(SPOOKTOBER ENTRY 1 )
My body feels heavy like I had been carrying something on my back. But I couldn't care less what I had been carrying. My eyes felt heavy as well and my mind is so cloudy like I had been sleep-deprived for a week. But I tried to look around me and realized that it was somewhat familiar. I tried my hardest to see the things around me and though I felt a sting on my eyes and my head felt dizzy, I could somehow tell where I am now. The alignment of the trees, the graffiti on that old wall, the pavement with worn out paint- this is the place near our school. I looked around and indeed saw the high school I am currently studying in. Then it seems as though I heard the bell ring. Did I hear it ring? And by instinct, I somehow walked away from school as though I already knew that class is over and it is time to return home.
I passed by the old run down shop just a few meters ahead. It had been abandoned for 5? 10 years? - Who knows how long? Pity no one bought it or made good use of it. It was a good location too. The shop was the lower floor of a 2-storey house and it was previously a boutique for bridal gowns. It was rumoured that the family who owned it left after being bankrupt, others say there was a murder, and others, well, they resorted to the “its hunted.” rumour- who cares about the truth? The shop had a large glass in front of it which was where the gowns used to be displayed, but almost half of the glass was broken after a drunkard tried to throw a stone at it. But you’ll still be able to see your reflection on the other half. I don’t know when it started, but I’ve always been stopping by that store to look at my reflection for a few seconds. And like today, I did stop by it and looked at my reflection. Despite my still exhausted and sleepy state, I could still determine my look- my neat high school uniform, my long black hair, my knee length socks which matched my above-the-knee length skirt- I looked fine after a long day’s work. I looked at the time and it was 5:59 pm. Strange. My eyes felt heavier and I could not take the drowsiness I felt. But before I passed out, I could faintly remember that someone was in front of me. I just know it.
I felt myself slip and instantly woke up by the sensation of falling. My body jolted for a bit as I woke up. It was 5:59 am- just a bit before my 6:00 am morning alarm. I started my regular days just how I always did. I came to school at 7:44 am, classes began at 8:00 am. I felt so drowsy I could barely keep awake. I even noticed myself yawn for almost every minute. And suddenly, I noticed that class is almost done. It’s now 5 pm and the bell rang signalling that class is done. Most of the students are now on their way home. As I started to walk toward the gates, Jean, a classmate of mine, approached me from behind, “This Friday, right? Looking forward to it! ”, she said as she hooked her arms on my shoulder. “Friday?” I asked out of confusion. “Yes! You just told me today!” she said excitingly. But before I could further ask her, she ran to her friends who were farther from us. What’s going on this Friday? The question bugged me as I was walking alone, but the idea of getting home and getting a good sleep was all I my mind could care.
I don’t know what happened next. The next thing I knew, my body feels heavy like I had been carrying something over my back, again. And I felt so much sleepier! This feels familiar. Yes, this is. I came to a realization that I was near the school and that this is the same dream I had last night. Everything I experienced is so alike like it was on repeat. It’s like every footstep I make is something so scripted like a theatrical act. And then I looked at the time and it was 5:59pm before I again fell out of sleep. I woke up in my bedroom, it seems that I did walk safely home yesterday. But more than that realization, I felt the presence of the person in my dream stronger. Now, I am definitely sure that someone was there.
And again I continued my day, and just like these past few days, I don’t know what I have been doing to survive. What only differs for today is that it is now another girl named Marie who came to approach me. “Thank you for this Friday, I didn’t really expect that you would actually invite me, too.” she said shyly as she struggled to hold the books in her hands. She’s a bookworm and is the quietest in class. “What’s going to happen this Friday?” I asked her. “You know, the thing you told me about -------------“, for some reason I could not hear what she said. “Pardon, could you repeat it?” I asked. “The one about ---------“, it felt like there’s a ringing in my ears. And for a second, I couldn’t tell what’s happening around me. The next thing I knew we already reached the bus stop just a few meters from school and Marie already said goodbye as she went inside the bus. I couldn’t get an answer again. I somehow managed to arrive home. And then, I found myself in the dream again, it’s been the third time now. The school, the bell, the shop, the time, the unknown presence. I woke up again on that same time. And the day went on like yesterday. But now, the person who approached me is another classmate named Isabelle. ‘’I’ll be there at tomorrow at 6, too!” she said loudly as she hurriedly went inside the car. She’s always picked up by her father after school. This time, the exhaustion made me not care anymore on what’s going to happen tomorrow. And as expected, I again dreamt the same dream. But this time, in my dream, as I staggered to look at my watch, I could see familiar shoes in front of me. The person is just 2 steps away from me. But before I could look up, I again woke up. But I had a bad feeling. You’ll know when someone’s been staring at you.
Today is Friday. My day continued. Ever since the dream began, I’ve been trying to sneak some sleep when I could. And my friends have been quiet worried. When the last bell rang, I still had to do some club activities after school. 5:55, I am now on my way home. I realized that it’s still sunset, it seems it’s now the time of the year when sunsets are much more late than usual. But what bothered me somehow is that, my body felt heavy like I had been carrying something on my back. I use a light shoulder bag, I don’t think it had this effect. And then I felt drowsy. As I continued to walk, I found myself in front of the old rundown shop. Though I am sleepy and everything around me doesn’t make sense anymore. I know I heard Jean, Marie and Isabelle talking somewhere behind. They’re not too close but close enough to hear their loud laughs. As I looked at my watch, it was now 5:59 pm. And upon this realization, I felt my back feel lighter. And I could see now that someone’s in front of me. I know those shoes. They were mine. As I looked up, I saw the face that I perfectly knew. That long black hair, those lips, that nose, her height and all things about her- I perfectly know her well. But those eyes, those were the eyes of those that were not of this world. I instantly tried to look away, my heartbeat became faster and louder that I could hear them. My view landed on the broken glass on that old shop. And I knew that I lost the game, as all I could see is just the reflection of the being in front of me- just a reflection of a being looking my way. I looked at her again despite the fear and saw how she smiled- the kind I don’t and will never understand. And my eyes widened with this sight. I wanted to run and shout but the next thing I knew, I was surrounded in darkness and my whole body couldn’t move- not my feet nor even my mouth. I felt as though I was downing. I couldn’t breathe.
“Hi Sophie! You’re on time!” the three girls greeted. ”It is 6pm.”, my voice said. But these words never came from my mouth. And it’s the last thing I heard before I succumbed into the darkness.
***end***
by VannQwerty h.s.t.
Great article