The Mysterious Lady
The morning light is unbearable. You are way down in your sleep, and the sun just ruins it out for you. I wish I closed the curtains down last night. Well, I just cannot blame the sun. If it wasn’t for the sun, my mom would have done this. Considering all the havoc that could create, maybe the sun was helping me out.
I got out of the blanket; It was strangling my foot. Maybe it was asking me to get more sleep. But no, I couldn’t. It’s Monday, and I got to go to school, the most boring place in the world. I mean, it’s not that bad. I get to hang out with my friends and do some crazy things. It’s nice, except for the strict rules and melodrama.
I pulled myself out of my bed. Ah! How good it feels to do a morning stretch! I could hear the sounds of my bones realigning after a long sleep. I walked over to the table to see if there was any homework left to do. Weekends often does cruel things to me, once it turns Monday. I was glad to notice there was nothing much. “You are improving, Susan,” I told myself.
I untied my hair and moved on to the mirror. I have jet black hair. I mean, really black. It’s like, the light would not be able to escape out of it. But, as I moved on to the mirror, the sight that awaited was not one to turn excited of. But more like, to scream as if the whole world would tremble.
But I didn’t. I just stood there, staring at the blank mirror, not even breathing. Where the hell am I? What happened to me? Am I dead? No, why would I be dead? I am just 16. What if it was a cardiac arrest or something? No, it can’t be. What the hell! I tried to feel my body. It was there. Then why was I not there in the mirror? My heart was still racing. What was happening?
Suddenly, I heard my mom. “Sweetheart, wake up. It’s nearly 8. You will be late. Did that just rhyme? I think I should try poetry.” My mother was always like that; she talks to herself a lot, loud. I saw her pushing the door open. “Honey, where are you?” The short, blonde woman asked with no tension at all when I was standing right there, where she could see.
“Honey!” Her voice began to crack. “Where you at? Don’t play games with me.” I could see her face turning red. She was breaking down; she is quite sensitive. She doesn’t need much reason to cry out loud.
But, this means she could not see me too. I could not see myself in the mirror, now she can’t see me, standing face to face. Am I really dead? But, then my body should be right there on my bed. And I should be the spirit. I don’t believe in the afterlife, but that’s how it’s supposed to work. Soon, I realised what was right there in front of me all this time. I am invisible.
I was petrified. But how could this happen? Am I going to stay invisible forever? I don’t want to do that.
Wait! On second thoughts, this will be AMAZING!
*****
I walked through the streets, alone, no strings attached. I was doing everything I ever wished for. I was dancing through the streets. I stole an ice-cream from the tall, grim guy. I did all sorts of faces right in front of my teachers. And I slapped Anna hard on her cheek. Ah! That was the best part. She almost fell down. This was the best day of my life.
It was now near night. I felt I should go home now. I could not even imagine to what extent, mom has gone with my missing. I slowly opened the gate. But that’s when I saw her again; the lady who lives at the other end of our block. She was mysterious, never talks to anyone, rarely gets out of her house, those large glasses and that long, messy brown hair. She was, in all ways, intriguing.
I realised I don’t have a better chance than this. I could know more about her and, she won’t even be able to see me. I slipped in through the front door. It was dark. The lighting inside was very dim. She was definitely hiding something in here.
Suddenly, I heard her movements. I ran upstairs quietly. She might not be able to see me, but she could sure hear my voice. So, I was careful. She rested on the old sofa, sipping coffee from her mug. Alright, now I had to make my moves. I decided to search upstairs first. I looked around, but I could not see anything except the darkness.
But, my hands struck something down. It was a vase. I caught it very close to the floor. That could have destroyed everything. I took a deep breath and leaned against the wooden wall. Bang! I fell on my back. But, to my surprise, I was still inside. I fell right through the wall; it’s a secret room, I realised.
Unlike the whole house, this room was sheer white and was brightly illuminated. The wall made such a huge noise. She would be up here any second; I had to hide. So, I ran across the room, to the other end. But suddenly, I stopped dead on my tracks.
I saw something. I could not grasp what it was. But I was sure I found something; I was afraid to look back. My heart was pounding against my chest. Trying to gain all my courage, I turned around in one swift move.
I was paralysed. I wanted to scream, but my chest felt so heavy. I couldn’t even breathe. It was a man; strapped to the wall, half-naked, devoid of his eyes and ears. There were no feet beneath his pants and no palms after his wrists. There were wounds were all across his body. I felt to vomit but somehow controlled myself.
But, his ribs were moving. He was breathing. He was alive. Oh my God, this was a grave mistake. I should never have come here.
“Please don’t hurt me anymore.” The man cried. There were no tears. But, his voice was trembling. “Please.”
I stayed quiet. I didn’t know what to do. I had to hide, I ran to the corner and hid behind the table. It was not safe. But, I had no other place to go. That lady will kill me. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die, not like this. I wept, closing my mouth tight. She was here.
She looked around the room like a beast. Then, she went straight at the dying man. “Who is here, Tyran?” She screamed at him. “I don’t know, I don’t know.” The man was crying. I felt helpless. What should I do? She was speaking again, ” I know someone’s here. Show your face.” She was laughing now.
But she could not see me. So, if I could get past her in a quick run, maybe I could survive. That was when I looked at the wall against me. I could see a shadow; a shadow of myself. I am visible. She can see me. I looked around to see what she was doing. But, she was not there. My heart was racing now. Suddenly, I felt someone behind me.
I was too afraid to look around. I don’t want to die. God, please help me. But I could now see two shadows on the wall. Oh, God! What can I do? I could not stop my tears. I slowly looked around, ready to accept my cruel fate. She stood there, looking directly at me. She was smiling, but that was definitely not one born out of joy.