October
18, 2012
Before
you start reading, I would like to introduce you to my main character. He is a
young man named Charlie whom you will soon get to know more of.
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Somewhere
Street
Reality
is stranger than fiction.
I
found that hard to believe at first, for I am a big fan of books, the type who’d
spend hours going through a maze of bookshelves in libraries, the kind who’d
rummage through old, worn-out books with pleasure. In short, I’m a bookworm.
I’ve read countless world-famous fictions, but I’ve never seen flying brooms or
vampires in my whole life so that saying was ludicrous to me, that was, until
four days ago.
You
see, I’ve recently gotten myself a job in a well-known newspaper publishing
firm. I was one of those anticipated freshly-graduated, new writers, or ‘young
blood’ as they call it, and I delivered well enough to their expectations. I
did my job enthusiastically, often researching thoroughly and working up to the
early hours of the morning.
I didn’t mind the truck loads of work. In fact, I love my job. It was my dream to become a writer for years and now I was living the dream. And more than that, I was being paid to live it. Who could complain?
When I first got published, I sat on my seat in the office, a copy of the newspaper in hand, and I thought, “I’m officially a writer”. And it felt surreal. It felt like heaven. Little did I know that that dream of mine would soon lead me into a nightmare.
I didn’t mind the truck loads of work. In fact, I love my job. It was my dream to become a writer for years and now I was living the dream. And more than that, I was being paid to live it. Who could complain?
When I first got published, I sat on my seat in the office, a copy of the newspaper in hand, and I thought, “I’m officially a writer”. And it felt surreal. It felt like heaven. Little did I know that that dream of mine would soon lead me into a nightmare.
The
day it happened, it was like any usual day with work. You wake up, get dressed,
probably eat breakfast, and then head out to the office. That’s what I did. As
the day progressed, I finished writing or looking into this and that.
So I tackled my next project: a report on the legendary glass-making family, the Seguso's, who lately resurfaced with new designs and it carried me away like a boat off to the ocean. Time flew with me and when I finally called it quits, I was all alone in the office. It was almost three in the morning. I grabbed my coat, bag, and umbrella and went out into the chill, night air of October. Of course, by then, people had gone to bed, but not all, I found out.
The office wasn't so far from my apartment so I decided to walk there. Out in my city, crime rates were low so there weren't any robbers or murderers to be scared of. The lights of a 24-hour 7 Eleven illuminated my path when, suddenly, I saw her, a girl of fourteen, maybe sixteen years. She was standing on the edge of a small, narrow side street. If I hadn't turned my head, I would never have seen her – she was that well concealed by the shadows.
So I tackled my next project: a report on the legendary glass-making family, the Seguso's, who lately resurfaced with new designs and it carried me away like a boat off to the ocean. Time flew with me and when I finally called it quits, I was all alone in the office. It was almost three in the morning. I grabbed my coat, bag, and umbrella and went out into the chill, night air of October. Of course, by then, people had gone to bed, but not all, I found out.
The office wasn't so far from my apartment so I decided to walk there. Out in my city, crime rates were low so there weren't any robbers or murderers to be scared of. The lights of a 24-hour 7 Eleven illuminated my path when, suddenly, I saw her, a girl of fourteen, maybe sixteen years. She was standing on the edge of a small, narrow side street. If I hadn't turned my head, I would never have seen her – she was that well concealed by the shadows.
She didn't have any coat on. I thought it was weird. Who’d go out without a coat on
these cold days? She had her back to me so I couldn't see her face, but I could
tell she was sobbing from her shaking shoulders. Her hands were covering her
face. My news writer instincts came out. Sensing the opportunity, I approached
her all the while aware she could just be one of those drunks.
My footsteps tapped on the pavement. She must have sensed it because she began to move away and deeper into the narrow street. Now, it wasn't because I was nosy or something, but I hadn't had enough time to think and before I knew it, I was running after her.
My footsteps tapped on the pavement. She must have sensed it because she began to move away and deeper into the narrow street. Now, it wasn't because I was nosy or something, but I hadn't had enough time to think and before I knew it, I was running after her.
