For example, during events, we were the ones decorating. Some helped the librarian, others worked in the canteen, some were assigned to cleaning, and others assisted the cook. In my case, I was assigned to the library. I would take over when the librarian went to eat or had meetings. I also checked if the books were properly arranged or if any were missing. I cleaned the place too because our campus administrator was very strict.
Fast forward.
There was an event at that time—if I remember correctly, it was intramurals. All the students were at the complex, including the librarian, whom I’ll call Miss J. Since it was the opening, everyone had to be there except for working students like me.
While I was at the desk, I suddenly heard something fall from the right side. I quickly went to check, and that’s when I saw a woman. She was wearing a uniform, had long hair, and was sitting on the floor in a slouched, careless position—as if she didn’t care if she looked messy. Her head was slightly tilted, and she wasn’t moving at all. I got worried.
“Miss, are you okay?” I asked, concerned. But she didn’t respond. I thought maybe she fainted. I looked around, but there were no fallen books that could’ve caused the sound. I approached her and held her arm.
“Miss, are you alright?” I asked again, softly. Still, no response. So I pulled her gently to face me.
I swear, in that moment, my face turned pale when I saw hers. She suddenly started twitching. I stumbled backward and ran as fast as I could. My whole body was covered in goosebumps, and I started crying.
Who wouldn’t be terrified? Her face was covered in blood, her tongue hanging out, and blood was gushing from her mouth.
But then I stopped running because I realized something.
What if she needed to be brought to the clinic?
So I went back. But when I got there, the library was closed. I kept pushing the door open. Suddenly, the lights went out, and everything turned pitch dark. I froze, listening to my surroundings. After about 10 seconds, the lights came back on, and the door finally opened—but I immediately regretted opening it because of the smell.
It smelled like a rotting corpse—so foul it made me want to throw up.
I remembered the woman and went back to where I saw her, but she was gone. How could she disappear that fast? I asked myself. I was about to turn away when a strong gust of wind blew. When I looked back, I screamed.
She was standing right in front of me, smiling.
Her stare was intense. Then she screamed loudly—so loud it felt like my eardrums would burst. I felt something wet in my ear, and I realized I was bleeding. After that, I don’t remember anything. I lost consciousness.
Fast forward.
I woke up slumped over the desk I had just cleaned earlier. It felt so real, but I thought it was just a dream. As I stretched, I saw Miss J in front of me, staring seriously.
“Sorry, Miss,” I said, embarrassed.
“Pack up. Let’s go home,” she said, sounding slightly annoyed.
She’s usually cheerful, so I thought maybe she was in a bad mood because I fell asleep on the job. I got nervous she might report me. I was even praying she wouldn’t.
So I turned off the lights and waited for her while she used the restroom. She told me to wait. But after 30 minutes, she still hadn’t come out. I knocked.
“Miss? Are you okay in there?” I asked softly. No response. The lights inside weren’t on either. I knocked again—still nothing. I couldn’t take it anymore and went inside.
But to my shock, no one was there. Not even a drop of water.
That was impossible. I clearly heard the water running earlier. There was no other door. Goosebumps covered my body when a strong wind suddenly passed by.
I kept calling for Miss J. I ran in panic, stumbling as the lights went out again. When I reached the stairs, I almost fell because I bumped into someone.
“Oh my God!” someone shouted.
It was the school guard. Let’s call him Roland. Good thing he caught my arm, or I would’ve fallen down the stairs. I started crying, and he helped me sit.
“Aren’t you Miss J's assistant?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Why are you crying?”
I didn’t answer. He was about to continue his rounds, but he gave me water and let me sit by the electric fan.
“Did something possess you?” he asked casually, as if it wasn’t unusual.
I stayed silent.
“Did you see Miss J pass by?” I asked him.
“Huh? No,” he replied.
I stood up.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“I’ll go back upstairs to check on her. Maybe I just forgot something. She went to the restroom earlier, and she said we’d go home together,” I answered.
“What are you talking about? Miss J isn’t on duty today. Her mother’s confined in the hospital,” he said.
My hands turned cold, and my hair stood on end.
“What? But she told me earlier around 3 PM that I should watch the library while she attends the intramurals opening,” I insisted.
“I’m telling you, she’s not here. Look at the logbook—her name isn’t there.”
I checked. He was right.
“You shouldn’t stay late here alone. A lot of people have died in this school,” he said seriously.
I didn’t respond.
“I’ll go ahead,” he said, then left without looking back.
Luckily, a bus passed by, so I immediately got on. As I entered, the conductor approached me.
“Fare for both,” he said.
I was shocked.
“What? Since when did the fare increase? I rode a bus to save money!” I complained.
“It didn’t increase. It’s the same. There are two of you,” he said calmly.
Tears welled up in my eyes as fear crept in again. He was serious.
“I’m alone,” I said quietly.
His eyes widened as he leaned closer.
“Then who is that holding your arm?” he whispered.
At that moment, I heard a faint giggle right beside my ear—and I felt a cold hand gripping my arm.
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Hi! I'm Elowen slowly practicing my writing again. I stopped a while back because of some stuff in my life, but I really want to explore my literature side again, it has been way too long but I hope through my stories derived from personal experience, literature I read, and scenarios I imagine, I could flow right back to this side. Join me on this spooky, gloomy, exhilarating journey!
