Another Chance

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Moving

          “Isn’t it boring here, Noah?” Elijah complained.

          “Patience Elijah. Soon enough, a huge wind is going to blow us away from here.” Noah reassured him for the umpteenth time with an exasperated sigh.

          Both Elijah and Noah had been in Antarctica for many years, standing in the great vast of water, only moving a little by the winds that could have knocked any human down. Due to their great size, they haven’t been moving a lot recently. Elijah had been very impatient. He was just a bit smaller than Noah, he really wanted to explore the world.

But the winds weren’t cooperating.

          “Seriously Elijah? It’s better here. We can survive here before those dreaded humans come and destroy us.” Peppy piped up indignantly. She was the smallest ice berg there was. She was always annoyed with Elijah, for all he kept talking about was to explore the world and complain how boring Antarctica was.

          “I don’t think all humans are that bad! And I hate all the boring white here...” Elijah continued on and on and on. Peppy and Noah sighed in defeat.

          One day, Elijah and Noah were just chatting about their day. It was one of those rare days where Elijah wasn’t complaining the ice off about how boring Antarctica was.

That was when the howling started.

          It wasn’t audible at first, the wind wasn’t too strong, nor was the water current. But slowly, is started picking up faster and faster. It was like a blizzard, Noah and Elijah could barely see anything. Then they started moving little by little. They saw Peppy speeding past them, screaming as she went. Elijah and Noah started moving faster and faster. It was the biggest storm they ever had.

Then all light had disappeared.

          “Elijah! Wake up! Look where we have arrived!” Elijah groaned and woke up to bright light and warmth. It was really unlike Antarctica. Elijah gasped upon finding out where they were.

          They were floating in warmer waters next to colourful land! Well, not really colourful, but it wasn’t white! At last! Something other than blue and white! Elijah stared in awe. A red house stood further away, and another white house peeked from behind. What humans called ‘cars’ were standing around on the land. Human were looking at us and talking muffled words. “I think they’re talking about us!!” Elijah exclaimed excitedly. Noah didn’t say anything.

          They floated in the warm waters, not moving. Soon, night came and all the human went home. Elijah and Noah stood floating in the waters all alone. “Hey Elijah, I think I’m starting to melt...” Elijah looked over in a panic just in time to see a small chunk of ice falling down from Noah. It dropped own and splashed loudly in the sea.

Both looked at each other in horror.

Photo courtesy of New York Times

A Cold Autumn Night

          “ I sat at my favorite blue, wooden table, arms folded, a small red teacup filled with warm milk tea sat in front of my folded arms. Though I was at home, it was still surprisingly cold, and I liked it.

          It was a cold autumn night, 11.34 p.m. Soon it would strike 12 midnight, and I would had to dive under the warm covers in bed. I looked up at the bright crescent hanging in the night sky. It was shining especially bright that night, beaming at me. Outside, a bare tree stood lonely at the sidewalk. Around it were leaves that were once green and lush, growing on the strongest branches of the tree were now falling and dead. Soon winter would come and snow would cover them.

          Then, I spotted a lone star shining in the ink-black sky. I smiled at the star, and shifted my long, red hair, out of my eyes. To watch the star. Outside was silent. Everyone had went to bed. ‘Misty neighborhood’ was silent, and I immersed myself in it. I sipped my milk tea but felt nothing. My house was dark and quiet, the only light that shone was the moonlight. 

          I looked at my watch. 11.55 p.m. 5 more minutes. Might as well finish the tea. I picked up my red teacup and drank the rest of the tea and set it down on the cold table. Tomorrow at 8.30 a.m, the kids would be coming to listen stories. Again. I smiled at the thought. I glimpsed at my watch, 11,59 p.m. Time to sleep. I put my cup in the sink and went up the green staircase.

          As I heard the clock strike 12 midnight, I heard the bark of the three legged dog, leading my neighbor for his usual walk.”

          Jewel closed the book with a thud and looked down at 20 curious faces staring back at her. “But Miss Jewel? I did not see anyone next door.” Jewel smiled at Thomas. “You just didn’t look harder enough. He’s always at home in the mornings.” Thomas beamed at Jewel. Then someone knocked on the door. And soon, all the kids were sent back home.

