Encounter Not By Chance

What was living forever like?

A gut twisting feeling that made you tired of everything—living, breathing, walking. They were all repeated things I'd experienced before. And year after year, one thing seemed to be missing.

I couldn't remember everything from the lives I had lived, but something was missing. Definitely.

The bass pulsed through my veins, neon lights illuminating sweaty bodies dancing around the packed up room. Everything seemed normal, not surprising, even the sense of deja vu became a normalcy—until she entered, scanning the room with a sense of confusion in her eyes.

“Is that the chick you bumped Into earlier?” Patrick asked, noticing the fact that I stared at someone longer than a second.

“Hmm.” I mused, taking a small sip the vodka, the burn of the liquid making me feel alive. “She is.”

So ordinary looking, but I still remembered her features, especially the scattered freckles on her nose like a constellation of stars.

“She's—”

“Ordinary.” I completed Patrick's statement, watching as his lips curled into a small grin. He was a member of Shadow Gray pack, somewhere I bumped into during one of my travels.

He'd been about six years the last time I met him there. Now, he was all grown, all accepting the fact that I never aged.

He worked at this bar here.

I met him a few days ago.

He called me Uncle, but I'd told him not to. I didn't want a few people freaking out due to my youthful appearance. I wasn't a vampire or some sort.

“I've never seen you with a woman, Dominic. At least, over the last few days, you've never stared at anyone like that.” He tilted his head, leaning over the slab with curiosity gleaming in his eyes, “I think calling her ordinary is a bit off. Why don't you use the word interesting?”

“Because she isn't.” I grinned, pushing the glass towards him for another drink. “I’m just surprised by her first words.”

“She spoke to you?” He gasped, pushing another glass of Vodka towards me. “Well, you didn't let me in on that detail. Wasn't she terrified?”

“Why would she be?” I cocked a brow and he swallowed, placing his bony fingers over his chest.

“That look.” He laughed nervously, “your eyes included, they're so….dead and frightening and degrading.”

“I don't think so.”

“I think—”

“Glendale, No! I am not going to take this!” I'd heard her voice only once, but I was able to single it out among hundreds of others. It rose over the music, each word like sharp arrows piercing my heart. “I told you to stop.”

I turned away from Patrick, focusing on the average height blonde pulling a brunette stripper. Interesting. I wasn't the one to ask for some certain information, but Patrick leaned in and whispered. “That's Glendale. The hottest stripper here.”

“I didn't ask you, Pats.”

“Stop making a scene.” The certain Glendale tried to push the blonde away, but she didn't budge. Her body trembled hard, and I could tell she was in tears.

“Come home with me.” It was barely audible, just above a whisper, but due to my heightened senses, I heard her quite clearly.

“Please just go home.” Glendale snapped at her, and strangely, my wolf clawed at me, desperately wanting to let loose and pounce at Glendale for yelling at her. “You have no right to come here, Selena.”

Selena.

That was her name.

“I'm not going home until you come with me.” She tightened her grip on Glendale’s wrist, “Please. Don't do this, we'll find better jobs. I can't bear watching you do this.”

“Then don't.” Glendale pushed her away, heading back to the pole to dance, and Selena crumbed, gripping the edge of the table as she fought hard not to cry.

I couldn't understand this chick at all.

Why was she causing a scene?

She stared at Brenda one last time before walking out of the bar.

Not due to curiosity, not due to some interest or fascination, I stepped out for some air, and she turned out to be at the same place. Outside the bar, wiping her tears harshly.

As soon as she noticed my presence, she tensed, turning to face me quickly. She took a step backwards, staring at me with flickering familiarity, like she was damn sure she'd seen me before, but I tilted my head and absorbed her features.

She was ordinary. Plain. Flat. Bland. Obviously tasteless. She wasn't even my type.

I shook my head and ran my fingers through my hair. I didn't know why I followed her outside in the first place.

Just as I walked back into the bar, she called my name. “Dominic?” She whispered, like it was the sweetest thing she'd ever heard, the most strange way anyone had ever called my name. “are…are you sure we'd never met before?”

The fact that a single word from her made me halt was surprising. It was like she indirectly owned me, commanded me to do her will, but having that much power was a sin, right? “I don't think so.”

“Ma..maybe you forgot or something.” She whispered so certainly, I searched my memory, wondering if I'd indeed met her before, but there was nothing.

“I didn't.”

“Then—”

“I think you should stop talking to me. You should be afraid.” but she wasn't, not in the least afraid of me. Most people were afraid of how tired my eyes were, it made them tired of the world by just staring at it, and I felt alive by just gazing into her eyes.

She took a step backwards and nodded. “I should.” She whispered, taking note of her own words, “I will. Once you stop haunting my dreams.”

Haunting what?!

Before I could call out for her, she was already gone, walking down the streets in her extra large T-shirt and pants. I took note of her outfit as well, perfect.

She was starting to do something no one else had.

And I knew for sure, my life would never be the same after meeting her.