Apparition

Chapter # 2

Utterly horrified, I continued to shake violently as a shiver anticipated with fright travelled to my core. With my cheeks glistened with tears, my strength deprived from me. I banged my head back on the door and didn't open my eyes. I hugged my sides tightly, not even wanting to think about it. But, I am perplexed too. What have I seen, was it real or just an illusion? But those eyes glimmering in the dark, was it actuality or just an illusion? I exhaled and remained motionless, wanting desperately to regain my posture and not to think about it. 

Time flew by and before I knew it, the Sun set and darkness spread everywhere. A sudden knock appeared on the door. A gasp escaped my lips as I quickly stood up and tried to fix my messed form. I swallowed hard and asked, 

"Who is it?"

"Mary, it's Jenifer.Why did you lock the door? Come, it's time for dinner." I hesitantly opened the door and looked at Jenifer. She looked at me with shock. She took a step closer and held my chin,  turning my face to my side. 

"What happened to your head?" She asked worried. I quickly pulled her hand away and replied, "It's nothing, I am fine."

"How can you be fine? Come,  let's treat this first and…" She scanned my frantic being from top to bottom and completed her sentence,  "Then clean you up too." I nodded and went with her as she continued to scold me for being a coward and not for caring myself and I couldn't be able to tell her what I have just espied. A shivered went down my spine when I thought about it.

After cleaning up, I went to have dinner. There was a silence spread everywhere, an eerie coldness. 

"Carlos." I called him. He bowed and I continued, 

"Have you ever seen the chapel of the mansion?" I asked. 

"Yes, it in the western corner. "

"No, not that. But the one hidden in that garden." I said, slightly agitated. 

"Ma'am, I am afraid to say but no. One has ever visited that place. It would be better if you don't." I put my hand over my forehead and sighed, "Seal that place again." It would be better if no one see that horrendous place.

"As you wish." He put his hand over his chest and bowed. 

I continued to watch and forced the food down my throat, not wanting to waste it. Every time I closed my eyes, those eyes flashed through my mind, startling me in dread and it was so difficult for me to breathe then. I just don't know how to liberate myself from those heartless gaze which intoxicated my life like a poison in just mere moments.

At night, I was sleeping peacefully but then a sudden disruption woke me up. I looked around and saw the window of my balcony is swaying along with the wind hitting the frame. I quickly got out as the cold breeze embraced me.  Goosebumps formed over my skin as I shivered and closed the window. I rubbed my hands together, breathing heavily. My throat dried and I found my jug empty. I sighed and took the candle holder and lit it and went out in the middle of night- even though it was unfavoured but my throat is begging for water. 

As I was walking, a sudden melody reached my ears. It was a sweet enchanting sound which gave me immense tranquility. I stopped in my tracks and moved to comprehend the direction where the sound was coming from. An involuntary smile crept upon my lips and I don't know what took over as I went there, It was like some strings pulled me close to that sound. The way the harmony filled me, it was bewitching. I can recognize it very well. Beethoven's Fur Elise. My heart felt feeble and I felt connected to the person who was playing it. I can feel an intense pain and somehow the inability to feel. I found myself standing outside the music room,  with strange fluttering sensation in me and the curiosity to look inside. Wanting to admiring the beautiful work produced by the piano. 

I put my hand over the door and the sound suddenly stopped. My smile faded and I pushed the door opened. The pitch silence caused the creaking sound produced by the door to echo in the room. I looked around and saw no one. Just a second ago, the dazzling sound was being produce and now there are no traces of a human. Utterly bewildered by the sudden absence of sound I walked closer to the piano. I spared a glance at the stain glass and then traced my fingers over the keys. I was pretty sure someone played but who that person is? Mystified by this, I decided not to think about it anymore because I have witness already many things in just a day. 

I looked at the music room for the last time and went to drink some water.

I came back to my room. I heaved deeply and sat on the bed. I ran my hands in my hairs and decided to earn a reprieve from this tiresome day. 

I closed my eyes, wanting to receive a lull but then I felt someone's presence in the room. I shut my eyes tightly, my breath hitched as my grip on the duvet tightened. I sensed the person coming closer. I remained still with my heart skipping beats. My lips sealed themselves together and I hoped deeply that it's an Illusion. A silent tear rolled down my cheek, terrified to know who came to my room. 

My breath stopped when I felt a hand tracing it's fingers on the side of my face. Ferocious chills were given to my bones. I lost my breath. I tried to remain unaffected but it was so hard to even move due to the pernicious aura spread in the room, the ambience which sucked my life out of me. Not having enough strength, even to move, I buried my face in the pillow as tears threatened to roll down but somehow I held them back. Quivering in dread, the fingers moved slowly, making me shiver. They made their way to my shoulder, shaking in fear. Not being able to bear it anymore. A soft sob escaped my lips. I curled my toes, gasping softly in apprehension, absolutely scared of that undesirable visit by the mysterious person. 

Upon seeing I am awake, the fingers draw back slowly,  eliciting the sensation of its touch into my core startling me in terror as a deep vehement voice echoed in the room,

"Where is it?" Finally a cry left my mouth, horrified of what has just happened. I quickly sat up with my eyes shut and yelled, 

"What do you want?!" A cry left my lips as I crawled back to the bedroom frame and pulled the covers around my bed and hugged my knees close to my chest, sobbing loudly, frightened. I sniffed and slowly tried to see any trace of a human. I gradually moved my feared gaze from the side to the front. I saw a Hand coming to me, in the pitch darkness slowly making it's way to me just to take me breath away. My breath hitched, I clutched the duvet close to my chest and shut my eyes again. 

"Please. Don't kill me! I don't know what you talking about!" I shouted, shaking tremendously. Wanting to relieve myself from this deep fierce presence which is suffocating me.

"Give it back. "Another fiery voice came and my eyes fluttered opened.

I woke up with a loud gasp as if someone has suffocated me and I barely managed to keep myself alive. I quickly sat up and look around distraught with fear and anxiety and found no one. I put my hand over my racing heart to soothe myself, I coughed badly to console myself. Tears brimmed in my eyes, blurring my vision. I quickly wiped them and wiped the sweat formed over my forehead.

 My eyes narrowed when sunlight greeted me. Lost in the horror of what I just witness, I couldn't apprehend anything. Distress my mind lost it's senses. Anticipated by the dread what has just happened. I am unable to breath, think and my heart, it will leap out of my chest. Filled with great apprehensive thoughts and bewilderment, I couldn't think was it an illusion or reality. Did it affect my mind that much, did his silver eyes took over my senses? I am just flabbergast about this unbearable turns of events I am facing since the first moment I came here.

"What has just happened? What does he wants? Who is he? Was it reality? What I took from him?"

With these obscure thoughts, stirring my mind drastically and breaking me apart slowly and painfully in the worst way possible. I decided to start another day filled with new terrors for me that have a bunch of horrifying surprises too that bearing them might take my life somewhere along the way.