Sticky Spirit

Hurrying out of the shop, she sped towards the parking lot, eyes locating her car. Unlocking the door, she plopped onto the driver’s seat, closing the door after her. She rested her head on the steering wheel, sighing, tired after the long shift. It isn’t easy, being a university student while working for a living. Getting a scholarship in one of the top universities in the area was the best thing that has happened to her in years, but keeping up perfect grades while working three jobs so that she can have the basic necessities in life is quite stressful. And this is just her freshman year.

How I would love a break.

Pulling herself up sluggishly, she buckled in her seat belt, turning the key to start the car. Focusing her eyes on the rear view mirror, she pushed the gear in reverse. Stepping onto the accelerator, she tried getting her car to move backwards, but it stood stubbornly at its place.

What in the…

Groaning in annoyance, she unbuckled herself and stepped out of the car, checking around it. No flat wheel. Nothing blocking the way. Confused, she went back in, trying to get her car to move back. Sighing when it didn’t budge, she got out, slamming the door shut.

Just what I needed. An uncooperative car. What even is wrong with it?

She wanted to check on the engine, but having zero knowledge about the working of cars, she didn’t want to waste her time. Time. She turned on her phone, checking the time.

12:38 AM.

Great. Just great.

Rolling her eyes, she slung her backpack over her shoulder, locking the car.

Looks like I’m going to see you tomorrow, hm?

She walked out of the parking lot onto the street, abandoning her car behind her. Plugging in her earphones, she played her favourite playlist on her phone, hoping it would make her feel a little comfortable walking alone in the dark. She’s used to being alone, as she has been for the last couple of years, just the darkness without the sanctuary of her car made her slightly uneasy. And the fact that she keeps dreaming about this mysterious guy in black. The frustrating part was, whenever the face was almost visible, she gets up, every single time. And when she goes back to sleep, the dream repeats from the beginning.

She was walking down a long, seemingly never-ending aisle, black walls on her two sides. The place was dimly lit, by a faint, white light which was shining from nowhere. She kept walking, her legs never getting tired. Soon, she gets annoyed, and starts running. Running where? She doesn’t know. How long? No idea. She keeps running, running till she sees it. Till she sees him, standing with his back against the right wall, head tipped downwards. As she catches sight of him, she stops. Her legs stuck to the floor, not allowing her to move anywhere, neither closer to or farther from him. Folding her arms, she does nothing, just stares at him, waiting. Waiting for what? No clue. For how long? Pretty long.

After what seems like hours, he turns, his back facing her, looking down the endless path. He chuckles darkly.

“That’s one long, dark ride.” He remarks in his low, deep voice, which didn’t really fit with his slightly short stature.

“What?” She asks, confused. He hums, almost turning towards her…

She’s never able to go further than that, finish the whole dream. She couldn’t even sleep properly, her head messing with her for the rest of the day. Sighing in disappointment, she returned her focus to the empty street, the cool breeze, the crickets chirping in the background. Smiling slightly, she let herself get lost in the moment, looking around, fresh. She didn’t get a chance to walk around so freely ever since she moved here, having to balance her work with her university and rushing through the day in her closed up car. Knowing she won’t be getting a chance like this again anytime soon, she decided on straying outside for a while.

With the help of the dull orange light of the street lamps, she sauntered over to the park she always passed on her way to work. It was a few streets away from her apartment. Unplugging her earphones, she put her phone into her backpack, strolling to the middle of the large patch of green grass. She placed her backpack to the side, laying down, back on the soft grass, and stared up at the stars with a small smile playing on her lips. Clearing her mind off all the worries she’s supposed to be thinking about at the moment, she took a deep breath, losing herself to nature. Yes, she knew that she had to get back to her apartment since it was pretty late, but when would she get a moment like this again? A moment where she doesn't worry about her tests, her homework, her classes, her university, her family, her work, her bills, or anything at all and just relax. She gazed around the park, all the green in the soft moonlight and the faint glow of the lamps around it. Sighing in satisfaction, she closed eyes, letting her exhaustion take over her.

***

Gasping awake, she abruptly sat up, groaning when a sudden pain shot up her side. Getting back into her senses, she pulled on her hair in annoyance.

Again… What does it even mean? Is he trying to convey some kind of message? Well, in that case, he isn't succeeding. It doesn't make sense. Why can’t I see his face? Is it that bad? I don't have any control over myself in this dream, and I just feel the same thing, over and over again. Why am I even dreaming about this in the first place?

Letting herself fall back lightly, she sighed, gazing up at the moon. The moon. Her eyes widened, realising where she was.

Oh my god! I fell asleep in the park!

She got up, feeling around her pockets for her phone.

What…?

Her forehead wrinkled in confusion, hands checking through her pockets again, She couldn’t find it. Worried, she looked around the park, thinking she might’ve dropped it somewhere. The low light wasn’t helping. Grumbling, she tried remembering where she put it, when she caught a flowery bush in her peripheral vision. Turning her attention to it, she half-sat on her knees, her hands reaching out to pluck one of the beautiful flowers.

Shrieking almost immediately, she pulled out her hand from the bush, examining it. She had pricked herself, maybe due to one of the thorns. Using her thumb to stop the slight bleeding, she glared at the bush, frowning. That’s when she remembered - her backpack. Turning around on her heels, she looked back at the spot she fell asleep, only to feel her stomach drop. It wasn’t there. She remembered it clearly - leaving the bag beside her before accidentally falling asleep.

