It was a night, almost pitch black. Barely anything was visible. I was carefully driving, cautious of what might be in front or beside me. It was a long ride. A jump-scaring one too.
After parking my truck, I opened the trunk to bring the mannequin out. I looked at its face and then at its body. There was nothing suspicious.
The shopkeeper was trying to scare me since. But again, why would he try to do that when it should benefit him if I buy the mannequin?
I calmed down a bit after ensuring that the mannequin was usual.
Although, I still couldn't understand why the shopkeeper was so scared that he tried to warn me about it. In every way I think about it, it benefits the owner if I buy it.
There must be something I haven't seen yet.
To make sure, I got the mannequin out and placed it on the fake grass beside it. I examined it closely, scanning every part. I still didn't find anything that would terrify someone so much.
I turned away for a moment. I unexpectedly felt fresh air enter my lungs.
Fresh air when I looked away... This means I was smelling a stench I didn't know I was while looking at the mannequin.
The thought was enough to make the hairs on my body stand up.
I didn't dare look back at the truck or the mannequin at that moment. I was too scared to do that. Right then, I heard some noise. It sounded like it was coming from the truck. Specifically from the mannequin. It sounded like a cry.
I slowly tilted my head to an angle that the mannequin was still not visible. The cry got louder and louder. I was no longer able to notice the stench difference between the spaces. It then uttered a word.
"Help me". These were the words I heard at that moment that froze every inch of me then and there. However, this time, I froze out of my consciousness. I tried my best to move even if every try failed.
When I tried to speak, that didn't work either. An outside force shut me, and that was understandable at that moment. The voice continued to cry and utter the exact words repeatedly. I didn't know what to do. My mind went blank, and I was on the verge of collapsing with the intense pressure.
This time, when the voice spoke again, it said, "Help me...I am being eaten...". This time, I froze even more stiffly. I didn't know what to do. I then cleared my mind and tried to think about what I could do. No matter how much the cries grew, nothing happened to me physically. I didn't get hurt.
With Utmost strength, I tried to turn around to find the noise source. After trying for a long time, I finally did it. However, when I looked back, there was nothing. No sound, no cries and the paralysis effect on me was completely gone. I could only see the mannequin and the truck lying where I had left it. They were all idle, looking just like when I left them.
I was relieved, at the same time, terrified.
However, I was most terrified, knowing when I turned back, it stopped.