Hunting the Haunted

Preface - edited

PROLOGUE

(Years ago...)

          I was being carried to a corner of the cave where it was cold, damp, dark and uncomfortable. It was my Aunt Stheno who was carrying me, while Aunt Euryale guided the path they both could not see. The blind leading the blind. How ironic right? But that was not my concern at the moment. Even as little as I was, I could feel that something bad was going to happen. Why would they hide me all the way to the other end of the cave, otherwise?

          Suddenly, there was a hissing sound that seems to come from everywhere because of the bouncing off of the sound as it echoed. As it grew louder, aunt Stheno put me down on the floor and hugged me tight, as if she'll never be able to do it again. Aunt Euryale followed suit and soon they started to leave. I faced the direction where the hissing sound is more concentrated. I closed my eyes.

There was something wrong, I could just feel it.

          Something or someone stopped in front of me but the hissing sound never quieted down. If possible they only grew louder and louder. I looked up to see my mom's cold green-gray eyes turn warm for a brief second. Her hair of snakes fidgeted about and seemed anxious.

     "What's going on mom?" I asked.

     "Nothing, honey. I want you to stay right here and not make any sound no matter what happens outside. Okay?"    She squat down to my level.

     " You're not leaving me are you?" My eyes started to fill up.

     " Not in a million years, but mommy has a business to take care of outside and we don't want this man seeing you." She said as she wiped something wet from cheeks.

     "Is it my bad daddy?" I sobbed, trying to see her face.

          My mommy told me about my bad daddy once when I asked her about him. She said that she was at this beautiful temple for Athena called Parthenon when the god of sea called Poseidon forced himself on her. She told me daddy doesn't know anything about me and said it was better that way so that we won't ever have to be apart.

     "I'm not sure. But I want you to stay here 'till mommy or any of your aunts comes and gets you. Okay?" She hugged me while stroking my shoulder length black hair.

          The snakes in her head cuddled up with us as well and I carefully kissed all of them one by one. When I was done, my mom let go if me and she kissed my cheeks.

     "I love you no matter what happens okay? You have to stay strong for me now." She took out her necklace and clasped it around my neck. It rested nicely just below my collarbone.

          I could still feel her warmth on the necklace as she forced my clenched fingers off her green dress. I started to say something but she cut me off by putting her finger on her lips and cocking her head to the side as if she heard something.

     "I love you mommy." I whispered and she looked at me, the sound forgotten, as if she was about to cry herself. She nodded, whispered the same words, and kissed the top of my head and walk off without looking back.

          I stayed huddled in one corner hugging my knees to my chest while trying to calm myself down. My mom never breaks her promises. She'll come back for me soon. We never get any visitor on our small island so maybe that was why my mom and my aunts felt the need to hide me.

Bang!

           My heart stopped and my eyes blurred. I know something is happening outside, I can sense it. Tears started running down my cheeks again and I wiped them away, trying to be strong, only to be replaced by new ones.

Clang!

          I covered my ears and whimpered at the sound. The sound seems to be amplified by the structure of the cave. I can hear every "swoosh" of something against the air and I even thought that I heard one of my aunts scream. But it couldn't be, could it? I want to go outside to check but I know I can't. Mommy made me promise to never come out until one of them comes back. I couldn't even stand from where I am, let alone walk towards the opening of the cave.

          Suddenly there was silence. What is happening now? I wondered to myself. I couldn’t hear anything, but instead of feeling relieved, I felt scared. There wasn’t any footsteps and everything outside seemed frozen, even the sound of the waves were mute. My heart started to beat slower. I didn’t even realize that it was beating so fast, as if I just ran in a marathon. I whimpered and hugged my knees tightly not knowing what to do. However, before I could decide, I felt my body betray me. My eyelids suddenly felt a ton heavier and darkness began to engulf me… but not before I heard an ear-piercing scream cut through the silence that hung suspended in the air.

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Copyright © 2011 Castro Jezreel Rei P.