When I opened my eyes, I saw the old picture again – I was in the cemetery. The underworld is a cemetery. That is all I have seen in the last few days. I groped for my phone, and sent a message to my friends that I was at the cemetery and I was dying. Deep down I hoped for salvation, but in fact, my case was hopeless. She hugged me tightly in her arms. I went to the exit, no longer hoping to get out. My hopes were confirmed, the exit was blocked. I was hitting an invisible glass. I ran away and hit my face on it. My attempts were in vain. I realized that I was under invisible arrest.
– What should I do? I thought. The idea came to my head to find the grave of my grandmother and ask her for help, and suddenly. I thought, and went in search of a grave. I walked confidently, already knowing the way. Here they are familiar graves. I was walking around the garden meeting acquaintances. Every familiar grave pleased me. And it was killing me. I was reproaching myself. – How could I bring myself to such a state?
Snow covered the entire cemetery, and only in some places, relatives cleared the graves of the deceased. Here it is, my grandmother’s native grave. It was in an abandoned state, I did not even clean the snow. There was no one to take care of her, the fence was rusty, and so was the cheap obelisk. I stepped over the fence and came close to the monument. I also noticed how the shadow of a beautiful woman flashed by, it was noticeable from a dim lantern located far from the cemetery. I shuddered at the thought that she was somewhere nearby. I did not want to have anything to do with her and closed the fence in the hope that I protected myself.
– Oh, if only I could take it all back. I thought. As soon as I thought about it, I immediately found myself in a clearing covered with moss, and my friend was standing on it. I was so glad to see him that I even wanted to hug him.
– So we met! He said joyfully. I will help you escape, but for this, you will strictly follow my instructions. Break at least one, take my place, or next to me. I agreed without hesitation.
– «You’ll eat this powder first. Then you will go straight from here to the airport, and you will fly to your home, you will move from home to warmer climes, where there is no snow, there it will not reach you. If you do not, then no one will save you. This powder will make you invisible. Its effect does not last long. While she is looking for you, you will have to hide, it is better to go to the airport right away. If you delay, then your friends will suffer too. With the dawn it will be more difficult for her, try to stay in the sun as long as possible.
The ghost’s words cheered me up. I was sure that I would succeed. I swallowed the magic powder and quickly ran to the tree. I was able to quickly transfer from one world to another. I found myself at the gate; I just had to get out. – Thanks, friend. I said to myself and took a step forward. I did not pay attention to myself. Forgetting about the potion I had taken, my thoughts were at home. The only thing I noticed was that no one was following me. I had already moved away and looked back. The cemetery was left behind. No one was following me, and I began to examine myself. Their hands, feet, clothes. I did not notice any changes and continued on my way. I understood that I could not walk, but I could not find a car at this time in this place. My heartbeat increased, and I ran, hoping to run out of here into a crowded part of the city.
After making a stop, I felt myself, found my passport, ticket and phone, and breathed a sigh of relief. Opposite me was a 24-hour pavilion with artificial flowers. I went into it to warm up and realized that I was not visible. I liked it, and I got into the role. After standing for a while, I went outside and wanted to continue my way; fortunately, a car drove up and stopped at the store. The driver got out without closing the door. It was good for me. I saw my salvation. – That is the luck. I thought as I got into the backseat. The door carelessly slammed and attracted the driver’s attention. He looked for a long time, decided that it was a draft, and went into the store.
I looked around and realized that the family was in mourning and a man had come for a wreath. The driver was already walking back, carrying a wreath. I realized that I would get out of here quickly. The door opened and the wreath was next to me. He terrified me. It would be better if he did not exist. -«It’s nothing,» I consoled myself. But the feeling of anxiety did not leave me. We were driving fast; I would even say we were speeding. I leaned back in my seat and relaxed. I have already heard the noise of the plane in which I will fly, and peace has come to my heart. The weather helped me, the blizzard stopped, the wind died down and nothing prevented my return.
