THE JOURNEY OF SHEIRA HART

16 | Ghost Stories? Sure.

Every school has its stories. It was a way to explain that creaking sound in the boys' bathroom, that cold feeling in the back of the school building, the smell of smoke in the computer lab, or the tap-tap-tap feeling as if someone's touching your shoulder in the auditorium.

I believe the last bit was what happened to me a few seconds ago.

This school is spookier than any other school. At least that's what the ghost stories tell. And somehow, it has become a competition among schools of who can provide the creepiest ghost stories. The creepier, the better. I was never a fan of something like that simply because I don't believe them. Until a few days ago.

Some stories were real. Most are not. The creaking sound was just a door with bad hinges. The cold feeling was just a draft. The smell of smoke was because of the burnt wires which were really dangerous. But the tap-tap-tap feeling—I knew it wasn't just a creepy story. I knew something is up to this particular story.

It was a real one.

"Hi!" the woman greeted. She looked like she's older than me but she isn't dressed her age. She was also holding a teddy bear with smears of blood on it.

I stared at her state, unable to form words, a response. I heard Mikhael whistled.

"Are you lost, baby girl?" he asked and I smacked him in the head. He gave me a questioning look and I just glared at him.

"You're like me, right?" the woman said and I smiled at her. I'm not sure if we are like her but if she's talking about being ghosts then—

"Definitely not." Mikhael didn't even blink as he said it. But yes, definitely not. I stared at the woman who was also staring at us, her eyes were glinting.

I knew her from the stories that used to circulate around the school. I remember stories of girls who'd cry, coming out of the girls' bathroom. And most of them tell the same story: they felt someone tapping on their shoulder in the girls' bathroom in the auditorium. I admit that really spooked me before. 

I felt it too before. Once. That was when there was an orientation and we had to attend. I went to the bathroom and I felt someone tapping my shoulder. When I looked behind, nobody was there. I was alone in the bathroom. I remembered feeling so scared that I never went back to that bathroom again. Even after that incident, I refused to believe the stories. Because like I said before, I don't believe in anything supernatural.

"So you're real, after all," I said and the woman looked at me. There was nothing different about her stare. It's just that her eye sockets were empty and it's like staring into a dark abyss. But her smile was innocent. She could have looked angelic.

She tilted her head and said, "What do you mean?"

"You've been touching the students," I said and she pouted like a child would if being scolded.

"I just wanted a playmate," she said and looked on the floor.

I felt Mikhael inched closer towards me and leaned to whisper on my ear, "It's possible she's a lost soul."

"Lost soul?" I whispered back. "What does that even mean? She didn't get to go to the Afterlife?"

"She got there, yes. Every soul does. Or to the other side, who knows? But then she...perhaps she went to find out how she died?"

I swallowed hard.

"And? She didn't get to find out how she died? Is that it?"

Mikhael nodded. A grave look was plastered across his face. "Her time must have run out and now she's stuck here."

"But...does that mean—"

Mikhael looked at me. "She'll wander this world until she eventually disappears and be forgotten."

I bit my lip as I looked at the woman. She was looking at us, wondering what we're talking about.

"What's your name?"

She smiled. "I'm Monica." She extended her hand I swallowed as I took it for a handshake. I could hear Mikhael wincing.

"Do you have any friends here?" I asked and she shook her head. Mikhael and I looked at each other.

"He was with me but then he disappeared. I don't know where he is now."

The moment she said it we already had an idea of what happened.

"How long have you been here?"

"I remember I was supposed to go to a live concert. I have the ticket here." She fished out a piece of crumpled paper from her pockets and gave it to me. I looked at it and gasped.

"1970?" I said.

She nodded. "Yes," she said and took the ticket. She stared at it and smiled. She straightened it and put it inside her pocket. She then smiled at us. "I don't know where the venue is so I couldn't go." She sighed.

I looked at Mikhael who was observing Monica. Then he said, "Why are you dressed like that?"

Monica looked at her dress. "Oh, I was supposed to perform on a play the day before the concert. But I don't know what happened. Then I found out I died."

She never found out how she died. And when I looked at Mikhael, he seemed to have gotten the idea too.

"But have you heard stories of how you died?"

She nodded. "But there were lots of them. I don't know which one is true. But there was one story which I think is the closest to the truth."

I furrowed my brows. "What story?"

"I died before I get to play on the theater play," she answered. I remembered that story. It was one of the reasons why the theater club was disbanded. It was thought at first that the theater club room was haunted as it was reported by some student members of unusual things they observed in the clubroom like the chairs moving on their own accord. Or the lights blinking on and off. It was then that two members of the club died because of unknown reasons—

I froze on my feet as I slowly realized all of it. Both of them looked at me. I can't tell Mikhael yet. Not when Monica's could hear us. So I cleared my throat and said, "What story was it, Monica?"

"They said I died because of a prop. I don't know what prop though, but they said it pierced my eye." She pointed towards her left eye where it was empty.

"Somebody pushed you or deliberately pierced your eye with it," I went on and she nodded.

"I don't know which is which but I never found out about it. So here I am." She gestured her hand and let out a bitter laugh. "And it's too late for me. My time's up and I have to stay here until I ... disappear."

"It must be lonely, right?" I asked. "That's why you've been touching the students, right?"

