THE WORLD IS filthy. The humans are born evil and sinful, but it's up to a person if he or she will fight this evil desire and conquer this filthy world in a good way. I don't know If I'm one of the brave ones who have the guts to face the evil head on and fight it, but I'm doing my best to live in a decent way.

"Are you near now?"

I roll my eyes when I heard Aurea's voice from the speaker of my phone. It's her fifth call to me since I left our apartment to go to the convenient store and buy our midnight snacks.

"Aurea... I just come out, from the store. I told you that, 2 minutes ago, when you, called." I said stopping on certain words, trying to emphasize an annoyance at her calls.

She's such a worrywart.

"Psh, I'm bored and you've been out for 10 minutes. The gangsters in this downtown is out usually in this time." She said worriedly. I can imagine her watching the road from the window of our apartment in the third floor.

I chuckled. "I'm fine, okay? Just do your project, you need to get it done tonight."

"Tss, stupid report. Stupid professor." And she start to curse the innocent teachers who just doing their jobs to help her learn.

I wonder what's happening to the professor every time she's cursing them from their back.

"I'm hanging up. See yah!" I laugh and end the call.

It's always her who's buying snacks at midnight every time we forgot but she have a project to work with tonight so I volunteered. It's not necessary to buy it tonight but I also want to go out.

I look at the sky. There's no star or moon tonight because of the clouds covering the sky. It's a shame because I've always love stars, especially the moon. I love watching them. It's always shining and always there for the earth weather its day or night. Always calm and peaceful, watching us silently with care that some people don't understand.

I look around. The place is quiet and dark, it's midnight so it's understandable. Post lights are the only lights lightening the sidewalk, there's no cars and the alley are very dark. It's pretty scary.

I hug my body tighter using my jacket and walk a little faster, but I stop when I felt someone watching from my back. I look at it but there's no one so I shrugged it off and continue.

It's just my imagination because of what Aurea said. Damn that girl, I will strangle her when I come back. Giving me weird scary thoughts.

But my heart started to pump faster too when I heard some footsteps behind me but when I look at it, there's no one. I gulp and walk faster, I'm almost running.

It's just you Ainoa, it's just on your mind--

I scream when someone hold my arm from my back but before I can scream he put a hand on my mouth to mumble my voice immediately.

"Mnn! Mnn! Mnn!" I scream help and let go but it only mumbled on the person's hand. I tried to fight but his hold is firm and strong.

I can smell alcohol drink, smoke, and another disgusting smell from the person. When he drag me to the dark alley, I started to panic. I kick, punch, and elbow him, but he's not bulging. I’m breathing heavily and my heart is racing fast in fear.

"Mnn!" I scream.

"Shh, we will just have fun." His whisper in my ear give me disgusting shiver in my spine.

My mind shut as my heart rapidly beat in shock and fear.

No… it feels like… that night.

When he brought me in the alley there's a lot more guys there. I can't even count them, they are all big and scary. I begin to shiver and tremble on the man's hold. I feel cold and scared, I can't breathe properly, and my heart is beating so fast.

No... This is not true...

He push me and I fall on the ground, they are now all around me. But even I'm free, I can't move. I can't open my mouth but tears are starting to pool in the corner of my eyes. I'm staring blankly at the ground, frozen, and trembling.

Help... help... Please...

I open my mouth to scream but I remember someone telling me, “No one can hear you so no one can save you.”

There's no voice come out of my open mouth, my throat hurts and my tears started to fall. My hands felt cold, I fisted it, and felt it trembling even more.

"Ooh, you brought a good one." I heard one of them said.

My chest is heave up and down, I'm losing my breath, and it is hard to breathe. But it seems like my mind is the only thing that works right now. I have no control to my body. My conscious self completely shut down.

No. This is not the time to be like this. Move! You need to move!

A guy crouch in front of me. He smells so bad, a mixture of intoxicating smell of alcohol, smoke, and weeds. He smile creepily at me.