It
surprised me how fast a girl could move. She seemed to be gliding. When I reached
the end of the street, I had already lost sight of her. I also had no idea
where I was. I looked around. The area I stumbled upon had all shops closed.
Not a soul in sight, either. It was like a ghost town, really, and you’d know
what I mean later on. Only the streetlights accompanied me.
By that time, I’d given up on the girl and just concentrated on getting home. I was alone, lost, and tired. I took a turn here, took a turn there, but I returned to where I was before. It puzzled me how that could have happened.
By that time, I’d given up on the girl and just concentrated on getting home. I was alone, lost, and tired. I took a turn here, took a turn there, but I returned to where I was before. It puzzled me how that could have happened.
Tap.
Tap. Tap.
I heard slow footsteps.
I turned around.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
It continued.
Out of the shadows and into the light of a streetlamp, a foot clothed in a red sandal appeared.
Then, a leg, until there was a final tap and it formed into the girl I saw earlier.
“Might as well ask her for directions” I thought. Then it struck me: She was missing a face.
I couldn't believe it.
I even doubted myself, my own eyesight so I blinked and looked again, but she was still there, still faceless. There was no mouth, no nose. No eyebrow, no lips. No eyes, but a sunken appearance instead where her eyes should have been. There was only skin, as if her whole face was swallowed by skin.
Even until now it still disturbs me how that eye-less face stared blankly down at me. I didn't know what to do. Questions were plaguing my mind. What is she? Should I scream? Should I run? Would she come after me if I did that? Could she harm me? When I couldn't answer these questions, I began to reject them.
I heard slow footsteps.
I turned around.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
It continued.
Out of the shadows and into the light of a streetlamp, a foot clothed in a red sandal appeared.
Then, a leg, until there was a final tap and it formed into the girl I saw earlier.
“Might as well ask her for directions” I thought. Then it struck me: She was missing a face.
I couldn't believe it.
I even doubted myself, my own eyesight so I blinked and looked again, but she was still there, still faceless. There was no mouth, no nose. No eyebrow, no lips. No eyes, but a sunken appearance instead where her eyes should have been. There was only skin, as if her whole face was swallowed by skin.
Even until now it still disturbs me how that eye-less face stared blankly down at me. I didn't know what to do. Questions were plaguing my mind. What is she? Should I scream? Should I run? Would she come after me if I did that? Could she harm me? When I couldn't answer these questions, I began to reject them.
It
took me a lot of courage to pretend I hadn't seen anything, but I turned and
walked to the opposite direction, praying she wouldn't follow me. No matter how
hard I tried though, I could not stop shaking neither could I stop the hair on
the back of my neck stand.
I wanted to break into a run, but I couldn't Who knows how that girl -- or thing will react if I run? So, I crossed that option out and began telling myself lies, lies of having seen nothing, while I didn't dare look over my shoulder because then I’d know I’d lied to myself. “Charlie, you saw nothing” or “Charlie, you've read way too many horror novels”, I’d tell myself, but not even lies could’ve prepared me for my next encounter.
I wanted to break into a run, but I couldn't Who knows how that girl -- or thing will react if I run? So, I crossed that option out and began telling myself lies, lies of having seen nothing, while I didn't dare look over my shoulder because then I’d know I’d lied to myself. “Charlie, you saw nothing” or “Charlie, you've read way too many horror novels”, I’d tell myself, but not even lies could’ve prepared me for my next encounter.
I’d
just reached the river when I finally began to calm down. For years, I’d come
by the river whenever I had a lot in my mind and I’d just lie down on the
descending slope of grass and let my thoughts drift away with the clouds. I
stopped to look over my shoulder. No one there. Good. No words can express how
relieved I was that she didn't follow me.
The
cool breeze tempted me to lie down on the grass by the river, its waters
blackened by the darkness of the night, but I continued on my way. I was tired
and weary.
