The Unsettlers

“I’ve had it, I can’t take it anymore!” I heard my mom yelling through my bedroom door. I don’t know how she wasn’t able to see it, it was right there. 

So, to sum it all the entire town including my family thinks I’m insane. I see things that no one sees, I hear things that goes completely unnoticed by everyone except Nibbles, my fat kitty, and feel odd sensations where they are near. And the “they” I’m referring to are these weird looking creatures that appear on the verge of being vapor and a solid at the same time. They have a dark aura around them, I decided to name them the ‘Unsettlers” because I  always felt unsettled when they were nearby.  

Recently they’ve been getting closer to me. Following behind me, staring at me but  today one tried attacking me, which is when I defended me by stabbing it. Of course, to my  mother I just looked like a knife wielding psychopath.  

“Roland, you didn’t see her, she kept stabbing the air and screaming. Our neighbor  called me thinking we had an intruder. The police were here.” I felt bad that my mom  sounded so exhausted, but I knew what I saw and felt. Remembering the creatures chilling  breath blowing against the back of my neck sent chills up my spine. I know what I saw, I kept  repeating to myself. Or maybe I was just as crazy as everyone said. 

“Honey, please understand that we are doing this to help you.” My dad said, trying to  get me to look at him. The day after the “incident” my parents sent some psychiatrist to talk  to me and explain the things ‘I’m hearing in my head.’ I truly wanted to tell her where she  could put that folder, but I refrained. My parents with the help of the psychiatrists’, Dr. Buburu, decided it would be best if I got admitted into a mental health facility. 

So here I am in Ibi’s Mental Health and Resource Center, how delightful. “Whatever  you say daddy dearest.” My body was on edge, something about this place felt off. Kind of  like I walked into a different realm. Granted there were no Unsettlers here, at least none I  could see or hear.  

“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Cine, it’s a pleasure to see you both.” Dr. Buburu said traipsing  through the hall. Everything about this woman irritated, every-single-thing. After exchanging  pleasantries, she turned her beady eyes on me. “Nantale, how are you doing?” 

“I would be doing a lot better if I wasn’t here.” Her eyes turned completely black then  went back to normal. Maybe I imagined it, or something was off about this lady. After I was  checked-in a man came and got my things. I didn’t even bother telling my parents bye, it was  them who brought me here in the first place.  

“You will be under constant supervision; we provide three meals a day and you will  have sessions with Dr. Buburu every morning and group therapy every afternoon. He stops in  front of this room that closely resembled a prison cell. “This is where you’ll be sleeping, and  this will be your roommate for the remainder of your stay.” 

“Taylor this is Nantale, Nantale this is Taylor. I’ll leave you two to get acquainted.” Taylor looked frail and on the verge of jumping out of her skin. Dark circles were under her  eyes, and although I could tell that she was probably in her early twenties she looked aged.  “Welcome to hell.” If I hadn’t seen her lips move, I would’ve barely realized she spoke. “It’s obvious that this place is trash, but what qualifies it as hell?” 

“You’ll see.” She didn’t say it in a taunting way, which would’ve been better than the  surety in her voice and the solemn look she sent my way. For the second time over the span  of a couple days a chill went up my spine. “Did they make it seem as though you were  imagining things too?”

“What kind of things?” I said moving closer. Could it be that someone else saw the  same things that I did? “The ghosts.” My heart stopped; I wasn’t crazy. “So, you see the  Unsettlers too?” 

“What?” 

“The Unsettlers, creepy ghoulish things that float around?” 

“Yeah. But by the time they’re done with you you’ll wish that was the only thing you  saw.” Again, another chill. At this point I’ll need to get a new spine.  

“Go to sleep, you’ll need it.” Taylor went under her sheets and turned her back to me,  welp that was definitely the end of our conversation. 

That night I had the weirdest dream. “Look at me, whatever you do you keep your  spirit locked up okay? They can’t control you if you’re the only one with the key.” My  grandpa was talking to me while we were standing near a lake, a lake that felt oddly familiar  as if I had been there before. “People won’t understand, but I do. We’re one and the same  Princess. Whenever you’re in trouble think of me and I’ll always come.” 

“WAKE UP, EVERYBODY WAKE UP!!!!” I recognized the voice, it belonged to  the man that brought to my room. The reality set in, I’m really at a mental facility. Both  Taylor and I were getting out of bed when our room doors were unlocked. We hit the showers  then went to the dining hall. 

I was called to see Dr. Buburu, something I wasn’t looking forward to. “Welcome  Nantale, please have a seat.” 

“Your parents have informed me about you and your claims over the last couple of  yours. Do you still see them?” The look she gave me was unsettling. “No.” I said, my throat  feeling tight. “Well, that’s because our barrier keeps them out.” Her eyes darkened. “Welcome to hell Nantale.” The most terrifying smile appeared on her face. “What are you!!” “I can show you better than I can tell you.”