Beads of sweat covered my face. Fear of the unknown. Fear of what I don't know that is out there.
"Do you need help?" I asked whoever is at the other side.
Another quiet cry followed.
"Should I call the police, so you explain what happened?" I said, removing my phone that has been at my back pocket all those while.
There was a long silence, then banging of the door ensued and mumbling sounds that I couldn't decipher what was said. Like words spoken in an empty room. It echoed.
I quickly scanned my phone to dial any number for help, but there was no signal.
Suddenly, a message popped up. It was the message Daniel sent the night before. It read;
"Becareful dear, I heard that house is haunted.
You can pray before going to bed. Atleast you believe in something."
One of the girls grabbed my phone "Call the police. Be fast!"
I quickly grabbed my phone back "There's no signal."
"Mine too." Another of the girls said as she kept scrolling through her phone.
This time, the banging stopped.
In a flash, I saw a shadow pass the window, outside the front porch. It was all dark that I couldn't see the face.
"Is the back door locked?" I asked Betty who was still shaky, with her fingers on her lips this time.
"No, we don't lock it" Jeez! I ran to lock the back door, but met it slightly open. I shut it with a loud bang, scanned the corners and left for the sitting room.
I met Betty and one of the girls sitting on the couch with folded legs like they would disappear in seconds.
"Where is Lara?" I asked.
"In the bathroom to wash her sleepy eyes", Betty replied me. I checked my wristwatch. 1AM on the dot.
"She shouldn't have gone without us", I was almost screaming. Hitting my palms on my thighs and pacing the sitting room at the same time.
"Calm down", the other girl, Tobi chipped in.
I couldn't just stay put even if I had tried. I thought of running away from the house, but for fear of what was out there. I didn't bother raising such an idea.
"Isn't she suppose to be back by now?" I asked no one in particular. I peeped towards the hallway that led to the bathroom.
Betty sighed "She probably had to rinse her mouth too or something else... See, girl just sit down. You're scaring me the more."
"Atleast, let's go look for her. We can't be divided. Not in this situation." I was getting angry for nothing.
No response. Only fearful eyes that looked through me.
I shook my head "Okay, I will go look for her. Both of you, stay here", I said, moving towards the hallway that led to the bathroom.
On getting to the bathroom door, I saw a figure down the hall with the corner of my eyes. It stood facedown.
"Hello! Lara, is that you?" I called out. It didn't move from the spot. I turned from the bathroom door to move close, trying to get a clearer view.
As I moved a feet forward, the figure moved two feets backwards. I walked another two steps forward to catch up this time, but I heard a loud shout from the bathroom.
I ran to it. My hand on the bathroom doorknob, about to twist. I looked again in the direction I came from. The figure wasn't there.
Focusing on the cause of the shout I heard earlier, I opened the bathroom door to see Lara sprawled on the ground. Her head, twisted to the left side.
I rushed to pick a sobbing Lara, but she waved me aside.
"Jeez! What happened to your head?" I asked her.
Whimpering, she tried grabbing my blouse "Be...bet...she." she stuttered.
I held her with goosebumps all over my body, like I was washed in it "Who?"
She tried speaking again, but passed out in the process. Blood oozing from her nose.
I shook her, calling her name. No reply. Not even her breath could be heard.
I sighted one of her hands on her tummy. My eyes caught something. Her blouse was slightly lifted, and a mark was on her navel. Opening her blouse, words were boldly tatted on her stomach; "I WAS HERE."
I cried silently. I was angry too. Why us? Harmless young girls.
Off to the sitting room again, I met Tobi still in the same sitting position. Betty was nowhere there.
"Where's Betty?" I asked her. She turned slightly, pointing in the direction of a room.
"I told you guys to stay put", I murmured.
"Where's Lara?" Tobi asked me all of a sudden. I didn't plan to break the news of her death just yet, but the question was asked anyways.
"She's dead." I replied without looking at her face.
I heard quiet sobs. I moved closer and sat beside her, placing her head on my shoulder. "Everything will be alright." I said with no assurance that all will be well.
She cried some more.
I checked my wristwatch. It was 1:45AM. I checked my phone again, still no signal.
"Tobi, i have to go check on Betty." I stood to leave in the direction of the room Tobi pointed earlier that Betty was in.
I twisted the doorknob, it was locked. I banged and banged with my fist, but it didn't open. "Betty, are you in there?" I screamed. No words.
I placed my ear by the door, and all I heard was muffled sounds coming from the room. I tried to listen some more, but it flew open.
Betty stood at the entrance with swollen red eyes. "I heard noises. Why were you in there and what were you doing?" I queried.
She walked past me, but not without locking the room door with a key. I watched her tuck it in her back pocket.
"I'm talking to you", Getting angry, I pulled her back.
She looked at my hand that still held her arm in some kind of way. Something passed her eyes that I couldn't detect.
"Let me go. You're hurting me." She winced.
I left her arm and said "sorry" in a whisper. She turned to leave, and my eyes returned to the door of the room she came out from. Gradually getting deep in thought...
"So you know, I went there to pray. Atleast, someone somewhere listened", she said, interrupting my thought and left.
I stood at the spot for some seconds before deciding to return to the sitting room.
I strolled lazily into the sitting room. I checked my wristwatch. 2AM on the dot.
"Betty, I need to talk to you" I said.
She has been crying with Tobi as her pet buddy. She immediately sat up, looking pale and greasy on her face area.
"Is it true that Lara is dead?" She asked me.
"That's what I need to talk to you about." I fished for my phone and showed her the text Daniel sent the previous night.
"What do you mean the house is haunted? I've lived here half of my life." She half screamed, now standing in front of me.
With my hands up in surrender, I moved back a bit "I didn't say that. Daniel did", I replied her.
"And you believe him?" Her hands now in her hair "Don't you see that I'm also scared?"
Moving past her, I sat on the couch beside Tobi "I don't know what's going on. If there's anything, tell me about it", adjusting my sitting position "Your friend died out there with words on her body. Do you wish to see it?" I asked, still furious.
She covered her ears "Nooo, I don't want to." As she sobbed once more.
"Easy on her. She's going through a hard time already", Tobi chipped in. "She needs some rest."
"No one will rest, as long as that thing is out there", I hissed and buried my face in my palm.