6 "Ruthie - Last Call"

"Dyrroth, it is Ruthie. I know you are not sleeping. Open the door."

I sighed. There is still no response from Dyrroth's room.

"Hey! What are you doing there?"

I was startled at Rosa, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She looked me up and down with disdain in her eyes.

"Just mind your own business,” I replied calmly, then I turned to Dyrroth’s room again.

I do not want to ruin my good mood tonight. It will be best to ignore Rosa. But many seconds pass, and she is still standing beside me with her arms crossed. I can feel her cold stare at my back. What is she waiting for?

I turned around to face her. “What is it? I have something to say to Sir Dyrroth,” I said irritably.

"Huh! This late at night? You really know no shame, do you?"

I plan to end my night peacefully, but she is not allowing it. This woman’s day will never be complete without annoying me.

I snorted. "How about you? What are you doing here?"

One of her thin eyebrows rose.

"Well, unlike you, I came here to make sure all the windows on the third floor were closed. How about you? I bet you are itching again. For you to be knocking on the master's bedroom this late at night, how shameless!"

I am blown away with disgust at her accusations.

"Leave me alone, Rosa! Aren't you too old for this?"

"Oh, look at your rudeness," she grunted.

I shook my head in disbelief. "You're the rude one. I'm not doing anything to you. Can you please leave me alone?"

"Your mother did not teach you good manners, did she? You are not only flirty and filthy, but you also have no respect for your elders."

She shook her head while mockingly scanning me from head to toe as she usually does.

"Young people these days…" she murmured.

My eyebrows furrow while my fists clench. I do not understand why Rosa is like this. When she first arrived here, she was very kind to me. Ever since the rumors about me started, she became a completely different person.

Sometimes I think that maybe I deserve this treatment and her hurtful words. A small part of me thinks I might be somehow responsible for the deaths of those people. That is why even though she gave me dirty remarks like this, I just let it pass most of the time.

But one time, when I had the chance to ask her, she said it had nothing to do with the rumors. And that she just suddenly realized how hateful I am. I do not believe that. I wonder what really happened between us. Some of my childhood memories are too foggy for me to remember.

I glared at her. "Don't insult my mother."

"Why?” she scoffed. “Did I say something wrong?"

I am about to answer back aggressively when my cell phone suddenly rings. My eyes open wide, and my heart races as I check it. Carlos is calling me.

I glared at Rosa. I then quickly placed the screen of my phone on my chest. So that her curious and malicious eyes could not see who it was. She will definitely spread gossip when she sees another man calling me.

"Who is that to be calling at this hour?"

My eyes squinted. "It is none of your business."

I turned around and quickly walked away. I made sure that the villainess was not following me. She got lucky that Carlos called, or else she might have heard hurtful words from me.

I was going down the stairs when I excitedly answered my phone. I cleared my throat and smiled.

"Hello, Carlos? Are you home?"

"Ru-Ruthie..."

I frowned when I heard his voice. He sounds hoarse.

"Are you all right?"

"Don't..." He stops speaking for a moment and then resumes. "I don't want to see you anymore."

He sounded out of breath. I could not understand well what he was saying.

"What did you say?"

"I-I don't like you, Ruthie... Fo-Forget about tonight!" he replied, almost shouting.

I paused. Did I hear Carlos correctly?

"Wait. Ho-hold on… What are you saying?"

"I... I made a mistake."

I forced a weak laugh. "Is this one of your jokes?"

"No! I'm serious. I..." he coughed. "I hate you..."

"Carlos, you're not making any sense. Are you sick?"

"N-No... I sho-should've never approached you."

I was speechless for a moment. I suddenly felt a strange pain in my chest. Did I do something wrong? Have I offended him in any way?

I recalled everything that happened at the fair earlier, especially the moments we had. Even though we had only known each other for a couple of hours, I knew that Carlos genuinely enjoyed my company. I know it from the bottom of my heart. The things he said to me about how he feels about being my friend, I know that was all true.

"This must be some joke," I scoffed.

"I-I am not joking."

"I don't believe it!" I replied angrily. "Are you doing this because of my mom? How she acted earlier?"

"N-No! I just... I just changed my mind. I do not want to see you again, ever!"

"Wha— What is happening to you? Why are you suddenly like this?!"

A few seconds passed, and I heard no answer. I looked at the cellphone screen. He is still on the other line, but he is not talking.

"Carlos? Hello?!"

Moments later, I heard what seemed to be another voice speaking. It was too weak, so I was not sure. It may be just my imagination. After the mysterious noise, Carlos answered again.

"I'm sorry... I fooled you."

