บท 3: Haunting Hallucinations
The sun began its descent, casting long shadows that stretched across the hallowed halls of Willowbrook High School. My footsteps echoed through the bustling corridors, each step weighted with an unshakable sense of unease. Whispers of conversation blended into a cacophony, yet the haunting presence gnawed at my thoughts.
As I weaved through the throngs of students, a flicker of movement caught the corner of my eye—a glimpse of the man in the bloody hospital clothes. His twisted smile seemed etched into my consciousness, a macabre visage haunting my waking hours.
Panic surged through my veins, and my heart quickened its pace. I tried to shake off the chilling encounter, to find solace amidst the sea of students, but the corridors stretched endlessly before me, amplifying my sense of unease. No matter how fast I moved, the man's presence lingered, a constant reminder that the boundaries between reality and hallucinations were becoming blurred.
In the midst of the chaos, Emma's perceptive gaze caught my distress. Accompanied by Ethan and Mai She reached out, her touch grounding me in the present. "Asher, you seem distant. Is everything okay?"
I forced a smile, attempting to brush off my growing apprehension. "Just a lot on my mind lately, Em. You know how it is."
But Emma, ever attuned to my emotions, wasn't easily convinced. Concern etched on her face, she persisted. "Asher, we've been friends for years. I can tell something's off. You can talk to me, you know?"
I hesitated, my gaze locked with Emma's caring eyes. Finally, I relented, my voice laced with vulnerability. "Alright, Em. There's something strange happening. I've been seeing things... hallucinations. It's like there's this man, always there, in bloody hospital clothes, with a twisted smile. I don't know what it means, but it's starting to consume me."
Emma's brows furrowed, her concern deepening. "Oh, Asher. I had no idea you were going through this. You're not alone, you know? We're here for you. Have you talked to anyone else about it?"
I shook my head, my voice barely above a whisper. "No, you're the first person I've told. It's just... it's so confusing. I don't know what's real anymore."
Ethan and Mia, sensing the gravity of the conversation, approached, concern etched on their faces. Ethan placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Hey, man, we overheard. We're here for you too, you know? Whatever you're going through, we'll face it together."
Mia nodded in agreement, her voice filled with determination. "Absolutely, Asher. You're like family to us. We won't let you face this alone."
I felt a surge of gratitude, my eyes misting with unshed tears. "Thank you, all of you. I... I don't know how to navigate this, but having you by my side makes it a little less daunting."
Emma smiled warmly, her voice gentle. "We'll figure it out, Asher. One step at a time. You're not alone in this."
As the final bell rang, I left school, the weight of my thoughts heavy upon me. The familiar road home stretched ahead, the fading light of the sun casting elongated shadows on my path. Yet, as I walked, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, the haunting presence of the man in the bloody hospital clothes lingering at the edges of my perception.
"..." With a trembling hand, I reached for my phone, seeking reassurance from my parents. I dialed their number, the anticipation clawing at my chest. When my mother answered, her voice filled with genuine concern, I found myself momentarily lost for words.
"Mom, Dad," I finally managed to choke out, my voice quivering. "I... I need you. Something strange is happening, and I don't know how to make it stop."
My parents, their love evident even through the phone line, reassured me, their words a soothing balm to my troubled mind. "We're here for you, Asher. Where are you? We're coming."
"I'm..." Just when I opened my mouth to talk, the bloody man appeared once again, dissolving into the shadows, leaving me pale and terrified.
After school, my parents sensed my unease and decided to accompany me to the supermarket. They hoped the familiar routine would provide a sense of normalcy for their troubled son. As we entered the bustling store, my eyes darted anxiously, searching for any signs of the man in the bloody hospital clothes.
Amidst the bustling aisles, a shiver ran down my spine. There, among the crowded shoppers, stood the hallucination that haunted me—a man in tattered hospital clothes, his eyes wild and his smile twisted with madness. Fear gripped my heart, threatening to paralyze me in my tracks.
Unable to contain my panic any longer, my trembling voice broke through the hazy air. "Mom, Dad, do you see him? That man, over there. He's the one... the one I've been seeing."
My parents, startled by my words, exchanged worried glances. Their loving eyes filled with concern as they took in my distress. I'm sure they had noticed the change in my demeanor, the haunted look in my eyes, but then I don't think they had expected the extent of my torment.
My father, his voice filled with both worry and surprise, reached out to his son. "Asher, what the matter ? take a deep breath.
"He doesn't seem alright. Let's find a quiet place to sit and talk." My mom said with a worried expression on her face.
I nodded, grateful for my parents' unwavering support. With their guidance, we made our way to a secluded corner of the supermarket, away from prying eyes. The fluorescent lights cast an eerie glow, accentuating the surreal nature of their conversation.
Sitting together, I recounted the vivid details of my hallucinations, the blood-stained man that seemed to exist solely in my tortured mind. My parents listened intently, their love and concern evident in their attentive expressions.
My mother's voice quivered with a mixture of fear and compassion. "Oh, Asher, we had no idea you were going through this. It must be terrifying for you. We want you to know that we're here for you, no matter what. We'll find the help you need."
My father, his voice steady and resolute, continued. "We'll make an appointment with a psychiatrist, someone who can help us understand what's happening. You're not alone in this, Asher. We'll fight this battle together."
Tears welled up in my eyes as the weight of my parents' love and support enveloped me. At that moment, the supermarket aisles seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the unwavering bond of a couple of parents having their son tightly
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