Blink

Chapter 32: A rocky start

Iya let out a relieved sigh as she watched the Grimwhale fall back into the water below, and without hesitation, she embraced the cold water as she plunged after it. As she resurfaced, she could already hear the cheers of the spectators on the beach amidst the soothing sound of the waves.

Two spotters rushed to assist her back to the shore, and as she approached, one of them whispered, "Congratulations, Iya," while the other beamed with pride. The cheers of the spectators grew louder as she drew nearer, and the spotters, now on each side, joined in the applause as they realized she could stand on her own. She could spot Mr Simpson, Mrs Simpson, Diane, Stella, Delai, Groddy—everyone was there, cheering her on. She exchanged smiles and "thank you" gestures with those who made eye contact, some even hugged her, and a few asked for autographs. 

But then, an unsettling feeling crept over her. "Where is Michael?" she asked the person closest to her, and the cheers and claps ceased instantly. An eerie silence enveloped the beach, the waves and the wind seeming louder in the sudden absence of sound, as if everything had frozen in time.

"Where is Michael?" she asked again, this time more cautiously.

All at once, they turned to her, their eyes fixed on her as if she were a target. "Haha, guys, you're really good at this," she chuckled playfully, but no one replied. Their eyes continued to widen, almost as if they were growing closer together. Some people's eyes even reached the limits of their sockets, and they began to bleed, as though shedding tears of blood.

"STOP!" she screamed, her voice trembling, but there was still no response from anyone or anything. Slowly, little by little they began to point at a single direction, the people in the direction also began to move aside and point in the same direction, forming a path.

Reluctantly she began to slowly walk the path they had paved for her, As she ventured deeper, it grew darker, and she strayed farther from the bonfire behind her. The wind blew harshly, and the chill crept into her bones, making her shiver.

"Hello?" she quivered, her voice trembling as she continued into the darkness. She turned back, and the people remained in place, still pointing in her direction. She pressed on, "Anywhere must be safer than with those people." she thought.

Suddenly, a creaking sound startled her, causing her to yelp. After taking a moment to calm herself, she carefully approached the source of the sound, although every instinct screamed against it. She couldn't resist the pull of the eerie noise.

By this point, she could barely see her own hands in front of her face. She relied on the eerie sound as her guide. Then, she spotted a faint flicker of fire in the direction of the noise. Relief washed over her, and she rushed toward it, a smile of hope on her face.

But that hope quickly turned to dread when she saw a silhouette of a person standing before a burning car. The figure slowly turned, and in the flickering firelight, she recognized the face—it was Michael. Green shards of broken glass were embedded on one side of his head, his skin blackened and peeling from severe burns all over his body. He had lost most of his hair, with only patches remaining. He was almost unrecognizable to Iya if not for his familiar facial features.

She recoiled at the sight of him "Michael," she whispered in both disbelief and fear. "What happened to you?"

Then he spoke, his voice was so husky, and ghastly that he sounded like his throat was also on fire "Y-you" he pointed his crisp, withered fingers at her, "you d-did this!" his tone in a mix of both anger and sadness.

"What are you saying Michael! How could I do this to you?!" Iya screamed, horrified.

"Youu d-did thhiss" Michael repeated, his finger still pointed at her