[T/N] I apologize for grammar mistakes and incoherencies
Chapter 3: The Loop
I rushed out and started banging on Phii Teo’s door next to mine, “ Phii Teo! Bing! Open up!”
Phii Teo opened the door for me. He looked at me with the expression of someone who wasn’t fully awake yet. Meanwhile, Bing was lying on his side, watching me from the bed.
“What’s up, Khen?” Phii Teo asked.
I quickly squeezed into the room, “I saw a ghost!”
“Whoa!” Bing sat up abruptly.
I looked at both of them, my voice trembling, “A child ghost...a boy was sitting on my bed, he looked mixed-race, his body covered in scars.”
Phii Teo grabbed my arm, “Calm down, man, tell us slowly.”
“I woke up because I heard thunder, saw the window was open, so I got up to close it. When I came back to the bed, I heard creaking sounds from under it. I bent down to look, it was an old wind-up toy, and then when I looked up, there he was, staring right at me from my bed.”
Bing and Phii Teo exchanged a strange look before Bing spoke, “It’s not raining, Phii Khen.”
I immediately turned to look at the window; the night sky was a deep blue almost black, with the moon casting a soft glow. There was no sign of rain. I swallowed hard...What was this?
“Are you sure you didn’t dream it?” Phii Teo asked softly, “Or maybe you had a nightmare because of your head injury?”
I stood there, dumbfounded, my mind heavy with confusion. I touched my head, “I...I don’t know.”
Phii Teo sighed, “Alright. You move into this room and sleep here with me. Tonight, I’ll sleep on the floor, and we’ll sort it out tomorrow.”
“I agree.” Bing said.
That night, I ended up sleeping in Phii Teo’s room. The two of them talked with me for a while before going back to sleep, leaving me alone, tossing and turning on the bed, still thinking about what had happened.
It was hard to believe it was just a dream; the feeling of that toy in my hand was still vivid. Even the boy’s face - his large, light brown eyes, his pale cheeks like fresh milk, with a tiny mole under his left eye - looked surprisingly fierce, though I didn’t know why I would dream or see something like that.
Maybe it was a side effect from the head injury, as Phii Teo had speculated, along with the atmosphere of this house. It made me unable to sleep soundly, and I had nightmares as if haunted by ghosts. I spent a long time trying to force myself to sleep until I finally drifted off.
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of something outside the door.
Ding...
I tried to listen, still groggy, the sound was clear and continuous, playing a cheerful, pleasant melody. Instantly, I perked up; it was the sound of a piano!
Mixed with the music, I could hear the chatter of a young girl’s laughter, “Phii Mas, play ‘Lao Duen Ngam’ for me, please, I want to hear it.”
“Pin, Thai music should be played with Thai instruments. Who plays it with a piano?”
“But I want to hear it. If you play it on the piano, then I will sing ‘Oh, the moon’ for you. Please, play it for me, Phii Mas.”
A man’s soft laughter followed, then the piano played a very familiar tune.
I moved to sit up and looked towards the door, feeling strange but the sounds from outside piqued my curiosity enough to get up. I walked towards the door with an excited heart, slowly opened it, and peeked out.
It was like opening the door to another world.
In the gentle morning sunlight, I smelled fresh flowers in the air mixed with the scent of freshly baked pastries. The sound of birds chirping mingled with the music. A young man was playing the piano in the living room.
My heart raced at the sight before me; it wasn’t the silent, eerie, and lonely hall I had experienced before. An elegant wooden piano stood on a blood-red Persian carpet, with a vase of fresh flowers on top. The hands of an ancient standing clock moved, the breeze gently swayed the air, and the sound of the piano played vibrantly.
I stared at the man. He was tall, with long legs, a straight back, fair skin, and brown hair. Though I could only see his profile, it was clear he was very handsome. His slender fingers glided over the piano keys with ease. He played without looking at the sheet music, instead looking up with a cheerful smile towards someone else, a smile that was captivating. Unconsciously, I stepped out of the room.
And then I jolted awake.
I found myself lying wide awake on the bed in Phii Teo’s room, under a soft ceiling and wooden-framed lamps. Bing and Phii Teo had already left, leaving just a pile of folded blankets. I sat up and looked out the window. It was morning now; sunlight filtered through the clouds onto the lush green field with distant mountains in the backdrop, but the atmosphere was different from before.
...A dream?
