Chapter 1: Beautiful Illusion

Death.

Something I never feared of. But at that moment, for the first time, I got scared. I wasn't scared of my own death, but for his — my uncle.

Sometimes I think, why are we even born when at the end, we’d just all die? I always wonder why beautiful things tend to end tragically. Just like life. No matter how beautiful your journey was, you'd still end up taking that one, narrow path that leads to one destination. Death.

They say, it's not the end that matters. What's important is what your journey entails. The moments you shared with your loved ones, the smiles and laughs you spent with them, and all the things you experienced.

Standing on the rooftop of the hospital, my tears fell as I stared at the dark sky, hoping that my silent prayers will be heard by someone above.

My uncle got into a fatal accident. He's in a coma, and the only thing that's keeping him alive is the life support system.

I couldn't organize my thoughts when I heard about it. I was shocked and terribly scared. Hearing about his accident was a big blow, but hearing about his situation was a whole different thing.

The doctor said there is only a little chance that he would wake up. Or if he would wake up, his body will not be able to make it after the surgery. He's the only family I have and I can't afford to lose him. So, while there is still hope left, no matter how small it is, I won’t give him up. That is how family should be, right?

I closed my eyes and came even closer to the end of the rooftop. I hold on to the blockade and looked at the busy street below.

"If you're thinking about jumping, think twice."

I turned around.

I saw an unfamiliar man several yards away.

At first, I thought it was just a random medical staff. But when I turned around and saw what he was wearing, I realized he wasn’t. He's wearing a black turtle neck, black overcoat falling down to his knees, black slacks and sleek black shoes. He's not a medical staff, for sure.

There was an odd glint in his eyes as he watched me. Was it darkness and mischief?

"You can't die yet," he said with thick, low voice along with the cold blowing of the wind.

I shivered. The corner of his lips rose a bit for a small smirk, but I can sense no humor in it.

"I'm not going to kill myself. I'm not going to jump, if that's what you're thinking."

"I thought you have plans to."

I swallowed hard.

"I was... just looking down."

He did not speak, instead he slowly walked closer. With him slowly nearing, I got a better look of his features.

I noticed how dark and imposing his air was. He was tall, lean but bulky. His face was clean shaven, hair was black but with a tint of something else. I found him really good looking, but he wasn't attractive to me. He wasn't charming. There was no hint of charm in all his corners. He was full of menace, he looked ruthless. Maybe the reason why instead of being surprised, I felt danger.

I gasped as he stopped a step away from me.

He was towering over me, blocking my sight of the dark orange moon. I looked at him. His eyes darker than the night were all over me, almost making me tremble.

"Jace Katherine Sullivan, is it?"

My lips parted.

"How did you know me?"

His eyes went down on my blouse, smirking.

"Your I.D. told me."

I looked down on my blouse, too. I forgot I was still wearing my school ID.

"Happy twentieth birthday."

I felt cold at what he said. I was sure my I.D. doesn't have my birthday. And I have long forgotten this day. I don't celebrate it, and only a few knows about it.

I looked at him and I found his curving lips, opposite from his blank eyes.

"How did you know that?"

He shrugged. "Because I'm mighty?"

"Don't joke around. How did you know that? And who are you?"

I tilted my head to look around. No one else was there on the rooftop. It was just the two of us.

I heard his low chuckle.

"Don't worry. I won't do anything bad to you. For now, at least."

I don't like the air he's giving off. I don't like his eyes. There's something in the way he looks that would give anyone chills. He looks like someone who's capable of reaching the point of violence for his own benefit.

"Excuse me," I said and went over to the side to get past him.

He didn't stop me, but his words did. I only took five steps away from him and immediately stopped as well.

"You want to save your uncle from death, right? I can do that."

In shock I turned to him. He's now sitting on the blockade, as if falling down doesn't scare him at all. The strands of hair on his forehead were swaying a bit because of the wind.

"How did you know about my uncle?"

"As I've said, because I'm mighty."

"Stop playing with me," I said firmly, getting annoyed. I'm still in the process of accepting my uncle's situation and then suddenly someone shows up who knows what's going on in my life even I don’t know him?

His brow shot up. "Who says I'm playing?"

"Are you a stalker?"

"Don't you think I'm too handsome to play that cheap role?"

"Who are you, then? Why do you know my birthday? And why do you know Uncle's situation?”

"Let's just say I'm here to answer your prayers. Just ask me to save your uncle and I will do that," his tone was serious.

"Why should I believe you? Are you even a doctor? Looks like you're not."

"Do you seriously believe that it's just doctors who are capable of saving? I tell you, Katherine. Your uncle's case is hopeless. There's no normal doctor who could save him, unless a deity will grant you a miracle."

"And what? Are you saying you're a deity?" I asked sarcastically.

He smirked, his eyes darkened more.

"No."

"In that case, there's nothing you can do about my Uncle's situation."

I turned around. But before I could make a step, my jaw dropped in shock when all of a sudden, he was already in front of me, blocking my way.

"How did you..." my voice faded midway in both shock and wonder.

I don’t know if I’m just delusional. But he was sitting there on the blockade, right? It was impossible in a second that he was able to cross our distance. It's damn impossible.

"You saw it right, Katherine. I can make impossible things possible," he said as if he saw the question in my eyes.

I looked at him, trying to figure out something. But... there's no logical scientific reason that could justify what he has done.

"Look at my eyes," he commanded.

I looked there. I was even more surprised. His eyes that were pitch black a while ago, now resembles the color of turquoise. Blue green, but his were different. They were glowing. Literally.

If this is not true, how could illusion be this beautiful?

The cold wind blowing towards me made me shiver along with his intense blazing eyes. I don't know if I should run now knowing that he's no ordinary human being. Or stay so I could watch his eyes longer. The latter sounds dangerous, but I still did. I stayed. I didn't know that fear and amazement could be felt at the same time. Maybe it's my strange fascination for unearthly things that I managed to stand bravely in front of him even after all I witnessed.

"I will save your uncle, Katherine," he said.

I did not say a word. I only stared at his eyes.

If this is real and I'm not dreaming, then is this the miracle I'm waiting? Is he the luck I'm praying for?

"Ask me to save your uncle or you'll lose him forever."

I don't know what to say. All were too fast, I couldn't even believe that all of these were real. That he, a transcendent being, was real and standing right before me.

"But you have to give me something in return."

What could it be?

I didn't voice that question but he saw it in my eyes, I know.

He smirked.

For that brief moment, I saw something else flickered in his blazing orbs. Something I never thought I could see in someone's eyes.

I saw death.

My death.