CHAPTER TWO: I Saw You Die

“I was inspired by a medius who saved a girl from getting hit by a car. If you are watching this... Hi, brave girl!” Bruce said with a wide smile while looking at the camera and the video ended.

Bruce Collins was a hot topic these past few days after he saved a toddler from falling down an apartment building last Saturday. He was able to do that since we were allowed to go out of the university on weekends. I was able to continue my part-time job too. Well, my boss was considerate.

Almost two weeks had passed and my school life was like a cycle. All I did was getting up from bed, walked to the cafeteria, went to my classes then back to sleep and until now I haven’t met my roommate.

“Why is the reaper still not showing up?” Gugu frowned.

I just shook my head. She was like this for three days straight. Everything that escaped from her mouth was about the reaper.

“I need a daily dose of his handsomeness,” she fantasized almost drooling.

I’m currently sitting on a bench here in the school garden. I looked underneath when I felt a furry thing brushing my feet. I saw a black cat brushing itself against me.

“Where did you came from?” I brushed its head then lift it and placed it on my lap.

“A misfortune with another misfortune,” a passer-by said.

I raised my sight to look at her. She stared back at me then at the black cat on my lap. 

“Come on, Bea! We’re going to be late!” Amanda shouted from afar.

“Coming! Bitch...” she whispered the last word frowning and run after Amanda.

I was here because I don’t have a class yet. I brought out a snack from my bag and shared it with Gugu. Students passing were leaving me their stares.

“Bruce, I really can’t!” A girl sobbed resonated from the nearby bench.

I heaved. They’re arguing again, Amara and Bruce. It’s been a week yet they haven’t resolved their problem.

This day was different from my cycle days. I didn’t go down the elevator with Bruce, a cat appeared from nowhere, and every time I see the couples they are quarreling.

“You have to do it, Amara. Or else I’ll be the one to do it.” His voice was firm and austere.

“Again?” Bitterness and despair were visible in her voice. “When it comes with this topic you always lose yourself. I barely know you, Bruce,” she added and walked away sobbing.

I kept on petting the black cat when my hand suddenly numbed. I can feel obnoxious darkness. It brought shudders all over my body. I felt this before and it was somewhere near.

My back straightened when Bruce passed by. He was the one reeking with darkness.

“Bruce–”

I stood up holding the kitten but my head suddenly ached like it was hit by something hard. I even heard the sound of breaking glass. I grabbed the edge of the concrete table to support my weight. I swiftly placed the kitten on the table to avoid dropping it. My vision got blurry and the surrounding was spinning.

“Not now, Serra,” Bruce responded coldly.

I reached for the left part of my chest as I felt a third-degree burn in there. I opened my eyes and saw a blinding light. I blinked twice to adjust my sight. I heard a staccato click-clacking of heels resonated from the floor and throughout the dark room. It was getting louder and louder like it was getting closer. I felt the skin on the left part of my head tightened because of the dried anonymous substance. A cold breeze kissed my entire body as if I was naked.

“Click-clacking sound. Crimson-red heels. Dress. Hat. Shattered glass. Blinding lights. Naked. Lips painted in bloody red. Knife. Silent screams. Blood.” I erratically enunciate, out of control. “Bruce Collins, I saw you die.” I leaned on the table gasping for air.

“B-Bruce...”

I looked up and saw Amara behind Bruce. Her hands covered her lips. Fear and worry enveloped her.

“Do you think I’ll believe you?” he sneered.

“Bruce, you always believed Serra.” She approached him but he hit her hand away.

“I did but when it comes to my death, I don’t,” he let out and stormed away.

Amara called him many times but he didn’t bother looking back. She covered her face with her palms as she let out soft sobs and ran away, opposite direction that Bruce took.

“I told you to call my name when you need me, didn’t I?”

My brows crimped looking down at the kitty. Did a kitty just talk to me? Am I hearing things?

“Serra, are you okay?” Gugu asked out of concern.

I gave her a slow nod.

