An Unknown Shadow

‘Sorry, Ms. Margret for this inconvenience but you know I really needed to shift here. It was urgent. I hope you and the girl living here don't mind.' I said.

'Don't worry dear, it's fine. And don't worry Sarah is a nice girl. She will not mind at all.' Said Ms. Margret with a warm smile.

'Sarah??' I asked not knowing to whom should I call with this name.

'Your new roommate. She is a nice girl she'll help you. Treat her like your elder sister.' She said and patted my back.

'Thank you, Ms. Margret.' I said.

'Call me Aunt darling and mention not.' She said and took me upstairs.

We went up and there was Brown's door. We knocked on the door and to my astonishment, the girl living there opened the gate faster than I thought. She looked.... ugly wearing a shiny red shirt and shiny red pants, obviously paired with it. Her hair was uncombed and I guess she was eating something cause...it could be seen on her right hand and mouth.

'Who...are you?' She asked to me.

'Sarah? You're still up? At this hour?' Asked Aunt Margaret who was standing just behind me. 

'Aunt Margaret? No, actually...my nightmares. Nothing else.' She said scratching her head.

'Oh I see, you're alright now?' Asked Aunt Margaret and she went to Sarah's near and held her hand.

'Yeah, I'm alright and was about to go to get some sleep.' Said Sarah.

'But who is she?' She asked further looking at me.

'Oh, she is Anna Wilkinson dear, your new roommate.' Said Aunt Margaret.

'Get in Anna else you might catch a cold. You're not wearing warm clothes.' She said further and pushed me slightly inside the house.

'I hope you'll be alright together.' She said, winked, and went down to her own house.

'Why did she winked?' I asked suspiciously.

'Oh don't mind her she's like that.' Said Sarah and helped to take my luggage to my new room.

The house was small but cozy. It had a small Hall with a medium-sized TV on the right side wall and three sofas. One was placed in the middle of the room facing the TV and two were on either side of the big sofa facing each other. There were two light blue doors on the left side of the Hall leading to the bedrooms and there was after those two doors in the left passage leading to a kitchen and a bathroom. This house was really giving friendly vibes. Unlike the older one and after that incident, I felt that living in that house was a punishment for me...

'Can you tell me more about her?' I asked as we settled on the sofa.

'Who? Aunt Margaret?' She asked and I nodded.

'She's a very sweet lady and her actions....don't think so much about them, she is just like that.' She said.

'Why she lives alone? I mean where is her family or her hus...band.' I asked with a bit of hesitation.

'Oh her family, her husband about five years ago so she has rented this upper floor of her house to earn some living. And about her family so...she has a daughter who is studying outside for now. I know nothing else about her. She is a very jolly person.' She said.

'And anything you want to know about me or...want to tell about yourself.' She asked after a minute of silence.

'Umm..yah I.. just..' I said but stopped in between.

Should I tell her or not my mind was debating. But what if she freaks out, maybe she'll just like other people. But Aunt said she'll help me. But still, should I trust her? What should I do?

'Tell me, don't hesitate.' She said.

And I decided,

'Mhm, nothing.' 

Not to tell her.

'Can I go now? Actually, I'm a bit tired. If you don't mind.' I said.

'Yeah why not, I was to go about too.' She said and I went into my room after saying good night to her and she gave me a sweet smile.

****

Next morning...

*Alarm Rings*

And again I took my hand out from my blanket and stopped that irritating machine. I woke more early that is 4'O clock because I had a lot of work to do. I guess the manager who managed this work earlier was a bit lazy cause many works were pending. I woke, up got ready, and warmed up the roll which was leftover of yesterday's dinner and went to the bus stop eating that roll on my way. 

And finally, after almost travelling and walking for straight next thirty-five minutes, I reached the office around six-thirty am. The whole office was empty until I came to my desk and saw Mr. Niall sitting on his chair, turned towards the wall.

I went knocked on the door and opened it. There was no response until I went close and saw that he dozed off while working. Some files were still on his laps. No matter how rude, he is a hard-working man. I admit.

I went near him and collected all his papers that were lying on his laps and then put them on the table and went back to my desk.

Around seven am I went to print some papers and after ten minutes standing there, I realized employees started to come. I came to my desk after finishing printing the documents but to my astonishment, I saw Mr. Niall's cabin, it was empty. Where did he go? And how did he got out? I thought, cause the only corridor that takes you to the lift was the one in which I was standing. So, where did he go?

I was thinking when suddenly my phone blinked, it was a message from Mr. Niall. He wants me to accompany him to the meeting...

****

'Anna!' He whispered in a singsong way.

'I know you are hiding somewhere, Aren't you?' He said whispering.

'Might be thinking how do I know? C'mon! you... are you, Anna .' He said again while his eyes still looking for me in this dark house.

It was this time when I got used to this fear. There was nothing I could do, Just nothing. I was getting out of breath due to fear, cause

I didn't know what he'll do this time.

'Now you're getting in my nerves Anna, please come out. Now see I'm begging just for you.' 

'So tell me where are you hiding.' 

He said while his footsteps approaching the direction in which I was hiding. It was pitch dark in here, I somehow was just sitting in here waiting for him to just let me go, but I knew he'll never do that. Just trying to calm me so that the tears don't fall out or I don't sob, suddenly someone opens the door of the kitchen cabinet in which I was sitting. It was him. I screamed and he pulled me out.

'Why are you doing this to me, Anna? Just please don't do this. Don't !!' He screamed and I opened my eyes...

My heart was ready to get out of my chest anyhow. There was sweat all over my face maybe because of what I saw or the sunlight that was falling on me all this time. Huh! so this was a dream, it was fine until it was a dream but then I saw someone...

Someone who past by the window of my bedroom through the Hall. Someone, who was not a girl, obviously. I was scared to death, it was not a dream this time after all. Then whose that shadow was...