CHAINED

Chained

           There was news that the website, Spookypasta, banned a story. Out of curiosity, I checked the website to confirm this information. Upon browsing, I found two chapters. Fortunately, it was still downloadable, so I took advantage of it. Then, I began to read.

           My boyfriend, Sandy, gave me a ring and asked, “Will you marry me?” I said yes. I knew that he would propose to me any time soon because I picked up on any hints that he might be proposing soon. I just didn’t realize my assumption would be realized this soon. I was so happy. I could not take my eyes away from the ring on my finger. However, when I glance back at Sandy, I got confused because I saw tears falling from his eyes. Instead of his love for me, I saw sadness in his eyes. And, he also kind of looked scared. “May problema ba?” I asked him, but he simply shrugged.

           Afterward, he hugged me so tightly that I couldn’t bring myself to protest. Seeing fear and maybe even panic on his face also made me panic. Is he regretting proposing to me? Maybe he was forced? But, it wouldn’t make sense. I did not force him and he knew that I was not rushing into marriage. I hugged him instead, thinking that maybe those tears were just from happiness.

          The next day, I received a call from Sandy’s mother, inviting me to have dinner in her house. I agreed and went to my room to get ready for the day. I tried taking a few deep breaths outside their house to calm down, and minutes later, a ten-year-old boy came out of the house and invited me inside. I looked for Sandy, but I could not find him. Suddenly, a woman dressed in black entered the room- Sandy's mother. “Salamat po tita sa pag invite. Asan po si Sandy?” She smiled strangely at me. Then, slowly, she stood up straight, and what she said next brought chills down my spine more than the strange smile she gave me. “George went abroad this morning,” she said, while still smiling in that damned strange way. Tears clouded my vision. I quickly wiped them away from my cheeks and asked, “What?” I took my phone from my bag and tried to call George, but his number was unavailable.

         "Lalamig ang pagkain," his mother suddenly said. I noticed a reflection of light from some kind of metal in the roasted meat. I leaned closer on the table, and to my disbelief and disgust, I saw a familiar ring perfectly intact on a portion of meat. I couldn’t contain myself. I screamed.

          I stopped reading. I scrolled through the website and found no continuation of the story. “What happened to Sandy?” I murmured to myself while scratching my head. I went to the kitchen to drink water, but I was shocked by what I saw: a woman with crimson eyes, staring angrily at me; her skin was like tattered rags, her fingernails were like claws, and her mouth was opened, exposing her teeth filed to points. I screamed, but no sound came out of my mouth. I tried to run back to my room, but I could not move. I could feel myself trembling in fear. And, I became even more terrified when the woman said, with an inhuman voice, “Let’s have dinner!”