Chapter # 2

Zubie sauntered in the direction of the bus stop, not particularly paying attention to anything going around her. The path towards the station was engraved in her mind, she can walk towards it with her eyes closed.

The town was small but had every facility the people of the village, including her parents, could only dream of owning.

Her mind wandered to the cure recipe she concocted last night, high on caffeine and sugar muffins from the bakery next door.

If this works, Isabelle can live her life again, the one she deserves. Resolution filled her veins, her steps picking pace, she can't wait to come back in the afternoon.

Zubie tapped her feet on the chipped sidewalk, the bus was later than usual. What a way to ruin her optimistic attitude.

She set herself on the broken bench, that once used to be yellow but tarnished due to being in the sun all day. Her one leg came to rest over the other, opening the book to read.

Some time passed by just like that, Zubie staring at the same words over and over again. A cold shiver ran over her neck, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Her eyes left the book, sweeping over the crowd of students and minimum-wage employees waiting for the bus. No one seemed to notice a sudden drop in temperature.

Zubie shrugged, thinking nothing of it, and opened the book again. The goosebumps formed again and not because of the cold. She looked up again, feeling as if someone has been staring at her back.

She rotated her neck, looking back. Her eyes looked for the source of the intense stare and after not much effort she found it.

It was a man, dressed in a black suit and cream-colored shirt. What surprised her most was his hair, grey as the full moonlight. They were styled to the side, giving his face an almost ethereal look to it. He could've been charming if it wasn't for the unsettling look in his eyes.

His stare even tho intense held no emotion at all, no regard for his intentions. Zubie stared back, mouthing a 'stop staring or else...' the man seemed to not get her hints. Zubie turned her head to the front, hoping he will stop with his creepy habit.

But he did not. That's it, Zubie has had enough of it. she stands up, walking in his direction on a mission.

She stopped right in front of him, his eyes never living hers, "do you not have a mother or a sister at home?" she wrapped her arms around her chest, daring the man to answer.

He looked taken aback, "excuse me?"

"How would you feel if a strange man stared at them, making them uncomfortable?"

He chuckled, it was the most phony laugh Zubie has ever heard. Seeing she wasn't amused, the man coughed immediately.

"I apologize, miss, but I wasn't staring at you." He dropped his head, glancing at the book she has been reading, "just saw that book and it reminded me of my days at the medical school."

"Oh,"

"Mind if I?" gently he took the book from her hand, "I see, not much has changed at all,"

"When were you a medical student, in the fifties or something?"

He smiled, "oh no."

"Then when?"

He shook his head, saying, "looks like your ride is here," soon, she heard the familiar honk of the bus.

She tilted her neck, looking back, "Yeah, thanks, but my book---" there was nobody in front of her, her widening a fraction. Her reverie was broken by another honk of the bus, "Sweetheart, you are gonna miss the bus!" the elderly neighbor called out to her, already set on her seat.

"Coming!" Zubie sprinted towards the bus, clumsily climbing the bus.

"You okay, Zubie?" the older woman asked, making space for her to sit, "you seem as if you've seen a ghost?"

Zubie let out a labored breath, "did you see that guy?"

"Who?"

"The one with grey hair?"

"Are you talking about my husband?"

Zubie scowled, "no, the one I was talking to? Did you not see him?"

"I did not see you talking to anyone, Zubie you okay? Do you have a fever?" the older woman placed her wrinkled hand on her forehead.

"No, I'm fine." Zubie made herself comfortable on the solid seat. The bus started moving, her eyes unconsciously drifted to the spot she has seen him.

Her breath was caught in her throat, there he was, standing with the same unsettling look on his face. Zubie did not move, did not even flinch as the bus moved further and further away and she lost sight of the man.