TEARS IN RED STRING

MEETING THE PAST

LOVEFUL

What happened?!

The people inside the mall were all freezing!---oh scratch that, I mean all things inside the mall are freezing. The bullet that was supposedly fired was stopped in the mid-air, near the girl's forehead. It was supposedly about to hit the little girl but luckily it did not happen because of what just happened! Even their tears were stopped flowing.

Then I immediately looked for a way to hide inside this fitting room because I suddenly heard footsteps and voices that are coming.

"Sandra, what do you think you're doing? And you said we are just going somewhere within our vicinity?" I heard the woman asked.

"I just wanted to wander here around and shop peacefully without any other annoying mortals, my dear sister. So I decided to do this. But..." then she paused. She's Sandra as I've heard. "But, I did not expect that this is what will surprise us here in this mall. Tsk, tsk, tsk." the same voice went on.

I still heard their footsteps so I assume that they are walking continuously.

"What if someone will see us? Will see what you have done?!"

"Sister, I froze all the things in the world by stopping the time! Including rats, ants, and other insects. Only we can move. Don't worry."

Seems like my brain suddenly stops from

processing things after I heard those words. All is freezing? All the things in the world are freezing except them? But why I am not? And who are they?

Slowly moved back closer to the hole to look at them. I hope they will not notice me because if they do, I will surely be doomed.

"But, Sandra, what if---" said the woman who has shoulder-length, black hair. She's way taller than her companion.

The other girl, which I assumed Sandra, stopped from what she's doing and looked at the woman beside her. "Hush! In fact, they should be grateful that we just arrived on time and stopped the time. Or else this child must be lying dead right now." she went on, walking towards the little girl who is hugging her doll. Her orange, long, wavy hair bounces as she moved. She touched the child's pinkish cheeks. "She's cute... she won't deserve to die. She's pitiful. These guys should face their faces."

After she said that, she changed the direction of the man's hand which is holding the gun to the other robber guy, who's grabbing the mother's hair. She then changed the projectile of the bullet that was freezing in the air to the same direction as the gun. Then she walked next to that man who has been the target of the bullet. She removed the man's hand from the mother's hair and she raised its hand with a gun, reloaded it, and then pointed back to the opposite man. In short, the two men were pointing their guns at one another. I swallowed from what I just witness. Sweats are flowing over my temple towards my cheeks.

"Hey, what are you doing?" asked the other woman.

"I want them to feel what they always feel to their fellow mortals," said Sandra with a wide smile. "Sister, if you also wanted to have fun, you can do what I was doing to the other three men. Can't you see? It must be satisfying in the end. Come on!" she devilishly laughed out loud.

"Tsk, no thanks. I don't want to touch mortals." replied her companion with a crossed arms.

"Urgh, whatever, killjoy," Sandra said, rolling her eyes, and then she continued what she's doing.

I looked at what else she was doing. She seemed to like it very much. She laid the other man on the floor while putting the other man on top of the former. I felt disgusted upon seeing their position. She pushed the face of the latter's face closer to the former's. Their lips almost touched! I heard her giggled.

Then she grabbed the last man---holding a knife---towards the two and positioned him. She forcedly swayed the man's hand holding a knife towards the direction of the almost-kissed men. She paused it nearer to the man's (on top) head. My mouth gaped.

After she's satisfied with what she was doing, she then paved her way towards her companion and let out a smirk. The other woman just shook her head and they just walked together towards a certain section and they are no longer visible to my sight.

I breathed heavily and leaned my back against the wall of this fitting room. I wiped away my sweats and I fall into my deep confusion. I've always heard them mentioning the word "mortals". What just happened already confuses me. From stopping the time, by how they act. Series of questions is overflowing into my mind but I just can't process the whole thing. The only question that keeps on repeating in my mind was: who are they?

Moments have passed, my heart still beating faster. I already wanted to escape this place. I was about to look again in the small hole to see if they are still here but I almost leaped and gasp out loud when I heard their voices again. This time, it was nearer to where I am right now.

"Sandra, do you think this will look gorgeous to me?" asked the woman.

