My best friend slapped a newspaper article onto my table and declared that we would be going on a paranormal hunt. We gathered around and glanced at the picture. It was an abandoned mansion, built in the 1970s and the construction stopped when the owner and his family met their demise. They were brutally murdered and their bodies - or rather, parts of their bodies - were scattered everywhere throughout the building.
It was reported that this European family was wealthy, so they were disrespectful to everyone of lower status. They had disagreements with the locals, especially during festival celebrations. A fight broke out when the owner spat in a farmer's face, just because he was rushing off to the mosque for prayer and unintentionally bumped into him. Although the locals defended the farmer, the police sided with the owner. The farmer was locked up for assaulting him.
My eyes flashed with excitement. I immediately agreed to his proposal. My girlfriend reminded me that the elders often reminded everyone not to go near the building. Her best friend heard the commotion and requested to join too. She caved in to peer pressure eventually. It was decided then, we would meet few blocks away from the building and then walk there together.
I had been watching the clock until it struck 9. Then, I got into my car with my older brother and drove to my girlfriend's house. After fetching her, we stopped by her best friend's house - who happened to be my brother's girlfriend. When we reached at the promised location, my best friend rolled his eyes at me and complained that he should not have broken up with his ex, since he was the third (or rather, fifth) wheel in the group. He warned us not to be lovey-dovey in front of him, or he might stab us due to the public display of affection. I immediately pulled my girlfriend in for a kiss. He smacked me. Hard.
The walk to the mansion took only 5 minutes, yet when I checked the time, it had been more than 30 minutes since we started walking. Something felt off. Sweat began trickling down our temples and backs even though it was a cold night. A loud scream pierced the night. Goosebumps erupted all over my body. The girls cried out in fright and my girlfriend grabbed my arm painfully tight. All of us were distracted and then suddenly, we found ourselves submerged in darkness, as if the lights went out and the moon and the stars disappeared.
My best friend started praying in his trembling voice. His voice started to distort, and the longer it went on, the more it sounded as if he was reciting his prayer inversely. My brother came to his senses and punched my best friend in his face. At once, the lights returned. We found ourselves in the mansion. My brother's knuckle was bloodied, as was my best friend's face. His nose was crooked, but what made my blood chill was his expression. He was smiling despite the pain. Everyone screamed and scattered in different directions, attempting to find a way out. My best friend's laughter echoed all over us. It seemed to penetrate our skulls.
I dragged my girlfriend and rushed upstairs, hoping to get away from him. When I turned around, it was him! I gave him a mighty shove and he fell. A loud bang was heard. I realised I had pushed an altar left by the Buddhists to contain the malicious spirits in the mansion, instead of him. My eyes were playing a trick on me. In frustration, I kicked the statue and was awarded immediately with a stabbing pain at my knee. Karma, a voice in my head said.
