Aisle Thirteen

Chapter 5

My whole body is trembling. I can't maneuver the steering wheel properly. I decided to park my car on the next street. I need to calm myself before I get into an accident just because I can't drive properly.

I parked my car. I bowed my head on the steering wheel. I kept on repeating inhaling and exhaling. I calmed myself.

After a few moments, I felt a sudden touch from my back.

My eyes widened when I remembered that I was alone here in my car! That sudden touch became like a comforting touch. Slowly, I turn my head heavenward, my eyes still closed.

I began to feel on where the touch is coming from. If it's on my side, then the one's touching me is just beside me. If it's coming from the back, then it's at the back seat.

The caress was coming from the back. It's at the back seat. I planned what to do. The moment I open my eyes, I'll only see how it looks like then I'll get out of my car and will run as fast and as far as I could.

I took a deep breath. Slowly, I opened my eyes.

My eyes went to the mirror in front so that I could see of who's at the back seat. I was so ready to run.

But then when I finally opened my eyes, there's no one at the back.

I looked in front again.

I shook my head.

"Oh! Cal! Is it just imagination, again?" I asked myself.

"No." Someone said beside me.

I faced it.

And there, I saw it.

The woman from the grocery store. The woman who smiled creepily at me. She's beside me now.

Her nails were dark and dirty. Her fingers were wrinkled like her face. Her eyes were brooding and red. Then her smile. Her creepy smile, that shows her crooked almost black teeth.

I reached for the door and opened it. I got out of my car and I started running.

I took a cab on my way home. I can't believe what I just saw!

I can't believe what happened. I saw the woman. It talked to me! It's not just my imagination! It's fucking real.

I went inside our house and my mom immediately blocked my way. I was planning to not let her see me because I can't talk to her right now.

"Where do you think you're going?" She asked.

"Mom, please, I'm tired. Okay?" I said frustratingly.

"Oh yes you're tired from grocery shopping! You may rest. But where are the groceries?" She asked me and looked behind me as if I was hiding the grocery bags.

Shit! The grocery bags! I left them inside my car!

Holy cow, what will I tell her?

Should I tell her the truth?

What if she won't believe me?

Should I make up stories?

What?

"I uh, uhm.." I can't find the right words.

"Hmm?" She probed.

"I forgot it inside my car. I uh, left it there. Uhm. I left my car on the Carmel street. I'll get it tomorrow. I'm sorry mom."

I badly want to just dismiss my mom and run to my room. I need to think. I'm going to go crazy.

"Why did you left your car and the groceries there? And why do you look so troubled? Something wrong, Cal?" She asked, worried.

"There's nothing wrong, mom. I'm okay. I'm just tired. One of my wheels got flattened so I left it. I forgot to take the groceries with me."

"Okay. Alright. But are you hungry? You haven't eaten anything. C'mon, I'll get you something to eat." She held my hand.

"I'm okay, mom. I'm not hungry." I refused.

"I just really want to rest, okay?" I said.

"Oh. Okay. But if ever you get hungry just tell me, okay?"

"Yes mom. I'll go upstairs now. Good night."

"Good night, sweetie." She kissed my head.

I went to my room. I need to process everything that I saw.

Is it real?

If it is, then why is she bothering me?

What does she want from me?

If it's not... no. It is real. I believe what I saw. I believe what I heard.

That woman. That black woman.

What do you want from me?

I'm analyzing everything, when I felt like something... well, someone is watching me.

I'm alone in my room. My lights were dim. My whole room was silent.

I laid on my bed properly. I looked around. There's no one.

There's no one inside my room, but there's someone outside. It's behind my window. And take note that my room is on the second floor of our house.

I can't see it properly because of my curtain. But the shadow was very visible. It's a tall image. A woman, with curly hair.

"Oh, shit." I whispered.

I hid under my comforter. I'm terrified. I wanted to call my mom but I can't seem to voice out what I want to say.

It's been around 5 minutes since I hid myself. I decided to take a peek if it's still there.

Slowly, I uncover myself from the comforter, with my eyes still closed.

I take a look at my window. There's nothing there. I took a deep breath. Good thing, it's gone.

"I'm still here."

I looked up to see the woman on my ceiling, wearing her creepy smile.

She got down and cover me with comforter. I can't breathe.

I muffled words until I ran out of breath.

"Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed as I opened my eyes.

I can't breathe properly. I woke up from a nightmare. I can't believe that even in my dreams, that woman is still haunting me.

I can't do this by myself. I need help.

I grabbed my phone and dialed the number of the person who I only trust besides my mom.

After a few rings, she answered.

"Hello, Micaela..."