The Life of Her

Fortune's Ways

My Mom used to say in random errands that a soul is a gift from the heavens and that we needed to take care of it until the day that the Almighty will take us up above. The body is also the temple and it’s valued. But even then, there are still those that are prowling around, attempting to reveal the light or still have duties to take. I clenched my chest as I saw them, patiently waiting for me to open my eyes again.

It hurts to see my body in a vegetative state, but it weighted more to recognize those longing prayers and hopeful tears from my mother, clasping my hand tight. She’s suffering and we both are. I wanted to reach out to her, to tell her that I’m fine and I am her son. But I knew that it’s futile and she wouldn’t, and it would be hard for her to believe me.

For now, I need to move and it is enough to know where my body is and that my family is safe. Still, life will continue and I will be battling with it once more, and love is a drug, pulling out the drive to revive the ones that’re lost. I’ll definitely need to win this battle and I’ll make sure that it will happen.

I thought there’s no turning back this time. What happened is inevitable. Even though we both don’t want this to arise, the consequences were already made and vile. I’ll meet you soon, Mom and…Dad and that will be the day that everything will be in place.

Amber and I had just started to search for the woman, and somehow my instincts were meticulous and calling me out to somewhere else. My feet led us straight to the place where I don’t want to visit again. Lucas would definitely be delighted to know that I toured it and would come straight.

He never did find the notebook ever since the last time we strutted here. It had vanished into the unknown. The domineering presence had welcomed us even we’re still in front of the tarnished gate. We should get things done and find the truth before the moon will set forth this night.

Just like before, I waited for the street to get deserted, then I immediately trotted inside. The house was still as obsolete as before and those dried leaves have successfully insulated the ground.

“This place is creeping me out. Why did you even bring us here? Obviously, there’s no one and it’s an abandoned place.” She winced.

I clawed my head as I was reminded of the path that we’re going to put ourselves in – the basement. Amber saw my impression and made a disdainful look.

“You look like you’re going to pee in any moment from now. Is there something wrong, scaredy-cat?” She teased.

I felt my spine getting cold. Rubbing my arms thoroughly, I brazed myself.

“You can pass through walls right?” I asked her.

She nodded and smirked. “Mhm. Do you need my help, Mr. Singh?”

“Absolutely. Somehow, my intuition led us here and we ought to seek. The last time we entered this place, we used the back passage that will lead straight to the basement. We did enter. But something uncanny had been following us since the time we moved ourselves inside the house. And I don’t want to use that path as possible as it is. So…I was hoping maybe you could go inside and search for another way to make me enter?”

Amber rubbed her chin. “Hmmm…I don’t want to deal with the woman in the stories that were told about this house. But, we have no other choice. If I’ll be gone by doing this, I will surely hunt you down.” She pointed her finger to me and her eyes waned.

“Fine. Do as you please.”

“Say the magic word.” She demanded with a wide grin on her face.

“What?-”

“Uh-uh. That’s not the magic word.”

I scribbled my hair. This ghost is getting on my nerves. “Please.”

“Aye. Just wait and let yourself mesmerize on how I’m going to pass through walls.” She winked at me and confidently walked to the wall.

I crossed my arms and stared at her. She made a gap and then paced to it, but everything was so quick that I found myself already bursting into a laugh, my eyes were crying out. Amber didn’t pass the side and ended herself getting hurt in her forehead.

She stumbled back and fell to the ground. She glowered. She flinched as she scoured her forehead, her eyes were burning as tears were forming on the sides.

She rolled her eyes at me and angrily stood. She inhaled deep and annoyingly gave me a scowl, waiting patiently for me to compost myself from the laugh. When I found the strength to stop, I cleared my throat as I felt the twinge stare from her.

“S-Sorry…” I whispered.

“Are you done?” She asked.

“Y-Yeah.”

She scuttled towards the wall and kicked it with her foot. “Damnit. I wasn’t expecting that. What’s with this house?!”

“Pfft…” I covered my mouth immediately when I witnessed her looking at me. “W-Well...Uh, maybe there’s a barrier for those entities like you…”

She rolled her eyes once more. I shrugged.

“It’s your fault from the start. You requested for me to pass it.” She said.

“Well, I didn’t know that you can’t pass this one.”

“Just use the basement will you?” She vexed.

I guessed I don’t have a choice. I could feel my knees starting to shake as well as my heart thumping. This is not what I want. Why do I have to overdo things like this? I nibbled my lip. Maybe I should try to use the main door again, just like before.

I moved to it and held the firm knob.

The smell of old wood entered my senses. Even the dust made me sneezed. I held my air as I slowly twitched it, hoping that it would open it. When I heard the knob clicked, it had answered my prayer and I felt my heart relaxed.

Amber walked to me and pushed the door wide open. She didn’t turn her face and stood still when she entered the house. “You should have tried the main door before you asked me to pass through it. Use your mind if you don’t want me to get rid of you in this instant.” She said, her voice was deep.

Her presence had sent a chilling sensation to my back, like those razor –sharped knives, excavating my soul deeper. I took a gulp and followed her inside. The chandelier was hanging above us and the lights were now able to enter inside. Something is not right. A loud, thunderclap sound was heard as the door shut widely, freaking us both.

“The hell was that?!” Amber raised her voice.

A grin slowly formed on my face. “You look like you’re going to pee in any moment from now. Is there something wrong, scaredy-cat?”

She pinched my arms so bad that I wailed. “What was that for?!”

“Don’t let your guard down or anything will happen-”

Amber didn’t finish what she was talking about when a vociferous whack was heard from upstairs. The window curtains stiffened, blocking the light from getting inside.

A rumbling sound came from different directions, then came a shattered one, the vase fell on the floor. Pieces of it were spread. The furniture was moving together with the books flunking in different paths.

There was a strong, menacing vibe spiraling around us, keeping us from moving. I felt my feet glued to the ground. I have failed the words to say anything. I watched Amber who was standing still beside me, her eyes were looking straight to the stairs.

Someone is coming.

The thudding sound from the music that was played in a music box came like a baby’s outcry. It was burning cold inside. Even my sweats were cold, dropping down my face. I pulled my collar a bit as I tried to scurry away coldness.

A thin, white mist was slowly moving downstairs, consuming every corner of the living room. And in that bloodcurdling moment, here came a woman clothed in her white gown. Her hair was lengthy and wavy, swaying. Her body was pale as her eyes were staring blankly at us.

A horrendous smile swathed on her lips as she reached her right arm, calling out my name.

I couldn’t feel my legs as my heart thumped badly that I could get a heart attack and obliterate the courage. Amber wasn’t moving at all. She froze. I turned to look at the woman again, blinking twice.

And in that instant, I peed on my pants when I saw her face just away from mine, her eyes were bloodshot and I could smell her reeking body. Flies flying around her.

She slowly lifted her hand and touched my face. I felt pale as my eyes close shut.

This is just out of the plan.

This is just a nightmare.

This is just a play.

I heard a soft, looming giggle, echoing in my ears. I sensed her moving nearer to me and whispered in my ear.

“We meet again, Trenton Singh.”

And it was then, I felt the viscid, debauched darkness slowly consuming me. It was drowning and unbearable, scrunching my soul hard.