It's almost dark when I find my way to the camp. I am exhausted from walking a long way. Thinking of Rita irritates me. I think of going home tonight. I pack my things. I extinguish the fire and walk away towards the main road to my car. It's very dark, even with the light from my phone it's difficult to find my way. I stumble over a log and fall down in a pool of blood. I scream. It's disgusting. I take my water bottle from my backpack and wash the blood from my arms and jeans. I know it's not safe to walk in this forest where werewolves, thieves, lunatics and ghosts wander. But I can't stand another night here. Everyone's driving me crazy. I walk again and reach my car. I load my things quickly and drive away to the busy city unlike the forest It's still alive with lights and people hurrying home from movie theaters and pubs. But there's not much traffic on the road so I reach home quickly. I lock my car and decide to leave my things in the car. I take out the keys to unlock the front door from my jeans pocket, still soaked in blood. I get upstairs to my bedroom and fall into a dream-free sleep. It's 8 in the morning when I wake up.

7 missed calls from Catherine when I switch on my phone. She has sent me a text that says: "Cassie where are you? Did you leave in the dark? We came looking for you after Audrey related about how you behaved, but you were gone. Text me back please☺".

I ignore her message. I don't want to be friends with them anymore. Audrey did steal my ring. She's evil, twisted, and mad. I get cleaned up and start eating my breakfast. When the bell rings, I jump up frightened spilling the porridge over my jeans. This is new to me because no one ever comes to my house. I open the door to find my silly friends standing at the doorway.

"What are you guys doing here"? I ask them rudely.

"We came for you Cassie", says Britney.

Why do you have to come for me? I ask them.

"Because we are friends Cassie, says Audrey smiling kindly at me.

I don't want a friend who steals others' possessions and behaves idiotic, I say her.

Cassie listens, I didn't steal your ring and I don't want it. I promise you that. Believe me, Cassie, says Audrey looking at me.

"Come in" is all I say.

"Wow, Cassie this is so amazing. So beautiful, says Britney admiring the hall.

Hey guys, look at this chandelier, it's beautiful. Just like diamonds, says Catherine.

Hey Cassie, are you living all by yourself in this big house? Asks Audrey.

"Yup", I say smiling at their loud remarks.

"You mean no servants to do the cleaning or cook for you?" asks Audrey again.

"Always remember Audrey, these people believe that I am a nutter and dangerous. People don't associate with me for anything. I don't know why. So it's hard to find a servant because of the rumors they say about me

"And you are not really dangerous, are you? Asks Britney.

"Don't be silly, we've been with her. Have you noticed anything strange in her? Asks Catherine looking at me.

Everyone laughs and I too manage a smile.

We have our lunch together at my dusty dining table. I didn't have to sit in a chair at that big dining table alone to have my meals. I didn't bother to clean it either, but today Audrey cleans it using a wet cloth. The table glass is so clean and smells dust-free. While she cleaned it Catherine and Britney prepared our lunch together in the kitchen.

My friends help me clean the whole house. Dust the furniture and wash the dirty plates and pans. Make the bed. Britney and Catherine grab a broom each and start's sweeping the whole house.

Audrey and I mop the floor of the entire house after the sweeping is done. The house smells like a rose after Catherine sprays the walls and furniture with rose air freshener.

"And now Cassie this place is like a palace which was like a ghost house before", says Britney.

"Yeah, now this place is fit for human habitation, says Audrey laughing.

"Thanks, girls, I appreciate your cleanings. My house looks clean and lively now. Before this, the house was dusty just like a ghost manor. Thank you again for helping me" I say happily.

"It's our pleasure to help our friend". Says Audrey." Catherine why are you silent"?

"I was wondering how to go back to our camping place now as it's really dark out there.

"Yeah, we can't walk into the forest in this dark; we might step on a snake or something in the dark, says Britney.

"What! Is that a problem now? After all this, you guys thought of leaving my house in the dark", I ask them.

"You guys can sleep here tonight and if you like you can spend the rest of your holidays in my house rather than that dark, stupid forest", I say to them.

"Well, thank you, Cassie. We'll stay the night here", says Britney.

"There are three rooms on the upper floor and two down," I say to them.

"Britney and I will share a room and Audrey can take the other room", says Catherine.

"Yeah, am okay with that", says Britney.

"Both Catherine and Britney are afraid of darkness", says Audrey laughing.

Audrey goes to sleep in my room. I sleep in my parent's room which is very clean now. Britney and Catherine sleep in the room next to Audrey's. I am exhausted after the big cleaning we did. I fall asleep quickly after I rest my head on the pillow.

I wake up to the sound of windows creaking sound. The window is thrown open. The wind is raging like a thunderstorm about to begin. I remember locking my windows shut. There is no way it could have opened by this wind. Suddenly the wardrobe door opens with a creaking sound. I hear strange murmurs coming from inside the wardrobe. I walk towards it, looking cautiously around me. I peep inside the wardrobe then suddenly someone knocks on the door loudly. I jump back frightened of the sound of sudden noise. It looks like someone's banging at the door angrily. I look at the clock and it's one. Who in the right mind would bang at the door at this time of night? I walk out of the room. Looks like am the only one disturbed by this noise. The others are still asleep. I knock on the door on which Audrey is sleeping. But she didn't wake up. I try to open the door but, she has locked it from inside. Again someone knocks on the door, this time more loudly. I am petrified by this noise. I run to the next door and try to open it looks like Catherine has locked it from inside too. Again the sound of knocking comes. I have no choice but to go and face whoever is knocking on the door so violently. I walk down the stairs frightened. I unlock the door and open it to find a man covered in blood from head to foot. He speaks urgently.

