Rita opened her eyes, her vision adjusting to the darkness that surrounded her. A damp, musty scent filled the air, mixed with the faint staleness of decay. She sat up slowly, her fingers brushing against the dusty, cold floor beneath her. Confusion clouded her mind as she scanned the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Huh? Where am I? How did I get here?" she muttered, her voice trembling slightly.
The space around her was dark and unsettlingly quiet, save for the occasional sound of dripping water and the faint creaking of rotting wooden boards above. The walls were cracked, their surfaces covered in peeling paint and creeping vines that had forced their way through the neglected structure.
As she stood up, she realized she was in a part of the school she had never ventured into before—the abandoned section.
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
"That's strange. One moment, I was leaving school, and the next… I woke up here. And now it's already dark?" she murmured.
A sense of unease settled over her. Something about this situation wasn't right. She had no memory of coming here, and she couldn't recall falling asleep either. Had someone brought her here?
Her breathing grew uneven as she processed the unsettling reality.
"It's dark out… and I'm here alone… in this empty, eerie place."
The silence of the old building felt oppressive. She could hear her own heartbeat, loud and rapid. Then suddenly—
Drip.
Creak.
Her breath hitched. The noises were subtle but unnerving. The slow, rhythmic dripping of water echoed through the empty hallways, and every so often, the old wooden structure groaned under its own weight.
Then, cutting through the unsettling stillness—
"Rita… Rita… are you listening?"
A voice, distant and whisper-like, called her name.
Her entire body stiffened.
"Rita… can you come closer?"
A chill ran down her spine.
Her instinct screamed at her to run. Without hesitation, she turned on her heel and sprinted out of the abandoned section, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.
"Who the hell was that?! Why would anyone be in that old building at this hour?" she asked herself, her heart pounding.
Her mind raced with possibilities. Was this some sort of cruel prank? Had someone locked her inside as a joke?
"No, this doesn't make sense… why was I even asleep in there to begin with?"
Her pulse was still erratic as she made her way through the dimly lit streets.
Strange Encounters
Relief washed over her as she spotted a familiar figure walking ahead.
"Chloé! Oh, I'm so glad to see you! You wouldn't believe the crazy night I had!" Rita called out, her voice carrying hints of desperation.
But to her shock, Chloé walked right past her—without so much as a glance.
Rita's stomach twisted.
"Did she just ignore me?" she whispered, turning around to watch her friend disappear into the distance.
A sinking feeling settled in her chest. Chloé wasn't the type to act cold or indifferent. They had been close friends since childhood. If Chloé was ignoring her, then something was very wrong.
She bit her lip, trying to dismiss the uneasy thought. Maybe Chloé was distracted. Maybe she just didn't hear her.
Still… something felt off.
As she continued down the street, she passed by a small pastry shop. The warm glow from inside spilled onto the pavement, and through the window, she spotted two of her classmates. They were laughing and enjoying slices of cake—but something was strange.
They weren't wearing their school uniforms.
Instead, they were dressed in working clothes, as if they had just come from a part-time job.
Rita frowned. "Wait… did they have an interview today? But they never mentioned anything about getting jobs."
She hesitated. A part of her wanted to go inside and ask them. Maybe they would at least acknowledge her, unlike Chloé. But a nagging feeling in her gut held her back.
"What if they ignore me too?"
The thought unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.
A Shocking Realization
When she finally reached home, the familiar sight of her house filled her with relief. "Finally… home," she sighed.
But as she approached the window, her relief was replaced by confusion.
Inside, her family was gathered around the dining table, enjoying dinner together.
Her brows furrowed. "What?! How dare they start eating without me?" she muttered, pouting. "Did they even think to call me? Weren't they worried about me?"
Annoyed, she rushed to the front door and grabbed the handle—only for her hand to pass right through it.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"Huh…? What was that?"
Shaking her head, she tried again, this time pressing her palm firmly against the surface.
Her hand went through the door as if it wasn't even there.
Panic surged through her. She stumbled back, tripping over her own feet and tumbling through the door without opening it.
Rita's heartbeat thundered in her chest as she scrambled to her feet.
"What's happening?" she whispered, her hands trembling.
She rushed into the dining room, where her parents and younger brother were still laughing and chatting as if nothing was wrong.
"Mom! Dad! Why are you eating without me? It's so late, and you didn't even call me!" she exclaimed.
No response.
Her mother smiled at something her father said. Her brother stuffed his face with food, completely unfazed by her presence.
"Mom? Dad?" she called again, stepping closer. "Can't you hear me?"
Nothing.
Dread tightened around her chest.
With shaking hands, she reached out—only for her fingers to pass right through her mother's shoulder.
A strangled gasp escaped her lips.
She tried again, this time reaching for her father. Her hand slipped through him like mist.
Panic surged through her veins. She kept trying, over and over, but the result was the same. Her hands went right through them.
"No… No, no, no—this isn't real. This isn't happening!" she choked, her vision blurring with tears.
She fell to her knees, clutching her chest as the crushing realization dawned on her.
Chloé ignoring her.
Her classmates wearing different clothes.
Her hands passing through solid objects.
Her family carrying on as if she didn't exist.
Her breath came in shallow, ragged gasps.
"Am I… dead?"
The words barely escaped her lips, yet they felt heavier than anything she had ever said.
Memories—fragmented and distant—flashed through her mind. The feeling of falling. The impact. The silence that followed.
Her body trembled as she clutched her head.
She couldn't remember what had happened to her.
All she knew was one thing:
She didn't belong to the world of the living anymore.