Erica.
"Yeah. I'll see you again. Love you" I blew a kiss at the phone as Zoe did the same and the call cut off. I smiled as I already missed them. The past three weeks went by in a flash. Our sleepover was amazing and it was really one of the best girl time I'd ever had. Zoe and Paula really made my summer. So did the rest of my friends who were present. Sadly, Zoe and Paula had to head back urgently. Apparently, one of the best agency recruited Zoe for a model shot. If this ended up successful, it could land her a permanent contract. I was really happy for her. It's always been her dream. Paula went with her as a cheer squad, I wanted to tag along also but I had practice.
Walking down the road, I saw my favorite mall across the street. It's been a while. I crossed over and went in as their new jewelries caught my eyes.
"Hhm!" I said delightfully as I liked what I saw. Carefully examining them, a double star earing designed with silver stone shone at the edge. I picked it up and smiled as I knew this would fit her. "Hey Alex, what'd you think abou this?"
I looked to my side and the smile faded off as I realized I'd done it again. I was talking to myself again. I don't know what is wrong with me. I don't even remember whose name I'd just called out. It's been like this for a while. It started during the sleepover. When the girls were trying to pick a movie from a horror series, I had walked in.
"No way. No horror movies. Are you trying to see Alex wet herself? She can't handle stuffs like this"
They had all stared at me for a moment and then Zoe asked
"Who's Alex?"
"What?" I was taken aback by her question as I didn't know who she was talking about. So I asked "Who's Alex?"
Another minute silence passed and Zoe dragged "Yeah?"
I realized they were looking at me for an answer "Hold on. Why're you all staring at me? I don't know who Alex is? Who is she? Someone from school?"
"How're we supposed to know that?! You're the one who said "Alex" can't handle horror movies."
"I did?!
*
I still couldn't make sense of that day, but since then, I've been calling out the name of someone I know nothing about. I walked out of the mall feeling confused. I couldn't wash off the feeling that I was forgetting something... Or was it someone?.
My brows furrowed as I suddenly felt myself remembering something.
"Watch out!" Someone yelled behind me and immediately I stopped in her track, a huge signboard dropped right infront of me and shattered. I screamed and fell back in shock as the loud sound made my ears ring. I felt my heart beat fast as I didn't notice the people gathering around and asking if I was okay. I couldn't get my mind off it.
Just one more step.
One more step and I could have had my head split into two.
"...ey...hey, are you okay?" The ringing in my ear stopped.
"Y-yeah. I'm fine." I was totally dazed out.
"Here. Let me help you up."
I took the hand outstretched to me and she pulled me up. My legs felt a bit wobbly.
"You must've been startled."
"You think?" I let out a wry smile. "Thanks a lot."
I made my way to leave but she held my hand and drew me back.
"Can I have a talk with you?"
"Sorry?" I was taken about by her question "About what?"
"Alex." She said and stared at me like she was trying to observe my reaction.
"Who's Ale..." I paused as I remembered it was the name I'd been calling out. But I didn't know who Alex was. Me calling her name was just a pure coincidence, just like getting people's name mixed up.
"So you do remember." The lady said with a smile and I couldn't help but notice her beautiful features. Her caramel colored hair that matched her eyes made her rosy lips appear more attractive. She was dressed casually. A red trench coat with a white knee length gown. But I was still suspicious of her. "it's dangerous for you to stay here."
"What– are you talking about?" I asked as I slowly withdrew my hand from hers. "I'm sorry. I think you have the wrong person."
She went silent and her stare made me uncomfortable. She released my hand and stuck her hand into her coat pocket, then she let out a sigh.
"I wouldn't want anything to happen to you. Especially not now, but I can't force you to go with me. I'll let you think about it, but you need to think fast. I don't have that much time... And Alex needs you."
I wanted to pass her off as crazy but the crazy thing was that I could see she was dead serious.
"If you do change your mind just come out and walk. You'll find me. Also... try not to go out too much, your house is much safer."
She walked away and I watched her back disappear into the corner. My heart suddenly felt heavy. I turned back and kept walking as all I could tell myself was 'something doesn't feel right'.