Oh no, oh no, oh no...

She ran around the whole park, eyes peeled out for any sight of her pack.

What if someone stole it…?

She shuddered at the thought of someone standing over her while she was fast asleep. Hoping it wasn’t the case, she went around the huge tree standing at a far corner of the park, only to trip over something.

Her backpack. Only… it was unzipped.

Staring at it wide-eyed, she scooted away from it, slightly expecting something to pop out of it. Then realising how dumb that thought was, she grabbed it, hand scavenging through its contents for her phone. Dumbfounded when she couldn't feel it, she dumped the contents onto the ground, going through the objets again. Sweatshirt, books, wallet, stationary, more books… no phone.

Buzz buzz.

Yelping, she jumped at the sudden buzz.

Buzz buzz. Buzz buzz.

“My phone!” She exclaimed, breathless, following the buzz. There, she found it, lying on the grass nearby. Grabbing it, she wiped the screen using her shirt’s long sleeve, before turning it on, grateful to the person who texted her.

Missed call from an Unknown Number.

Unknown Number:

Hello.

“Huh?” She was confused. Who is this? How did they get her number?

03:22 AM.

And why were they texting her at this hour…? Pushing all the possibilities aside, she gathered up her stuff, dumping them into her backpack. She couldn’t help but have a bad feeling about this. She never walked over to this corner of the park, she only stayed in the middle. And she remembered putting her phone inside the backpack, not leaving it lying outside. Zipping up her backpack, she slung it over her shoulder, in a hurry to return to her apartment. Rushing out of the park, she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. It was probably nothing, she must’ve not recollected going over to that part of the park. She was just overthinking everything. Turning right into a dark alley, she started speed-walking down, taking the shortcut. She heard her neighbours talking about this way being quicker, so she took it.

Crack.

Her eyes widened. The sound... it sounded as if someone stepped on a bunch of dry leaves. And, unmistakably... it came from behind her. Letting out a shaky breath, she started sprinting down the alley, too unnerved to turn and check if there was someone, or if she was just imagining things. She didn't want to risk it. Taking a sharp left, she caught sight of her apartment, around the corner. She was breathless, legs hurting due to all the running, yet she didn’t stop, too terrified for her life. Throwing open her front door, she darted through it, locking it behind her. Adrenaline was still rushing through her veins, not letting her catch her breath. Turning her back against the door, she slid down to the floor, hand on her chest, calming herself down. It took her a while, but after collecting herself, she slowly stood up, wrapping her mind around the situation she was in. Going to the park was a horrible idea, falling asleep there was not a part of the plan, it was really risky. What if someone was actually following her? What if they caught up with her before she could make a run for it? She wouldn't have gotten out of there unscathed, that's for sure. But she did, and she was grateful for that. Her hand went over to the switchboard, flipping on the lights. She looked around her tiny, empty apartment, longingly wishing she had someone with her at this moment. Walking into the main hall, she dropped onto the couch, resting her legs of the coffee table, turning on her phone. The unknown number’s message caught her eye again. Gulping, she thought about replying. But then, no one knows who this person was and what they were capable of. At the end, she deleted it.

Buzz buzz.

Unknown Number:

Why did you delete it?

What the…

Her eyes widened again, hands shaking. She instinctively looked around the apartment again, an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach. Finding no one around, she closed her eyes, rubbing her head.

Buzz buzz.

Unknown Number:

Aren't you going to reply?

“No, stop texting me.” She stated aloud, then realised that they can’t hear her. Shaking her head, she deleted both the messages.

I'm going crazy.

She typed in the password to unlock her phone.

Invalid Password.

“What?” She exclaimed, staring at her phone peculiarly. She typed it in again, the same message being displayed on the screen.

I don't remember changing it... Maybe I should see a doctor. There's obviously something wrong with my head.

Buzz buzz.

Unknown Number:

Try 666 666.

Oh... Oh no... No… It’s not… No…

She couldn’t believe it. Who was this person? What did they do?

Gasping, she realised. Her backpack. They must’ve been the one who moved it. They must've misplaced her phone. They must’ve changed the password… But how? Why? What did they want? She eyed the message, nervous.

Buzz buzz.

Unknown Number:

What are you waiting for? Try it.

With trembling fingers, she typed each of the numbers slowly, calling each of them out aloud.

“Six… six… six…” She paused, taking another breath, and continued, “Six… six… six.”

Please don’t work. Please don’t work.

She kept chanting it over in her head, closing her eyes.

Buzz buzz.

Unknown Number:

Like what you see?

She glanced down at the screen to read the message, but instead dropped the phone, a throat-ripping scream escaping her mouth. She scuttled away into the couch, still screaming, looking at her phone as if it was cursed.

The picture. The misshapen face. The blood-thirsty eyes. The half-ripped face. The raw scratches. The broken nose. The pale colour. The twisted smile. It... it wasn't human. It was deadly, deadly enough to kill with just a look.

“Shh. I’m sure I don’t look that bad.” The familiar, deep voice spoke from behind her, before his long, pale, fractured fingers wrapped themselves around her face, engulfing her in darkness.