Shadow Under the Starlight

5. Weird day

The days went from counting it as only two days since she last saw Isla to a whole week, a whole week went by and the girl was still no show. The clock struck 5pm over and over — yet there was still no shoulder length white haired serious resting b***h face woman dressed in black dress pants, a long sleeved dress shirt that was in black as well as the boots — walking through those damn doors.

It didn’t get any better, she still could not figure out a single thing that happened that night. She wasn’t drunk she knew that for sure and everyone when asked — said she left alone and the security camera footage backed up those claims.

She felt like a coin switching between heads and tails at a coin flipping game. But it was more of sane & insane switch, in a span of a seconds per minute.

With a sigh she wore the glasses again. She was failing to figure out how this dent came about, she was clumsy form time to time but her glasses? She took extra care of them and made sure of it. So basically the dent was bothering her, something did happen that night but exactly what — was something she couldn’t figure out.

“Baby girl, calm down.” Eda snickered with her gaze on Layla. She had been causally leaning against the counter all this time, with an amuse smile — she would make the most of it while she was stuck on babysitting duty, until Isla got un-busy.

Her gaze fell on the woman hand, resting flat on the surface. “You won’t remember s**t even if your life depends on it.” added the ghost. Reaching out to touch Layla’s hand, Eda immediately turned her head so quick as Layla withdrew her hand the second Eda almost touched her.

Their gaze met briefly — now, she was confused as f**k, Layla was glaring at her — for a few seconds but acknowledged her nonetheless.

“The hell.” Eda mumbled staring at the woman retreating to the kitchen. Her gaze fell from the kitchen door to where her hand previously rested, could she really see her — or was she going insane as well.

In conclusion, Eda did not draw a conclusion — she needed a few tests to close this paranormal theory. So with that she followed Layla.

She was busy pouring boiling hot water into a cup, Eda stood beside her to her right and blew into her ear. Flinching, Layla missed the cup by a few inches pouring the hot water on her left hand — it burnt.

She hissed, walking over to the sink — lucky it hadn’t been a lot of water to leave severe burns, it hurt regardless.

“You okay boss?” her colleague asked walking over, concerned. Her hand rested on Layla’s shoulder staring at her hand bathing in cool water.

“I’m fine, just a minor burn.” said Layla a small smile over her features. “hand me a towel.” the weight on her shoulder left with that, soon standing in front of her with a towel.

“Anything else?”

Grabbing the towel, Layla wrapped it on her hands gently patting her hand. “No, this will do.” she said, smiling once again. She needed to apply ointment. “You should get going, I’ll close up.” she added.

“You sure you’re alright?” she asked, staring at her hand still worried — it looked like it burnt bad.

“Yes, now get moving Sasha.”

With that, Sasha gave her a quick head nod. Walking out the kitchen not before waving her boss bye, she left.

Layla sighed, removing the apron she had been wearing all day she tossed it to the side along with the towel. “I find this ridiculously humourous.” she mumbled with her head hanging low, hand resting on one of the cabinet next to the sink.

“You’ve gone insane already baby girl?” Eda asked, a bit amused. She reacted exactly how anyone who would see ghost, she felt her — it made her happy, Isla could possibly not be the only living being she could bother now.

Her suspicions were further confirmed as Layla did her best not to touch Eda as she walked past her, by the narrow door. Eda was now wondering if Isla knew this — exciting piece of information.

She was still not done with her tests despite the amount of proof she gathered. Standing in front of Layla, Layla stopped in her steps. “Would you stop that — what the f**k is wrong with you!” she hissed glaring right at Eda, who only smirked.

Caught red handed.

“We are closed!” she shouted, titling her head to the side so she could glare at the person. Eda turned following her gaze to find a man walking through the doors, he seemed unusual — something wasn’t right.

“Beautiful girl.” the man mumbled, taking a few steps closer towards them. “Is she yours?” he asked, raising his head he directly glared into Eda’s eyes — and she hated how her stomach turned to knots.

His eyes were all black and Isla was not here. Something about him to Layla, felt familiar and the moment the horrid stench hit her nostrils, she felt nostalgic — yet her mind held nothing.

“I don’t know if you can hear me but like it’s the time to run girly.” Eda spoke, glancing at Layla over her shoulder as she stood between them.

Layla however had other plans as she pulled out a knife — Eda did a double take glaring at the girl, where the f**k did that come from and who was she trying to use it against if this man didn’t show up.

“I said we’re closed.” Layla pointed the kitchen knife at the man, her hand a bit shaky — she was trying her best to compose herself though.

“Robin hood run?” Eda didn’t know if she had to command the clearly foolish girl or question why she wasn’t run away alone — clearly madam brave pants wanted to fight.

She, Eda, did not plus she couldn’t.

Layla glared at Eda before returning her gaze on the scary black eyed man.

“Wait!” Eda gasped. “You definitely can see me! You could see me!” she rejoiced and honestly Layla was fed up, she simply groaned.

“Leave!”

The strange man smiled rather devilishly, in a matter of seconds he charged at her — oh, she was f****d. Eyes closed she swung the knife direction and purpose unknown — hope & prayers were in control now, Eda groaned.

Grabbing Layla by the hand Eda was starstruck, she had no time for that right now. Harshly yanking her out the way — Layla stood shoulder to shoulder with Eda — as much as their height could allow. Not the ‘thank you’ she was expecting because it was more violent, a straight cut on the forearm & it hurt.

It hurt!

“Did—”

Eda didn’t get to finish as she caught sight of the man from her peripheral vision, he was running towards her or them now. It was definitely time to say adios — with that she teleported them far from the man.

§

Layla hissed as her bum hit the floor, hard. Looking around she was unfamiliar with the house, and with how she got here until that little annoying ghost stood in front of her — excitement all over face.

Well who could blame her, she got cut for once and not from Isla — a f*****g normal? Human who could touch, see, hear and harm her — harm her! She stared at the wound on her forearm again.

Squatting, Eda locked eyes with a furious looking woman. She was mad for two reasons, one being the obvious abnoxious behaviour — two, could she have let her land on a softer floor like a bed or better yet, land standing.

“You little—”

“Eda what are you doing here?” Isla walked out the kitchen, a towel resting on her shoulder. Her hair seemed wet like she recently popped out the shower, the t-shirt she had on was a bit drenched as well. For once Layla saw her in more casual clothing, still in black but at least the slippers were red.

Glancing down at them, she finally noticed Layla gripping a knife and Eda beside her with a fresh wound on her forearm.

“Eda what did you do?” she hissed glaring at the ghost even though she was the one with a wound, and Layla held a bloody knife.

“Me? She can see me! All this time she could see me.” Eda said which was followed by a violent head pat on Layla’s head, looked more like a smack to the back of the head than a pat.

“Eda—”

“I can touch her Isla and she can harm me, she a psychic.” pointing at her wound then the knife she spoke enthusiastically.

Isla stared at Layla intently. Noticing how she punched Eda right after those words were said, Eda stumbled back falling on her back — Layla could see Eda all this time, she could see all those ghosts as well.

She could see them too.

She was about to speak, when she felt a warm hand on her bare forearm. She turned her head so fast she might have sprained it, she locked eyes with Layla.

Eda on the other side of the room was lighting biting down on her clenched fist — oh, this didn’t look good.

“Shit.”