06092013

08122010

09102014

Numbers.

I grew up seeing numbers my whole life. Not because my father was an accountant, but because everyone around me had numbers looming over their heads. Numbers made out of smoke, as if leaking out of their soul and hanging over them.

For the longest time I thought this was natural. Everyone had them and could see them. But eventually I realized that was not the case, and I was the only one who could see these numbers. I didn't know what these numbers meant. Not until I turned thirteen and my father died. On 08th of April 2012.

That was his number.

And thus I knew, what they meant. The day you die. And my world has never been the same since then.

To be Continued..............

I stepped out of the car and into the thick hot heat of July in Georgia. Thanks to the humidity, my hair felt like it had tripled in size. And I was not at all fond of the feeling. In front of me, loomed Verona High, the mansion hovered proudly behind enormous creaky iron gates, flanked by row of maple trees, swaying gently to summer wind. Ivy grew through the crevices of the old winding stone path, which led directly to the colossal structure. As a whole, the building looked for all the world like it had grown there rather than be built.

I squinted my eyes at the mansion which was soon going to be my school and boarding home as mom spoke, "Magnificent isn't it, sweetheart. I'm sure you going to enjoy being here."

"Erm...yes. I guess!?" was all I could manage as we reached into my trunk for my stuff. After dad's death, nothing had been the same for us. Mom isolated herself, not being able to deal with the pain of losing dad. And as time passed by, her sorrow grew more profound. I, on the other hand, never felt as powerless as I did then. Unable to soothe mom, unable to fill in the hollowness in her eyes, all I could do was stand and watch as she fell apart.

And one day, mom just got out of bed and came to me in the middle of the night. And said, "Sara, let's move." And I knew what she meant. "Yes, mom. Let's move on." I said, but I didn't know how I could move on from seeing a person's death date.

We moved to Georgia to start things anew. Mom got a job as a real estate agent and I was here, in front of Verona High, pulling out my beat-up trunk out of the car.

"Honey, I know you're gonna love it here." She grabbed my face and kissed my cheeks as I nodded in silence. Mom seemed tired and there were heavy lines around her mouth, lines I'd never seen before. She was almost forty, but she could usually pass for ten years younger. I did not want to stress mom more than she already was. I hated to see her sad. So I smiled, as I kissed her goodbye.

I grabbed my trunk and pulled my duffle bag over my shoulder as I walked towards the giant of an old building. There were people everywhere, students and professors and busy stuff. But all I could see was numbers. I hung my head low as I walked swiftly towards the florescent-lit lobby of Verona High school. There by the lobby, stood a hatchet-faced woman with a clipboard clamped under her thin stick-like arms. Pointy cat-like spectacles hung to the bridge of her nose as she eyed me with unpleasant eyes.

"Name!" Her shrill gritty voice rung in my ears.

"Saraphina Valdez." I answered. I was already regretting coming to this bizarre place. But I didn't have much of a choice. After we moved, we'd seen difficult days. I wanted to give mom a chance to life once more. I thought moving out was the right thing to do. So I did.

"Hmm!" The woman's weasel-like eyes peered over her spectacles, tilting her head downwards to see her clipboard, the light metal frames gliding a few millimeters down her beaky nose. Then she curtly said, "Very well, Miss Valdez, I am Miss Helen and you are in room number 502. Classes start at eight in the morning and late comers are not tolerated in any circumstances. I suppose you've read the school rule handbook?"

Honestly, I didn't. I just was so wound up with everything else that I didn't really have the time to read some stupid handbook. But I nodded nevertheless not wanting to meet her eyes. "Good! Then I suppose you know the rules Verona High abides by. But, let me repeat the absolute rules again; No roaming around the hallways after ten. Students are not allowed to leave the school ground after six and they are absolutely not allowed to go to the west wing of the third floor if they don't want to get expelled." She took a saccharine tone of voice, "Remember, follow the rules and no one gets in trouble." I could tell this woman was an expert in giving people the evil eye. I nodded briskly and she dismissed me with a wave of her hand.

Verona High was five storeys tall. The fifth storey was where the girls' dormitory was located. The stairs were long and winded and there was no sign of an elevator. I looked up the stairs and gulped, did I have to drag my heavy luggage to the fifth floor through these stairs!?

"Are you the new transfer student?" A gruff voice barked into my ears. Honestly, for a moment I thought my ears would fall off. I turned around to set my eyes upon a huge barrel-chested man with ruddy cheeks. This man was going to die in a month's time. "I said, are you the new transfer student!" He snapped again.

"Y-Yes." I muttered.

"Come with me," He said as he grabbed my trunk and snatched my duffle bag from me and walked ahead.

I followed him into a silent dark hallway which seemed to have no exist to it. Finally after walking for about ten minutes we came upon what you would call an elevator, but not quite. How should I put this, the elevator looked like it was built hundreds of years ago, rusty and dusty. Making creaky sounds as we got into it. I was half scared the thing wouldn't work and we would fall to our deaths inside this wretched thing.