"Cassie please, we had an accident. My wife came this way before me. Did she come here, Cassie?

"No, no one came this way", I say. He looks a bit frightening and disgusting to me. But wait.......how did he know my name? We haven't met before. I haven't seen this guy in my life. Before I ask him he speaks to me.

"Can I get a glass of water?" he asks me. He wipes his blood on the face with a handkerchief.

"Sure, I say, and go to the kitchen and bring him a glass of water. But he has gone. I peep out to check but he is nowhere to be seen. So I close the door and walk back towards the staircase. The man bangs on the door again. This time I open it to find a woman standing her dress torn and she too covered in blood just like the man.

"Please madam, did you see my husband walking this way?" the woman asks me.

"Yeah, there was a man here, and he was asking for you. I don't know where he went" I say to her.

Then suddenly the photo frames hanging along the side of the wall of the staircase fall down shattering pieces of glass everywhere. I look upstairs to see whether Audrey or Britney coming out of their rooms to check what happened. But no one came out. It's a wonder they can sleep amidst all these sounds.

I turn to look at the woman, but she just likes her husband has disappeared. I see a bloody footprint walking along with mine when I close the door and walk towards the staircase. I stop petrified. But the footprint continues to move. It's horrible. I can't see anyone walking. Whoever it must be invisible. I cover my mouth with my palm to prevent shouting and silently walk following the bloody footprint. It leads me to the kitchen. A pool of blood starts flowing as the footprint stopped walking and stood in the same place for five minutes. Suddenly a knife floats in the air and makes some wild movements like it's trying to slash something. Whatever is happening is up to no good. So I turn and run. Looks like the knife is chasing. As it makes slashing movements in the air, blood splatter everywhere. I run to my room and lock the door. I close my windows and get under the bedsheets. I am trembling. I listen hard to any disturbances downstairs, but I hear no sound at all. I am still trembling and my forehead hurts a lot. I put my fingers on my forehead and it's wet with sweat that came in fear. I slowly get up from the bed and go to the bathroom to wash my face. Something is scribbled on the mirror in the bathroom. Written on the mirror are these words "Revenge is the best cure for a hungry soul" in blood. I scream aloud. I hear footsteps hurrying and someone opens my room door and knocks on the bathroom door.

"Cassie are you alright?" asks Audrey's voice.

I come out trembling and fall down on the floor crying madly. All three of them ask me to speak about what happened. But I have no courage, all I do is cry over Audrey's shoulders. At last, I control myself tell them all that happened.

"Are you sure you weren't dreaming Cassie"? Asks Audrey.

"I am sure about what I saw Audrey," I say to her.

"But, what does this mean Cassie? What's all this about"? Asks Britney who is confused and frightened.

" I dunno, it's been a bit strange since I camped in the forest," I say.

What do you mean? Asks Catherine who speaks for the first time after I related the whole incident.

"I have a bad feeling that ..................... that.......um..." I drag my words. I don't want them to know.

"what Cassie?" asks Catherine.

"Cassie you are hiding something from us. I can see that in your face" says Audrey who is good at reading expressions.

Okay, I know this might sound crazy but this a guess and am not quite sure about it" I say.

"What, Cassie? Tell us, please..... What's happening here? Asks Britney.

"I'm being haunted," I say them not looking at their faces.

"WHAT! Are you telling me that you are being haunted by a ghost?" asks Audrey.

"Yes" is all I say.

Catherine sits in a chair looking at me with her mouth opened in fear. Britney and Audrey look at each other both confused.

Then I decide to tell you all that happened to me back in the forest. All about Rita and the cave full of spirits.

"Cassie, why did you hide these from us? " she asks me furiously.
" Let me see the mirror," says Britney and goes to the mirror. "Cassie!" she calls me.

"Look, there is nothing here in the mirror. I am sure you were dreaming" says Audrey.

"Stop all these stupid talks, didn't you guys realize it's 2 now. It's very late .lets got to bed and discuss this in the morning" saying so she beckoned Catherine to follow her and left the room.

Audrey decides to sleep in my room with me. She is very kind. She brings me a cup of hot tea.

"Drink it, Cassie, you'll warm up quickly," she says patting my shoulder.

"Thanks", I say taking the cup of tea from her.

"do you believe me?" I ask her.

"I dunno cassie. Am just confused. But I've heard about an incident similar to this" she says looking at me.

"What is that?" I ask her.

"a man probably in his twenties I guess, was murdered in a very strange manner. He lived in  angel's village .everyone in the village ignored him. they were afraid of him because they say that he acted very strange. Not the way a normal man lived. He called him the servant, the most loyal servant of his lord. One day he came out of his cottage and sat down as if he were about to meditate, then he said 'I'm ready to serve you dead' and at once his throat was slashed open and he fell down dead. There were about thirty people who witnessed the scene. They say that he was murdered by a ghost. And people avoid his cottage even after his death. They say it's haunted.

I drink the remains of the tea in on gulp. what if the horror haunts me to my death just like that man.