six hours

16: Ghost

The door slammed open, and my heart skipped a beat. I had barely stepped inside when I sensed it—the heavy silence that filled the house like thick smoke. The unexpected chill crept through my bones, and I instinctively reached for an apple from the fruit basket, trying to ease the knot in my stomach.

But that feeling didn't go away. I could feel something was wrong.

I rushed to my room, my body on autopilot, and closed the door behind me. A strange sensation gnawed at me, a warning I couldn't ignore. I took a deep breath, trying to shake it off, but then I heard it.

A sound that froze me.

Crying.

It wasn't just any cry. It was like nails scraping against a chalkboard—screeching, harsh, and agonizing. My heart raced, and my body went cold.

Panic set in. I dashed toward the sound, only to feel my feet freeze as I stared at the office chair in the middle of the room. It creaked, slowly turning, but there was no one there. The hairs on my neck stood up.

I rushed out of the room, panic sweeping through me as I bolted downstairs to the living room.

"GHOST! THERE'S A GHOST IN MY ROOM!!!" I shouted, my voice high-pitched from the sheer terror.

As I skidded to a halt, I saw Tante Marie, Eddy, and Cris sitting casually on the couch, sipping their drinks. The scene was too normal. Too real. Nothing made sense.

They all stood up in an instant, rushing toward me, their concern tangible in the air. But the questions? The incessant questions only added to the whirlwind already swirling inside my head.

The world spun.

My body went weak, and I felt the ground open up beneath me. Everything started to blur. I couldn't hear, couldn't feel, couldn't breathe. Then... blackness.

I woke to the sterile smell of antiseptic, my senses blurring as I slowly came to my surroundings. I was in my bed, lying flat on my back. Tante Marie, Ash, and the twins were standing around me, and I could hear the low murmur of their voices.

I groggily touched my forehead, wincing from the dull pain that pulsed through my head.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice scratchy from the dry air.

Tante Marie was the first to speak, her gaze filled with worry and sadness. "Ma petite fille, you're awake!" she said, her voice soft but relieved. "Ash, go bring her food!"

Ash dashed off, her feet tapping against the floor, and the twins moved closer to me. Cris reached for my hand. "Sister-in-law, tell me what happened."

My chest tightened, but I felt the sting of confusion when I couldn't answer him. "I... I don't know..." The words came out like a whisper.

Ash returned with a plate of food, but I was too lost in the whirlpool of thoughts and emotions to focus on it.

Eddy, who had been silent until now, stepped forward with a stern expression on his face, carrying the tray like it was a matter of life or death. "You will eat," he commanded calmly, his voice dripping with authority but warmth. That tone was the same one he used when he was trying to protect me.

I had no choice but to obey, and I took a few bites. But my mind was elsewhere. Everything was spinning.

When I finished the food, Eddy's lips brushed against my cheekbone, his kiss gentle but firm. Only then did he say, "For the past four months, you've been neglecting your health. You had a poor diet, and you've been skipping meals. That's what caused the hallucinations."

Hallucinations? The word felt like a slap in the face. I hadn't realized just how much I was spiraling until it was too late.

I looked at him, my breath shallow. "Hallucinations?!"

Eddy leaned back, watching me carefully as if weighing every word he said. "You're not mad, Nora. This is just a result of you not taking care of yourself. And as for the ghosts... let's just say I've seen some strange things too." He paused, his eyes darkening as if he was hiding something.

I stared at him, still confused. "How come you came back? Was it because of me? Because of all this?" I motioned to my mess of emotions. "Why now?"

He looked out the window, his voice calm but laced with regret. "You weren't the only one who was struggling. Tante Marie told me a few weeks ago that you weren't okay. She was worried, so I came back." He gave me a small smile, but there was something hidden behind it. "I finished my training, and I wasn't going to let you keep doing this alone."

The relief hit me, but it was mixed with a sense of guilt. I was spiraling out of control, and Eddy saw it. But there was something else—I still couldn't shake the feeling that I had been too close to Kevin, and that was something I couldn't ignore.

*
"Wake up, time to go out!" Ash burst into my room, her energy infectious, as usual. The sunlight streamed through the curtains, making everything feel new.

I groggily rubbed my eyes. "Where are we going?" I jumped out of bed, eager for something—anything—that would break the cycle I had been trapped in.

"Double date with the twins!" Ash chirped.

I could feel a small flutter in my chest. I hadn't heard from Kevin in days, and it was like the world was aligning itself just to distract me from my past decisions. I rushed to get dressed, throwing on jeans, a high-necked sweater, and my boots. After a quick look in the mirror, I smiled, despite everything that had been happening.

Downstairs, Tante Marie served breakfast as usual, the scent of eggs filling the room. She gave me a pointed look, and I knew she had noticed my behavior lately. But she didn't say anything.

"When will you be back?" she asked, her eyes not leaving her plate.

"I don't know," Ash replied, diving into the food. "But I'll keep you posted."

The twins arrived and greeted Tante, taking Ash and me by the hands. "Take care of them, boys," Tante Marie called as we all left. I could sense that something wasn't right, but I couldn't pinpoint it.

In the car, I could feel Eddy's tension. Something was off. His usual banter was gone, replaced by a quiet intensity I couldn't ignore. He wasn't the same. But I couldn't place why. I chose not to ask, not yet. The silence felt like a heavy blanket

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Pple, if u r reading this, it means that u r still if me, thank u👻😁

So what do u think so far, tell me if something is not right

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