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– Why? Why haven’t I heard your screams? – she sobbed, – You screamed! You should have screamed! Why haven’t I heard? Why didn’t I help you?
– Miranda … – suddenly a girl heard a quiet voice, – Miranda…
The girl immediately fell silent. She removed her hands from her face, peering into the darkness and began to listen to the whisper.
– Miranda… Miranda … – someone quietly repeated her name.
“This is Carolyn’s voice” – the girl thought with horror and frightened looked at the empty chair.
– It can not be… It can not be… I’m going crazy … – shaking her head she said.
– Miranda, – suddenly someone said her name loudly.
Girl with fright jumped up from the couch.
– Who is there? – she cried out.
– I’m here, Miranda, – said voice.
Miranda turned her head toward the door and swayed in fear. In the doorway, in the dark, someone was standing.
– Oh my God! Who you are? How did you get here? – she asked excitedly and frightened.
– You do not recognize me, Miranda?! – asked the dark figure and took a few steps forward so that the dim light entering the room from the window could light up her face a little. Miranda turned white with horror.
– Carolyn? Is that you? No… No… It can not be! You … – the girl only had time to say it and her heart almost stopped in fear when the phone suddenly rang. Miranda looked for a moment in the direction from where the phone rang, and then looked again at the place where her deceased friend had just stood. But Carolyn was no longer there. The girl looked into the emptiness, and the phone rang, making loud ringing sounds. Finally Miranda answered.
– Hello, – she said in a trembling voice, – Hello! Who is this? Do not be silent!
– Murderer… – someone hissed softly in a voice like Carolyn’s and hung up.
Miranda stood alone in the dark room. Eyes wide with horror, she looked somewhere in the void. She held a handset near her ear, from which came unpleasant short beeps. And tears flowed down her cheeks.
3. I will stay
Miranda woke up in the morning on the couch in the living room from some noise. Opening her eyes, she looked around. The room was bright and there was no one there but her. The girl began to listen to the noise that reached her from behind the closed door. There was definitely someone else in the apartment besides her. She heard someone’s quiet footsteps. Some kind of rustling. Then someone walked along the corridor. As he moved closer to the living room where Miranda was now located, his steps became clearer and louder, but after a few seconds it became quiet. Miranda listened with horror to silence, when suddenly the doorknob slowly turned. From fright, the girl jumped up from the couch. She stepped on a mug lying on the floor and flew down with a cry. She collapsed on her back and, hitting her head hard on the floor, lost consciousness.
– Miranda! Miranda! – from somewhere far away came to her mind a familiar male voice.
The girl opened her eyes. Everything was blurring around. Miranda tried to make out the man bent over her and when her gaze finally focused on his face, she happily discovered for herself, that in front of her was her beloved Aiden. The girl gasped with relief and smiled.
– What are you doing here? – she asked quietly.
– Strange question, – he grinned.
Miranda rose a little.
– Ouch! So painful! – grimaced and clutching at the back of her head, she said.
– Of course! – said Aiden, – Make such a flight! My heart almost stopped when I saw it!
A man helped Miranda up and sat her in a chair.
– Are you okay? How do you feel? – he was worried.
– It’s okay, do not worry, – the girl assured him. – It hurts a little and then stops hurting.
– Let’s call a doctor? – he suggested.
– No no, no need, – she refused and rubbing the back of the head asked:
– What happened?
– I do not know, – Aiden shrugged, – When I entered, you were already in flight!
Miranda laughed and this made her head sick even more.
– Heck! It hurts so much! – again clutching the back of the head she said.
– I’ll bring ice, – said Aiden and quickly left the room.
A minute later he came back. He held a towel in which he wrapped ice cubes.
– I guess you stepped on a mug, – he suggested and putting a cold towel to the back of the girl.
– What? – asked Miranda and looked at him questioningly.
Aiden pointed to this unfortunate object, which was lying on the floor.
– Oh yes… yes … – said the girl, remembering what happened, – I heard footsteps outside the door and was frightened. I jumped up from the couch and… There was this damn mug! Today I’ll throw it out, – as if she was angry with this inanimate object, Miranda growled.
– Yeah. Come on. I think it will not be very upset about this, – joked Aiden.
– Who? – Miranda did not understand.
– Mug, of course. – the man explained.