          Jewel sat at her blue table, arms folded, a red teacup set in front of her. She sighed. If only the kids knew the truth. A newspaper clipping was being carried by the wind. And on the newspaper clipping read the headlines:

Poisonous Gas Released in ‘Misty Neighborhood’ At 12 Midnight. Residents Died In Their Sleep!

Photo courtesy of New York Times

He didn’t die?

          “Happy Birthday to Jake! Happy Birth....” 

          I stood in front of the beautifully decorated cake, surrounded by my loving family members and friends who were singing the song with one voice. It was my 13th birthday, and I had never been this elated before. The room was brightly lit and streamers were hung on the ceilings, giving a festive atmosphere to the room. It was the biggest birthday party I’d ever held. 

          “Make a wish!” My little sister piped up immediately after the song ended. I clasped my hands together, closed my eyes and thought, I wish for my family to live a happy and healthy life. I opened my eyes and bent down to blow the candles out. When... 

          “Hey! Robby’s howling!” My big brother shouted as he ran for the door. That’s when I heard it, right before I blew out the candles. Soft howling which was barely audible, the howling of my golden retriever, Robby. Everyone left the table and had rushed to the door. Everyone went into the backyard and I pushed through bodies to see what was going on. Most importantly, I wanted to see Robby. When Robby howled, it usually meant that something was wrong. 

          "AHHH!!" I screamed when I saw him. He was lying motionless at the road side, covered in blood. What's even worse was that he had been cut in half! I fell to my knees as I screamed in horror. Tears blurred my vision and stung my eyes. I couldn't believe this! No, no, no!

          Then, I saw something move.

          I looked up. Robby was moving! One of his front leg started twitching strangely, his eyes were open. I was puzzled and flabbergasted. I slowly got up, but realized no one was watching what was happening. They were all busy crying over the death of Robby, the sounds of their cries penetrating the air. But suddenly, the cries were like a million miles away, like I was in my own world, and the people all around me are blurred out. I cautiously approached Robby, who by now had his lifeless eyes on me.

          I was by now about 3 meters away from him. I stopped, quivering, not daring to go any further. I could see clearly that his guts were spilled out onto the road from his middle. Blood drenched Robby’s fur coat, turning his once shiny, golden coat to a blood red one. The floodgates in my eyes opened and the tears started falling. My poor Robby! I opened up one of my eyes and saw his eyes on me. Wait! He’s still alive! My instincts screamed to get help for Robby. I ran over to him and knelt down, ignoring the putrid smell, and gently lifted his head. His whiter than white eyes stared at me with no emotion. I was about to take out my phone when he started sniffing.

          I put down my phone and glanced at him, confused. Then Robby opened his mouth, showing crooked, bloody teeth. Nonetheless, it still looked haunting and creepy. Then in a flash, he sunk his teeth into my arm! I pulled my arm back and before I could scream...

                  ....everything faded to darkness....

#1

Family of four

“Ugh, your taste in hotels is garbage.” Ugh, this woman. “ DADDY, I’M HUNGRY!” “MOMMY WHERE ARE WE!?”

You could just feel the love radiating out of Edward’s family. Edward’s family consisted of Edward, his wife Peppy, 8 year old Peter and 6 year old Cassandra. Peppy had the idea of going on a family overseas trip. Harmless, right?

The family was chaos. Peter and Cassandra were restless throughout the plane ride and the journey to the hotel. It wasn’t a good time for the family. As if things couldn’t get any worse, Peppy complained about the design of the hotel, criticising Edward’s taste in hotels, even though it was Peppy who chose the hotel. While Edward was trying his best not to loose his patience, the family of four went up to the front desk.

“Edward Orsion and Peppy Orsion?” The tired-looking front desk person, whose name tag said Bob, asked in the most mundane voice. Edward nodded. Bob searched around in his desk drawer, and froze suddenly. Peppy tapped her foot impatiently. Knowing Edward will never hear the end of Peppy’s complaining, he leaned forward and politely questioned, “Sir? Is there something wrong?” At the sound of his voice, Bob snapped back from his stupor. He sheepishly grinned and said, with finally some emotion in his voice, “Sorry sir, my mind just drifted off a little.” Peppy scoffed. Bob handed Edward the keys and said, “Room 4, on the second floor.” Edward grabbed his suitcases and dragged his kids and wife towards the old lift.