Few moments before Sandra spoke. "Hmm, try to wear that inside the fitting room and let me see. Just be quick. I think I can't take this a little longer."

Sh*t! Don't tell me she will go inside this fitting room?! I stood up and I began to panic.

"Okay, wait."

What the hell?! What should I do?

I began searching for a spot here to hide but I found none! This fitting room is just plain with a mirror on the side and no other compartments. I don't know what to do. My hands are now shaking.

I closed my eyes hoping an idea to pop up and seems like there is an invisible bulb above my head when I think of a way. I opened my eyes and deeply sighed.

Just in time when I did that, the curtain swayed open. Feels like I am out of breath because of the situation right now. I prevented myself to move as much as I can. I pretended that I also froze.

The woman who is now holding a blue dress stops for a while and stares at me. "Oh, you look pretty," she said and caressed my sweaty cheeks. Then she moved closer to my face which she seemed assessing every inch of it. "Your face looks familiar."

The nervousness that I felt right now doubled. I prevented myself to swallow the big lump on my throat. My inner self is now shaking.

As the woman was about to remove her stare at me, seems like my heartbeat stops as I unconsciously blinked once. I prevent to gasp and sigh, and tried my best to stay still when the woman's forehead suddenly creased.

She placed her hands to her waist and her eyes scrutinized. "Sandra," she called her companion. "Are you sure you stopped all the things and the mortals? As in... all?" she asked, still her gaze pinned at me.

Oh, my God! Damn it!

"Yes, I am sure of that. Why?" Sandra came inside the fitting room.

"I doubted. She blinked, I saw it." she confusingly said while pointing at me.

I prevent to gulp. I need to calm myself. My eyes are now started itching because of the prevented blinks.

Sandra stared at me intently. She slowly moves closer to me. "Are you sure?" she firmly asked. Her stare becomes sharp.

"Yes." answered the other. This time, they both become serious.

"If so, then I need to do this to her to confirm." As Sandra said that, I internally panicked. Sandra slowly reached for my eyes.

Gosh! What she will do?! I may be doomed right now.

When I was about to run because I don't have any other choice, there was a sudden commotion happened outside so they immediately diverted their gaze there. It was the sound of falling boxes.

Sandra just then heaved a sigh and stared back at me. "I think, it was just because I slowly get tired right now. As you can see, some things began to recover."

Soon as I heard that, I mentally breathed out and my body calmed.

"Are you sure of that?" the other woman assured.

"Yes, don't mind it. Just immediately try that one before the time will continue to run."

The woman just gives Sandra a nod and the latter then left. She quickly wears the dress that she was holding and after she's satisfied looking herself in front of the mirror---wearing the blue dress, she then left the fitting room.

"Perfect!" yelled Sandra with a clap.

When the curtain closes, I immediately slammed my body to the wall and I let out a very deep sigh.

That was close.

After a second, I heard a snap. And after it, I feel that everything is now moving. The surroundings were back to their normal aura. I am now hearing the noises again.

The sound of a gunshot and the people's screams occupy the area so I immediately take a look at what happened.

Expectedly, the robbers are now lying on the floor because of what Sandra did. On the other side, the two men are now kissing but the man's (on top) head is bleeding. The other man, holding the knife, looked shocked at what just happened. While he's in his confusion, the other man, who was lying, immediately shoved the unconscious man on his top and quickly ran while wiping his lips. But luckily, the policemen arrived and seized the two of them

Startled, I looked at the situation. The floors are now bloody. The people inside the mall are now shaking in fear. I saw the mother is now hugging her child tightly while crying. Should we be thankful to the two unordinary women that the little girl didn't die?

And speaking of, my eyes then turned to them who are standing on the left side of this fitting room. They are still here, just blankly looking at the people inside. Suddenly, I shrugged a bit when I saw one of them divert its eyes to me. I quickly act normal.

"Let's go, Maritha." Sandra patted her shoulder causing her to divert her attention back to Sandra. She just nods and then they started walking towards the exit.

Maritha... I just felt weird upon hearing that name. Who are they? What are they?

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