Chapter # 4

Zubie followed the grey-haired man into the darkened street. She kept a good distance between them, so as not to get noticed by him. Her little prowling session was going smoothly, creeping behind the hidden corners and dumpsters. The man was intriguing and somewhat creepy as well.

The man took an umpteenth turn into a narrower alley, and she followed behind.

She yelped, covering her mouth from letting out more noise, the hissing sound came from a stray cat, "oh God," she let out a breath, trying to get reigns of her sprinting marathon heart.

"I wonder what you found so interesting in me to follow me out here." the voice was coarse and had a threatening undertone to it.

Zubie jumped in surprise, stumbling back, falling on her butt.

His footsteps echoed into the empty street, stopping just in front of her, "why you are following me?" Zubie shut her eyes tightly, saying her prayers. She did not have enough courage to even look at him.

"Playing mute now, are we?" the man grabbed her by the back of her shirt pulling her to her feet. Zubie tried to get his hands off of her, thrashing her limbs and pushing him away, but he did not even budge. It felt like she was hitting a wall.

"I asked why you were following me?" his voice was cold, settling fear in her heart.

"I don't-I wasn't---"

"Speak coherently."

Zubie looked around, praying for some way to get out of this interrogation, "I see, I know several ways to make you talk, who sent you to follow me around?"

"No one sent me!" his hand dipped into his coat pocket, Zubie's breath caught in her throat at the sight of the shiny metallic pocket knife.

"Speak, and I only want the truth."

"I'm telling the truth, I swear!" she exclaimed, trying to sound as sincere as she can.

The man moved the knife closer to her throat, Zubie was sure this was the last moment of her life. He pressed the knife into her skin, and warm liquid dripped down her throat soaking her clothes.

Zubie was sure she was about to be killed in a dark alley by a creepy man, and all because of her stupidity.

Without a second thought, she brought her knee back as much as humanly possible and slammed it back into the man's crotch. This seemed to have a magical effect and he stumbled back as a string of colorful curses left his mouth.

Zubie ran as if her life depended on it and that was the case. She did not look back, she has seen too many horror movies to figure out what happens to the victims.

(------------------------)

She wasn't sure how long she ran, she only stopped when her legs gave out, and all adrenaline subsided.

She fell on her knees, taking deep gulps of breath. She just escaped a possible gruesome death. She looked around, the neighborhood was familiar. Standing up, she jogged in the direction of her house.

When she reached her home, she locked all the doors and windows for any possibility that she was being followed. After pushing the large couch in front of the barricaded front door, she dropped on it. Tonight was easily the most horrific night of her life.

She felt a stinging sensation over her throat, and her trembling fingers dabbed on the wound. The blood coated the digits, and she groaned. She went to the kitchen to find the first aid kit. Due to the happenings of the past hour or so, she has completely forgotten why she was in the market in the first place. And she was reminded of her hunger as her stomach rumbled.

She had no intention of going back so she made herself some strong coffee and toast, the only thing available at the moment was the next-door bakery which was also closed.

She set herself on the wooden chair and started gulping down the toast along with hot coffee.

(-----------------------------)

Zubie was thinking about reporting the incident but decided to wait till the morning to do so. She washed the empty mug and placed it in the rack. She walked towards the stairs that lead to her room. She was extremely tired and sleepy. She only wished to fall on her bed and sleep till morning--- her reverie was broken by the scratching sound coming from her mentor's room. The neighbor cat often used to visit her, even during her illness. After her death, the cat still visited.

'Maybe, I should give some food and water to the cat just as Isabelle used to.' she turned on her heels, making her way back to the kitchen. After warming up some milk and grabbing a package of fish crackers she made her way back.

Zubie pushed the door open with her toes, "hello, there." She dropped the milk bowl in terror of hearing the voice of the man who almost murdered her in the alley.

"WHAT THE HELL!!!" She dropped the bowl, the ceramic dish breaking as it came into the contact with the floor.

She didn't waste time sprinting out of the room, "hey, why are you running!"

She ran up to her room and locked herself in, realizing she didn't have her phone on her.

"What do I do!?" She looked around her room, "okay, Zubie, you can always jump out of the window?" She opened the window, looking down at the twelve feet fall, "I'll break just a few bones, right? I'll be fine." She yanked her pajamas up and placed a foot outside.

"HEY, ARE YOU STUPID!?" Zubie screamed, she was sure she locked the door, "COME IN, it's enough to have one ghost around."

"How do I trust you when you attacked me in the alley with a knife?!" The man raised his arms, showing her he didn't have any weapon on him.

"I'm sorry but I don't remember attacking you!?" He dipped his hand in his pocket as Zubie's screams raised in pitch. It was sure how she'll die, in between her window.

"Hey, calm down!" He pulled out a very familiar book, "isn't this yours?"

The man waved the book around, "you thief!? You stole my book that day and didn't even give it back?!"

"I'm sorry?!" He paced around her room as she was still hanging from her window, "I didn't know how to react okay!?"

"Why!?" Zubie was losing her grip, she was desperately clinging onto the window sill.

"Because---" he ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated, "because I'm not alive, damn it!"

"What..."

He stopped pacing and faced her, "I'm a ghost,"

She lost her grip on the sill, she screamed at the top of her lungs.

She was expecting to feel the pain of the fall but it never came, "got you,"

She looked up at the man, holding her by her arm, "what the..." grunting he pulled her up into the room.

She was panting, that was her second near-death experience in just a day, the fate was having fun with her.

"Are you okay?" The man asked, concerned for her well-being.

She looked at the man, narrowing her eyes. Even though he saved her from a tragic death, he was also the one who attacked her in the alley.

"You said you're not alive? But you just saved me from a fall. Do tell me how is that possible?!" She hoisted herself up to her feet, "it's either you are a liar or playing some sick trick on me!"

The man let out a coursed breath, "why would I lie? What's there for me to gain?"

"Maybe some sick pleasure!? Who knows!?"

"Look," he licked his lips, narrowing the distance between them. Zubie suspiciously looked at his raised arm, "a normal human can never do this, right?"

His hand disappeared into her stomach, Zubie eyes resembled the saucers.

"What..."

"DON'T---" the girl's eyes dropped shut and she fell limp in his arms, "...faint."