(Afia Akachi)
- - - 5: 50 P.M. - - - International Alfred State University, Europe- - -
The sound of the violin resonated through the stadium, each note weaving a haunting melody that held the audience in a trance.
*Clap, clap, clap.*
"That was great, Afia!" Mariana's voice broke the spell, bringing Afia back to the present.
Afia gently placed her violin down and adjusted her headphones, her eyes meeting Mariana's as she approached the stage. "You know, I've always wondered, how do you hear with your headphones on?" Mariana asked, hoisting herself up to sit on the edge.
Afia smiled, a mysterious glint in her eyes. "I guess I just have a talent for it."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," Mariana replied, rolling her eyes playfully.
Afia glanced around the empty hall. "I heard a new guy is joining us today. Hasn't he arrived yet?"
"That's what Prof. said, but I haven't seen anyone," Mariana shrugged, just as the door creaked open, causing them both to turn toward the noise.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I couldn't catch a ride on time," Timon said, rushing in.
Afia studied him for a moment. "You must be Timon Nguyen, the new pianist?"
Timon nodded, slightly out of breath. "Just call me Tim," he said, making his way up the stage.
As Tim began playing the piano, the haunting notes filled the room, echoing off the walls. The sound was mesmerizing, blending perfectly with the atmosphere of the empty stadium.
As the three wrapped up and prepared to go home, Tim approached Afia. "Hey, um, is it okay if I get your number?"
Afia, who was packing her violin, turned around. "Prof. didn't give you my information?"
Tim shook his head. "He said he would, but I haven't heard from him since two days ago."
Afia sighed, pulling out her phone. "Well, that's Prof. for you. Here's my number," she said, showing it to Tim.
With that, Tim and Mariana headed out. Afia lingered behind, her eyes fixed on her phone. She was preparing for an upcoming concert, and the last-minute replacement of her pianist had added to her stress.
*Clang.*
Afia's head snapped toward the end of the hallway, her heart pounding.
*Cries echoed.*
Sighing, she adjust her headphones once again and pushed open the exit door into the quiet lobby. A mysterious aura stood in the shadows, watching her.
Afia ignored the aura and walked out to the parking lot. Before getting into her car, she glanced back one last time. The foggy aura stood by the window, exuding a grayish purple coloration. Afia recognized this one, just like the one behind the stage room, the one in the changing room, the one on the rooftop, and the one in the parking lot.
They had become a part of her life—spirits.
*Engine starts.*
Afia rested her head back and looked toward her passenger seat, where two present boxes sat. There were small birthday cards wishing her a happy birthday.
Afia's parents were out of the state for a meeting. Her father was the governor, always busy with his duties.
- - - - - -
****Afia's House***
"Miss Afia, you're back," the maid greeted her.
A kid ran from behind. "Afia!" he shouted, hugging her tightly.
Afia smiled, ruffling his hair. "Hey Arthur, you've grown taller since the last time I saw you."
Arthur beamed. "I grew three inches! I'm the tallest in my class!"
Afia chuckled, but Amanda, the maid and Arthur's mother, warned, "Arthur, Miss Afia needs to rest."
"It's fine, Amanda," Afia replied.
Arthur pulled something out of his back pocket. "Happy Birthday, Afia."
Afia let out a laugh. "Thank you, Arthur."
"Alright, Arthur, we should go now," Amanda said.
Arthur and the other maids left the house, leaving Afia in silence.
"Happy Birthday, sweetheart," a voice said.
Afia turned to her grandfather's picture in the small living room. She smiled and walked toward it. Suddenly, a strange aura appeared, forming a figure.
Afia couldn't see the spirits clearly, only perceiving them as auras. Yet, she could hear them—whispers in the night, cries for help, and malevolent threats. Her life was a constant battle between the seen and unseen, a struggle to maintain sanity in a world where the line between reality and the supernatural was always blurred.
Unlike other spirits, she can see her grandfather with perfect clarity. The reason for remains a mystery.
"Give me a hug," her grandpa said.
Afia chuckled. "You know I can't hug you, Grandpa."
"Sometimes I forget I'm a ghost," her grandpa joked.
Afia's smile faded as her grandfather's spirit abruptly glitched, then dissipated. "Grandpa! What's wrong?" she asked, worried.
Her grandfather reassured her. "My power is just fluctuating," he laughed, but it sounded weak.
"Grandpa, you should go," Afia said, her voice tinged with concern.
Her grandfather stubbornly shook his head. "Afia, I won't go until I find your grandmother."
"But you're slowly disappearing," Afia pleaded.
Her grandpa remained silent.
Afia sighed. "I promise I'll find her, Grandpa. So, please, for now, don't do anything."
---
Afia began hearing noises when she entered kindergarten. Her parents thought she was sick or just acting up. They took her to the hospital and even hired exorcists to expel the supposed demon. But nothing worked. It was during this time that she discovered her grandfather's spirit.
Afia's grandfather had died before she was born. He was known to be a loving and great father. Afia always wanted to meet him—though not in the way she did. Nonetheless, it was a dream come true. Afia was a lonely child, the only one in her family, loved but often bullied for being weird. Everyone who knew her family acted nice in front of her but talked behind her back. This was when she started playing the violin.
She discovered that playing the violin made everything stop. The sound of the violin hypnotized everything around her, making it seem as if time had stopped. This discovery was both a gift and a curse.
She could manipulate sound, but it could also manipulate her.
Once, Afia played her violin so intensely that she nearly bled to death. She was so entranced that she couldn't stop playing for an entire day and night. Her ears and nose started bleeding, and it wasn't until her grandfather managed to break the violin that she finally stopped. This incident greatly weakened her grandfather's spirit.
Afia began wearing headphones to block out the noises, but her fingers still knew how to produce the perfect sound.
Her grandfather protected her from evil spirits and those who tried to take advantage of her. Afia also discovered that her grandmother didn't commit suicide but was abducted or disappeared mysteriously. This was why her grandfather's spirit had stayed in the house for 25 years.
Afia wanted her grandfather to give up and move on before it was too late, but she knew he would never agree.
Despite her efforts, Afia always met dead ends in her quest to uncover the truth.