Undying memories

"The Dominican Hill Retreat House was built in 1913 atop a hill in the famed Philippine City of Pines. The Japanese secret police, the Kempeitai, committed terrible acts of brutality, massacring, raping, and torturing many of the inhabitants, and even decapitating nuns and priests," our tour guide said as we continued walking to this old hotel. Some of my cousins, taking pictures and some of them taking videos as they huddle together as if they are really scared.

I kept looking around. If I'm a scary person, maybe I can say this place is creepy, because it's so old and has some cracks in the wall.

We had a family reunion here in Baguio City. It's our second day now and my cousins want to come here, while the elders left in our hotel. Dominican hotel was one of the top 10 historical and hunted places in the Philippines because they wanted to scare themselves we came here.

But for me? I don't see anything scary in this place, for me it's just an ugly and old place that people have abandoned. I don't know why my cousins are so scared when they talk about this place.

"Always remember that whatever you see and hear in any places like this, you need to ignore it. Many wild souls are residing in places like this, so stay together." I was stunned by what he said. Duh! As if we see something strange here, except for the old wall that you thought was covered with moss.

"Quinn, aren't you really scared?" Finley whispered to me.

"I'm getting sleepy." I lazily answer it and yawn. The boring thing here is what they want to do. I wish I had just stayed at the hotel, other than that I was just tired of following them.

I messed up my hair while lazily staring straight ahead, I didn't know what else the tour guide was saying as long as I just wanted to go home.

I slowed down until I stopped and they turned around. Because they were all busy, they did not notice that I could no longer follow them. I couldn't stop myself from laughing as I went back to where we had been before. It was only three o'clock in the afternoon so the road was still clear, I still remember where we had gone before, so I hurried.

I don't believe in ghosts, so I'm not afraid to walk alone in this place, only my cousins like to scare themselves with things they haven't seen before. Sometimes they even talk about ghosts and then get scared.

"Where have I been?" I whispered to myself that I no longer knew where I had ever gone.

I didn't think it would be this big, with many turns and tunnels to every side. Because the wall is so old, I feel winding and I just go back and forth here.

Because I was tired of finding a way out, I just went through the window, to land at an old fountain and sit there. I would have liked to call them, the problem is, they hold even my cellphone and used to take pictures. I sighed and bent down to think of what I could do.

I also can't find my cousins, they are probably in another part of this place. I stood up again, I was about to leave noticing a foreign object had landed on the Fountain.

I looked around even though I knew there was no one before I bent down to take a good look at it. It was still glowing in the sunlight, so I was planning to pick it up when suddenly I heard a noise from inside. I immediately looked over there and noticed a woman in a white dress running.

"Wait!" I stopped here and chased her. I saw the lady going upstairs, so I immediately followed. Maybe she knows where the way out. Due to the old age of this place, even the stairs are cracked, so it was really difficult for me to climb.

I also heard earlier that it is forbidden to climb because there is a tendency for the rocks to give up due to the fragility and old age of the hotel.

"Miss?" I call to the woman as I look at every wall here. Even the walls are cracked and it seems like just a little push. I walked slowly to look for this woman.

"Oww...you are just here." I was even happier to see her and turn her back on me and look out the window. Her clothes are white and old, she may be one of the guards in this place and her clothes are soiled with too much dust.

"Miss, do you know where the way out is?" I asked calmly as I stopped behind her. She didn't turn to me or speak, she just pointed her hand to the left. I turned there and looked back at her who was still in the distance.

Maybe if I was scared I'd think she was a ghost, so she didn't want to show her face, but it doesn't seem like she's just ashamed of me.

"Thank you," I said and bowed a little more. I was about to walk when I noticed her nail, it was still pointing, so I could see her blackened nail and her pale skin. I don't know, but I was suddenly feeling nervous. I just ignored how I was feeling and walked towards what she pointed out.

I looked around to find a way down, but there were only windows. The window was uncovered so large holes could be seen, I looked down and turned to where she had been standing, but she was gone. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, at the same time as I rolled my eyes, but I immediately cried out and closed my eyes again.

My heart was beating fast and even my knees were shaking. I recoiled in shock, causing me to fall. I immediately writhed in pain caused by my fall, I even heard the noise it caused. I slowly opened my eyes but it was blurry.