Miranda looked at him disapprovingly.
– Can you be serious at least once in your life? At least now! My head breaks, and you stand here and laugh! – she was offended.
– Sorry, sorry. But I did not want to laugh at you. And I did not laugh at all! Maybe take you to the hospital?
– No thanks, it is not necessary.
– And if you have a concussion?
– Well, in that case, then you will have something else to laugh at, – Miranda said resentfully.
– Please, honey, don’t be mad. You know that I did not want to upset you, – the man said, and gently kissed her on the back of the head.
– I just don’t like … – she began and looked at Aiden.
– What Don ‘t you like? – he asked.
– Nothing.
Miranda puffed out her cheeks and turned away a little from Aiden.
– So, – he said, – Since you started talking, go ahead! Come on, come on! I’m listening!
– Well, since you want it… Ok, – she said and raised her eyebrows, – I do not like that you and grandmother always kidding me! Constantly laugh! What do you think I’m a clown?
The girl got up from her chair and, pending an answer, looked intently at the man’s brown eyes.
– That’s all? – after a short pause he asked.
– And what, this is not enough?!
– Ah, you’re my silly, – Aiden smiled and hugged her, – No one laugh at you. And especially not making fun! It’s just that we are like this with her… And you… You are our silly little girl!
Miranda twitched, thus showing the man that she does not want him to embrace her. But Aiden only stronger pressed her to him.
– I love you, Miranda! I love very much! – he said.
– I love you very much too, – she said and hugged him back.
– Maybe we will go to the hospital? – a little moving away from the girl and looking into her eyes, once again suggested Aiden.
– No. – shook her head softly, she said. – Everything is fine with me. No longer hurts. And, you know, I hate hospitals.
– You are so stubborn, – the man smiled.
– So you did not answer me. What are you doing here?
– I live here.
– Aiden, – Miranda said, – Well, I’m serious!
– Me too, – he smiled.
– All right, I will ask in another way. You should have come only in a couple of days. Right?
– Right.
– And come now. Right?
The man nodded his head.
– You are so funny, – he said.
– And you… You are so… so…
– What?
– Harmful!
– Very harmful?
– Very very! So what are you doing here?
– Are you not happy to see me?
– I’m happy. Very. And see, and hear, and feel… I just did not expect…
– I called you late in the evening. When finished work. You again did not answer. I thought you were already asleep. And then my friend, with whom I stayed overnight, called me to the telephone. Said it was you. When I answered, you already hung up.
– Me?! – Miranda was surprised. – But I didn’t call anyone yesterday. He probably mistook something.
– Maybe, – the man agreed, – It was already late at night. But I called you. You picked up the phone, but apparently did not hear me. You had a worried voice. So I decided to come. I would have come earlier, but there was an accident there, on the road… That’s why I’m a little late.
– Accident? – Miranda was scared. – Are you okay?
– Everything is good. I was not even a witness. – Aiden reassured her.
– Thank God, – exhaled Miranda and thought about something.
– Did you call at night? – after a short pause she asked.
The man nodded back.
– The call … – Miranda said softly and her face suddenly changed and turned white.
– What? What happened? Something is wrong? – Aiden worried when he saw this strange change.
– This is so strange … – as if looking through him, the girl said, – I think I… I saw Carolyn at night…
– Carolyn? – the man asked in confusion.
And Miranda told him about the eyes in the mirror, and about the vision that was so real and so similar to her dead friend, and about the strange call.
– Damn, – hissed Aiden, – I knew that you could not come back here! It was necessary to immediately rent another apartment! Why do I always fulfill your whims?!
– This is not a whim! This is my home! I live here!
– It was your home! And now, I am afraid, it will become for you something like a torture chamber!
– Why do you say that?
– Because I know how much you loved Carolyn! I know how much time you spent together! And here everything reminds you of her! Right? Maybe that’s why your imagination is playing with you? Or maybe because her apartment is opposite? And she is there … – Aiden did not finish this sentence. Miranda understood so well what he meant.
– You did not see the dead when, you lived with your grandmother outside the city for a week? – he asked.
– No, I have not seen, – she shook her head.
– Well, – Aiden said, – Pack your bags.
– Why? Where? What for?
– I want us to leave here today. We will stay with my parents until we find another apartment.
