"If you run from the heat, you're making it worse! But if you stand up to it, you'll live happily!"
- Yoh Asakura (Shaman King)
PRESENT TIME:
SAYA'S POV:
"She's a Shaman. Saya, your Mother is a great person, who helps a lot of people using her abilities."
Then, my world Stops for a second. These difficult emotions, I see them like a river flowing by me. Words left me.
Aunt Eva insists that My Mom loves to help people around her especially those who are missing their loved one which already passed away. "Saya your mom is the greatest person I've met in my entire life"
"Since I was a kid, Ms. Sara remains the coolest person I met" Toby seriously added. "I still remember that she always gave me donuts that my mom disagrees with" He giggles. This fella never fails to be a clown in a serious moment.
Aunt Eva is My Mom's sister from the other woman of my grandfather. They have no idea at first. They met as a librarian assistant in Senior High at UP Diliman.
"Sara chose to be an independent woman at 18. She mentioned that she stole a lot of money from her father, the craziest thing she ever did." Aunt Eva's narration.
The Flashback continues...
"What? You have been staying here for 3 mos. alone? Seriously?" A young and sweet looking Eva utters. A rounded face, slightly lighter than ivory with a rose-colored tint to her cheeks. Her small hazel eyes that were lively, warm, and sparkled with bliss when she smiled. Wearing a Senior High school uniform, walking away from the school's Main Gate with Sara Menesis.
"It's true. I don't need to lie to you" A beautiful young Sara confidently replied. Consist of small humorous eyes squinting, sunken cheeks, square face, clear-skinned. Sara is obviously beautiful with a heart. "I have managed to buy a 3-Br apartment with the money that I stole from my Father" She giggles. She looks amazingly attractive, a lot of students taking a glance at her while passing by.
"Oh My God. Where is it then? Invite me to a sleepover" Eva smiling widely, "From now on I'll be your beloved servant. Master!" She playfully taking a 180-degree bow towards Sara.
Aunt Eva Narrating...
After a couple of months, My Mom was diagnosed with stage 3 stomach cancer. I have no Father since birth. Mom told me, He got died from an accident. Due to financial issues, we can't afford cancer treatments but Sara insisted to continue the medicaments and chemotherapy. She donated some money. Unfortunately, financial stress ramped up quickly. Months into Mom's treatment, with mine and Sara savings, obliterated. We fell behind on mortgage and utility payments. Part-time jobs won't work out anymore. That crucial moment, Sara decided to contact her family for the first time after she escapes from them.
It was a devastating moment for Sara. For the first time, she shared her family's background with me. Her father is a successful businessman, remarried to a devilish Woman. Sara suffered from her Step-Mom a lot since she was a kid. Eventually, she secretly stole money from her father's vault every time there's an opportunity.
After Sara made a big decision to contact her family, they decided to meet on the day after tomorrow. Her family flew to Metro Manila upon hearing a request from Sara. We didn't expect it.
Her father forgives her and even mentioned that they will donate money for my Mom's hospital bill. Sara's step-mom even hugged her tightly, apologizing as well for being a cruel and terrible mother towards her.
Unfortunately, everything wasn't going as planned. That day, my mom died unexpectedly.
Dealing with death, particularly the death of someone you love, is one of the most stressful experiences you can go through. A constant feeling of chaos in my mind. I don't know what to do, I just sit in the hospital's corridor crying continuously. Grief. Feels like desolation in your heart, a shear of obscurities that somehow takes over me and holds your soul and threatens to kill your mind. There is nothing you can do to get out from under it. It's like this hole in your heart that is the shape of the one you lost and it makes you feel the need to wipe away any unreal tears that you want to form but can't.
Sara slowly walks closer towards me and then, she suddenly uttered these inspiring words without shedding any drop of tears.
Once people are not here physically, the spirit remains. We still connect, we can communicate, and we can give and receive love and forgiveness. There is love after someone dies. Yeah, Dying is a horrible situation, and... You just have to get through it.
- Sara Menesis.
During the funeral, Sara's father and her step-mom surprisingly visited. Sara has been helping me from day-1. She taught that they will not go to visit. Strangely, Sara's father collapses after seeing my Mom's picture. From that day, my life and Sara's turned upside down.
Sara's father was my Mom's old boss, they had an affair. He unknowingly has no idea about me. He doesn't know I exist. I feel like I'm dreaming of the worst nightmare. It was the most intense nightmare and I was never gladder to see the light of day.
