Haunted Affairs

16 | Set It Free

The following morning, I rubbed my brow as I cleared away my tidy apartment, I didn't sleep much but I felt wide awake. I didn't know how to feel after losing Veronica, I mean we met when we were young, and I spent a quarter of my life with her to see her die in front of me, really did hit a nerve.

I still felt numb, I felt lost. My body was a cage, and my mind held the key.

I walked into the bathroom and ran a cold shower to clear my thoughts and freshen up, I exhaled as I took off my clothes and stood under the cold water, I leaned my head back whilst the water poured down my face, and I sighed. I ran my fingers through my hair and thought of everything that had happened.

If the figure was so desperate to kill someone close to me, I must be close. Right?

But in the long run, it didn't feel like it, I felt I was right at the beginning of a big cycle that is a non-stop fever dream. And I didn't know what to do, it felt like I was standing on an edge ready to jump, I didn't want to continue this case, I wanted to pack in my job and leave, but how could I? I promise multiple people to solve this mystery and to find Vae.

I turned off the shower and wrapped the towel around my waist, I walked to the bedroom to get sorted for the day, and I sat on the bed. Just felt like it was going to be a damn long day.

After an hour, I drove into town, I didn't bother getting in touch with Ellie she probably would've already known about the situation, I decided to go back to the forest to that underground place myself, if this thing wanted me gone it could come for me. I don't want to risk anyone else getting hurt, I've done enough of that.

I parked up, I got out of the car and I looked at my watch at 10 am, I should have some damn peace for once. I took my pistol and pushed it into the back of my jeans, as I walked into the forest, there were still tapes around so I knew where I was going and what to do. I walked through the forest grounds and looked up at the sky for once it was sunny, surprisingly how cloudy Nova gets. Maybe it was going to be a good day.

• Vae Pov •

I lay on the floor, I coughed as the dust started to get to my chest, I looked to see the next dead body gone, maybe it was just a dream? Maybe I'm living a long nightmare, maybe this wasn't real. I heard noises outside, I raised my brow, walked over to the window and grabbed onto the cold metal bars again, I lifted myself.

The footsteps were heavy, I heard a familiar voice, I saw the shoes walking past until I realised "Wait wait! Come back!" I screamed but no one could hear me, I heard the door to my room open to see the figure standing there. I dropped to the floor and crawled back into the corner of the room "Please don't hurt me, I'm sorry. I won't do it again," I said with a hint of desperation.

The figure just stood there, before placing down two pieces of paper, I looked up at it before crawling over to the papers, I lifted them to see the numbers 1 and 2. "What does that mean?" I said out loud, I looked at the figure somehow during the day the figure didn't seem intimidating, but at night it was another level.

"You want me to choose a number?" I looked at the figure and I slightly nodded.

"Is this for me? Whatever I choose will happen to me?" I said with a fearful expression.

The figure shook its head "Do I get to know what these numbers are for?" I looked back at the figure but no sudden movements were happening, I sighed.

I thought for a moment, and I decided to go with my gut because my mind was losing it. I put the papers back on the floor closed my eyes and picked out a number before handing it back to the figure. The figure turned the paper around to show number 1, I looked at it. As I didn't know what was going to happen next.

I looked at the figure "Are you a good guy? Are you here to help me?" I put up some hope but the figure immediately closed the door as I heard it locking it, I leaned against the wall as tears fell down my face. I put my head on my knees and sobbed, I just wanted my Mom and Dad, I needed them.

The room was silent apart from my sobs until I heard agonising screams, I heard a chainsaw in the background as my eyes widened, I placed my hands over my ears and cried as I muttered to myself "Set my spirit free, set my body free," I repeated those words none stop until I heard the noises stop, my body was shaking. I had tears down my face, as I cried louder.