"Scared, e?" He lean closer to my face and hold my hair covering my face and put it behind my ear.

No. Not again. Please...

My lips tremble. I want to scream for help or beg for mercy but another memory cross my mind and it feels like it’s happening right now too. 'Beg... Begging is useless when you're in front of monsters.' 'You are bound to be--'

"I'm talking to you!" The guy snapped and slap my face, pulling me out from the sudden flash of memory.

My face feel numb but I'm still frozen and just staring in scared empty eyes on my way of vision. I sob and move my mouth, hoping to gain my voice, but I can't. I cannot.

My tears continue to fall helplessly. Brother… save me… please…

'No one will hear you! Just give up' 'It's all your fault'

No one... will hear me...

My eyes slowly drop in realization. Yes... It is all my fault, this is my punishment. I need to accept this, no one will save me anymore.

They all laugh like devil who's about to feast a lost soul. Two of them hold both of my arms and stand me up.

I don't know anymore. Is it a nightmare? Which one is true?

I shut my eyes so tight. Hoping it isn't true. I can hear the laughs of those monsters together with these people. I'm confused which is the reality or the nightmare. Both.

I need to fight somehow but… I need to get my punishment. But why?

I'm losing my breath and I'm trembling in so much fear. I can't control my body or even say a word. How...

"Don't worry princess. We will be very... gentle." He said with a creepy scary smile and rip the front of my blouse.

I can only cry quietly and be scared. Another thing flash on my mind. My hands is full of blood and there's a guy laying in front of me. It's blurry and darkness is the only thing that's clear.

I'm so hopeless, every time this is happening. I'm so... weak.

Please... someone... anyone… please.

Please... I'm begging you.

“Save me.” I whisper in the air and everything became fully dark.

It's so dark, but I can hear grunts, moans, and whimpers in pain. There's sounds of breaking of things too. Did I lost consciousness? Where am I?

My whole body hurts and I feel so tired.

I slowly open my eyes and found myself laying on the ground sideways. My sight is still blurry but I can see a tall guy wearing a black hoodie with a logo printed on its back and black pants, he is fighting guys bigger than him, and he's alone but it's like he's just playing with kids. I tried to get up and my eyes saw it clear.

I'm still trembling, my hand is cold and my throat hurts. What's happening?

Who is this guy?

"You bastard!" One of the gangsters shouted and get a plywood on the side and tried to hit the guy with it.

I remembered. These guys tried to do something bad to me and the guy fighting them... He save me? Why?

The guy bend down his body to dodge the gangster's plywood and then using his one hand, he vertical, like a graceful gymnast and kick the gangster while in the air and then landed safely. He flying kick the last gangster standing and then they are all done.

"Tss. You are all bastards." He said. His voice is very deep but he sounded young. He sit down at the back of the guy whimpering on the ground and remove the dirt in his pants. "Trying to molest a girl. You are all disgusting. Is this how adult world works? I don't want to be any of you." Then his eyes went to look at me.

Our eyes met.

At the darkness, we silently look at each other like the time stops between us. But the moonlight slowly reach his face as the clouds covering the moon slowly move. I saw clearly the color of his eyes as the moon’s light reflects the half of his face that isn’t covered by the shadow of his hood. His eyes is chestnut colored and his golden brown hair is falling messily on his face.

He has no emotion as he stared at me back, I'm sure I'm poker face too. But my heart is... reacting opposite from being cool. I've never felt this before.

The feeling of assurance. That someone will be there to protect you... like the moon on its earth.

This world is full of filthy things. But as you experience the world you will encounter good things that you will hold unto forever, you will cherish it and keep you going.

He's...

I felt my breath becoming slower and slower, my hands stop trembling too, but my eyesight is getting darker.

I've never thought that I would see such beauty in a dark place like this. He look dark but have a serene aura.

My eyes slowly close and everything turns black.

It feels like a dream inside a nightmare.