Chapter 1
I was inside my room. It was completely empty. There wasn't a single piece of furniture or anything scattered anywhere. I was just standing in the middle, staring at a shadow that seemed to be shaped like a person.
"W-Who are you?" I anxiously whispered, my voice slightly trembling as I stared at the shadow.
It didn't move, but I noticed it slowly getting closer to me. It wasn't the first time I had seen this in my dream. But why did it look so clear and real?
Fuck. What should I do? The shadow is getting closer to me!
I couldn't stay still. Is this real?! Or is this just my nightmare again?! In my peripheral view, the place suddenly looked vast and distorted. I don't know what is happening, but I feel like I went to the wrong condo if this is real.
And it was. . . haunted.
I couldn't believe it! Why would I even think that I just went to the wrong condo? This condo is mine!
The shadow moved gradually, and it seemed to be smiling at me. But I couldn't fully see it.
I only knew what I saw. My hands trembled violently, and my head refused to move even if I forced it. It felt like something was pulling me back in case I tried to leave my position.
What the fuck is happening to me?!
I noticed the furniture slowly returning to their original places. But along with that was the gradual disappearance of the light. I looked at the shadow that was in the dark corner earlier, but now it was already in front of me.
It was frightening as fuck. This was the first time I felt this kind of fear, because it felt real. But I'm fucking sure, this is just a nightmare!
"I'm not your nightmare, Luke. I'm real." A terrifying voice echoed inside the room.
I was completely freaked out. "Y-You're not fucking real! You're not real! Fuck, who are you?!" I shouted at the shadow, forcing courage into my voice.
But I couldn't hear it anymore, or maybe it had completely gone silent. And all I could see was pitch black. I felt something strange, a heavy and suffocating presence around me. There was a strange, unpleasant smell lingering nearby.
Like a rotting corpse or whatever thing was close to me.
"I'm you. We are you. And you are us. . ."
All I could see was the shadow from a while ago, and it had a creepy smile. I slowly fell as my knees weakened. My body was growing weaker. And before I could even get up again, all of my vision faded into pitch black.
***
"Happy birthday, Luke! Welcome to your home."
I suddenly opened both of my eyes when I heard that familiar voice. I don't know what happened last night. I shook my head slightly because it was aching.
It felt like I had hit my head, because it was throbbing.
I looked at the window. It was already morning. I glanced around and noticed that I was lying on the cold floor.
What the hell.
I stood up from lying down. No wonder my head hurts. I must have fallen asleep on the cold floor.
All I could remember was that it was my birthday yesterday. My friend and I had a small party before I went home here to my condo. I looked at the alarm clock placed on the small cabinet beside the bed.
It was nine o'clock.
Shit. I'm still going home to the province. I'm going home to Mom because I miss them already. Also, it's Saturday, so I'll be staying there for two days. Today and tomorrow.
I walked toward my things and placed them one by one inside my bag. After arranging them, I went to the closet to get some clothes.
Since I'm staying there for two days, maybe I should bring a few extra clothes, just in case.
When I finished everything I needed to prepare, I immediately went out and carefully locked the door.
I didn't bring a motorcycle because Uncle Roli used it. Besides, it's really his, so I had no choice but to travel back here to the condo without bringing one. Good thing there are many buses passing by this area.
Before I could go inside the bus, I bought some food first. Just some biscuits so I wouldn't get hungry right away during the trip. I didn't eat a proper meal because I had to leave right away.
I rode a bus named DLTBCo or Del Monte Land Transport Bus Company. This was the only one I saw at the bus station. And since this bus is one of the frequent trippers to Sorsogon, I rode this one instead.
The province I'm going to is far, so I bought quite a lot of food.
It is approximately 514 kilometers away from Manila, so I really have to prepare. It would be troublesome if I asked the bus to stop for a while just to buy food along the way. And besides, I already spent almost 500 pesos.
This isn't only for me, but so I could also have a little pasalubong for Mom and Dad when I arrive home.
Three hours had passed, and I was getting impatient from sitting. My phone was low battery, so the trip felt even more boring. I forgot to charge it last night when I got home.
I don't have a choice but to endure the next few hours without my phone. So that I can also tolerate this kind of situation when there's no internet or when the signal is acting up.
An old man was sitting beside me and he was sleeping, so I closed my eyes and tried to sleep as well.
After a few hours, the voices of the people inside the bus grew louder. Maybe we were close to the next stop, which is why the surroundings became noisier and more chaotic.
I just ignored it and kept my eyes closed.
There was a foul smell that I suddenly noticed, but I didn't know where it was coming from. Along with that was the sudden stop of the voices around me.
The smell was like rotting meat, as if it had just been left to decay in a corner. But earlier there wasn't any smell like that, right?
The smell grew stronger and I could barely tolerate it. I quickly opened my eyes to see what it was. Maybe the man beside me handed me something.
When I opened my eyes, I was completely stunned.
I couldn't move at all from what I saw. All of the people inside the bus, including the driver, were slowly tilting their heads toward me in unison. Not only that, they were all smiling at me at the same time. Their smiles were wide, unnatural, and deeply unsettling.
