Who are you?

As she walked down the streets of New York, a woman caught the eye of many. Her elegant presence was undeniable, accentuated by the short white jersey dress that hugged her frame. A thin red silk stripe accentuated her waist, adding to her allure. The gold chain around her neck held inscriptions revealing her name to be Olivia.

She garnered the attention of everyone around her, the sense of worry from being late palpable in every hurried step. We can know this also from her white face that was flushed like a fiery ember, moreover she continually checked the time on her phone. She was tempted to cast off her black high-heeled shoes and break into a run. But the blazing sun dissuaded her from doing so, as she feared scorching her feet. But, if she noticed the edges of her heels leaving red marks on her feet, she would reconsider the idea. Undeterred, she kept moving until she finally stopped when she reached Burger Restaurant. And her grin widened with delight as she laid eyes on the watch, pleased that it had arrived punctually.

She lingered outside the restaurant, fussing with her outfit and scanning the surroundings in anticipation. It was clear she was expecting someone. A few moments later, signs of aggravation with the delayed arrival of the person she was anticipating manifested on her countenance, and when she was about to enter the restaurant, suddenly, a hand rested on her shoulder, causing her to jump. It was her dear friend, Lili. Olivia’s heart leapt with joy at the sight of her and she let out a joyous cry before embracing Lili with all her might. The sudden rush of emotion was almost overwhelming.

After that, Olivia reached out to touch the fabric of Lili’s shirt. "Ohhh, look at this!" she exclaimed. “The world’s queen is here, wearing the shirt I gave her at our high school graduation party." Lili laughed at Olivia’s remark and said, "You never forget anything, Olivia." The glimmer of tears in Olivia’s eyes betrayed her emotions of happiness and longing as she replied, "I will never forget our happy moments."

Once they entered the restaurant, they were greeted by the familiar tune of "Somewhere Only We Know." Without hesitation, they started swaying to the music with simple steps, overcome with happiness. As the song played, they sang along to the lyrics, particularly the part that went, "I’m getting old and I need something to rely on."

As they took their seats at the familiar table, they discussed the recent happenings in their lives. Lili excitedly told her about her new lover. Olivia, on the other hand, spoke of how her work as a detective had been keeping her occupied lately, leaving little time for anything else. As they chatted, the aroma of delicious food wafted towards them, making their stomachs growl in anticipation.

Olivia noticed the blue bruises on Lili’s arms and immediately asked her what had caused them, hoping that Lili would feel pleased knowing that she was interested in her well-being. To this, Lili simply smiled and replied, "You already know, Olivia. You know the reason very well." Olivia was taken aback and questioned Lili about what she meant by that. However, before Lili could respond, she abruptly stood up from the table, stating that she needed to refill her water bottle.

Meanwhile, Olivia felt a surge of anger and was tempted to bite her hand in frustration at the vague answer. She despised wordplay and anything that sparked her curiosity without providing an explanation. But at the same time, she felt a mixture of dread and apprehension that someone might have harmed Lili.

She lifted her head and rested her back against the chair, taking deep breaths to calm herself down. Suddenly, she noticed tree leaves falling onto the table in front of her. Although she was aware of the threads hanging from the restaurant's ceiling attaching the leaves, she was fascinated by their natural texture.

Unbeknownst to Olivia, the natural texture of the leaves was not a mere coincidence but rather an indication of something more significant.

As Olivia held the leaves up for closer inspection, a memory from her previous visit to the restaurant came flooding back: she recalled she couldn't find a place to refill her water bottle. With this thought in mind, she glanced to her right to see where her friend had gone.

She noticed that her friend Lili was standing next to the table like a statue, as if she did not want to move. Olivia began to breathe heavily and cough hard, her overwhelming feeling of terror began to escalate and she was almost convinced that something gruesome was about to occur.

Lili's intense gaze never faltered as she spoke, "Please, do not be startled by my appearance. I am Lili, the woman who had been sitting beside you mere moments ago. My new falling hair and frail body may come as a shock, but it is the end that has brought me to this state." Then, she collapsed onto the ground.

As you see scared eyes of Olivia at this moment, you will feel a shiver of true terror run down your spine, and as her tears cascade down her cheeks, you will understand the depths of her sorrow. As you witness her quivering form, you will come to comprehend the sheer magnitude of her shock.

Gradually rising to her feet, she attempted to let out a blood-curdling scream for aid, but upon standing, she discovered that she was utterly alone. All she could perceive was the darkness, slowly engulfing everything in its path.

Her body convulsed with intense tremors as she wept and repeated to herself, "No, no, not again. If I close my eyes, everything will return to normal." With great effort, she managed to shut her eyes tight, with hope this all gets better.

But when she opened her eyes, darkness had consumed everything, transforming the once familiar restaurant, where precious memories were made, into a dense, haunting forest. The place where their friendship had blossomed now only bore the final sentence of their bond.

Overwhelmed by the events she had witnessed, Olivia sat on the ground, extending her feet and resting her back against a tree branch. As she sat there, a single leaf drifted down from the tree and landed softly on her hand. As she reached out to touch it, she realized it was the same texture as the leaves that had fallen on her in the restaurant.

The music stopped, and Olivia began to hear the crashing waves of the sea. Little whispers echoed in her ears, repeating ominously, "The damn thing is coming."

The muffled murmurs grew louder and intensified into a thunderous voice that resonated within Olivia's core. The voice ominously prophesized, "Our fates are intertwined, yet we shall remain forever apart. Detective Olivia, try as you may, you will never find me. I am the elusive fact that always evades your investigations."

And then Olivia began to scream at the top of her lungs, her cries echoing through the empty space. "I am her friend! I just wanted a few moments with her. I miss her so much! Why did you do this? Who are you? Tell me who are you!"