Chapter 4 - A Duck's Egg

“Is that… An egg?”

Beneath the body of the lifeless duck, a single egg was left behind.

Shac cautiously reached for the egg, curious about the sudden appearance of the egg.

”It’s still warm.” He looks at the egg at his hand, it was warm, and seems to laid just recently. “But…” The duck lay motionless, its life is already gone, that’s what he noticed immediately.

“But despite this, I’m surprise nothing’s happening at this moment.”

It looks like I’m fine, even though the duck already died. Did… Did I somehow made a mistake of thinking that I will be dying along with the duck? Because it doesn’t make any sense that everyone in the school collapses after the duckling died…

Does it mean it’s just a coincidence? I don’t know…

But what surprises him most was the discovery of the egg, the only single evidence he knew that the duck was female. After all, all this time he thought that it was a male.

I thought it was a male, but this egg proves that it is a female. Well,It’s not that I know beforehand, I just assume it was a male. But… this thing, this was unexpected.

As he held the egg in his hand, he understood its significance. After all, this single egg came from a creature capable of lethal force, capable of killing people.

But, how could she have laid this egg within a week? Isn’t that too fast?

Shac noticed how odd it was for a duck to lay an egg in just a week, although he was not knowledgeable about ducks, he knew they don’t lay eggs in just a matter of a week.

Once more, Shac gazed at the duck, kneeling beside it. He let out a heavy sigh as he looks at the dead sight of the duck.

Who would have imagined you’d suddenly pass away and leave behind an egg. You truly are a mysterious creature, aren’t you. If only you could have explained what exactly is happening, and why you left this single piece of an egg behind, then it would be a big help to me.

But no matter what Shac thinks, the lifeless duck will always be remain silent.

“Rest peacefully.” Bidding farewell to the duck, he carefully place the egg on a nearby chair with a pillow on it, ensuring it remained intact.

He then grabs the duck’s lifeless body inside the wooden box, “Look how quickly things change, who would’ve thought you would grow this fast.” Placing back the body to the wooden box, he placed the box to the side. He picked up the nearby shovel and began digging a hole, deep enough for the burial of the duck.

I’m not sure how to feel about this. But I’m both saddened by her death, and yet relieved I survived unharmed.

He was unsure of what to feel, even though he is conflicted between being relieved or being sad about the situation, he knew that it was still his companion for the past week.

Once ready, Shac lifted the duck’s body again and gently lowered it into the prepared grave, gradually covering it with dirt, stomping the ground with his right feet multiple times until the ground becomes flat enough.

“Goodbye.”

× × × × × × × × × ×

An hour has passed since Shac has buried the duck.

“Aghhh! What am I supposed to do with this now?” Shac scratched his head, frustrated by the dilemma of what to do with the egg.

The egg has been placed in the pillow.

“Are you expecting me to watch your egg like this? As it slowly rots away?” Shac voiced his complaint, knowing the duck couldn’t respond.

Without its mother, he understood it was only a matter of time before the egg spoils.

I managed to survive, but now this… Why did she lay an egg that’s destined to rot? What’s the purpose of all this? What am I supposed to do?

No answers came to Shac… What was left is the uncertainty of the future of the egg, without its mother to provide warmth, it will only lead to it’s end.

I wonder how long would it take before it starts to rot… One problem after another…

He let out a deep sigh, bothered and confused about the thing he should do.

But, I must say this is better than me dying of suffocation over and over again. But, doesn’t change the fact that there is still this egg, what am I supposed to do with it?!

“Aghhh!”

Without much to do, He decided leave the egg for the moment and rest again, hoping to recover the energy he lost this early in the morning.

× × × × × × × × × ×

A day has passed and he left the egg in the pillow as it is, proceeding to his class for the day, and meeting his friend Ivan.

“An egg!?” Ivan shouted, surprised.

“Hey! calm down, you don’t need to shout.”

“My bad.” Ivan laughs awkwardly. “I bet it’s only a matter of time before it dies.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying, without the duck, it will surely spoil. it’s only been a day and there’s already a crack on it.”

“A crack? Maybe you accidentally pressed it too hard?”

“No no, there’s no way.” Shac denied, knowing he placed it carefully without pressing it too hard.

“Really? But how come it has a crack? That doesn’t make any sense, that’s not how the egg spoils.”

“I don’t know, I placed it carefully on the pillow yesterday without any problems. But, I noticed early this morning that there is a small scratch or crack in the middle of the egg.”

“Hmmm… That’s odd…”

I know, but it’s the duckling we are talking about! It’s supposed to do the unimaginable thing! Well, it’s not that Ivan knew about it.

But in any case, I should expect the unexpected, it’s the duck after all.

“I’ll check on later, there might be some changes on it.”

