My hands froze.
If this was not my friend then who is it?
And what do I do?!
"Come on! Open it up! Open up please!"
Her voice sounded so desperate and the banging in the door became frantic. I was honest thinking about opening the door, but at the same time I don't want to.
"Don't open the door! It's trying to fool you!"
The one on the phone sounded so frantic too.
"Tch!"
It's now or never! I'm staking everything in my instincts!
I gritted my teeth and opened the door halfway.
Just as my instincts told me, outside was my desperate friend.
"Open it and let me in!"
I opened the door and she slammed it close, locking all the five door locks and slumping down a few steps away from it.
She started crying and I kneeled down to comfort her.
"What happened? Calm down."
"Hic! Wuuuuuu I knew I shouldn't have gone out with a stranger in tinder!"
Oh I remember, she said she'd go on a date with a dude she matched on tinder. They'd been messaging each other for some time now.
"Was he the one chasing you?"
"No... It was something else, something big something bad, something-I don't know! It.. It can copy people."
"It's okay now. Whatever it is, it's gone now. We will be safe here I'll protect you."
I gave her a warm hug, and we stayed like that for a moment. She was really shaken up.
"No! You've let it in!"
From the phone, came a voice. It was still my friend's voice.
We both looked at the phone in trepidation.
"Don't believe it. It likes to create discord amongst companions. That's how it killed my date."
"Wait he's dead?!"
She nodded. There was only silence after that.
"I'll... I'll get myself a glass of water..."
She stood up and walked to the kitchen.
I also stood up, and remembered the phone.
The call was still going on, and the number on the screen was my friend's. Maybe it took her phone?
"Hello?"
"You need to listen to me. It's me, okay? That's not me in the house. I'm still running home from the subway. My date isn't dead, he's right here with me. That thing is coming for you, that's why I called you!"
"Wait, what?"
"We- we went into an antique store and may have bought something evil. My date and I will bring over a man from the church. He'll be the one killing it. Don't let it know you know or else.."
Why does this sound so legit... Of all times, she tell me this right now.
I heard the other one coming back and pushed the volume on the phone down and pretended to scout the nearby window.
" Here, I made coffee. "
" Thanks. "
I took the cup from her and didn't drink it. I smiled and made small conversations, trying to get some sort of information that could tell me if she's my friend or not.
"So where did you put his body?"
"The... The creature ate him up...."
"You're so lucky, how did you escape?"
She gave a sigh and told me a long winded story that overtime sounded weird to me.
"So you used the tall basement windows to escape from the creature you kept in the basement? Damn that's bold! I would have stood there and freeze. You're really athletic!"
"Well, gotta fight for my life right?"
"Oh, earlier there was a delivery for you in the bedroom. Something Antique? You go check it out and I'll guard the door."
"Really? I'll check it out then."
The excitement in her eyes made my blood run cold. She left to go upstairs and when she was gone, I hurriedly ran towards the closest window, opened it and looked down.
I can jump this. Opening the door could take me a lot of time. I HAVE to jump!
I can jump from the window and then land on the open trashcan.
Better than dying to me!
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Ah! Oh uhm, I thought I saw something down there..."
She was standing near the staircase, her eyes emitting a cold light. I noticed the shadows on the wall...
It was not human.
"You should close it. It's cold and the creature can climb in."
Even with her smile, I knew what to do now.
"Oh really? But isn't it inside now?"
With that, I jumped down, remembering to relax my body to avoid injuries.
"You!!!!"
There was no time to feel painful or dizzy. I stood up and made a run for it. I need to get out of here.
I could hear the creature behind me screech and I knew it was behind me.
I was being chased and I don't know what to do!
No cries for help can come out of my mouth, my feet took me to the first turn I could get.
Where are they?! Please save me!
"Hey come back here. The creature will eat you!"
"Damn you! Do you think I'm a fool!"
Even if it uses her voice, I'm not foolish enough to go back!
I ran and stumbled, stood up again and ran. I knew I'm injured, but this is better than dying.
There was a shrill, fear inducing screech again. The nearby trashcan all flew towards me. I had to dodge whilst crying.
I'm not athletic, but I feel like I'm running faster than an athlete has ever did.
Please! Someone help!
"Duck!"
I turned to see my real friend, her date, and a priest.
He threw something behind me and I ducked.
"GRAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
the creature howled. I realized how close it was to me as it bursted into flames.
The blaze was so big and scary that it left an impression on me.
"Are you okay?! Let's go!"
I remember being hoisted up, loaded into a car, and seeing light flash near the glass window.
I don't know what happens after this, I just want to be out of here.
But I feel like there ls something inside me...
What is it?
" It's okay now. We'll get you help."
I moved my eyes to look at her. There was fear and trepidition in her eyes....
Was... Was there something I should know?
"What... Have you done to me?"
Her expression changed into a bitter one.
"Don't worry, we will fix it."
Fear gripped me once again.
What are they planning?!
"Fear not child, the evil within you will be extracted. It will not take root into the world."
And he looked at my stomach...
are they talking about... My unborn child?!
"NO...!"
"Listen to me, please listen to me. The child is contaminated, we can't let it live!"
"It wasn't my fault! It wasn't my child's fault! You can't do this!"
"I'm sorry...."
The date pulled out a glowing stone and pressed it on my stomach. I howled in pain.
It burns! It burns!
Tears and snot covered my face. My child! My child!
The last thing I heard was a crash....
"Then, what happened to the lady, Mama?"
The woman sitting on the chair patted the child sitting near her feet with a smile.
"She survived and left that place, had a baby and lived humbly."
"Mommy, is the baby evil?"
"No. The baby is very good and very cute."
"Mommy do you love me?"
"Of course, forever and always."
The child smiled with delight. She loves her son so much.
"I'll get you some food okay? Continue playing."
"Uhn!"
She left the child there and went to the kitchen. She placed the plates ready and opened the fridge.
"So what would it be today? The head? Some liver? Toes? Hm, fried toes it is."
Ah, she loves her child so much.
(credits to the original owner of the photo)