Entangled Souls - A String of Connected Fates

Running From Enigma

Saturday, 10 PM, across the hallway, there it was, a silhouette of a person that's been on my track since I started walking through this passage. It maintains its distance, whenever I turn my back, it stops. I couldn't recognize its face nor was I able to notice any elements of its physical appearance at all. Everything was a blur yet I simply disregarded it as I thought it's just another co-worker who also decided to come home late.

Silence embraced the empty rooms as I passed them one by one. This was a pretty tight passage; so tight that I can actually touch both the doors from my left and right with my fingers if I simply stretch them out. As I continued to venture into this hallway, I noticed that even a glimpse of the passage's end was yet to be seen. It truly was a long and tight hallway just like what my late grandmother told me. Another thing that I noticed was there were no people in any corner. No noise aside from my beating heart. Everything but a scent of comfort infiltrated my senses as lullabies of peace faded in the background to be replaced by a surge of regrets gradually filling up the stretched passage. As I pass a certain area of the hallway, its corresponding lights gradually dim then instantly disappear. The darkness continued to swallow my back, yet for some reason, I still sensed the shadow's presence—the silhouette of a person who's still creeping behind me. I slowly turned to see if my suppositions were correct but the only scenery that my eyes were able to witness was a pitch-black wall. Yet I knew, my heart knew, someone was there. Glaring intently at my soul. Someone surrounded by the void was out there, smiling behind my back. I knew there was a pair of eyes that were locked on my nape. And it's slowly but surely, following the footsteps that I left behind.

Without any warning, this suspicion was confirmed. After a long time of just hearing my own heartbeat and the flickering of lights, I finally heard another noise. A voice. But I sensed something wrong. Something's not right. It's in heavy pain. Every pitch it produced came with a burden of regrets. I wanted to help but every teardrop of this person that touches the floor repeatedly echoes a sinister warning to my soul, keeping me from even comfortably lifting a finger. Warning. A grave warning that unfortunate things would happen if I even tried approaching its shrieking squeal. But my body could not help it, never in my life have I abandoned someone who's in need; at least, except for a single soul. I could not tolerate this feeling of lending a hand. I could feel its suffering through its endless sobbing. It stabs my conscience endlessly. It's crying. There's a different tone to its tears. Ominous. Cold. Regretful. But it is still crying. Maybe something unfortunate happened to this person and now, its life is in great danger? Maybe I should really go back and ask?

And with that, I left the light before me and entered the blanket darkness behind my back.

I started to walk in the opposite direction. Slowly. Hesitantly. Silently quivering. As I entered through the shadows surrounding my path, a strange room caught my wandering eyes. I didn't notice it earlier when I first passed this part of the passage. Maybe it was because I was too focused on the shadow that seemed to chase my trail? I took a peek at the room but it was empty. There was nothing but chairs and desks. Out of mere curiosity, I gently entered through the seemingly old wooden door. Was it even here before? That, I don't know nor I wish to know. The first thing that greeted my skin as I managed to get inside was a gush of cold wind. Sorrowful, tormenting, cold wind. Without any warning, I found my right hand gripping my chest as I slowly heard my heartbeat getting louder and louder. I couldn't find a word to express this feeling of uneasiness and unfamiliarity. My feet took three steps back as I pressed against a wall. To my dismay, the situation finally registered in my consciousness—the door, the one I used to get inside this lonesome room, was gone. My hands shivered, the beat of my heart started rampaging in my ears, and my skin felt the coldness of the floor as I collapsed against the wall. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what I was supposed to do. The last brink of sanity that was left in my fragile body was drained by a voice that broke the silence of my consciousness.

"Help" it begged with a familiar, breaking, dejected voice

Saturday, 11 PM, inside the cold room, there it was, a silhouette of a person standing in front of the window. It maintains its distance from my shivering lying body on the ground. I couldn't recognize its face nor was I able to notice any elements of its physical appearance. The only thing that I could see was its shadow produced by the light of the moon beaming through the window. Everything was a blur but I could not disregard what's happening anymore. It isn't just another co-worker, it's something different. Something unreal. Something menacing.

"I was abandoned by my owner" it continued to speak with this cold and emotionless yet cracking voice.

As much as I wanted to ask, my body was glued to the floor and my mouth was sealed with an invisible seal. The freezing temperature of the floor extended upward to my body that's seemingly even time left behind. It never occurred to me that I would be in such an enigmatic situation that transcends logic itself. Never in my life would I be able to realize this.

Wait. Wait. Who am I kidding? I couldn't even recall the significant happenings in my life.

Why was I talking as if I could have predicted anything plausible to happen?

I gently closed my eyes, accepting my demise. If my life would end here at the hands of an unknown entity, then so be it. As my vision slowly turned into blackness, images and voices flashed before my senses. This is probably what happens to people near death. They tend to recall their journey in life, no matter how pointless and useless it was. And with that, different voices trespassed my vulnerable consciousness.

"Is that the kid whose father was jailed last week because of the life he just took? Such a frightening family, we must stay away from those kinds."

"Ha! Fatherless! Orphan! Why are we even classmates when you can barely pay your tuition fee?!"

"Poor child. Haven't you heard? His step-father is abusing him to do inhumane amounts of chores? Ah, poor kid."

"Really?! Cheap flowers?! Can't you go for any better gift?! It's our anniversary for Christ-sake!"

"You're a disappointment! If only you took the college program we wanted you to take!"

"Ha! Is this the extent of your abilities? How disappointing, go back to your old job. You're officially fired"

"You're sad again? Stay away from me or I'd be infected with that pointless drama of yours!"

"Depression? Really? Do you believe such a thing? How childish!" "You're not depressed! You're just sad."

"Suicidal thoughts? How weak of a person can you be?! Just stop being sad, you moron!"

Amidst the chaos that was corrupting my mind, I heard several footsteps resembling those of a soldier—they were coming my way. It was the unknown entity. The shadow I was afraid to help, yet for some reason, I still tried. It's getting closer and closer. I could hear it, the beat of my heart that synchronized with its march. It's getting closer and closer. I could smell it, the scent of despair and regret this entity was carrying with its every step. Yet for some reason, I could also sense its smile. I was wrong, it was not mischievous nor malicious at all, it was just a mask it put on to hide the densest of sufferings one couldn't even imagine. And at last, it's an inch away from my face. It's glaring, I could feel its breath. Cold. Regretful. Pitiful.

With the last ounce of my courage, I attempted to open my eyes. There I was, inside a room. It wasn't embraced by the blanket of the void. It's just a normal room. There my body was, lying not on the floor but resting on a soft mattress. There they were, the tears that I was too afraid to approach now flowing on my face. And finally, there it was, the shadow I was too afraid to get close to, the entity I momentarily ignored, the person I almost refused to help, the single soul I neglected for so long staring and crying right back at me in the mirror.

Sunday, 9 AM, inside the warm room, there he was, a person who finally decided to extend a helping hand to his wandering shadow—his soul, himself.