It was a dream within a dream. I glanced towards the door, listening for any sounds outside, but it was quiet. No music or conversation could be heard. I rubbed my face to clear my confusion; the dream was strange, the tall young man in a white shirt and long trousers, and the cheerful laughter of a girl, it wasn’t entirely frightening, but rather mysterious and intriguing.
I got up and walked to the door, feeling a bit odd as I was doing the same thing as in my dream moments ago. No one was in the hallway. I turned towards the living room; the old piano was on the blood-red Persian carpet, the standing clock on the wall was still, and beyond the living room stretched a hallway lined with the rooms of the original owners, all doors tightly shut, the atmosphere peaceful.
Voices of Phii Teo and others came from the direction of the front lawn. I headed there, passing through the living room to the balcony door with intricate light patterns above. When I pushed the door open, fresh air rushed in.
“Oh...Khen, you’re up, come down.” Phii Namwa waved at me as she looked up and saw me. They were having breakfast on the chairs at the edge of the lawn.
“Better hurry, or all the good stuff will be gone.” Phii Teo warned.
I smiled and responded, “Don’t eat it all, save some for me, I’ll be right down.”
After finishing my speech, I retreated back inside to handle some personal matters before heading down for a meal. As I walked through the lounge, a strange feeling compelled me to look towards the piano.
I approached it, stopped beside it, and scanned the surroundings.
Amidst the antique furniture passed down through generations, two silk-upholstered chairs flanked a half-moon wooden table. An old clock leaned against the wall, its pendulum still, time frozen at three o’clock or perhaps three in the afternoon. I had just noticed a crack in the glass, a diagonal line stretching from the bottom edge of the clock face nearly to the top.
I rubbed my arms; here, there was no one else but me, yet I felt as if someone was near, perhaps a lingering sensation from my recent dream. I reached out to touch the piano’s surface, smooth and glossy, indicating it was well-maintained. This upright piano, with its dark brown wood, was not only functional but also a piece of art with its inherent patterns. On either side, there were elegant brass candlesticks.
This piano was about a hundred years old, equipped with an old mechanism that required metal hooks to lock the lid when opened, the strings inside lying parallel rather than the diagonal arrangement seen in modern pianos. I moved closer and lifted the piano lid, my mind wandering back to the images and conversations from my dream.
‘Mas’. Where did I get that name from, and why was my dream so vivid? I extended my finger to test the keys.
Ting...
The piano note resonated. I smiled, seeing it functioned well. As I was about to play another note, I felt an odd wave enveloping me, as if someone or something else was here with us, just invisible.
I quickly withdrew my hand, closed the piano lid, and hurried away, taking the stairs two at a time down to the lower floor.
After finishing breakfast, we decided to pause our work for the morning, aiming to relax more. Phii Thaen seemed concerned for me. He approached and asked with a worried look,
“How are you, Khen? Does the wound still hurt, or is something else wrong?”
I shook my head, “It doesn’t hurt much anymore, just a bit of throbbing and dizziness, but it goes away quickly. I think I’ll be fine.”
“Hmm...if anything comes up, tell me right away.” Phii Thaen said, giving my shoulder a gentle pat.
Apart from seeing images and having strange dreams, there’s probably not much else, or so I think.
Then we drove outside; the distance from here to the alley’s entrance takes no more than ten minutes to drive. There are houses lined up periodically along the way, interspersed with vegetable gardens and empty lots. Not far from the Western-style house, there’s an old pagoda ruin left with just a base of dark red bricks on a mound of earth. In another place, this sight might feel eerie, but here in Chiang Mai, an ancient city full of temples, it’s not strange at all, especially when you see house walls almost built against ancient pagodas.
Today, the weather was clear, the sunlight soft, with a gentle breeze.
Phii Namwa invited us to hang out at the coffee shop by Ang Kaew Reservoir, which is inside Chiang Mai University, and everyone agreed because we had no other plans. I sat outside because the weather was nice, watching the coconut leaves sway with the wind, with the wide expanse of water and mountain range as a backdrop, almost like being at the seaside, just without the humidity.
While Phii Thaen and Phii Namwa went for a walk along the bridge by Ang Kaew Reservoir, Phii Teo was analyzing the bubble milk tea menu at the counter. I decided to casually ask Bing a question.
“Bing, can I ask you something?”
“What’s up?” He asked without looking up from his phone.
“Do you see ghosts often, Bing?”
“I wouldn’t say this often, but I’ve seen them quite regularly. It depends on the location too. Sometimes you just feel their presence, other times you actually see them. Are you worried about last night, Phii Khen?”