A very bright environment opened up to me, even though that I could not see clearly, I felt like I was in an expensive hotel.

The noise started around, conversations of different people, pulling luggage, walking, and laughing. Because of the dizziness, I closed my eyes again, I wanted to ask for help but I couldn't open my mouth, I couldn't move my body either.

"Is she still alive?" I heard a woman's question and I think it's from an old lady.

"I don't think so, but maybe–awwww! What?" A complaint of an old man.

"Call Cora right away," the woman ordered and I even heard their footsteps leaving.

I opened my eyes again and by this point, I had some glimpses around. Even though the vision was rolling, I was amazed at the beauty of this place. It felt like I was in a five-star hotel, because of the beauty of my surroundings.

I still want to look and remember what I see, but my eyes can't take it anymore, I try to open my eyelids. I still wanted to fight but my vision went dark.

I slowly opened my eyes, it was still dim at first but also brightened later. The whole area was bright because of the white ceiling and white walls, the smell of the surroundings was familiar to me. I am in the hospital.

"She's awake!" I heard Finley shout and I closed my eyes again.

"Quinn, are you okay?" I looked up again and looked at my mom, she was crying while dad was behind her. I couldn't speak, so I just nodded at that question. I looked at every person in the room, some of my aunts and cousins were there.

"How many days I've been unconscious?" I weakly question them.

"Two days." Aunt Dian answered quickly. I nodded again and turned my gaze to the door, a man was standing there.

The man wearing a black leather jacket and was also reading a black book. His hair was beautiful and even though he wasn't looking at me, I knew his eyes were a bit narrow, it was sharp and his skin is very white. I knew we weren't relatives because I couldn't recognize his face.

My mom and dad are talking to the doctor now. My cousins are also telling stories but I don't understand anything, because my attention is focused on the man standing there. For no apparent reason, my heartbeat quickened when he suddenly looked at me and grinned, I saw his gray eyes.

"Who's that guy?" Even with weakness, I raised my hand to point to the man.

"Who? There's no one there, stop Quinn. Don't scare me." I felt Jade's squeeze, I shook again and blinked softly.

"Look at him, he's looking at us." I persevere and face them. I saw the fear on their faces from what I said, I don't know why they can't see this man, but I'm not mistaken, a man is standing there.

"Auntie, Quinn said there's a man at the door." Finley shuddered, as she pulled on the hem of the jacket my mom was wearing.

"You're just tired Quinn, we'll go home later," mom said and kissed me on the forehead.

"But it's true, there's a man–where is he?" Where did the man standing there earlier go? Did he leave right away?

"You're just really tired." My older cousin Denis scolded. I looked again at my cousins. Finley and Jade are sitting next to me, my older cousin Denis and Lynda were standing. Mom and dad went out for a while. My aunts were sitting not far away.

"What happened to you?" Lynda angrily asks. What happened that day?

"The girl," I stared at them in confusion.

"That nice hotel." Even though I vaguely remember that beautiful hotel, I'm not mistaken and it wasn't just a dream. "Before there was a man, now a woman and a nice hotel. Your brain has changed Quinn." Finley was still teasing.

"I'm not kidding. I saw the nice hotel." I almost begged them to listen to me, but they just laughed at me.

"What's so good about that hotel? You've already seen that the place is ugly, haven't you? It's too old, did you have a good dream when you were unconscious?" Jade asked while they were still laughing.

"No, I was also surprised. But it's really beautiful, my vision is blurry but that hotel looks high class and rich." I have a long explanation for them. I know that happened, I can't go wrong with what I saw. "Tell us when you're okay," said Denis.

"We'll be back to Manila later, we've arranged your belongings. If nothing happened bad to you, we would still be here in Baguio for a long time." There was still regret in the tone of Finley's speech before she stood up.

"It's the woman's fault, if she hadn't surprised me with her scary make-up I wouldn't have fallen." If only I wasn't really surprised at her face. I'm not scared but I'm quick to get surprised.

But what could that woman's trip and do that make-up to make you think she was a ghost?

"Who's the woman? There's no one else there, let's just go. Are you crazy girl?" Denis still raised his eyebrows, I stared and folded my arms. I just lay there watching them laughing. Maybe intending to prank me, the only problem is I fell. After I gained strength I sat down.

