Chapter:04- Distortion
Part-1
Last night, I somehow managed to fall asleep again.
"You look worn out," my sister said in the morning, eyeing me as I dragged myself to the table." Like you had a really bad dream."
"Yeah... something like that." I replied. If anything, I wish I'd slept longer.
"Enough of this useless chatter," she sighed and flicked my forehead. "Get ready or you'll be late."
I left for the school. I was barely settled at my desk when Mira walked in. For some reason, I see her more often since we first held a conversation.
"You look tired," she whispered as she passed. "I can see it in your eyes."
"Yeah... I didn't sleep well." I answered without any hesitation to her for some reason.
"It must have been haunting for you."
she said.
My head snapped, "What do you mean?"
"Oh! Just that staying awake all night is always tiring." Her smile faltered, and before I could ask anything else, the bell rang.
She slipped away like she'd dodged a bullet.
During lunch time, I went to my usual spot under the gulmohar tree.
The sunlight was sharp, warm air yet beneath the tree were puddles of muddy water and withered leaves around.
On a day like this? Summer? It can't be.
I hurried back toward class and collided straight into Ayan.
"Bro! Can you look forward and walk like a normal human," he said with half glare.
Sorry..I didn't notice.
He paused." What happened to your eyes? And what's that scratch on your hand?"
"Oh! It's nothing. Didn't sleep last night. And maybe got the scratch while going through the shelves for food." I replied.
I tried to be casual but my voice shook.
"Take care of yourself." He didn't push or anything. He walked up but the weight of his concern lingered.
A scratch? I didn't see it. I had felt nothing! I started to panic.
I rushed back to the tree. Everything I saw earlier had vanished. No water, no withered leaves, just a casual sunny day.
I stepped closer. A faint whisper crawled to my ears. It felt distorted.
"You fed me well today... I'll come for you soon. Crrk"
My breadth froze and for the first time I thought if the night had ended or it had followed me here.
Part-2
I must have blinked. Just blinked.
A moment ago, I was standing with Ayan in the corridor, trying to explain the scratch on my hand and the next moment- my eyes opened to silence.
"Hey! Are you listening or not?" Ayan's voice cut through the silence.
"Yeah... I'm."
He clicked his tongue, annoyed in a caring way.
"I'm saying you should eat properly, idiot!"
But something felt off. I thought we were still in the corridor somehow... I was in the parking lot instead with Ayan right beside me.
"Bro, I've been talking for five minutes," he said, "but you are just zoned out."
His face looked normal but something didn't feel right.
"Are you still mad about yesterday?" I whispered.
I mean the slap...
Ayan blinked. Confused.
"What slap? Vehan, what are you talking abo-"
His voice cracked. His face glitched.
And suddenly my blood ran cold.
The entire parking lot flickered- lights twitching, the world started getting distorted.
Ayan opened his mouth again, but his words looped like a broken tape:
"What slap? Vehan, what are y-
-What slapp Veh-
-What
-Veh-
My breath jammed in my throat.
I blinked-
Ayan was gone.
School was gone.
Only the gulmohar tree remained there.
The leaves weren't moving.
The environment started getting foggy.
I looked down-
the ground under my shoes rippled like the water.
And that's when it hit me:
I had fallen asleep.
Somewhere between walking and thinking... something pulled me in.
"Am I dreaming?" I think I really am.
A sound travelled through the thick air- a slow, heavy heartbeat.
Not mine! The gulmohar tree pulsed once. Red. It felt soft and alive.
Then the world dissolved. I fell straight into the void.
When I hit the ground it wasn't the same.
Cold mud oozed between my fingers.
The air smelled damp, the sky bled... I was back to the place from last night's dream.
"How can I still have the same dream?"
My heart slammed against my rib.
I felt like someone was watching me.
I could feel it.
The trees twisted, the swamp bubbled softly under my feet and a faint rhythm echoed behind me-
Crk. Crrk. Crrk.
I wasn't ready to turn around. Not this time. Not yet.
But the sound crawled closer, closer until I forced myself to turn around.
I froze.
Because the creature was standing exactly where I should've been.
I must have shut my eyes for a second. Just blinked..
But when I opened my eyes again- the atmosphere had changed.
The forest was no longer pretending to be quiet..