The Wailing

Chapter Ten - False Imagery

The dozens of eyes that were on me were starting to make me feel queasy. Anna wouldn't stop looking at me either which was making me feel even worse. I quickly shot up and left the cafeteria, and into the hallway where no one was in sight.

« Lathious. Why did he do that? Am I dreaming? I never thought that I would do that with a guy! ». I said breathlessly.

« Calm child. What is happening is supposed to happen ». He whispered.

« You always tell me these things but never answer any of my damn questions! ». I yelled furiously. A girl walked out of a classroom and went across the hall to get a drink. I went to the bathroom a few doors in front of me so I could get some privacy. The girl smiled at me and I shut the door.

« You must free your mind. You are your own anchor Larson ».

« Yeah yeah whatever ». I mumbled. I turned on the sink to wash my face to get calmed down a little bit. When the water hit my face it was like an instant cooling relief. My face and head felt lighter from the liquids touch, making me feel better. « Alright Lathious, Im calmed down. Now what? ». I sighed. Only silenced filled my mind. « So now you're going to ignore me? ». I chuckled. When I heard no response I rolled my eyes and cursed under my breath. I grabbed a paper towel and began to pat my face dry.

« Larson ». I female voice giggled. I wiped my eyes and looked around, but there was no one there. I started dabbing my face again when I heard a shift in one of the stalls. « Larson ». The voice sang again.

« Who's in here? ». I called out. More giggling filled my ears but very faintly where I could barley hear it.

« Come here ». It whispered. I heard a small knock on the stall door and I froze.

« Lathious? ». I whispered, but I got no answer. I slowly started to drop to my knees. I lowered my body extremely slow to peek under the two stalls. My body was starting to tremble so much, my breath was getting fast. I peeked under the stalls but saw no one in sight.

« Over here! ». The voice sang. I slowly picked myself back up off the floor and made my way to the far stall door. My hand was shaking uncontrollably, and I began to sweat. I slowly open the door, but there was nothing in there. The stall door beside me bursted open and I yelped with surprise. A woman with long black hair covering half her body ran out of the bathroom, with her giggling still lingering around me.

« Lathious! ». I asked breathlessly. I heard no answer. A small lullaby of a female voice rang through the silent bathroom. It was calm and soothing, yet something was off about the voice of it. I straightened my back and slowly opened the door to the hallway. The hallway was empty, almost empty. The same woman was slowly walking down the hallway facing away from me.

« La, La, La La La ». She sang. Her voice was so calming it was almost like a spell.

« Who are you. » I mumbled more to myself then the woman. Her walking continued like she didn't hear me. I cleared my throat and tried again. « Who are you! ». I yelled at her. The woman stopped walking and stopped singing. Her body made a small crack in her back and everything went pitch black.

« La, La, La La La ». I heard her voice all around me but it was still dark. The school lights came back on but everything is different. The lockers were more bumped and damaged then usual. The floor was covered in puddles of water and mossy grass. It was the school hallway, but it was almost as if nature took over it for a long time now.

« What the hell? ». I whispered. I heard the familiar giggle behind me and I slowly turned my body in the direction of it. The woman's body was cracking uncontrollably. Her body twitched and started to grow taller and taller. A white dress she was wearing was starting to float in the air around her as she grew. « Oh my god ». I whispered under my breath. She stopped growing once she was to the ceiling and cracked her neck once more before she screamed a blood curling scream and flew herself at me. I turned and ran as fast as I could down the hallway as she was gaining on me. The water from the puddles splashed up at my legs as I gained speed. All round me the lockers flew open and were thrown all around the hallway. I ducked the lockers and kept running until I reached the end of the hallway. I snapped my body around to the woman and she was flying at me. She wasn't running at all, she was actually flying towards me!

« Larson! ». She screeched. Her face came into view until it was almost touching mine and it was more horrific then I could ever imagine. Her eyes were a bright white and her face was black with rigged wrinkles like she was under water for a long time. Her teeth like razor blades, and her fingers like black swords. She grabbed my arm and dig into my skin and I screamed and shut my eyes.

« No! ». I cried in pain.

« Larson! ». I snapped my eyes open and Tate was standing in front of me practically having a heart attack.

« Where? » I whispered.

« Where what! ». Tate demanded.

« The woman. Where...where is the woman ». I mumbled. My mind was too baffled by the situation I was just in to realize the situation I was in. Everyone poured out from the cafeteria and watched the event. This was real, it had to be real.

« What woman? ». Tate sighed worriedly. He released his grip from my shoulders and grabbed my arm and I winced. « Larson what did you do to your arm? ». He yelled. I looked down and four deep, scratches were in my arm.

« I don't know ». I whispered. Blood flowed down my arm and dropped to the floor. Everyone was just staring in disbelief. Have you ever had that feeling? That everyone stopped to stare and judge you? It was painful, but at this moment I didn't care. I wanted to leave.

« Larson ». I heard a familiar voice said gently. I look up and somehow feel relieved.

« Erica? ». I said it more as a statement then a question. She didn't smile at me this time. She looked worried and concerned.

« What did you see? ». She asked me quietly. I looked at her strange and a tear slowly fell from my left eye. She quickly wrapped me in a hug and I dug my face into her neck. I did not cry, I just wanted to be held.

« Mrs. Dire ». The principal said while coming from around the corner. « Students return to class. There is nothing to see here ». He said to everyone. The students dispersed into small whispers all around me.

« Lathious. Are you there? ». I whispered.

« Yes ». He replied.

« Why didn't you answer me? ». I asked him.

« Our bond was sealed. Once you are in their world, we can no longer stay connected ».

« Their world? ». I mumbled.

« What happened here? ». The principal asked.

« It's was all a scene of false imagery. I will be taking him home ». She replied.

« Mrs. Dire, I appreciate your concern, but you are not his guardian ». He replied. Erica snapped right up and stared into his eyes with furry. I have never seen her so upset, she was always calm.

« I am now ». She said to him. There was something in her voice that was so intriguing I myself wanted to believe it.

« Yes. Very well. Take as long as you need ». He said and walked away like nothing ever happened.

« Come on Larson ». Tate picked me up off the floor and started helping me outside to the parking lot. She said it was fake but what they didn't know is that the same lullaby was still ringing in my ears as we left the school.