Lifetime: m.sn x k.dh

Chapter 5: Alive

Sana's POV

I woke up due to a loud sound heard somewhere.

I opened my eyes and didn't mind.

Maybe it was just dad?

Or mom?

Or grandma?

It's no big deal, obviously.

Then the same sound was heard again.

Should I check it out?

Am I right about this house being a haunted one?

Grandma said this was made during her grandfather's father's days.

Maybe they did kill someone.

I started to feel slightly scared as I covered myself with a blanket.

Was that how much of an overthinker I am?

Was it too dramatic of me?

What if it was just a cat?

But how can cats enter this place?

I mean, they do find their ways.

If another noise was heard and I'm checking.

I went back to sleep and noise was heard again.

How could the others not notice?

I checked the time and a few hors have passed.

At least I had some sleep.

And now it's time to check.

Why did I even told myself to check it out if I hear it again?

I got my phone as a flashlight and went outside my room as the continuous noise was still heard.

How stupid.

It feels like I'm these dumb horror movie characters.

You know, those who check if there's ghosts in the dark without even bringing any effective weapons or so.

I walked slowly trying to avoid waking the others up.

Though I really should.

But I ain't a coward.

I'm Minatozaki Sana, afraid of nothing. Even if it's loud noises from a random place.

And maybe the creaking floor which adds more of the "horror" effect in this place.

As I was heading straight, the noise became louder and louder.

Maybe if I showed the world that this was an actual haunted house, maybe it'll be known and visited my people.

It's not that I'm scared. It's just that this is creepy.

I heard more noise from the room grandma took me to earlier so I pressed the same button again as the door slowly opened.

I guess this is the place.

To whatever ghost is in here, please. It's not my time yet.

The room was dark since there were no lights, obviously.

I remembered that only the light of the sun supplies this place.

I used my phone to provide light as I wandered around the place.

This is stupid.

Are ghosts even real?

They aren't, right?

My eyes travelled the place to see that nothing actually changed.

I sighed in relief, maybe I was just over-hearing things.

I was actually feeling homesick.

Maybe that was it?

Then I had this gut feeling that I haven't checked everything in the room

I turned around to check if I was right.

I went back and that's when I noticed that there was a piece of cloth just on the floor.

I picked it up.

It was familiar.

It was something I touched before.

No. This can't be possible. 

I placed this back earlier when I dropped the painting.

I suddenly felt goosebumps as I walked towards the painting I saw earlier.

The only finished one with the woman.

I pointed my flashlight on the framed work.

And my jaw dropped at what I saw.

My heart started beating uncontrollably.

I felt like I got pale.

The woman in the painting...

Disappeared. 

There was no one in the painting like earlier.

My breathing then start to get heavier as I heard footsteps.

Please be a dream.

Or maybe, please me grandma.

The noise stopped and I was at my breaking point.

Tears from fear starting to form in my eyes.

What did I do?

Maybe if I did what grandma said which was not to touch it, maybe I would still be peacefully sleeping by now.

I slowly turned around to see a woman standing behind me.

She looks like the girl from the painting.

The girl from the painting?

Shit.

I hit my head with my hands a few times saying to myself, "This is not real, Sana."

I kept repeating until someone held my arms.

It is real.

"Stay away from me, please," I said and looked down.

Then she eventually let go of my arms.

"Gra-," I was about to call for help when she covered my mouth.

"Can you be less noisy, miss?" She asked which got me furious.

"Your loud noises were heard during my peaceful sleep, and now you're like that?" I asked.

"This isn't your house, get out or I'll tell everyone that you're trespassing," I boldly said.

"No one would believe you," She chuckled.

"Someone will at least do," I tried to say as a response.

"Who? The birds outside the house? The only ones to witness our conversation?" She asked and held my arm again.

"What are you doing?" I asked in a nervous voice.

"You looked at the painting, right? You didn't know that there were consequences once you break that one rule," She said as I blacked out.

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