CHAPTER THREE: Clock Tower

“Where is Gugu?” I asked Grip but he just shrugged. I glared at him making him sigh.

“I saw her run after Bruce,” he answered.

A resounding curse escaped my mouth. Demons are feed not only through human souls but also by other spirits whether a ghost or evil ones.

“Of all creatures, it’s you who’s knowledgeable enough that she might end up eaten by a demon. You shouldn’t have let her leave!” I jabbered. “If something bad happens to her I’m going to make you the main ingredient of my steamed dumpling you annoying cat!” I stomped my foot and walked out.

“Go ahead. I’m fine with it. At least you’ll get to eat someone delicious like me.”

I looked back and threw him my death glare. I saw him smirking while biting his lower lip. How can he do both and still look cool? Damn it!

We looked all over the university but I couldn’t find her. I’m getting nervous and at the same time, irritated. Grip didn’t help, he just annoyingly followed me the entire time.

“Where could she be?” I ruffled my hair in annoyance.

“She’s far from here. Not in the school grounds but inside the university,” he uttered out of nowhere.

“What does that even mean?” I grimaced.

He put his hand on his chin and looked up as if he was thinking. “Somewhere you spend most of the time.”

“Ow shoot! Dorm!” I drifted fast right away. He also ran matching my speed but backwards with his arms crossed on his chest as if it was a piece of cake. Perks of being a reaper. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I gritted my teeth.

“You didn’t ask.” He shrugged.

I stopped and run after my breath. He stopped too but in front of me. I averted my gaze at him.

“I did ask.” I narrowed my eyes and eyed him sharply.

“Cute.” He laughed softly and pinched my cheek.

I smacked his hand away but he swiftly grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer. My face landed on his chest. I looked up and I gulped seeing his face this close. His scent is intoxicatingly soothing in my nose. I inclined my back to distance myself but he snaked his arm around my waist. I put my hands on his chest and his eyes with mine.

“What are you doing?” I did my best not to stutter but I failed, a bit. I could feel the blood rushing upward, to my cheeks.

“Don’t look down,” he warned.

My brows creased and due to curiosity, I did the opposite of what he said.

“What the!” I jumped and flung my arms around his neck. He immediately caught me. His hand was on my back and the other one on the back of my knees.

We were floating in the air. I was fascinated by the view up here. The trees looked so tiny and the students on the field looked like ants.

The wind blew my long hair making it sway behind us. It was so refreshing up here.

“Don’t they see us?” I asked worriedly.

“You always worry even on the slightest thing. They can’t see us. You can only break my invisibility spell when you’re on sealer mode,” he answered looking ahead.

“Sealer mode?” Confusion was definitely written on my face.

“When your mark felt like burning, it’s a sign that you’re on sealer mode and it will be followed by your eyes changing in color,” he explained that made it more vague on my part. “Your eyes change, Serra. Your pupils and iris turn white while your scleras turn black. You are not just a medius, Serra. You’re a sealer. Your purpose is to seal darkness and get rid of demons,” he added.

“Why me?” I blurted.

“I wish I know but one thing is for sure, everything has its reason.” He gave me a small smile, not a smirk or a teasing smile but a genuine one.

Of all people here on the island of VeM, why me? I was born with nothing, not even a mother. I thought it would be enough for the heavens to spare me from challenges because living alone was already too much to handle.

Was I bad in my previous life? I was not certain whether this oh so-called ability is a blessing or a curse.

“Now you’re bothered.” He shook his head. “Hold tight.” He grinned.

I don’t like his grin. I immediately tightened my cling on his neck. I closed my eyes as we drifted upwards at the speed of light.

“Are you going to kill me?” I winced hitting his chest and flicked my legs. He inched a little and dropped me because of what I did.

He clicked his tongue and tugged me. We floated straight ahead. I glanced in front and I clutched his shirt as I felt my stomach rumbled. I closed my eyes before we hit the building before us. It’s been a while but I felt nothing.

“Sweet...” a familiar voice uttered.

I opened my eyes and saw Gugu wearing her dreamy face. I wandered my sight and we’re inside my room already. I pushed Grip and took steps backward.

“I almost had a heart attack!” I exclaimed at him.

He just crossed his arms on his chest, agian, and took a good look of the place. My lips twisted as he ignored me. I faced Gugu and started questioning her non-stop.