After that day, the week played out like a death trap. It started with little things like me stubbing my toe against objects, things falling out of my hand even when I have a firm grip on them, my things disappearing one after the other, the water unusually cutting off when I have soap all over. Appearing like a momentary bad luck, I paid no mind to it.
Until things got really dangerous and unnatural.
I was walking down the stairs when suddenly, I felt something push me down the stairs. I was lucky enough to get a grip on the handle. My eyes widened angrily as I thought Jane and Karen were the ones playing around and had accidentally hit me but when I looked back, no one was there. I waited knowing they would try to take a peek but none of them came back.
"Did they run off?" I said.
"What are you doing?"
My head shot back down the stairs as Jane gave me a weird look. Seeing Jane, I asked.
"Where's Karen?"
"Watching TV." She replied pointing behind her and I moved down the stairs to get a clear view of Karen sitting down in front of the television with her favorite show on.
"What?" Karen asked and I straightened up.
"It's nothing." I replied and looked back up the stairs. I was very sure I felt someone touch me. I went to the kitchen where my mom was trying to make dinner.
"Erica, get me the knife over there." She said as her hands were occupied.
"Kay." I saw the knife on the counter and stretched for it. Suddenly, it spun past my face and fell behind me as I stood in shock.
I hadn't touched the knife.
"My God. Were you playing with the knife again?! All I asked you to do was give it to me. I just can't trust any of you in my kitchen." My mom nagged as she came up behind me to pick up the knife herself, she got up and paused. "Ohmygod! You're bleeding."
"What?" I said and felt a sting on my face. I could feel something dripping down my face and I touched it to see blood. I hadn't realized the knife grazed me. My mom took out the kit from one of the cabinet.
"Let me see," she held my face with a worried look and winced like she was the one with the cut. "I hope this doesn't scar."
I couldn't process my head around it. I didn't touch the knife. It definitely flew itself, but even I found it hard to believe. It wasn't possible. I winced as she dabbed my face carefully and bandaged.
"There." She said with a sigh "You've been a bit clumsy this week, is everything okay?" She asked as she stared at me but I couldn't answer. I also wanted an answer to her question. She gently stroked my head before saying "it's okay."
She grabbed me by the shoulders and led me out of the kitchen. "Lunch will be done in a while."
I walked dazedly to the sofa and sat next to Karen who was glued to her show and grinning from both ears.
"How could she be smiling that hard when I'm going through a life crisis here?" I thought and grabbed the remote, then I changed the channel.
"Hey! I was watching that!" She yelled.
"Yeah. I know. Now I wanna watch too."
"MOM!!!" She screamed and my mom yelled back.
"What now?!"
"Erica won't let me watch my show!"
"You've been glued to the screen for too long, take a break!" My mom yelled back and Karen's mouth dropped. I stuck my tongue out and she frowned. It felt so good to have my way. I changed the channels as she folded her arms next to me but honestly...there was nothing interesting I wanted to watch. I sighed as I clicked the remote once again and a TV show came on.
"Oh! I know this show! Alex likes it." I said excitedly
"Huh? Someone likes this show? There's nothing funny about it even though it's a comedy show." Karen said looking disgusted.
I watched a little of it "You're right. There's nothing funny about it. Now that I think about it I don't think I've ever seen her laugh while watching this." I got excited once again and took out my phone "I should call her and let her know it's on."
I scrolled through my phone and Karen asked sulkily "Who's Alex anyway? A new friend of yours?"
"Huh?" I said and looked at her "who's Alex?"
"Why're you asking me that? She's your friend not mine." She got up angrily and walked off, leaving me in daze once again. I did it again. How do I know she's never smiled at the show? Something didn't fit in. I stared at the TV and immediately, something came to me. I remember braiding someone's hair, the caramel blond looked familiar. The weird woman came to my mind but I knew it wasn't her. It was someone else. I pressed my head and gave it a long thought as I could feel myself remembering something. Something really import...
