Chapter 3

“What… What are you?” she found her voice but it was shaky and weak. The creature staggered forward ignoring the way Amilia shook in fear. She was still standing there silently urging her feet to move. Only an inch was left and the creature would kiss Amilia’s face when some unseen force stopped the creature.

“Bad dog, Gree. Did I scare you?” a familiar voice can be heard from somewhere.

Amilia racked her head to know to who that voice belonged. It was the man from earlier. The owner of the terrifying creature. It was him, and he was inside her home. She didn’t know what to do. Her feet were betraying her. 

“You looked like you just saw a ghost? Loosen up, child” he strode to the small chair near the mirror and sat down.

“Why are so frightened? It’s not like this is the first time that we saw each other” he again commented. Amilia can’t speak. She was weak against him. 

“What was your name again? I already heard it earlier. Was it Annie… no?” he put his finger on his chin like he was thinking.

“Ah, yes. It was Amilia. Sweet little Amilia” Amilia shuddered at how he pronounces her name. It felt odd.

“What game should we play? Hide and seek sounds good.” a playful grin spread on his lips.

“I will be the IT. I will let you run, just don’t let me catch you or you’ll suffer the consequences” he laughed.

A shadow appeared underneath him. It slowly crawled towards her. Amilia tried her best to avoid the shadow at all costs. She passed her living room out to the hallway of their apartment. She looked at every door, for some help. She even banged some while on the run. She passed the old lady’s door and knocked twice but no one answered the door.

Amilia looked behind her and screamed at the top of her lungs. IT was a breath away from her. Slowly, it touches the tip of her feet. It consumed her legs up to her lower body. Every crawl was painful and Amilia saw the burn marks traces on her body. It was as painful as suffering from a first-degree burn. Amilia crunched down in pain as she screamed and screamed. 

She was expecting that someone would open the door of their apartment to check on her because of the scream but there was nothing. No one opened their door, no one checked their peephole, not even the good lady who checks up on her earlier. Amilia felt hopeless as the IT consumed her chest up to her face. The burning sensation crawled along.

Amilia cried. Her protest turned into tears. She crunched down, defeated. She heard his voice first before she saw his face. He was smiling from ear to ear. As if seeing her gave him so much pleasure.

Moments later, but felt like an hour for Amilia, the pain subsided. She was exhausted to recognize the shadow looming over her. She can’t feel anything anymore, there is nothing in the air that can give her a hint of what was happening. It was just like that; her eyes were shut close.

✒✒✒

Amilia was numb when she woke up. She can’t feel her legs or her arms. She slowly opened her eyes and gaze at the familiar ceiling. Her mind was foggy as she scanned the room.

It was her ceiling. Her bedside table had a picture of her dog. Her pencils are on top. The wallpaper she put up just to have some décor on her bare wall. She looks to see the same man who saved her at the library earlier.

“You are awake” he stated. As if looking at her.

“You are shocked” he turned around and sat at the edge of the mattress.

“I’m not going to tell you the whole details but your soul is dead,” he said all the while keeping a blank face.

“What?” to say that she was shocked was an understatement.

Those words didn’t register in her mind. She can’t understand. Or rather, her mind refuses to believe that those are true.

She’s not dead. She can feel her heart beating, why would she be dead? She was still breathing and awake. No, she was not dead. This guy was just messing with her just like what the other did to her.

“I am not lying to you. You are now dead; your soul is dead” Amilia stared at the stranger in front of her.

“The man earlier took your soul life away from you. Your physical body is still living, organs are still functioning but your soul is missing” he explained.

“How do you want me to understand that?” he did not answer.

It went quiet for a while. Amilia didn’t know what to say. He also didn’t say anything. He got up from the bed and walk towards the window and disappear. Leaving a bewildered Amilia behind.

She stares at nothing in particular. After a few moments later she got up. She arranged her bed before entering the shower. She took a bath and brushed her teeth as she would normally do.

Checking her phone, the time is 5:50 A.M. She had been asleep for a long time that’s why her body felt normal. She got dressed and ready her things for her class. She walked the same corridor of the apartment. 

Only glancing at the spot where she ran and was consumed by whatever monster followed her that night. She turned once before continuing on her way. She inhaled the air like it was the first time she goes to university herself. 

Like it was a normal day. Like the norm, she got used to it. She would go to school and then the diner and go home like she used to. Nothing will happen again this time. It will not repeat, and that was only a dream.  Or that was what she thought.

She reached the university and Lizzie came running towards her. She beamed excitedly and hugged Amilia. Amilia was taken aback and was forced to move along with Lizzie.

“Amilia! Amilia! I’m so glad you came just in time. I was getting worried” Lizzie said with a malicious smile on her lips.

“Worried? Why?” Amilia asked as she straightened herself.

“Assignments, can I copy yours?” Lizzie intertwined her hands with hers. She was looking at her with pleading and hopeful eyes.

“Amilia, remember that assignment we had on Calculus?” Amilia nods her head.

“What about it?” Lizzie’s hold tightened but not tight enough to hurt Amilia.

“Can you teach me? We only have… 25 minutes? Come on! I’ll just copy yours” Lizzie dragged her inside the university to their room.

“Liz, I don’t think this is a good idea” Amilia reasoned but the latter wasn’t listening.

Lizzie continued to copy Amilia’s homework. Amilia sat beside her friend and watch in defeat. She scanned the room and found an unfamiliar face. He was just staring at the board and not moving an inch.

“Announcement to all students, classes are now being suspended due to a sudden meeting with the faculty. Thank you” students cheered upon hearing the news over the speaker.

“Wooooh! Thank God!” Lizzie cheered as well.

“Are you that happy?” Amilia asked while arranging her notebook inside her bag.

“Of course! Because class suspension means we can both go to the mall” she excitedly exclaimed.

Amilia shook her head. Trying to figure out what good excuse she can use right now. Lizzie seemed to pick up what Amilia was thinking and grab hold of her arm.

“You can say no to me this time. Your part-time wouldn’t start soon. Besides, you need some time for yourself” Lizzie pull Amilia up.

“Now, the time has come for you to taste some milk tea” she dragged her friend who has now a dread look on her face.