By the time my vision cleared, the ground rushed towards me for a split second, followed by a sensation like being punched in the face and a door slamming shut. My head felt wedged into something, and I struggled to free myself. Hands reached out, tugging at my torso, and eventually managed to pull me out after three attempts. As I regained my bearings, Michael was there, brushing dirt off of me.
"How was it down there?" he asked, a playful tone in his voice. I attempted to reply, but dirt was still in my mouth. I spat it out in annoyance.
"Very funny," I grumbled, wiping the dirt from my face. Standing up, I took a better look at our surroundings. We were in the woods near my home, close to the mansion. Michael was staring up at the moon and stars, lost in thought. I cleared my throat, snapping him back to reality.
"Alright, wait here, and I'll let my family know about you. I'll come back for you," I said, waving before walking back home. Trying to appear nonchalant, I made my way towards the house. Once out of Michael's sight, I picked up the pace until I reached my front door. As I was about to knock, I overheard voices from inside. I pressed my ear against the door, trying to catch what they were saying.
"She'll be back soon, she knows better," my mom's voice sounded reassuring. Typical mom, always worrying about the smallest things.
"Well, I barely know her, but I think she's okay," Mark's voice chimed in. Mark was in my house? I had to tell them what was happening.
I knocked on the door just as my mom mentioned something about the police and finding me. My heart raced as I tried to figure out how to explain everything. My mom opened the door, and in a rush, I was enveloped in her arms.
"Honey!" she exclaimed, hugging me tightly. The others gathered around, Mark included, all expressing their relief at my return. After the hugs, I found myself sitting on the couch, attempting to calm my racing thoughts.
"Okay, you guys need to listen to me. I'm being haunted by a ghost who thinks I'm his wife," I blurted out, hoping they would take me seriously. The room fell silent, everyone staring at me as if I'd lost my mind. My mom broke the silence.
"Sweetie, are you feeling okay? Did you hit your head?" Concern etched her face, and she moved closer to me.
"I'm fine, Mom, but I am hungry," I replied, hoping to lighten the mood. Mom wasted no time, heading to the kitchen to fetch an apple for me. I took it from her and was about to take a bite when my stomach growled loudly.
Startled, I looked down to see the mouth forming again. Panicking, I covered my stomach with my arms. Mark noticed and approached me.
"Is something wrong? Are you okay?" he asked, placing a hand on my shoulder. I managed a weak smile.
"I'm fine, but could you take this apple back, please?" I handed him the apple just as my stomach's mouth opened wider. Mark quickly retreated, clearly alarmed.
"Sure, I'll put it back," he said, stepping away. My stomach bit my arm, causing me to release my hold on it. The mouth snatched the apple from Mark's hand, and he screamed in terror. The room erupted in chaos as everyone reacted to my suddenly animated stomach.
"This is what he's done to me. It's harmless, just hungry," I tried to explain, but the sight was too shocking for everyone.
Before I could say anything more, the front door was forcefully flung open. Michael strode in, his presence commanding the room's attention.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't wait any longer. Oh..." Michael's words trailed off as he noticed my predicament. He moved beside me and took hold of my arm.
"This is your family? Did you tell them about me?" Michael's sudden appearance left everyone stunned. He showed them the ring on his finger, claiming to be my husband. Shock and fear registered on everyone's faces, especially Mark's.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't wait any longer, and oh..." Michael's expression turned from eager anticipation to surprise as he noticed the scene in my living room. He walked by my side, gripping my arm tightly. "This is your family? Did you tell them about me?"
The room fell silent, and my mom's mouth hung open in shock. Mark walked towards me, his expression a mixture of concern and worry. "Who is this?" he asked, his voice trembling with anxiety. Michael presented the ring, showing it to everyone. "Im her husband."
Mark's eyes widened, and he looked at me with a mixture of shock and fear. "What?!" He took a step back, clearly alarmed by the revelation. "No, he's not! He's a ghost stalking me!" I protested, but Michael's expression turned dark, and he gripped my arm even tighter.
"We need to talk," Michael's voice was firm as he dragged me out of the door. "Mark!" I yelled, but before I could say anything else, we were back in the eerie otherworldly landscape, and I saw blood again. As the surroundings shifted, I realized we were somewhere different.
I turned to face Michael, his demeanor visibly disturbed. His eyes were now black, with glowing red, cat-like irises. "No! You're married to me! He's the other man!" His voice cracked as he covered his eyes, overcome with sobs. Feeling a mix of confusion and guilt, I tried to see things from his perspective. "And I thought this was going so well!" Blood tears streaked down his face, and despite the unsettling sight, a pang of empathy tugged at my heart. "Look, under different circumstances... well, who knows? But we're just too different. I mean, you're dead."
His gaze met mine, a complex blend of sorrow and anger in his expression. "You should've thought of that before you asked me to marry you," he shot back, and a surge of frustration ignited within me. "Ugh, why won't you listen? It was an accident! I would never marry you!" My words came out sharper than intended, and his face shifted to a mournful look. His eyes returned to their normal state.
He sighed, a heavy sadness emanating from him as he turned away. As I exhaled deeply, I realized I might have been too harsh in my response. Taking a seat on a nearby bench, I contemplated the situation and my own words. "Ugh, maybe I was too harsh on him." I cast a glance at the blood-red sky, closing my eyes as I sought clarity amidst the turmoil. Weariness overtook me, and I slipped into sleep, finding a semblance of comfort in holding onto myself amid the confusion.
