Sundel Bolong 2

Ethan felt the cold night air biting at his skin as he sprinted from the hotel, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. The faint echo of footsteps behind him grew louder, a chilling reminder that he was not alone. The scent of damp earth mixed with the salty breeze from the ocean, filling his lungs as he pushed himself to run faster. Shadows danced around him, flickering in the dim light of the flickering streetlamps, creating an eerie atmosphere that sent shivers down his spine. He could almost feel the presence of the Sundel Bolong, that mythical creature, lurking just out of sight, ready to pounce.

Just as panic began to cloud his thoughts the footsteps got even louder indicating the distance between them being reduced, a firm hand clamped down on his shoulder, causing him to spin around instinctively. In a heartbeat, he unleashed a punch, adrenaline coursing through him, only to find himself face-to-face with his driver who quickly ducked to avert the punch. The man's eyes blazed with concern and anger, his breath heavy with the scent of cigarettes and sweat. "What the fuck were you doing in there?" he barked, his voice a low growl. "Do you have any idea how fucking dangerous that creature is?" The urgency in his tone was palpable, and Ethan felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment as he looked down, the weight of his reckless curiosity dawning on him.

"Stop visiting that place," the driver continued, his voice laced with frustration. "That girl is in danger, but it's better if you let her be. That creature will absolutely kill you in the most gruesome way possible if you indulge in its affairs." Ethan opened his mouth to protest, to explain his fascination, but the driver silenced him with a sharp gesture, his hand thrusting a camera into Ethan's grasp. "I grabbed that on my way out. Now you have no reason to go back in there." Before Ethan could process the weight of the situation, the driver brushed past him and strode purposefully towards the hotel, leaving Ethan to scramble after him.

Ethan got to his room and silently slid into his bed, but sleep eluded him like a distant dream. The shadows danced ominously on the walls, flickering with the dim light from the streetlamp outside, deepening his unease. He thought about the girl and the creature that possessively guarded her. The image of her cries echoed in his mind, a haunting melody of despair that seemed to seep into the very fabric of the night. He could vividly picture her happy smile, a fleeting glimpse of joy overshadowed by the constant sorrow in her eyes, always brimming with unshed tears.

He imagined the creature she called "mom," a grotesque figure with twisted features, mercilessly slamming her against the wall. The sound of flesh hitting the cold, hard floor reverberated in his ears, a sickening thud that made his stomach churn. He envisioned her bones breaking, each crack a reminder of her suffering, yet the creature kept her alive, forcing her to endure every agonizing moment while rendering her powerless to escape. The thought sent shivers down his spine, and he felt a knot tightening in his chest.

Suddenly, a wave of memories crashed over him, and he remembered his wife. Desperate for comfort, he reached for his phone and called her immediately. As the line connected, he took a deep breath, trying to steady his shaky voice.

"Hey, love," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Ethan? Is everything okay?" she replied, concern lacing her tone.

"I... I just thought of you and wanted to hear your voice," he admitted, his voice trembling.

"Why aren't you asleep?" she asked softly, her voice soothing yet filled with worry.

"I can't stop thinking about her," he confessed, the weight of his thoughts spilling out. "The girl,you ... and that creature. I keep picturing what she's going through."

"Ethan, you're scaring me. What do you mean? What girl?" she pressed, her voice thick with concern.

"I imagined her cries, the way the creature hurts her. It's like I can hear it," he said, his heart racing. "I'm afraid it'll come for me too." He immediately regretted saying this knowing his wife will rub it in his face that her instincts were accurate.

"Listen to me," she said firmly, trying to anchor him. "I'm here. I'm safe. You need to breathe. Just focus on my voice, that's possibly a bad dream Ethan."

She continued to speak, her words wrapping around him like a warm blanket, calming the storm within. They shared a few quiet moments, the silence filled with the rhythm of their breaths. After a while, he hung up, sitting back in bed, the fear still gnawing at him like a persistent shadow. He glanced at the window, half-expecting the creature to burst in, just as it had done before, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was not alone in the darkness

After the gruesome night, Ethan rushed to the pool early the next morning, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and anticipation. The sun had barely risen, casting a soft golden glow on the water, which shimmered like a thousand tiny diamonds. He dove in, the coolness enveloping him, hoping to find the doppelgänger lurking beneath the surface like the previous day. He swam tirelessly for half an hour, his muscles burning, but after several fruitless laps, he finally gave up. As he walked toward the edge of the pool, a soft grip suddenly wrapped around his foot, sending a shiver up his spine. He knew it was Adhwa, and without hesitation, he let himself fall back into the water.

As he submerged, the familiar weightlessness turned into an eerie sensation. It was then that he noticed her—the Sundel Bolong. Panic surged through him as he tried to swim back up, but she grabbed one of his hands with an unyielding grip, pulling him deeper into the 12-foot pool. The pressure enveloped him, squeezing his lungs as he felt gulps of air escaping, his body instinctively fighting for breath. In that moment, he locked eyes with the creature. Her eyes were pale, devoid of life, resembling huge ping pong balls that held no warmth or emotion.

Suddenly, she opened her mouth, revealing sharp, disorganized teeth, jagged and ready to bite through flesh. The sight was enough to freeze him in place, fear coursing through his veins. Just then, Trent and Mark leaped into the pool, their splashes breaking the tension. The creature, startled, vaporized into a mist before Ethan's eyes, leaving him alone in the depths. Struggling against the overwhelming pressure, he began to paddle his feet frantically, desperate to reach the surface. The water rushed past his ears, muffling the sounds above, but he could feel the warmth of the sun beckoning him from above, urging him to swim up.

Ethan swam up to the surface and saw Mark and Trent both with puzzled looks on their faces. "Where did you come from?" they asked him, but he dismissed it, claiming that he was diving deeper to strengthen his lungs. The water dripped off him as he made his way out of the pool, leaving both of them surprised. They were used to his strange antics, as he constantly sought creative ways to gain fame, often pushing him to the brink of sanity.

Rushing to his room, Ethan flung open the door and locked it behind him, his heart still racing from the encounter. He leaned against the door, eyes closed, taking a deep breath to steady himself. His hair was still wet, the droplets glistening on his skin, each bead a reminder of the tension he had just escaped. "Oh gosh! That was close!" he sighed, relief washing over him like the cool water he had just left.

Suddenly, a feminine voice from inside the room startled him. "What was close?" The sound sent a jolt of adrenaline through his veins, and his heart raced even faster.