Yell Of Whispers

YELL OF WHISPERS PART 3

I glanced out the window of my room when I heard someone opening the gate outside. Finally, Manang Ekang had arrived. Whenever she's with me, the strange occurrences in the house suddenly disappear. I quickly dressed before talking to Manang. I wanted to ask her about this. I'm sure I'll get at least a little information. It's impossible for her not to have felt anything during her time here.

"Shekai!" she called out with a smile when she saw me coming out of my room, and I noticed she was carrying a large basket along with her usual load of vegetables and fruits.

"What kind of dish do you want with the chicken?" she asked, lifting the basket. So, it was chicken inside. "Paeng found out you're here, so he was happy to give us a hen, so you can have some native chicken to eat," she continued, her smile still lingering on her lips as she said so.

"Tinola, please," I hesitantly replied, still feeling the lingering nervousness and fear from earlier.

Wait! The chicken is still alive. Don't tell me she's the one---

"Are you going to s*******r it?" I asked her in surprise.

She just chuckled at my question and my reaction. "Of course, dear. Do you want to be the one to do it?" she joked.

"No way! Just the thought of seeing blood makes me want to faint," I thought to myself..

After she arranged her purchases on the table, she took out the hen, which was still flapping its wings, and brought it outside. I followed her to see what she would do.

'Ugh! s**t! Maybe I shouldn't have followed her after all.'

Suddenly, she struck the chicken's head hard with a stick, causing it to struggle and squawk loudly until it gasped for air. "Don't look, Shekai. You might lose your appetite later," she noticed I was behind him.

I just avoided looking at what he was doing. I looked in another direction to ask about what was bothering me.

"Manang, don't you really feel anything in this house?" She just laughed at my question.

"I hear noises coming from the kitchen every night," my eyes widened at her response.

'Oh see! So there is something, but earlier she said there wasn't.'

I was about to speak when suddenly she laughed and said, "That cat is really naughty. I feed it, but it loves to bang on the pots." My mouth fell open. It meant she didn't believe in the child I saw earlier.

"But I do feel something," I almost whispered, but it was loud enough to reach her ears.

"That's odd. Alright, dear, what do you see?" At that moment, I glanced behind her. I also noticed she was holding a knife.

I swallowed hard before speaking, "A little girl. Just like I told you when I arrived here." My heart raced. Manang Ekang remained silent and continued with what she was doing with the chicken.

"She was dressed in yellow, slender in build, with long black hair that was straight." I was startled when blood suddenly splattered from what she was doing. My entire body trembled with fear. She also stopped what she was doing and gave me a stern look. The chicken blood stain on her face made my eyes widen even more.

'Shibal!' I couldn't hear myself swearing. I suddenly lost my voice for those moments.

"Are you serious, dear?" she replied emotionlessly. I glanced at the knife she was holding and then back at her darkened face.

I fell silent for a few moments, unable to count how many times I swallowed nervously and felt as if something was constricting my throat, making it hard to breathe. 'Y-ye...' I struggled to respond, feeling short of breath. 'Y-yes...' When I finally released the last word, the whole room seemed to darken around me.

"Pssst!" I furrowed my brow as I heard that whisper, my eyes still closed.

"Pssst!" It sounded a bit far from me. I kept my eyes shut.

"Let's play."

's**t!' I jolted up from where I lay upon hearing that right near my right ear.

"Argh!" I groaned as something struck inside my head. I covered my face with both hands, feeling its heaviness. My vision was still a bit blurry.

The echo of the child's laughter filled the room once more, a delicate melody amidst the shadows. As I sat frozen in my chair, I sensed her presence as she moved about, her playful steps barely audible on the wooden floor. My gaze dared not meet hers directly, instead tracing her movements through the blurred edges of my peripheral vision.

Fear gripped me tightly, its icy fingers creeping up my spine, yet paradoxically, a strange fascination drew me in. She seemed oblivious to my terror, immersed in her own innocent world of make-believe. In her tiny hand, she clutched a worn-out doll, its fabric worn and threads unraveling, yet to her, it was a cherished companion.

I strained to discern her features, but her face remained a blur, like a painting left unfinished. Despite this, I could sense her happiness, radiating like a beacon in the dimly lit room. The way she twirled the doll through the air, her laughter chiming like distant bells, painted a picture of pure, untouched joy.

Confusion mingled with fear as I grappled with conflicting emotions. Why did her presence both terrify and captivate me? Was it her innocence that so starkly contrasted with the eerie surroundings? Or perhaps the inexplicable longing to understand the nature of her existence in this spectral realm?

The air grew heavier with each passing moment, thick with unspoken questions and unfulfilled answers. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, one thing remained clear — her laughter, a reminder of a childhood lost, echoed through the room, casting fleeting shadows that danced along the walls.

She's still that same child.

"Let's play," I was startled as I glanced in her direction. She was sitting at the edge of my bed, pointing towards the door. I swallowed hard.

She quickly went to the door and disappeared through it.

"Oh my! I think I'm about to faint. Since when did I develop a third eye?"

I glanced out the window; it was still bright, the sun shining intensely. I looked at the clock hanging on the wall of the room. Exactly twelve o'clock.

What about Manang?

Her face suddenly flashed in my memory. I was scared of her in those moments. But it seemed like she didn't do anything wrong to me because I was safe inside the room.

"Maybe she locked the door where the little girl disappeared earlier."

I hurriedly ran to the door and opened it. To my surprise, it wasn't locked after all, causing me to almost trip and fall to the floor.

I cautiously surveyed the surroundings before standing upright. It seemed like there was no one else here besides me. Slowly, I made my way to the living room and the kitchen. There was no trace of her anywhere. Next, I checked her room. I carefully turned the doorknob; it wasn't locked either, so I opened it slowly. The sound the door made was eerie, like those in horror films. Finally, as I managed to fully open it, all I saw was a single cot. There were no other belongings, just cobwebs adorning the ceiling and corners of the room. I couldn't help but wonder about what I found in her room now. Since arriving here, I have known that Manang Ekang used to rest here.

I turned around when I heard what sounded like someone running. I immediately followed the footsteps until I reached the backyard of the house.

"Let's play."

I froze in place as I caught sight of the little girl again. She was facing away from me now, looking towards a...

"A shed?" I muttered in disbelief.

"Let's play," she repeated and ran towards it, disappearing through the door once again.

I took a slight step back out of fear, but I was startled when someone tapped my left shoulder.

"M-manang..." I stammered.