– No, Aiden, – Miranda shook her head, – I’m not going anywhere from here! – she said emphatically, – And it is useless to persuade me! I will not leave! At least for now… I need to be here some more. I must! And do not argue! It makes no sense!
– Ufff, – the man exhaled, – Ok… Ok, – he agreed, – If you really need it… Although I do not think so…
4. Where is the necklace?
In the morning Miranda walked into the kitchen and saw Aiden there.
– What are you doing here? – she was surprised.
– I’m going to make breakfast for us, – the man answered and got something out of the fridge.
– I see. I mean, what are you doing HERE? Don’t you have to go to work?
– I have to go. But today I decided to stay with you. Are you not happy?
– I’m happy, but…
The man looked at Miranda.
– What “but”? – raising his eyebrows, he asked.
– Nothing, – she shrugged. – Why didn’t you tell me yesterday that you would stay at home?
– I was afraid that you will expel me, – Aiden smiled.
Miranda also smiled back. She went to her beloved, rising on toes to reach his lips, because he was much taller than her, and gently kissed him.
– Good morning honey, – she said.
– From this it was necessary to start, – he smiled, – Good morning my love!
– What’s for breakfast? – looking around, the girl asked.
– What do you want?
– Mmmmm…
Miranda put her index finger to her lips, thinking and looked somewhere up.
– Pancakes! – after some thought, she said.
– Pancakes?! – Aiden looked at her inquiringly.
– Aha, – Miranda nodded.
– Maybe something simpler?
The man looked at her pleadingly. Miranda laughed.
– It’s simple! – she said.
– Okay! I asked for it myself… Pancakes, so pancakes!
After breakfast, Aiden’s cell phone rang. After talking to someone, he angrily threw the phone on the table. Miranda flinched from surprise and almost dropped her cup of tea from her hands, which she had not had time to finish.
– Damn it, – he hissed.
Seeing the frightened face of the girl, Aiden immediately apologized for this unexpected flight of his phone on the table.
– What happened? – worriedly asked Miranda.
– Nothing special. Do not worry, – the man calmed her, – Just these idiots can’t do anything without me! – he said loudly and indignantly.
– What idiots? – Miranda asked.
– Those around me! – clutching his head with both hands, said the man.
He took a deep breath and, crouching next to the girl, took her hand in his.
– I’m sorry, Miranda, but I have to leave.
– Work?
– Yes, but… If you say it, I will not go anywhere. In the end, at least once, they can do without me?!
– Aiden, honey, don’t be mad, – the girl said softly and gently ran her hand over his cheek, – I don’t like it at all! Of course I want you to stay home, but…
– But?!
– But I’m not going anywhere! I will wait for you, as always. And these yours, as you call them “idiots”, will not wait! They will do something wrong, and then you will clear up the mess. And then, judging by the tone in which you just spoke with one of them and how angry you are now… I don’t know… It seems to me that now, in any case, you will be thinking about your work all day. Of course, you decide, but I think that you still better deal with your affairs.
– You know, honey, I have the impression now that you openly expel me, – Aiden confessed.
Judging by the expression on his face, he was not joking at all. Miranda even felt uncomfortable.
– Aiden, honey, what are you saying?! Are you serious?
The man nodded his head.
– Want to stay? – she asked, – Stay! I’ll be happy!
Aiden suddenly laughed.
– Are you kidding me again? – leaping up from her chair, she cried out.
Aiden also rose. And Miranda looked at him as menacingly as she could, and from that he laughed even louder.
– Yes, – through the laughter said a man, – Oh no! Not! I’m not kidding! – calmed down a little, he said.
– Then what does this laugh of yours mean? Did I really say something funny?!
In response, Aiden shook his head.
– What then? – crossing her arms over her chest, she said.
– You did not say, but did!
Aiden laughed again.
– And what have I done that has caused you so hysterical laughter?!
– At first you had such a sweet and slightly scared look on your face. And then you become angry, so funny! – still laughing, he explained.
– Angry?! – the girl squealed indignantly. – You know what, Aiden?!
Miranda put her fists on her hips.
– Wait wait, – putting forward his palms, the man told her and, catching his breath, asked:
– What?
