CHAPTER FIVE: Hee-er

This time, it didn’t take long when the investigation team arrived which was contrary to the day Bruce fell from the clock tower. It took them almost an hour before reaching the crime scene given the fact that the station was only a few blocks away from the university.

They were slouching for some reason or maybe their service depended on the background of the person who called them. It was Amanda Silverio after all, perks of being the governor’s daughter.

“Take Amara somewhere comfortable. I’ll be the one to give a statement,” Amanda suggested.

I just nodded and helped Amara out guiding her by the hand. I was struggling thinking of a place where I could take her. Scratch the idea of taking her to our room since it was just next to Bruce’s room. I nibbled the bottom of my lip.

“Let’s just head to my room,” she said in between her sobs.

I just nodded and lead the way towards the dorm’s elevator. I glanced at her when the elevator’s door closed.

“Fifth floor.” She tightened her grip on the elevator’s railings.

I pressed the number five button. We don’t have class since it’s Saturday. We were not allowed to go out of the university too because of what happened to Bruce. The police assumed it was a murder and one of the students was the culprit. Yesterday’s class was also suspended due to an ongoing investigation.

I glanced at Grip who was tailing us. I mouthed ‘where’s Gugu?’ without creating a sound but I only received a shrug. I threw him a contemptuous look.

He just raised his hands in the air and mouthed back ‘what?’.

I dwindled my eyes at him. He was about to respond but the elevator dinged. I snapped back my head at the front in a swift motion ignoring him and focused on Amara.

While walking in the hallway other students would stop talking and avert their gazes at us and of course, the topic would switch to Bruce’s death. 

“For sure she was the reason behind Bruce’s death.”

“She’s a toxic girlfriend.”

Amara lowered her head in shame and tightened her hold on my arm. Their annoying murmurs kept on buzzing in my ears like bees. I glunched at them shutting their horrible mouths. My glare alone could freeze someone in place, the advantage of being a feared medius or witch in their eyes. When we reached her room her roommates immediately took her from me and made her lie down on her bed.

I looked around and their room was confined in space. There were two double decks and a huge dresser in between. The size of their room was about 1/8 of our room’s size. This was pretty unfair. Four of them shared in this tiny room while only two of us- Amanda and me shared in such a huge and exquisite room. Bruce’s room was also pretty huge. I got a feeling that students on the 13th floor enjoyed such extravagant life.

I glanced at Amara and her shoulders moved as she cried silently. We let her have her lone time and just waited outside.

“Where could he be?” he whispered in frustration pertaining to Bruce.

I scorned at him. A grim reaper should know where to fetch the soul of a person he’ll reap. I guess he was not experienced enough.

“Don’t give me that look. I am a reaper for so long that I lost count. Maybe for centuries and this is the first time that I got no grip on the situation. The grudge or the desire of Bruce blocked me from locating him,” he explained frowning as if he read my mind.

I rolled my eyes heavenwards and staved my attention on something else. I noticed Amara’s roommates looking at me dumbfounded. In their point of view, I was making faces in the air. Their reaction was telling me that I was a weirdo. I just sighed.

“Can we talk?” We all looked at Amara who spoke from the door. She was directly looking at me.

I gave her a nod and entered the room. She locked the door behind me. I sat on the edge of her bed. I saw photos of her and Bruce on the wall beside her bed. They looked so good together, matched made in heaven.

“Ask her where is her boyfriend,” Grip insisted poking my side as he sat beside me.

I tapped his hand away and fretted. I pushed him away, he was too close. The space was wide but he intentionally squeezed himself to me. I realized he was wearing the same outfit and it has been more than two weeks now. I stared at his clothes and made face, disgusted.

“I have multiple clothes with the same style,” he defended himself.

Did he read my mind again? Are reapers even allowed to dive into other’s minds?

“I couldn’t read your mind. You were just too obvious.” He formed a V sign using his fingers and curled them twice emphasizing the word obvious.

“Whatever.” I did another eye roll and tried harder to push him away but he kept on pushing himself to me.

Amara cleared her throat and that made us stop. I fixed myself and my composure. I hit his side with my elbow low-key. He grunted and I feigned innocence.

“Can we talk, alone?” She glanced at me then at my side where Grip was seated.

With wide eyes I gulped. “You can see him? You’re a medius?”

She beamed me a thrift smile and sat on my other side. She still looked beautiful despite her red and blotch face, bloodshot eyes, and puffy eyelids due to days of mourning. “I don’t and I am. I could only hear his voice.”

“You’re a hee-er?” I said astound.

I never met someone of my kind or maybe I did but they just hid the truth about them being a medius to avoid society’s scrutiny. Most of us were afraid to be judged and treated like trash. Most mormians were ill-mannered and they despised us for some reason I was not aware of. They kept on reasoning out that we were a threat to their safety but in fact, it was the opposite.

“Now I know why Bruce respected me. It was because of you. His lover is a medius too,” I commented out of excitement.

She shook her head and held my hands together. “You deserve to be respected, Serra. Especially respect from our fellow mediuses.”

“What do you mean?” Confusion filled my cup right now. She sounded like she knew something that I don’t.

“Hmm... he didn’t tell you?” she mumbled. Her eyes passed through me.

I looked behind and saw Grip avoiding my gaze.

“You knew each other? What did he not tell me?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know him but I could tell from his voice that he’s a reaper. I am in no position to tell you and I bet, him too.”

Identifying someone’s identity through their voice was extraordinary. She mastered her gift! I wanted to know everything but by the look on their faces, I knew that I’ll get nothing so I’ll set it aside for now.

“What do you want to talk about?” I changed the topic.

She took a deep breath and said, “I want to confess.”