Room 4 was beautiful. In Edward’s eyes anyway. The only thing that captured Peppy’s eyes was a painting of a beautiful family of four. A male and a female holding hands, with two beautiful children by their side, a boy and a girl. “That family is so perfect. Why can’t we be like them. Why can’t you be like the....” Edward tuned out of his wife’s rant. He walked around the room. A living room, a small kitchen and two small bedrooms, with even smaller toilets in each bedroom. It was pretty decent to Edward. Cassandra and Peter were on the tattered sofa switching between channels on the television to find something entertaining to watch. Edward sighed. He just hoped that the next day would be better.

Edward woke up, surprisingly later than the rest of the family. He washed up and went to the kitchen for breakfast. Peppy was drinking some coffee, while the kids drank milk with two packets of chocolate beans beside their mugs. Wait, I don’t remember bringing any chocolate beans. He questioned Peppy about it and she said, “That front desk guy gave us some chocolate beans, and I figured the kids would like it.” Edward thought nothing of it and continued the day.

The city tour later that day was a disaster. Cassandra and Peter were really nauseous and sick. They kept vomiting and complained about headaches. Eventually the disastrous day finally came to an end. Edward tucked the children in bed, but they took a very long time to fall asleep, causing Edward to stay up coaxing them to sleep. He was exhausted. On the way to his bedroom he passed by the living room. The picture of the family of four caught his eye, it looked different. Terrifyingly different. The four members began to show some signs of...decomposition. It was frighteningly real. Too real. Edward shook his head in disbelief and horror. Refusing to believe what he just saw and concluded that it’s the cause of his lack of sleep, he rushed to his bedroom to sleep.

“EDWARD!!! THE KIDS WON’T WAKE UP!” Edward snapped awake at Peppy’s cries. He jumped out of bed and stumbled towards the kids’ bedroom. Sure enough, the kids lay in bed, motionless. Peppy knelt beside the bed trying to shake them awake. Their eyes won’t budge. Edward stayed calm and walked towards Peppy. He shook the kids, coaxing them to wake up, like how he would have done if they try to feign sleep. They wouldn’t wake up. Edward was unsettled by this. Then suddenly, he was reminded of the picture he saw the night before. He gulped. No, it can’t be. He epresvhed out two fingers and placed them on both children’s necks.

No heartbeat.

Edward slumped onto the bed, silently crying.

“Their dead Peppy. Their dead...” “Now’s not the time to make jokes idiot!” All the same Edward could feel Peppy lean forward. Then he heard her wailing. Everything clicked though. It had to be that darn chocolate beans. It was the first thing Cassandra and Peter ate before they started showing symptoms.

And it was all caused by Bob.

Edward gritted his teeth. He stood up and grabbed blankets, laying them on the children. He then grabbed Peppy’s hand, helped her stand and both of them rushed to the front desk to confront Bob.

Down at the front desk, Bob stood there as he suddenly heard a woman’s wail. He smiled. That was fast. He smiled. He took out a photo from his desk drawer. It was a family of four. Bob, hand in hand with his wife, with his children by his side, a boy and a girl. He had a flashback to the dreadful car accident. His smile faded.

Suddenly he heard the lift coming. Bob smiled again. He gathered two knives and got ready.

End~

#9

Water

The wind howled.

It was a cold night, but I continued to walk in the water.

No one was in sight.

I could hear the pool water sloshing against the pool walls.

Everyone was asleep. I wasn’t.

I stopped walking in the pool and let my hand float on the surface. I closed my eyes, and listened to the sounds that we often don’t hear. That we often ignore.

Something about the night always seemed peaceful.

Something about the water always seemed peaceful.

And when you put them together, it’s like heaven. It’s like lying on a soft comfy bed and never wanting to get up. I didn’t want to leave the pool.

I have always loved the water. I didn’t know how to swim, I just liked wading in it. But nowadays, it’s rare that I get to go outside and into the pool. For medical reasons.

See, I have epilepsy. Epilepsy can’t be cured, the seizures can, but medicine is expensive. Ever since my parents’ business went bankrupt, we weren’t too financially stable. So medicine was very expensive. There were times I had near-death experiences.

But then, you ask, why am I in the pool?

I slowly spun around in the pool, my arms out, relishing the icy cold water around me.