– Sometimes I want to strangle you! And so that I do not do it now, you better get ready faster and…
– Ok, ok, – Aiden interrupted her, – I got it. I’m leaving!
A man without looking away from Miranda, backed up to the exit and, staying in the doorway, said loudly:
– Still, you’re very funny! Love you!
– And I love you, – the girl smiled.
***
– You really don’t want me to stay with you today? – asked Aiden already standing in the doorway and ready to leave the apartment.
– Honey, – Miranda exhaled, – Again this question! I already told you! Or do you want to quarrel again?!
– I want, – he answered smiling, – I love it when we are with you… No, not so! When you’re with me swearing!
– Oh, enough! Enough! Go already! – gently shoving him in the chest, said the girl.
– And kiss? – said Aiden and, taking her by the shoulders, pulled her to him.
– You didn’t deserve it! – with her head up to look him in the eyes, said Miranda.
– Me?! – he said, – I maybe not! But you…
The man kissed his beloved.
– When will you come? – Miranda asked when he finally let her go.
– I do not know, – he shrugged, – I am afraid that today I will have to linger until late. I do not know for sure. I will call you. Okay?
– Okay, – the girl nodded and, gently running her fingers over his cheek, said softly:
– I love you!
***
Aiden left somewhere around noon. And Miranda took up cleaning. Then she walked around the park a bit and returned home around four in the afternoon.
The phone rang.
– Grandma, it’s you! – answering the call, the girl was delighted. – I’m so glad you called! How are you?
– Everything is good, my girl, – said the old woman, – Actually, I called to find out how you are…
– Everything is fine, granny, – Miranda answered her.
– Well, that’s good, my dear. And how is your fiance? You said you wanted him to live with his parents for a while. I thought it was not a good idea for you and for your relationship… Sorry, but when I left, you were not in very good condition.
– Granny, don’t worry. I’m fine. And Aiden arrived yesterday, and… I realized how much I missed him! So no parents!
– Right, my girl. You do not need to be alone, – the old woman supported her.
– Yeah … – Miranda exhaled, – I no longer want to be here alone… At night…
The girl put her hand on her chest. There, where Carolyn’s necklace hung. She wanted to stroke smooth and warm stones.
– Oh no! – she suddenly exclaimed, – Only not this!
– Honey, what happened?! – old woman got worried.
– It seems… I lost Carey’s necklace!
– Oh, Miranda … – the old woman exhaled with relief, – You scared me so much! I already thought that something serious had happened!
– I’m sorry, granny, I did not want to scare you, – Miranda apologized and immediately asked:
– Isn’t that serious?
– I think not.
– But this necklace is so important to me!
– I know, honey, I know. Maybe you just forgot where you put it?
– Granny, it’s been on me all day! Yesterday… It was exactly on me… And today… And now it is not… I remember exactly that I did not take it off!
– Maybe you just forgot, – suggested the old lady. – Look for it. You will find it, – she assured.
– It would be good … – Miranda said frustratedly, – The main thing that I did not lose them during the walk. Then I will never find them for sure!
– Miranda dear, – after a short pause the grandmother called, – I have to go. I, probably, will call you in the evening.
– Ok, granny.
– And do not worry, my girl. You will surely find it! You will see!
– I hope so, – Miranda said.
Saying goodbye to her grandmother, she turned off the phone and, sprawling in an armchair, stared at the ceiling. She tried to remember where she could lose a necklace. Or perhaps she really took it off herself and just forgot about it.
– It was on me yesterday… I got up in the morning. Washed my face. Took it from the nightstand. Put on me. It was on me. I probably went to sleep in this… I do not remember that I took it off myself last night … – she said out loud.
Frustrated, Miranda turned the whole apartment upside down in search of a necklace that was very dear to her. But she did not find it.
The phone rang, but the girl, upset by the loss, did not pay any attention to it.
– Oh, Cary! Have I really lost it?! – flopping on the sofa and covering her face with her hands, she whispered and burst into tears.
A few minutes later the phone rang again. The phone rang loudly and rattled. And Miranda, who did not want to talk to anyone now could not stand those annoying sounds.
– Who else is there?! – she mumbled wiping away tears and nevertheless answered the call.
– Hello! – picking up the phone she said.
– Miranda? – asked a male voice.
– Yes it’s me Aiden, – answered girl. – Who else?
