That 'thing' was squirming around, seemingly trying to leave the dark corner. It tried moving closer to the light but retracted the moment it nearly touched it.
No. No. No. No. What the hell is that creepy thing? Would someone please tell me what the hell that thing is?!
As I flinched at the sight of that black blob, alarm bells seemingly exploded in my head, screaming 'DANGER!'.
'What the hell? Why is it dangerous? What is that thing?!' I mentally screamed back. My mind was a mess as I couldn't figure out what's happening.
'No. No. The danger isn't that thing! It's what controlling it!' I thought to myself, as if by instinct.
'What's controlling it?' I thought again, to myself.
As I fearfully stared at that black blob, my instinct flared up, screaming, 'Don't let it near Serafi! Don't let it discover her! Kill it! Hurry and kill it!'
'Kill it? How?' I thought, no longer comprehending the situation.
Before I knew it, my body already moved by itself. Instinctively, I ran over to the dark corner. The closer I got, the further back the black blob retreated. As if it was scared of me.
With nowhere else to run, it was eventually cornered. I stood tall as I raised my right hand, grabbing it and forcefully slammed it to the floor. Despite it's gooey appearance, it was rather rough to touch.
I could feel the black blob trying to resist but it couldn't escape. A slit appeared on the blob, forming a horrifying mouth with sharp teeth. With inky black liquid swirling in it's mouth, it growled, a terrifying growl that shakes the soul. Carving the feeling of great fear deep within my soul.
Even so, I didn't waver. My instinct told me not to. That I have to hurry up and kill this thing. Before it's too late.
Putting more pressure in my arm, the base of my palm started to feel hot, like it was burning. The blob started to resist more fiercely, trying hard to retaliate.
As it resisted in vain, the black blob's movement gradually started to slow down. Eventually, it stopped moving altogether as it's body slowly turned into black mist. The black mist slowly scattered in the wind as proof of it's existence disappeared.
"What the hell was that..."
I looked down at my right hand, the one that had held that thing. It still felt like it was burning and it was slightly red. There was also a strange mark in the middle of my palm.
'It's a word.' I instinctively thought. I don't know how I knew but I just did. Just like how I also knew, by instinct, that I'll be seeing that black blob again soon. That it's not the end. That soon enough, it'll keep appearing.
Lowering my hand, I turned over to look at Serafi, who was still fully focused on her drawing.
'Don't let it discover Serafi!'
That was what my instinct told me. Why? What is it about her? Why can't I let it discover her? And what would happen if it did discover her?
'Nothing good.' My instinct told me.
Is this why I'm her Guardian Angel? That I have to protect her? Damn, I wish there's someone I can ask all this things to. Figuring everything out on my own is painful.
Lamenting on my fate, I decided to come to terms with it already. I'm Serafi's Guardian Angel. For whatever reason, I lost a portion of my memory. And most likely, the reason I became a Guardian Angel was among the memories that I had lost.
Since that's the case, first, I have to get Serafi to tell me everything that happened last night. I must know every single detail. The more I know, the better.
...
The air clamoured with the cheers of children as they played on the playground next to the building. By the side, some teachers are watching on with warm expressions.
It's afternoon now and kindergarten's already over. The children are permitted to play in the playground or in the classroom as they waited for their parents to come pick them up.
Throughout the day, after I first encountered the black blob, I managed to spot a few more in some dark corner. I got rid of some of them and left the others alone. That's what my instinct told me. I just have to get rid of the ones that saw Serafi.
Serafi is currently sitting in a corner of the sandbox, playing alone. Her friends had already left with their parents.
As she had her back against the teachers, I figured this is a chance to ask her about last night.
"Serafi, can you tell me what actually happened last night? In detail?"
Towards my question, Serafi tilted her head and giggled, "Last night? The rain was really heavy and there's the scary thunder! Serafi couldn't sleep on her own so Ange said she'd stay with Serafi until she falls asleep!"
"That's all? How about when I first met Serafi? Like, when I first appeared?" I probed further.
"Serafi didn't first meet Ange last night, though? Ange first appeared in the morning! When Serafi was being attacked by the scary black jelly!"
'Scary black jelly? That black blob?' Serafi's answer shocked me.
"Serafi, will you tell me in detail about when I first appeared? I really need to know this," I pressed on with a pleading look.
Looking at me being serious, Serafi stared for a moment and nodded, "Okay.... Ange.. Ange saved Serafi from that scary black jelly. Ange was hurt but when Serafi looked, Ange was completely fine. Ange said something that time and looked somewhere but Serafi couldn't hear it clearly. Afterwards, Ange just left and brother came over. The next time Serafi saw Ange was last night when Serafi couldn't sleep."
"I see... Thank you, Serafi," I thank her as I thought, 'So I saved her and went somewhere? And I said something? What was it? It just gets more confusing the more I know...'
"Ange, are you alright? Is Ange actually hurt? Ange's been acting weird," Serafi's soft voice rang. Her round eyes looked sad and concerned as she lightly tugged on my sleeve.
"I'm alright, Serafi. Thank you for the concern. I'm just having trouble remembering certain things. I'll be alright," I smiled as I softly petted Serafi's head to ease her concern. Thinking about it, this must be the first time I touched her. Her hair was very soft and fluffy.
As I was petting her head, I suddenly remembered, 'Right. My memory is messed up so I should try to figure out how long the gap is.'
"Serafi, what's the date today?"
Serafi looked up innocently and replied after thinking for a moment, "It was... August...? The 24rd...?"
Eh? "Wait... Year... What year is it?"
At this moment, Serafi looked at me quizzically and said, "2020".
And that's when it stuck me. 'Damn. My memory's missing for a whole year's worth?'
My latest memory I remembered had ended in September 2019. That means whatever that had happened afterwards was a complete blank. Anything could have happened in that time span!
'Well, whatever it was, I died and became a Guardian Angel.'
Seeing me being silent, Serafi pouted her lips and spoke up, "Ange, are you worried about something? Is it something bad? Did Serafi cause trouble for Ange?"
I shook my head and slowly caressed her head, "No, it's nothing. Serafi has been good. Which reminds me, Serafi, about the drawing of me you drew this morning, is that how I appear to you?"
Serafi blinked her eyes, confused of my sudden question yet still answered, "That's how Ange was yesterday. Today's Ange is slightly different. Ange had her hair cut, right?"
"I see... Yes, that's right. I cut my hair," I replied, nodding my head with a smile.
'When I first appeared in front of her, my hair was long? With red eyes? What am I, a demon?' I thought to myself in confusion.
Now, the fact that a year's worth of memories is missing is very troubling. But my current biggest concern would be whether or not whatever that happened in that time frame would be detrimental to me now.
I don't want that before I could figure out my situation, some terrifying demon would pop up saying I went past my due date for something and asking for payment. Isn't that terrifying? Especially when I don't even know what I did?
At that moment, I really couldn't help but pray that my forgotten self didn't get myself into any trouble.
'No, some sort of deal must have been made since I'm currently a Guardian Angel. I must have made a deal with someone. But who? Another angel? Or maybe God if there is one?'
As I was completely immersed in my own thoughts, I heard Serafi's voice shouting, "Mom's here~~"
Turning my head over, I saw Serafi running over to Karin, who had finally arrived to take her home.
Throughout the whole journey home, I was absentminded, thinking more deeply about my current predicament.