“Uh.” I admitted.
Bing looked up at me, “It might not be anything, right? Because you’ve never seen or had any special encounters before, have you?”
“Yeah.” I leaned back in my chair, biting my lip in thought, “What do ghosts want? Why do they show themselves to people?”
“I don’t know either.”
“Oh, I thought you were an expert on this.”
“I just see ghosts, not befriend them. Seeing one already makes me run for my life, you think I’d make friends, exchange numbers, line up for a follow-up chat...that’s madness.”
“So, you’ve never talked to a ghost?”
“Listen up, Phii Khen.” Bing seemed frustrated. He massaged his temples and continued, “I’m starting to hope that what you encountered was really a ghost. Then you’d understand why we don’t want to converse with ghosts; it’s haunting, you know! Ghosts are souls that died unsettled, their spirits linger here because of something not good. Next time you get haunted, try talking to it. Keep cool even if the ghost’s head detaches, guts spill, and blood splatters. Don’t panic. As for me, I’m out of here.”
“Well...just asked a little question, and you went on a long rant.” I muttered.
Bing gave me a half-hearted glare. I smiled at him before turning my gaze back to the view of the water and mountain range, letting my curiosity linger because I didn’t know where to find answers.
In the afternoon, Phii Thaen and others returned to the Western-style House to continue work; they had just a bit more to finish and wanted to get it done today. I chose to head to the university library to research some information.
The library was sparsely populated today, with only a few students and the library staff scattered about. I headed to the second floor, to my familiar corner. The bookshelves lined up in orderly rows in the silent room, the librarian engrossed in a magazine at his desk. I walked along the shelves, my fingers tracing the spines of old books that didn’t seem to be frequently touched. These were reference books that couldn’t be borrowed outside the library.
I bit my lip, pondering whether the Western kid I saw last night was really a ghost or just a hallucination? But if it was a ghost, what did he want from me? Was he a spirit still lingering because he was murdered and buried there without anyone knowing, thus holding a grudge? And what about that handsome guy in my dream, was it just a random dream or some sort of premonition?
‘Dream guy,’ calling it that might sound too romantic; in reality, it was more of a mysterious, eerie feeling. I shook off the scattered thoughts and refocused on the task at hand.
After choosing some books, I sat at a window-side table to read. I picked up a volume book about the history of Lanna, its people, events, houses, and the lifestyle of the ancient Lanna people. I opened the first book, noting down interesting points, planning to later sift through this information for what was relevant to my work and type it into my notebook.
While I was reading, the rain began to fall, the drops tapping against the windowpane before pouring down heavily, the fresh scent of the rain making me feel relaxed. I put on my headphones, played some music on my phone, and continued reading in good spirits. The book I was reading told stories of old mansions in Chiang Mai and houses built during the reigns of Rama V to Rama VII. Most were beautiful mansions of the nobility from that era; some still stand today, but others have deteriorated to the point of being torn down.
But then, I felt something dripping down the window.
I slowly looked up, and there it was: a dark red stream flowing down with the rain, smearing the glass like a thin veil of blood mixed with water. I stared in shock, a chill running up my spine, wanting to scream but unable to move!
Then, my perception changed. My mind was in a haze, flickering between confusion and clarity, as if my awareness was trying to emerge but was being pushed back down. The rain continued to pour, but what I heard was different.
...Ting
The sensation now was strangely detached. It was the sound of raindrops falling onto a calm water surface, rhythmic, like the moment just before the rain stops, reflecting in circles on the water, cold and distant.
The sound of the raindrops kept going, fear crawling up, enveloping my mind, trembling me, yet I couldn’t fully regain my composure.
“Oh.”
A soft exclamation from the librarian, followed by the sound of a pen rolling to the floor, snapped me out of the strange trance. I turned to look at the librarian’s desk. He was bending down to pick up the pen, mumbling about his clumsiness. When I turned back to the window, the previous image had vanished. The glass was now clear with only clean rainwater. I blinked in confusion, wondering if I had dozed off momentarily.
Insane...had I really let my worries drive me to such hallucinations? But when I looked down at the book still open, I was met with surprise once again. Before looking up at the window, I had turned the page, but hadn’t read it yet. It was the first page of a new chapter.
The chapter’s title read, “The House at the Foot of the Hill of Thomas H. Coleridge.”
I stared fixedly at the picture; it was the very Western-style House I was staying in. What an incredible coincidence! I brushed aside the previous uneasy feeling and quickly started scanning the text.
