When sunmi got home all she could think of was the bison she had in class . She thought if the possibility of the car still being there . She could finally prove what she saw was real and she wouldn't seem insane.
So during differ sunmi fakes being unwell . So she could go to bed . She changed into dark clothes and packed her and took some essential items she might need in the forest.she waited until she was sure everyone was asleep and she went out the back door tho a shed at the back of the house.
It wasn't really a shed but a decoy for an emergency exit that led outside the house incase or situations like fire or theft. She had already stolen the keys from her parents room .she quickly unlocked the doors and went to the forest.
Sunmi's clutched her phone tightly, it's flashlight her only guide , she retraced the paths of her vision, scanning for any sign of the car.her instincts guided her deeper into the forest through twisted trees and jagged rocks .then there it was the car.
The sight was both a relief and a shock. The car sat there still damaged ." Oh my God, it's here I wasn't hallucinating or daydreaming it's actually here"she said as tears of joy ran down her cheeks.
Hers trembled as she rose her phone to record, capturing every angle of the damage but before she could move closer, she heard footsteps and she hid behind some bushes. A figure emerged from the shadows a hooded person their face obscure in the darkness. Sunmi froze with fear but her phone still recording.
The figure approached the car with deliberate steps.they stopped a few feet away, their posture rigid, their head tilted as of studying the wreck.the figures raised its and an murmured some words. Flames erupted from the car in an instant, violent and unnatural . There was no match ,no fuel- just the flick of a wrist and the car was engulfed in a roaring blaze.
Sunmi's eyes widened with horror as she continued to record . The figure motionlessly watched the car as it burned.and as quickly as they appeared, they vanished into the darkness living the burning car behind.sunmi remained frozen for a while.she clutched her phone, recording still running.After what felt like an eternity, she crawled out if her hiding spot and approached the car. The fire had died down and it left the car unrecognizable-just blackened metal and ash.
Her heart sank and what ever evidence she hoped she find was gone .she stopped the video,her hands shaking she whispered to her self "They're gonna believe me now"
Sunmi barely slept the night , her mind replayed the scene in the forest.she had watched the video over and over, trying to make sense of what she had witnessed. Exhausted and jittery she decided to show her parents the video.
As she descended the stairs clutching her phone,voices drifted up from the living room.her parents were talking to someone-police officers
The sight of the uniform made her pause.one of the officers noticed her and smiled" good morning sunmi ",he said warmly.
Her mother turned , her face lighting up " sweetie, great news, they've caught the person responsible for what happened to you "
Sunmi froze at the bottom of the stairs
"W-What?, you caught the hooded figure?" Sunmi said looking at her parents.
They all looked at sunmi confused , one of the officers cleared his throat and then spoke "I'm not sure if what you're talking about,but we caught the culprit of your attack"saying this the officer handed sunmi a printed picture of a man and then continued " his name his Fred Sunday we caught trying to flee the city with your car.Sunmi gives back the picture to the officer then he hands her another one of the car then he continued " we managed to recover the car luckily there wasn't much damage done to the car".
Sunmi's Herat pounded, she knew they were lying ,the image of the burning car seared in her mind.she still has the video to prove it.but how could she say anything without sounding insane.
Her lips trembled as she forced a smile " that's great.....news".her mother frowned slightly."honey you don't seem too happy,are you okay?" Sunmi shook her head quickly " I think I'm coming down with something ,maybe I should stay home today." Her parents exchange a concerned glance and her mother nodded " okay sweetie , rest up."
Sunmi hurried back upstairs, she shut her door and leaned against it " why are they lying?, what's going on ?. I can't be hallucinating."
****
Meanwhile in school Emeka and Tolu wer haveing a conversation " Did you know why Sunmi didn't come to school today?" Emeka asked." No,I don't know.maybe she's sick. I'll check up in her after school." Umm speaking of which,did sunmi say anything else about the forest incident"Emeka asked again ." Well ,she did say something about a werewolf , but don't worry I tried to make her forget it.Tolu replied ." But did she?."Emeka whispered ." Well she should " Tolu said in a very suspiciously sure tone
****
The knock on Sunmi's door startled her out of spiraling thoughts.she hesitated at first before opening it, and there stood Tolu, holding a bag of snacks and wearing a concerned look.
"Hey I heard you weren't feel , so I thought I should check in on you. Tolu said stepping into her room without an invitation.
Sunmi managed a weak smile " you didn't have to, but I'm glad you did"
The two settled on her bed, Tolu casually chatting about how classes were boring without sunmi .Sunmi appreciated the distraction but her mind was still weighed down by everything that happened. Finally, Tolu noticed her quite demeanor." Alright spill, you're not just sick,are ya?" Sunmi hesitated at first but she trusted Tolu bevel thought the truth sounded insane.
Sunmi took a deep breath and told Tolu everything.her visions ,the forest, the car, the fire , and the hooded figure.Tolu listened her expression filled with Misbelief and concern.
" I know this may sound crazy, but I have proof"Sunmi said as she pulled out her phone and played the video. Both of them watched in silence as the images played out. " this is insane tolu whispered .But then sunmi felt it.the phone which had been cool in her hands moments ago, was growing warmer."wait " sunmi said, frowning.
"What?."Tolu asked , glancing up.
" The phone ....it's hot" sunmi said panic rising in her voice. Before they could react, the phone became scalding to the touch. Sunmi yelped and dropped the phone in her bed.where it began to smoke. Flames burst forth suddenly,small ,but intense."sunmi!"Tolu shouted.grabbing a nearby water bottle and dousing the fire. The flame hissed and died leaving behind a charred , melted phone. Both girls where stunned in silence." My phone" sunmi whispered her voice trembling " the video...it's gone".
Tolu looked at her wide-eyed ,"what the actual f**k just happen, that's not normal phones don't just catch fire like that!". Sunmi buried her head in her hands,overwhelmed." It's gone.the only proof I had....it's destroyed". Tolu puts a hand on her shoulder." Well figure this out sunmi ,I promise".
Sunmi couldn't shake the growing despair. Whoever or whatever was behind this didn't just want her to stay quite. They were making sure she couldn't speak at all.