"The elevator is only for special occasions. Students are forbidden to use it for classes or other activities," the man, called Rudy grumbled. As if anyone would use it anyway.

When we reached my room he shrugged off the bags and said, "Dinner is at nine. Don't be late." And took off in a rush.

I entered what seemed like a girl's room, the room was like the wonderland for comic driven recluses. The walls were bright green with strange cartoon posters sprinkled all around it. Two desks sat in each corner of the room, one littered with wadded up pieces of paper and pens and the other empty. A few shelves were pushed against the walls and filled with books. Some books sat on the floor in front of the selves, some on top of the messy pile of comforter that lay on the bed opposite to mine. And my eyes finally rested upon the owner of it all. She sat on her bed, her blond hair poker-straight and pulled back into a low ponytail. She wore thick-rimmed glasses and the freckles over her nose and upper cheeks half hidden under her huge glasses. And she was going to die within the next six years.

She passed me an awkward smile as I tossed off my duffle bag on the bed which was supposed to be mine.

"Hi!" She said.

"Hi." I replied.

"Erm...I am Lena Marvel. Nice to meet you!" She offered in a small voice. She seemed skeptical of me, and she should be. I was good news to no one.

"Yeah. Nice to meet you too. I am Sara Valdez." I mumbled back unenthusiastically. With that I climbed up my bed, pulled over the comforter and fell into a deep sleep.

When I woke up, it was the next morning. I had only meant to dose off for a while since I was tired. I had been tired for a while, not the kind of tired that needs a goodnight's sleep. But a kind of tired that wears off one's emotions and eventually become an ingrained part of your life.

"You're awake?" I heard from the other end of the room.

"Yeah!"

"Oh great. I tried to wake you up yesterday, you know. But you seemed so deep in sleep that I didn't want to disturb you." Lena Marvel spoke up.

"Yeah!" I muttered, "Are you going to use the washroom now?"

"Oh no! Go ahead." She smiled a toothy smile and I returned it with an awkward one.

I was not good with people. The inability to communicate with humans only grew more prominent after my dad died. I just didn't need to know the expiry date of anyone close to me. Mom's was hard enough.

I looked at my schedule and grabbed my backpack and sauntered off to my first class in Verona High. There were people everywhere. The hustle and bustle in the hallways made the dreary walls of Verona come to life. Smoke-formed numbers everywhere as people passed me by. 'Of course, everyone has to die one day,' I thought. But it still didn't ease my nerves to know the date of their expiry. It was disturbing, and hence I never let anyone know about my power. I never tried to act upon it and just watched from the sidelines. After all, who was I to mess with fate?

I thought I would take this secret to my grave, but then...I saw him.

The boy without numbers.

To be Continued...........

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

*This story will be updated every Sundays.

P.S. If i feel generous i might even give two updates together. So look forward to it people*.

His eyes, for a brisk moment, met mine.

They were the most beautiful shade of green. The kind of green that mint ice cream gets jealous of. Like the glimmering color of emerald, sparkling in the light of the morning sun. When he turned his head, this way and that, they caught the light and played tricks with anything and everything that screamed 'summer.' But they were so fiery they took me by surprise.

His hair was a disheveled mess, the color of fallen leaves, brown and sleek. Like a shiny varnish that catches merely light around it. He had the kind of face that stopped you in your track, a long high arched nose and skin paler than snow, as if he was made out of wax. He had the eerie feel about him, as if his entire being was screaming 'back off'.

I couldn't help but stare at him. And when he passed me by, I felt as if I passed through an icy shower.

He glided through the swarm of people, disappearing amongst them. Before I knew it, I was already following him. Searching for his brown hair amidst the throng. I kept my head down and pushed my way through the sea of despondent faces when I saw him turn the corner. My mind kept crowding me with thoughts like what the hell was I doing, did I want to get detention on the first day of school!? Was I insane? But my curiosity got the better out of me. And hence, I kept following him. Until he stopped before a big old door. It was the grey of unfurnished silver, dull and spotted with years of water damage. Where there should have been some fancy matching handle was only a square shaft of dark cold metal.

I was right behind him, still staring at his strange back.

Suddenly he turned around, maybe sensing my gaze on his back and he looked right at me. A astonished expression stuck to his face. "Who are you?" He frowned.

My mind took a moment to register his question, and then I stuttered, "A..I....I...." all wit had left me and well... I was left stuttering for dear life.

His frown got more prominent as I fumbled with my words looking for an excuse, because honestly, what was I suppose to say? 'I can see the day a person kicks the bucket. But it's weird that I can't see your day of death. So I kind of got curious about you and well....haha..ended up following you!?' Yeah! Definitely not. He will no doubt call the nearest asylum to enquire if a patient was missing.

"Ah...err...I was just passing by. Yeah! I'm just a passerby. Please don't mind me and carry on with what you were doing. Haha... I will leave you alone now. Hahaha...Bye!" And without a second glance behind I took flight.

