After what felt like an eternity of classes that dragged on like a slow torture, Ethan finally stumbled through the front door of his home. The familiar surroundings offered little comfort; the silence was deafening. He glanced around, hoping to see Jacob's familiar figure, but the house was empty. A wave of unease washed over him as he realized he was alone with his thoughts.
Ethan dropped his backpack by the door and sank onto the couch, the weight of the day pressing down on him like a heavy blanket. He tried to shake off the feeling of dread that clung to him, but it was no use. The thought of facing another day like today was unbearable. He couldn't keep living like this, trapped in a cycle of fear and confusion.
"I know you're there," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper, but it echoed in the stillness of the room. "You win. I can't live like this anymore." He felt a chill sweep through the air, a sign that the presence he had sensed for so long was indeed watching him.
Ethan took a deep breath, his heart racing. "What do you want from me?" he continued, his voice steadier now. "Judging by how badly it seemed today, tomorrow is bound to be worse. What would you have me do?"
He felt a strange mix of resignation and acceptance wash over him. He couldn't fight the unknown; it was too powerful, too overwhelming. The idea of confronting a ghost was absurd, and yet here he was, speaking to the air as if it could respond. He wasn't even religious—he had never believed in the supernatural. But the reality of his situation was undeniable.
As he sat there, waiting for a response that may never come, Ethan felt a sense of calm settle over him. Maybe accepting his fate was the only way to find peace. He closed his eyes, allowing the darkness to envelop him, hoping that somehow, in this moment of surrender, he would find the answers he desperately sought.
The room was dim, shadows dancing along the walls as Ethan sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the floor. The silence was thick, almost suffocating, when suddenly, a voice broke through the stillness, smooth and teasing. "I assumed you would last a little longer with all the bravado you showed the last time we spoke."
Ethan's heart raced as he looked up, the ghost materializing before him, its form shimmering with an otherworldly glow. Kai had a look of pure amusement on his face. 'He definitely enjoyed watching me suffer'. A mix of dread and resignation washed over him. "You're back," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't think you'd actually come."
"Two days, Ethan. Quite the accomplishment for someone who seems so fragile," the ghost said, a playful lilt in its tone. "I expected more of a fight."
Ethan let out a hollow laugh, the sound echoing in the quiet room. "Two days? That's a big achievement for me," he replied, his shoulders slumping. "I'm not one for challenges. I thought I could handle it, but I can't. I'm just... tired."