In the corner of my eye, I saw a dark figure walking towards me.

See, my parents have worked so hard to pay for my medicine, hospital bills and others. Maybe now they don’t have to work as hard.

I hopped to the wall to meet the dark figure I saw earlier on. He wore a black robe.

“Are you ready to go?”

I smile, “Yes.”

He helped me out of the pool, and we started walking. On the wall in front of us was a bright light.

“Why did you do it? You do know that seizures in water is fatal.”

I didn’t answer the question. “I know.”

He didn’t ask.

“I have a small request, can I come back here every night?”

He paused.

Then said, “Your request shall be granted.”

We stepped into the light.

End~

#4

My Happy Balloon

Throughout my childhood, I always held my Happy Balloon. Sometimes it deflated just a bit, but it always expanded after a day or so. It floated with me the whole way.

When I was a teenager, things got a little bit rough with my Happy Balloon. They were people who would try to pop it by stepping on it. It was a bit dirty, and sometimes it would deflate for a long, long time due to some holes in it. But Cassie would come. She would pick up my Happy Balloon, and put plasters on the holes, my Happy Balloon would then return to normal again, smiling. It was all thanks to my dear friend Cassie.

Then I went to college. Cassie and I went to the same school. One day we saw some people messing up someone else’s Happy Balloon. Cassie and I quickly ran to get help. When the people went away, Cassie and I went and fixed up the person’s Happy Balloon. It was as good as new. The person thanked us and introduced herself as “Lessie”. Lessie, Cassie and I became very good friends! Or so I thought.

Cassie, Lessie and I helped each other, we were best of friends, ready to protect one another. But soon, I noticed Cassie and Lessie started to drift away from me. I felt my Happy Balloon start to deflate little by little, day by day. Then finally, they popped it. Without my Happy Balloon by my side, I felt sad. I had no more friends, and no Happy Balloon.

I was now working at a convenience store as a job. One day, the new guy came up to me. He had a Happy Balloon by his side, it reminded me of when I had my own Happy Balloon. He came up to me and told me his name: Jonathan. Jonathan asked if we could be friends. I was skeptical about it, but I accepted it.

I expected Jonathan to be like Cassie and Lessie. Drift away from me after a while. It’s been 3 months. He hadn’t drift off yet. He had been so kind to me, he had protected me. He even gave me a Happy Balloon. It’s been forever since I had my Happy Balloon! We were best of friends.

It’s been 2 years. Jonathan still hadn’t drift off yet. Neither did I. We had ups and downs, but nothing deflated our Happy Balloons. Nothing at all. Not even when Jonathan finally told me about his medical condition.

He had cancer. Something that cannot be cured. He had this for 3 years. He didn’t want to tell me as he thought it would deflate my Happy Balloon. I cried of course, I was a little bit mad at him for not telling me about it, but not for very long. It didn’t deflate my Happy Balloon one bit. I wanted to make his last few months with me the best months in in entire life. We went everywhere, to the places we always wanted to go, took pictures, memories.

Before he died, we went to our hangout. The swing under the apple tree on Silent hill. We looked at the beautiful scenery. It was so peaceful. Then Jonathan told me, “Promise me, that even if I am gone, you would hold on to your Happy Balloon. Remember that I’ll be up there, looking after you.” I cried and hugged him for a very long time.

I kept my promise. I visited his grave, holding onto my Happy Balloon that Jonathan gave me. When I saw Jonathan’s Happy Balloon floating next to his headstone, I cried, I knew he was at peace now. His death didn’t pop my Happy Balloon. And it will float by my side even after death.

End~

#13

A Normal Family

“Wake up, honey! Or you will be late!”

Oscar’s sits up, and slides off his bed. Marching over to Oscar’s wardrobe, he opens the drawers and takes out a blue shirt, and dark blue jeans. Oscar puts the clothes on his bed and takes off his pyjamas. Then, Oscar looks at his clothes, takes them and puts them on his cold body.

After doing so, Oscar exits his bedroom and walks down the stairs. Oscar goes straight to the blue dining chair and sits down on it. His mother, Melissa, comes out of the kitchen as soon as Oscar sits on his chair, and places a bowl of cereal directly in front of Oscar. Oscar looks at the blue spoon and picks it up, scoops up some cereal and eats it.

