she stood in an audience. Even in the crashing waves of the sea, she could hear an echo of applause like a detached memory.

But now, she was wide awake. And that life was gone.

“Mia!”

She turned and saw a similar tint of blue eyes staring at her. Mia stiffened until she remembered where she was and who had called. Then, a wave of relief washed over her.

Half an hour passed since Mia and her aunt, Leanna Stanton, left the city port in Aberdeen, Scotland. Yet they’ve seen no end on the sways of the vessel. The breeze brushed her pinkish cheeks, carrying the smell of the sea, which hardly bothered her by now.

With another throaty sound of the engine, the rusty floating vessel carried them closer to their destination. Mia lingered by the front railing, not a hint of seasickness kicking in. Unlike her youthful and spirited aunt, Leanna, her face was devoid and paled compared to hers. Leanna showed signs of throwing up there, yet she never once asked for a bucket in the hour they were at sea.

“Mia! Don’t lean too far, or you might fall!” Her aunt’s shrill voice was drowned by the waves splashing on the side of the boat.

“I’m fine, Aunt Leanna.”

“Why don’t you come up here? It is much safer!” She gestured inside the captain’s cabin.

“I’m fine.”

“Mia! Come up here, will you!”

She sighed in defeat and turned away from the view. Mia walked up the steps and joined her in the cabin. Her aunt’s pale face nearly matched her platinum blonde hair. Mia thought it never occurred to Leanna that she hated traveling by sea. Since she visited the island yearly, she might have overcome her fear. But her pale face was proof she had not.

“Do you need any medicine, Auntie?” Mia asked out of worry.

“I’m fine, dear. It will pass. Besides, we are a few minutes away from disembarking.”

“Okay. But if you need anything, tell me.”

“Thank you, Mia.”

Mia sat in silence, waiting for another ten minutes before she got a better view of the island. Leanna mindlessly followed close to where Mia stood. Then, her sickness subsided, and her cheeks slowly showed color.

“You’ll love it here. It’s peaceful and away from city life,” Leanna said. “The air is fresh, and the people are welcoming. You do not have to worry about who you are. You can be yourself.”

Mia ignored the meaning behind her aunt’s words.

“How many times did you visit here, Auntie?” Mia asked.

“I always come back every other year. But for the past five years, I always come back once a year to stay for three months. I can work here peacefully. And I consider it as part of my home.”

It perked her interest. Mia knew her aunt had various houses around the globe. The reason doesn’t connect to her job, but she married a rich man. One of their properties was on a small plot on an island off Northern Scotland.

Her aunt Leanna mentioned the island they were visiting before their departure to America, but Mia forgot. It would be rude if she asked for it again. So, she’d humored her until she unearthed it from memory.

“I won’t say the house is like the mansion you lived in as a child. You could say it is more of a cabin,” Leanna added. “But it is cozy and has everything we need.”

Mia’s curiosity shifted.

“Do you also have other houses in places you’ve regularly visited?”

“Yes. At least five on cities and towns I liked and frequently visited.”

“Does Uncle Kevin know about it?”

“He had. He doesn’t mind. And he liked it. That way, he can stay there while doing business in the city.” Her lips looped into a sad smile.

Mia was quiet momentarily, feeling rash, and suddenly brought him up. “Do you remember him whenever you visit this place, Auntie?”

It had been years since her aunt’s husband died, leaving her alone but wealthy and well-cared for. After his passing, she noticed her favorite aunt had never stayed in one place for too long. She was always traveling for leisure or work, and she had never called one particular property home until now.

“I do. This was one of our favorite homes.” She quietly admitted. There was a distant look in her eyes.

Mia gave her aunt a comforting smile and placed a hand on her back, giving it a brief soothing caress. “Thank you for inviting me here, Auntie. I truly appreciate it.”

Leanna smirked. The sadness in her eyes evaporated. “I think this place will do you some good, Mia.”

“I hope so,” she replied dryly and turned her attention back to the view of the island.

Mia smiled and held her hand to Leanna, who took it without hesitation. They moved further from the cabin, staying by the window in silence. Their bodies swayed in tune with the boat as they approached the dock.

The port looked old yet well-managed, and it was busy with deliveries. The ship crew was occupied with the boxes of wooden crates as they unloaded them to the dock. Also, it was the only ship that allowed passengers daily trips to the island.

Leanna’s energy perked up after the captain gave a signal to disembark. Her cheeks returned to their rosy flush, and her eyes sparkled like the tamed sea on midday.

They rolled and hauled their luggage, which totaled five between them. The clothes alone may last them for at least two weeks before Mia had to think about doing laundry. She contemplated the chores to be done at her aunt’s cabin. She’d imagine the place to be dusty and covered in cobwebs, unused for most of the year.

As they reached the end of the harbor, an unfamiliar woman waved enthusiastically in their direction. Her silver hair stood out from the dull dirt, wood, and soot. Behind her, an old, rusted blue truck was parked. Since they were the sole passenger of the only boat in the harbor, the woman could be waving at them unless she was one of the crew’s relatives.

Mia looked around the port, but no one returned the woman’s greeting. It was then her aunt looked up and smiled. Her face brightened, and her lips widened in a sporty grin.

