When I was a little girl, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. It was sad but my mind doesn't really remember much because I was a kid. The only part I remember when she had cancer was the final few days. She always talked about a night gown. The one that has always been in the family since her great grandmother. She never stops talking about it. Even in her sleep, she murmured about it. A couple of hours before she died, she wanted to talk to me all alone. She talked about how I will receive the night gown after her death. Telling me to wear it the night I get married until my final breath. She grabs me by the shoulder to not forget to wear it. After her funeral, I was given a box full of stuff. My dad told me not to open it until I'm 18.
It was my 18th birthday 5 years ago. My dad gave me the box and told me it's time. I opened the box to see a night gown and a couple more items. The one that really caught my eyes is a diary. I opened it to see the names of my ancestors since the 1700. I took a look at the first few pages and saw that it got some sort of instructions. It reads:
1. The night gown needs to be worn the night the receiver gets married until near their death.
2. The receiver must be a girl
3. The night gown must be worn before 11 PM and must be taken off before 7pm.
4. Never ever sleep with the door open while wearing it.
5. Don't respond to the whispers you hear when you're trying to sleep.
6. Don't trust the shadows.
7. Before dying, place something of value in.
8. They will stop visiting you when it's your final week alive. You will be allowed to not wear it for the last week of your life. You will know it's your last week when you see the number 7 more than usual.
I was pretty surprised and thought it was some weird family tradition. I look inside the box to see a wooden toy horse, a locket with a pic of my great grandparents, strands of hair tied up with a rubber band, a golden necklace and a picture of me as a baby.
I got married last year to my husband. I've been wearing the night gown for almost a year now. I keep hearing ''them'' calling my name. Telling me to take it off. My husband just keeps telling me to ignore it. They keep saying, "You'll meet Mary soon." "Helen is a witch." "Your ancestors are looking down at you.". But last night, I fucked up.
It was the usual day like any other, working and making food for my husband. My husband said that he will be late to come home. When I was trying to sleep, they wouldn't stop bothering me. It was worse than the other day. They were talking about my mom's pass. They talked about how she keeps drinking to keep herself distracted. How she cheated on dad with his brother. How she sees the gown as her only protector. How she started smoking to get lung cancer intentionally. Worst of all, how she is getting tormented in hell for being a horrible person in her lifetime. She has always seen me as more of a scapegoat to end her suffering with the night gown.
That's when I snapped and responded to them. I realized that I had made a mistake when I saw him. He was there. In the corner. Blending in with the shadows. Moving slightly closer every blinks. Until he was right next to me. He runs his hands across my face. I couldn't move due to fear and shock.
"Tch, tch, tch, such a stupid woman. Does your bloodline not know how to give back things that aren't theirs? Such a shame that it ends with you being so impatient."
"Haha, you know what, this has been a long day. And you're the first one to break the rules. I'm going to give you an option. You'll live for five more years but your ancestors will be tormented in hell with me. Or, you'll be the last one in your bloodline."
I was still blinded with rage and fear. It looks like I'm going to be living for another 5 years.