Now I reproach myself for what I did then. I made a mistake. I remember the words of the ghost, which he said to me before my departure from the world of Navi. – Don’t make a mistake. If you make even one mistake, you will take my place.
My mistake was that IВ took out my phone and texted my friends that IВ was going toВ the airport. If IВ had not done that, then nothing would have happened. The driver was stunned byВ what he saw and let go ofВ the steering wheel, braking sharply, he looked back. Now IВ understand how he felt at that moment. For him, it was an unexpected shock inВ the middle ofВ the night with aВ funeral wreath inВ the backseat. IВ tried toВ hide the phone and scared him even more. The phone was put away. The driver jumped out ofВ the car and began toВ make the sign ofВ the cross over himself. Calming down aВ little, he opened the back door and carefully examined the interior. Then he opened the second door and looked at everything from the other side. IВ froze and sat without breathing. Closing both doors, he got behind the wheel, made the sign ofВ the cross and droveВ on.
– I imagined it. He said. – It is necessary to go to the cemetery less at night. – That is exactly what I thought.
We were flying at breakneck speed. IВ was afraid toВ move. Outside the window, IВ saw aВ blizzard chasing us. She looked like aВ hurricane, or even aВ tornado. Paranormal phenomenon. The driver said.
– This is mysticism. I thought, and realized that it was behind me. Now I will drag the driver with me.
The car overturned several times. IВ do not know the fate ofВ the driver, but mine is inВ store forВ me.
– Don’t boil ahead of time. I will decide everything. I saw how Vova confidently behaves. He did not know that everything had already been decided. I would like his confidence even for a minute. I heard someone’s footsteps in the corridor, and looking at the door, I saw a shadow flash under it. I realized that he had not seen anything and did not say anything.
– «I’ll pick you up from here tomorrow. I think nothing will happen to you in one day.
– «I think so too,» I replied indifferently.
– Well, well done.
We went out toВ smoke. The time was about five inВ the morning. We smoked inВ silence. Everyone did it nervously. This nervousness irritated even more. Upon returning toВ the ward, we brewed strong tea. AВ nurse came toВ us and made aВ remark. We quietly closed the door behind her and continued the tea party. At this tea party, IВ told him everything toВ theВ end.
When our car overturned, the windows flew inВ different directions and damaged my face. This hurricane swept away everything inВ its path and caused great damage. Possibly even fatal. Cars overturned, windows flew out ofВ shops, bus stops overturned. Until IВ got out ofВ the car. When IВ got out, IВ was not visible, and IВ realized it. IВ could barely stand on my feet and IВ was swaying from side toВ side. She would not have noticed me if it was not for my phone. It rang. InВ addition, she heard the bell ring. That call ruined my soul andВ me.
– Your friends are waiting for you at the cemetery! She shouted with a roar. That is where you belong. She picked me up and carried me away. I was spinning in this blizzard like a top. I no longer felt myself, the pain, the cold. I was just sick with hunger and swirled in this tornado. I flew over houses, destroyed shops, and felt like a snowflake, a grain of sand in this whirlwind. At last, the wind died down, and I found myself with her on an icy plain. It was our last meeting with her.
There was an ice field all around me. The wind died down. The ice was slippery. This field was without beginning and without end. It was infinity. IВ did not feel the cold and the pain from the scars on my face. She was circling over me and laughing loudly.
– So we met. Did you dream about it? Isn’t that right?
IВ was silent inВ response. Along with the silence, IВ experienced indifference. She stopped circling, stopped and turned into aВ beautiful woman. Such as, IВ saw then inВ my room. Her image remained inВ my memory. She walked slowly towards me and came close toВ me. My breath caught inВ my throat, and an internal tremor went through my whole body. Her beauty dazzled me, but IВ continued toВ hate her. This hatred negated everything, all my admiration for this woman. Her husband will never forgive me for what IВ did. IВ have incurred his wrath. He appeared inВ front ofВ me on an ice throne. Next toВ him was my ice statue.