The content describes the history of the house owner, Thomas, an English man who came to Thailand as a missionary to teach religion. Later, he worked as a forest manager for a company with a timber concession in the northern part of Thailand, becoming quite wealthy and well-known in society. However, during World War I, in 1914, Thomas returned to serve his country, fulfilling his duty as a proud Englishman.
The book included photographs of Thomas and his second wife, a Thai woman named Tubtim. Thomas had sharp Western features with thick eyebrows, a prominent nose, deep-set eyes, and thin lips, giving off an air of strength and slight arrogance. His wife, Tubtim, appeared gentle and sweet, typical of Thai women. She wore a long skirt that reached just below the knee, similar to how Thaen would wear a traditional Thai wrap-around skirt.
They had three children; one son from his first wife, who had passed away when their son was still young, and two daughters from his second wife. My eyes widened as I read the following lines:
The eldest son of Thomas had the Thai name Mas, while his daughters were named Pin and Dara. I quickly turned the page with anticipation, but there were no photographs of the three children, just notes saying that after the war ended, his wife and children followed him to England where they established their family.
My heart pounded as I tried to recall if I had ever picked up this book before, because if I had, it might mean the dream last night was just an ordinary dream drawing from things I had read, including the names Mas and Pin.
However, the problem was I couldn’t remember ever having taken this book off the shelf.
That evening, we went for our usual bowl of noodles at our regular spot near Chiang Mai University, and when we returned to the accommodation, I announced I would go back to sleep in my old room.
“Are you serious?” Phii Teo looked at me with wide eyes, as if I had just said I was going to sleep in a graveyard.
“I want to finish my part of the work quickly, and I’ll concentrate better in a separate room.” I explained, “You guys are done with your work, but I haven’t made much progress. Plus, I’m feeling much better today. If anything, I’ll just knock on your door.”
Phii Thaen nodded in understanding, “Okay, but don’t overdo it.”
Phii Teo still looked incredulous but didn’t say anything more as he walked upstairs. Bing crossed his arms, watching me with a gaze that clearly said...looking for trouble, eh?
I followed Phii Teo up the stairs, pretending not to notice Bing’s stare.
Back in the same room, I scanned the area before stopping at the bed, a wave of unease washing over me. The image of the screaming boy from the bed last night suddenly flashed in my mind.
I closed my eyes, pressed my fingers against my temples, and gently massaged them while taking a deep breath, trying to steady myself before opening my eyes again. I didn’t want to test fate like Bing thought, but I hated being left in this state of discomfort and confusion, unable to convince myself if I was still sane or if I was being haunted or just imagining things.
Before going to sleep that night, I bowed to my pillow and recited prayers. Soon after, I fell asleep, and thankfully, nothing unusual happened all night. I slept soundly until morning and woke up feeling refreshed.
Today, the weather was overcast, looking like it might rain. I walked downstairs, stepped out onto the porch, and saw Bing standing by the fence, staring outwards. I frowned when I noticed how still he was standing there.
“Bing.” I called out.
Bing turned around, his face looking oddly relieved. He walked towards me, saying, “You’re up early today.”
“What were you doing just now?” I asked.
“Nothing.” He denied, “Aren’t Phii Namwa and Phii Thaen done yet? I’m starting to get hungry.”
“When I came downstairs, I saw Phii Thaen’s door was open. They must be almost done. Let’s go sit on the bench and wait.”
Soon after, Phii Thaen, Phii Namwa, and Phii Teo joined us. After breakfast, we drove into Chiang Mai for some sightseeing. We took a drive around the moat to enjoy the atmosphere before parking near Tha Phae Gate to explore on foot.
Tha Phae Gate is one of the symbols of Chiang Mai, with its high, distinctive orange brick walls and large wooden gates open to a wide plaza that’s beautifully decorated during various festivals. We had actually visited once before, but Phii Namwa wanted more pictures, so Bing and I took on the task of shooing away a flock of pigeons for her to get the perfect shot.
After taking pictures and enjoying the ambiance at a roadside coffee shop for a while, we drove back towards Doi Suthep. Before we reached the Western-style House, the rain started to pour down. Once we parked, we quickly dashed into the house. After drying off and changing clothes, we gathered around the guest sofa in the office area, taking turns looking through each other’s camera photos.
