Riga's Return

The howling sound of the wind could scare the night creatures away, not even the rickets could be seen. The wind was blowing heavily like it would break down every living and nonliving things on the earth's surface.

Two touch lights could be seen from behind an abandoned chapel, smoky dust accompanied as the entrance door squeaked open. Everywhere was so dark and quiet that the creepy animals which ran roughly above the ceiling could be heard.

"Are you sure we are supposed to be here? " Stacy asked, feeling terrified.

The atmosphere wasn't making any justice to it, it made things a lot worse than it should have been. " Yes, I am certain that we must be here. Stacy we are reporters and you know what reporters do, they get vital information about things and that is what we are about to do. So... '' Elisa paused as the door banged close causing them to shiver in fear, " So, we better get things done with and get the hell outta here. "

" I still don't feel comfortable here. " Stacy muttered to herself.

They went further into the chapel, walking in their separate ways. Stacy studied the entire congregation hall while Elisa went into the Rev office.

Cobwebs had already clouded the entire place that Elisa had to start pulling them away with her hands. She would have turned to leave but something caught her attention.

She has to check it out, besides that's what every reporter does. They get solid information, even if they have to take a risk for that.

She saw different sizes of crucifixes hung on the wall faced upside down. She would try to hang it very well but it would return back to its position. For so many reasons she had wanted to go, but being too inquisitive is another part of Elisa now.

" Stacy, come over here, you've got to see something. " She waited for minutes but Stacy didn't show up. " Stacy? " She called again. " Stacy? Stacy, are you there? "

Yet, Stacy gave her no reply.

She left the room to the congregation hall only to find Stacy staring silently at something hung at the altar. " Stacy? " She called, and this time Stacy turned to look at her. " What the hell is going on, you're freaking me out. I have been calling you for almost minutes. "

She pointed at the altar and Elisa's eyes followed the direction where she was pointing. Seeing the earth box chained on the altar, Elisa grew speechless. " Do you think people are being buried here?" Stacy asked, " I think that is the reason why they had abandoned. "

" I don't know, but was this here when we walked in? " Asked Elisa, still staring at the coffin.

" I don't know either. But with the way it looks, I think it has been here for quite a long time. Do you think someone is in there? "

" Maybe. But who will love to bury a person like this? " She asked, almost like she was asking herself. " I really don't think someone is inside there, it's almost like they had caged a demon. "

" Do you wanna check? " Stacy asked.

" Do you? " She asked back.

Stacy shrugged, " You're the boss here, you decide. "

She smirked, " Get something we can use to break the chain. "

" Something like what? "

" Anything. Just Sharp enough to break it free. Who knows if it's a treasure in there secured from criminals, we might end up being the world's luckiest. "

" I won't be surprised if you quit from the job if this is really a treasure. "

" Trust me. Come on, let's get this open. " Stacy opened the chain from the back while Elisa opened it from the front. As they hit the chain open, letting it fall to the ground, they stared at themselves for some seconds.

" You should go first. " Stacy pointed.

" No, I think you should go first. "

" You fucking kidding me? You're the boss here, and if what I'm thinking is right, the boss's always goes first. So, you first. "

" Well, the boss gives orders to their juniors, so I'm insisting you go first. " Elisa insisted.

" I really appreciate it but, it's better off if you just... " The box made a strange sound, at first it sounded more like something was struggling in there, the two girls were quiet for a long moment.

Stacy slowly and gently left where she was standing to where Elisa stood. " I knew this was a bad idea in the first place. There must be a reason why they had caged the coffin in the first place, maybe whoever was in there was cursed or something. I think we better get going. "

" Guess my dreams are wrong, this doesn't look like any treasure in there. But wait, " she looked at terrified Stacy. " We must know what is in there. "

" Are you serious?! " She asked almost like a yell. " You just heard that creepy sound and you still think we have to wait? "

" Yes, Stacy, we are reporters and we must get enough information about this place or else Mr Kent will have us fired. "

" You know I would rather get fired than have myself killed by some unknown creature. Look, I wish I can just walk away from here without listening to whatever you're sa6y, I would honestly do that. "

" Stop being a... " The box shaked for a few seconds, making a pause. After another seconds, it started shaking continuously. Stacy was the first to start running then Elisa followed.

Before they could reach the door, it bolted by itself. They struggled and struggled with it but it couldn't open, and they could hear the sound of their heart beating against their chest.

" I'm sorry, Stacy. " Elisa started.

" Sorry for what? "

" For not listening to you. I know it's all my fault we are in this mess now, if I had listened to you, we could have been out of here for a long time. "

" I wish I could hate you for this, Elisa, I really wish but I can't. "

" Why? "

" Because you're my friend, asshole. "

" So, you aren't angry with me? "

" Of course not. Shh... " She shushed.

" What? " She whispered.

" The sound, it's gone. " She told her.

" Are you sure or is it the usual pause and continue? "

Stacy shrugged, " I guess so. " They started walking towards the coffin when Elisa stepped on something sharp. She pointed her touch light to the ground, hissing at the rough pain under her leg.

She was bleeding profusely, too much to leave a trail on the ground. " Are you alright? " Stacy asked, worried.

" No, this fucking hurts a lot. " She limped a few steps closer when the box gradually opened itself, smoky dust accompanied.

The whole creepy thing was becoming crazy to them. Nothing seems to be funny anymore, and it was actually not looking like there was a treasure in there. They stopped, not moving forward nor backward.

A hand clung out, gripping one edge of the box and the other did the same. The fingers looked like that of an ordinary human, but the nails looked much like that of animals.

Then, a very loud hiss was heard as the body sat up. The figure looked pale and whiter than the snow, his hair was thick black in color, and the edges of his fingers were as if he had dug his hands in a basin of blood.

He wasn't looking in their direction, but his side view looked scary and frightening to the bone. " What the hell is this? " Stacy asked in a whisper.

" I bet you don't want him to hear that. We better keep still or we lose our heads. " Elisa said, trying to be brave.

He hissed harder like he was perceiving the aroma of a sweet potato fries from the neighborhood, moving his nose to the direction where the sweet scent was coming from. He paused in their direction, but his eyes were still closed.

Stacy looked at Elisa who also stared back at her. " Your blood, Elisa, he can perceive it. " She whispered.

" What are we going to do about it? " She whispered too.

" Tear out a fabric from your shirt, tie it around the wound... " She looked at him, then again at her.

" Don't you think it's too late to do it? "

" Do you prefer dying cos, I still love my life. You've got to... "

He interrupted with another loud hiss, " I smell blood... Blood everywhere. " Elisa looked back to see the droplets of her blood as it trailed behind them. " Finally, I'm free......!!!" He echoed the whole with a devilish laughter. " I AM FREE...!!! "