31. Strange Sound

Victoria waited for the strange voice to come back, but nothing. She took a sandwich and a carton of milk from the refrigerator hurriedly. When she was about to go up the stairs, suddenly she heard that strange sound again.

She put the sandwich and milk on the table. Something is heard again from behind the door leading to the garage. Her heart is beating fast.

She took a soda bottle from the table and used it as a weapon. She didn't even know what she faced. Something strange heard again. It was like the sound of box scratching.

She ventured to turn the knob slowly with the soda bottle in hand. The garage looks dark. Came another strange sound.

She gasped and quickly turned on the light. There was a rat with dirty black fur and a tail sticking out of it. The rat is breaking the box containing her father's unused fishing equipment.

"Arrgghh!!" Victoria screamed as she threw the bottle at the rat.

It seemed she had hit the rat. It bounced and fell to the floor. The rat didn't move. Victoria was afraid to check it out.

She had never seen a rat with such a slim belly. The rat's stomach was usually fat. She thought the rat might be starving.

Suddenly a story about her mother rang in her head, about a creature from another world. She thought of Baron. The man had said that he shouldn't be seen in any form, but Victoria could.

What if the rat is Baron?

Victoria ventured to approach the rat. She crouched down and picked up a soda bottle. She used the bottle to touch the rat.

"Baron!" call her.

The rat was still not moving. Maybe the rat is dead, thought Victoria. She will not be able to sleep until she confirms that the rat is exactly dead. She touched the rat harder again.

"Baron!" exclaimed Victoria.

The rat is already dead. Victoria rose to her feet and turned to enter the house. Suddenly she heard a voice behind her.

She looked back and was surprised when the rat ran past her feet and into the house.

"Baron?! Is that you? Baron!" exclaimed Victoria after the rat.

The rat ran around looking for a way out. Finally, the rat managed to escape through the window.

Victoria felt like a fool for calling Baron a rat. She thought it was a real rat. If it was Baron, why would that man avoid her?

She let out a sigh of relief. She was grateful that the rat was gone. If Baron is a rat, it means she has fallen in love with a rat. Ugh! That is disgusting.

There was a sound of lightning striking outside. Victoria gasped in surprise. She hurriedly took the sandwich and milk, then hurried up the stairs. Lightning struck again as it rained heavily.

She took a bite of the bad tasted sandwich. Her tongue tasted sour. Even though she was scared because she saw the rat and the terrible sound of thunder, her stomach still felt hungry.

Victoria saw the light in the distance from the window. It was lightning. She hurried to hide under the blankets while munching sandwiches.

Every time it rained accompanied by thunder, Victoria was always scared. She thought about her father.

It was raining very hard at that time. Her father left the city by plane. While on the way, the plane disappeared into the ocean.

Victoria always thought that her father's plane had an accident due to lightning. She cried for hours alone at home when she heard the terrible news. Her mother was doing surgery at the hospital.

The next day, Victoria and her mother didn't know what to do. National TV broadcasts the news about the disappearance of the plane at the ocean. Finally, the wreck was found five days later. The bodies were beyond recognition.

The forensic team carried out DNA tests using the victim's teeth which were still intact. Until now, her father's body has never been found.

Her mother intended to make a grave for her father, but Victoria refused it. She believes that her father is still alive. Her father is very strong and great. Her father would have been able to fight the big waves and survive on a desert island.

Four years have passed and only that faith has kept her this long. Victoria loved her father very much and was very, very lost.

Right now, she was praying silently as she calmed herself down. She munched on the sandwich silently. She hopes that the thunder will stop soon.

Looks like God answered her prayer. In a few minutes, it turned into the drizzling rain, and finally, the rain stopped.

Victoria opened the blanket and took a deep breath. There were no more flashes of lightning outside. She finished her sandwich quickly and then took a sip of milk.

Suddenly the door opened. Victoria gasped and immediately choked on milk.

"Are you all right, Honey? What happened?" Her mother ran over to pat her on the shoulder.

"I ... choked ..." Victoria coughed.

"You must be scared because of the sound of thunder, right? I'm sorry I wasn't by your side."

Victoria shook her head. "I choked because Mom startled me. You have to knock on the door first before entering my room. That's the rule, right? Don't forget that, Mom. "

"Oh, my ghost. I am so sorry."

Victoria was still coughing. After she calmed herself down, she said, "Mom, I didn't hear you coming? Did you bring your car?"

"Uhm ..." Her mother scratched the back of her head. "The car tires are flat. I left it in the hospital."

"Who are you coming home with, Mom?"

Her mother swallowed hard. "Not important." She moved her hand. "I have to take a shower first. Okay? Have you eaten yet? Oh, you did. I'll take a shower first. Bye. "

Her mother walked out of her room quickly without closing the door. Victoria walked to the door and closed it quickly. She looked out the window.

The road looks wet after the rain and deserted without any passing vehicles. She imagined about Baron's face again.

The man had made her fall asleep to his good looks and charisma. Their kiss was so sweet and beautiful. She missed him very much.

"Baron. When will we meet again? I miss you so much."