CHAPTER FOUR: Bruce Collins

BRUCE

I stared at my trembling hands and then at Amara. She looked pale and weak. I want to caress and embrace her. I promised to protect her but I couldn’t even protect her from me.

“What have you done, Bruce?” a voice echoed in my head and it was followed by a peal of wicked laughter.

I held my head with both hands pulling my hair wishing that the laughter would cease. In my turmoil state of mind, I walked away.

“Bruce...” she called, soft and weak.

Her voice receded the voice in my head. I glanced at her with eyes full of love.

After seconds of silence, she replied, “I love you too.”

I gave her my last sweet smile. The smile I refused to give to other ladies, only her. She smiled back with a slow nod. We’ve been through a lot that we could understand each other just by looking.

I stormed out of the library not just because I was afraid of Serra’s aura but also because I might hurt Amara more and our baby.

I’ve always wanted to have my own family and I want Amara to be my kids’ mother. I’ve always imagined my future with her but I think everything will stay as just an imagination.

“I-I’m sorry, baby,” I whispered. I kept on walking to somewhere I don’t know my feet would take me.

I’ve been losing my mind lately and found myself hurting Amara. If I’ll live but continue hurting her, I’d rather die.

I looked around and I could see nothing but Amara and me, our memories. In every corner of this university, in my whole life, it was just her. When my parents disowned me, she stayed. When my friends turned their backs against me, she faced me with open arms. When I kept hating and denying myself she was there, accepting me.

I was snapped back to reality and found myself in the university’s garden. In this place, I promised her that I will stay by her side forever. I beamed a bitter smile realizing that forever isn’t meant for persons but memories.

I stayed in here reminiscing our memories, happy or sad, sweet or mad, whatever kind of memory it is as long as with her, it made me happy. I heaved stealing one more glance at the place before heading to the dormitory.

“Ghost fed up by darkness will turn to evil spirit and evil spirits who harm any human is a demon who should be executed and burnt to ashes.” Serra’s voice rang in my ears that brought me to a halt and that hit me.

I ran back toward the library hoping that Serra was still there. Maybe I’m not sick, I’m not mentally ill. If medius does exist then evil spirits may do too. She could help me get rid of this evil creature inside me. She may not be able to save me but at least the possibility of me hurting Amara would end.

I entered the library and it was in chaos. Students were exchanging opinions about Serra.

“I’m sure Serra did something that made her faint.”

“She’s a monster. She should be expelled.”

I approached a student she was wearing a mask and coughing.

“Hey, what happened here?” I asked.

“A student fainted umm... was it Ara? Mara? Sarah?” She rubbed her neck recalling her name.

“Amara?” I corrected her, uncertain.

“Yes, Amara. I heard that she was bleeding and was brought to the dorm,” she said coughing in between.

I nodded and ran back to the dormitory. I glanced back to the lady to thank her but she already turned her back. I didn’t even excuse myself because of my rudeness in approaching her.

I checked her out to find something remarkable in her so that I could recognize her the next we met. What caught my attention was her crimson-red stilettos. It was bright and shiny that stood out from the rest. That type of shoes is what Amara refuses to wear.

I sprinted my way to the dormitory. There’s a way I could spend more time with Amara and our baby. I’ll witness Amara’s tummy enlarge. I’ll provide Amara’s cravings as she carries our baby. I’ll be able to feel our baby’s kick in her womb.

A light of hope ignited within me that awakened the beast.

“There’s no other way, Bruce. The only thing you can do is give up your body and offer it to me.” A familiar voice echoed in my head. “You’ll end up hurting Ara again. Don’t worry I will take good care of them,” he added persuading me.

My fist clenched. No one is going to take care of my wife and child but me. I increased my speed and ignored him.

“There’s no other way, Bruce,” he repeatedly uttered like a broken record.

“There is. There is another way, Mark,” I smirked shutting him off. “Serra Hilario,” I added full of hope.

His fear aroused upon hearing Serra’s name. I could feel his fear too as if we are one. I rushed into the elevator and pressed the number five button. The moment the elevator opened I stepped out and let my thoughts drown me.

If something bad happened to them I would never forgive myself.

My forehead knitted when a crowded hallway welcomed me. This was my first time stepping on this floor and it was lively and loud. Students scattered everywhere, talking, laughing, and playing. The wall was bright-painted and the lights were luminous too. It was the contrary of our floor’s corridor that radiates creepy feels.

I immediately looked for Amara’s room, and when I found it I was confused. Her room was open and three ladies were chit-chatting by the door.

