Chains

The Bell

Not once in my life had I thought of coming across this kind of... adventure. Wait, should I really call it like that?

No, I shouldn't. It was a nightmare, one that haunted me ever since it happened. And until now, those memories only made me become aware of a skill I couldn't even fathom as to where it could possibly come from.

"Ellie, can you put these books for me on their respective shelves?"

That order, who just called me by one of my nicknames, from my boss Shiro Arcega made me snap out of my reverie back to the past. Again.

Seriously, I was starting to hate this. Why was I remembering an old story of my life again when I was supposed to be forgetting them for giving me endless nightmares?

"Coming!" I shouted from the storage room where I was supposed to get another batch of the new arrivals of books for that store.

That's right. I worked at the only bookstore in town called "Pages & Scenes". Well, I had to earn money since I was living by myself. I didn't have parents to support me, you know.

And that nightmare was the reason. The nightmare which only held the memory of what had truly happened to me a long time ago.

But I should only think of that later. For now, it was time to focus on my job.

It didn't take long for me to finish putting the books to their respective shelves. So now we got stocks for those books that our customers were looking for.

Especially the one titled "Fifteen Years".

Well, perhaps I could understand the reason why it was so popular. It was a love story that spanned for fifteen years, only to end painfully because of the male lead's sudden death. Yes, I was aware that it was a sad story to read. But the underlying messages contained in the story was something I could consider incredible.

Once again, I was snapped from my musings when I heard the bell on the door clanged. I immediately put the book of "Fifteen Years" back to its shelf in order for me to check it out. I ran so that I could do so immediately.

But to my confusion, no one was there. Only my boss who was busy cleaning the grandfather clock that was placed there as one of the store's ornaments.

"Shiro, did someone enter here just a while ago? I thought I heard the bell rang," I tried asking, since I needed to be sure of something.

"What are you talking about? I've been here the whole time and I didn't hear a thing. Besides, if there was indeed a customer, then I should've spoken quite loud already, shouldn't I?"

At that point, my heart increased the rate of its beat. I couldn't possibly be thinking of 'that', right?

Despite the increasing fear in me, I tried smiling. "Sorry for asking something silly. I guess I was just hearing things."

"Something tells me it happens to you all the time," Shiro said.

But I chose not to say anything as a response. It was better that way than have other people worry about me. I couldn't possibly have them do that for my sake.

I had enough of dealing with discrimination and unnecessary fear for one lifetime.

Another bell ringing snapped me out again. This time, it was surely a customer coming in to the store. But for some reason, that person immediately faced to my direction before I could even say anything or welcome him.

Wait... Was he really looking to me?

And that was when I felt that incredible chill running down my spine. I could only close my eyes tight when I felt that.

Does it really have to happen here inside the store? Please, tell me it won't.

"Ellie, can you get another copy of "Scarlet Road" in the storage room?"

"Scarlet Road", huh? That was another of our bestselling books here aside from "Fifteen Years". But even so, both books were good reads. At least for me.

I chose to pay attention to the duty at hand instead of doing even more worrying about that chilling sensation I felt earlier. I was about to take a copy of "Scarlet Road" from the top shelf where Shiro placed it previously where I heard something.

I didn't dare turn my back for me to confirm what it was. The sound was enough. Once again, I shut my eyes tight. My hands were starting to feel clammy because of that. Moments later, there was the sound again.

The sound of chains being dragged.

I finally took a copy of the book that was asked to me and fled the room as inconspicuously as I could. Perhaps I should deal with that later...

Now that I knew the reason why I was feeling that chilling sensation.

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