Chapter 2

“What are you doing? Are you covering for that little human?” the attacker’s voice boomed which made Amilia flinch. Yes, there are times when she gets involved with unseen entities and she tried to shrug it off. But this is the first time she got so involved with them, and a powerful one too. She tried to shrink herself behind the one who blocked the attack.

“Move away. I don’t care about your status” the attacker threatened. But he didn’t even budge.

“Stop this. She’s not worth it” Amilia’s protector said with finality.

His voice was very masculine and deep. A unique kind of voice. What he said angered her attacker. The library seemed to transform into a different place. There was something sinister in the air.

“You!” but before the attacker could do anything, he disappeared right in front of Amilia with just a wisp of black smoke as a remnant.

Everything went still after that. Amilia didn’t dare to move an inch as she held her breath. Even the air stilled with the tension. After a minute, but felt like years for Amilia, he turned. Giving her a full view of his being.

He looked otherworldly. His clothes may look ordinary but something tells her that it was not ordinary. He was not ordinary. Whatever happened earlier, Amilia wanted to forget. She wished she could just pass out and when someone finds her lying in the library, she would wake up with no recollection at all.

“Leave. Forget everything you saw” Amilia was dumbfounded by what she heard.

That was it, after saying that he just vanished in the air. Leaving with the tense air along. The library looked normal again as if nothing happened. But the emptiness of the librarian’s seat was the only clue of the happenings.

Amilia felt exhausted. She does not know what to do. So, she just leaves the library. Her first intention vanished and she just wanted to go home. He walked fast-paced until she reached the school gates. She only felt relieved when she saw the busy world of sidewalks outside the campus.

She remembered her part-time job and glanced at her watch. Ten minutes before her shift started. So much time passed. Amilia run to the nearest restaurant where she was working. When she reached the back door, her boss was just about to throw the garbage and greeted her.

“Amilia! Got stuck with your assignments again?” she jokingly asked.

“Hi, Linda” Amilia smiled. How she wished she could tell her that it was not the assignments that hold her back this time. But she wouldn’t believe in her anyways.

“John was just about to get you. Tell him you’re here” with that, Linda proceeded to what she was about to do.

The kitchen was filled with a nice aroma of bread and pastry. No one was manning the stove. Something was going on in the locker room. Indicating that John was there.

“John! John!” Amilia called at the door of the locker room. Another rustle before she saw John’s face peeked from the inside.

“Amilia! Great, you’re here. I was just about to check on you. You know, Linda worries about you a lot” John said as he goes inside the locker room again.

“Sorry for the trouble, John” Amilia replied, still standing at the door.

“Nah! That’s okay” as John exited the locker room.

“Let’s get to work, little girl. Customers are coming soon” he patted Amilia’s shoulder.

Amilia went inside the locker room. She turned the lock of the door knob. She went to her locker to get a change of clothes. She saw herself in the mirror. The familiar baby face came into view.

Her blue orbs reminded her of her mom. While her red hair was from her father. Both already have their own family and almost forgot about her. Tuition and house rent was not a problem but she needed money to get through the days.

She quickly changes into her uniform and proceeds to her workstation. She manned the counter, she still had thirty minutes before the customer came. So, she decided to open the coffee machine and arranged the counter. A ping indicated a customer.

Amilia straightened her back. She put on her best smile and readied herself. She saw a familiar figure enter the restaurant. She squinted her eyes to scrutinize the man and woman whose voices now filled the whole area.

“Welcome to Linda’s…” she wasn’t able to finish her script when she recognized the man who just entered.

“Jason?” a familiar name escaped her lips.

“You know me?” Amilia furrowed her eyebrows at the question.

“You didn’t recognize me?” Amilia was shocked.

They’ve been neighbors since childhood and although they don’t have an intimate relationship, they still greet each other with a smile. Sometimes they would stop for a little conversation. So, what he said was a shock to Amilia.

“Miss, I would like to order a buffalo wing, soda, and a nacho” completely ignoring Amilia’s gawking face, he ordered.

Amilia snapped out of her trance and punched the orders. Still puzzled by Gerald’s reaction. When he received his order, he proceeded to an empty table without even looking back at Amilia. She watched him. His movement was the same. The only question about him was the way he talked to her. But Amilia soon let the matter go as many customers buzzed in.

Her mind drifted away from him and focused on the task at hand. She got busy and forgot about what happened during her trip to the library and all other things. It was not until that night when she got home and open the door of her apartment that she notices that there is something odd.

The air around her was chilly. Her once warm home felt strange. Something was following her. She looked back but there was no one there. She was afraid to step inside her room.

“Amilia? What’s wrong dear?” a voice called out to her.

“Mrs. Rodriguez” was her fifty-five years old Asian neighbor.

“Is there something wrong with your apartment? Is there a burglar?” the old lady stepped closer to take a peek inside. Amilia was quick to stop her.

“No! No, there’s nothing wrong. I was just thinking if I left something at work” Amilia smiled at her sweetly.

“Are you sure?” Amilia was not sure. Heck, she doesn’t even know what was wrong but she wasn’t going to voice it out.

“Okay. If you need anything just knock on my door” the old lady went back inside her apartment.

Amilia hesitated again but decided to just enter. Whatever it is, it’s better to face it head-on than become a coward.

There was nothing inside. Her furniture was like how it was when she left. There’s no sign of anything. She switched on the light and the whole place lightened.

She sighed in relief. Amilia firmly closed the door and make sure it was locked. She then proceeds to her room. There was nothing out of ordinary. Except for her mirror.

Her mirror portrayed a different reflection. It didn’t show her bed or the paint on the wall. It was a total black. She placed herself in front to examine the mirror. A total blackness.

Then something moves from the side. An opening. Something was tearing the blackness. Amilia stepped back. Scared, she reaches for something to fight with from the floor. She found nothing. Her knees were buckling but she tried her best to fight it. She tried her best to find a way out.

A monster-like claw grabbed the frame of her mirror. A sinister smell wafted the room. Amilia was thankful that she left the door open. She readied herself to run out but what came out of the mirror stopped her. It was what she saw earlier. No, this one is uglier than the other.