My mind was a swirling fog as I walked towards my room. Silas still following silently behind me. Each step seemed heavier than the last, and the world around me felt distant and blurred. I suddenly stumbled over my own foot. Just as I was about to fall, Silas firm arms caught me.
"Careful, Miss Aurora," Silas voice was low and soothing, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Thank you," my cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and something else, something I couldn't quite place. His touch lingered longer than necessary, his hands warm and steady against my skin before he gently released me.
We continued to my room while Silas guiding me with a protective presence. Once inside, he asked if I would like some warm soup. I just nodded my head, too weary to do more. A few moments later, he returned with a steaming bowl. The aroma was comforting, wrapping around me like a familiar embrace.
"Do you need anything else, Miss Aurora?" Silas asked.
I looked up at him, my thoughts briefly clearing. "Just call me Auri. Most people do. 'Miss Aurora' is too formal."
Silas shook his head slightly, a polite smile playing on his lips. "I prefer to call you Aurora."
I opened my mouth to protest but stopped. I just realized how much I liked the way my name sounded when he said it. There was something intimate, almost possessive in his tone. I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips.
When I sipped the warm soup, the fog in my mind began to dissipate. Silas' presence felt like an anchor, grounding me. His eyes never left me and I could feel his concern and something deeper, something I dared not name.
"Thank you, Silas," my voice barely more than a whisper. There was warmth in my words, a gratitude that went beyond the soup.
"It's my duty and my pleasure, Aurora," he replied, his eyes holding mine for a moment longer than needed before he bowed slightly. "Rest well."
When Silas turned to leave, I found myself watching him. My heart beating a little faster. The way he had caught me earlier, the sound of my name on his lips, all of it lingered in my mind. For the first time in a long while, I felt a flicker of something I hadn't felt before. As the door closed softly behind him, I realized I wasn't just grateful for his help, I was captivated by the man himself.
I left for school early. We have an important event today, and I want to ensure that everything will be perfect. Before leaving, I told Silas that I'd be home late. He looked hesitant, but he still agreed with a nod.
Upon arriving at school, I headed straight to our department's designated area. We were setting up a horror booth for university week, and everyone was bustling around, hanging decorations and arranging props. I joined in, my mind focused on the task at hand, but I couldn't help but notice that Yue was still not here.
Just as I was about to call her, she walked into the room. I immediately noticed the dark circles under her eyes and their puffiness. I approached her.
"Are you okay?" I asked softly.
"I'm fine," Yue assured me with a small smile that didn't reach her eyes. Knowing her well, I didn't press further. Yue hated being bombarded with questions. She'll open up once she's ready.
We resumed our work and after several hours of hard labor, our horror room was complete. The transformation was impressive and spine-chilling.
The room was dimly lit, with flickering lights casting eerie shadows on the walls. Fake cobwebs hung from the ceiling, their threads glistening in the low light. In the corner, a life-sized mannequin dressed as a ghost swayed slightly, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. The walls were adorned with old, faded photographs and portraits whose eyes seemed to follow you wherever you went.
A fog machine filled the air with a low-hanging mist, making it difficult to see the floor clearly. The occasional sound of creaking wood and distant, echoing whispers played from hidden speakers, giving the illusion of an old, haunted house. In one corner, a table was set up with various jars filled with mysterious, gruesome-looking contents: fake eyeballs, dismembered fingers, and other macabre items that looked disturbingly real.
Near the entrance, there's a tattered, ancient-looking book lay open on a pedestal, its pages filled with strange, cryptic symbols and drawings. Candles flickered around it, casting an ominous glow. The centerpiece of the room was a large, ornate mirror with cracks running through it. Legend had it that if you stared into it long enough, you could see the ghosts trapped within.
As I looked around, I felt a mixture of pride and excitement. The horror room was truly terrifying, and I knew it would leave a lasting impression on anyone who dares to enter.
We stood back while admiring our work, a sense of accomplishment mingling with the eerie atmosphere. Our horror room was ready and it was perfect.
I decided to grab lunch so I invited Yue to join me. We had already gotten our food when I suddenly remembered I'd left my phone in the horror room.
"I left my phone, Yue. I need to go back and get it."
"I'll go with you," Yue offered but I shook my head.
"No, it's fine. I'll be quick."
I remembered setting it on the center table while I was busy applying fake blood to the chairs.
When I entered the horror room, the chill in the air wrapped around me like a cold embrace. The dim lighting barely penetrated the oppressive darkness, casting long, jittery shadows on the walls. My eyes quickly found my phone resting on the center table. But something else caught my eye. Seated in one of the chairs was a figure draped in an old, tattered wedding gown. The gown was stained with dark, dried blood, and the veil hung in tatters. My heart raced. I couldn't make out the figure's face clearly, but it was unmistakably a woman. I tried to remind myself that it was probably just a mannequin, but a creeping realization hit me. We didn't have a wedding gown costume among our props.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" I called out. The figure remained unnervingly still. I forced myself to breathe deeply while trying to convince myself it was nothing more than a creepy prop. I took a hesitant step toward the table, my heart pounding in my chest. As my fingers reached for my phone, a sudden jolt of ice-cold fingers gripped my wrist.
My scream caught in my throat as I stumbled backward, my eyes wide with terror. The figure's grip tightened, and for a horrifying moment, the veil was lifted slightly, revealing pale, lifeless eyes staring directly into mine. As I struggled to free my wrist from the icy grip, and I heard a voice calling my name.
"Aurora?"
I turned towards the doorway, my heart pounding in my chest. Silas stood there, his face a mask of concern. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice cutting through the fog of my panic.
I tried to speak, but before I could respond, the cold grip was gone. I looked back at the chair, but the woman in the wedding gown had disappeared. The room seemed to close in on me, the shadows growing longer and more menacing.
"Did you see her?" I asked Silas. Desperation creeping into my voice. "The woman?"
"What woman?" His expression was one of confusion.
My gaze dropped to my trembling hand, still feeling the ghostly chill. A searing pain began to throb in my head, a sharp, insistent pressure that made it hard to think. The room spun around me.
The sound of Silas' voice grew distant, warped by the pounding in my ears. "Aurora… Aurora…"
My mind was overwhelmed by a swirling maelstrom of terror and confusion. The last coherent thought I had was the haunting image of the woman in the wedding gown, now replaced by an encroaching void. Silas' voice became a distant echo. Everything went black as I collapsed, consumed by the overwhelming darkness.