13. Nicholas

Nicholas Pov

Though the question slipped out of his lips, he never expected to receive silence as an answer. He wondered if it were his imagination. Was it that his wishful thoughts were making him feel like she was there?

Was it that his brain was trying to trick him? These thoughts went through his mind, as he clenched his fist on his thighs, breathing audibly heavily wishing he was right.

Minutes went by, there still are no response. He bent his head cursing at himself, believing he was finally going crazy but then-

"How do you know I'm here?" She asked him.

Her voice sent shivers through his spine. He was frightened, yet extremely glad he was right. A little smile crew from the corners of his lips, but he tried to curb his happiness within.

"I asked you a question." Her voice interrupted his thoughts.

Nicholas didn't know what response he would give her. There was no way he was going to tell her that her presence brings him warmth, he would sound crazy.

"I...I've got a sense of smell and hearing." He said to her. Though he didn't hear anything, but her perfume was just like the one she was wearing the other day.

He was feeling uneasy. The woman he had been hoping to meet was seated right in front of him but then, how would he be able to ask her all his questions. He was scared and tried to hide his feelings but he failed.

"Why are you shaking?" Her voice triggered him. The same jolt he felt when they touched. Somehow the tone of her voice sounded familiar, but he had no idea where he heard of it before.

"Are you scared of me? Or you just ain't used to people?" She asked him again.

"You are funny. Why would I be afraid of you?" He forced a smile. He was sweating profusely, the heat was still very much intense.

"You know I don't bite. You can calm your nerve, gosh you look awful. If only you can see how you are covered in sweats, anyone who walks here will think I've got something on you." She giggled.

The sound of her giggles made him see another fragment of the woman in his dreams. The woman was giggling. Her smile was beautiful. Her blonde hair was dancing in the wind and she seemed to be seating. It was the first time, he ever saw that fragment, the first time he saw the woman happy. Apart from the part, she died, and the version he saw when she was crying, this was the third.

Suddenly they were interrupted by the footsteps of someone pounding towards where they were.

"Nicholas, you are awake." Estelle smiles at him.

Then she looked at the woman seated and saw it was the same woman. She sat closer to Nicholas and whispered in his ears "It's the same woman from the other day."

Nicholas hit her thigh and whimpered in her ears to be quiet.

"Why don't you go get me the book- hidden gate by my favorite author?" He tries to scoot her away, so he gets to spend time with the woman.

"Why would you send me on an errand instead of introducing me to your friend?" She was disheartened. Nicholas didn't concede to her, rather he smiled so she would give them space. Estelle grumbles as she went to the shelf in search of the book, but her eyes were focused on Nicholas and the lady. When she couldn't find the book, she scurried back and told him.

Nicholas was pissed, she didn't waste any time, it made him wonder if Estelle checked for the book.

"Is it hidden gates by Mary Dawn?" Jessica asked.

"Yes, it is." Both Nicholas and Estelle answered simultaneously making Jessica chuckle.

"So she is your favorite author? Which of her books have you read before?" She asked.

"Cursed one, Boneyard, Tales of the crimson family," Nicholas responded. He noticed a pregnant silence from Jessica.

He stretched his hand to try and reach hers. Then Estelle whispers in his ears

"Nicholas your tattoo it's showing." She warned him to close his wrist. He had a tattoo on his wrist that he hates to show everyone for some reasons best known to him.

After covering his arm, he thanked Estelle. Estelle walked away to let them be. Then he said to the woman

"They are all myths." But still, Jessica was quiet. "Here is the one I've been reading, it's the cursed one." He said to her and slides the book to her end of the desk. As his hands touched hers, he felt a burning sensation in his tattooed wrist. It was the first time he ever felt pains in his tattoo.

"Arrrghhh" Nicholas screamed.

"Are you okay?" Jessica stood up and touched him.

He felt suffocated as she came close to him. He started seeing the man in his dreams dying after he was stabbed. He felt the pains he was feeling and it was very severe as if he was the one stabbed.

When she wrapped her hands around him, the feeling became unbearable

"Get away from me." He yelled at her as soon as he could open his lips to speak.

But he still felt her presence around him, it made him more suffocated. He was screaming so she would leave from there, but he sensed that she stood still.

He tried to get off his chair but he fell to the ground. He crawled on the floor, trying to get away from her.

"Getaway," Estelle screamed as she ran to where he was. Surprised that the woman was just standing instead of helping.

"Tell her to go away from me." Nicholas pleaded to Estelle.

Estelle was shocked, wondering what could have happened.

She was more startled seeing how the woman was busy looking at Nicholas as tears were dripping from her eyes.

"What happened here?" Estelle asked her, but she was quiet.

"Estelle, just plead with her to stay a few feet away from me, I can't seem to breathe." Nicholas was gasping for breath.