CHAPTER ONE: Black Scroll

“Show yourself,” I firmly demanded.

The ghost immediately went out of the body. I was glad she didn’t get locked up.

“I tried to stay away from you but I can’t,” she explained even though I didn’t ask her to.

“What do I have to do with you?” I crossed my arms on my chest.

“Maybe I’m asking for help for something I don’t know either or maybe you had something to do with my death.” She shrugged her shoulders.

Now a ghost is accusing me of murder?

“You shouldn’t enter someone else’s body in front of a grim reaper if you wish to stay longer in the world of the living,” I warned just to change the topic.

“Grim Reaper? Where?” She roamed her sight before stopping at the man behind me. “Is he the reaper?” She put her hands together in a praying position then put the back of her palm on his cheek and slightly bent her head sideways while staring at the reaper.

She batted her eyelashes at him as if she was telling us that it will be a pleasure getting reaped by someone half sexy, half hot, and totally immortal creature. I shook my head in disbelief.

“Reap me,” she muttered dreamily.

Her words just confirmed my thoughts.

“I’m not here for you.” I gulped upon hearing what he said. “Not for you either,” he added making me sigh in relief.

“Hey, mister.” He raised a brow because of my rude tone. “Is it possible that I can only interact with her now after eighteen long years?” I bravely asked with my chin up as if I was looking for a fight.

“Yes, it is. It’s because she’s not meant for you to see and you’re able to see her now since the power you hold overcame the will of the heavens.” He looked down on me and pat my head like I’m a kid.

I shove his hand away and clicked my tongue. I hate it when someone touches my hair.

“Why?”

He sneered and faced me. “I’m not allowed to disclose any confidential information unless...” He leaned closer. “You’ll give me something in return,” he added and a playful grin formed on his lips.

Dealing with a grim reaper is the worst. He might ask for my life.

“What do you want?” I asked as if I was willing to give him anything. My life may be boring but I don’t want to die, not just yet.

“Your power,” he sinisterly uttered.

His response just filled my cup with hope. “You can do that?”

Of course, I wanted him to have my powers. Who wouldn’t want a normal life?

He laughed making me confused.

“You’re that clueless?“ he slurred still laughing. “Of course I can!” He smiled sweetly.

There was something ominous in his smile but I chose to ignore it. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling knowing that at last, I will be able to live like any other young girl my age.

“Not!” He burst into laughter that made his almond eyes vanished. “I am in no position to take your gift away from you, silly.” He reached for my head and raffled my hair still laughing in between.

“Gift? More like a curse.” I scoffed.

He was still laughing. I glared at him as I come to realize that he was making fun of me. I nibbled my lower lip and raised my fist to smack him but I ended up touching my left chest where my mark appeared.

I groaned in pain making him stop laughing. I bit my bottom lip more to avoid myself from groaning loudly. A burning sensation occurred on my mark as if heated steel was dipped on it. Light was coming out of my body and then my mark served as the portal.

His eyes widened.

“Your eyes, close it!” he commanded.

I don’t know what’s happening but I don’t have any choice but to oblige. He knew me more -what I am- than I do.

I was forced to shut my eyelids but I couldn’t.

“I-I can’t. . .” I croaked helplessly.

“Damn it!” He pulled me closer and grabbed my nape pushing my head against his chest. “What do you see–”

I didn’t let him finish- no, not me. I couldn’t control my own lips. A vision flashed in my mind. I saw a blue ball rolling on the street.

“Blue ball. Rolling and rolling and rolling. . .” I murmured. “A blue butterfly. A little girl. A car," I randomly uttered.

I covered my ears upon hearing a screeching sound. Loud was an understatement, it was deafening.

What’s happening?

I want to scream but no sound would escape my mouth. My brows creased seeing my hand picked up a blue ball. I halted and looked at my side and I saw a white car running in my direction. I groaned feeling the pain in my stomach as the car hit me.

“Laura!” A lady in her forties screamed and covered her mouth afterward with his hands.

I was lifted from the ground and thrown away because of the impact. Another groan escaped my lips as my head hit something hard. The word excruciating was not enough to describe the pain I was feeling. It was beyond that adjective, it was unfathomable.

