Apparition

Chapter # 9

“BECAUSE THIS HEART IS NONE OTHER THAT YOURS!”

Upon hearing it, The Earth beneath my feet stopped moving as the thorns in my path pricked me and bled me to death and I left with the incapability to think or speak. My heart was about to burst from my chest. My mind went blank. My jaw dropped and I kept blinking and thinking what reached my ears was just a soft breeze, not some burning trident which hit me right in the chest. The unbearable reality for I wasn't prepared for.

 “W-What?” My voice came out like a vague whisper. I looked at Emma, trying to find any hint of amusement and say that it’s not the truth that the heart which I want to stab is none other than mine. Just how twisted fate could be and I was certainly not read to face this tribulation.

“H-How could i-it be?” I asked with my quivering lips, with my whole being shaking in agitation, I fell on my knees.

“He is a devil who has set his eyes upon you.” She enunciated. Tears blurred my vision as I kept looking here and there, not believing her words. Losing my senses and wallowing in an immense fight and ravage.

“No..”

“If you don’t believe me. Stab that heart.” She challenged me. Silent tears rolled down my cheek as my eyes felt heavy that I couldn't even lift my gaze.

“W-What if I p-put it b-back?” I asked, shuddering endlessly in dread. 

“You will offer your soul to him.. Hmph, You are already his.. He has your heart but not your soul…” She said, looking at me in contempt.

“He will kill everyone you love and have you all to himself..” She said in a low growl.

“No..”

“He will make you as his..”

“No.” 

“And you couldn’t be able to resist him.”

“No!” I said and put my hands over my ear and ran out of her house and ran in the forest with no clear destination, not wanting to hear these apprehensive voices of hers. I couldn’t believe what my ears were hearing. That heart couldn’t be mine, It can’t. It can’t. Tears were streaming down my cheek as I kept running, not comprehending or anything around me, crying out loud, wanting to deny that reality. 

“IT’S NOT MINE!” I screamed. I stumbled and fell. Crying my heart out, I clutched the grass in my hands. “It can’t be mine..” I cried, lowering my head and letting those agonizing tears out with the desire to be freed from any pain that this affliction which out of blue; was brought upon me and was killing me from inside like a slow poison, leaving me at his mercy; at the mercy of a devil, a ruthless creature. And I know he will not even have a single shred of pity upon me, he will be delighted by every tear I shed, wanting to see more of it, taking my life out of me. 

"You will have the same fate as hers… Regret leads to death. Your right is your wrong. Because… He will take it."

I will not let myself have the same fate as Jessica. No matter what, neither I will let myself die nor I will let anyone I love die. The situation I am stuck between the most unwanted and unfathomable situation. There would be no turning back and my biggest regret is to come here in search of peace which was taken away from me that very instant I entered this ominous mansion. I will not let him take it. My heart belongs to me, I can’t let this happen. 

“Ms Aston!” A loud voice of Brad came, looking for me. I sniffed and wiped my tears and stood up with my shaky legs. I took support from a tree and walked to him,

“Brad..” I called him weaky.

“Ms Aston, there you are! Let’s go back.” He said. I nodded and went with him without saying another word. 

This heart can’t be mine. 

I went back to that hideous mansion and took out that jar. I gulped and looked at it, the heart which is still beating. It was an utterly revolting sight to espy but I have to do it, to prove that this heart is not mine. With my trembling hands, I pressed my index finger upon it… and felt a pain in my heart. I squeaked and threw it away and fell on the ground. 

“No. No. No. No. No.” I said hurriedly as I began to pant heavily. I gulped and crawled back to that jar and took it again. I took a deep breath and pressed my finger harder upon it but when I did my breath stopped as an intense pain shot in my veins that I began to scream. 

The intensity of pain was so high that I thought that I had died. I curled like a ball and held my chest, whimpering, crying, losing my consciousness and breath, my life as I found everything was slipping out of my grasp and I am in that abyss from where I cannot return form. Gasping loudly to get some air and ease the pain in my heart which seemed impossible at the moment and that ‘s the moment, I understood,

This heart is none other than Mine.

“I told you…” The voice echoed in the room. Along with the tingling sensation in my heart to which is making me feel like this is my last moment, I tried to hear where this voice of Jessica came from with my breath hitching from the pain.

“What should I do?” I asked her, panting heavily.

“Death is inevitable Mary…” She appeared before me again with the enthralling smile and captivating looks from I cannot take my eyes from. With that soft smile over her rosy lips, she walked to me and bend in front me, tracing her fingers over my chest at where my heart was.

She giggled in her melodious voice and tilted her head, looking like a fascinating angel.

“You cannot save yourself but you save others..” She said pointing at my heart as the pain suddenly faltered and so was she. 

I lowered my head. Not understanding what I should do. When the pain went away, I hesitantly sat up and took out the pendant my parents gave me. The last memento of them and smiled sadly,

“What should I do?” I asked in a bare whisper and wore it. 

To get some solace- which is impossible to get, I went to the balcony and hugged my sides receiving a gentle embrace from the wind but how long could my tranquillity hold me together and I could feel this crushing ambience which is enough from me know that who is here to demolish my few seconds of calmness and replace them with terror,

I turned and saw the master of my fears in front of me as shivers began to emerge from my petite form. My throat dried due to the apprehension of knowing what he has for me now. I took a step back as I held the railing of the balcony tightly. He walked closer. That's it. I can't take this anymore. I rather die than to offer my soul to him. Not being able to bear this affliction anymore, I climbed the railing to find redemption in death. But as soon as I felt I was going to be freed from his terror. He grabbed me as he pulled me back. I slowly lift my gaze and met his menacing one. My eyes are distraught with extreme anxiety and dread while his eyes flicker with those unfathomable clouds of desperation for I don't know what and such mysteries that are beyond my capabilities to reveal. 

I gave him a pleading look to liberate me but he is looking at me with an unreadable expression that somehow held a glint of possession and affection in it. I resent that look of fondness deeply. I felt disgusted when someone like him was looking at me with such tenderness. But, then again his terrorizing facade came back as he leaned in and whispered in my ears, "It's all your Fault"