My name is Elena. I had a friend named Mia, she was my best friend ever since high school. Mia always loved to travel and she has has been traveling ever since we graduated. I had a difficult job so had to cancel plans many times she offered. That always pissed her off but she understood my situation well. She would go from big cities to small bizzare towns and shared with me her experiences as she returned. What I always admired about her was her enthusiasm and energy, she was amazing in company. But there was one thing about Mia which was strange… Mia always wore black. She had jet black hair cropped to her shoulders, even her nails and lips were painted black along with her black accessories for perfect match, kind of odd thing. On my asking she always replied she loved black, still it was an odd obsession to me. One day, Mia called me to come to our usual meeting place, the diner. As usual dressed in black, she came with exuberant energy. She told me she was going to Paris in 2 days for a week. I wished her well and she left as quick as she came, but I had no idea what was about to come.
On 4th day of the week, Mia called me. She told me that Paris was even more beautiful than they showed on T.V and she was enjoying herself. And also she had found something- it was a black dress. I expressed surprise mockingly- as for the usual ‘Mia’ thing. But her tone became serious.
‘ It’s not a normal black dress, Elena…’ she replied.
‘ Really? What’s so special about it?’
‘ It’s made up of skin… real human skin.’
‘You are kidding me, right?’
‘ I’ m not. ‘ she answered.’ it’s an antique. I got it from an old antique shop by the outskirts of Paris at fairly low price. The dress is made up of human skin instead of fabric, it’s cursed.’
A chill ran down my spin as she said that. She further said she’s been wearing it ever since she bought it and it’s soft to touch as skin.
‘ I will show you as soon as I return. ‘ she hung up.
We met at the diner, and she walked in with the dress on. Sure it was exquisite.
‘Touch it’ she said. ‘it’s so light and clings to my body well as if it’s my own body and I am not wearing any dress.’
As I did, I quickly let it go. It was so soft…as if I was touching someone, a human skin. It was giving me the creeps.
‘Oh, don’t you get freaked out! It’s a work of art. I am so glad I came across it.’ Mia squeaked. ‘okay, I have to go now. See you soon.’ and then she was gone, walking proudly in her black dress.
The next two days, Mia didn’t show up at the diner. I was worried. Is she sick? I tried calling her but she never picked up or called back. There was still no sign of Mia the next day as well. I was worried. Maybe I should drop by her apartment at the weekend.
It was noon the same day I was returning home from work when I suddenly caught sight of her. She was walking down the asphalt. But there was something off about her, she seemed to have lost some weight. And was she wearing the same black dress she brought from Paris? Before I could catch up with her she disappeared around the corner. I left her a voice message to come and meet me at the diner tomorrow.
The next day she still hasn’t showed up. There was something really wrong with Mia. As I could no longer keep my patience, I decided to visit her the next day.
Next morning, I stepped in the diner and greeted my other two friends who also dropped by most of the time.
‘Hey, Elena. Mia was looking for you. She came yesterday and the day after that at noon but you weren’t here. Did you meet her Do you know what’s wrong with that girl, why the hell is she wearing that same dress ever since she came back?! That’s too much and she smells funny. Also she’s lost a ton of weight, is she even eating? So much for fitness freak…’
I was flabbergasted. I thanked them and went off to work. I was getting really worked up. I finished work and was on my way to home to leave for Mia house, when I miraculously spotted Mia exiting the diner by the road. I was about to yell her name but my voice came out in a tiny squeak in fright Mia was no longer beautiful, her face was guant and pale, her hair dull as if not done for days, and she was skinny to the bone, even her spinal bone was visible beneath her dress-the same black dress.
‘MIA!’ I shouted and she stopped in her tracks to look at me. She had lost that vibrant energy about her, her eyes of hollow.
‘Elena, I was looking for you…’ she replied in a timid voice.
‘Where have you been? Why haven’t you been contacting me? And what’s all this about? Are you sick?’
‘I ll tell you everything, Mia.’ she answered. ‘Come by my apartment tonight. I will tell you.’ and then she was gone before I could say anything.
It was 9 p.m. I knocked at her apartment’s door. She opened it at the 6th knock all tired and guant, and in the same black dress.
‘Now tell me everything, Mia.’ I said in a demanding voice. Mia was silent. That was when I lost my temper.
‘Dammit, will you say something? What’s wrong with you? And why the hell are you wearing that dress, have you been wearing it ever since you came? Just take if off already!’
‘I can’t do that’ was all her reply.
‘ Are you fucking kidding me?! It’s too much. Now take if off or I am going to make you.’
‘DON’T YOU SEE…? I CAN’T TAKE OT OFF! IT’S ME, IT’S MY BODY !!!! IT’S BEEN EATING ME AND I CAN’T TAKE IT OFF!!! HELP ME, ELENA! HELP MEE… ‘
My mouth dropped open in horror and no words came out.
‘ YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING, RIGHT? I AM GOING TO GET RID OF IT MYSELF! I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE! ‘ she ran to the drawers and grabbed a huge pair of scissors and before I could move, started cutting at her dress. Pools of blood started to flow where she placed the cut and the floor beneath was was all red in her blood.
‘MIA, STOP IT!!! STOP!!!!’
‘NOW, I AM GOING TO GET RID OF THIS DRESS FOR GOOD!!!’ More blood started to ooze out as placed more cuts and started laughing frantically.
‘NOOOOOO!!!’ I leaped onto Mia’s arm to grab the scissors and yanks it from her, pushing her on the floor.
‘GIVE THAT BACK! GIVE THAT TO ME!!!!’ She leaped off the floor onto me and I fell on my back with heavy thud. Pain shot through my body and knocked my breath out, I held onto the scissors firmly.
‘GIVE IT BACCCCKKKK’ she crawled onto me and before I passed out in shock, I remembered her horrendous twisted face with big hollow eyes an a crazy smile few inches from my face…
When I came back to my senses, I saw 2 of the other tenents standing over me, they told me that they heard screams and came all rushing in to find me collapsed on the floor with the apartment door open. There was blood everywhere, but no Mia…
(Outside the apartment complex:
Man 1: What a strange night. Did that girl reach her home safe? I wonder where that blood come from.
Man 2: The paramedics said she wasn’t hurt so it wasn’t hers, that leaves it to the investigators and the disappearance of the apartment’s owner.
Man 1: Hey… Do you see that? What’s that on the tree by the window? Looks like a…person.
Man 2: Don’t be stupid. It’s a dress, a black one…
(Thank you! I would really like if you mention me in your video. Wishing you the best for your channel. Hopefully I ll write more stories.)
Author: Elena Khan