7 Cause you are my Key
Michael's POV
The whole incident stuck to me like a horrible nightmare does. No matter how much you want to give up on it, ignore it and move on from it, it comes back to you when you least expect it. For example, when I was having lunch in the cafeteria, sitting all by myself, while reading the book I borrowed this morning from the library, when a woman tripped in front of me. Lending her a helping hand I realized that the color of her shirt was the same as the colour of the dress that freak lady wore the other day.
A small but such an insignificant detail gave me a memory flash and my mind wandered off to think about all the possibilities that could explain why and how she healed so fast. Why was I so obsessed? I could vaguely recall seeing something like that before, but could not recall where. Maybe, I had studied about this exceptional phenomenon somewhere, some book, journal, magazine, something. Because being a man of science I found it harder to let go of things I couldn't explain logically. A part of me wanted to believe that it was indeed a part of some nightmare, but the article I read the next on my phone day about the blast convinced me otherwise.
Ever since that day I have borrowed various books that contain anything really to burn injuries, healing and all, hoping to find a mention of an exception to such common rules of healing. To my frustration I found none, so I constantly stared at my notepad while Professor Munroe continued with her monotonous didactic lecture.
Once the lecture was over I ran out of the hall and started to look for a new book in the library to read. I was stuck between two books, and frustrated that here we can't borrow more than one book at a time, when someone came and stood next to me. Normally I ignore the person trying to bother me, but this time I didn't have to given whoever she was, she didn't initiate any conversation as of yet. Maybe she was just looking for a book in here as well? I wondered.
I was starting to consider otherwise when I found the same person, at least that's what I felt according to my peripheral vision, in the line and right next to my table. I was almost sure she was stalking me when I found her sitting right behind me in our genetics class.
Unable to keep my calm anymore, as soon as the class was over I turned around and snapped at her, "Why the hell are y-" I stopped in the middle of my sentence as soon as I saw her face. The face both horrified and intrigued me because it was none other than the woman whom I 'saved' at the Carnival.
She stared at me with a conflicted expression as I wondered why she was here. Nevertheless, suppressing my curiosity I asked her, "Please do not follow me when I walk out of that room". Before she could respond, I stormed out of the classroom. My request/ order was ignored cause I found her following me even more. "WHAT DO YOU WANT"!? I snapped at her, unable to keep my calm any further. The people passing by us gave us strange weird looks as if we were having a lover's conflict or something.
"Ineedtofigureoutsomethinghelpme". She utters so fast that I could barely catch that. "What"? I scrunch my eyebrows at her. Clearly her throat, she repeats, "I need to figure out something. Help me".
"O..kay…" I mumbled. "What do you need me to do"?
"Just...stay close to me". She spoke. What the hell was that? Was this some kind of new flirting technique I didn't hear of? Completely uninterested I declare, "Not happening" before continuing to walk. She kept following me regardless, and despite my various attempts I could not escape her. So now I even had a personal stalker? Why do these things keep happening to me?
I figured that sooner or later she would be tired enough and leave me alone. After I was done with the entire day, which was almost 4 o' clock, I was still surprised to see her nearby. Does this girl not know when to give up? Frustrated, I walked towards the bus stop, wishing at every step that she would leave me alone. She stood right next to me while I waited for the bus. "Can you please stop following me already. I am going home"! I lash out on her.
"You live on campus, why are you waiting for the bus"? She asked me. My eyes widened at the fact that she knew where I lived. She was definitely not from my department which made her familiarity with me even more scarier. I did not reply to her and looked away. Thankfully the bus came right at that moment and I boarded it, but unfortunately she followed me there as well. This girl was beyond irritating and I needed to find a way to get rid of her.
Truth to be told the only reason I was taking the bus today was because I was visiting someone. The person who was important to me after I lost my mother in that horrible accident. She was the only person I have ever been close with, someone to whom I shared my personal feelings. She was the reason I survived after my mother died. I don't know how I am surviving after her. Today I had a lot of trouble and I wouldn't mind complaining about this annoying girl to my sister, Victoria.
I gulped, trying to stifle a sob that always came with the memory of Victoria. I knew how she felt about freaks as she herself was called a freak throughout her life. Tall, lanky Victoria with her pixie cut brown curls all over her freckled face. I tried to hold on to her face, the passing visages of her memory throttled me every day. She was the only one who ever understood me aside my mother. She was the only one who took time to understand. To some extent, we were both broken perhaps, me due to my relentless misery that seemed to follow me everywhere, she because of her loneliness and all the bullying. I wish I had never left her alone to go on that fateful voyage.
I was one stop ahead of my usual destination when an idea popped up in my head. I waited for all the passengers to get down as soon as the doors started closing I ran at the door and slipped myself out at the very last moment. Breathing heavily as the adrenaline coursed through my veins, I turned back to see the closed doors and an extremely shocked and irritated girl glaring at me. Smirking, I take my leave and instead of taking the usual route I take the one less traveled by.
The passed off the alleys of Birnum, the cool breeze sweeping my hair all over my face once again. It was short walk back to the Church and I came here every month on the day Victoria and I usually played tennis. Victoria was a natural at sports but I never shared her prodigy, so she took it upon herself to teach me tennis once a day every month. I smiled as I reminisced our days playing in our back garden, running through the soft grass, our eyes sparkling with life, living my happiest moments before they were taken away.
I entered the Graveyard accompanying the church. I dug out my bag and sighed once I took out the almost dead lavender, her favorite flower. Then I put it about her tombstone and paid my respects on her 5th death anniversary. After spending a little time there, sharing my experiences, most of which involved that freak lady, I decided to head back. The sun was almost touching the horizon, scared that I would be too late, I walked back the same path I took on my way here.
I wondered why I had always lied to Jake about this day. I could never tell him about Victoria or my monthly visits to pay her homage. I knew him well enough, he would never joke about something so deeply personal to me. Yet, this memory wasn't something I wanted to share with anyone…. I wanted to hold on to this ritual that was my very own.
My thoughts meandered along the path through the woods, and along with the dimness of the sky, the surrounding woods appeared much scarier. I had taken a detour while returning, one that passed through the woods, to escape the freak lady. Now, it didn't seem like a good idea and I took out my phone and switched on the flashlight to see my way ahead properly. After walking for a few minutes I heard a rustling sound coming from the bushes, while I was curious I assumed it was some kind of possum or something so I kept walking, maybe a little faster than before now.
"Ahhh"! Suddenly someone put a hand on my shoulder and I screamed, turned around and fell on my own butt. It was a lady with long hair. I couldn't see her face due to the dark but she appeared like an evil witch from a horror movie. Doing my best to maintain my calm, I put the flashlight on her face to see none other than the freak lady. "Why would you scare me out like that"? I breathed a sigh of relief.
"I was looking for you" She said flatly without any emotions. I was starting to feel that maybe if I met a ghost that would be better than meeting her. "Just how did you find me. Why do you keep following me..." I asked the lady standing in front of me before continuing the sentence in my head "... and why do I find it so hard to push you away"?
"Cause you are my key" She whispered.
"Your what"? I asked skeptically to which she gave him a tiny smile.
Before I could question her further I heard the rustling noises once more, only this time louder and paired up with hungry growls. Still, sitting on the ground I looked back to see numerous red eyes emerging from the darkness.