– Very soon you will decorate my garden. He said sarcastically and disappeared. I fell silent.
– And then what happened?
– «I don’t know myself. From that moment on, I have a black hole in my memory. I try to remember and nothing comes out. I remember waking up in this room. However, the fact remains. I will have to answer for that.
– Yes. I did not know you had such a problem. This is serious. Vova thought about it. Dawn was breaking outside the window. The night passed unnoticed, and with it our days. I did not notice how they flew by. I heard a commotion in the corridor. The nurse was engaged in cleaning, the nurse woke up patients for procedures. – You looked into her eyes, and no one dares to do that. – You touched her! How dare you do that? It cannot be fixed. Even I am not sure of myself anymore. And I don’t know if I can help you. But I will do my best for this.
AВ new day was coming, but IВ was not sure that IВ would live it toВ the end. My friend was vigorously packing his bag. IВ was not happy about the new day, and IВ wanted toВ spend these days again with this new friend. IВ was afraid toВ be alone.
– «It’s too early. I will not be leaving here until tonight. You will just have to survive the night. My friend tried to persuade me like a little child. – Why don’t your friends come to you?
– They have business, or they are afraid. They also experienced some part of the nightmare with me. They also install an obelisk. They found out the name quite recently when they came to me. And I do not know why, maybe there is another reason to top it off, I said. I lay down on the pillow and closed my eyes. – I would like to bring everything back. I lay there and dreamed about how I was flying home. I was remembering my past, my happy days. I realized how I did not have time to live my happy life.
– What can be the case when a friend is in such a state, and it is their fault that you are here? They brought trouble on you, and they did not look after you well. If they had behaved with dignity, they would not have brought her wrath on your head.
My friend’s words brought me to my senses. However, I did not know how to fix it all. – You know, you are right, but I will have to answer.
– You answered in full. In addition, your torment is over. We drank coffee and met the dawn.
I looked at Vova’s thoughtful face. He was not as confident as he used to be, and he did not want to go home.
– Listen, I will stay with you until the hospital closes. I hope nothing happens to you overnight. Moreover, early in the morning, as soon as the hospital opens, I will come for you.
It became easier for me toВ make such aВ decision, and IВ did not relax for aВ long time. My friend acted nobly, trying toВ protect an unfamiliar person. After all, he could have suffered from me, along withВ me.
– That is how I happened to meet someone like you in my life! He said these words with such enthusiasm that I felt uncomfortable. What is wrong with me?
– Don’t you understand? You are the chosen one. You were chosen, and you were able to get into the other world. Not everyone succeeds.
– Yes, but it’s better not to get there. It is impossible to get out of there. This world sucks in like a whirlpool.
– «But you and your friends got out.
– My friends do. I am not sure. She is here. I saw her. My friend tensed, and said nothing. On the contrary, he began to look closely at everything.
– You tell me about the slightest suspicion. Ok? I made it clear in agreement. I was calmer from the fact that someone believes me.
– Thanks, friend. I said these words with sincerity. In addition, my friend gave me a friendly nod in response.
The doctor came and confirmed my friend’s discharge. After examining me, he was very surprised that I began to look so good in such a short time.
– This cannot be happening. Where are your scars? It’s magic. We need to call the manager.
I did not notice my changes and went to the mirror. In the reflection, I saw a perfect face, without the slightest damage. The gray hair was gone, only a glimmer remained. – How is this possible? I touched my face with my hands; I was young and beautiful as before. It was another sign. The head was waiting for me in the ward. She examined me carefully.
– I do not understand anything. How is this possible? With injuries like yours, this does not happen. We need to create a consultation immediately. The doctor came out. We were left alone.
– Listen, I do not like your appearance either. I think I will stay with you until tomorrow.
– How is that possible?
