Chapter 8: The Control

KAYLEEN

It’s been a week since the last time Shaira showed up to me. The feeling of not seeing her the best even I’m still anxious about her sudden come back. Zeke took me somewhere far. It’s to that place we first saw each other; he has an old house there. It’s where his parents live when they were still alive. It is a perfect place for me to be really isolated from people and the only person who comes visit is him.

His profession is fortunately paralleled my sickness and his been helping me take medications for free. I know it’s impossible for this place to have people walking by but I’m not turning the lights on during the night. I want this house to look really abandoned and empty.

When it rains, the roof leaks but I didn’t care. 

Another week passes and still no sign of Shaira and it’s making me feel happy. I’m now wishing that she will forever not show herself up anymore.  

“So how are you?” Zeke asked when he visited me again.

“I’m never been this good. I can no longer see her.”

“That’s good.”

“How’s work?” We talked a lot and eat together like good old friends. I bet it’s quite peaceful this way. 

“Doctor?” A familiar voice made me froze after hearing it. It’s that guy again.

“It’s Garry. What is he doing here? Hide somewhere,” he said standing up not finishing his food. Silently cleaning the table, my heart started pumping as fast as it could. “What are you doing here?” Zeke asked Garry. I can hear them from inside.

“You are still coming here, I see.”

“Yeah. I miss this place a lot. You know, my childhood memories are cultivated here.” Zeke sounded so calm while I feel the most opposite. When everything is settled and hidden, I also hid myself upstairs looking at them from the window.

That Garry is always studying the house as if he knows someone else is here. He can’t be here. I can no longer hear what they are talking about but I can tell that Garry is forcing himself to enter the house. He is tailing Zeke to find out if it’s really me he saw. His eyes suddenly looked at my direction making me gasp and step backwards.

I bumped on something from my back and it dropped. My eyes widened when it crashed on the floor. It’s an old vase and it’s all broken now. The silence grew so suddenly as my heart is crazily beating. It’s the only thing, I can hear now. My heartbeat that’s getting louder and louder as it goes faster. I started shaking as I try to look at them from below. They are no longer there and there’s a sudden knock on the door.

Sweat beaded on my forehead as I look at my surroundings searching for a place to hide myself. I only see a window but when I tried opening it it’s stocked.

“There’s no one here, trust me,” Zeke said. 

“I heard something from this room. Please, just let me at least check it,” he said still knocking and trying to open the door.

I have no choice but hide under the bed still not making any sound. The door swung open after a something bumped into it. I can see their feet walking around the room.

“I told you, there is no one here,” Zeke spoke but Garry is not giving up. He searched inside the cabinet and suddenly kneeled in front of my face. My sweat crawled down dripping my face. This could be the end.

A cat’s meow took their attention. I don’t know where it may come from but it’s beside me and ran. 

“That cat almost gave me a heart attack!” Garry stood up walking towards the direction the cat ran.

“I didn’t know there is a cat here,” Zeke said following Garry. They both went out and it made me breath a bit normal. I plunge my face on the floor feeling my body out of energy. Gladly, I never changed anything in this house. My clothes are placed under this bed. 

Zeke came back so I lift my head staring at his shoes.

“You can come out now. He’s gone.” I followed what he said and sat on the bed. I can still feel my heart still beating very fast and my breathing is still not that calm. 

“I’m afraid he might come back here.” He walked to the window checking the outside.

“Kill him.” A whisper made me gasp turning my head to both sides. It was Shaira’s voice but I can’t see her. This is not a good sign. 

“Zeke!” I called him with my voice panicking so much. He looked at me.

“Calm down—“

“No. You have to tie me in this bed. Tie me now.” I hurriedly took some rope from the old storage area and came back to him. I handed it to him making him looked confused.

“What are you doing? Why do you want me to tie you up?” he asked puzzled by my action.

“I can feel it. I can be dangerous tonight.”

“What?”

“I heard her. I heard her just now and I don’t like what she just whispered so please. I’m begging you to tie me up. Just tie me,” I requested positioning myself on the bed. 

“You will be fine. You don’t have to do this to yourself—“

“Just do it!” My voice now sounded angry so he followed me. He is doing it slow but I didn’t care. As long as he is doing it. “Tighten it,” I ordered helping him do so with my other hand. He looks like forced to do everything. Maybe he can see something from my eyes now.

“Do you think this will help?” he asked tying up both of my feet. 

“I don’t know but it’s all I can think.”

“Why won’t you come with me, to the hospital.”

“No. I’m never going there. Everyone will see me.” He went silent since I sounded so desperate about staying away from people. “There is a demon inside me, Zeke. I can’t stay with people. I am a danger,” I continued feeling my tears falling down from my eyes. 

It hurts me thinking about my situation but I can’t do anything about it. Finally, he is done tying all my limbs and I can no longer move that much.

“I will help you get rid of your demon,” he uttered.