"Hello, Luke." They all said it at the same time.
The voices were far from human, distorted and hollow, and it was deeply disturbing. I just stared at them, my eyes wide. How did they know my name? How?
I don't know what to do. I never did.
"Did you like our deaths, Luke?" Their voices were cold and emotionless, as if coming from a single demon.
I was frozen in sheer shock. Unable to speak. To run. To hide. I couldn't move my body, as if I had gone stiff in my seat. I felt like my soul was slowly leaving me. . .
Or maybe they had finally found it.
All of a sudden. . .
"DID YOU LIKE OUR DEATHS, LUKE? DID YOU FUCKING LIKE IT?" The man in front of me suddenly lunged toward me, his face twisted in fury.
I was startled by that, so I jolted up from my seat, almost losing my balance. What the fuck just happened?
The screams echoed inside my head as everything around me blurred and twisted. Their faces seemed to lengthen, and their mouths widened even more.
The smell became stronger, suffocating, as if it was entering and clinging to my lungs.
I suddenly opened my eyes when someone shook me.
I looked at the old man beside me who was worriedly asking if I was okay. I just gave a small nod. Some people inside the bus were quietly staring at me, their eyes filled with curiosity.
What was that dream? Why do I feel like something bad is going to happen?
I just looked outside the bus window. I noticed that I was already in Sorsogon. I didn't even realize it. I also didn't pay much attention to my dream because it was just a dream.
I don't know what time it was. But based on the sunlight hitting my face, it was probably three in the afternoon.
A few more minutes passed when the vehicle stopped at a small bus station in Castilla, Sorsogon. The surroundings were familiar. This is where my family lives, so carrying my bag and with slight nervousness in my chest, I got off the bus.
I approached Manong Driver who had known me for a long time. I was smiling at him. He was my uncle. Uncle Tobi.
"How's your college studies in Manila going?" he asked while carefully driving toward our house.
I just simply nodded at his question. "It's okay, Uncle. It's just a bit busy because of the consecutive projects and requirements."
We were having good conversations throughout the entire time. We talked about Manila, about the trip, and about the happenings here in the province. Until we finally arrived at my Mom and Dad's house.
Uncle Tobi's house is also near ours, so he said he would just have dinner there later. I saw Mom sweeping outside the house, seemingly busy with what she was doing. When she saw me, her expression immediately changed.
From sadness. . . to surprise. . . to a relieved smile filled with overwhelming happiness.
"Ma!" I called to her as I got off Uncle Tobi's tricycle.
She had brown hair, slightly parted in the middle, with soft strands gently framing her face. She was wearing a faded blue t-shirt paired with yellow SpongeBob-themed pajama pants that once belonged to me in my childhood.
When I got close to her, I immediately hugged her. I deeply savored my parents' hugs, letting the warmth and familiarity sink into me. There isn't a single day that I don't value and remember them.
And I always look for it, especially during times when I feel like I'm all alone.
"Luke, my child! How are you?" Mom asked me tearfully.
They had never seen me in four months. Because of how busy I was with life and studies, I forgot to visit them. I kept telling myself before that I would go to them. But I couldn't.
But now that my birthday is over, this is the first time I've returned to the place where I started.
I almost cried, but I tried not to. . .
All of the days I've mourned their hugs, they are here now. My beloved parents.
"Luke!" I looked at the one who called me from inside our house.
It was my Dad.
The smile on my face grew even wider when I saw my father standing by the doorway, patiently waiting for me to come home.
"Pa!" I went to him to hug him as well.
That's how I am with them. I always felt cringed. But I just ignored it because it's normal in a family. You only think it's embarrassing or too affectionate, but it really wasn't.
When night came, we went inside the house. We've had so many stories we shared earlier. They even said that I was lucky because I had already reached Manila.
I didn't know they hadn't gone there, though. But hopefully, they can go there too someday.
I turned on the old TV so I could watch some news. There wasn't any other channel anyway, so this was what I watched.
I also charged my phone, so I really just focused on the TV. The news wasn't boring, so it was fine.
While I was watching the news, I suddenly froze when I heard that a bus had reportedly crashed on its way to Sorsogon City. I didn't know what bus it was, and out of curiosity, I focused more on the news.
According to the reporter, nineteen people died in the bus crash. Including the driver. It reportedly happened around four in the afternoon. That's why I paid even more attention to the TV.
I still hadn't heard the name of the bus, so I didn't stop watching. It was my curiosity pushing me to wait for the name. Maybe I might recognize the bus, especially since I got off at three in the afternoon.
And besides, it was reportedly heading to Sorsogon City.
I don't know why I'm this curious. I really don't know. And I think. . . it's just a coincidence.
"In the latest report from the authorities, the name of the bus involved in the accident has been confirmed," the reporter calmly stated. "It is owned by DLTBCo or Del Monte Land Transport Bus Company."
I froze.
I couldn't believe it. How did that happen?
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