While everyone was chatting and having fun, I noticed that Bing was acting differently. He was sitting quietly, looking at one person then another, responding only when spoken to, not his usual lively self. After a while, unable to stand the curiosity any longer, I asked him:
“Bing, are you not feeling well? Why do you look so stressed?”
He turned to look at me, “Huh...? No, I’m not.”
Phii Teo turned to tease, “Yeah, you don’t look too good. Constipated, huh?”
Bing didn’t react to Phii Teo’s teasing. Instead, he spoke up, “Our work is done, isn’t it? Why hasn’t anyone talked about going back to Bangkok?”
The rest of us exchanged looks, then Phii Thaen spoke, “Well, Khen hasn’t finished his work yet. Shouldn’t we stay and keep Khen company for a bit longer? Plus, Namwa might want to explore a bit more, right, Namwa?”
“Is that so?” Bing’s voice sounded strained while Phii Namwa seemed hesitant.
I interjected, “Uh...Actually, I told everyone back when we were planning to go to Doi Ang Khang that if your work was done, you could go back to Bangkok. I can stay by myself. Aunt Jiam lives nearby anyway.”
Bing shook his head. He seemed like he wanted to laugh but ended up looking the opposite. “Do you think we’re just making up reasons to convince ourselves we don’t want to go back, but is that really how we feel?”
“What are you on about?” Phii Teo countered.
Bing looked at each of us in turn, “We don’t want to go back, or maybe we can’t go back. Let me speak for myself first. I’ve wanted to leave since the night we came back from Doi Ang Khang. But I couldn’t. Every day, I walk out to the gate, intending to call a taxi to take me to the hotel, but I end up walking back. I thought at first it was because I changed my mind, but that’s not it. Think about it, what have we been doing lately? Have we gone anywhere far? Or are we just going around in circles, always returning to this house, like we’re being reeled in by some invisible thread?”
“How could that be, Bing!” Phii Namwa’s voice was tinged with disbelief, “No way.”
“You’ve had your suspicions too, haven’t you? That’s why you’re saying this.” Bing turned to her, “Can Phii Namwa or Phii Thaen honestly say you haven’t thought about not wanting to go back at all?”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Phii Teo exclaimed, though his voice didn’t sound too confident.
“If you think we can just go back to Bangkok, try it then, but I bet we can’t.” Bing retorted with a firm tone that made Phii Teo flinch.
Phii Thaen glanced at me. He swallowed hard but didn't say anything in opposition, just bit his lip, lowered his face, and clenched his fists tightly as if he had reached his limit.
“Bing...” I called out.
Bing looked up, his lips trembling slightly when he spoke next.
“I think we're stuck in a loop. We can't leave this house. If it won't let us.”
Chapter 4: The Mysterious Man on a Rainy Night
We all stood in stunned silence for several moments after Bing finished speaking, before snapping back to reality.
“It can't be, I don't believe it.” Phii Thaen firmly denied.
“Then try, call and book an airplane ticket.” Bing said.
Everyone scrambled for their phones, frantically trying every possible way to get out of here. The panic intensified when we found that all our efforts failed.
“Why can't I even get a call through!” Phii Teo exclaimed in frustration.
“I can't book on the website either; it keeps showing errors.” Phii Namwa's voice trembled.
I was no different; my heart was pounding with panic as I couldn’t connect with anyone, couldn't reach any organization. It was as if we were cut off from the outside world while still standing here.
“Enough, everyone.” Phii Thaen said tensely, “Let’s head to the airport.”
There was no hesitation at all. We rushed out of the house door to the car parked in the yard. Once we were all seated, Phii Thaen started the engine and drove out through the gate.
The panic began to subside slightly with relief as Phii Thaen drove out to the end of the alley and turned onto the main road. The car continued moving until it hit a red light. Everyone was on edge with anticipation. Mr-PhiiThaen gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes fixed determinedly on the road ahead.
The car sped towards Chiang Mai Airport, and as we neared the entrance, everyone was practically on the edge of their seats. Bing shouted out in excitement, “Turn in here, Phii! Turn!”
But then, Phii Thaen swerved the steering wheel to the right, and the car started to head back in the opposite direction.
“Hey...what the heck!” Phii Teo exclaimed.
“Why did you U-turn, Thaen!” Phii Namwa screeched.
“I don’t know.” Phii Thaen’s voice trembled as he stared at his hands as if they weren’t his anymore, “It just did it on its own.”
Everyone was stunned into silence, the shock palpable. I could almost hear our hearts pounding in unison. No one knew what we were dealing with.