"Hey! Wait!!!" He called out, and if the sound of thudding on the tiles of the hallway was not just my hallucination I was pretty sure he was following me.

Scared as I was, I didn't care where my legs took me. As long as I could hide from my persuader I didn't really give a damn. And before long I stood in a creepy hallway. The hallway must have been designed by a manic depressive, either that or someone obsessed with grey. The tiles were a checker board of black and white and the whole structure send a chill down my spine as it reminded me of something out of my nightmares. At the end of the hallway was a freaky looking red door. 'I do not want to be here, it is the west wing on the third floor' I thought and I wrapped my arms around my chilled body; this was the last place I wanted to be. Unfortunately it was my fault I was here, my doing, but right now, I was scared to death. The fear sat on me like a pillow over my mouth and nose, making it hard for me to breathe. I did not want to get expelled, more so on my first day of school.

I traced back my steps, walking as fast as my legs could take me, away from this creepy place. But then I heard footsteps. Clicking of heels on hard tiles to be more precise. There she was, the Devil incarnate herself, Miss Helen; advancing in my direction. I felt the panic begin like a cluster of spark plugs in my abdomen. Tension grew in my limbs ceasing my movement. What am I going to do now? Horrifying thoughts accelerated inside my head, fizzling my brain function and I found myself stuck without a way out.

Suddenly I felt a hand grip my arm and pulling me into a dark place. A room I was not aware existed. Dim and damp, there were shapes in monochrome and it seemed like it could be a scene from a black and white movie. In all that darkness vivid emerald eyes stared into mine, a tinge of curiosity shone in them as he pressed his hand over my mouth. Forbidding me to speak. I couldn't help but gawk back at him. My previous fear subsiding and taking the shape of a new one. Damn! Why him? I screamed inside my head.

The clicking of shoes slowly faded into a faraway noise and he finally took a step back from invading my personal space. "What were you doing there? You do know that you'll be expelled without a question if ever you're caught in the west wing of this floor right?" His tone was harsh and cold. As if friendliness was not known to him at all. I bet when he was young he was the playground bully. Well, I for one wouldn't expect any cordial behaviour from a person I was just stalking. God! That sounded so bad.

"Hey, did you hear me? Or are you just deaf?" The guy grunted.

"Ah! N-No. I heard you. I ... It's just the first day of my school here and well, I was looking for my classroom but got lost. Sorry." I lied through my teeth. Well, it was not entirely a lie in my defence. I did get lost and ended up here.

"Really?" He raised his prefect brows and I nodded, tongue-tied. He stared at me like he could see right through me. "Whatever it is you were doing you better not get me mixed up with your crap, and remember, next time I see you following me around I won't let it just slide." He fixed me with a glare that could freeze water instantly, as if to declare that his threat was not empty and walked away leaving me half scared and half dreading.

'Way to go on your first day girl.' I thought to myself as I glared into the empty chalkboard of the detention room. It seemed late comers were really not tolerated in Verona High. I couldn't believe I got a ticket to detention on my very first day of school. The Gods must really hate me right now.

"Hey!" Someone beside me whispered.

I turned my head to spot a petite girl. In this world, there are people who don't need a disguise. They can just blend in with the crowd and no one even knows they exist. This girl was like that. She was not pretty nor ugly. Her clothing wasn't overly fashionable or bright in colour. But she had strange dark eyes, even though her raven bangs hid most of her face but I could still see her eyes as clear as daylight. They were peculiar and pitch black. Showing nothing but a dull void churning inside of them. Her skin so pale she almost seemed white. 'Is she anaemic?' I thought to myself.

"Hey!" She said again.

"Hey!" I answered this time.

"You're the new transfer student who got into trouble on the first day of her school, aren't you?" She asked in glee.

I didn't know whether I was supposed to be offended or feel sorry for myself. "Yes." I answered stiffly.

"Ah-ha I knew it. But you needn't feel awkward about it, Verona High is plenty strict with their rules and news spread faster than wild fire here. So, almost everyone on campus has probably heard about you by now. Anyways, nice to meet you, I'm Lyla. Actually it's Dilyla Adwell, but people call me Lyla. What's your name?" She gave me a goofy smile.

"Nice to meet you too, I'm Sara Valdez." I returned her smile in an inept manner. She was overly energetic for a girl in detention.

"Oh enough with that formality, you're gonna love it here. Verona High is a treasure for mystery lovers, and I can tell you're just that. You know........blah blah blah," I had neither the will nor energy to stop her blabbing. I stopped listening at one point and just nodded my head to every question she threw at me. This was not how I imagined my first day to be.

After what seemed like forever we were finally dismissed and I got out of class as soon as possible.

I heard Dilyla Adwell's holler from behind me, "It was nice meeting you Sara. If you have any weirdness popping around you don't forget to come to me."

Yeah, as if I wasn't enough of an weirdness.

**To be Continued**...........