After Oscar takes his first bite, his father, Nate, comes down the stairs and says, “Melissa, I am going to work!” When Nate reaches the end of the stairs, Nate suddenly stops walking and his head tilts downwards, the light in his eyes dims. Oscar keeps scooping cereal and eating it.

Melissa comes out of the kitchen exactly a minute later, and walks towards Nate. Melissa grabs Nate and turns Nate around. Melissa places a hand on Nate’s back, some lights flashes and the light in Nate’s eyes lights back up. Nate’s head tilts back up, Mellisa walks back to the kitchen, and Nate walks out the front door.

Oscar takes the last bite of his cereal, puts his spoon down in the bowl, pushes his bowl a centimetre away and stands up. Oscar walks towards his blue backpack and picks it up and puts on his shoulders.

When Oscar reaches the front door, Melissa appears at the entrance of the kitchen.

“Honey, when grandma asks how is your day, tell her everything, but do not tell her about Dad losing power.”

Oscar’s eyes turn red, then turns back to its usual black colour.

“Okay Mom. I will not tell grandma about Dad losing power.”

Oscar opens the front door, steps outside, and closes the front door.

End~

#2

My Friends

I have friends in my head. I’m sure everybody has them.

They can be good, they can be bad, or maybe even both. It also depends on how you handle them.

I have many friends in my head, but I can only introduce a few of them. I’ll be very glad to introduce them to whoever is reading this!

Joyce is one of my best friends. She was always there to make me smile, and remind me of the wonderful things that happened to me. She always tell me things like, “You can do it!” Or “Good job!”. She allows me to look at the positive side of things.

But sometimes, when I don’t handle Joyce well, sometimes people will call me selfish. When people play tricks on me that I don’t like, she will tell me to go along and smile, to not be mad at them. I don’t like that, so I will have to handle Joyce well.

Sam is another friend I have who lives in my head. I don’t quite like him, since he is quite the opposite of Joyce. He reminds me of the bad memories I had, like the time I was in a competition and lost, and I cry. He makes me cry. And I don’t like it. People will call me a ‘crybaby’.

But Sam can also be nice. Sometimes Sam will motivate me to do better, and because of that, I will be happy with the result.

Joyce and Sam work together from time to time. Sometimes they remind me of a memory which both sad and happy. Remember the memory I told you about that competition I lost? Well even though I was sad, Joyce told me that at least I had fun! Which looking back, I did have fun. Which makes me happy. Even though I was sad that I lost, I was happy that I had fun preparing for the competition.

I want to introduce one last friend: Fran

Fran is helpful sometimes. Sometimes my friends urge me to go on a scary roller coaster ride. But Fran tells me not to, as it is scary. I listen to her no matter what my friends say. In the end, my friends might come out crying or sick. Fran helps me avoid these situations from getting me into trouble.

Somethings though, when I listen to Fran, people will make fun of me, taunting me and calling me a ‘scaredy-cat’. I don’t like that. So I will tell Fran that I can do it. Though she might urge me to stop, I won’t listen to her and will face my fears. There may be good and bad outcomes, but at least I have the experience.

Well that’s all the friends I’m able to introduce you to. I would love to introduce the rest of my friends, but their not ready yet. For now, you will now know Sam, Joyce and Fran. Thanks for reading!

#8

Shake my Hand

He strolled up to me and shook my hand, gave me a small, toothless grin and walked away. Okay, maybe not strolled instead he limped rather heavily and used his cane to support him. Very queer. He looked like an 80 year old, his skin was all wrinkly, he had dark eye bags around the bottom of his eyes. I think he had insomnia. Poor old man. He lost most of his hair, only left a few strands barely even surviving on his rash covered head. Judging by his appearance, he must have lived all alone, with no one to take care of him. I shook my head, I pitied him. The old man probably lost all human connection, maybe this was his first handshake in years. I smiled to myself, I hope he’s happy. I love making people happy.

“Stop with that stupid grin! Go back to work!” I rolled my eyes and grumbled, obeying reluctantly.

“Poof!” I collapsed onto my soft, welcoming bed. Finally home! What an exhausting day. I slid off my bed and sat on the floor, appreciating the peacefulness of my room at last. I opened my eyes and saw something on my skin. On the palm of my hand, there was a black, circle-like shape mark. It had black hook-like things around the circumference of the circle.

