"I'll leave you to do your work now," the old man said, causing Mia's eyes to widen in shock. He was going to leave her in the dark? All alone? With an isolated tombstone? Which had a huge statue of a man on it?
"Sir please don't go," Mia quickly spoke as the man turned to leave.
"Why? Is there a problem?" He asked, his gaze lingering on her scared face.
"You….can't just leave me here"
She was started to feel hit even tho it was chilly.
"I can't stay here with you miss, call me if you encounter any trouble or when you done cleaning the place," the old man said before turning to leave.
Once alone, Mia turned to the tombstone. It stood silent sentinels, the inscriptions withered by time. She couldn't even read the name on it. Her heart was racing as she took in the stillness around her. An eerie cold wind blew past her, making the hair on her neck stand.
'Relax Mia,' she tried telling herself while taking in deep breath to calm her nerves.
She pulled out a pair of gloves and put them on before starting work.
The place was dark so she needed the assistance of her phone's flashlight.
As she pulled her phone out, her arm brushed against something cold and solid, almost like an arm. Startled, she froze, her heart racing. Slowly she turned around but was shocked to see no one there.
'I don't have to keep scaring myself like this. There's nothing here, I just have to do my work and go home,' she mumbled to herself.
She turned her attention back to the tombstone and started plucking out the overgrown creeping plants that had covered the tombstone. Her hands were still trembling with fear so she decided to play some music to calm her nerves. She slipped in her earphones since she didn't want to disturb the dead. Playing loud music in a cemetery felt disrespectful to her. She selected her favorite playlist , hoping the familiar melodies would soothe her.
She returned to her task, humming silently, for forgetting all her worries instantly.
Her tense shoulders began to ease. The soft song wrapped around her like a warm embrace. She knelt down gently, brushing away the falling leaves and dirt off the tombstone, all this while, the music guiding her thoughts when she suddenly felt a sharp prick on her finger.
She yelled in pain and quickly retreated her finger.
"Gloves these days can't withstand small pressure," she said angrily, ripping the gloves off her fingers.
Taking a deep breath, she examined her finger, a tiny drop of blood had formed her the unknown thing pierced her skin. She quickly dipped her hand in the soapy water to rinse the blood off.
She felt something nice slightly in front of her. Slowly lifting her head, her eyes circled the place for an inch intruder but there was on one. She did not see anyone or anything there, everything was in place, even the standing statue....Wait standing statue????
Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at the statue of a man standing in front of her. She was one hundred percent sure the man was sitting when she got here. How come he was standing now?
Her heart was beating madly against her chest that she could hear it a point. Her throat suddenly run dry and she couldn't believe her eyes?
'Did I not notice this earlier? Was the statue standing? Was is going on? Is someone playing a trick on me? Is this another one of the old man's test?' She wondered, never taking her eyes of statue. She quickly stopped the music and quickly dialed the man's number. She heard it ring till the call ended because he didn't answer.
The statue moved again, this time stretching as if he had been sitting for a long time.
Mia couldn't believe a statue had come to life right in front of her and she didn't want to believe either.
Maybe this was a trick. They were just trying to scare her right? This man is one of those people who act like real life statue for a living right? Or maybe it was a show. It had to be a show. She was sure there were hidden cameras somewhere, where they were capturing her reaction. She was going to see herself all over social media tomorrow.
Mia was so lost in throughts that she jumped back in fright when she noticed the statue had now moved again. It was now so close to her and was almost touching her.
"W…who are you?" She stammered, shaking with fear. "If this is a joke, then it's not funny," she was trying to sound brave but her voice was shaking.
The statue was now taking predatory steps towards her as she crawled backwards away from him.
The man's movements didn't look like that of a statue at all, it looked more humanly but how was that possible.
As the man stepped down his large tombstone, the moonlight cast a warm glow on him and Mia had the chance to make out his features.
He had a chiseled jawline, high cheekbones, and full lips that seem to hold a mysterious smirk. His skin was pale, almost luminescent, contrasting sharply with his dark, tousled hair that fell just above his shoulders.
His eyes were perhaps his most alluring feature—deep crimson or a striking shade of icy blue with a purple ring around them, they had an intensity that drew you in and makes you feel as if he could see right through you. He was clad in an ancient tailored clothing, they were dark colors that enhanced his enigmatic aura, and there was an elegance to his movements, as if he glided rather than walked.
This man exuded a magnetic charm.He carries an air of confidence and danger, making it impossible to look away, even if you know you should.
Mia couldn't take her eyes of him, not only because of his gorgeousness but she was scared he would harm her if she took her eyes of.
As she stared at him, an inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over her. There was something about him that sent a shiver of recognition through her. His dark hair framed his face perfectly, and his striking features seemed to glow in the dim light, making him appear both alluring and enigmatic.
But it wasn't just his looks that drew her in; it was the intensity of his gaze. When their eyes met, a spark ignited, and for a moment, time felt suspended. She couldn't shake the feeling that was bubbling up inside her. Memories she couldn't quite grasp danced at the edges of her mind, teasing her with the promise of something deeper.
As he smiled, a hint of mystery played on his lips, and she felt an inexplicable connection that made her heart race. It was as if he held secrets , and she was inexplicably drawn to uncover them. The air around them seemed to crackle with energy, and she knew in that instant that this encounter was anything but ordinary.
"Who…are you?" She asked again, this time more firmly. She even got grabbed a piece of stick and waved it in the air in a threatening manner, causing him to chuckle.
His chuckle resonated through the air, a sound that echoed like distant thunder. It was deep and rich, layered with centuries of experience and a hint of dark amusement.
There was a seductive quality to it, drawing her in with its magnetic charm, yet it also held an unsettling edge, a reminder of the power and danger that lurked beneath his calm demeanor. The chuckle flowed like velvet, smooth and intoxicating, leaving a lingering chill in the air, as if the very shadows around him were alive and sharing in his mirth.
He crouched down to her level and looked at her as if she was something interesting.
His eyes were fixed on her with an intensity that belied the stillness of the night.
He tilted his head left and right, and narrowed his eyes looking at her with so much interest that shook her.
"S…stay away from me," she said, waving the stick in front of her.
"Why?" He asked, his voice smooth and velvety, making her shiver.
"I….I…." She struggled to speak. It was as if he had sucked the words out of her.
The man raised a brow in a questioning manner.
"I asked you a question, who are you?" Mia asked, trying to hide her fear.
"Who are you? And what are you doing here at this time of the night ?" The man's melodic voice sounded again, sending shivers throughout her body.
"I'm working. I was supposed to clean the grave you just pulled that stunt on," Miam rolled her eyes, getting up immediately.
"It wasn't funny. You just wasted my time."
Mia said and watched the man stand up as well.
His face was so close to her that she had to step back.
Just then something hit her like a tornado. Slowly her eyes widened in shock as she stared at the man before her.
She knew him. She had heard about him countless time. He was a tale all the town folks kept talking about for years.
"B….but you're supposed to….to….be dead," Mia said, pointing a shaky finger at him.