The Haunted Encounter
Oh my God! This can't be happening. I'm convinced it's all unfolding inside my head. For a moment, I was even scared of my own shadow. The whole event has made my blood run cold. What should I do?
Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Oliver, a tour guide who's been working for an agency for the past five years. Typically, I work for three boring weeks, followed by a blissful seven-day break during which I move to the outskirts. These are the paid holidays which add to my happiness.
But this time, my plans didn’t go hand in hand with my expectations. I received a call from the company manager.
Manager: "Hello, good morning, Oliver."
Oliver: "Good morning, sir. It's early; is there urgent work?" (Although I wasn't in the mood to take on any work, formalities did force me to ask.)
Manager: "Yes, actually, a group of friends has chosen our company for a trip to Columbus, New York, and Washington. Unfortunately, the assigned tour guide is down with a fever and cough. We need you to lead the task."
Oliver: "I understand, but my holidays have already begun, and I had plans."
Manager: "We will compensate you for your holidays. However, accomplishing this is necessary."
(I knew my words wouldn't leave any imprint on his decision. Resignedly, I accepted. My days of relaxation were postponed.) The manager emailed me the contact details of the group members. I did my best not to focus on my thoughts but rather to prepare the itinerary for the group.
Two days later, they arrived in New York. It was a group of friends, nearly my age. Guiding friends was far easier than guiding families. I counted, and there were nine of them, even though their provided data mentioned only eight. I asked, and they recounted, confirming there were nine. I was satisfied and I carried on. Then, I spotted her – a girl I thought I'd seen before. But it couldn't be possible; she was dead. My heart skipped a beat, and I closed my eyes, hoping it was a trick played by my unconscious mind. When I reopened them, she had disappeared. I told myself I was imagining things and continued attending to the group. They were here for an eight-day stay. Our hotel was near the airport. We checked in and headed towards the breakfast hall, where I asked for a table for nine.
It was late evening, and the hall was empty. Although I requested a table for nine, we sat at a table meant for ten. All ten seats were packed up. I tried to ignore this unusual event, focusing on the group. I noticed the girl again. Feeling uneasy, I excused myself from the table, reassuring them to meet them the next morning. That night was restless. Tiredness took over due to the strange events.
I took them sightseeing the following day to famous buildings, museums, and various attractions. They had a wonderful time, painting the town red. Their joys were on cloud nine which made my disappointment vanish. But I didn’t know it was just for a short period!
On that very day, we travelled to another city. I had booked a ten-seater bus. The bus was full – eight group members, me, and the driver. At the time of exiting the bus at the next hotel, I counted, and there were nine members. My headache got worse the rest day, and I dropped the plan to recount. Back in my hotel room, I sensed some unease. Fatigue overtook unease, and I fell onto the bed. I woke around 2 AM to dim light.
When I opened my eyes, I saw her – the girl who died in front of me. She was sitting by the desk, playing with a switch. It was horrifying. She was the girl who perished during her vacation here with friends two years ago. The hotel they stayed in suffered from a short circuit, and she had died. I became too selfish to save myself. She was pleading for help but I ignored her. As I opened my mouth to speak, I realised words failed me. She began the conversation, sharing how poor her last moments had been. "Are you here to take my life?" I asked. Her reply was quick: "Yes." I attempted to run, but my legs betrayed me, and I fainted.
When I woke the next morning, a locket was in my hand. It was hers. Without any second thought, I called the manager, making it clear I wouldn't lead that tour. My voice was filled with fear and panic which convinced him to respect my decision.
The haunted encounter had changed me forever.









