Shadow Under the Starlight

9. Ghost

Layla had thing on her mind it was set in stone from the moment she opened up the café for the day. She was going to find out what exactly happened yesterday and she was sure the camera's recorded a thing or two to help out — they had to.

That being said, she still had to work until someone else took over the shift which would not be for another hour or so.

She sighed behind the counter her patience running low as curiosity and frustration ate away at her mind. Layla could not understand how exactly could she forget every detail of a day without being drunk or high on something, the only thing keeping her sane was the bandage around her hand — that was proof enough, something did happen.

A light knock on the counter got Layla's attention back on track. A light smile came over her features greeting the customer before her.

She had not taken a break as customers kept pouring in. Today's business was on a hot take, it had been doing very well since she opened the café and she should have been happy about it — deep within she was — but surface level she had woken up on the wrong side of the bed, she hated how she felt about such an exciting thing.

"Morning Boss!"

That, right there, was Layla's hope she had been long awaiting. Immediately Layla's face brightened up glancing at her employee. Like most days his long hair was held back in a low bun, the bag strap clinging onto his right shoulder letting the other strap hang freely — his dark blue apron tightly grasped in his left hand.

"Can you take over?" Layla asked staring at the young man once he got close enough to the counter.

And just like that he gave her a head nod agreeing. "Sure boss, let just get set." his finger was held out pointing towards the direction of the locker room, Layla mumbled a light 'okay' and he was off on his way disappearing behind the door written 'stuff only'.

A few minutes went by before he reappeared with the apron wrapped around his waist. Layla mumbled something into his ear about the customer standing behind the counter before she signed off taking her leave from the counter, in her peripheral vision she could see the two exchanging numbers — a smile fell on her face.

Layla took the keys out her pocket unlocking the door written 'office'. Locking the door behind her Layla turned to the monitor screens resting on the table.

Layla had her hand hovering over the mouse as she played the security footage, her left hand rested on the wooden table — her head lightly resting on her palm.

Skipping through the footage from hours earlier until she came across the recording after 5, the rest before seemed quite boring from the ones she saw.

Layla watched as the recording of herself was intensely staring at her glasses for a concerning amount of time. Her forehead creased in confusion as she glared at someone a few seconds then turned away, no one stood there.

Layla frenetically searched for the footage of the kitchen right before she walked in, playing the footage she continued to watch intently.

Her gaze fell on her bandaged hand as hot water spilled over her hand, so that's how she got that. Diverting her gaze back to the screen she bit down on her lower lip, what the hell was she avoiding as she walked through the kitchen door — she walked by like there had been someone.

What bothered her even more was the small outburst that followed before a man walked in. It all happened in a flash as she stood hold out a knife at the man charging at her suddenly she stood out the walk? — she didn't move a muscle at all.

Replaying the clip, Layla hit pause as she noticed her eyes closed and her body being yanked out the way.

"I need an exorcist."

"I know a good one."

Layla screamed jumping out her seat standing as close as she could to the wall. Her eyes fell on the person standing beside her, turning to the door then to the person she became even more terrified.

She locked the door and it was still locked, how the actual f**k did this girl get in and better yet who was she.

Layla didn't care, as she picked up the nearest thing to a weapon she could find, a keyboard, a swung it forward trying to hit the girl.

"Let's calm down." The uninvited guest said now standing behind Layla, a smile come over her face as Layla jump in fear again — this was fun.

"Makes sense." Layla signed once she cooled down. This person wasn't exactly a person, then just like that Layla's breath hitched. Placing the keyboard down she avoiding eye contact with the ghost — if she pretends to no see her then maybe she'll go away.

Wrong, Eda was going nowhere.

"I already knew you could see me darling, now stop acting like I'm invisible." Eda placed her hand over the girls head, lightly she messing up her hair. "I am very visible to you, aren't I?" She added continuing to play with the her hair.

Layla remained quiet, still trying to avoid the annoying ghost playing with her hair. She was upset her hair took a lot of her time when getting ready and this thing was messing it up, tossing her curls all over the place.

"So it's going to be like that." Layla kept her mouth shut bitting back a few curse words. Eda laughed enjoying this so to push her further, she rested her head on top of Layla's her arms on her shoulder. "Play the footage, you haven't seen the best part."

Layla sighed as she felt a little breeze over head head then a strand of hair fell on face, Eda was seriously blowing the strands to fall on her face.

"I should have just braided them." She mumbled brushing the strands away from her face.

Playing the footage she watched as she got pulled out the way then immediately she vanished. Layla stared at the screen perplexed.

"Cool right?" Eda's voice came from above her head. Layla groaned did she know nothing about personal space at all.

Layla continued to watch the footage but it had been empty since she vanished from sight until the time read 8:35 pm on the screen, that she walked back into the café yet it seemed off.

From switching off the lights to closing and locking up everything she seemed quite normal but that wasn't her. A few minutes passed then someone she wasn't expecting walked in — Isla. They slowly started engaging in light conversations as they arranged the tables and chairs all until Layla said something — the conversation went downward to an argument.

"Eda?" She mumbled as she stared at the screen trying to read Isla's lips the best she could, but that was she could clearly tell.

"Right here darling."

Layla's gaze fell on the ghost standing beside her now. She had short dreadlocks but long enough to be held back into a man bun, wearing an oversized pink shirt with words 'ghost buster' along with black shorts — the longer she studied her appearance from her hair then dark smooth skin to her clothes, that were different today — Layla realized she had seen her around.

"You're always around Isla, you know what happened yesterday."

"Of course I do, rewind a bit here." both of them had their eyes fixed on the screen as Layla replayed the footage, watching over again she saw herself being pulled out the way. "Who do you think pulled you out the way?"

That made sense now. Layla turned over to the ghost who still has her eyes fixed on the screen.

"You were there."

Eda turned to side meeting Layla's cautious gaze. A smile came over Eda's face, "Yes, now this i***t is who you should ask." She said and Layla knew exactly what 'idoit' she was referring to.

"Wait—"

"A heads up, she's very stubborn though and don't tell her I opened my mouth. I was only here to check if you're still sane."

Eda cut her off and before she could ask any further questions, Layla was alone in the room once again but this time her perfect hair in a mess and her mind filled with much more confusion than before.