– I will hide. Everyone will leave. In addition, I will stay in the ward. The only thing is that today is the evil sister. She will flit around, but I will figure something out. I have the right to be here until five.
– I will be glad if you stay. And tomorrow? What should I do tomorrow? You see, they want to create a consultation; they will not let me go so quickly.
– You need to buy a ticket and get out. You have a passport. Forget about things and everything else. Let us buy a ticket. This was my third attempt to escape. We went online and booked a ticket for tomorrow. It remains to survive another crazy night. I informed my sister that this time I would definitely fly home. My sister was waiting for me. I felt how much she needed me and it made my heart heavy.
It was lunchtime, and we left the ward. The hallway was busy. There were new arrivals. IВ looked at these people as living beings. IВ have not been out for aВ long time, and IВ have not been inВ mass gatherings ofВ people. IВ was tired ofВ it and at the same time, IВ felt that IВ was among the living. It was very important toВ me. Vovan was animatedly telling me about aВ woman with big buttocks inВ aВ funny robe. AВ flirtation ensued between them, and he clearly did not want toВ leave this institution anymore. It was funny toВ watch them. They were clearly worth each other.
– These are the forms! He kept repeating. I was amused by his phrases, and a smile appeared on my face. I laughed heartily.
We returned toВ the ward, and this room made us sad. This ward has ceased toВ be aВ refuge. We both wanted toВ get out ofВ here.
– Let’s go to the corridor!
– Come on!
As soon as we stepped towards the door, our ward was covered with ice. Ice covered everything, walls, floor, ceiling, interior, and the front door.
– It is for me.
– I get it. Now what?
– I do not know myself. My friend ran to the door and started calling for help.
– Help.
The door opened, and the ward took on the appearance as if nothing had happened. Everything happened every second. My friend and IВ were standing there looking ridiculous. AВ nurse with aВ medical bandage on her face opened the door. She did not look me inВ the eye, but IВ could see that she was angry with the two ofВ us.
– What is going on here? You two are running around the hallway. Now you are yelling. It is a quiet hour now. She slammed the door, and I heard her quick footsteps.
– I told you she was evil.
– But she saved us.
– That is for sure.
We were still standing in disbelief. – And now what?
– Let’s get out of here into the corridor. It is safer there.
– «Now I’ve dragged you along with me.
– This is who is dragging whom. A friend jokingly said. I did not attach much importance to these words. – We should have survived the night.
– Do you think that it is all over, I will fly away, and everything will be chocolate? No. Do not support me as if I am dying. I am actually dying, and it is going to be over soon. You saw it. What are you going to tell me?
Vladimir stood at a loss, not knowing what to say to my outburst of emotions. – I believe that we will succeed. You have a chance to escape.
We went out into the corridor and breathed aВ sigh ofВ relief. We had the feeling that we had escaped from prison. IВ was aВ little surprised that my friend was not scared, and did not react inВ any way toВ what he saw. IВ got the impression that this was not the first time for him, and IВ began toВ be afraid ofВ him from that moment. My intuition told me that it was time toВ stop trusting him. IВ gave no sign ofВ my premonition and kept the mask on. The corridor was lively, despite the sleepy hour. Vova was looking for aВ new patient with curvy shapes. He sat down on the windowsill and waited for her appearance.
Time passed slowly. It was still light outside and IВ was looking at the excitement created byВ people running about their business. IВ leaned my forehead against the glass and closed my eyes. InВ aВ short moment, IВ remembered my whole life, starting from my childhood, and up toВ today. IВ remembered how IВ flew here toВ my grandmother, and she read the very fairy tales that came toВ life and turned my life into aВ nightmare. IВ loved coming here, IВ loved playing with my friends who were inВ hell with me, and they managed toВ get out. IВ remembered my last dinner with my sister and IВ wanted toВ go back there, toВ the life, IВ did not live. IВ was so drawn toВ the past. And here IВ am, and IВ do not know how long IВ have left toВ live? What if IВ actually have aВ chance toВ escape? IВ thought, and began toВ imagine this salvation, my return, dinner with my sister, aВ beer bar with friends. IВ did not have aВ girlfriend, and IВ would like toВ have one, but IВ never made an effort toВ create aВ relationship. IВ had aВ taste for life, and IВ wanted toВ live.
