CHAPTER 20
1025 Words
The same night, 11:30 pm...
Ashton Feathers had a beautiful mind.
He was grateful to Derek and his family for granting him all the amenities that he required. They'd given him quite a spacious room with a queen-sized bed, mini fridge and a lot of paintings hung on walls.
He wasn't a great artist but he admired art.
It's magical how a single brush, a handful of colours and a few strokes could create something so wonderful.
But, the most beautiful art he'd seen wasn't a piece of art, after all.
It was a woman.
Rachel....
Rachel Evana Louis.
He reminisced those beautiful moments he shared with her. How he would sit still for hours doing nothing but simply admiring how beautiful she was.
He could still feel her warm, soft hair on his cheeks, tickling him. Her sweet breath in his ears. Her daring, brown eyes penetrating right into him.
If only their relationship lasted.....
Ashton wasn't amused of anyone as much as he was with Rachel. No woman had touched him as profoundly as her. And yet, it was he who marked an end to their relationship.
How could he continue to be with her after all that he'd learned about her?
He sighed and got up from his bed.
Rachel was beautiful inside out. The thing was, she was caught in a lot of tangles. Perhaps, he shouldn't have left her. Perhaps, he should have been man enough to stand by her and help her get out of the tangles.
Ashton walked to the mini fridge and took out a bottle of rum.
Derek had stashed it in his mini fridge for their late night parties.
Though, for some reason, Derek wasn't turning up tonight. And he wondered why.
At least with all the mindless chatters he could have with Derek, he would get rid of Rachel's thoughts. For some unfathomable reason, that girl was haunting him like a ghost this night.
He opened the bottle and took in a swig.
Rachel Evana Louis..... Rachel Evana Louis.....
Her name rang like a bell in his ear.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated.
Wondering who would message him at this hour, he took it out.
His heart almost stopped.
It was a w******p message.
From Rachel Evana Louis...
The world seemed to spin around him. Was this really happening?
It's been years since they drifted away from each other, why would she message him now?
Right at that moment, a cold, sharp, alarming breeze hit his face.
Something was wrong.
He couldn't help but gaze at her alluring brown eyes before opening her message. He didn't realise the stealth at that time.
"Ash..! Ash...!! I'm in trouble right now!! I need your help! Don't ignore this message! Please! Come to the Broadway metro station..."
Ashton's face went pale.
She definitely wasn't playing a prank on him.
He could literally hear the panic in her voice.
Ashton dropped everything as it was and rushed out of the house.
Thankfully, Derek and his parents didn't notice.
He didn't want to waste time giving explanations.
Broadway metro station wasn't too far from Derek's house. He ran as fast as his legs could take him. If Rachel had called him after so many years, it really meant something.
She really was in danger.
All along the way, he prayed to god to keep her safe.
Ashton had absolutely no track of time when he reached the station. The wind was cold and as far as he could see there was only thick white mist.
He strained his eyes to catch sight of any moving thing.
But, the station was gravely silent.
The only sound he heard was that of his own footsteps. He walked cautiously towards the track.
Nothing.
To Ashton, it seemed like the whole place was radiating silence.
A furtive, deadly silence.
Warning him of the most unexpected thing that was going to happen.
Slowly, Ashton's heart began to pound faster.
"Rachel..." He called out in a weak, trembling voice.
There was no response.
Ashton was actually a brave man. But, to fight there has to be someone or something before him.
But, this place was nothing but sheer quiet. And this quiet was what Ashton found disturbing.
Suddenly, he heard a low squeal.
It came from the tracks.
His heart thumped so fast, he wondered if he could hear it outside.
He scanned the tracks. There were two lamps glowing dimly in the corners. And below on of them was a rat. Its tail was caught in the track.
Ashton let out a sigh.
He scanned the place once again.
The mist was getting thicker and thicker. The wind was getting colder and colder.
Ashton was afraid of only two things.
Death and dark.
Right then, the lights went off.
Ashton let out a shrill cry. His senses went numb, throat dry and face pale. He felt sweat dribbling down his shoulder and forehead.
What on earth was going on around him?
The place was pitch black that he didn't even know where the exit was. Now, going back home also seemed impossible.
Suddenly, Ashton heard footsteps. It was strong, firm and poised.
"Rachel...is that you?" he asked, gulping. He didn't know how scared he was until he heard his dry, trembling voice.
Ashton took out his phone and switched it on.
The footsteps wasn't directed towards him.
Shortly afterward, he heard the sound of a liquid dripping down on a cup.
Ashton took a deep breath.
He's been in Broadway station before. Could this sound be associated to something?
He rattled his brain.
Yes!
The automatic coffee machine.
Recalling the way to the coffee machine from the tracks, he pre cautiously scurried towards that unknown person.
Like a sheep towards a lion.
The mild light from his phone shone on a back clothed in black.
He also noticed that the person was wearing a black cap.
Ashton moistened his lips before calling out.
"Rachel?" he said and touched the person's back.
The person responded slowly.
Then, turned around and shot a dreadful smile.
That night, Ashton confronted what he feared the most.
Death and dark.
- Writer
