Hellish: Chapter 4

Ayan

The music at Sammy’s had a whole different vibe. Sammy’s place really boasted of great amenities and the boombox was one that topped all. I was having a lot of fun, the drinks, the music, I could stay here and not let a moment pass. Ironically, I still felt empty, like I needed some more company. Heather would accompany me in all the parties and not having her here was really difficult, like I missed her. I didn’t even know why, she probably really wasn’t my type, but I still liked her, and she just humiliated me in the worst way possible. I hadn’t been able to sleep well in days. The one night I fell asleep, and woke up sweating, because of the nightmare I had about that bald man, whose gaze was so lethal, I could still feel it. Just thinking about it right now, made the hair on the nape of my neck rise. This time it was different, more intense in a way I couldn’t understand. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the whole situation, and I did forget all about it, not while thinking about Heather, but thinking about Ivy.

Ivy Levine.

That name alone could bring all the heat possible to my body, relieving me of this icy atmosphere around, that only seemed to affect me. I really didn’t want to get entangled in whatever mess this was. Only I could see the bald man, but I didn’t want to experience this paranormal phenomenon, let alone go deeper and dwell on the mysteries surrounding it. The day I saw that bald man, I couldn’t sleep at all, thinking about when that man would show up and make me want to bathe myself in fire. Then the next day, I had been thinking about everything again even though I tried so hard not to, I kept thinking about the bald man and wondered if I could touch him, or even hear him. Would I be the only one who could hear him, or could other people around me hear him too? Is that why he never spoke? Could I hit him, and make him feel something? The biggest question was what was this man?

I was so deep in thought that day I didn’t see Ivy walking and I bumped straight into her so hard she would’ve fallen flat on her back, had I not held her. I don’t know why she was always at or near the library. She always smelled of books and fresh paper and ink. When I held her, she was so warm, that warmth infiltrated all my layers and I had to let her go that second because it was too much heat. Like when I am alone, it's always cold, and when I am with her, the heat brings me relief and burns me completely at the same time. She made me forget about the bald man. When I looked at her, and how worried she was, all I could think about was how to make the frown on her face go away, even though she was trying her best not to show me.

It was like she made all those intrusive thoughts about that one phenomenon that keep me up at night, go away with minimal effort.

She made me so warm, calm and serene.

Even thinking about her, just made me come back to my senses and enjoy the present. Maybe that’s why I asked her to be my plus one to the party, the music started coming back into my ears and I was dragged away from that internal icy hell. The cold was gone, and I couldn’t be happier. I checked the time. It was 9:30 and I could not see Ivy at the party. I had texted her before she left the house or so she said. She should’ve reached it long ago. Worry started to creep in, and I went around the house to look for her. I checked the bathrooms, the bedrooms, the living room, the home theatre, the elevators, the stairs, then finally the lawn and the pool. God Sammy’s house was big, like I told you, it boasted of amenities. I stood near the door, tired and all I wanted to do then was to call her. The music was way too loud, but it was worth a shot. So, I went inside and dragged Sammy out to help me find her. I asked him to dial her number from my phone. We stood near the door on the porch, and he called her. I waited a couple seconds before moving. I started moving to the right side of the door when I heard some vibration which could easily have been the music, but before coming, Sammy had dialled down the volume of the music so it would be easier to see if she actually had reached the party. If we didn’t find her, we would have to drive around and see if we could find her or go to her house. I heard the faintest vibration, I would’ve missed it but because I was closer to the source, I caught it.

As I turned to walk towards the source, I started getting goosebumps across my arms and legs, my hands started shivering again and it was so not the right time for this nightmare. I still kept walking and my hands were frozen, but I was happy my legs kept working. I took larger steps but even then, I couldn’t walk any faster, my legs gave in, and I was about to fall to the ground, but I took the support of the wall and dragged my feet to the end of the wall, and that was when I saw her. Ivy.

