The greasy, the black, the heavy, the tall, the copycat, the runner

Let me tell you about these characters. I haven't encountered them. I only got to know about them through others. However, of all those mentioned above, it was the runner that I met.

A little back story.

1990.

It was in the middle of July. One normal afternoon, we were in school then back when I was in grade school. Our class was already over and me and some kids whose classes were also done were playing happily in the school yard. I was waiting for my older siblings to finish their class. When they were done, we hopped in to the jeepney that served as our service. This jeepney would then transport kids from home to school.

We were in the jeepney waiting for the other kids who will be on the same route as us.

Then the jeepney started to shake. I was puzzled for I thought it just started on its own. I didn't understand what was happening then. I thought our jeepney was the only one shaking but I saw the windows of the church across the street shake in every direction, like a human being tickled. It was transfixed by their movement before they suddenly broke open, shattering the window glasses.

Everything seemed to happen so slow yet so quickly. There is a rumble somewhere that I can't figure out where it was. I thought a huge truck was coming down the road but everything and everyone were frozen except being shaken by the ground. It was much later that I realized the rumbling came from deep in the ground.

It was my first time to experience such and it was a traumatic experience.

45 seconds. That's what it took to bring destruction and death. When things seem to have settled, we then headed home. What I can clearly remember was the silence like everyone seems afraid to make a move for any movement might trigger the earthquake.

It was one of the most destructive earthquake that hit our country at 7.8 magnitude. Thousands of people were dead. 28 buildings collapsed here in the city alone.

Source

Part of the building where the office of the BPO company that I worked before collapsed during that time killing hundreds of people instantly.

When I started working there, there were already stories about ghosts. Could it be from the victims of the tragic earthquake? That is uncertain. What is clear though is that some of my coworkers who claimed to have third eye saw what we cannot see.

For instance, there is a tall guy in Barong Tagalog that was just standing in one of the posts. This was during the day. Two of my coworkers can see him and they would tell us so. Some would account that there is another guy standing at the threshold of the HR.

Then we were placed into night shift. During our one-hour break, the mini library would turn into sleeping quarter for we can't all fit in the room with only one double deck bed. One of my coworker always sees a girl all greasy and muddy from head to toe hiding under the sofa. She has red glaring eyes.

One account was at the sleeping quarter where a person went in to sleep. He lied down at the lower bunk. Later, the upper bunk sagged like someone heavy lied down or sat but that person was all alone there.

A mimic's favorite would copy one of our trainers. Some would see that particular trainer washing something on the sink in the pantry only to meet the real one a few moments later somewhere in the office, claiming that he was not in the pantry at all.

One time, me and some of our coworkers went to the office way too early before our shift only to find that no one was still there so we waited outside. The door to the office was glass. To the right was the operations floors. To the left was the other areas like training room, pantry, library, sleeping quarter and toilet.

One of our companions suddenly exclaimed and turned her back away from the doors of the office. She was one of those who has a third eye. We knew right away she saw someone. We asked her where and told us that a guy was standing inside wearing a suit. You can't clearly see the face she said.

Stupid me not believing went to the door and started peering in. It was dark with barely enough light going through. I was really trying to look in and see if I can get a glimpse at least or a shadow or something of what our coworker was seeing.

Then all of a sudden, a figure which looked like another coworker darted quickly from ops floor to the pantry. I was surprised and scared shitless I ran back towards my companions. They laughed at me for they found that funny. They told me I turned white and the expression on my face was really funny.

That was my only encounter in that office. So whenever someone would say they are seeing someone I don't try to be brave again.

I'm pretty sure there are more encounters and stories but I can't seem to remember them.

I know some of you have written their ghost stories. I hope to read them later on.