Haunted

" Clara, are you busy ? Can you join me for a drink? "

The next morning, her uncle called her, since Xavier was already out. She informed Ma'am Leah instead. Incase he got back before she did. picked up her bag , she hurriedly left the estate , earlier on the she felt that something was off, with the way her uncle was speaking.

In a private room, inside one of the most expensive Mexican restaurants in the country , Clara met Ryan drinking alone. She could tell he didn't touch any of the food in front of him , on seeing her walking towards him,he stood up and forced a small smile with his hands wide open, asking for a hug.

" Clara dear, come give uncle a big hug , " he said drunkly. Clara was so surprised. She had never seen this man like this before. Her uncle was one of the most responsible men she had ever come across, he cared so much about the family reputation. What could he be going through for him to end up like this? Clara helped him sit, before sitting opposite him. "Look dear, the food here is very good , you should have a taste , " he picked up a spoon and dished out some of the dishes before pushing it across the table for her , " I ordered most of your favourite. He urged her to eat and tell me if you like it", he urged her.

Exhaling deeply, Clara took a bit, before turning to her uncle who was closely paying attention to her, waiting for her confirmation.

" How is it?" He eagerly asked.

Clara nodded positively, the food was indeed the best, but she couldn't possibly enjoy it in such a situation. She was feeling uneasy seeing him looking so dejected she preferred the arrogant and domineering Ryan to that unkept and wasted Ryan.

" Uncle, why are you like this? Is everything alright?" She could no longer pretend to be calm.

"Nothing happened. I just wanted to hang out with my niece last time I noticed that you'd lost a lot of weight. I thought I should take you out to have some good food a few months with that stubborn bastard and you are already like that. Is he even taking care of you?" he asked with concern and care on his face, filling up Clara's bowl with another portion of food.

Clara smiled softly ," Uncle Ryan , you are so nice to me ". Among all, her family members contacted her after her marriage. Even her uncle and Aunt never called her after that night. She hadn't heard from her big sister, who had taken her place. They just pushed her aside.

But she doesn't buy his excuse. Since she got here, he has been drinking without touching his food and he wants her to believe he is not troubled.

" Silly girl, you are my only cousin around. Of course, I should be nice to you. If we all abandon you, I'm afraid someone will think you are all alone and bully you ", Ryan replied, filling her plate with food.

"You only married him for the family. Who would have thought those people would send him instead of Nelson? When I got the news from my elder brother, it was already late, so I couldn't do anything. The marriage was already completed and my flight back home was the next night. I am so sorry I let you marry such a person, Clara. Your uncle has been longing to apologise to you but couldn't, so let me do it tonight."

Ryan finished another bottle of wine, seeing him like this, Clara felt touched, hearing that he is feeling guilty, for not doing something to stop her marriage, but she understood that he was not in the country that night. She was not holding any grudges against him.

" Uncle, is everything fine with the company?"she asks carefully.

Surprise shined brightly in the young man's eyes for a few seconds before it turned to amusement. How did she get to see beyond his facade of being strong without him saying anything, this girl who would always lower her head in the presence of others, the girl who would always run inside when somebody approached her, could he couldn't believe she was the same person sitting opposite him.

He felt bad that he had never made any attempt to say a word to her in the past. He exhaled helplessly, if only he could turn back time, he would have been a little nicer to her.

"If we get this contract , we can still hold our ground , but I don't think we can make it , that monster is out to destroy everything we've worked for" Ryan said with a sad smile before drinking his wine . He felt so dejected like never before. He worked so hard to get to where he is today, but everything will crumble under the feet of one man.

Clara could relate to what he meant. Xavier has been telling her how much he hates her family , he's bent on destroying her family at all costs.

"But , uncle, do you know why he's after our family?" She was dying to know the answer to this question and felt she somehow felt that the girl in that picture had some connection with the Davis.

"I don't really know, maybe our family is owing him or he may have some scores to settle with the elders, I just don't know where he came from," Ryan lied so smoothly. He was well aware of the full story, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her , he didn't get what he wanted.

She was a little frustrated that she could not get anything out of him..

After their meal , they parted ways. When she was gone, a red car pulled in front of Ryan. He entered giving the driver a kiss " how is it, do you think she will fall for your lies"? The lady asked

"Don't think too much. When that time comes, we will see who she will side with."

" Tsk, tsk, tsk, you are really shameless, emotionally blackmailing your little cousin to go against her husband, what an uncle."

****

Clara didn't go home. Instead, she went inside a private psychological clinic. She hadn't stopped by for a while now, but if she can she doesn't want to step in here again..

After giving her name at the front desk, she was directed to the specialist consulting hall.

"wait here , ma'am, the doctor is tending to a patient now " a nice nurse instructed her with a smile.

