Chapter Nine - Echoes

She turned too quickly. Without hesitation.

Her heart rising as if expecting him to be someone she had been searching for.

Someone she didn't even know if he was real. Someone she wasn't even sure if she clearly saw his face.

She stared at the man.

Her face was obvious with curiosity.

Nothing about him felt familiar. She didn't feel the pull she thought she should feel.

He looked normal. Just normal.

It wasn't him. Something in her felt empty with that realisation.

“Who even is he?” she asked herself. There is no him, she told herself. She felt hurt, confused, or perhaps disappointed.

Just then, she heard the car honk. Katerina’s parents’ car that had been parked in the garage. They were using it for the meantime while waiting for the insurance repairs on Katerina’s car to finish.

Katerina let out a heavy sigh as she got into the car.

Rebecca turned to her.

“What happened?”

“Nothing,” Katerina said. “I thought I saw someone I knew.”

Rebecca looked at her for a moment. She didn't ask any more questions. She knew her friend had been through a lot and didn't want to push things.

“Supermarket, yeah?” Rebecca asked.

Katerina nodded.

Rebecca started the car and drove off. The road was calm. The city was beautiful. Rain drizzled quietly. Katerina loved the weather and rides like this, where she played her music at the highest volume.

But today was different. She was enveloped by the quiet. Watching the calm city of Ravenscourt, where things barely happened. The small towns. The city lights and the quiet roads.

She looked outside the car window throughout the ride. She barely spoke.

Something inside her chest felt strange. Mostly empty.

Like she was expecting something she did not understand.

She shook her head slightly.

There is no him, she told herself again.

Maybe it was just her mind playing tricks. Maybe it was the accident.

Rebecca parked the car at the supermarket, then they stepped inside. The lights in the supermarket were bright. People were walking, talking, laughing, and going about their daily lives.

Katerina pushed the cart slowly while Rebecca walked beside her.

They picked vegetables.

Bread.

Pasta.

And some other small things they needed for the house.

Rebecca talked about random things.

Katerina listened.

But her mind was far away.

For a brief moment, she felt like someone was watching her.

She turned once, but there was nothing. No one. Just people walking.

She touched her chest lightly.

Stop thinking too much, she told herself.

They paid and carried the bags to the car. The evening sky was already getting darker. The drive home was quiet as well. The road was wet. It felt like the weather was always that way in Ravenscourt.

Rebecca turned on soft music.

Katerina rested her head slightly on the window. She was tired, although not physically, but inside her chest felt heavy.

When they reached home, Katerina carried the bags inside while Rebecca helped her arrange them. They both made dinner together, talked, and watched a TV show.

Then Rebecca went to her room later.

Katerina was alone again. The house was quiet. She stood up from the couch and went to her room. She lay down on her bed.

Sleep did not come immediately. Her eyes were open for what felt like hours.

She thought about the bridge again.

The water. The cold air. The voice she thought she heard.

His calm but worried voice. 

Easy.

She kept thinking about that evening until sleep came slowly.

---

Katerina was inside the car again. Water surrounded her. It was dark and cold. It didn't feel real.

Like she was there but wasn't there at the same time.

The car was sinking slowly. She tried to breathe, but there was barely any air left. All she could take in was water.

She kicked and kicked for the door to open, but nothing. Her vision began to blur. Her body was gradually giving up.

Suddenly, the door opened. Just like that. She did not see who, and she didn't see how.

She felt the weight of the water pulling her out.

Instead of sinking, she felt herself rising. Her body moved upward through the water.

She was not swimming. She was just… rising. Her eyes were half closed. Her chest burned.

She felt cold hands around her arms but there was no one. 

Or maybe she imagined it.

Then everything changed. She was near the road and outside the water. She could hear distant sounds. Her eyes opened slightly. Just a little.

She saw someone above her.

Not clearly.

Just a shape. Or maybe a shadow.

A figure bending over her. She tried to focus, but she couldn't because everything was blurry.

But she saw his eyes very clearly. They were blue and glowy.

That was the only thing she could see. Blue eyes looking down at her. Nothing else about his face was clear. Just the eyes.

Then all of a sudden, it felt like flashes. Like broken pieces of light.

Her vision shifted, and she saw an old woman standing to the side. Not close. Not far. Just watching. Silent and still.

Her face looked familiar. Too familiar like she should know her but she didn't.

The old woman did not speak or move from that exact spot. She only watched.

Her eyes looked like they were trying to communicate with her. Or perhaps warn her? Katerina wasn't sure.

Then everything went dark.