Myla Roams Around

II

II : TRUTH

Everything happened swiftly. I don't remember how I escaped from that house. I just found myself running in my pajamas, bare feet, catching my breath in the freezing, undying autumn wind. My heart is pounding badly with the temperature that surrounds me. I kept on driving through the narrow alley in the middle of the ocean of trees—towards the main road. I kept sprinting until my toe fingers touched the cemented street. I was out of the woods already, but I kept running to my legs can take me.

In the worst case of events, a truck started approaching me. My throat suddenly itched. With eyes widening, drops of cold sweat traced through my forehead. Everything moved in a turtle-like manner; and there I am. Paralyzed, in the middle of the road.

After a second or two, I found myself on the sidewalk. Lying down, panting, and exhausted to death. My heart is beating miserably. I can't feel my body. Numbness devoured me all over. I tried moving my fingers but I'm too weak to do it. I closed my eyes as I tried to calm myself. I took a few deep breaths to make my breathing stable.

When I opened my eyes, I saw a middle-aged woman who is carrying some sort of basket. Her hands are on her knees, checking on me with some sort of lamp.

"Are you okay? You shouldn't walk on the middle of the road. That's what sidewalks are for."

When I felt fine, she brought me to a nearby bench. She gave me some bread from her basket, and turns out she knew about the house between the woods. She knows that I moved in recently. I gradually opened up and told her about the hauntings; which she seemed to believe.

"That house, there once lived a family. They have a 12 year old daughter. The couple are busy with their work, so they often come home late." She leaned closer to whisper. "The child went missing.

My eyes widened as my creeps intensified. She looked so serious, her eyes are so stern. I can't laugh at this kind of a horrifying situation. I am certain that that girl back in my house was the couple's daughter, yet I don't know why. My gut feelings are so strong. With her ominous tone, it feels like everything she says should be something I believe. Whether it's a rumor or a fact, it's best to at least know something. I've never believed in paranormal and such until I became one of those people to believe that have witnessed them.

"A couple of newcomers rented in there before you did. They also complained about the ringing and they said that there's this—giggling child—every time they stay up late at night."

I felt chills as my goosebumps were provoked by her narration. It is utterly disturbing that all this time I was living and sleeping comfortable inside that house—thinking I was the only one there.

"Who..." I took a deep breath. "...murdered the child?"

The horrific reply was: "It was never solved. The body was never found so there are no leads, no clues, and no conclusions. The investigation stopped a few years ago because the couple have no ideas about it either. A year later, her mother committed suicide, and then the case was forgotten."

My chest tightened. That's probably why she still roams around. Justice hasn't been served. And in order for her to finally rest in peace, the culprit should be punished—or the culprits, perhaps.

I decided to take on the case.