She nodded and smiled. She scratched the back of her head, before she said, "I wanted some friends. Someone who doesn't mind if I'm like this. But they're all scared and I understand." She fidgeted her fingers then looked at us. "I mean, who would want to be friends with ghosts, right? That's why..." She looked at Mikhael and smiled before she looked at me. "...I want to be friends with you."

I could have sworn I heard Mikhael choked so I elbowed him and smiled at Monica. "Yes. Yes, of course, we could be friends." In my periphery, I saw Mikhael looked at me and I just ignored him.

Monica, despite one of her eye sockets being blank, I could totally see the delight in her eyes the moment I said it. "Come with me! I have something to show you!" She was literally jumping around as she turned and walked towards the bathroom.

It was when Mikhael grabbed my hand. "What on earth are you doing?"

I looked at the bathroom door where Monica was standing. For a moment I felt goosebumps. Can you believe it? A ghost is afraid of another ghost?

But something about Monica is just ... off. And I have to confirm if it was true.

"I have to confirm something," I said as I looked at Mikhael.

"Confirm what?" He looked at Monica for a brief moment before he went on, "Are you trying to tell me you're going to find out how she died?"

I nodded. "I feel like she has something to do with one incident from my past."

Mikhael blinked. "Do you think that will help us further?"

I took a deep breath. "Yes. I remember I felt her before. When I was still alive. She taps the student's shoulders and I felt it before too. And I remember a guy."

"A guy?" He said as if he's very doubtful about it. I rolled my eyes.

I nodded. "I don't remember his face but I remember he warned me about Monica."

He whistled. "He could probably see ghosts."

I need to find out who that guy is. "I want you to entertain her."

"What? Why me?" He clearly looked depressed hearing it.

"I have to find that guy. If he could see ghosts. He could probably see me too."

"And he might have become your friend at some point and maybe he knows something about your death!" he continued and I nodded.

"Exactly."

"Good thinking." He looked at Monica who was waving at us and then winced. "For the meantime, I'm just going to accompany creepy Lolita over there while she taps on people's shoulders."

He took a deep breath and I just looked at him as he prepared himself. Looks like it wasn't me who was crept out with Monica. I tapped his back. "Good luck," I said and he walked towards where Monica is.

"Come and get me immediately," he said, his voice almost begging, and I just nodded.

Before I turned to walk away, I heard Monica ask Mikhael where I am going. I didn't hear what Mikhael said but knowing him, he probably made a pretty good excuse as Monica didn't protest.

So I trudged through the crowd of students until I reached a clearing. I wouldn't be able to think clearly if I feel people passing straight through me all the time.

I don't remember what he looked like. I stopped and racked my brain for something that might help me recognize aside from his face.

He was tall. Probably just about Mikhael's height. He had clean-cut hair and he had his uniform's first three buttons unbuttoned. A piercing.

A piercing?

I shook my head. That wouldn't be enough. Almost all of the guys here have piercings. But maybe if I try to remember what design was his ear pierce--

A cross.

It was a silver cross. And I remembered thinking that time I first saw him that he must be a religious person the moment I saw that cross earrings and necklace.

A necklace!

I roamed my eyes around the whole auditorium. All the students are here. Which means that guy is in here too. Assuming he didn't transfer schools. He probably could see me from where he is. Or maybe not. I don't know what normal people see when they ghosts but my brother could only see us like a cloud of smoke shaped like a human. I wonder if that guy could see me like that or maybe something much clearer.

So I started walking and examined each guy I see. Some of them have piercings and they have different designs. I'm assuming that guy is still wearing that same silver cross earrings and necklace. Hopefully, he didn't change it.

So I continued to check the guys one by one. Some had more sense than the others as they would look around as if they felt something. But others are oblivious that a ghost is checking their ears and necks out. It was fast since I could pass through them. And by the time it was almost half an hour, I finished half of the student population. I glanced at the bathroom door and it was closed. I hope Mikhael is fine. But I don't have to worry about him. He can handle himself.

I started checking the guys again. But then after doing it, I couldn't find anyone with the cross-designed earrings. It's possible he changed it. A very high possibility. I walked towards the bathroom. Maybe Monica remembers that guy. Maybe she knew someone here could see her. Maybe she could tell me.

I was about to walk to the girls' bathroom when I saw someone came out of the boys' bathroom. I stood frozen on my feet as I beheld him. He was tall. His hair was ruffled. Longer than I remembered. His earrings weren't cross designs. He wasn't wearing a necklace. But as I stared at his uniform, on his chest, where his name was plastered, I knew it was him. I remembered the name.

Jacob. Jacob Paulo Leos.

I remembered his uniform back then has a name and it was Leos. This should be him!

I stood frozen on my feet as I looked at him. Now that I saw his face, I remember him. He was walking in my direction and I couldn't help but feel nervous as he walked closer. He could see ghosts. He could possibly see me. He might even remember me. So I stood there, waiting for him to get close enough. I intentionally stood on his way so he would notice immediately.

But then, much to my surprise, he just walked through me. I felt like I was punched in the gut the moment he collided with my corporeally challenged state.

I was sure he met my eyes. I was sure of it. But then why?

I turned to look at him as he walked to his seat.

Did he see me or not? 

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