“I followed Bruce but I lost him on this floor. My attention was diverted because of the lady in a red dress walking on the corridor,” she explained. She looked so bothered. “She was wearing crimson-red heels that matched her dress and her blood-red lips. I wasn’t able to see her face because she was wearing a huge cocktail hat with a net-like veil,” she added.

My heart beats fast after hearing her confession.

“You perfectly described the woman in my vision!” I brought my hands to my lips.

“I have to go somewhere,” Grip meddled catching our attention. “Be careful you two, I don’t like this place,” he added and the moment I blinked he vanished.

“His words scared me!” Gugu floated near me as her eyes remained restless.

A reaper just said that he didn’t like this place and a ghost looked frightened. What more for a human? Now I don’t know how I can get a good night sleep. I went to the kitchen and checked the cabinets. I saw some cup noodles so I grabbed two and looked for a heater.

“Calm down, Gugu,” I fussed. I got dizzy watching her float back and forth.

She nodded and stood beside me. We waited for the water to boil before pouring it into our noodles. I handed the cup to her and we started eating. I opened random topics to divert our attention. After that, we went to bed but I couldn’t sleep. The faint creaks behind the walls is haunting me. All I could do was stare at the ceiling and let my thoughts drown me.

If Gugu saw that lady in red here it only means that the lady is either a student staying in this dorm or a teacher or school staff checking on the students. I wish that Amara and her baby were safe. I need to convince Bruce next thing in the morning.

I heard a crashing sound that made me open my eyes hastily. I didn’t know when I fell asleep. I jumped out of my bed when I remembered my vision about shattered glass. I hurried to the kitchen where the sound came from. I saw a girl standing in front of a broken cup. The rich aroma of black coffee tickled my nostril as it scattered all over the kitchen floor.

“Did I wake you?” She scratched her neck, shy.

“I’m glad you did. I missed my alarm,” I reasoned.

“By the way, I’m your roommate. We also met last week.” She squatted on the floor to pick up the broken cup.

Now I know why my room is extravagant. The governor’s daughter is my roommate!

“Let me,” I interfered. “You might hurt yourself,” I added.

She stood up and stepped away. She thanked me and went out of the kitchen. I looked for gloves in the cabinet and wore one. I picked up the shards and threw them in the trash bin together with the wet gloves I was wearing. I looked for a cloth to clean the splattered coffee. I was about to wipe it but I stopped when I realized something. I touched the coffee but it was cold.

Who would drink a cold coffee early in the morning? Weird.

“Are you done?” She peeked from the door.

“Almost,” I replied and immediately wiped the coffee off.

I washed the cloth and hanged it. I get ready for my classes. I could see Gugu eyeing Amanda who couldn’t see her. She was also following her wherever corner of the room she goes. I shook my head at Gugu signaling her to stop before getting inside the bathroom.

The moment I went out I only saw Gugu. Instead of going to the cafeteria, I’ll check on Amara first. Maybe I’ll tell Bruce about his girlfriend’s condition. I’m sure that we’ll board the elevator at the same time as usual.

“Did you hear something last night?” Gugu asked out of a sudden. I just shook my head.

We waited at the front of the elevator for half an hour but no Bruce showed up. Maybe he was avoiding me. I decided to visit Amara at the university’s infirmary.

“The moment she woke up she ran away,” the clinic nurse stated. “She stayed here overnight because she was unconscious due to over fatigue,” she added.

“Did she bleed?” I asked out of curiosity and concern.

“It’s natural to bleed if you’re on your period,” she responded before leaving me to attend to the needs of another student that just came.

I thanked her and went to the cafeteria. I was not paying attention to anything not even in our class. I was submerged in the confusion regarding Bruce and Amara. I thought she was pregnant. During my vacant, I searched for Bruce but he was nowhere to be found. I asked his professors but according to them, he didn’t attend any of their classes.

I was walking in the hallway towards Amara’s class when something annoying rang in my ears. I covered my ears but it won’t stop. I looked around and saw teachers went out of their classrooms. The sound was like the sound the clock makes every time it struck at noon or midnight. I checked the time on my phone but it was three o’clock in the afternoon.

“Is the clock tower malfunctioning?” I heard one of the teachers said.

So it wasn’t just me. Students started to panic due to the endless ringing. Some of the teachers called the technician to check the clock since they couldn’t continue with their classes.

When the ringing stopped it was followed by a high pitch shriek of a female student near the administration building. Rumors spread fast like a wildfire until they reached my ears.

“A body fell from the clock tower.”

@hoax_12