“Adelia!” Leanna called out as the older woman approached them, beaming as well.

“Leanna! Ye’ve made it!” Adelia called back. “How did yer trip go? Since ye made it here, ye did fine, I suppose.”

The woman’s Scottish accent wasn’t as thick as Mia thought. She’d heard a few heavily accented locals arriving at the airport and on their way to the harbor. But it seemed her aunt’s friend wasn’t one of them.

“It was, thankfully.” Leanna dryly replied, but her smile never left her face. “Oh, I did inform you I’m not alone on my trip this time.”

Adelia turned to Mia. “Aye, I can see that.” She held out her hand to her. “Welcome, my dear. I’m glad ye’ve come and joined with yer aunt for her visit this year.”

Mia grabbed her outreached hand and shook it before letting go. “I’m happy to be here. This is quite a lovely place. Very picturesque and all.”

“Ye haven’t seen the rest of the view yet. Wait until we drive up to yer aunt’s cabin. It’s a view that’ll take yer breath away,” she smiled. “Now, come. Let’s put these in the car. It is a long drive up there.”

“It always is.” Leanna agreed with a chuckle.

Once they tucked and secured the bags on the back of the truck, Adelia took the wheel. Leanna sat upfront with her on the passenger side. Mia had no choice but to sit at the back with some of the luggage to keep it in check. They doubted it would be jostled and exposed by the damp air, sensing some light rain soon.

The journey got bumpy as the truck climbed up the island’s terrain, taking a trail of rough gravel road. But, per Adelia’s words, the view was breathtaking. Mia no longer minded the rocky ride as her eyes were glued outside the window.

An endless field of evergreen grass ran beside them, overlooking the seas. Further in the distance, she shaped another island—or more like the mainland. The distance from real civilization compared to the barren land she’s in made her miss the city. But she wasn’t here by force. Instead, she was given a choice to be here, surrounded by the beautiful endless grass field.

The trip to the cabin took an hour. But the drive wasn’t dire. Leanna and Adelia give her details about the small town in the area and its people. Something caught Mia’s eye near the end of their drive. She couldn’t believe what she saw and pointed it out to her companions.

“Is that what I think it is?” Mia exclaimed in disbelief.

“That’s Kingsley Castle,” Leanna pronounced proudly. “It’s a known tourist attraction on the island besides the view and farmlands.”

Mia flinched at the familiar name but otherwise didn’t point it out. Instead, she asked, “A castle on an island? Why is it here?”

Rather than Leanna, Adelia took over the conversation again. “The Kingsley Castle was built in the eighteenth century by an English aristocrat for his mistress. Throughout history, the family used the castle as a refuge through wars and as a home for a time before they started making a lot of money. I’m no sure what business made them wealthy, but it kept them from losing this place. It is still owned and run by the same family who built it, mind ye. Presently, the family no longer retains their aristocracy title. However, the money allowed them to keep the castle in good condition. Now, they’ve made it a tourist attraction and a vacation home of some sort.”

Leanna nodded along at Adelia’s narrative. “Believe it or not, I did meet one family member who owns the castle, and I think you’ve heard of him too, Mia.” She giddily stated.

“Really? Who is it?” Mia preyed her eyes away from the medieval architecture.

Adelia seemed intrigued, which struck Mia as odd, given she had been well acquainted with Leanna for many years. Mia concluded that the meeting with the mystery person had been recent. Too recent that it made her think about the name’s connection with someone she knew.

Someone with that surname.

“What does this person look like?” Adelia inquired a moment later, snapping Mia out of her stupor.

Leanna looked smug, remembering her encounter with the young man. “He was young enough to be my son, close to Mia’s age. Yet, I felt charmed and entranced by his appearance. If I closed my eyes, I could vividly see it. Dark brown hair, strong jawline, high cheekbone, thick eyebrows, and eyes the color of deep blue sapphires. Any woman of any age would find him undeniably attractive. Plus, he was… very amiable and poised.” Leanna breathes dreamily.

Mia noted her aunt’s description of the Kingsley man and tried to play it off jokily, hiding the nerves in her stomach. “Drop-dead gorgeous, I see.”

Leanna turned around to give her niece a cheeky grin and winked. “He truly was.”

Mia rolled her eyes. “Goodness, auntie. Keep it to yourself, will you?”

Adelia chuckled and reverted the topic to the Castle owner. “And what is his name?”

“Erik Alexander Kingsley.”

She stiffened. Suddenly, the world around her was devoid of light. She wanted to pass out right then, never wake up, and let everything be just a dream.

But she could remember it vividly. And even that night.

Center stage.

His triumphant smile.

And the endless nights without daylight. The voiceless screams. His icy touch was like a knife dragging through her skin.

Even now, just hearing his name sent shivers down her spine. And she felt a lingering touch all over her skin. She pulled the thick wool jacket tighter like a life jacket against the cold weather. A chill rippled down her back, and she almost heard an echo in the wind calling her.

There are many words to describe the man she feared in her waking dream. She once wished he was merely a nightmare, and when she woke up, he was gone.

But she was wrong. Dead wrong.