My body stumbled on the concrete road. The pain was all over my body. I couldn’t breathe properly. Something warm and gooey dripped on the side of my head. My blurry vision spun but I saw people surrounding me, looking down at me. Their heads were all made of a ticking clock with a bullet holes. Their eyes were fog-like white, mouths stitched with wire and necks cut open by glass shards. They were all missing a hand!

I felt a bitter-taste on the back of my tongue as their hairs slowly falls down. Water dripping from their drenched clothes but their skin started to melt like burned candles. The last thing I saw was a pair of red heels covered by blood walking away from the crowd and darkness completely conquered me.

“Laura Kent,” I called out someone I don’t even know. “I saw you die,” I continued with an austere look on my face.

I gasped for air and held his arm tightly.

“Did I just die?” I said under my breath stuttering.

“No, you witnessed someone else’s death,” he casually said as if it was nothing and continued brushing my hair. He let me go and cupped my cheek. “Thank goodness your eyes returned to normal,” he added.

“Aww...” I winced holding my head.

“Are you okay?” the ghost asked.

I faced her and was about to throw a fit because it was totally obvious that I was not okay but her worried eyes stopped me. I ended up giving her a small nod.

I looked around and saw everyone that passed by stared at me with disgust.

“Lunatic,” a short-haired girl mocked.

“No, Bea. She’s a medius,” a girl with straight midnight hair and forehead covered with bangs corrected.

She was holding a red lollipop that matched her bloody red lips. Amusement was written all over her face.

“Whatever, Amanda,” a short-haired girl named Bea rolled her eyes.

“A medius? A witch!” an old woman clamored.

“Where the hell did that hot guy came from?”

“I’m certain that he just appeared in just a snap!”

“You’re hallucinating.”

“Wearing that under a raging sun? Weird but hot!”

“Damn it!” he softly cursed and held his cowboy hat in place.

“They can see you?” The thought absolutely muddled me.

“You just made me visible to everyone,” he upbraided.

Now a grim reaper is accusing me? How am I able to do that?

“Laura, don’t go anywhere. Okay?” I heard a woman’s voice somewhere not far away.

My heart pounded fast after hearing a thump of a ball as if someone was dribbling it. I relentlessly looked around. My mind was clouded by fear not abling me to think straight.

“Hey! What’s wrong?” he asked but I just ignored him. “Hey!” He held my shoulders tightly and shook me.

I looked at him and saw his face softened.

“Mom, my ball...” a sweet voice complained.

I saw a blue ball rolling across the street from the grim reapers back. My brows came together seeing a blue butterfly on the little girl’s hair. She was running after her ball.

I rapidly shook his hand away and run after the little girl. My feet ran on their own at an incredible speed.

Adrenaline rush.

“Laura!” I screamed at the top of my lungs getting the attention of everyone.

I heard a loud beep followed by a screeching sound. She stopped in the middle of the street and picked up her ball. The moment she got her ball I swiftly grabbed her with me and safely crossed to the other side of the street.

I knelt and leveled my face to hers. I examined her body and held her hand. I closed my eyes and saw nothing death-related.

I have this rare ability to perceive someone’s death by touching his or her hand. I was flabbergasted knowing that I never touched even the tip of this little girl’s finger yet I saw her die.

Did my ability just upgrade? If yes, what a bitter-sweet upgrade.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” I granted her a head pat.

Her innocent eyes looked at me and she beamed me a smile. This little girl doesn’t have any idea about what happened. I was glad I was able to see her sweet smile.

“Oh goodness, Laura!” The lady immediately hugged her daughter in tears.

I stepped away and returned to the other side of the street. I felt other people’s stares following me.

“You’re indeed a no ordinary medius,” he said, amazed.

I picked up my bag and held control of my racing heart.

“I’m in trouble,” he whispered. Enough for me to hear.

I found him looking at a floating black scroll right in front of him. I didn’t know where that came from and when it appeared. I walked beside him and peeked.

The name Laura Kent written on the scroll slowly faded and was replaced by thirteen numbers. Each number has a corresponding initial. Initial BC, VS, SW, JG, GS, CM, BR, LC, ZC, XY, DM, SC, and SH respectively.