Yours Unconditionally

What is wrong with this house today?

It had only been 3'o clock by the time I finished my classes for today. Now the clock has moved almost four numbers and Edmund still isn't back, meaning I'm all alone in this eerie silence. The sun has already set, and the boredom feels more like a knife to my throat. C'mon, Universe. At least try to be generous! I complained. Like always, the Universe ignored my whining. Or so I thought.

Knock. Knock.

Who's here at this hour? I looked through the peep-hole but couldn't spot anyone. Kids. I decided to go back and check when the door banged more forcefully this time. Seriously? I stomped my way to the door, ready to snap at whoever was trying to break down my front door. I opened it with a scowl, but there was no one. Am I imagining things? I shook my head and closed it.

A few minutes passed, and I was almost at the end of my episode of ANT when I heard something drop in my room. What the f**k is wrong with this house today? I muted the TV and went inside to check, but there was nothing out of place. Strange.

I decided to go back to the living room when I spotted that the window was open. It must be the wind. I walked up to it to close it when the door to my room slammed shut. I almost jumped at the sound but contained myself. "Edmund, Is that you?" I asked but no reply came. "Edmund, stop it, seriously. It's not funny," I stated, and tried to open the door, but it wouldn't even budge. "Edmund, stop it already!" I shouted and I heard things falling outside.

"Edmund Grayson! You better open the door, or I swear I'll kill you with a butter knife and I swear I'll find a way," I warned. The sound became louder. "Fine. You want me to prove it to you?" I asked and picked up my phone and dialed his number.

No one picked three rings. "C'mon. Pick up. I know it's you!" I told him and he picked up.

"See? Now open the door!" I said, dead-panned, and turned the knob again. This time it clicked. There was no one outside though. I expected to see scattered dishes and other things, but everything was in place.

"What? I can't hear you over the music. I'm in a club," Edmund shouted on the phone. I could hear the music in the background and I felt a cold chill run through my spine. "You're... you're not in a club. You're here. Out in the living room," I said with as much will-power as I could summon, hoping it would make it true. "What? Can't hear you! Wait... right now? Okay! I'll get to you later, princess," he said, and the line went dead. "Edmund... No! Edmund!" I shouted helplessly, but it was no use. He had already hung up.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to step out. "Is someone here?" I shouted but there was no answer. "Who is here?" I shouted again but no one answered. I ran around the house to check the locks, but they were locked. I looked around all the places but couldn't spot anyone either. After spending half-an-hour walking around like a maniac, I settled down on a couch.

I haven't heard a noise in the last thirty minutes. I brought my knees closer to my chest and rested my head on my knees. How can this be possible? Why am I hearing things? Why do they seem so real? Is something wrong with me? Am I imagining things that aren't real?

I curled into a ball, hoping to find some solace in this state. The door clicked again, and I sunk lower into myself. This isn't real. I'm just imagining things. I thought to myself. The door opened, and he looked up to see Edmund. "Hey! Were you saying something? I couldn't hear you," he said with a worried expression, and everything I'd been holding on came out in one big wave. Before I could process a thing, I ran into his arms and started to sob uncontrollably.

"Aricia... what's wrong?" he asked in confusion, and I shook my head. "Something's wrong with me, Edmund. I'm hearing things. Imagining them. I heard... I heard the door clicking and... and there were noises coming from the house. Things are dropping and falling. When I looked... everything was in a place. Edmund... I'm not crazy, right?" I asked, hopefully, not quite ready to hear what he had to say.

His expression changed from worried to serious. "Aricia... I should've told you," he said, rubbing his temples. "Told me what, Edmund?" I asked in confusion. "This building... people say it's haunted by the previous homeowner. He was murdered in this very apartment. I never believed it, neither did anyone ever encounter any paranormal activity. So I believe people forgot about it. But what you are saying... maybe he has taken an interest in you," he said in a low, warning voice.

"No... No, that's not true. Ghosts don't exist," I argued. "You're right. Maybe you're seeing things," he said simply. "I'm not crazy, Edmund," I shouted. He nodded. "Don't think too much," he said before taking out food from the refrigerator.

"I'm not crazy," I murmured to myself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^.^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ghosts usually appear as a misty silhouette, accompanied by loud voices of dropping objects which are in place when you investigate, hearing voices of people, whispers, or someone calling your name. Feeling of being watched and being spied on. Drop in temperature and... I closed the lid of my MacBook and pushed it away. As much as I want to deny what Google is telling me... I don't know what to make out of it. Either that or something is really, really wrong with me.

A loud voice caught my attention and I sunk deeper into my sheets. It's just the window shutting because of the storm. I told myself. I decided to bolt it when the light went out. Seriously? Using a flashlight from my phone, I made my way to the window.

Aricia... I heard a voice and almost jumped. "Edmund? Is that you?" I asked in a stuttering voice. Aricia... Come with me. A male voice I hadn't heard before called. "Who are you?" I asked. Aricia... "Edmund? Edmund!! Where are you?" I shouted.

"Come with me. I'm here for you," the voice said again. "Please. Leave me alone!" I shouted. To say I'm frightened would be an understatement. I'm mortified.

