CHAPTER FIVE: Patient

“Why did you do that?” I didn’t look at him and just focused on bandaging his wrist. I lifted my gaze when he didn’t respond.

I stared at his sleeping face for a moment before finishing the bandage. He was leaning his head on the top of his extended arm over the table. I stretched my arm above the table and leaned my head on the top of it mirroring his position.

I gave his face a good glimpse. He looked vulnerable, soft, and warm which was the opposite of his strong, intimidating, and cold usual self.

We were in the university’s garden at the moment. We went to the clinic to borrow the first aid kit before heading here. The nurse let me borrow the kit since we were quite close. I was her frequent customer because of some bruises and scratches I got from some of my bullies. I still have a few despite being feared.

My phone rang so I swiftly answered it because it might wake Grip.

“Have you found her?” I asked in the softest voice I have.

“No, but one of the guards said that they saw a female student in a white dress climbed up the school’s fence. Basing on their description, I’m sure it was Amara,” she answered glumly from the other line.

I sighed and bid goodbye before hanging up. It was Victoria Solis, one of Amara’s roommates. She was famous because she was always seen in every commercial on any site endorsing the most popular shampoo and conditioner brand on the island of Vitam et Mortem. She has long wavy silky black hair which was ideal for any advertisement. It was her best asset and her crowning glory.

I kept my phone and returned to the same position, imitating Grip. I stared at his face and let my thoughts ate me.

I found the investigation regarding Bruce’s case reckless. An investigation lasted for only a day and a half then they immediately closed the case. It was a murder case, that I was sure of. My premonition will never be wrong. Who would even think of committing suicide on their birthday suit?

Also, the investigators only arrived at Bruce’s place this morning and there were chain mails with a video of Bruce being tortured and sexually harassed. I already sent the link to the head of the Department of Investigation but haven’t heard anything from them. Were they feigning ignorance?

The video was another thing. On the day of Bruce’s murder, students took multiple shots on his body bathing in his own blood but none of them circulated online. Most students posted it but it only lasted seconds and was immediately took down. How come the chain mails scattered everywhere like a virus, a contagious disease? No one even bothered to take it down. I was sure that the mails were sent by the murderer to put all the blame to Amara.

The thing that made the situation odd to its utmost was the fact that no one from the Collins set foot in the university. I even saw in their social media that they continued living their lives to the fullest, with no sign of grief. Bruce was their only child, their only heir but they didn’t seem to care.

“I’ll protect you with my soul, Amara,” I heard what Bruce’s heart beats for, again.

I felt a gentle touch on my cheek. I opened my eyes and I was welcomed by his sparkling brown orbs. I didn’t notice that I fell asleep. His fingers halted on my cheek for a while. He then stroked the strands of my hair behind my ear. I stopped his hand by yanking his wrist. I straightened my back and examined his bandaged wrist.

“It already healed,” he told me brushing my worry away. “Reapers don’t die but we bleed and get hurt too like humans,” he added.

“Do reapers fall in love too?” I questioned out of the blue.

I wanted to slap my lips when I realized what came out of my mouth. Where the hell did that came from?

With awkward tone, I said, “you don’t have to answer–”

“We do.” He meddled not letting me finish. “I do,” he continued and fastened his eyes on me.

I wanted to avoid his drowning eyes but I couldn’t. Instead, it was pulling me closer. We remained to stare at the windows of our souls as our faces inclined closer.

“Almost there... almost there...” A familiar voice cheered.

Gugu?

Realizing the owner of the voice I was hooked back to the present. I moved my butt away and avoided Grip’s gaze. My face turned hot. I could tell that I am flushing red right now. I also saw him gulped before averting his attention somewhere else.

“Almost!” she groaned and snapped her fingers in disappointment.

I gave her my menacing look. “Where have you been?”

In one swift float, she hid behind Grip. I grimaced because of what she did.

“Gugu?” I used my threatening tone.

She peeked above his shoulder. “I followed Bruce.”

I raffled my hair in annoyance. “Do you want to get eaten?”

She hid herself entirely. I stiffened when a realization hit me. I stood up and slammed the table in joy. “You followed his soul? Where is he?”

She revealed herself and replied awkwardly, “I lost him.”

“Again?”

She just nodded as a response. My shoulder dropped and I banged my butt back on the bench.

“I saw the girl in red outside the campus,” she mentioned.

Her revelation made my heart stopped beating for a moment. I tilted my head in her direction. I glanced at Grip and caught him looking at me. It was me who avoided first.

The girl in red was outside and Amara was outside. I breathe deep and shove the thought away. I will stick with my initial hunch and that’s final.

I motioned Gugu to continue.

“She headed at the police station and again I lost her.”

The side of my upper lip rose in disdain. I reacted low-key and let her continue.

“I desperately searched for her but I ran into two lads who were handling the autopsy report. I overheard their conversations. According to the record, Bruce was stabbed thirteen times on his back with a swiss knife. There was a huge blow on the side of his head and four on his stomach and purpled swollen handprints around his neck. He also reeked in alcohol but only a few amounts were found in his system and it wasn’t enough to make a person drunk. Furthermore, the same blade was used to carve the letter on his forehead,” she disclosed.

My heartbeat throbbed in my ears in rage. The evidence was crystal clear but what forced them to close the case and deem it as suicide? Something was going on under the table for sure!

“Justice isn’t served to everyone.” I gripped the bench to let my anger out.

“But heaven’s justice is.” He gently squeezed my hand. I looked at him and my grip relaxed.

I felt my phone buzzed. I tugged my hand away from his grasp. I received a message from Victoria.

Victoria S:

The links were gone like a bubble and check this out.

Attached to the message was a link. I clicked it and it directed me to IVeM’s newly released news report. At the bottom of the screen, VeM’s Psychiatric Hospital was written.

“Bruce Collins was one of our patients. He wasn’t able to finish his treatment because his parents withdraw the treatment agreement and canceled all his therapy sessions. He was having hallucinations and he acted irrationally which resulted in self-harm and harm inflicted on others around him. He even slashed his brother’s face.” The man in a white robe declared and nudged a folder on his table with Bruce’s files.

I exited the video and massaged my temples right after.

As far as I was knowledgeable, doctors are not allowed to disclose any confidential information about their clients. It was stated in their code of ethics and under the law. I checked the chainmail and Victoria was right, it vanished.

“Let’s search for Bruce tomorrow,” Grip suggested.

I shook my head and said, “tonight.”