"The place where the world stopped was not so strange, but the vertigo was overwhelming. The girl could not decide whether or not it would be wise to jump."
Her mind whirled around as she recalled what brought her to this place. Tears stained her cheeks as she tried not to let the thoughts seep in, but she couldn't stop them from flowing. "Oh, Jack". She whispered.
More tears poured out as if she were in a river as she hiccuped. The name brought back lots of painful memories in a rush. It was like she has been blind for years and could only fully see now.
She used to be a fighter, the dominator. Her father had groomed her in such an unbreakable way before he died some years back. He taught her a lot and she stuck to them until she met Jack and all reasons and teachings were lost.
It was like she knew nothing of the world... Maybe it was her curious mind which made her follow him with no question even when things he did were wrong.
"Curiosity killed the cat". So she heard, and some say the answer brought it back to life. Only that... She doesn't know if knowing the answers brought her back to life, or ruined her.
"Why did she let it happen?" She questioned the universe as it mocked back, reminding her she has never fought back until today... When she couldn't take it anymore. He had not only hurt her but tarnished her image too.
Daniella had met Jack on a camping adventure. He was full of mysteries and that side of him interested her. She wanted to know him and she did. A regretful action she took some months ago.
She wished she had never thought of solving the mysteries behind who Jack is. He was reserved, privacy-oriented, and lots more. And those lots were terrible.
Jack was a trickster. He plays and hurts people's emotions. He is self-centered and turns people around him into a shadow of themselves and Daniella falls for him deeply.
They dated and she let him know everything about her inheritance and Jack took it all from her. He ridiculed her in the presence of people who knew her and acted like she was the one at fault and they believed him.
The world now mocks her for being who she is and that brought a great grievance to her pure soul. No one wants her. Her world is lost. Chuckling deeply she countered her thoughts.
"No, her world was lost when she met him, she hadn't just given it enough time to notice, and now it is too late".
Holding on to her abdomen, she pressed it mildly gnashing her teeth in the process. She was still losing lots of blood even when she tied it up earlier with part of the cloth she wore which she tore. She had hurt herself when she saved herself from his grasp.
Her mind drifted back to a couple of hours back when the raging beast she never knew existed in her roared out in protest. Not caring anymore, she lashed out and never stopped. She was surprised she did and so was he, but she never let her surprise show. It was her adrenaline pumping out and she was glad it did to let the steam out. But he didn't take it lightly.
Now, she is in the crossfire and could only find safety in her familiar place. It is the place where her world started and maybe undoubtedly stopped.
The hill at the campsite where she had met Jack.
Walking slowly, her world spun around as she tried to get up the hill which would determine the next step to take, either to jump or stay. Her adrenaline responded... Maybe it was to the former or latter of her words. She wasn't sure, but it did ignite the dead fire in her soul which prompted her legs to move.
After much struggle, she found herself standing atop a hill. She could hear the waves of the water hit ashore. This was her favorite place on earth. The perfect place she hoped to be with Jack when they met only that... She got to know of his tricky ways and it almost cost her life.
Now, she is left with two choices. Jump or stay put and watch him find her to end what he began.
Looking at heaven, she closed her eyes to jump but a hand held her back. She flinched and was scared of who it could be.
Her eyes were tightly closed until a warm voice spoke and she opened her eyes to be met with a young man who she later knew as Aaron.
Months passed before Daniella was herself again. With a new surge of energy in her, she vowed to get back the things Jack took from her even if it takes years to get them all back. And she has the perfect plan laid out. With a smile, she looked toward the future with a glee.