“What the hell is this?” I rubbed the strange mark with the heel of my hand, not even a smudge. I ran to the bathroom and washed it with soap and water till my skin turned raw. It was still there. Nothing changed! How the heck did it get there anyway? It’s like someone drew on my palm with a really strong permanent marker. Dammit! I must’ve spent at least half an hour trying to get rid of the stubborn mark. But nothing got it off my palm, it was still there, just like how I found it.

In the end, well I just gave up. I was starting to get really dizzy and my head was throbbing. It was already really late, so I decided to just go to sleep, praying that the mark will disappear by morning.

“I’m sure it will.” I said to myself drowsily before falling asleep.

It’s. Still. There. It seemed bigger but I dismissed it as my imagination.

Besides, I had a rough sleep as my headache prevented me from sleeping. I tried getting rid of the mark but all efforts were in vain. It was still the same as before. I scratched my neck. What the hell is this? Is someone trying to pull a prank on me?

On the way to work it was still there.

During work it didn’t even fade.

Even at the end of the day, once I got back home, not only did it not fade, it seemed to have gotten bigger, it was about 3cm wide! I kept staring at it, trying to catch it growing larger, but I never got to see it. What if it spreads to my whole palm? What if it spreads to my whole arm? What if… I scratched my itchy neck, the skin of my neck had gone red, something must have bitten my neck. Suddenly, it felt like a thousand hammers were hitting my head. It was throbbing madly, it was so painful and I could feel it right behind my eyes. “I...I need to go to sleep” I coughed, scratched my arm and got ready for a restless sleep.

I didn’t sleep at all. I kept coughing and sneezing. My throat felt so dry, water only helped for a little while. Luckily it was the weekends, no work. I took some pills to help with the headache and lay down in bed, exhausted. I looked at my palm, the mark seemed to grow a bit bigger. Despite this, and everything else, I drifted off to sleep.

“Wow… I am really tired.” It was already nighttime. I was still, so damned exhausted, I could barely move, my limbs were like jelly. I just slid off the bed like a slime. I coughed, sneezed and scratched madly for a few minutes, before I got my wobbly feet underneath me and stumbled to the bathroom, using the walls as support. Glancing at my palm, I saw that it had almost taken over half of my palm, but I could barely react to that, I was still, so, so weary. I looked into the bathroom mirror and saw dark eye bags around the bottom of my eyes. My neck was red with all the scratching, and so was my arms and legs. I touched my face. It seemed dry? And rough. I looked at my arms, they were a little wrinkled.

I collapsed onto my bed and opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I let my head tilt to the left and saw that my pillow had a lot of hair… my hair. Weakly, I lifted my hand and gently pulled at my hair, there came out a concerning number of strands. I let my hand fall limply onto the bed, as tears trickled down.

What’s wrong with me?

I bit into an apple and ripped out two teeth. More hair dropped from my head and everywhere felt itchy and uncomfortable. I was so sick and tired that it came to the point when I stopped going to work and lay in bed for the entire day. The mark on my palm had covered my entire palm by the time I started hallucinating things. Everything scared me from them on. I isolated myself in my room.

I was dizzy, with unbearable headaches, exhausted beyond belief, so ill, my skin was rough and dry and wrinkled and red, I had lost most of my hair, my teeth were starting to drop out, and I was seriously on edge.