My heart has yet to return to its normal pace. I took out my watch hand. 5:03 Am.
My lone footsteps sounded against the concrete pavement when – bump. I kicked something. I glanced down. Oh, God. It was just terrible.
My heart has yet to return to its normal pace. I took out my watch hand. 5:03 Am.
My lone footsteps sounded against the concrete pavement when – bump. I kicked something. I glanced down. Oh, God. It was just terrible.
I
looked away immediately, but it was too late. The image had already crept down
into my mind, where I could not take it out anymore.
A corpse was laying there, a very, very disarrayed one. I don’t know how, but he was just everywhere.
His arm was thrown there; his leg was here – a complete mess. Parts of him were opened up. Some of his skin flapped loose like fabric with some flesh from his face, back, and leg.
I could see his eyeballs, his spine, and his veins that once carried life within him.
His meat and bones that once kept him together were now sticking out everywhere, the ones on his elbows, knees, and his chest. Some huge chucks of flesh were ripped totally apart from him, like a lion had bit it away viciously. Blood was furiously flowing out of his – everywhere.
A corpse was laying there, a very, very disarrayed one. I don’t know how, but he was just everywhere.
His arm was thrown there; his leg was here – a complete mess. Parts of him were opened up. Some of his skin flapped loose like fabric with some flesh from his face, back, and leg.
I could see his eyeballs, his spine, and his veins that once carried life within him.
His meat and bones that once kept him together were now sticking out everywhere, the ones on his elbows, knees, and his chest. Some huge chucks of flesh were ripped totally apart from him, like a lion had bit it away viciously. Blood was furiously flowing out of his – everywhere.
It
flowed endlessly like the river and it soon covered the floor around him. Then it
reached my shoe, painting it in dark red.
I ran to the river hand on my mouth and crouched down. I was trembling. The calm dark waters flashed my face to me and a bruised and sliced up one like the corpse’s immediately took its place in my mind.
I quickly gazed elsewhere than the water to erase that horrid picture of me. “I can’t take it anymore”, I said surrendering.
Then I began running. I didn’t know what was happening anymore. I didn’t even know whether everything was real or just a really bad dream. In my haste, I left my bag by the river, but who cares? What good will it do me now, anyway?
Sweat was trickling down my forehead.
I ran to the river hand on my mouth and crouched down. I was trembling. The calm dark waters flashed my face to me and a bruised and sliced up one like the corpse’s immediately took its place in my mind.
I quickly gazed elsewhere than the water to erase that horrid picture of me. “I can’t take it anymore”, I said surrendering.
Then I began running. I didn’t know what was happening anymore. I didn’t even know whether everything was real or just a really bad dream. In my haste, I left my bag by the river, but who cares? What good will it do me now, anyway?
Sweat was trickling down my forehead.
What
else will I next see?
I closed my eyes, but I only saw the faceless girl and the corpse in my mind whenever I did.
Then, I felt it— a sudden, sharp pain on my thigh.
I didn’t know what hit me nor did I want to find out, but the continuously increasing pain forced me to. I once again glanced down and gave out a loud scream filled with pain and agony.
To my horror, a knife was stabbing me right through my thigh. Blood was dripping. I dropped to the ground clutching my leg. My face kissed the pavement. Tears were sprinkling down. I was a mess. The ripping of my flesh, muscles, and veins to give way to its sharp edges was so much to bear.
I cried and screamed for help, but no one came to save me.
I closed my eyes, but I only saw the faceless girl and the corpse in my mind whenever I did.
Then, I felt it— a sudden, sharp pain on my thigh.
I didn’t know what hit me nor did I want to find out, but the continuously increasing pain forced me to. I once again glanced down and gave out a loud scream filled with pain and agony.
To my horror, a knife was stabbing me right through my thigh. Blood was dripping. I dropped to the ground clutching my leg. My face kissed the pavement. Tears were sprinkling down. I was a mess. The ripping of my flesh, muscles, and veins to give way to its sharp edges was so much to bear.
I cried and screamed for help, but no one came to save me.