– Let’s go for a walk. I am tired of sitting and waiting. We walked down the corridor, went in for a smoke. – Well, are you ready for a new life?
В«Which one?В» Beyond the grave? ToВ be honest, IВ do not know. IВ used toВ dream about it, now IВ do not. IВ have changed my mind, IВ said with aВ grin. My friend also said this question with aВ grin. InВ addition, IВ did not like his smile. He just started toВ annoy me, maybe from nervous overexertion, maybe IВ was just tired and IВ rather wanted toВ get out ofВ here. IВ felt that something was wrong here.
– I was just asking. I do not know what kind of life awaits you in the future. I am not a psychic. I hope for your best outcome.
– Thank you. I said nervously, finishing my cigarette.
– You cannot smoke here. That voice sounded familiar to me. Alternatively, maybe I really just overextended myself. I saw an angry nurse running towards us and shouting angrily.
– She will not leave us alone.
– That is for sure. Let us go to the ward.
– «Are you sure?»
– Yes. I am sure. We went into the ward and closed the door. I sat down on the bed; my friend walked around the room and said that he needed to go out into the corridor. There is that woman in the funny robe. I wanted to go out with him, but I did not dare, I did not want to be superfluous. I was surprised that he left me alone. This has never happened before. – So my friend betrayed me, I thought. Alternatively, just fight, it is more logical. Coward. I thought. Although he may be right, he should not risk, much less his life. My friend went out and I was left alone. I could hear his footsteps receding as my heartbeat increased. I got out of bed and went to the window. Watching the darkness fall.
– Here comes the night, although it is not yet five o’clock.
– «You’re right. A nurse came into the room and took off the bandage. Our eyes met, and I fell senseless.
His sister’s tear-stained eyes looked at me. I saw in them pain, trust, naivety, and purity of soul. If I admit it, I was ashamed to lie to this man. But I had to do it.
– Tell me; tell me everything as it was. How did he die? Why? How did my brother die? Under what circumstances. I did not know how to start. And most importantly, I didn’t know how to finish my story.
I started from the moment when he was brought in at night in a terrible state. – His face was ugly, and I thought he was cut with a knife. We became friends, and he told me everything from the very beginning, how it all started, to the last moment. Then we became friends, and he told me everything from the very beginning, how it all started, to the last moment. He told me a lot. It took three days. He mentioned you very often; he was very worried that he could not see you. His sister was sitting in a helpless state, and I could not comfort her.
– You should definitely tell me everything. I need to know.
– I will not argue. I will definitely fulfill your request. I did not save my friend, but I got a chance to take care of his sister.
– I will be very grateful to you. He did not tell me anything about you.
– I probably did not have time. On the other hand, just did not have the energy and time.
We were sitting in the visitors’ room, and just at that time, his friends came up. They were not looking at me in a friendly way, and I knew why. I pointed at my sister with my eyes. They understood everything and translated the topic.
– We have not been able to establish the data of Konstantin, and the grave is still not closed. The data is not reliable.
– How so. He told me that name himself. I remember that. The sister got excited and sat back down on the chair. – What now? She began to sob. «That’s why he’s gone. His soul was taken away. In addition, the morgue said it was a stroke. It is not a stroke. This is different.
The friends stood in silence. – They could not say otherwise. It is a stroke. He just suffered a lot. I was freezing too much, and now. He also had a constant headache from nervous overexertion.
– Yes, I remember that too. I could not stand it and asked Vladimir, «How did you end up in the hospital at that time?» In this room? In addition, what really happened?