My aunt and other cousins left first to eat and leaving Finley lying on the sofa while focusing on her cellphone. Her newly purchased wireless earphone is still attached to her ear. I borrowed Denis's laptop so that I could do something.

I focused on watching their vlog on YouTube but since I already knew the events, I read in the comment section. Many say that the place is creepy, even some of those who commented said that they also came from that area and felt strange. They just told a story I didn't feel anything else in that place, but only being tired.

While reading the comments, something caught my attention. "Are you okay now?" I'm poorly wet here. I adjusted my seat and lifted my knees to bring the laptop closer to me. I even visited its channel. His channel icon is pure black. I even swallowed because of the dryness of my throat, my heart was also beating fast while staring at its name. I'm not quick to get scared actually, but I feel differently about it, especially when I read its name.

'Mirg repaer' but when read backward it turns out to be, 'Grim reaper.'

"Boom!" I almost threw away the laptop I was holding in shock, due to the sudden appearance of Denis.

"Why are you so serious?" He asked and immediately sit down next to me.

"Look at this, it's weird, why would he ask if I'm okay. That's his name, Grim reaper when turned upside down." I handed him a laptop to show that comment.

"Where? There's nothing written here?" He frowned and handed the laptop back to me.

"Yes, it–where is it?" He can't delete that comment that easily. So weird.

"I told you to rest first," he said as he immediately took the laptop, I snatched it but he also quickly hid it.

"Promise, what I'm saying is true." I want him to believe me but he had no answer other than a nod.

"We'll go back to the hotel and sleep there." I just gasped at what he said. I looked dully at him and he's now approaching Finley. Why does no one believe me? What I am saying is true.

I stared out the glass window. My eyes widened and I stared at it intently, the man was out there and even waved at me.

I looked at my cousin Denis and Finley, but they were both busy looking at the laptop, I wanted to shout and tell them that I saw the man again. I turned my look at the man again, he was still smiling at me.

I stood up and walked closer to the mirror, I even applied my two palms to see him even more. I saw him looking at his black notebook and looked to the right.

I also looked there and saw a patient running, it was bloody but I couldn't see much, because of the number of people. They quickly passed us but someone stopped in front of that man.

This woman was wearing a blue t-shirt and black shorts, I also saw blood on her hands. The man in the black leather jacket was talking to her and opened his notebook, he said something to the woman but I couldn't understand, because I was inside.

I swallowed again because of the dryness of my throat and also my fast heartbeat, the first time the lady faced where I was standing, my hair stood up quickly. I saw her deep eyes and dry lips, which were still black.

My hands trembled as I removed it from the glass and looked down at its bloody stomach. Couldn't this woman be the girl who was rushed earlier? But why do I see her? Why was she talking to that man?

My knees trembled backward as my eyes focused on the two of them. Maybe I'm just tired of what I'm seeing or maybe there's a movie shooting here? But no. I don't believe in ghosts, I know ghosts aren't real.

"Quinn," I screamed after Finley grabbed me by my shoulder, I looked at her, while she covering her ears. I quickly looked outside but they were both gone.

"Quinn, what's wrong with you?" Finley asks, but I did not pay attention, I immediately went to the door and went out. I even looked to the right and left but I did not see them.

"What are you doing? Come in." My older cousin Denis pulled me hard, I even pushed him then walk. I kept walking even though Denis was about to drag me back to my room, I kept looking for something I couldn't understand. I don't know what I feel right now.

"What is it, Quinn?! What's wrong with you?" I looked into his eyes, even though my vision was blurred from crying, I could see the confusion in it.

"That man I'm talking about, I saw him again. He's just here." I tried to pull him away but he wouldn't let me get away, he grabbed me by both arms and faced him.

"You listen." His grip tightened on my arm and he looked straight at me.

"You're just tired, okay? There are a lot of men in this hospital. Come back inside, because we'll be leaving later as well." I closed my eyes and wipe my tears. I nodded as I opened my eyes.

"Let's go," he said and helped me walk back. I could still see Finley standing in the doorway as she was afraid of my attitude. But I'm not wrong with what I saw, something really weird happened today.

Something strange happened to me after that accident. It's my body, I know myself, I'm not crazy. I knew something was wrong, I knew something was weird. I'm not scared, but I'm confused.

I wanted to talk to that man, I felt he was the only one who could answer these questions of mine. But who is he and what does he have to do with what is happening to me?