"Are, are you serious?"

"Yes."

I bit my lower lips in frustration. "I told you, I will not believe it. If this is a prank, you may stop now."

He did not answer again.

"Hey, Carlos! It's really not funny anymore!"

My forehead furrowed when I heard another man's voice in the background.

"Ah... Should I kill you now?"

My hair stood on end at what I heard. There really is someone else with Carlos. It was not just my imagination. But what is this person saying?

Kill? Kill who?!

"Ruthie, so-sorry! Please forget about me! I-I will never see you again! I will delete your number. I will not call or talk to you again!"

My face wrinkled even more. Fear is evident in his trembling voice. Is Carlos the subject of that horrible statement? Is that why he sounds distressed? My heartbeat quickened in terror.

I became even more convinced that he was being forced to say those things to me. But it does not make any sense. Why order him to stay away from me?

"Ca-Carlos," I swallowed. "Who is that with you? I can hear someone else talking in the background."

He did not answer, which confirmed my suspicions. I am starting to get really scared for Carlos right now.

"Carlos, answer me. Are you okay? Are you in danger?"

Still no response.

"Where are you? What is going on right now? Wha—"

The line cut. My hands were shaking when I tried to call Carlos's number, but I could not get through anymore. My heart was pounding so loud in my chest that I could hear it inside me.

Oh, god… It is happening again.

Whenever people try to get close to me, they disappear or die. I could not help but panic. I ran and jumped down the stairs and out of the mansion.

"Hey, Ruthie, where are you going?"

"Ernesto, open the gate. Please, I need to go out!" I said anxiously.

He frowned and looked at me from head to toe.

"Why? Where are you going? It is late, and you are already in your pajamas."

"Just— I do not have time to explain. Just open the gate, please!"

Ernesto scratched his head.

"I do not think it is a good idea for a young girl like y—"

"Please! I need to check something. I will be real quick!"

"Where are you going?"

"I don't have time to explain!"

He was startled. I unintentionally raised my voice at him.

"I... I'm sorry, Ernesto. But I'm in a hurry."

He hesitated at first, but he still went ahead and opened the gate with a frown on his face. Maybe because he never saw me flustered like this before. I even shouted at him.

"Come back quickly. Your mom will get mad at me."

I could not answer him because I ran outside as soon as the gate opened. I will apologize later. But for now, there is a more pressing matter.

I became covered in sweat as I made my way to the main road where he would have waited for a ride. I paused for a moment when I reached the waiting shed and caught my breath.

I looked around. I noticed no passing vehicles. The place was dark, and the silence was deafening. Only the moon gives light to the whole area. But strangely, even the sounds of nocturnal insects and animals are absent.

I embraced myself when a cold wind blew. I anxiously looked at the surroundings as I felt more ominous than I already was.

What is up with the forest tonight? It is too eerie.

I shifted my focus back to the road. Carlos does not have a car, so he will definitely walk to the terminal. There is a good chance he will go straight there than wait here. Besides, it is not that far. I should go there to check.

I was about to run again when I noticed a glowing object in a grassy corner just a few steps away from where I was standing.

I immediately picked it up. I went back to the waiting shed, where there was enough light to take a closer look at what I had found. It was a new watch, and it looked expensive.

I frowned. "I feel like I have seen this before."

My lips parted when I realized why this wristwatch was familiar. This was Carlos'. I am sure! I remembered it when he looked at the time earlier at the fair.

But why is it there? Did he throw it?

I held it tightly and looked at the dark and bushy place where I had found it. I slowly walked back there and studied the forest in front of me.

Is it possible that they went here? Carlos, and that mysterious person I heard on the call?

I gasped when I noticed some bloodstains on the ground and rocks just a few steps away. Then I remembered Carlos' voice earlier. He sounded in pain and out of breath.

"Oh, no..."

I covered my mouth with my two hands as I stared full of worry at the darkness.

I gulped. This is too dangerous. I should have called the cops instead.

This is not good... I ran here without thinking. What if something happens to me?

I was panicking so much earlier that I did not think straight. But what if he is hurt? I cannot go back now. Thinking that Carlos's life is in danger because of me gives me enough courage to go forward.

I am not sure if something terrible has really befallen him, but I will go anyway. I want to feel at ease. I want to make sure that he is all right.

And if anything happens to him, that will prove I am cursed, right? It will validate the rumors surrounding me. I cannot accept that!

I am scared, but this is nothing compared to how worse it would be if I could not confirm Carlos' safety.

I inhaled deeply. I turned on the flashlight of my cellphone to lighten my pathway.

Carlos, where are you? Please, be safe!