Sara's tears began to spill from her helpless eyes. Sara is a strong and confident woman, I never taught that she will breakdown from that news. I thought our friendship was over after that night. Knowing the Facts that She's my half-sister as well as I'm older than her by a couple of months.
However, after my Mom's funeral. Sara happily accepted me and decided to live together.
Our father provided us a loft-type apartment and School's assistance since we are graduating students before he left and gone back to the states. At first, it was still hard for me to move on. When I lost my Mom, It gives me this heavy feeling that's like the weight of the world is resting on my shoulders. A few weeks later, I witness Sara talking with herself. She looks very devastated and fighting with an invisible person. At first, I just taught that She just relieving her stress. It was also proven that talking to ourselves is completely within the norm.
Unfortunately, I've seen her walking outside in the middle of the night not once but twice. I decided to keep close eyes on her. The day after tomorrow, she's getting ready to go out again. I was furious, Does Sara works in a bar? In a club? Or maybe in a convenience store, graveyard shift. I decided to follow her to see which way she was going, she took a taxi which I also did, for me to catch her. Luckily, Sara didn't notice it at all. I feel extremely nervous. Even if we are now half-sisters, I know it doesn't give me the right to follow her. She still has a private life, I think I'm doing the wrong thing.
She got off somewhere in Malate, I still manage to follow her. After a few minutes of walking, there's an old lady who welcomes her in front of a bar. Does Sara really work in a Bar? It took me five minutes, to finally enter the bar. I actually felt discouraged and utterly terrified to find out the truth, there's a lot of hesitations.
As I set foot inside the bar, I witness incredible and unbelievable things.
"GET AWAY FROM HERE YOU DEMONIC SPIRIT!" Sara shouted towards to an invincible person. I don't know how to explain But, She's talking with herself again while throwing red beans and salt. The bar is empty, there is no evidence also that it's operating, meaning Sara is not here because she's working here, She's here because of...
"Oh! So you are not a demon yet hah. Then, Why are you here you stupid ass****"
"Liar! Who's the mother you are talking about? The owner doesn't even have a son yet!"
"WHAT?! The owner killed your mother?" Then, the old lady suddenly brought out her knife. She's getting closer towards Sara to stab her but, she suddenly flew away. It feels like someone pushes her away. The adrenalin flew over my veins like a carp through the river, but I couldn't move a single muscle, not even to scream. My brain was short-circuiting with anxious thoughts. What is this Sara? Repeatedly plays in my head.
Afterward, two policemen arrived suddenly As if someone called them already ahead of time. They arrested the old lady who has a discomfort face.
"You knew that she's the killer yet you didn't even inform me ahead! How dare you?" Sara is talking again with herself. She also suddenly bowing to an invincible person, apologizing. "Sorry if I mistook you for an evil spirit. Why you did even destroyed her bar and scared that murderer beast? Only Evil spirits do that. But, Honestly, You have to go now and leave the living realm. In a few days, you'll turn into a demonic spirit. It will be a huge favor if you'll go now with my friend. He might look scary but he was the nicest of all Grim reapers out there." Sara smiling widely, she looks really happy as if she manages to help someone who's been suffering.
As she gets outside of the Bar, I unknowingly drop my defenses and caught me off guard. We met each other's eyes quickly as she saw me. "Eva" She mutters. I was hiding in the opposite direction of the entrance, sad to say I still got caught.
It was a horrible and unrealistic night, I thought it was a dream. Unfortunately, it wasn't. Sara admitted that she has an unbelievable foresight.
"I have the third eye" (The third eye refers to the gate that leads to the inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness. In New Age spirituality, the third eye often symbolizes a state of enlightenment or the evocation of mental images having deeply personal spiritual or psychological significance - WIKIPEDIA)
"I help a bunch of people already. Sorry If I haven't mentioned this extraordinary talent of mine" Sara looks terribly sorry. We are now back here in our home. I don't know what to say. "I'm just scared that you might leave me knowing these terrible abilities of mine. "Sara's added.
I just surprisingly utters unintentionally words "DO YOU SEE MY MOM? CAN YOU SEE HER?"
She hesitates to answer, it feels like she's hiding something besides this unbelievable talent of her.
"Eva, your mom... "She carefully looks on my right side as if there's a person standing beside me and asking permission, to tell the truth.
She told me not to mention this but, She's... with you. She's here. Every day, every minute of the day. She doesn't want to leave your side."
I breakdown. I unknowingly gave her a vicious look.
"I'm Sorry..." Sara mumble.
