8 Cruel Test of Courage

After Calvin closed his eyes, there was nothing that he could see apart from darkness.

The darkness didn't seem to have any emotions. It was indifferent, it looked upon everything impartially. Like a giant spiderweb that could thoroughly envelop all of one's imaginations. The border between reality and illusions blurred. As he moved step by step up the stairs, the cold breeze of the night repeatedly struck him on the chest.

Shivers ran down Calvin's spine as he finally realized that he now truly hated this part of going to Las Felipinas for the first time.

He was walking into another world; he was going to continue walking until he reached the top and opened that door to Las Felipinas. The land whom he already considered as his hometown.

Calvin religiously counted the number of steps he took in his mind. With the removal of the important sense of sight, his other senses seemed to have been heightened. Despite still being a mortal, his fingers could feel the coarseness of the dust on the wall, and his nose could sniff out the faint smell of mold.

The sound of his footsteps rang ever so loudly in his ears.

Calvin audibly gulped.

'Fucking hell, now I understand why I shat and pissed my pants back then... It seems like no matter how strong you are or how vast your experience is. One's fear of the unknown would never disappear...'

'But this is strange. I already know what's causing this strange sensation, but why is it that my heart is still gripped by this fear?'

Calvin's rich experience made him swiftly adapt to the situation. Even though he was blindfolded, he could picture everything that he needed in his brain. His body had also gotten used to the height of the steps, and so long as he didn't get distracted by other things. He shouldn't have any problems.

Step!

'I should be on the second floor now.'

'Okay, there's nothing happening yet... I'll get past here as fast as I can without running.'

Calvin's walking speed hastened and he soon arrived near the staircase to the third floor.

But as soon as he stepped a foot onto the staircase. He suddenly heard the sound of a heated argument from one of the rooms behind him. Calvin didn't hesitate anymore, he walked upwards and when he reached the landing, he stopped.

"Mom, get the fuck out of my room, I'm playing Fortnut!"

The scream seemed to have come from a juvenile.

Calvin stopped from his tracks for the voice sounded incomparably familiar.

"Yeah, play! All you do is play, you piece of shat! Do you even care about your family and your education? Since I gave you that computer, I've never seen you study for your school anymore! I've paid for every single school project that you told me that is necessary for you to pass the grade, yet I haven't even received any grade slip from you!"

"What is going on?! Come out there and explain everything to me!"

"Mom! If you think that I am such a useless son, then why do you still care about me? Just leave me already! Leave me to die!"

"What...? What are you saying, my boy? How could I possibly... How could I possibly leave you?"

"Leave me alone, mom!"

"All right... If you really won't go out from that room, then I will be forced to cut the internet connection!"

"No! You can do everything that you want to do to me, just don't cut the internet off!"

"Then, come out there already! Your mom just wants to talk with you, my boy..."

The walls were thick, so the soundproofing shouldn't be that bad. But the argument was so heated, and some physical altercation happened. Calvin could hear the faint crashing sounds of furniture and glassware and then after a few seconds of silence. Calvin heard the door open.

Someone walked out and from the slick and wet sound of that person's footsteps.

It was clear that he was barefooted.

The person slammed the door shut. The slick footsteps echoed down the corridor, going closer to Calvin. But when it reached the stairwell, it came to an abrupt halt.

As if the person who came out was surprised by Calvin's presence...

However, after only a few seconds. The footsteps resumed once again.

But the direction where it was heading for was the complete opposite of where Calvin was going.

Calvin let out a sigh.

'Dang, why can't I remember that something like this happened back then?'

'Wait... Now that I think about it. I can remember the fact that I passed this test of courage, but why can't I remember the details?'

Calvin clicked his tongue out of frustration. He really hated any situation that wasn't under his control.

As of now, he had no idea about what would happen to him in this test of courage.

But was he afraid of what was about to happen?

Of course, not!

Calvin went through a lot in the past.

A measly test of courage couldn't possibly hold him down!

Calvin took a step forward.

He silently counted the steps that he took as he went up and when he reached the landing before the third floor.

He noticed that something was off.

'What was that sound?'

Calvin furrowed his eyebrows.

He took a step forwards to test what was going on, and as soon as he did. His ears picked up the sound of slick footsteps coming directly from behind him!

'How come that I can still hear the footsteps of that kid behind me? Didn't he go in the opposite direction? If he did that, then I shouldn't be able to hear his footsteps here! That is unless... he is following me!'

Calvin pictured an image in his mind. He was walking blindfolded while a child who looked to be around nine to ten-years-old silently followed him from behind with a silly smile on his lips.

'The driver told me earlier that a passenger of his died here, but since the person following behind me is definitely that kid earlier, then it is impossible for this kid to be that person that the taxi driver brought here. After all, how could a mere kid have the courage to enter a taxi by himself...'

'Fucking hell... I'm still in the second floor, there's still a long way before I can reach the rooftop, yet I've already run into trouble. Should I speed run my way up to the top? No, that is too dangerous...' Calvin shook his head and discarded the ridiculous idea that popped up in his mind.

Steeling his resolve, he took another step forward and as soon as he did.

The kid behind him spoke.

"Hey, mister..."

"Why do you look like me?"

Calvin's movements came to a sudden halt as he stood there, frozen.

He was thoroughly shocked for he finally realized why the voice of the kid sounded so familiar to him!

It was because he was the kid!

The kid was Calvin and Calvin was the kid!