I felt like I was on the brink of death.

~~~~~

I woke up without realising I had rolled off too near the edge of my bed, and before I could react, I fell off. I landed hard on my arm, and let out a small gasp. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t speak. Electric-like pain was coursing through my broken arm. It was unbearable. Unable to scream for help, I caught a glimpse of my phone on the desk.

I had to try. I rolled onto my back, wincing at the pain. Luckily the pain was slowly numbing. With my good but weak arm, I grabbed the edge of my bed and held onto the fabric. Slowly but surely, I pulled myself up bit by bit. I used the same arm to grab my phone and call a hospital. After all that effort, I dropped my phone and fainted.

I woke up to the strong but pleasant smell of the hospital. Everywhere was white, so white it might have hurt my now-sensitive eyes. An amiable young nurse smiled at me as she checked my arm, which was now in a cast. I did my best to hide the black mark. I did not want to show it. They would never believe me.

“Good afternoon Mr Leon. I hope you’re doing fine now. The paramedics found you passed out on the floor. About your arm, it’ll heal in about 2 months time, nothing to worry about!” I smiled weakly and my head went limp on the soft pillow.

Then, all at once, it started again.

It was as if they left my body for a while only to come back stronger than ever. The pain in my head was unbearable, the itching got worse, and I cough so loudly and harshly that nurse looked concerned.

“I’ll get you some medicine, old age can make you more prone to sickness.” Old age? I’m only 33!

“Ma’am?” My voice was so hoarse. Somehow the nurse was able to hear me. “I think I have a virus..” She smiled and asked what symptomes I have. “Well you see, I have had a lot of headaches lately, it itches everywhere, I have been coughing and sneezing a lot, I was too weak to move so I couldn't go to a clinic and I lost a lot of hair, also I have been hallucinating but I don’t know why… I’m sorry this is a lot to take in..”

“It’s okay, is there anything else? I looked at my palm and considered my decision for a moment.

“Also… I have this on my palm ever since the headaches began, It’s been growing bigger and bigger.” She stared at my palm, and raised her eyebrows.

“I don’t see anything sir.”

“No, it’s there. It’s a large black mark covering my palm. It’s there!” I looked at my palm to be sure, and turned it towards the nurse. She just smiled sadly.

“It might just be a part of your hallucination. I’m very sure I don’t see any black marks there. It’s alright, elderly people often hallucinate.” And before I could even utter a word, she turned and walked away.

No. It’s there! Why can’t she see it? I did the exact same thing to the patient on my left. He had the same reaction, he couldn’t see anything on my palm. Is..is it invisible? But it’s there!

I suddenly thought of the old man I saw so many weeks ago. How he shook my hand, I didn’t see any black mark either! A wild thought appeared in my head. Is this some kind of sickness? Could I pass it on and be free of all the symptoms? This wasn’t any normal illness, it couldn't be. Could I just pass it on...by shaking hands with another person? The nurse came back with some bottles.

It was now or never.

End~

#12

Truth or Dare

“Truth or Dare?”

Hah, I'm no chicken! “Dare! Let’s do this.”

My friends chuckled evilly. I put on a brave face, but was screaming on the inside. Hopefully they don’t make me do anything embarrassing.

Oh man I hope…

The next thing I knew someone blindfolded me, without giving me any heads up. “Guys w-what are we doing?”

They shuffled me to... a table? My hands felt the texture of the wooden table in the kitchen. They made me sit down.

“Put your right hand on the table.” I heard Connor’s voice.

“Hehe, couldn’t you guys just tell me what’s going on.” I said as I slowly put my hand on the smooth, cold surface of the table.

“Spread out your fingers.” Connor ordered again.

I obeyed, nervous.

There was silence for the next few seconds.

Then I heard Miso say, “If you really are our friends, then prove yourself, do not resist.”

Before I could even get a word out, I felt something go “thunk” on the table.

Right between my fingers.

“Guys no! You don’t have to do this!” No one responded. The only sounds were the “thunk thunk” sounds of the knife stabbing the table, right between my fingers, and my heavy breathing. Cold sweat formed on my forehead, and my eyes were filled with hot tears, threatening to let loose! I shook my hand, desperate to stop this but it was no use, someone was holding my hand down like an iron shackle. I used my other hand to pry loose of that iron grip but all efforts were in vain, I was going to be dead meat.

Why did they have to do this?

I lost all hope...

Then, a plan formed in my head.

I timed the knife plunging into the wood, and as soon as I heard the next ‘thunk’, I immediately shot my head down and bit as hard as I could into the ‘iron chain’, I heard a familiar screech and finally, my hand was free!

But.. maybe I should have timed the knife better...

The knife plunged into the flesh of my finger, I immediately started screaming. I tumbled to the floor from my chair, shrieking my throat raw. I clutched onto what was remaining on my injured finger. I could feel warm liquid spilling on to my left hand. “Please guys! Help! Call an ambulance! Do something!”

They made the most horrifying response.

They laughed.

“You thought we were your friends?”

“You’re a good for nothing to us.”

“Good luck, and good night.”

“No please!”

And just like that… they left.

“SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!”

But no one came.

End~