I walked closer towards her sound asleep body to explored every inch of its pale and swollen skin. Her eyelids flinched a little as I landed small kisses on her forehead. She felt it. There is nothing I want to see more right now than to look at that hair growing back. I ventured up to the bed and lay down right next to her. I held her body tightly and locked it by crossing both my feet and arms. Gently, I felt half of my energy transferred and fulfilling her soul.
The side effect of this transaction is that my body gets exhausted. I laid down there and staring at the ceiling; Wondering if this girl will be able to help me reach heaven.
Her big brown eyes outstare me in depravity while hugging her knees.
" WHO ARE YOU?!" she burst out.
"Now, you're okay. " I answered.
"DO NOT LIE! AM I DEAD ?! ARE YOU THE DEVIL? " she shouted in fear. I feel enraged for her rude attitude right after I saved her from death that was supposed to come her way in no time.
"You are good now, Valerie. Where is the screeching that usually comes out of your breath? Nothing, right? I'm not a devil. I'm James. I will live with those whose souls I saved. I am committed to an eternal covenant with the universe. Now that I'm here and you're safe. Please get used to my presence. Because now, you can't unsee me." I came closer to her while she immediately buried her face within her knees.
"How long will you be here?" She raised her head in doubt and attempted to look into my face one more time.
"Until... Until you die." I smiled broadly.
After hearing my answer, She jumped out of bed and ran out of the room. That was unexpected. Half of my energy is inside her; Our body is highly connected and makes me going to automatically pull away and follow her movement to where she goes.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" She was crying in frustration and run along the hospital corridor in the middle of the night. I can hear several medics gasping and turning back to catch up with Valerie and call the other medical team. Valerie is struggling to run as far as possible from me; My body seemed to be pulled by a tight rope tied behind a moving car. She turned and cried louder as she climbed the fire escape stairs.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!" I shouted.
"STOP FOLLOWING ME!" She yells so loud that it's echoing all inside these small emergency stair spaces.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" I shouted as we arrived on the rooftop, the night breeze dashing towards my body. Right now, there is nothing above us but a dark sky. Valerie ran to the edge of the rooftop. I know what she's going to do, even the stars were reluctant to see the terrible incidents I'm about to witness.
"It's a beautiful place. Mind sitting down somewhere and talking to me? I'll explain everything." I tried to smile at her and plan to tell her about the other alternative she can escape this; Sending me to heaven.
"Go. What do you want?" She asked while sobbing and her deep gazed bore into me, Threatening me.
"Valerie. You have no other choice. Only those who are very close to death can see me, and when you can see me, you will continue to see me. I just saved you from death. " I speak carefully knowing this girl is mentally fragile. It Looks like I showed myself to the wrong person.
"Why didn't you leave me when I still couldn't see you? How can you trap me into a miserable life living with a devil!" Her voice grew shrill along with her cries that gets increasingly intense, deep, and more suffocating.
"You're in a lot of pain. I want to help you and .. "
"Get me stuck with a devil, like you?" She selfishly completed my unfinished sentence.
"No!" I'm so desperate to make her understand my purpose.
"Repeat it! How long will I be stuck with you?" Suddenly, the cries
stopped. her eyes went blank, but her tone sounded even more desperate.
"U... until you die, or you..." I repeated myself without even daring to look her in the eye. Before I finished my sentence, my body was pushing forward; I was thrown off the building right after Valerie decided to toss her body from the rooftop. I watched her body floating down this 25-floor building while she closed her eyes in fear.
My body hit the ground and bumped into the road. I saw blood seeping from the back of Valerie's bald head. Her eyes bulged, shoulder blades poked out from concussion. Hospital security who witnessed the incident screamed hysterically, followed by the sound of sirens and all hospital crews storming out of the building to enliven the tragedy tonight. That night, Valerie chose to end her life.
***
Valerie. The first human I saved six years ago. I still clearly remember her cheerful face, the expression of fear, and her face of death. I blinked a few times and returned my focus on the girl who was enjoying the rain tonight. She looks very relaxed while walking without an umbrella and her hoodie open. Her happiness encouraged me to cross the road and walk beside her. This woman looked tired; her dark eyes still sparkled like an iron that reflected the moonlight. It's Dark Grey that is closer to black. Shinning, and deep. A little part of me wanted to follow her home to watch her everyday life. She's healthy and not even death. Although I knew she does not see me, I can spend my lonely days seeing her. The more I attracted to her, the suddenly it dragging me back to a particular part of my memories.
***
"Get away from me" Erika stuck out her knife and gave me a devil eye. I gave her a cold glare. I knew what she's about to do.
"Get away from me."
"I wish I could," I replied.
"Why did you save me that night?!"
"You almost died in a tragic car crash. Your brain might crush all over the place if I wasn't saving you that moment." I replied coldly and exchanged looks with her without showing even the slightest emotion.
"I never asked you to help me! Why did you set me in your trap?! " This sentence makes me realize there is nothing I can do about this. I know what's going to happen after this. Very clear, and I do not even feel guilty anymore.
"I didn't mean to set you in a trap. I told you hundreds of times. It is something I cannot control. I will stick with you..." I haven't finished my sentence yet,
"Until I die. " as I presumed, she finished my sentence then stab herself with the knife she's holding. Blood was spurting everywhere as soon as her body fell and thudded on the floor.
***
A woman's shriek brings me back from the shadow of Erika's death face who died tragically with her mouth vomiting blood and eyes open wide in pain. I woke up from the terrific memories of Erika; The girl from the pastry shop walk quite far in front of me. I saw a guy pushing this girl into a small alley on her left side. I immediately ran and found the man was beating her with bricks several times until she fell with her face bumping against the road. He looked confused, turning right and left while dragging the girl's tall body but stupid enough to put her anyplace then ran away. Leave her dying at this deserted alley.
I hid behind a pile of junk to wait for her soul to come out of her body. I decided to walk over and check her pulse; It is still beating; She's alive. I immediately turned her body around. I saw her face was dirty in blood and mud; her chest slightly moved up and down.
"You're still alive," I muttered with a relieved smile while staring at that face with a look of admiration. I carry the body to the side of the barrel to make sure nobody sees her. I'm afraid that man might come again. The blood on her head continued to flow extensively. She didn't have a lot of time with these conditions.
I keep my eyes on her, holding myself up to save her right away. Currently, my face was only a few centimeters from her nose bridge. I could have saved her in just a few minutes, but suddenly my breath was raging. My hands are shaking like I can't do it anymore. All of a sudden, I recall all those dead faces I witnessed due to my hasty decision. This time, I won't be able to watch that peaceful expression turn into an expression of fear or even lead her to another tragic death.
"Hold on, strong girl," I whispered as I convinced myself to let her survive by herself.
I placed all the messy hair on her face to the side to wipe the mud, blood, and sweat on her face.
"I'll be here. Don't be afraid. Hang in there." I whispered once again. Moreover, I walked back to hide behind the pile of junk to wait until she woke up and tell her nicely if she agreed with all the consequences. I looked up at the sky like the girl did. For the first time, I begged the heavens. "Cancel the agreement. I beg you."