Maybe because of how quiet the hall was, she suddenly closed her eyes and sat in the waiting hall.

" Little girl come and play with me," an old man said forcefully, pulling the little girl close.

"No no Mom, Dad. Where are you? " The little girl cried, calling for her parents.

Nobody came to her aid , just as nobody believed that she was normal. She was thrown out of the family house. All the family members were bad, they should all go to hell.

The scene in her head changed and a little girl came to her. I want to play with you. The two girls were playing happily when suddenly the strange girl started bleeding from her head , her eyeballs rolled out ,it was as if a horror movie was being projected before her. She was so scared that she started shivering.

"Stay away from me , let me go , "she yelled, running away from the zombie girl.

" Hello ma'am, Ms Clara , can you hear me? Don't be scared, Okay, open your eyes slowly now ," a calm and magnetic masculine voice was calling out to her continuously until she slowly opened her eyes. Breathing heavily.

She was surprised by the enlarged face she saw just a few inches away from her.

******

" Do you always have such nightmares " instead of answering, Clara was busy looking at the man who had just saved her and her already turned pale face became as white as snow..

She stood up, picked up her handbag and made an attempt to leave. Noticing her reaction, the young man hurriedly called out to her "Miss Davis, your doctor , retried last month. In other words, I am your doctor now. Hope you can work with me? "

his unhurried words made Clara hesitate at the door. She looked back and saw the young man was busy going through some files without even paying her any attention.

Thinking of it, the way he addressed her sounds very formal,looks like he didn't really recognize her .

Clara wanted to find loopholes in his actions, but he happened to look up. Their eyes met, "Could you please come in and take a seat. We need to talk " his voice was like a gentle breeze that melted through everyone..

From the moment I took over as my teacher, he instructed me to pay special attention to one of his patients. A beautiful lady like you needs special attention, indeed,so please don't make me disappoint my teacher", seeing that she is still reluctant, he jokingly gives her a trustworthy identity.

"Your appointment will end soon if you don't come in, ma'am " Alex commented, pointing at the wall clock.

Taking a deep breath, she chose to believe him. Finally, she took a step forward and laid down on the chair.

"Have some water first before we proceed " Alex said, sitting behind his desk.

Clara nodded and took the water beside her and sipped it while she quietly stole a glance at him from the glass..

As always, he is still very handsome, a perfect description of a kind gentle man.

She never expected that she would one day become his patient. The last thing she wanted was for anyone who knew her to see her there. In the past, the people at college would always ridicule her for being mentally ill, but this person had always been the only one who was friendly towards her and treated her well though they barely knew each other.

During that period, he was the only one who showed respect. Did he really forget about her ? Isn't it a bad idea for her to sit there with him? Millions of questions kept popping up in her head.

" I think we can start now "he said. When he saw her subconsciously grabbing her bag, she let go of it and relaxed back.

"Good girl " he said, pulling a chair and sitting next to her and setting up the recorder. "Close your eyes and relax." After fifteen minutes the test was over but the person before him did not open her eyes, instead her slow breathing showed that she was asleep...

He smiled and moved on to sit at his desk. He had waited for her all this time and now she was finally before him. He dialed a number on the phone beside him" cancel all my appointments for today ", he ordered before disconnecting.

He looked at the dark circles in her eyes. He knew that she found it difficult to sleep. He smiled and said have a nice sleep, miss beauty.

In the large room, what could be heard could be the typing sounds and flipping of pages, but the girl was still asleep. It was already late in the afternoon. When she finally woke up she had never slept like this for a long time.

"You are awake, " he asks but she only looked at the man apologically. She must have stopped him from having other patients today.

"Don't think too much about it.It's nothing ", he waved her off.

"Here is your Blazer, she said, handing him the Blazer. You should have woken me up. This would disrupt your work."

for how long did she sleep that she didn't hear him give consultation to other patients....

"I don't have any patients in the afternoon, so don't feel bad about it," sit down and let's talk about your test results .

She remembered why she had come. She sat down,

both nervous and scared..

"You don't have to be nervous about this," he gave her a reassuring smile before opening her file.

"Tell me, are you under some pressure? What type of pressure is it?"

"I .. I " should she really tell him?

"I can only help you if you open up," he said, maybe because of his reassuring smile. Clara could slowly feel relaxed so she give in and opened up about her problem to him. .

"Whenever I close my eyes I always see a zombie girl with blood all over her grabbing my neck," she closed her eyes to recall the image that have been haunting her sleep. " aaaaah!!" she suddenly screamed in her in pain as her face turned, pale with fear, she looked around her like a scared little girl , as if a ghost is standing in a corner of the room is someone or something only her could see.

Since the girl's picture was placed by her side of the bed she have been having this nightmare frequently.