Chapter 2: The Whispering Garden
1408 Words
Mira had never been to the garden, but as she stared at her phone, her heart raced. The image showed her sitting cross-legged on the neatly trimmed grass of the university garden, smiling as if nothing in the world was amiss.
It made no sense.
Her trembling fingers tapped the screen, but the sender of the message was untraceable—just the words *Unknown Number*.
"Who would send this?" she muttered, her voice shaky.
A part of her wanted to believe it was Nora and her friends playing an elaborate prank. After all, they had gone out of their way to warn her about the garden, spinning ominous tales about how dangerous it was. Maybe they had doctored the photo to scare her because she was new.
But the other part of her—a growing, gnawing fear—whispered that something else was at play.
She stared at the image again. The details were too perfect. The light, the shadows, even the way her hair fell around her shoulders—it all looked real. Too real.
Mira tried to shake off the unease, telling herself it was a trick. A stupid joke. Still, she couldn't bring herself to delete the photo. Instead, she tucked her phone away and tried to focus on getting through the evening.
---
Later that night, Nora was chattering excitedly about her day while Mira sat on the couch, her mind elsewhere.
“You should’ve seen Matthew try to answer the professor’s question—he totally blanked!” Nora laughed, nudging Mira.
“Yeah,” Mira said absently, forcing a weak smile.
Nora tilted her head. “You okay? You’ve been quiet all evening.”
“I’m fine,” Mira lied. She wasn’t about to bring up the photo or the message. Nora would probably brush it off or worse, scold her for being paranoid.
As Nora returned to her phone, texting and laughing at messages from their friends, Mira slipped away to her room. She locked the door, turned off the lights, and sat cross-legged on her bed, her phone glowing faintly in her hands.
She searched the internet for anything that could explain her experience—rumors about the university, stories about the garden, even supernatural theories. But nothing came up.
Her frustration grew. If the garden was as dangerous as everyone claimed, surely someone would have written about it online. Some mention of strange happenings or disappearances. Yet, the only result she found was the news article about Sonia Patel, the girl who had vanished two years ago.
She read the article again, her stomach twisting. The circumstances were vague, the details minimal. Just a single chilling fact: Sonia was last seen walking into the garden.
Mira closed her laptop and stared into the darkness of her room. The photo, the warnings, the strange girl in the hallway—all of it felt connected.
Her phone buzzed again, startling her. She grabbed it quickly, half-expecting another message from the unknown number.
But it was just Nora, asking if she wanted a midnight snack.
Mira sighed in relief and tossed the phone onto her bed. She wasn’t going to let herself spiral further. This was just some elaborate prank, and she’d prove it.
---
The next morning, Mira woke feeling lighter. She told herself the garden and the messages were nothing but her imagination running wild. She made breakfast humming her favorite tune, eager to start the new day.
Nora joined her at the table, groggily sipping her coffee. “Wow, someone’s in a good mood today,” she teased.
“Why not? New day, new opportunities,” Mira said, trying to sound upbeat.
They left the apartment together and met up with Nora’s friends—Joseph, Matthew, Maria, Yasmin, Anna, and Ryan—on their way to the university. Mira stayed close to Nora, still wary of her friends after yesterday’s encounter, but she decided to bring up the garden again.
“Hey, Joseph,” she began, “is there really no way to go to the garden? I mean, it’s so beautiful. I’d love to just sit there for a while before class.”
Joseph exchanged glances with the others, their expressions immediately darkening.
“You don’t give up, do you?” Matthew muttered, clearly irritated.
“No one’s allowed in the garden,” Maria said firmly.
“But why not?” Mira pressed. “If it’s just a rule, maybe we can get permission.”
“No.” Matthew stopped walking, turning to face her with a glare. “Mira, listen to me. You can’t go there. End of discussion.”
Her persistence seemed to agitate the group. Even Nora looked uncomfortable.
Ryan, the calmest of the group, sighed and stepped forward. “Mira, it’s not just about rules. It’s about safety. Our safety.”
Mira frowned. “What does that even mean? What could possibly be dangerous about flowers and grass?”
Ryan’s tone turned serious. “Sometimes, things in this town aren’t what they seem. If you hear someone call your name, don’t turn around. If someone touches you, don’t look back. And whatever you do, don’t go to the garden.”
The tension was thick as Mira fell silent, her cheeks burning with humiliation. The group continued walking, leaving her trailing behind.
When they reached the university gates, Ryan turned back. “I’m sorry if we upset you,” he said, his voice softer now. “But trust me—it’s better to follow the rules here.”
Mira nodded wordlessly, though her frustration and confusion simmered beneath the surface.
---
In class, Mira sat near the back, her gaze drifting to the garden outside. The sun lit up the hedges and flowers, making the scene look idyllic. How could something so beautiful be dangerous?
As she stared, a voice pulled her from her thoughts.
“Hey, are you Mira?”
She turned to see a girl standing beside her desk. She looked friendly, with dark hair and a warm smile.
“Yes, that’s me,” Mira replied cautiously.
“I’m Sonia,” the girl said, pulling out the chair next to her.
Mira froze.
The name sent a jolt through her, but she quickly shook it off. There were probably other students named Sonia.
“I saw you yesterday,” Sonia continued. “You seemed lost. I thought I’d introduce myself today.”
“Oh,” Mira said, forcing a smile. “Thanks. It’s nice to meet you.”
They talked briefly, and Sonia was easy to get along with. But when Mira mentioned the garden, Sonia’s demeanor changed.
“You want to see it?” Sonia asked, her tone suddenly eager.
Mira hesitated. “I mean… yeah, but everyone says it’s off-limits.”
Sonia leaned closer. “Don’t listen to them. I know a way in. We can go today, during the break. Just follow me.”
The offer tempted Mira, but Ryan’s words echoed in her mind. *Don’t go to the garden.*
“I don’t know…” Mira said, glancing out the window.
Sonia smiled, her tone soothing. “Trust me. It’ll be fine.”
At 1:50, Sonia left the classroom, glancing over her shoulder at Mira. Hesitating for only a moment, Mira grabbed her phone and purse and followed.
The hallway was quiet as Mira caught up to Sonia.
“Ready?” Sonia asked, her smile widening.
Mira nodded, though unease bubbled in her chest.
They walked toward the end of the hallway, where the door to the garden loomed. Sonia reached for the handle and pushed it open.
The scent of flowers and earth hit Mira immediately, stronger and sweeter than she expected. The sunlight seemed unnaturally golden, bathing the garden in an almost dreamlike glow.
“It’s beautiful,” Mira whispered, stepping inside.
Sonia followed, her grin stretching wider.
Mira moved toward the center of the garden, marveling at the vibrant colors and perfect symmetry. But as she turned to speak to Sonia, the words died in her throat.
Sonia’s face had changed. Her eyes were black pits, and her smile was no longer human.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” Sonia hissed, her voice distorted and echoing.
Mira stumbled back, but the garden seemed to close in around her, the hedges growing taller, the air growing heavy.
She turned to run, but the path was gone. All that remained was darkness.
And Sonia’s voice, calling her name.
- Writer
