Chained to Me

2: The Second Encounter

"How can you make such a mistake? Yesterday, you told me they were done. And now, you have 10 missing?"

"What's going on?" I had finally gotten out of bed. These couple of days, it had been exhausting, I had arrived here two days ago, but I had spent half a day with the dean of my new school, helping me out with some paperwork and how far the students have gotten in the syllabus. And the other half, buying the books I didn't have, unpacking and studying the subjects I was behind in.

Then the next day came, as the morning sun was covered by layers of clouds, an e-mail found its way in my inbox. It was from the dean, saying he had made a deal with my parents in order for me to get accepted in the new school. I had to do some volunteer work at some newspaper company, which was a bit of a drag, knowing well that I had too much studying to do. On top of that, my parents knew too well how much I wanted to avoid human (or any) contact.

That's why, in order to get my mind off of things, and an excuse to not study, I had spent yesterday baking cupcakes with my aunt Jenny, while drinking white wine.

"I'm going to fire Jason sooner or later." She smashed the phone on the kitchen table and lit her first cigarette of the day.

"Why? He's a good chocolatier." I switched on the coffee machine to make some good coffee, unlike the ones mum used to make using instant coffee.

"Yes. That's what's holding me back from doing so. But he's the worst when it comes to deadlines and keeping everything updated." She took a puff, then turning to me. "Candle, when are you starting work?"

"Probably tomorrow, but I have to go down to the office to do some paperwork in an hour." I sighed heavily, slumping down on the chair with a warm mug of coffee in hand.

"With which company will you be working with?"

"Berxley Times." She stared at me, putting down her cigarette.

"And your parents approved?" She asked.

"They made a deal with the dean. So, yes. Why?" She looked worried, as if I shouldn't be working at a place like that, or she she knew someone who worked there she didn't want to see. She has a lot of men she didn't want to see.

"Well, if they agreed to it, then okay." She shrugged off her thoughts, then looked at her watch, pointing at it, suggesting I shouldn't be late.

I went to my empty room, having most of my things still in my two suitcases, opened one of them and started searching for something to wear. The clothes I had found weren't the best by far, but they were decent enough. So, I slipped a pair of washed out jeans and an oversized sweater that looked like I was wearing two shirts on top of each other, having a black undershirt and a mustard sweater. And slipped on a pair of knee high boots. Before I headed out, I also grabbed Jenny's small backpack, which she had lent me yesterday and threw in a cereal bar and a bottle of water.

...

The air sent shivers down my spine. With every step down the cement pavement, the air grew chillier as if I was about to find myself into an uncomfortable position. Which I did.

I had a feeling of suddenly being watched by a predator. Helpless like its prey, I trembled, slowly turning my head towards the abandoned house I had just passed. Its lawn had died having its soil similar to black goo. Its walls pale complimenting the aura it was giving and those pitch black windows.

Then I saw it. Those eyes. That deadly stare.
His body stiff and unmoving, his head looking straight ahead having only his eyes trained on me. He was a pale man, almost blending in with the house's white wood as he observed from the attic's window.

I couldn't take my gaze off of him. Second by second, I felt my body move on its own, heading towards the house's door. Curious to uncover the story behind the man in the house. Step by step, I krept closer to the eerie house, my eyes trained on him.

I would've entered that house if something didn't stop me. Who knew what was in that house other than that ghost.

I lifted my head from the ground, having tripped over a broken tile. I was seconds away from opening the door and it scarred me. Yet again, I found myself having had no control over my body, and both times it happened I saw their faces.

I quickly got up and ran as fast as I could, away from the house, trying to get my mind focused on something else, rather than ghosts and haunted houses.

I had already ran two blocks, finally facing my new job's front door. Berxley Times. Three storeys of brick wall faced me, having the company's sign hanging on the second floor's walls.

And so, I pushed the glass door open and headed in.

*****************************

Thank you for reading Chained to Me.

Its getting interesting by the second. I know the chapters are a bit short, but its better to have them short and exciting then to write too much that I somehow get side tracked.

This was an updated version of my comic going by the same name, which has now been unfortunately discontinued, but you can still check it out in the link below:

tapas.io/series/Chained-to-Me

other links: linktr.ee/erica_mallia