PRESENT TIME:
SAYA'S POV:
When I am afraid, I remind myself that my good decision-making ability is temporarily offline and I need to wait before I can figure things out, wait for my brain's usual connections to resume.
- SARA MENESIS.
Aunt Eva shows my mom's journal for the first time. It indicates all the details of how she fights evil spirits and helps lost souls to get reunited with their loved ones. I notice that the name of her Grimreaper friend is missing. Aunt Eva said that she somehow has forgotten the name As if it was intentionally removed in her memories. Toby commented that he's too young to remember it, He doesn't even remember the Grimreaper story.
I am now alone here in my room looking at my Mom's picture on my bed. Did I inherit my Mom's special abilities? Can I also accept and overcome the fears that embracing my whole body? Once I reminisce about the subway accident, memories were filled with horror and monotonous feeling. Especially, the Grimreaper who supposed to fetch me. What if he appears again and finally gets my soul? Can I escape once again from him? What if I bump someone or touch them accidentally and that terrible visions start to play again in my mind? How can I face them all one by one?
"Mom, Help me, please." Tears start to fall again.
WRITER'S POV:
As soon as the nights were dimmed Saya fell asleep with a heavy heart. She doesn't know what to do even knowing the truth about her Mom's abilities. It makes her feel more helpless and vulnerable. As the night gets deeper, Saya unconsciously reminisces about the accident that happened in the subway station. She's now having a nightmare. From the security guard who didn't listen to her and people even speculating her as an accomplice with the bomber. Saya's skin was as the surface of a boiling stew, she's paralyzed from the fears. It's now in the moment where Saya met the Grimreaper who supposed to fetch her soul on that day. The sheets were twisted around her limbs, probably because she was struggling in her sleep. The nightmare continues in the scene where Saya able to see the Grim reaper's name. NINE. Yes, it was Grimreaper NINE.
As the thunderstorm strikes in the middle of the night during Saya's nightmare. Shockingly the Grimreaper who appears in Saya's terrible dream becomes visible in the corner of the room. Saya surprisingly catching her breath as she finally awake from the nightmare she's having a few seconds ago.
"NINE. GRIM REAPER NINE" She mumbled as she wakes up with pounding in the chest. A thunderstorm strikes again, Saya notices there's a man standing in the corner. Her heartbeat in her chest, pounding, banging, trying to get out.
"After making me vanishes into thin air, you can also call me by calling my name?" Nine annoyingly utters. He seems very disturbed. Saya has called him while having a nightmare. Another unexplainable ability of her appears again.
"Why are you here? How did you manage to come here? Don't tell me... Are you here for my Soul?" Saya nervously responded. She obviously shaking in fear.
Nine snaps his right fingers before he replies.
"What did you do?" Saya gets up from her bed and quickly runs towards the bedroom door.
"I stop the time. Just in case you scream like a murderer will kill you."
"What? How did you?" Then, Saya remembers the first time she met him. He managed to stop the time during that crucial moment. "Are you here to kill me?" She apprehensively asks a very frightening question.
Nine giggles. "First of all, you unknowingly call me here. Secondly, I will not kill you." Nine walks closer towards her. "Lastly, it seems like you have abilities that still under discovery. So, for us to have a good night if you would like to..."
"Go away! Get out!" before Nine finishes his statement, He's vanished again. Saya trembled. She turns on the light and checks every corner of her room to verify if Nine's perfectly gone. The time resumes again, Saya looks at her clock if it's ticking.
"If I say those words, He vanishes," Saya mutters.
SOMEWHERE IN A ROOFTOP...
Nine suddenly appears in front of Four. A while ago, before the incident happened between Saya and Nine. These two were together having a meeting about stalking John Patrick May when Nine suddenly vanished while Four is talking.
"What did just happen? Hey man! Where did you go?" After a few minutes, He sees Patrick helping an elderly woman cross the street. "Oh! It's him. Confirmed. That elderly woman is a lost soul dude. So Nine is right about you. You're a special child. It's been a long time since I witness a human who has that kind of abilities. hmmm... Nine mentioned that He was able to see him as well. He even bumped him. Strange. Very strange." After murmuring like that, Nine suddenly shows up.
"Hey man! Where have you been?!" Four looks really disturbed. In his mind, He knew something terrible just happened.
"Four, She can also call me by the name" Nine annoyingly stated. He doesn't know what to do anymore. Four gulps.
"She's getting stronger every day. We really need to get that kid" Pointing towards Patrick's direction.