Blood
was rushing out fast and I began to panic. I was steadily losing my
consciousness. Everything went swirling. I could feel the blood seeping away
from my head and the sudden coldness of my now white lips. Then a small
laughter of a girl erupted. It woke me back into reality.
Frantic,
I turned my head to see where it came from, but I couldn’t see anyone. The
laughter grew louder. I knew I had to get out of there or it wouldn’t only be
my leg that was stabbed.
Slowly, I began to crawl, a streak of blood behind me. My chest began to tighten and I gasped for air as I tried to escape someone or something I was uncertain of. My arms became weaker with every pull.
Slowly, I began to crawl, a streak of blood behind me. My chest began to tighten and I gasped for air as I tried to escape someone or something I was uncertain of. My arms became weaker with every pull.
I
hadn’t gone very far when the night sky began to transform into the dawn. Dark
purple and light blue covered the sky beautifully like a painting.
Unfortunately, fear, panic, and anxiety had greeted my day.
The laughter was continuous and it shifted between a young child’s to a grown man’s; from a young boy to an adult woman’s. It pushed me to still move forward, now limping as I walked as fast as I could – which wasn't fast at all.
The laughter was continuous and it shifted between a young child’s to a grown man’s; from a young boy to an adult woman’s. It pushed me to still move forward, now limping as I walked as fast as I could – which wasn't fast at all.
Above
me, the sky turned from purple to orange with the sun now showing its face. The
laughter became softer. The pain lessening, I began to walk faster. When the
sun was fully up and showered blinding light, it was then that I noticed the
voices and the knife were gone.
But
the fear I had experienced still clung to me. The feeling of having the
possibility of losing your life lingered within me. As if a wild beast might
pounce on me and sink its teeth into my arm at any second. It left me restless
and sleepless ever since.
I couldn't go to work anymore let alone leave the house. I couldn't say anything to anyone; no one would've believed me.
Whenever I closed my eyes, I would be back there, screaming in agony.
Even when I had them open, I would see things and be frightened at the slightest things.
It’s like the nightmare never ended. I can still remember it too vividly -- the cold yet sorrow-filled gaze of the faceless girl; the sliced and opened human corpse; the butt of the knife sticking out of my thigh; the cruel voices that chuckled to my pain. That’s why I’ve come here, to a hypnotherapist, to get help.
I couldn't go to work anymore let alone leave the house. I couldn't say anything to anyone; no one would've believed me.
Whenever I closed my eyes, I would be back there, screaming in agony.
Even when I had them open, I would see things and be frightened at the slightest things.
It’s like the nightmare never ended. I can still remember it too vividly -- the cold yet sorrow-filled gaze of the faceless girl; the sliced and opened human corpse; the butt of the knife sticking out of my thigh; the cruel voices that chuckled to my pain. That’s why I’ve come here, to a hypnotherapist, to get help.
She
wore a black lace veil that draped down her face, reminding me of the typical
fortune teller that held glass balls.
We sat facing each other in the dimly candle lit room. She gulped down a glass of water before our session began. It started with her asking personal questions and I answered.
“Charlie Bowen”; “24 years old”; “Yes”; “Just started working at a newspaper firm”.
Then she asked me what I want evicted out of my memory, to tell exactly what happened. And that feeling quickly entered me once again.
My heart was pounding.
I looked straight into the eyes that were buried underneath the veil. Her ash gray eyes staring back waiting for me to give a very detailed recount. I took a deep breath,
We sat facing each other in the dimly candle lit room. She gulped down a glass of water before our session began. It started with her asking personal questions and I answered.
“Charlie Bowen”; “24 years old”; “Yes”; “Just started working at a newspaper firm”.
Then she asked me what I want evicted out of my memory, to tell exactly what happened. And that feeling quickly entered me once again.
My heart was pounding.
I looked straight into the eyes that were buried underneath the veil. Her ash gray eyes staring back waiting for me to give a very detailed recount. I took a deep breath,
“Reality
is stranger than fiction...”
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