“You sure about that?”

I glared at the kitty and raised a brow. I was sure that it wasn’t Gugu’s voice.

“Gugu, did the kitten just talk?” I faced her and she gave me an are-you-really-okay look. “Nevermind.” I shook my head and grabbed the kitty to place it again on my lap.

I brushed its fur and brought out a notebook and a pen. I listed down what I saw.

Maybe I could help Bruce. Maybe I had this gift for a cause.

“It’s bothering you that much huh?”

I lowered my sight, his brown eyes met mine.

“Grip...” I muttered stuttering.

My eyes widened seeing the reaper lying on my lap. I want to stand up and push him away but I froze.

“Let’s stay like this for a while.” He closed his eyes. “Being a cat for a week drained my strength,” he added.

I looked away but I couldn’t stop myself from stealing glances. He looked exhausted and anxious. I flinched when he held my hand and guided it to his hair. I gulped and started stroking his hair. I noticed his expression loosened. He looked more serene and comfortable.

“At last I get to see his handsome face,” Gugu mumbled with admiration.

He put his cowboy hat on his chest and without it, I could clearly see his features. His long hair tied in a half-bun suited him very well. I leaned closer staring at his mole below the corner of his left eye. I froze when he suddenly opened his eyes.

“Fantasizing huh?” He smirked. I abruptly evaded his gaze.

His smirk was shortly replaced by a groan when I slightly pulled his hair. He got up and sat beside me.

“Why did you turn into a cat?” I queried.

“I disobeyed some rules because of you,” he responded and put on his hat.

I grimaced with his reply. “How is it my fault?”

“You exposed me to humans.” He grabbed my notebook and scanned it. “What did you see? What you listed isn’t enough.” He took my pen and wrote on the top of the blank page the word clues.

“Am I allowed to interfere? Wouldn’t I be punished?” I acted tough to hide the uneasiness I was feeling.

I might end up cursed as a cat forever.

“If you were thinking of being a cat as a punishment, don’t worry it’s only applicable for reapers.” He looked at me as if he’s waiting for an answer.

I stared at Gugu who’s been drooling over the reaper all this time.

“I felt your desire to help Bruce.”

I averted my gaze at him. I let out a deep sigh and firmly closed my eyes. I tried remembering other details but I couldn’t.

“I’m sorry.” I looked at my toes.

“It’s okay. Let’s try some other time.” He closed my notebook and put it on the side.

I closed my eyes again. I took deep breaths to clear my mind.

A vision flashed in my mind. I was walking on a dark corridor. Someone was eyeing me. I looked back but no one’s there. I put my hands in my pocket and continued walking not bothered. I opened a door and headed to the room upstairs. I slightly opened the door and peeked. A girl was sleeping peacefully on a huge bed.

I was fighting my urge to sleep beside her. I went down to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. A clashing sound of metal rubbed against the floor echoed in the room. I rapidly turned around and someone hit me on the side of my head.

I dropped down on the cold floor with my glass making it broke into pieces. I could feel the viscous liquid gushing on the side of my head where I was hit. There was a pair of red heels and a baseball bat before my eyes. My vision spun and got blurry until darkness vanquished me.

“I saw something.”

He instantly opened the notebook and picked the pen. I described to him what I saw and he wrote every detail of it. 

We continued after my last class. We tried to connect the dots and everything made sense. What I saw wasn’t death yet, it was before it. In this case, we will be able to save Bruce Collins. All we have to do is to warn him and watch his actions.

“Do you think it’s not too late?” I asked after thrusting the key into my room.

“I hope not,” Gugu commented.

“It’s not unless the black scroll will suddenly appear with his name on it,” he said as an assurance.

I took a step backward when the black scroll appeared right in front of my door. I felt my heart banging into my chest. We looked closer and saw the letter C moved a little bit away from the letter B then additional letters were written one by one between B and C forming two words, a name.

“Bruce Collins,” the three of us said in unison.

@hoax_12