I paused as my eyes read the contact name on my phone. I didn't know who Alex was, never met her before, but I couldn't understand why her name was on my phone with so much heart emojis. I would never give anyone so much heart emoji.
"1,2,3,4...20?!" I counted and yelled in disbelief. That wasn't all, there was a sparkle, best friends love, flowers and another heart. There's no way I wouldn't remember someone so important. I looked behind me "Did one of you mess with my phone?!"
"Karen did it." Jane ratted as usual.
"Jane!" Karen yelled and looked at me "I only took some pictures I swear."
I squinted at her but I could tell she was telling the truth. I turned back as I could hear the two arguing but I had a more serious issue. There was only one way to solve this mystery. I pressed the dial button and put the phone to my ear. The call got cut off before it could go through. I tried it again, it stayed the same. I decided to forget about it if I don't a reply the third time. I put the phone to my ear and was surprised when it started ringing. I could feel my heart beating faster as I got curious. The person picked up and I got up anxiously.
"He–"
"–get out of the house now!"
"What?"
A loud bang above me made me scream as I crouched down and covered my head. Something came crashing down on me but it didn't hurt much.
"Oh my gosh! Mom!!" I could hear Jane scream.
"Ah! Erica!" My mom screamed. I slowly looked up and my eyes widened to see a whole tree poking through the ceiling. A little more and I could have been crushed.
"Erica! Come here." My mom panicked as she held me with shaky hands and quickly pulled me out. "Outside! Outside outside everyone outside!"
She pulled us out and we were shocked to see the view from outside. The tree had practically destroyed our house.
"This is crazy." Karem said
"Are you okay sweetheart? Did you get hurt anywhere?" My mom searched me thoroughly and I shook my head, I didn't realize I was scared until I spoke up.
"I–i'm fine." My voice trembled and my mom gave me a tight hug. I needed it, my whole body wouldn't stop shivering. It was clear to me now, something was after me.
"Right. I need to call your dad." She stepped back and paused. "I left my phone in there."
I realized I still had mine in my hand "You can use mine."
"That's good enough." She took it and paused "Where you on the line with someone?"
I had forgotten I was talking to Alex. I grabbed the phone and put it to my ear. She had said to get out of the house. "Hey. What's going on?"
"You need to leave there. If you stay there too long you're going to get your whole family involved."
"What are you talking about?"
"You want answers, I have them. Trust me when I say your family will be safe... Because it's you they want."
I ran my fingers through my hair as I couldn't make sense of what she was saying. I looked over at my mom and sister's and realized nothing out of the ordinary had actually happened to them. It was all me.
"What's wrong?" My mom asked and I let out a sigh. I handed the phone over to her and made a run for it. "Erica! Where're you going?!"
"You give dad a call! I'll be back in a minute!" I yelled back and made a turn to the next street. I kept running without a place in mind and just when I was about to stop, the lamp post behind me fell on the path I'd just ran past. I breathed heavily as I stared at the ground unbelievably. A car packed in front of me and the door flew open. A head peered at me and I recognized her as the weird woman.
"Get in." She said and I hesitated. Another lamp post fell, closer this time. I looked back and jumped into the car as she sped off.
"What's happening?" I asked as I caught my breath. "Are you sure my mom and sisters are safe?"
"Trust me on that. I have people who would take care of them and get your house fixed in no time, the most important thing right now is getting you away from them. You're remembering something you shouldn't have so they want to get rid of you before you recollect completely." She explained but she still wasn't making sense to me.
"Who is 'them'?" I asked and I heard a car crash behind us. I looked back to see an accident of three cars clashed together.
"Pretty aggressive aren't they?" She said with a smirk as she made a sharp turn to the left. I was lost. No one seemed to be chasing us. "Touch me."
"Huh?"
"Touch me, then you'll see what I'm talking about?"
I blinked and slowly placed my hand on her shoulder. I looked at the road at the back again and something seemed different. At first all I saw was steam...
...but then it started to take shape.
The numbers multiplied and my jaw dropped as my eyes almost popped out.
"What–on earth–are those?!".