Chapter 18

After Vesper left abruptly, Regan wondered what happened to her but she let it go after a while. The girl enforced her troubled thoughts on her mind, and assured herself that Vesper didn't believe her.Bringing up the courage, she had finished cleaning her room one hour ago.Then she played games on her laptop but got bored easily. She attempted to read but didn't read anything."Why should I?" She'd say to herself in frustration.That way, a strong melancholy engulfed her and the time looked for her as if it would never pass. Sometimes she stayed in the backyard, sometimes walked around the neighborhood. But she couldn't ignore the bizarre feeling that something might have been lurking behind the trees, waiting to hypnotize her mind and then strangle her.These thoughts were in Regan's mind for days and they were driving her crazy. Even when she supposedly slept after school, it was enforced by Monica. He would always be in her mind; his beautiful and captivating eyes would always be lingering in her mind.Despite the diminishing evidence, Regan connected all the inexplicable events to this enigmatic figure. Upon his arrival, she found herself enduring an unparalleled anguish. Yes, she had always been negative and paranoid, but it had been her mind only. Now, there was someone else as well.She'd pass the time by struggling internally, grip her hair, slam her books, but never cry. She didn't want a tear to escape her eyes.She'd show her frustration to the online games that once were her vibe; the studies that made no point anymore and the books, which were a waste of time, lies with stupid fairytales. None of these were appreciated anymore. She hated them all, they were a waste of time and the more she tried to focus on them, the more she fell captive of the delusions of her own mind.Merely one hour ago, she tried to study but couldn't focus on anything.She wondered, what did she do wrong to deserve all this struggle? Why couldn't she be normal and happy like the other girls her age?Of course, she'd really question her mental health. That terrified her even more; she even would imagine herself in a mental asylum; if Monica would transfer her there, how would she survive? She knew that her aunt would do it, she'd think that Regan needed it, she'd do it.These thoughts roamed her mind every damn second and she couldn't help but feel even more depressed. She had headaches all the time, she couldn't sleep, like always.A swift sound was heard from behind Regan and she realized it was Monica who came from work. Monica walked over to the backyard and found Regan there, deep in thought. She sighed heavily, over worried about her weird behaviours. She couldn't wrap her mind about her hair changing color as well."Regan, I really have to talk to you.""For what?""Well dear, I've seen that you are very bored and grumpy these days. What's wrong? Monica asked, putting a hand on Regan's shoulder.Regan gave her a dry look. If Monica would persist in demanding the problem of her sufferings, then she would tell. But she had embarrassed herself enough by telling Vesper everything, when Monica didn't even know."I don't know how to tell this, it's not like you're going to believe me anyway." Regan got up from the chair and walked inside the house. She entered and sat on the couch, a part of her wanting to tell Monica, a part of her relishing on fear."Oh my dear! Why are you saying this? Tell me, what's the matter? Is it about school? Are you getting bullied? If that's it, I'll help you," Monica said, following her.Another wave of melancholy engulfed Regan. She remembered the times she was bullied; it didn't affect her in the way she was now. She even considered the idea that it would have been better to be bullied than to suffer from a haunting occurrence."No, it has nothing to do with school.""Then tell me what it is," Monica demanded, her eyes searching for answers on Regan's.If there was a reason that was making Regan to doubt telling her, apart from not being believed, was that she knew Monica would get worried and align it with some sort of mental disorder. She knew her aunt was very freaky when it came to these things.So, Regan blamed herself for letting her emotional state to take over, for letting her grumpy side to show, when she could have hid it with a fake fine face, at least that's what she'd think. At least, Monica wouldn't see it, just like she hadn't seen it so many times before."Regan, I won't let you go until you tell me what's bothering you," Monica persisted, taking Regan's hand in hers."Scared kitten," the voice mocked in her mind."Just shut up!!!" She yelled back to it."Regan, you-""Fine, I'm going to tell you," Regan said, taking a deep breath. She began to tell her aunt the same things she told Vesper. Different from Vesper, Monica looked at her the whole time with disbelief. Regan's words were filled with strong emotions like rage and hatred for her supernatural occurrences."Dear, I know it's very unsettling, but why do you have to see the glass half empty everytime? Why the need to see everything so negatively? Sometimes our minds can play tricks on us. Our imagination can make us hear things that aren't really there. Maybe it's just your mind playing tricks on you," Monica suggested, her voice calm and soft, trying to reason logically with her niece.Upon hearing that, Regan didn't find it worth to explain anymore. She had already told over and over again about what she saw in the house, how it was haunted, how she herself was haunted. But Monica would always rant her rational ways in and leave no part for any real abnormalities."Aunt.... I'm not crazy! You know that, right?" She vented, furrowing her eyebrows."Of course not, sweetheart. Your mind might be so overloaded that it starts to imagine things, but that doesn't mean you're insane. I want you to feel safe and I'm going to ease your fears. Remember, I'm always here for you if you need someone to talk to. You should have told me that earlier," Monica said and pulled Regan into a hug.Regan wanted so hard to succumb to her desperation and cry but at the same time, the inner battle with herself, made her realize how weak she'd seem.Monica let her go and walked upstairs. Regan's depressive state was even more hurt from not being believed by the person she was the closest with.If Monica wouldn't believe her, who would?She continuously prayed to God for finding a way out from this mental torment.After a while, she felt a tiny flicker of determination rise inside her. She decided to take matters in her own hands. She'd prove that the house was haunted and spirits lingered around. That was the only way that Monica would believe.She started to think logically; to investigate the house better; to research for the previous house owners and the house's history. That way she'd find something, something that would make it certain the house was possessed by paranormal entities."Yes! That...that would be a great idea," Regan mumbled to herself.She got up from the couch letting out a long breath and trying to calm herself down."Regan, what's that hair dye?" Monica's voice got the girl's attention. She held a hair dye box in her hands."I don't know," she said genuinely, "where did you find that?""In your room," Monica replied."Wow, that's really turning all against me!" Regan told herself."Well, I don't know how it ended up there. Maybe you brought it?" Regan questioned with a skeptical voice."Why would I buy a red color? I don't dye my hair red," Monica stated the fact."Maybe you bought it by mistake?""That's not possible," she assured. "I was thinking, maybe you bought it and don't remember? Or you dyed your hair with this color?" Monica asked again, making it a reference to her niece's strange vividly cherry hair color."Aunt, I've told you thousands of times, I haven't dyed my hair! If I did, I would have no reason to pretend like I didn't. I never liked the idea to dye it. I don't know how the box got there!" Regan vented, her frustration evident in her voice. She couldn't believe her aunt still thought that she was dyeing her hair. The glass was already filled and Monica was pouring even more to drip as a form of Regan's frustration."Maybe Vesper forgot it there if none of us had it?" Regan suggested.Monica sighed. Seeing Regan's restless state, she thought to agree with her.

"Yes it could be. Go and ask her when you're free," she said and left the box on the coffee table. Then she went to the kitchen to go and eat something.

Regan bent down to grab the box. She unpacked it and noticed that the hair dye was half used.Ironic or not, it would be a great faux evidence that Regan had used it. And she didn't even know where it came from.