As we moved deeper into the forest. There was no sign of houses. Not even farmlands the neighbors were tending to.
It was uneven, rocky, slippery, tree roots tangling with each other.
We've been moving for an hour now. And I've seen a bunch of entities that I managed to ignore fully this time.
I was following Sharon intensely. But internally I was already spiraling.
How long are we going to walk? I'm tired. But can't ask a white lady to stop. Good for her she's floating but my feet are killing me.
I've slipped more times that I stopped counting. I've never been this deep into the forest. Not even during the day. What more night time.
But here I am. Following a ghost towards the place that's caging her in.
Then we reached a part of the forest where Sharon just stopped floating.
Since I was busy arguing with myself, i walked pass through her.
Exactly as you heard. Through her. And I bumped into the tree she was facing, making me finally snap out.
"Ayy putang ina... That hurts!"
I rubbed my forehead and looked around. Then stepped back a bit and positioned myself beside her.
"Anthony." Sharon said, pointing in between the two huge mahogany tree.
On the ground to be exact.
I aimed my flashlight there. Checking it out. Then...
I stumbled back again. Since like to that has been my default reaction to everything.
My face paled. I was speechless. I looked at Sharon who's staring intensely onto it.
Even if I'm spiraling again, I pushed the thoughts away. Ignored my own rapid heart beat and gathered every ounce of bravery I could muster.
I was on my knees now, crawling back to the spot I saw.
To avoid messing it up or ruining evidences, I used a stick just to make sure it's there.
When I dug up just a bit. What I saw next made me puke.
It wasn't intentional.
It's a natural response. On how dreadful it was.
A corpse. Buried in a hurry. Obviously. On how shallow it was.
Same dress as Sharon, same hair. But it's unidentifiable.
I was sure because Sharon's ghost personally lead me here. If not for here, she'll remain buried in her.
[DING]
[SUBQUEST COMPLETE. MAIN TASK CLEANSE THE SOUL PROGRESSING. CURRENT PERCENTAGE TILL COMPLETION: 10%]
[YOU GAINED + 10 POINTS]
[NEW SKILL AVAILABLE: LET THEM SEE.]
[SKILL DESCRIPTION: HOST CAN MAKE A TARGET SEE AN ENTITY OF CHOICE FOR ONE MINUTE. THREE CHANCES PER TARGET]
[SKILL PRICE: 10 POINTS]
I didn't even hesitate. That skill was useful. If I'm going to complete Sharon's task. I needed it.
That's what my gut was telling me.
[SKILL SUCCESSFULLY PURCHASED. ACTIVATION: ENTITY SHOW YOURSELF TO TARGET NAME.]
I checked the time and it was almost midnight. I sat on the ground trying to find a way to extract her body and give it a proper burial.
Not body...
Bones. She's reduced to bones with just her hair and dress left for recognition.
"Sharon.... I'm sorry. For what happened to you."
[COMMUNICATION SKILL LEVEL + 1]
"Anthony...Thank you for coming her with me. I know you're not the brave type but...you forced yourself to follow me."
The skill leveling up made Sharon's words more clear. She was just looking at her own bones, buried.
With us conversing like this. My own fear towards her, slowly faded. Not entirely. But I was able to look at her, without puking. Or getting frozen.
"May I asked... What happened?"
I know it was the wrong move. Letting her relive what happened to her. But...it was a necessity.
Thank God I've read too much mystery books, that I'm able to apply then here. Real time.
Not touching the evidence directly, was one. Even though, I dug up a bit for visibility.
Bones doesn't scare me much. Maybe, disgusting things made me feel terrified. Adding to my own easily scared disposition.
Or I haven't evaluated my own self, on which things truly scared me.
I heard rustling sound coming from my right. I didn't look at it. From the edge of my vision, I saw feet.
Bloody.
Not again. Please. Go away.
Sharon saw me trembling, and looked behind.
"Anthony...look. she won't hurt you."
She? Is this another victim?
I slowly looked behind me. I saw her feet, and slowly lifted my gaze.
And when I did. Her bloodied face was inches from me. A large wound from her temple to her chin, cross her eye, nose and mouth, was open wide.
Blood dropping into my own face, and I fainted. No slow motion fall, but instant.
"You shouldn't have done that." Sharon said floating towards the other ghost.
"It was fun. It's my first time seeing someone who can see me. Worth the try." The new ghost was more playful. In her own rights.
"He's easily scared. It was out of sheer will and determination that he's able to come all the way here." Sharon crouched and pulled my body.
Adjusting it, so I won't feel sore from my position.
"A coward. I can see. Will he finish what he started though? Or will he run away home and pretend not to see us."
"He won't. I could feel his sincerity. Let just not surprise him, more than he can take."
The two ghost, now waited for me to gain my consciousness back.
While also, protecting me from other entities that wanted my attention.
And I was oblivious to it all. Since I was busy fainting when it matters.