Chapter 15: Deja Vu

"Hey there, sunshine!" Theresa scratched an eyebrow the moment she heard Tomoya's thin voice. He's still at far distance, she could barely see him yet, but his voice could travel faster than light. She never intended to meet up with him, but the kid is too pushy. Besides, he has the grimoire and the only person that could decipher those hell of a what-not-characters she's never seen before.

As he drew closer, Takumi, who's just beside him, finally showed up in the picture from her position. He has been covered by the tall, well-trimmed bushes outside the book shop that he had to step closer in order for him to be seen. Theresa's nose scrunched when she realized she's been staring at him for more than a minute. She couldn't blame herself though; Takumi's indeed a catch. The man came from a wealthy and respected family; thus, he dresses very well, speaks very well just like an educated and extremely intelligent person that he is. His good look's just a bonus; his love for black clothes, and gothic rings and necklaces which she personally loves.

His simple semi-short hair, which he usually styles into half updo with a black hairclip, added more appeal along with his fancy chromatic glasses. Truly, Takumi has an eye condition which limits him from seeing specific colors than those which have normal eyesight—quite rare—something Theresa wanted to learn about.

Tomoya dashed towards the see-through door and opened it for his cousin then the both of them directed towards her.

"Looking all good, ah?" Tomoya grinned the moment he sat on the other side; specifically in front of Theresa who had all the intentions of ignoring him, but the annoying kid kept on nudging her arm that's resting above the table to where they sat.

"Have you gone mute as well? My cousin here's not talking since we met today," Tomoya chuckled and Theresa he could feel his voice vibrating in her eardrums. She's an introvert, she hates loud people. On top of that, she didn't have enough sleep. She woke up in the wrong side of the day. Now, she's more than willing to take it out on this annoying son-of-a-bitch. Although her fists and jaw clenched, Takumi's intimidating presence held her temper in check.

Not today, devil. Not today! She mentally groaned, suppressing her attitude and threw it behind bars.

"Aren't we going somewhere else? Somewhere with lesser people?" Takumi's eyes wandered around before landing to her. He stood still, looking undetermined in discussing anything in the place.

"I'm afraid we can't," she said, yanking her glasses up her nose. "This is the only place I didn't see in my vision last night. Perhaps, we could change what will happen if we stay here."

Takumi's brows rose a bit and sat beside Tomoya. "I'm listening."

Theresa bent closer, both arms resting above the table. "I believe I haven't told you anything about how my vision works."

"I believe so, however, aren't we gonna discuss this with Kathleen later?"

Theresa nodded and shook her head at the same time. She's more than confused than anyone else.

"What do you mean by that?" Tomoya's tone went serious all of the sudden—finally.

"We did try and discuss this matter with her, but it didn't end well."

Tomoya is smart when it comes to technologies, yes. By that, Theresa's approach made his brows collide that he had to look at Takumi for explanation.

"We did," he reechoed, crossing his arms. By the looks of it, Takumi understood what Theresa meant right away. He's not a mind-reader, but his skills as a psychiatrist and his experiences as a cursed gave him the idea that Theresa was referring to her vision. Besides, she wouldn't use the kind of approach if the matter does not relate to visions as that's what her cooperation is for.

"Hello? I'm also here, if you don't mind?" Tomoya groaned softly.

"You can tell him," Takumi nodded.

Theresa rolled her eyes and faced Tomoya. "I had a vision last night. I saw various of places; some are familiar to me, some are not," she sighed. "In the middle of the darkness, I saw the four of us—Takumi, you, me—inside a coffee shop. No name, but I know for a fact that that was the shop owned by Samantha and Kathleen. We were talking about a vision, something about a portal which has been opened by accident, and then souls from the underworld which were appearing one after another," her eyes wandered down. "And then two people, a man and a woman, emerged out of nowhere behind us in that coffee shop: one's alive, one's dead."

She pressed her lips together before releasing a deep breath. "That vision cut short. The next thing I saw is a scene where we tried altering the first vision. We tried a different place, a different plan," she swilled. "And then it was followed by another scene after scene, and several scenes; which finally ."

Theresa's lips trembled; it was evident in her facial expression that she's close to being disoriented and only trying her best to explain things much accurately. "If we somehow tell Kathleen nor meet with her today, she'll die, as the dead one who was behind us the first vision was Kathleen. She'll either die from a car accident or murder."

"Holy heavens," Takumi gasped. He couldn't believe what he's hearing. He's been a cursed for as long as he can remember, but he never encountered this kind of horror.

"S-Should we text her or what? W-What should we do?" Tomoya panicked.

"I-I don't know. I only tried altering my vision once, but it only caused someone's death," Theresa scrubbed a hand across her temples. Her eyes were only pinned on the table, but she could feel Tomoya fidgeting on his seat.

"Perhaps, t-this could help," Tomoya was about to pull the grimoire out of his coat, heaven-knows-how, but Takumi held his arm so he paused.

"No, not here. Don't let someone else see that," he whispered and shot an eye on his wrist watch. It read 6:42 AM. The original plan is for all of them to meet at Kathleen and Samantha's coffee shop at 11 AM.

"We still have enough time," Takumi thought and shifted his eyes towards Theresa. "Did my place appear in your vision?" He asked and she almost choked. She didn't know why, but somewhere in Takumi's resonance of voice or his presence itself is making her nervous.

"N-No, I guess?" She cleared her throat. "What does y-your house look like?"

"Did your vision show you a mansion?" Tomoya asked casually and Theresa shook her head. "Well, then. We should be safe there," he turned to Takumi, but his next questioned is intended for Theresa still. "I supposed nothing bad would happen if we go there, yes?"

"I-I can't guarantee, but I think your place is safer than here," she eyed the crowed.

"Demons can come in different forms," Takumi stood up. "Follow me."

The three darted towards the parking lot and made their way to Takumi's place. Theresa is well aware that the man is rich, but she didn't expect that it's to the extent where she will see herself as a dust on his cupboard. She almost lost her will to even step out of the car, but Tomoya's always present to annoy her ass off.

He went out from the driver's seat and dragged the lady towards the entrance and the family hall which as almost as the size of Leah's Temple in Cebu. The double staircases in the middle which leads to two different paths upstairs are making her nauseous all of the sudden that she didn't even dare to look at the bright yellow chandelier hanging above her.

God, this is so embarrassing. Theresa could hear her thoughts squealing.

"Theresa?" Takumi kept his voice carefully neutral. He was already heading towards the door on her far left. She took few small steps before regaining her composure back and followed him and Tomoya. The world was rapidly taking on the enclosed dimensions of a small room that they have entered. She looked back in horror when everything turned dark all of the sudden and sighed in relief when she saw the bright exit.

"Relax," Tomoya's voice came out of nowhere until the lights turned on and her eyes grew in circles. She could feel her eyeballs wobble in fright when she somehow recognized the marks and symbols drawn across the black small room, she's in as if there's a demonic ritual that has been performed in the place or still yet to be performed. Newspapers and old photos were pinned on each side of the walls with red X marks on them as if they were already annihilated.

"T-Those are blood," she stammered on her own words and looked at Takumi who's been standing still in a corner.

"W-What are you?"

Takumi smiled.