The Haunted’s Kiss of Regret and Repentance

I woke up with a splitting headache and I decided to stay in bed until the pain subsided. My eyes scanned my entire room, and I saw that it now looked like someone was living in it because of the little mess. The last time I was here, it was spotless and felt so empty.

I looked at the scar on my wrist and remembered the night me and Izzy went to the ridge. The car accident that happened gave me the small cut as a scar. I regretted the incident that nearly ruined our lives.

Flashback…

“Shyne.” I heard the eerie sound as if the person speaking was beside my ear.

I tried to cover my ears to stop myself from hearing the creepy voice, but the sound began to go inside my head. It wouldn’t stop calling my name and chuckling evilly.

“Stop talking. Stop it. Stop calling my name, I beg you.” I whispered over and over again. I was closing my eyes in case I saw something terrifying like another shadow or hallucination.

“Sis, are you alright? What’s the matter?”

Izzy was talking to me, but I was panicking. She grabbed my hand, and I swiped it away. Her phone was on the hand she used to touch me with, so it was thrown across the car and hit the driver’s head hard.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

The driver grunted in pain and was shocked. The driver then swerved the car to the other lane by accident, and a blinding light was against his eyes. Our car wasn’t able to move away, and we collided with another car, and the front window of the car shattered. A shard of glass lodged itself to my wrist that I used to cover my face, and a few more scratched my face as well as my exposed forearm and shoulder.

There was smoke, and I was dizzy as I tried to open my eyes. I heard an eerie laugh when everyone was at a standstill. Nobody moved, and I looked at Izzy who was also covering her head with her hands and her bag. Her eyes were closed shut and she was shaking a bit.

I looked up and saw a shadow beside our driver. I screamed in fear of both the shadow and the crash. By that time, my scream enabled everyone to snap out of the shock and move.

Our driver was severely injured because a big chunk of glass lodged itself to his right shoulder. The guard in front of him was also injured, but Izzy didn’t have a scratch on her. Meanwhile, the driver of the other car was also severely injured, because a metal rod was embedded in his forearm, and his hip was broken.

That day, my parents came home furious with us and the drivers. Izzy was grounded, and so was I. My father handled the problem, and I knew they were able to shut up the mouths of the people who were involved. In the end, they were able to say that the accident was due to control problems on our car and nothing else.

end of flashback…

I could still feel a bit of the heaviness around me after the accident, but I was practicing the act of ignoring it. The more I ignored it, I realized that it didn’t bother me that much. The presence only comes when my emotions are too riled up and uncontrolled.

“Shyne. Wake up, I’m coming in.”

A voice sounded from behind my door, and by the urgency in it, I knew it was my mother. Lyna De Leon was a patient woman, but she was annoying when she’s irritated. I was so much like her, even though I hated admitting it.

“The door isn’t locked, mom, you can come in.”

I never left my position on the bed. I was covered by the sheets up to my neck, and I was facing the covers. Mom entered looking sophisticated and regal, but she only wore her nightgown.

“Mom, you have never visited me this early in the morning. What’s up?”

“Well, fish of all, I want you to be up when I’m talking to you. Sit down and stop laying on the bed like a murdered woman. That is not how you should talk to your mother.”

I groaned in annoyance, but I did as she said. I wasn’t in the mood to argue with my mother. I was stubborn, but so was she, and I couldn’t beat her stubbornness.

“Okay, I’m sitting. But why are you still standing, mom? There’s a seat behind you.”

She raised her eyebrow at me, but reluctantly took the seat and faced me. I could see that she was trying not to get mad at me for my chill attitude. I was never this comfortable with my mother, because I was always a bit controlled and stiff around her.

“Young lady, I noticed that you have been a bit lax these past few days, and I don’t like it. It’s like you’re changing everyday into this lazy woman who has no will to live. You are always in your room painting or reading, but the maids could hear you whispering to yourself.”

I recalled the time I was praying while I tried to ignore the voices in my head. I guess one of the maids heard me and freaked out. I decided not to talk, and let my mother continue.

“Shyne, we both agreed to try and be a proper mother and daughter. However, your childish laziness isn’t helping. We will have to introduce you to the clan formally as the heir, and you need to get your act straight, young lady.”

“You mean we’ll have a party for me?”

I sounded neutral, but I hated the party she was saying. It was a party to formally bind me to the clan and give me the burden as the head.

“Why don’t you just give it to Alister? I mean, he’s the one who would carry the clan’s name.”

“Shyne. You already know that he is still young, and he has not proven his capabilities yet. Besides, you three are the ones who would handle the clan, but you’re just the one who would lead it until your brother proves himself to be better than you”

I hated the hierarchy that my family is accustomed to. Nevertheless, I knew I couldn’t change it.

“Mom, this dinner, this would just introduce me right? I don’t have to lead the clan yet? I mean, I haven’t graduated yet.”

“Yes. It is just to formally introduce you as an heir.”

“Okay, then. I’ll do my best.”

An awkward silence began, and all I could do was stare at my hands on my lap.

“Shyne, I have one more thing to ask you.”

I looked at her, but the look of worry and doubt in her eyes showed me that I should be nervous, and now I was.

“Shyne, are you pregnant right now? Because I saw the positive pregnancy test.”

“The what?!”

My mind raced at the possibility of someone in our daily life making fake news about me. However, there was a look on my mother’s face that told me I should answer her quickly and truthfully.

“Mom, what are you talking about?! I am NOT pregnant, and if you saw a pregnancy test, that wouldn’t be mine.”

I was infuriated because she was asking, but her tone was accusing.

“If you’re not pregnant, then why are you acting stranger than ever?”

“Mom, I AM NOT PREGNANT!”

My voice was a bit louder due to my frustration, and I saw my mom nod and stood up.

“Good. My dream was wrong then.”

“What?! What do you mean your dream was wrong? What dream? Are you a voodoo witch now or something?”

My mother looked at me with an irritated look and sighed as she sat back down again in a more poised manner. She rubbed her temple as she closed her eyes.

“Shyne, I had a dream that you were pregnant. I saw you looking at a pregnancy test and crying your eyes out because it was positive. In my dream, your whole life was ruined because you were pregnant. I didn’t want that to happen so I went to you and tried to check on you.”

Looked at my mother like she grew three heads on her shoulders. I couldn’t believe that my mother would believe I was hiding a pregnancy because of her dream. Given I have been experiencing nightmares for months, but that was because of Rian. I never would have expected she would be riled up because of her dream.

“Mother, I am not pregnant. I don’t even have a boyfriend, and I haven’t even been seeing anyone since Rian. So please, stop believing your dreams. Ask me first, mom.”

“Fine. I’ll go back and get ready for today. You and your sister are still grounded, aso I want you to help her in making sure that the two of you are well behaved for your party. That party is your first step to ruling this clan, and you must make sure you are presented well. Do you understand, Shyne?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Young lady, your sarcasm is not welcome in my presence, and it’s not welcome in your party either. So, make sure you get rid of it.”

My mother stood up and left the room.

I laid on my bed again, and this time, instead of the presence that I was feeling again, I was more worried about the party. I need to make sure that I don’t cause a scene, and my emotions won’t go haywire during the party. I won’t let Rian’s curse destroy this party.

“Shyne.”

I closed my eyes as I felt cold fingers trace my right leg. I shivered as fear creeped up inside me. I looked at my leg and saw nothing, but the touch lingered.