Phii Teo was the first to recover. He pointed ahead, “Stop there, Thaen, I’ll drive!”
Phii Thaen maneuvered the car to the side of the road and parked. Phii Teo quickly jumped out and switched places with Phii Thaen. I watched as Phii Teo tried to steer the car back towards the airport, silently praying that he would succeed.
Needless to say, no one could do it.
Time passed with futile attempts, the outcome never changing regardless of who was driving. There were moments when we nearly got rear-ended due to sudden turns, and horns blared from oncoming traffic as our car unexpectedly changed direction. Eventually, we ended up parking at a gas station across from the airport.
Bing, his voice barely a whisper but clear in our minds, said, “We can’t leave.”
No one said anything further. We sat in the car for a long time, finally having to accept that we had nowhere else to go but back to that place...the old house.
The sun was low in the sky by the time we returned to the Western-style House.
Phii Thaen parked in the courtyard, not far from the front gate. No one wanted to get out of the car; everyone sat still, their faces tense. I looked through the car window at the house, now shrouded in the evening’s shadow, the sunlight faint and weary behind thick clouds.
From the expanse of deep green grass leading to a grand, ancient mansion, the creamy-colored building contrasted with the somber green windows. The carved wooden details on the front porch and above the windows didn’t invite thoughts of enchantment anymore; instead, they added a layer of mysterious, surreal grandeur that sent chills down our spines. No one could think this was mere nonsense anymore. We were trapped, under the control of some unseen force, with no scientific explanation to account for our situation.
“What do we do next?” I voiced out.
“There’s no other choice but to go in.” Phii Thaen responded tensely, “We have nowhere else to go.”
“Why is it like this? What does it want from us?” Phii Namwa said, on the verge of tears.
Phii Teo turned to Bing, “Do you have any more ideas? I’m out of thoughts. Unless this damn house is really haunted.”
Phii Teo’s words made Phii Namwa bury her face in her arms, and Phii Thaen moved to comfort her.
Bing shook his head, looking both defeated and scared, “I don’t understand either. I’ve never encountered anything like this. Ghosts usually haunt to drive us away from their territory, not keep us here.”
Phii Thaen looked exhausted and weighed down, but he still tried to find a way out, “Could it be that it’s not about ghosts at all? Maybe we’ve...entered some kind of bizarre dimension, like the Bermuda Triangle where ships and planes vanish mysteriously. No one sees them again.”
“I don’t think it’s the same.” I argued, “Those in the ships and planes disappear without a trace, but we can still see and talk to other people normally, but...it feels like there’s something more complex at play because now we can’t contact anyone, but just two days ago, I was talking to Aunt Jiam in the kitchen.”
Phii Thaen turned sharply, “What did you talk about?”
I recalled the morning when I had woken up later than the others and went downstairs for breakfast. Upon reaching the ground floor, I stopped by the kitchen to grab a drink from the fridge. When I opened the door, I encountered Aunt Jiam chopping vegetables at the counter. I greeted her and had a brief conversation.
I answered, “Actually, it was about this house. That day, I mustered up the courage to ask her again about the rumors surrounding this place.”
“And what did she say?”
“No matter what, it’s the same as usual, just unresponsive, at most glancing over when I opened the fridge to grab some water. So I decided to throw out my trump card and then said I know this house is haunted.”
“And what did she say?”
“She got super pissed off, threw the knife on the cutting board and yelled that there are no such things as ghosts, then stormed out of the kitchen. I didn’t tell anyone that day because I was embarrassed, man. Aunt Jiam seemed really upset, her face was all dark and stressed. I guess I’ll have to apologize to her.”
Phii Namwa looked up and turned towards me, “If that’s the case, let’s ask Aunt Jiam for help tomorrow. We don’t necessarily need to book plane tickets; we could take a bus or a train.”
“I’m not sure that will work.” Bing said.
“Why?”
“We’ve tried escaping back to Bangkok, and it’s been thwarted. Why wouldn’t it prevent Aunt Jiam from helping us? Maybe the reason Phii Khen was able to talk to Aunt Jiam that day was because it wasn’t about escaping. At that time, there was no intention to leave this house.”
“Intention...hold on.” Phii Thaen raised a hand, “So...this ghost or whatever in this house, what’s its intention in keeping us here?”
“Don’t know.” Bing shook his head, “How am I supposed to know what it wants?”
“We have to find out.” Phii Teo said with urgency. He was beyond frustrated, now angry. “I’m not going to die in this house! Bing, if you don’t know, then you have to ask.”