Just looking at her made me so warm, the goosebumps on my skin started settling, my hands started getting warmer and I got the air in my lungs to call Sammy. That’s when it hit me, “Jesus. Sammy, come here quick.” She was passed out, unconscious on the floor and she was so blue. Her phone was vibrating near her legs, and she had her head against the wall, and she looked so lifeless. I picked her up and God, did she make me warmer than before. Holding her was making the temperature in my body rise with every step I took. Sammy came running and we took her up to one of the bedrooms. I put her down gently and Sammy got a blanket and went to cover her with it. He remarked, “Jesus, she is out cold. No wonder she got so blue.” “Wait what, dude she is burning up, why would you put a blanket on her!?” I was so confused, and apparently so was Sammy, “Dude, what are you talking about, you fucking carried her all the way, how could you not feel how cold she is!? She is practically freezing. Her skin is literally blue Ayan!” He was sounding so absurd. “Dude, she is burning up, I did carry her and that’s how I know. I don’t know how she got so blue, but see my hand, her legs rested on my arm, see how hot it is, and touch the other arm of mine, and fucking see the difference.” Sammy did as I asked him too and his eyes widened like they were going to burst open any second. But then I realised how cold his arm was that touched her hand. And that’s when my eyes widened as much as Sammy’s but in pure shock and horror.

“Ayan, I’m putting the blanket on her, and I’ll cover her with another one. There is a bottle on the table beside you, just open it and sprinkle some water on her face, see if she wakes up. I’ll go tell everyone the party is over.” All I could do was nod at Sammy’s patience and calmness in a stressful and confusing situation like this one which probably no one in the world would’ve experienced. I sprinkled some water on her face as Sammy left the room and the door closed with a soft click behind me. I didn’t have time to think about this temperature fiasco. The droplets touched her face and eyes a couple times, but she didn't budge. My hands were shaking again because of the panic flooding me. I poured the entire bottle on her face, and she opened her eyes and shook her face. Relief filled me seeing the hazel in her eyes and I set the bottle down and got up to get a towel. She rubbed her eyes and tried to process everything. I handed her the towel and she raised herself and sat on the bed. I turned the pillow so she could rest her back on it and handed her another bottle of water to drink. Sammy opened the door and the wrinkles around his eyes softened as he saw her sipping water. He put another blanket on her and sat on the other side of the bed and we both waited for her to tell us what happened.

The blue had faded from her skin the minute Sammy had left the room and I didn’t understand how it happened so suddenly and quickly. But my fears and concerns were allayed.

She broke the silence and began, “Thank you for doing all this, I was going to text you, but I couldn’t. Like I know it will sound really silly and you might not even believe me, but I was trying to look for you guys but I couldn’t really find either of you, I was near the door when it happened okay, please just don’t think I am crazy but the temperature around me started to drop and I don’t know how and why but it was only affecting me, I was trying to do something but my hands started shaking and my feet just remained frozen like the cold had come down to my bones and I collapsed on the floor. I wanted some help, so I saw this guy standing near the far end of the wall but he couldn’t hear me or see me maybe and I couldn’t even call out to him for help because the music was too loud and so I tried to wave or do something to catch someone’s attention but I don’t understand how the cold was affecting me and not anybody else at the party, I eventually just gave in and I passed out. I am so sorry to put you through all this trouble and for ruining the party. I could go down right now and apologise to everyone if-” “It’s fine. Stay here, hydrate and rest, I sent everyone home. Just a few close friends of mine are here hanging out and chilling who really didn’t care for the music. I’m just glad to know you’re okay,” Sammy had cut her mid-sentence. I was just bracing myself because I had to tell her I felt it all too, but I didn’t want to do it in Sammy’s presence. I didn’t have a reason for it, but it was safer for him if he didn’t know, that’s what my gut was telling me. Maybe Sammy thought she had a panic attack or something and so I requested Sammy to leave us alone. He hesitated a little, but he left and when I heard the soft click of the door closing behind me again, I took a deep breath wondering where to start and, I began the story that was going to change our lives.