“Hi, Bruce. Amara talked about you a lot,” a girl with curly hair greeted. “We’re Amara’s roommates,” she continued.

Her last word perplexed me more. I thought each student have their own room just like me.

Was it coincidental that I don’t happen to have a roommate?

“By the way how is she? We heard that she was brought to the infirmary,” a girl with short hair interfered.

It doesn’t make any sense. A girl in red stilettos told me that Amara was brought here.

“How’s the baby?” a girl with blue-dyed hair asked in a low voice. Her hands were clasping together as if she was hoping for a positive response. The girl who greeted me first glared at her. “Opss... did I spoil the surprise?” She scratched her head awkwardly.

Now I’m certain that she’s carrying my baby, our baby. I couldn’t contain the overfilling happiness, I couldn’t stop smiling.

“You smiled!” She clapped out of excitement. “I don’t get why Amara was nervous with the idea of you knowing the truth,” she added.

“Someone told me that she was brought here,” I stated.

They looked at each other, puzzled.

“She fainted and it wouldn’t be right if she was brought here,” the girl with short hair clarified.

“Actually she was brought there but the moment she gained consciousness she ran off and head back here,” a familiar voice intervened from behind, coughing in between.

I tilted my head in her direction. She was still wearing a mask and her red stilettos. She has straight midnight hair and bangs. Amara’s roommates threw a suspicious look at her.

“Hi! My room is next to yours.” She waved her hand.

The three exchanged glances again.

“The room next to ours was boy’s room." Doubt crossed on the face of the girl with curly hair.

“I mean the next next room,” she elucidated before facing me. “Maybe she headed to your room,” she guessed.

“Maybe, I’ll go ahead. See you around girls,” I said and turned my back.

I stole glimpses toward their direction and I saw the girl wearing a mask headed to the room she mentioned.

“This is the first time I saw that girl. She’s weird.”

“Add the fact that the room she referred to was vacant for almost two weeks now.”

“I think she’s hitting on Bruce. I’ll tell Amara about her.”

I shook my head hearing the three’s topic. They were talking as if their topic weren’t around. I went back to the elevator and pressed button number 13. It took a while before the door opened and I was greeted by disturbing silence that was soon replaced by the resonating click-clack of a lady’s shoe. I was walking on dim corridor. I could feel someone was eyeing me. I looked back but no one’s there. I ignored it and raced my way to my room.

I was stunned seeing the lady in a red dress standing in front of a room that is four rooms away from mine. She was staring at the room number. I gave her back a good look from head to toe. Her get-up was odd, all crimson red from her hat to her shoes. I put my hands in my pocket and continued walking, not bothered.

I searched for my key but I couldn’t find it. I don’t want to disturb her either, she might be taking a rest. I reached the knob and twisted it. I felt relieved knowing that it wasn’t locked. My relief turned to worry knowing that Amara never left the door unlocked.

I immediately headed to the room upstairs. I slightly opened the door and peeked. My girl was sleeping peacefully on a huge bed. I slowly entered the room when the wooden floor creaked underneath me. I saw her moved a little and I sighed in relief knowing that I didn’t wake her.

I shouldn’t stay by her side, not until I asked Serra for help. I might end up hurting my girl again and our baby. Before totally closing the door I noticed red shoes under the bed. I didn’t mind it, maybe Amara bought a new pair of shoes. I went down to the kitchen turning on the light and grabbed a glass of water.

I froze recalling what Amara told me after the incident that happened years ago.

“I-I’m starting to hate red, Bruce. It reminds me of Mark’s blood.” She was staring at the bouquet of roses I handed her. Her hands were trembling.

There was no way Amara owned that shoes.

“Click-clacking sound...”

My hand shivered to hear Serra’s voice in my head. I held my head tight when I remembered the same sound in the hallway. My heart was throbbing wildly against my chest. It felt like it will explode anytime soon.

“Crimson-red heels, dress and hat...”

The image of the lady wearing all bloody red flared in my eyes. My throat dried prohibiting me to produce a single sound.

“Glass shattered...”

I glanced at the glass of water I was holding. My stomach tensed as fear built up in my system. I heard a clashing sound of metal rubbed against the floor. I rapidly turned around and felt an impact on the side of my head.

“Glass shattered!”

I let go of the glass I was holding making it break into pieces as it hit the floor. It was followed by my body down on the cold ground. I could feel the viscous liquid gushing on the side of my head. I saw a pair of crimson red heels and a baseball bat before my eyes. My vision spun and got blurry until darkness devoured me.