Blood in the Water

Chapter 5

Yerin's POV

I opened my eyes, and I found myself standing at the empty hallway of the dormitory.

It was quiet, too quiet in fact. Almost as if there's no one here at the moment.

After surveying the place with my eyes, I took a step forward and immediately, a quick scene appeared before me where everyone is laying on the ground and some are leaning on the wall, soaked in their own blood.

I gasped and pulled my foot back, the hall returned back to being empty and quiet almost as if that hallucination just now was just a glimpse of the future.

"Hello?" I called with my worn out voice, my throat was burning in drought at the moment that I had to massage my neck.

Of course there was no reply, no one is here at the moment.

But what am I supposed to do here? Should I leave too? Or just stand here at the same a spot all night.

"Don't leave me." A faint voice whispered against my ears making me turn around in a swift motion.

"Who?" I said, choking out the words since my throat is hurting.

I heard nothing more than just faint giggles across the hallway, but I did saw a silhouette at the end of the hallway. It looks like a girl, wearing the same uniform of our school and for some reason, I can spot the horrifying smile she had on her face.

I took a step again and the whole place changed once again, putting me back in that hallway filled with everyone's dead body.

I tried not looking at them and kept my gaze locked on that girl, standing at the end of the hallway.

As I get closer to her, I noticed that she was also covered in blood but has no visible wounds on her body almost as if she's the one behind all these murders.

She was also holding a huge bloody knife on her right hand, making me stop in my tracks and take a step back as I finally determined who that girl was.

I couldn't believe what my eyes is showing me, my knees were trembling and I fell on the ground.

The girl was giggling at the sight of me panicking and crawling backwards.

"Why are you afraid of me?" She asked, walking towards me still with a smile.

"I... I..." I mumbled, my voice trembling rapidly.

She stopped in front of me, kneeled down to match my height and gave me a gentle pat on the head and stroking my hair afterwards.

"You shouldn't be too scared, I'm not gonna hurt you." She suddenly showed a warm gentle smile unlike the one she had on while ago which is creepy.

"After all... I'm you, and you are me." The girl very identical to me said.

___

I opened my eyes once again, the bright fluorescent bulb at the ceiling blinded me causing me to turn my head to the side, spotting Ms Minji sitting next to her work table and looks like she's busy writing something on her notebook.

As my eyes adjusted to the lighting, I slowly looked at the room I was in to what seems like the school clinic.

Ah, I remember I was hit on the head and I fainted in the classroom... But why is Ms Minji here?

"Ms..." I stopped halfway as I realized that my throat was extremely dry, causing me to remember that in my dream, my throat was also dry... But I couldn't remember exactly what I dreamt about since my head just got smashed.

"Ah! Yerin you're awake thank goodness." She bolted up from her office chair and went to me, checking if my head was still alright.

"What... happened-" She placed her hand over my mouth stopping me from talking and grabbed the glass of water next to my bed.

"Drink this first, your throat must be dry." She gently lifted my back causing me to sit up and helped me drink the water. "I found you inside the classroom, I almost thought that you were a homeless guy that stumbled in there and decided to take a nap." She managed to joke around before putting me back.

"Okay then let me know if your throat is doing fine before I do the asking." She said, sitting back on her office chair and rolling it besides my bed so she's next to me.

"I was... attacked." I murmured, and she just nodded with her hand on her chin.

"And do you know who attacked you?" She asked squinting her eyes at me.

"I... Don't know, she was wearing a hoodie and was hiding her face." I replied, staring at the white ceiling.

Ms Minji, noticing my traumatized eyes didn't bother to ask again and just smiled.

"Okay, rest a lot. There's classes tomorrow so make sure you regain your strenght, I already treated your wound so you're gonna be fine." She stood up, helping me stand and regain my balance.

"But... what about the attacker?" I asked, hesitant to leave without even getting new information about Wendy.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of that. Worry about the exams tomorrow or your grades will drop." She chuckled. "Now go back to your dorm and no more monkey business, make sure you arrive there safely." She patted my back.

I looked at her one more time before walking away and leaving the clinic.

"Hmm?" While walking in the hallway, I touched my head that was supposed to hurt really badly but I feel nothing. "Ms Minji should just be the school nurse" I commented.

"Ah, my phone." I mumbled as I felt my pocket vibrating. I pulled out my phone and saw a text message from an unknown number saying:

____

Hello, this is Wendy's mom. I heard from my daughter that you are her good friend so I wanted to say thanks :)

____

My eyes immediately widened at the sight of that name, and what's more is that it's her mom.

I lifted my shaking my fingers and typed the words I wanted to say.

_______

I'm so sorry about your daughter...

_______

I pressed the send button and waited a few moments while still walking in the hallway.

After a few minutes I received a reply and I already embraced myself to be yelled at through text but what I got is:

_____

Oh don't be my dear, She was just here not too long ago and she looks fine and well. She was always mentioning your name and even gave me your phone number so I can get to know you well, you must be a nice kid. ^_^

_____

What the Heck? My head is hurting again from all this confusion. Am I supposed to be happy that she's alive or get creeped out by the fact that she's still alive after getting her head smashed.

