Chapter 4

“Why do you need to help them? They had turned their back on you. I am the only one left on your side! You have created me just like you. Why? Why do they matter most than me?”

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“Amilia! Come on!” Lizzie shouted from the entrance of a cosmetic shop.

Amilia was reluctant to follow. Shopping was not her thing. She once tried to escape Lizzie’s shopping galore but failed miserably. She wanted to just put up with Lizzie’s shopping than waking up one morning with a ton of paper bags full of clothes in her room.

“Oh my! Oh my!” Lizzie run to a shelf full of dresses and tried picking something.

Amilia spotted the lone chair of hope at the center of the boutique. Without waiting for anything she went to sit there. Knowing that Lizzie would take her time.

“Amilia! Amilia! Fit this!” Lizzie came towards her with a bunch of dresses.

“This? No, I can’t.” Amilia refused gently pushing the dress away.

“Nope!” Lizzie firmly said.

She hoisted Amilia up and pushed her towards the nearest fitting room. Amilia was left inside the fitting room with a dress in hand. She stared at it for a moment before hanging it at the side. She was about to pull her shirt up when she saw a guy standing beside a mirror.

“I didn’t know that you like this kind of thing.” He commented. Amilia quickly dropped her hands and straightened her shirt.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

“I was just at the area when I saw you.” He eyed her from head to toe and then looked at the dress.

“That won’t suit you.” Amilia hugged the dress close to her.

“That doesn’t concern you.” She said even though she was bewildered to see him.

“I was following some voices and then I saw you. You act like a human.” He said with a doubtful face.

“I am a human,” Amilia stated with a fact.

She’s still breathing. She can still get up and live as she used to before. What happened was just a nightmare. It was nothing. She’s still a normal girl just like before.

“But you don’t have your soul. I don’t think you will be counted as human.” He countered. He was about to leave when Amilia stopped him.

“Then what am I?” He didn’t answer quickly so Amilia continued.

“If I’m not a human like you said, I shouldn’t be living. Nobody should see me roaming around. No one should recognize me. But there is, still.” He looked back again at her.

“Just because you’re living does not mean you’re alive. Without your soul, you are just like a lost child with no home.” After saying those words, he disappeared.

Amilia followed him. She handed the dress to Lizzie as she walks briskly in front of her.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Amilia did not answer.

She was looking at the back of a man that looked like him. If only she could see just a little bit of his face, she would recognize him. He was walking into the center of the mall.

Amilia wanted to call him but she didn’t know his name. She didn’t even know what to call him. So, she just ran and prayed that she can catch up with him soon.

Something inside her tells her that something is happening. She felt like wherever he was something unimaginable will happen. She saw him enter the hallway to the restroom. She stopped to look around before proceeding.

When she reached the end of the hallway she contemplated where to go next. She tried to trace his steps and was about to peek at the male’s room when she heard a muffled scream from the women’s room. She run inside and saw a terrifying scene. A woman was lying unconscious in front of a man.

His hands were trembling, his eyes wide and his complexion was pale. Amilia thought that it was because of the unconscious lady in front of him. She looked at the person, or not, she just followed. I didn’t even know his name. Amilia thought that she didn’t even know a thing about him.

“Is this what you want?” He suddenly asked the guy. He already knew what he wanted; he just needs to show what it is to Amilia.

“What are you doing? Are you trying to kill her?” Amilia shouted.

“It is up to him. I don’t meddle with human affairs.” He answered.

“You don’t like to meddle? Then what do you call this? You are instigating a murder!” Amilia fetched her phone from her pocket.

She started to dial 911 but the call can’t get through. She tried again and again but miserably fail. She looked at him with a glare.

“What?” Amilia gawked. The man had the got to look innocent in this situation.

“Don’t involve yourself here, woman.” He said.

Amilia wished she could. She would love to be anywhere than here. But a part of her won’t just turn around when she was the only person who can see him and the things he does.

“Stop this.” She pleaded in a low voice.

He sighed. He shakes his head and went to where Amilia was standing. He advanced which made Amilia back off out of instinct. He stepped until he cornered a wide-eyed Amilia.

“W-what are you doing?” She stammered.

“Saving you.” He said and that’s when she felt her world spin and suddenly turn into darkness.

Amilia lost her balance and he was quick to save her face from kissing the ground. He turned toward the man with a knife. Still trembling and eyes red with tears and something more.

“Are done contemplating? I already told you the consequences and possibilities. Now it’s up for you to decide.” He said.

The man snapped his head to where he is. He can see him. It was just in this brief moment that another human, aside from Amilia, can see him and hear him. He carries Amilia to her home and settles her down on her bed. The sky outside turn’s dark. Looks like a storm is coming up. He opened the window to feel the wind. It was hot but not as hot from the Under Ground. He then closed the window. He had somewhere to go.

When he left Amilia at her house sleeping soundly the rain started to pour. People are scattering like ants to avoid the rain. Some are running to the nearest shelter. Some opened up their umbrellas. But the busy people of the police task force are working diligently carrying a body under the white sheets out of the mall restroom. They were followed by a man, arms on the back while being assisted by two more police personnel.

The people who are watching them were whispering and talking. Some had their fair share of gossip about the couple. No one witnessed the crime scene, just a bit of scandal they had earlier that might lead to the murder. Forensics are busy collecting evidence. Humans are always speculating. They would always say things to fit their satisfaction. He sighed.

The scene shocked some girls who saw the dead bodies and reported it. The authorities caught him at the scene. Crying, trembling, and on his knees. The mall operators decided to close the shops near the restroom to help with the investigations.

The case was also featured on news headlines as the case was taken on the largest and most prestigious mall across the country. It was the first that made the management in a tight spot. It was a good thing that Amilia was already out when other people discover the incidents. It saved her from trouble. She might get involved so much.