"Aricia... " the voice got louder and I closed my ears. "It's not real. You're not real! It's just an imagination," I shouted, hoping it would make it true. "Aricia..," the ghastly voice said again, and I closed my eyes shut. I heard voices again. And mist started to enter through the crevice in my closed door.

"Go away!!" I shouted, and the door started to bang. "I said go away!!" I threw the near object I could find at the door. The voice growled in anger and the door clicked. "Leave me alone!" I shouted, and a dark silhouette entered the room. Covered with the mist all around, it looked otherworldly. "Who are you?" I asked through the sobs. "I'm the homeowner of this apartment. I'm here for you," he said. "I don't want to go anywhere. Please, leave me alone," I said in a low voice. "Come with me," he took a step closer and pushed myself back until I was cornered.

"Please, go away," I shouted and closed my eyes. Curling myself into a ball, so I could save myself. I waited for a blow to come in my direction, more growling, more voices or thundering sounds. But nothing happened. I timidly opened my eyes and there was no one. I ran outside, but there was nothing. No trace of the mist and the silhouette.

Am I really imagining things to this extent?

I went back to my room and closed the door shut. Edmund isn't home either. The thought of being there alone was threatening me. I need a walk to clear my head. Maybe I'll come up with an idea.

I put on my trainers and didn't bother changing my clothes. God knows if that silhouette will come and sneak up on me. The thought disgusted me more than it terrorized me. I shook my head and locked the door to the apartment. I was on the second flight when I heard Ed talking with someone on the phone.

"She actually fell for it! You should've heard her screaming. A hundred bucks she'll be out in a week," he laughed. "Yeah, I won't tell Dawn you helped me plan this. She would probably kill us both," he said in terror, and then he started to laugh. "Okay, I'll talk to you later. I should go and see if she's already packing her bags," he turned around and stopped dead in his place.

The smirk on his face turned into horror when he looked at me. It must've been something that he saw there, but it was nothing compared to what I felt inside. Hurt. Betrayal. Humiliation. He called my name, but I didn't seem to hear it. I couldn't imagine he'd go to this extent to get me out.

It's one thing to dislike someone. It's an entirely different thing to hate someone. But you know what's worse? To be hated by someone you love. To be hated to the extent that they cannot even bear to be in the same room as you. To be hated to the extent that they would do anything to keep you away. Maybe he really doesn't want me here.

Ignoring him, I ran back into the room. If only I could also ignore the pain. Why do I even try? Maybe I'm a masochist who likes hurting herself. So I just came back to get hurt some more. Wiping my tears, I dialed the number I know so well.

"Miss? How can I assist you?" Jackson's formal voice greeted me over the phone. "Can you pick me up from my apartment? I also need a hotel room to stay in," I tried to keep my voice from wavering. "Yes, miss," he said after a moment. "Anything else?" he asked. "Yes. Can you please not tell my parents about it?" I asked. "Miss, Aricia... "

"Please, Jackson. It's a request. I'll talk to them myself," I insisted. My voice would've seemed more of a plea to him because the old man finally took pity on me. "Alright," he answered. I changed into appropriate clothes and packed the little stuff lying around.

"Aricia, I'm sorry. Please, open the door. I was just messing with you," I could hear Edmund slamming the door now. He's been calling my name for half an hour now. I didn't bother answering him though. Once I was finished, I dragged my luggage out of the room and met Edmund's worried gaze.

A hint of hope flickered in his eyes before his gaze landed on the bags. "Where are you going?" he asked in a dead-serious tone. "It doesn't concern you," I took another step, having no intention of overstaying my welcome, more than I'd already had. He gripped my wrist and stopped me in my tracks.

"Aricia, don't be absurd. You can't just pack your bags and leave in the middle of the night. Where do you think you are going to live?" he argued, but I've had enough. "Why does it bother you, Edmund? You clearly want nothing to do with me. That's what you wanted all along. Well, now you got it. I won't trouble you again, and you'll possibly not see me ever again. It was nice meeting you, but I have to go," I said, looking him dead in the eye. "Goodbye!"

"Aricia... " he called after me. This time, his voice was softer, almost regretful. Regretful? Who am I kidding? I'm probably just imagining things. "Please, don't leave. If you don't want to see me, I'll leave until your move is comfortable enough," he offered. It's funny how you have to get out of someone's life to get the flicker of warmth you've been craving all the time you were with them.

Shutting my eyes close, I opened them again. Hoping it would clear the tears off my eyes. With a confident smile, I looked back at him. "You don't have to feel guilty, really. Jackson will find me some hotel and I'll find some new place. You don't have to worry about it," I said in a calm, collected voice. Hoping it would do the impossible job of covering up the mess I was.

I won't cry. I won't cry.

Turning around, I took the last step and here it was. I have officially moved out. Without looking back, I made my way to the parking lot. Jackson was already there, waiting for me.

He put the luggage in the trunk, and I was more than appreciative that he didn't ask me any questions when he held the door for me. "There's a hotel only a couple of miles away from here," he informed me. I nodded, and he gave me a sympathetic look before hitting the engine.