“Still, the duck grew in a week and left behind an egg. What’s more is that it’s only a single egg?” Ivan questioned. “That’s definitely not normal, I can tell you that.” He continued, knowing that there’s something wrong about it. “Are you sure that’s the only thing that happened?” Ivan added, looking at Shac.

“Yeah? that’s all I can say.” He immediately answered.

I mean that’s all I know about the egg. If there is something else, then that would be the time when the duckling dies and I get killed for some reason.

But that’s not something he should be worried about.

Ivan looks at Shac as Shac was thinking about something. “Be sure to tell me next time.”

“About the egg? Sure, I’ll tell you tomorrow if there are changes.”

“Right, but It’s too late.”

“Hm? What do you mean? Too late about what?” Shac wondered.

“For the egg.”

“Ahh, I guess. I’ve been wondering how long it would take for the egg to rot behind. But, I’m not quite sure what to do with it, the mother already died.” Shac scratches his head as he ponders about what is his next plan.

“From the looks of it, you need to throw it away.” Ivan suggested.

“I’ll probably continue watching for a bit longer.” Shac expressed uncertainty about the idea. But Ivan sighed upon hearing Shac’s reply.

“What’s with the sigh?” Shac asks, confused by the sudden sigh of Ivan.

“You remember the abandoned houses?”

“Huh? Why did you suddenly change the topic?”

“Just tell me what you remember about it.”

Shac was a bit taken aback by Ivan’s eagerness.

Abandoned houses… Abandoned… Ah, the houses behind the large mango tree.

“The houses behind the large mango tree?” Shac answered, as he remembers the houses from their village where there is a large mango tree in front of it.

Ivan nodded. “That one, so what do you remember about it?”

“It’s abandoned, and… That’s all I basically know.”

Ivan facepalmed. “I know that it’s abandoned, but don’t you remember any stories about that place?”

“Stories? Wait let me think for a bit…”

If I remember right, not a long time ago there were still families residing in that place.

Like three years ago maybe? But suddenly for some reason they abandoned the house, since there’s no one living there anymore.

“Something about them abandoning the houses? Like three years ago?”

“Well the truth is they didn’t abandon it, the people vanished.”

“They vanished? I don’t remember anything like that.”

I don’t even know about that, I was so sure that they abandoned the houses, for who knows the reason.

“Yeah… Wait, how come you didn’t know anything about this story?”

“Uh… I probably didn’t care about it in the first place.” Shac scratches his head.

“Hahahahaha.” Ivan laughed upon hearing Shac. “I bet.”

“So what exactly are you trying to tell me?”

“I want you to throw away the egg, right now.”

Huh?! What is he talking about?

“And what does it have to do with the abandoned houses?”

“I can’t go into details right now, but we need to make sure the egg is thrown away far from everyone.” Ivan looked at him with a serious expression, not as if it were a request, more like a command to throw the egg, no matter what.

“Oh…” Shac was surprised by the sudden change in Ivan’s mood. It’s not everyday for him to see Ivan in this expression, it seems to be that important. “Is it important?”

“If you don’t want something bad to happen, then you need to do it as fast as possible.”

I see, so I guess Ivan knew something about this situation.

“Got it, then we should get it as fast as possible.”

Ivan nodded in response. As both agreed to run, they dashed out of the school, trying to reach the egg before something happens.

× × × × × × × × × ×

“Haah… It’s still far.” Shac panted, trying to catch his breath.

“Let’s take a break for a minute.” Ivan suggested.

“Ah thanks… it’s so incredibly hard to breathe.”

Haaah… finally…

“Take it easy, we still have a minute.”

Seeing how calm Ivan is, he couldn’t help but think how he looks like that. “Looks like you’re fine huh.”

“It’s nothing new, I do running every once in a while.”

“Really? I didn’t know about that.”

“Of course, I didn’t tell you about it.” Ivan chuckled.

After recovering his breath for a few seconds, Shac decided to ask Ivan about what’s lingering on his mind for a while. “If you wouldn’t mind me asking, care to tell me now Ivan… Who exactly are you?”

Surprised by the sudden seriousness, Ivan looked at him and smiled. “Don’t look at me like that, I’m not your enemy.”

“Oh sorry, it’s just I’ve been on the edge for a while now.” Shac smiled awkwardly as he scratches his head.

“I totally get it.”

He gets it?

“What do you mean by you get it?”

“From the looks of it, it looks like you’ve been looping for a while now.”

Shac froze, stopping his breath. Huh?!

“How!? How did you know about it?”

“Hahaha… You could say I’ve been cursed by the duck too.” Ivan said with a grin.

Shac’s eyes widened. “You’ve been cursed too? Wait… it’s a curse?”

What… Did I just get curse by a duck? This is a curse? I never considered that before, but I guess that makes sense. This might be the reason why he’s so fixated about the ducks, because he is cursed too.