– You have a strange voice, – noticed a man, – Something happened?
– Nothing nothing happened, – she lied. – Did you want something?
– I wanted to know, how are you?
– Everything is good.
– I will stay late at work. Go to bed without me. Okay?
– Okay.
– Are you sure everything is fine? – he asked again.
– Yes, honey, I’m just a little tired, – she told him.
– Tired? – asked Aiden, – What are you doing?
– Nothing special. Just I decided to make a big cleaning, – Miranda again lied and looked with horror at the living room, in which she herself had recently turned everything upside down.
– Big cleaning?! – asked Aiden.
– Something like that … – the girl exhaled, – Well, can I go?
– Go, go. My cinderella, – he laughed. – I’ll be home around midnight. Love you!
– And I love you, – Miranda said, and turned off the phone.
She looked around again, and with a heavy sigh, said quietly:
– I hope I have time to clean it all before you came…
5. I want to live…
It was twenty to eleven in the evening, when Miranda finally brought the apartment in perfect order. Before Aiden’s return, there was just over an hour. The girl quickly prepared to eat. She had a snack and tiredly flopped down on the sofa in the living room.
– Oh God, i’m so tired, – she whispered and, throwing her head back, closed her eyes.
Suddenly something slammed loudly. With a scream of fright, Miranda jumped on the sofa and the lights in the room went out. In the dark, she again heard the voice of her deceased friend, who again quietly called her.
– Miranda… Miranda … – whispered, once a sister beloved, but now terribly frightening her, voice.
– Carey? Is that you? – peering into the darkness, the girl asked.
– Miranda … – came from somewhere.
– Carolyn! Where are you? I can not see you!
Miranda cautiously got up from the sofa and quietly went to the switch to turn on the light. But there was no light.
– Miranda … – the voice hissed terribly.
The girl pressed her back against the wall and again began to peer into the darkness of the room.
– Miranda…
– Carey! Please! You’re scaring me! Tell me where are you?
– I’m here, Miranda … – the voice hissed, and the girl instinctively turned to the chair.
There was a figure sitting in the chair. A dim streak of light entering the room through the gap between the thick curtains did not allow Miranda to make out her face.
– Carey? Is that you? – Miranda asked quietly.
But there was no answer. In horror, the girl rushed to the door leading into the corridor. But the door slammed by itself. And no matter how hard Miranda tried to open the door, nothing came of it.
– Stupid … – hissed voice, – You can not run away from me…
– Who are you? – turning sharply, the girl screamed, – What do you want from me?
In response, silence again. The figure slowly rose from the chair and took a step forward. In horror, Miranda rushed to the window and, opening the curtains, looked at the woman standing near her. The dim light from the street allowed the girl to see her face. There, near the chair, stood her dead friend Carolyn. She just as alive and smiled. But her smile was not the same as that of Carey, kind and sweet. The smile of the dead Carolyn was cold and angry. So creepy that Miranda, who was already terribly frightened by what was happening, had goosebumps running through her body.
– I was waiting for you, my dear friend … – a pale woman hissed terribly, – After you left here, I thought that you would never come back…
– Waited? – trembling with fear in her voice, asked Miranda, – What for? Why did you wait for me?
– To once again look into the eyes of the murderer! – growled Carolyn.
– What are you talking about?! Carey, I don’t understand you! You’re scaring me!
– Murderer… Murderer … – hissed terrible vision.
– Enough, Carey! Please stop! – covering her ears with her hands, Miranda shook her head. – Please, Carey! I’m scared!
– You can’t even imagine how scary I was … – hissed Carolyn, – So scary… So painful…
– Please! Stop it! You’re scaring me! You are the biggest loss in my life! Why are you so scaring me?! I loved you!
– And I loved you… And you… You killed me! Murderer… Murderer…
– Oh my God! Carey! What are you talking about?! – Miranda cried, – Tell me why you came? Say and I will do everything for you! What do you want? – with a voice that trembled with fear and tears the girl begged.
In an instant, Carolyn was suddenly right in front of Miranda. Her pale, almost white face was so close to the tear-stained face of a girl, that Miranda felt what a terrible cold emanated from it. Miranda saw her dead friend’s eyes fill with even greater fury and her face appears a terrible smile, more like animal grin.
