The Perfect Hybrid

CHAPTER III

Ella

Skylar chattered endlessly as we walked our way to school. But somehow, I started zoning out. I can't stop glancing behind our backs as if someone or something is following us. I just can't shake the feeling that someone is following us or at least watching us. But every time I look back, no one is there. Of course, it did not help that the neighborhood seemed to be deserted, and not a single person can be found but the two of us. Skylar's voice being the only thing that fills the silence of the surroundings.

And then, suddenly, as we were passing by the cemetery, a cold hand grasped my hand tightly.

I looked at my hand and found that it was Skylar holding my hand as if anchoring herself to the real world. Gone was my ever talkative bestfriend, replace by a pale looking girl.

Despite her being pale and scared, I can feel something radiating from within her.

Something that is out of the ordinary.

But as usual, I can't place it.

I was about to ask what's wrong when the hairs in my body started to stand. A sweat started forming on my forehead.

Eyes

That's what I feel.

Eyes following our every move.

I kept walking.

We kept walking.

Both our gazes trained forwards as if we feel what the other felt.

I felt Skylar's hand tightening its grasp on mine as I saw something on my side line of vision.

My eyes widened. But I did not dared look.

People

Rising somewhere

Walking towards us. They are walking from the cemetery to our direction. My heart is hammering wildly in my chest. My breaths hitch at every step we make.

I kept my eyes trained in the direction of our school. I don't want to look at them. I don't want to confirm what I think it could be.

No

They are not people. If they were, they wouldn't be too quiet. If they were, our hearts weren't the only things that could be heard.

We were already nearing the end of the cemetery. Just a few steps and everything will be behind us. But fate is not on our side. A shadowy figure suddenly appeared right behind the tree at the end of the cemetery, and that right there made us stop.

I found my courage to look at Skylar only to find that her eyes are completely shut.

A gust of wind suddenly engulfed us for a couple of seconds and then... gone.

Gone was the feeling of being watched as well as the "people" in the other side of the cemetery's fence.

"Are we there yet?" I heard my bestfriend ask in a whisper as I try to figure out what caused that sudden gust of wind.

Again, the leaves and branches of the trees remained unmoved. As if the wind that I felt somehow was only meant for me.

Then something hit me.

Fire

Something is burning. When I looked back at the cemetery, I saw something. One of the gravestones is melting. Followed by another then another then another until I couldn't look at them anymore and started dragging Skylar with me, half running, half walking.