Antiques Everywhere!

Breathing helplessly, I woke up at sunrise. I could feel the sweat and tears from that unfortunate nightmare I just had.

As the clock's hand ticks, the memories of that dream started to fade away and no matter how much I want to remember it, all I could ever regain was vague scenes of it but despite that, I felt sick and weird.

Sure, the severe hangover I am dealing right now is noticeable but the horror I just dealt while I was in the middle of my precious sleep gave me an overpowering feeling.

The voice, the steel bars, the cold concrete floor, why was I there? And most importantly, who did I desired to kill? Is it somebody I knew in this lifetime or it was just an anonymous character made by my oh-so-creative mind?

"Ugh, what time is it?!" Giving up on spending time to think all about it, I searched for my phone at the side table and my eyes widened when it was already twelve noon. Zhen and Mei also have some missed calls and unread messages but I ignored it.

I drank the water placed beside my phone and decided to take a shower.

I planned to go to my favorite mall at nine and now look at me, a cramming mess!

"What's the rush, Huang Jia?!" Yu Yan asked when she saw me fumbled her hair dryer in a hurry. She's all dressed up, as if going out so it made me more pressured.

"I'm already late, stupid!" I said bluntly. She just chuckled at my remark.

"In your shopping therapy?"

"How'd you know I was going to shop today?"

"Well you kept on blabbering about it on our way home,"

"Well whatever. Are you coming with me?" I asked as I brushed my hair.

"Yeah. Your boyfriend will drop us off," I stiffened and turned to her, all confused. She was giving me teasing grin, though.

"Boyfriend?"

"Well, apparently, my brother accompanied me to pick you up last night and you called him your boyfriend," she laughed.

I closed my eyes, stressed and embarrassed even if I barely remember that! "Really?"

"Yes, Huang Jia. But don't stress about it and just hurry up!"

That day, I went home late. Yu Yan and I actually closed the malls after our fancy dinner at my favorite steak house.

"Well see you in two weeks, Huang!" Yu Yan teased me as she and her driver dropped me off our porch.

I made sure it was already at least ten PM so I wouldn't stumble upon my mom, more so, my dad!

But I was unlucky because the two of them were drinking their wine at the living room.

The maids attended to me and got my paper bags out of my hold.

"Where have you been?" Dad's cold baritone echoed in the hall.

I even saw Zhen climbing down the staircase as he gave me a death glare.

"Shopping. Why?" I answered.

Dad sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Then you should've at least answered your brother's calls or texts!" his voice boomed.

With wide eyes, I took a step back. This wasn't the first time he raised his voice at me but his eyes seemed to be ten times more enraged than the last time.

I looked at Zhen who is still watching me with dangerous eyes. Sure, I haven't answered any of their calls because I forgot about it. I was too preoccupied with my shopping spree with my best friend.

"I'm sorry, okay? I forgot about it," I said calmly and attempted to walk pass them when Zhen pulled me back.

"Now, tell me, Huang Jia, you sneaked out last night too, did you?" he asked and at this point, I knew he is also as mad as dad now that he called me by my name.

I glared at him and forcefully removed my arm from his firm hold. I wasn't guilty of what I did. I just wanted to have some rest and think about so many stuffs.

None of them stopped me from getting away so I rushed myself to my room.

I spent the next few days indulging myself on my luxuries and caprices until my actual nightmare has arrived.

Few hour drive from our village, lies our family's ancestral mansion. Father said that it was built way back from the 16th century and that's what makes it creepy from me. Although of course, this had been renovated countless times from the past years but they managed to preserve its ancient look.

Most of its foundation is made of wood but as the generations have passed, it was mixed with gold and silver. But the most remarkable pieces were the house's furniture and decorations that are antiques that could cost millions these days if sold.

Other than that, it's still creepy-looking. Plus it didn't help that my grandmother, father's mom, in no offense, is also creepy.

The last time I was here, I couldn't count the times she had looked at me and as far as I remember, whenever I caught her look at me, she would smile with her toothless mouth.

Admittedly, that was a big contribution why I didn't agree to come here. Now that she's standing again in front of me, the feeling was not new. But deep inside me, I remember the feeling I had after I had that dream some nights ago.

The overpowering, sick, and weird feeling, that is.

"It's nice to see you again, grandma!" my usual bubbly sister said as soon as she hopped out from our SUV.

The grey-haired old woman greeted her with the same energy. Beside her was her nurse who is in charge with her health's state but other than her, was my familiar cousins, Chen, Ling, and Min. I rolled my eyes at Ling who was smirking at me. It annoys me to think that he has an identical name to one of my ex-flings.

Without saying any word, I sashayed my way inside where my other cousins where, both young and old but despite their numbers, I didn't bothered any time to be close to them but Ling.

"Where's my room? I wanna rest," I asked, hoping any one would answer but the old nanny was already behind me and she was the one who answered me.

"Huang Jia, little one! I had your room already prepared. It's just on the left side right after you take the stairs," she said and flashed her creepy smile.

Without a word, I turned my back against them and made my way to my room but even before I move another muscle, she spoke again.

"Ah, Huang Jia, but other than that, you've grown so lovely now!" she said.

Rolling my eyes, I looked at her again. "Thanks," I said sarcastically. I heard Ling barked a laughter somewhere but I paid no attention.

"You look just exactly like her," she said meaningfully.

I raised a brow, getting curious of who she might referring to but she just smiled again and shook her head.

Assuming that was the end of her greeting, I proceeded to go to my room but I couldn't ignore the confused and curious expression I had on what she said.

Weird. I wonder who she's talking about. I look exactly like someone she know?

I followed her direction and after climbing the grand wooden staircase, I entered the first door from the right. I admit it wasn't that creepy as I imagined but it still is.

With those wooden floor and walls, and those white curtains dancing with the wind from the open window, it looks so foreign and dull to me.

There was no other furniture rather than the queen sized bed, wardrobe, and vanity area with an oval antique mirror which made me think of those horror movies I watched.

I groaned, thinking I would be suffering for the whole two weeks or more! Just imagining that I would have chills every night makes me want to die instead!

My baggage was already there so I just killed time by unpacking all of them and finding storage to the other necessities I had until dinner had come.

If Zhen didn't knocked on my door, I wouldn't even noticed that it was already sundown. Absentmindedly, I rushed myself towards the door and went out of the room as fast as I can.

"Hey sis, dinner's already rea- hey, why are you running?!" Zhen blabbered.

I didn't stopped running until I arrived at the dining area, where everyone was at.

"Why do you look like you saw some kind of ghost, little one?" I yelped when my creepy grandmother popped from my back all of a sudden.

Zhen was following from her far back, curious about my actions. Half of his face was covered in darkness because of the lack of lights from where he was standing and undeniably, it looks hella creepy!

I groaned, having enough of this punishment my father has sent me into.