Kano never believed in ghosts.
And so staying in an empty classroom in the dead hour of the night was not a big deal.
She sat in the dark classroom yawning. The sky was dark.
She checked her watch, 11:45pm.
She had slept over her extra math session. No one cared to wake her up. Even the janitor seems to have forgotten about a student in the classroom.
Nevertheless, she got up.
Took her bag and walked out of the classroom.
Strange that no one asked for me yet.
Walking in the dark corridors she had an uneasy feeling.
A cold breeze brushed past her cheekbones.
Up front was a figure, staring at her with eyes that shone too bright.
She walked up to that seemingly harmless figure, "Mr. Jackson? I will be leaving now. No more sleeping I swear."
But--
He was not Jackson.
He was not standing straight.
It was not standing straight.
Kano's eyes widened.
"Who... are you?"
A man.
With a smile too wide cut into his face.
His eyes bright and hungry.
His rags dirty and red.
He was not human.
Her stomach twisted at the sight.
Before it could do anything, she found her feet dragging her away.
She ran.
Fast.
Just what is THAT?!
She turned a right corner.
Then left.
The corridors never ended.
Where is the exit?!
Is he following her?
She cannot turn back right now!
There.
Bright street light at the end, the school doors open--
He was there.
Right in front of her.
He isn't supposed to move this fast.
She freezes.
Her legs trip over.
The ground hits hard.
"He-help me..."
The voice was ghastly.
As if struggling to be laid out.
Kano looks up at the monster... crawling away from it.
"they... did this... loan... sharks..."
He stepped towards her, the smile cut on his face bleeding red.
"can't... leave... without... safety"
She cannot process his words right now.
She has to leave.
NOW.
Mustering up the sudden strength she got, adrenaline rushing in her veins-- She got up and sprinted past the ghost.
Her breath quickened.
Heart beating too fast, it thumped against her ribs.
Her head spins.
... Just there.
Almost there--
She gallops out.
Out of the school gate.
She doesn't look back yet, she sprints further.
Crossing the streets for the safety of her house.
Everything from there was a blur.
She does not remember what happened after.
But here she was, in her living room.
Her mother worried sick about her pale face.
Her father calling the doctor.
"We were so worried!"
"We called the school but they said you weren't there.", her mother cried.
She wasn't listening to any of it. It was all a background noise.
A static against what stood in front of her. For her to see alone.
The Smile.
Behind her mother.
The ghost stood there.
Mouth bleeding.
"You see me."