“Yes, that’s what I’ve been calling it, being cursed.” Ivan confirmed.

“I see, that make sense…” Shac said, nodding slowly. “ I’ve been wondering for a while now why you kept on asking about the duck. This might be the reason, it’s because you’re the same as me.”

Ivan chuckled, knowing Shac finally realized about it.

“I was trying to make sure if the duck is cursed or not, that’s why I’m asking if something unusual happened yet.” Ivan glanced at Shac, “It looks like you’ve been hiding it for a while now based on your reaction, right?”

I can’t deny that.

“Well, you can’t just expect me to say ‘Ivan, I died multiple times now.’ right?”

“Right.” Ivan said with a laugh. “I might think you’re beyond saving if you suddenly say something like that to me out of nowhere.”

“Thanks for understanding.” Shac lowered his head.

“Thanks for understanding me too.” Ivan said, mirroring Shac’s gesture.

Shac raised an eyebrow. “Why are you copying me now?”

“I am not…”

“Anyway, I want to ask something, but it’s not the best time right now.”

“You’re right, but let me tell you something first in case you don’t know.” Ivan said, his tone turning serious.

“Oh, What is it?”

“You’re about to die.”

Shac tensed as he heard what Ivan just said. “Are you for real? I thought I had already escaped death.”

“Unfortunately not. I can’t go into details right now, but if I’m not wrong, you’re not supposed to let the egg rot.”

“Is that the case?”

Then it means, I’m bound to die sooner or later, knowing that the mother already died. So… no matter what I do I’m bound to die?

“Yes.” Ivan confirmed. “Although I’m not quite sure about what’s going to happen. All I can say is that, it is connected to how people vanished.”

“So, is the story about the abandoned houses true after all?”

“That’s what I’ve been told.” Ivan replied.

“Been told? By who?”

“Someone from the past, a cursed person too.”

Another cursed person?

“What? You mean there are others like us?”

“Obviously, there must be a lot now. But she’s the only other cursed person I’ve met, you’re the second.”

If both Ivan and that person are cursed, how are they still alive and well now? Did they manage to escape the loop?

“How did you manage to survive?”

“Pure luck, you could say.” Ivan smiled.

“It looks like you’re not going to help me.” Shac replied, disappointed from how Ivan answered.

“Not today. Listen, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but you’re about to lose this time.”

Shac sighed heavily. “Do you have anything to say at least before it happens?”

Ivan stepped closer, resting his arms to Shac’s shoulders. “Reach out to me as soon as you get back. Be sure to tell me everything, and I will do my best to help you.”

Shac couldn’t help but smiled upon hearing such words from Ivan. He could feel that there’s a bit of hope. “Thanks… Do you know anything about what’s going to happen to me?”

“Not something that I’m aware of.” Ivan smile faded as he paused. “I do remember she said that when the egg rots, the cursed person will die… by vanishing.”

“By vanishing? Not by getting suffocated?” Shac asked in surprise, realizing that there’s more to it than people suffocating.

“No, that only happens when the duckling dies.”

So it is different when the duck lays an egg…

“Ah, that’s wh—”

Gulp. Something unknown suddenly shoots into Shac’s mouth at an unbelievable speed.

What was that?

“I felt something got into my mouth, incredibly fast…”

”What do you mean?” Ivan asked.

“I don’t… know…” Shac replied, shrugging his shoulders.

Ivan expression changed. “Ah I see… that’s what’s about to happen.”

“What!? What do you mean?” Shac asked, panicking.

“It looks like you’re about to burst.” Ivan said with a calm voice.

“Burst? What is… that supposed… to mean…?”

Slowly, Shac’s body started to expand, slowly getting larger.

Wait… what’s happening with my body?

Shac stared at his hand as they grew larger. It became more and more visible that his hands were stretching.

My hands… It’s getting bigger…

He looked at Ivan, thinking he could save him. But deep down, he knew this was the end for this time.

“Run!” Shac shouted at Ivan, who was just standing in front of him. But Ivan didn’t move, instead of running, Ivan stepped closer to Shac.

“See you Shac.” Ivan grabbed his hand, shaking it. “Don’t worry, it’s not the end.”

No… you should run…

Slowly, his body begins to swell and expand, shifting to a more bloated form.

As Shac watched his body continue to bloat, he smiled painfully, knowing he was about to die.

“See you… lat-”

Snap. Splat.

Shac’s body exploded violently, his insides tearing apart from the pressure of overload oxygen. His flesh and bones were shredded and scattered, his organs burst and disintegrate under the immense pressure, and blood sprayed in every direction, painting the surroundings in red.

God… This is just too brutal… Ivan thought to himself.

All that remained of Shac was a road painted red with his blood.