“What...?” Bing looked shocked.
“You’re the only one who can see ghosts.” Phii Teo pointed at him, “You have to be the one to ask it.”
After that, Bing completely lost it. He gripped the car seat tightly and wailed as if we were sending him to his doom because Phii Teo suggested we go to the room at the far end of the ground floor on the right wing of the house, where Bing had once seen a female ghost sitting and brushing her hair.
The rest of us tried to coax him, promising we’d all go together as a group and open that door to see what was inside, hoping for some clue to solve this crazy situation we were in.
Eventually, Bing had to agree. He looked terrified, and honestly, we all were. We were just trying to find a way out.
“Do you have any amulets?” Phii Teo asked Bing, “A small Buddha pendant or something you carry with you?”
“Nothing.”
“What kind of Buddhist are you, not even wearing an amulet?” Phii Teo exclaimed.
“I’m not that strict about religion. And what about you? Why don’t you wear one?”
Phii Teo hesitated, “I don’t practice any religion.”
The rest of us weren’t much different. Even if our ID cards stated we were Buddhists, we were quite lax about it. Younger generations aren’t like our parents or grandparents who relied heavily on religion for spiritual support. We chose other forms of solace, and some of us never even visit temples unless our families insist, ignoring the five precepts daily, especially lying and consuming alcohol or drugs.
It turned out that Bing’s iPad was the solution. Phii Teo googled for images of Buddha statues and displayed one on the screen. We would hold this up as we confronted the mysteries of this house, knowing it might seem ridiculous, but if you’ve never been in this situation, you wouldn’t understand. When people are pushed to their limits, they do things they never thought they would.
“Will this really work?” Bing asked uncertainly, “Will it truly protect us?”
“Do you have any faith at all? If you believe it will work, then it will work, even for the ghosts.” Phii Teo retorted, despite initially claiming not to practice any religion.
No one argued further. We formed a line, preparing to move forward. Bing, Phii Teo, and Phii Thaen were at the front, with Phii Teo in the middle holding the iPad vertically. Phii Namwa stayed close behind Phii Thaen, looking scared, and I followed right behind Bing and Phii Teo for a sense of comfort.
We stood clustered in the middle of the downstairs hall, looking down the corridor that led to our unwanted destination.
At the end of the hallway was that door, which had never seemed so prominent before. The solid wooden door was rectangular, with a brass key hanging on the outside, not locked. The hallway now felt cold and eerie.
“Go.” Phii Thaen whispered.
We moved forward together, each step filled with trepidation. I noticed Phii Teo’s legs were shaking, but he tried to muster courage to keep walking. The wooden floor creaked softly at times under our steps, heightening the suspense.
Just a few meters from our goal, we suddenly heard a strange sound.
Creak...
My eyes almost popped out of their sockets when I saw the key, which was slightly askew, holding on precariously before dropping to the wooden floor! The door then creaked open.
“Argh...”
“AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”
Screams filled the air. Phii Teo threw his iPad away, Phii Namwa let out a high-pitched scream, and then we all bolted, scrambling up the stairs to the rooms upstairs. Once inside the bedroom, we slammed the door shut and locked it, gathering in one corner of the room.
Phii Namwa, still trembling, asked, “What was in the room just now?”
“Namwa, didn’t you see?” Phii Thaen countered.
“I was too scared to look. What did you see, Thaen?”
Phii Thaen shook his head and turned towards Bing.
Bing also shook his head. He turned to Phii Teo, “I didn’t see anything in time, so what did Phii Teo see that made you scream so loud?”
“I didn’t see anything either.”
“Wait, then why did you run?”
“The door opened by itself, so of course, I ran!”
“Did none of you see anything?” I finally blurted out.
Everyone turned to look at me, perhaps because my voice was unusually hoarse and shaky. Bing asked urgently, “What did you see, Phii Khen?”
I swallowed, the image replaying in my mind, sending shivers down my spine. I saw it clearly because it was the only thing moving when the door swung open...a small, delicate, pale hand, like a woman’s.
“A hand.” I managed to say with difficulty, “A white woman’s hand gripping the doorframe, but I didn’t see the body.”
“Was she hiding beside the door?” Bing asked in a whisper.
“No.” I denied, certain that my face must have looked ghastly, “The hand...was gripping the top of the door frame, the person in that room...he...was crawling on the ceiling.”
