Without much of a thought, I gripped his hand tightly, my fingers digging into his cold skin, but he was way too heavy for me to pull up, but I refused to let go. He hung there, still looking devastatingly handsome, fixing me with a sorrowful gaze.
"Whatever happens, never give up, do you hear me!"I shouted with all my might. "I will try to pull you up somehow, I promise."
His eyes, a mesmerizing shade of dark purple, stood out against his fair skin. They were lifeless yet hauntingly beautiful. As I struggled to hold on, I felt his hand slowly slipping from my grasp.
"Why are you helping me, Mia? Aren't you the one who coldly discarded me?" he said bitterly, "Your wish is going to be fulfilled very soon"
Before I could respond, he loosened his grip and began to let go of my hand. The shock of his sudden release jolted through me as I stumbled forward, my hands clawing at empty air.
Even calling for help was useless – no one else could see him.
I jumped forward to catch his wrist with both hands.
"I've got you!" I shouted. "You are not letting go this time"
Suddenly, I lost my balance and felt myself teetering dangerously close to the edge. His weight dragged me forward, the strain in my arms unbearable, refusing to let go. Looking at his eyes, I saw concern – not for himself, but for me.
Tears streamed down my face as I shook my head violently: "Whatever I've done, I am sorry okay? Can't we talk things out?" I begged, my voice breaking with emotion.
"I am afraid this cannot be undone, Mia. Don't cry! I hope you will enjoy your new life... with no regret!" he said with a faint smile.
His voice was gentle, but there definitely was a finality to his words.
"Look at you, always caring for others – even strangers… Let go Mia, it's for your own good".
As he spoke, a dark, swirling smoke appeared beneath him, rising ominously from the depths. It clung to his body like living tendrils, pulling him downward slowly. But the smoke seemed alive, its strength surpassing my own. It wrapped around his torso, curling up his arms.
The smoke reached his chest, then his neck and finally started covering his face. His gaze never left mine, even as the darkness consumed him. The last thing I saw was his faint smile, before he was completely swallowed.
I collapsed onto the ground, breathless. The world around me was silent, but the voices in my head grew louder.
"I hope you'll enjoy your new life… with no regret", his voice echoed in my head.
As if witnessing the death of Philia's father wasn't enough, this one has to remind me of my cursed existence.
******
Overwhelmed by the course of events, I ran back home. I didn't stop until I reached my apartment building. Once inside, I slammed the door behind me, relieved that this horrible day was over. The sound echoed through the living room, reminding me of my loneliness. There was no one here to share my burden, no one to whom I could complain.
"It seems the tea's effects have worn off! Hahaha, I shouldn't have believed in such non-sense!" I muttered to myself, my laughter tinged with hysteria.
I headed to the bathroom to take a warm shower to shake off the weight pressing down on my chest. Water had a way of washing my worries, even if only temporarily. As a hot stream cascaded over me, I imagined my problems flowing down the drain, dissolving into nothingness.
The moment my wet hair brushed against my arm, Cain's memory flashed in front of my eyes, strangling me. His presence was so vivid, so suffocating.
I couldn't scream. Powerless. Exactly like this afternoon at the bridge.
Why do these things keep happening to me? Is it because I am clinging to life so badly?
The image of the silver-haired man appeared before me, joining Cain in my mind's theater. Their voices overlapped as they uttered the same damning words: "You killed us, Mia!"
My heart raced as their ghostly hands reached for me. Panic surged through me, but then, like a light piercing through a fog, clarity returned. They weren't real. They were nothing more than fragments of my fractured past.
Lost in my thoughts, I hadn't noticed I'd left the sink running. The sound of water was very calming. But that calm shattered abruplty the moment I heard a noise coming from my bedroom.
Someone was rummaging through my drawers.
"The heck! What should I do?" I whispered to myself.
I hesitated between staying hidden and go face the intruder head on. I tried to decipher the sound of the footsteps, guessing who it could be. They were erratic-light as feathers one moment, heavy and deliberate the next, as if that person was toying with me.
A chill ran down my spine. What if they were armed? What could I possibly do against them?
Suddenly, my phone rang, slicing through this tension like a blade. It presented a lifeline to get out of this situation. Feigning ignorance seemed the best option. I could just answer the call and act as though I hadn't noticed anything amiss.
Wrapping myself in a white robe, I stepped out of the bathroom. The cool air prickled my damp skin as I tried to appear calm. My trembling fingers clutched the phone as I glanced around, nonchalantly.
"Hello", I answered, with a steady voice.
"Mia, what the hell is going on?" she shouted. "Don't tell me you are thinking of quitting, are you? We need you Mia… Well, I undoubtedly do...Mia?
"…"
"Mia?"she repeated, her voice softening slightly.
I could sense the intruder five steps behind me, setting my nerves on edge.
I couldn't bring myself to respond. Words felt meaningless. After all, who knew if I 'd even survive the night? The thought lingered, heavy and unspoken.
"Someone is going to get fired," said a mocking voice. "Disposing of you would be a mercy, don't you think?" he laughed hysterically.
I turned slowly to face the source of the voice.
There was no mistaking it.
It was him.