THE EXISTENCE

Fifteen years later, the ghostly town was still haunting the residents of the town by the blood howling screams of the witch, which was burnt alive on the main square church.

Since she died, nothing beneficial ever happened to the town. Youngsters were committing suicide, children were died due to endemic diseases, the older ones were getting rotten but still roaming alive.

Everything was terrifying but what caught the attention of the town was the story of the ‘burned witch’ which was spread like a wild fire in the dense forest, to the nearby towns, and from there to the big cities.

People from different parts of the country visited the ghost town to capture the story and most of them to see the ghost of the witch. However, it turned out that it was a rumor of seeing a ghost of that witch but the town somehow became dead. Women become infertile and no newborns were brought to the world.

The crops were dead and there was nothing felt to feed, sooner and sooner the town turned into nothing but ashes, still it hold a tourist place for the people getting attracted towards it from the corners of the world

And, one of them, was HER.

Eztli

Rushing down toward the stair, holding my backpack with some clothes and my essentials stuffed tightly. I was thrilled as this was my first ever vacation outside the city.

Yes, I have been living in one of the metropolises, the place where all the newcomers wanted to settle and become stars of their glamorous life, but it is not me. I always wanted to explore the hidden gems, like the one we are going to visit today.

“The ghost town of the dead witch? Seriously? You didn’t find anything better?” Layla was pissed knowing we are visiting a place far away from the city and why not she, after all she had to live a few days without electricity and gadgets.

“oh ! com’on layla, it won’t be that bad. I have checked the rating of that place on Tripoto and we should explore something like that.” Andre said while rolling his eyes.

“I guess, Andre is right. We have seen enough of man made beauty, which is fake. Now it's time to see something natural.” i was jubilant.

“Hell no! You are also involved in his shitty plan. I expected it to be a place like the biggest garden of the nearby cities.” Layla rolled her eyes.

“Probably her eyes will get stuck in the middle of her head.” Andre snorted and put the luggage on his car’s trunk.

“Layla, please! Trust us, we will surely go to the place of your choice next time.” I tried to convince her but she was pissed. We understand her emotions as she is short tempered but who knows she will get a whole new experience for her life.

“Fine! I will go but if I don't like the place, we will come back home. Understood?” she states while fuming.

“Okay!!” i sighed, at least she is now ready to go with us.

Andre approached me and asked, “how do you do this?” he was surprised.

“I am her best friend, I know how to pinch her soft points.” I grinned before hopping inside the car.

Andre went to the driver’s seat and ignited the engine, driving us past the city boundaries. Playing country music louder on the woofer of his car, i was enjoying this new experience.

Layla was digging in her seat and making sure to avoid us, but it is okay, I am glad that she is with us.

My parents called me frequently and told me to be careful as it was my first time to visit a place like this.

Within four hours, we reached the place where we will stay for the night. Andre parked the car and we all exited the car. Layla was stretching her legs while I was keenly observing the beautiful place.

“So, we reached that ghost town?” she asked with amusement.

“No! It's just a mile away from this spot but you won't have a place to stay there, that’s why I had booked rooms for us for the stay at night.” Andre informed us while taking out our luggage.

“This place is already giving me creeps!!” Layla was muttering under her breath.

“I don’t think so, i feel like i am part of this place.” I said , knowing what I just said.

“Seriously?” she eyed me.

“No! But that’s how I felt.” I shrugged my shoulders and we walked to our rooms. Andre booked two rooms for us, one for him and a double bedded one for us girls.

The place wasn’t very luxurious but still cozy. I liked it actually. Even though the dinner was simple, no expensive drinks but i still enjoyed it. Layla seemed a bit relaxed.

“I told you to trust us.” I said to her.

“Yeah, but still if i felt uncomfortable here, we are heading back.” she said with her lip in a flat line.

Later, we all went to sleep and I was indulged in a dream. It was a peaceful one until I began sweating, and I felt so hot that I felt like I was on fire. My breath was stuck inside my throat and I tried to wake up Layla, who sleep profoundly on her side of the comforter.

I was getting a blurred image of a woman and noticed how scarred her body was, gladly everything was blurred.

With a scream, I was finally able to break that haunting dream and get up on my feet. My sudden reaction woke up Layla too and she was panicked to see me sweating badly.

“Eztli? Are you okay?” she was concerned.

“Yeah, i am fine, it was just a bad dream.” i tried to calm her down instead as she will put up some assumptions and drag all of us back home.

“Are you sure? You sweat like someone drenched you with water.” she pointed out and I smiled.

“I am fine!!” 

Was it? I don’t know but that was the scariest dream I had ever seen.