The Curse Of A Stranger's Gift 3 Astronomical Mysterious Adventure

They were catching their breath as they knock to the door. It felt as if it's the end of the world. Martins' might not forgive them if anything happens to their child.

Zheira's frail voice yelled, "G—go away!"

"Ms. Martin, it's okay! We're here to help you!" Celestine put her palm to her chest. Her heart felt as if it's about to explode.

"I-I don't—" Zheira winced as she tried removing the fragments of gla.s.ses piercing her cheeks. It send a pain that made her feel like crying.

The housekeeper moved closer to the door, sticking her ears to it. "I think she's badly hurt."

Celestine cursed. "I know she is. That's why we're here." This was her first client and if anything goes wrong, she'll have to bid goodbye to this prestigious hotel. She started banging the door.

"Ms. Martin, open up! We're not going to hurt you!" There was a slight edge to Celestine's voice. Her brow creased when no one answered. The housekeeper looked at her with wide eyes.

"You think she collapsed?"

"Shut up!" Celestine hissed, "Go get some spare keys."

"But ma'am, we're not allowed to open doors without permission from our guests."

Frowning, Celestine cried out, "Just do as I say and don't tell anyone about this." When the housekeeper stayed still, she shouted, "Hurry!"

The moment the housekeeper was out of earshot, Celestine started tapping her heels. Ms. Martin wasn't opening the door nor was she answering their calls. She might have been in danger for all Celestine knew, but she hopes she's wrong. She needed this job more than anything.

It took a minute or two before the housekeeper was back. Her face was carved with weariness as she handed the keys with reluctance.

After the door was opened, Celestine breathed heavily before entering. Their footsteps echoed in the eerie silence renting the room. They held their breath when they saw Ms. Martin sitting cross-legged on the bed. Her rosy cheeks were bleeding as fragments of gla.s.ses pierced it. Celestine couldn't help being awed with her soft and flawless skin. It was almost shining.

"Ms. Martin, let me help you!" Celestine started walking towards her, but she stopped when Zheira raised her shaking hand and looked down.

"D—don't c-come—" She winced as another shot of pain crawled in her face.

"You needed help. Just let us do our work, please!" Celestine begged. She didn't want to be fired just for this.

Zheira shook her head. "P—please! Just go!" Her voice was shaking. The more she moves her jaw, the more the pain became unbearable.

"We can help you—"

"I said go!" Zheira looked at her straight in the eyes. She's been alarmed to know that Celestine had brought someone with her, but it's too late to turn back now. Their eyes were bulging as they try to understand why there's a red-eye freak staring at them.

The housekeeper was hyperventilating while she pointed Zheira with shaking hands. She tried opening her mouth but failed to utter any word. Suddenly, she fainted. Her hands were still pointing to Zheira who looked down with disappointment.

"Do you still want to help me?" There was a slight hope in her voice that threw Celestine back to reality. She clenched her fist and closed her eyes before nodding.

"Of course. Our hotel is always here to serve you, Ms. Martin." She faked a smile and sat beside Zheira. "Mind if I ask what happened?" She tried her best not to stutter and to stop herself from shaking. If it weren't for her sick mother's sake, she would've run away from here.

Zheira pointed the mirror. "I-it broke."

Celestine nodded while examining her cheeks, making sure not to look at her eyes. "Hold your breath," she suggested as she started removing the gla.s.ses. There were two small pieces piercing her right cheeks and three on the left. Every time she managed to get a piece, Zheira would wince and she had to blow some air on it to stop it from aching.

After her face was free from the fragments of gla.s.ses, Celestine started dabbing her cheeks with a cotton wet by betadine.

"Thank you," Zheira mumbled. For now, she has proof that not all people would be afraid of her. The first one was her parent, then the girl, and Celestine. Somehow, they made her feel as if she's not a monster at all.

Celestine smiled, a genuine one. "You're always welcome. As I've said, you can always call me if you need anything." She winked, making Zheira giggle.

A sound of trumpets echoed. It was coming from outside. Celestine's face was then lit by excitement.

"Oh, my! The Astronomical Mysterious Adventure is airing!" She screamed out of delight and urged Zheira towards the Veranda. They were greeted by the big billboard. There was a dancing animated trumpet in it.

Fortunately, the rays of the sun were concealed by the billboard. It toned Zheira's tension down.

"What's the mysterious—what was it again?"

Celestine patted her back. "Just watch. They're the best morning show I've ever watched."

Zheira shrugged and concentrated on the billboard. It didn't take long before a man wearing a blue suit replaced the dancing trumpet.

"Morning of pleasantness, my greatest friends. The New Yorks edition is here again to serve you with the latest update of our Astronomical Mysterious Adventure. I am Louise. Your handsome new host." His c.o.c.ky voice boomed in the street.

Celestine gasped. "They have a new host." She cupped her cheeks and leaned towards the handrail. "He's so cute." Her voice was drowned by the 'cute' host.

"It was recently reported that the adjacent positions of the stars signify a new coming of an era. Elizabeth Howell, a writer of the article about the blood moon, provides evidence that this era might be something beyond what everyone could imagine. A b.l.o.o.d.y era for the greater good. Her statement was deemed to be a fable by the government, but it wasn't long before serial murder case surfaces." He raised his hand and pictures appeared. It was gross. Their bodies were full of blood, but what caught Zheira's eyes were the slit on their necks. The host said it was the cause of their death. Zheira shuddered. Never in her life had she saw such a gruesome scene.

"What's odd was the pattern of their death and its occurrence. The first death was reported months ago and every six days, another man was killed. We have five victims and they have similar age, blood type, and birthdates. Not to mention the astronomical fact that they've been born in the presence of the full moon. Way too creepy you agree, my friends?" He flashed a cheeky smile that made Celestine stomped. Zheira, on the other hand, couldn't take the images out of her head. Somehow, the cuts on the victims' neck gave familiarity to her bones, and she couldn't pinpoint it.

The host cleared his throat before continuing. "Now, the authority is preparing for a capture. Two days from now would be another six days after the last death. They believe that the culprit would kill another one with the same records as the other victims." He chuckled darkly. "The cool part is the presence of the blood moon. We all know that this is a rare sight, indeed. The blood moon only happens when the Earth's moon is in a total lunar eclipse. You see, when this phenomenon occurs the moon is fully in the Earth's shadow. At the same time, a little bit of Earth's sunrise and sunset falls on the surface of the moon. Its lightwaves will be stretched. That is why it looks red. Amazing, right?" As he explained he moved his hands as if it were the moon and the Earth.

Zheira clenched her fist to the handrails. "Do you think this is true?" Her mind was screaming for something she couldn't understand. Like it's aware that something bad might happen.

Celestine laughed. "Of course not. They're for pure entertainment, I guess. Nothing seemed true to every word he utters." Her face screwed when she saw the weariness in Zheira's face. "Hey, don't worry about it! Those pictures you've seen might've been edited. Astronomical Mysterious Adventure is just a show, Ms. Martin. You have nothing to worry about."

"What if they're right?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if they just want to let everyone believe that it's just a show."

"Oh, come on! Why would they do that?"

Zheira straightened and whimpered, "To not spark the ma.s.s' fear. If it happens, everyone will be out of the government's control." She gulped. She didn't know how she could say those words nor the fact that she could talk straight with Celestine. Either way, she's bothered of what's to come.