My words exploded like a bomb. Phii Namwa burst into tears, everyone’s panic escalated beyond what it already was. Phii Teo was pounding his chest like a madman, Bing staggered before collapsing to the floor, hugging his knees. I stood there, pale, not knowing what to do next.
No matter how dire the situation became, pushing us to the brink of madness, we were all exhausted. Bing and Phii Teo sat on the bed, devoid of any will to live. Meanwhile, Phii Thaen decided to bring his luggage upstairs, as Phii Namwa would rather die than sleep near that haunted room.
“What do we do now?” Phii Thaen said with a heavy heart.
There was no answer; everyone was lost in gloom. Phii Thaen sighed deeply before continuing.
“So let me ask, has anyone here done anything disrespectful or offensive to this house, maybe unintentionally? Because I just can’t figure out why it wants to keep us trapped here.”
We all paused to think, but eventually shook our heads.
“There’s nothing, I swear. I’m scared to death, how could I dare to desecrate anything?” Bing said, “What about you, Phii Teo? With your big mouth, have you accidentally said anything?”
Phii Teo averted his gaze briefly, “I...don’t know, but I don’t think so. I never had any ill intentions.”
He then clasped his hands in prayer, muttering apologies just in case he had inadvertently said something wrong. I had nothing to add; I was sure I had never disrespected or insulted anything. Since the first day I stepped into this house, I had nothing but good intentions, wanting to work hard on this project and hoping it would be a success, for both personal pride and career advancement.
“What should we do?” Phii Namwa mumbled.
It was a question that remained unanswered.
After a while, I went to my bedroom, leaving the door wide open. The atmosphere in the room was filled with despair and exhaustion. I sat down in a chair, leaned back, and let my arms hang at my sides. Tonight, either Phii Teo or Bing would have to sleep in here with me because the other room was too cramped for all five of us. The sound of Phii Teo and Phii Thaen’s conversation wafted through. I rested my face on my arm, closing my eyes from fatigue.
...The sound of rain falling
I woke up groggily, the sound of rain pattering outside, the air cool and damp. In the room, there was light from the bulb I had left on earlier. I rubbed my eyes and peered out the window; there was only the darkness of the rainy night.
Ding...
I jolted awake; the sound I heard was the piano! I turned sharply towards the door, which was still wide open, but the sight outside only deepened my confusion.
The hallway seemed to belong to another world, with a flickering yellow light that looked like it came from candles, a faint scent of flowers, and the sound of the piano playing a sweet, haunting melody amidst the rain. My heart raced, unsure if I was awake or dreaming.
I moved to get up and walked towards the door, the piano music still floating towards me, too intriguing to resist. While the neighboring rooms were eerily silent, as if no one was there. Deciding, I stepped into the hallway and turned towards the main room.
I stood there, stunned, my heart almost stopping at what I saw.
The same man was sitting at the piano, a tall young man with broad shoulders, a straight back, and short hair just above the collar. He wore dark trousers and a white shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his fingers moving over the piano keys, the candlelight casting shadows on his face, giving him an air of mysterious charm like he had stepped out of an old photograph. Fresh flowers in a vase filled the air with their scent, and the hands of the standing clock moved on its face, as if time had stopped in my world, while his own continued to flow.
Unable to resist, I approached him, as if in a trance. If this was a dream, I wanted to see him up close.
My heart beat faster with each step towards him, realizing he looked younger than I had thought, perhaps around my age. He was deeply focused on playing the piano, seemingly oblivious to my presence and my approach.
But it wasn’t what I expected.
The music stopped abruptly before I reached him. He sat still with his fingers lingering on the keys, his expression indifferent to the point of being almost stern, before his lips moved to utter:
“Go.”
His voice was deep and carried a hint of irritation. I stared in bewilderment, unsure if he was talking to me.
“I told you to go!”
I jolted awake from the shout, but I still stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do. He turned to look at me, causing me to turn away immediately. I quickly stepped back towards the door. At the same time, I heard footsteps following me. He was almost upon me when I managed to slip into the room. I frantically grabbed the door and pushed it shut as fast as I could.
The door closed. I braced it with all my might to keep him out, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst.
Just moments ago, he was so close, close enough for me to see his face clearly.
A delicate white face, with features that were a beautiful blend of Western and Asian, a sharp nose, defined jawline, brown hair slicked back from his forehead, large eyes framed by thick, long lashes staring intensely at me, and a small mole under his left eye.
...He was that kid.
The foreign boy who was sitting on my bed that day!