______

Is she still there? Please let me talk to her.

_____

I heard footsteps, stopping myself from walking and looking behind me since I felt someone else's presence here with me.

I saw no one and the sound of my ringtone took my attention back making me focus on my phone, what her reply made me more afraid.

_____

Oh she's not here anymore, she left not too long ago and told me that she's gonna go and get you. If you have time you can visit here if you want :)

_____

Right after I finished reading that text, I felt a strong gust of wind from behind. I didn't looked back, since I can feel a strange aura from there and my inner self is telling me to run as fast as I can.

And so I did, dashing through the dimmed hallway as fast as my shaking knees can take me, not brave enough to even glimpse behind me since I can still feel that strange aura following me.

"Almost there... Haha.. Ha" I said to myself, trying to motivate myself to escape here.

As soon as I spotted the staircase leading to the ground floor, I sighed in relief and ran faster towards it.

I took one clumsy step and the next thing I know is that I was rolling and stumbling down the stairs, feeling my weight crush my own body.

"Ouch.." I rumbled as I finally stopped from rolling and landed next to the wall with my back leaning on it.

"Why am I running anyway." I cried, rubbing my aching foot that seems bruised from the fall. I raised my head to look at the place where I fell from and couldn't believe what I'm seeing right now.

In my panicked state, I swear there's a huge black shadow standing there. Staring at me with its glowing red eyes as if it wanted me dead.

"H...help..." I whispered, tears streaming down my cheeks. I don't want to my soul to get consumed by this monstrosity, someone help me...

The shadow, watching me cry for help hovered towards me in a demonic way making me cry louder.

"NOOOO! DON'T KILL ME PLEASE!! I'M STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL!" I sobbed, using my arms to shield my face and shutting my eyes closed tightly, embracing myself to receive a brutal way to kill me.

"...." I waited a few seconds before opening my eyes again, only to find myself being carried by that shadow towards the exit of the school.

"W..What the heck?" I mumbled, staring at the shadow and then at the exit door of the school which is getting nearer and nearer.

As soon as we reached my destination, it placed me back on the floor gently, making sure I didn't hurt my bruised foot.

"Umm... thank you for not killing me" I awkwardly said, bowing my head to it before limping away back to my dorm.

I was glancing at the shadow to see it still standing at the doorway and kept a keen eye at me.

"Umm... you can go back to your shadow home now." I said, bowing again to it before limping again. I glanced one more time after I made a few distance and it was still there. "I can take care of myself from here! Thanks again!" I yelled since we're far from each other and continued to limp again.

I glanced one last time and it was still there, looking at me. "Ugh. This is more creepy than having a stalker." I whispered hugging myself.

I can already see the dormitory from here making a relieved sigh escape my mouth. The moment I stepped inside the building, I looked back again to see the doorway now empty.

"Hmm. Maybe it was making sure I arrive here safely." I commented, turning my back and walking up the stairs to my room.

I saw the familiar door leading to my room and I immediately groaned as I remembered that I have a roommate now, great.

Opening the door, I saw Lyra, rummaging her own suitcase. I cleared my throat to get her attention and she did looked at me, or more like she did glared at me.

"Well look who came home pass the curfew, Ms Choi." She sneered, continuing her business with her bag.

"How did you know my name?" I asked, closing the door and walking towards my bed.

"Duh, your name is hanging outside the door" she rolled her eyes at me so I did too.

As I plopped down on my bed, staring at the ceiling, I can already see the future that were not gonna be in good terms.

Well who cares, it's not like I need to befriend her, she's not related to Wendy to help me in my investigations.

At the corner of my eyes, I saw Lyra stop for a moment and then look at me before saying "Anyway, I haven't seen Wendy here. Do you know where she is?"

I immediately sat up in a speed and looked at her with wide eyes "You know her?"

"She's my twin sister, dumbass. Can't you see our resemblance?" She once again, rolled her eyes.

I scanned her facial features once again, and I did notice that she looks a lot like Wendy disregarding her piercings all over her face and a boy-cut hair which is dyed blonde at the ends.

"Oh my god." I covered my mouth staring at her, contemplating on how stupid I am for not noticing.

"Idiot." She whispered "Well anyway, I heard you were her only friend so I came here to interrogate you."

"Uhhh." My voice was trembling, she already know that Wendy is long dead?

"I'm sorry, I'm tired so I want to sleep for now and I hurt my foot so yeah"

She looked down at my foot and saw the darkish bruise on my ankle and had a mocking face on

"Heh, nevermind. I'll talk to you tomorrow." She continued arranging her things while I slipped pass her, heading to my bed.

"Oh and by the way." She interjected, stopping me halfway.

"What?" turned around and looked back at her to see that she's still organizing her stuffs.

"Thank you." She mumbled "Since you had the audacity to talk and befriend my sister."

My heartbeat slowed down, hearing the words thank you from Wendy's sister. But I can't help to feel guilty over her death.

"Umm... you're welcome" I reluctantly said before continuing to walk.

My mind is in the middle of an extreme break down. What is that text message all about? Is her mother hallucinating or what.

But either way, it still creeps me out even if she's still alive or dead.