‘Do you have a moment for me?’
‘What?’ I blinked.
‘I have a few things to discuss with you.’
‘But I…’ As I spoke, he held his hand a few inches away from my forehead. I winced as if in pain.
‘Sorry, did that hurt?’ He pulled back his hand. ‘You had better sit down.’ I lay back on the bed, half through fatigue and half to escape his hand.
‘Who are you?’ I murmured. The room was no longer spinning. He sat down on the bed next to me, his face calm and his eyes still as water.
‘Me? What do you think?’ His face was set in stone. I thought it best not to touch on that.
‘You said we need to talk?’
‘Yes.’
‘About my dream?’
‘No, not your dream.’
‘Then what?’
He looked at me quizzically. ‘Don’t you know?’
‘NO!’ I snapped, sitting up again. ‘I suppose you think that I’m the next chosen one?’
‘It would seem so.’
‘No!’ I protested. ‘You’ve made a mistake. Just because someone might have had the same dream as me seven years ago, it doesn’t mean anything.’
He touched his chin, pondering.
‘Didn’t you hear me?’
‘Look, I’m only supposed to deliver the message. You can accept or decline, but I don’t do the job. If you have questions, you’re welcome to ask.’
‘You seem to be getting a little tense. I think we should take a break first.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You’re worried if I’ll accept the job, right? Well, what if you accept the job?’
‘Umbrellas!’ I said, lurching forward. ‘Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!’
‘You only need to say yes. And don’t tell me that you’re not.’ He shook his head. ‘What am I saying? It’s not my place to tell. Now, let’s cut to the chase. The world faces a new danger. ‘
‘That’s why you’re here? I have to take on responsibility?’
‘Yes.’
‘What will I be responsible for?’
‘You’re to eliminate the source of the danger.’
‘I’ve never killed before.’
‘You’re relieved then.’ He smiled, but it was pointless to even try to crack his icy exterior. After all, it was only a courteous smile. ‘You don’t need to think about that. What troubles you instead is whether you have the power to make a difference.’
‘Am I supposed to kill that being in my dream?’
‘He’s a very powerful magician; it’s unlikely that one can kill him. Besides, they’re not fighting. It’s called a contract. The one in the dream is the demon.’
‘Then why do I have to kill it? Will that do any good?’
‘I don’t know. The previous chosen one did kill it.’
‘There was a previous one?’
‘Yes, many years ago. He was called David White.’
I shuddered, recalling the dream. ‘That was why it was trying to possess me then.’
‘Yes, and you’re the only one that it can appear to. Only the chosen one can see it, and it can only possess someone in it’s body.’
‘What was David White like?’
‘There’s no need to know. His life has nothing to do with you. You are to be the one to settle the score, understand? All you need to do is accept the task and the burden will be in your hands.’
My heart quaked and my knees shook.
‘There’s no need to be afraid. You’re terrified that you don’t have the power to settle the score, am I right?’
‘That’s enough! I don’t have time to be reading a laundry list.’ I snapped my fingers and the bathroom door unlocked.
‘Sorry. It wouldn’t hurt to know a little more about him. If you’re the chosen one, you can’t even know the summary of your predecessor.’
‘Great,’ I groaned. ‘If there is a summary, then why didn’t you give it?’ I rubbed my face with both hands. ‘Why do I even have to know anything?’
‘I’m sorry. You’re right. I haven’t given you much information. Just know that it’s not necessary for you to know anything. The only purpose of this meeting was to make you decide whether you want to accept the task.’
‘I’ve accepted the task. I don’t need any more information.’
I started to walk away, but there were two things that caught my eye. The first was the boy’s eyes. The second was the drawing in that book.
Pay attention, the man’s eyes seemed to say.
Did I ever mention it to you about my biggest loss?
Chri. I turned my head and broke the lock I had just made. I was speechless. I turned to leave.
A boy sat cross-legged on the ground drawing something on a piece of paper. He scratched his head and closed the book.
‘We’re closed now.’ I said.
‘Oh, I was looking for the bathroom.’
‘Look, we’re closed now.’ I said. Outside, the neighborhood was cloaked in darkness.
I turned back when I heard the boy giggle. He was pointing at something.
‘What?’
‘Your room is empty!’ He chuckled.
‘I know, I went to check if there was a novel in the drawer.’ I walked towards the boy. ‘What’s your name, anyway?’
‘I’m Thomas,’ he murmured.
‘What are you drawing?’
‘Nothing. I’m just drawing. You wouldn’t be interested. You’re the only one interested in my drawings.’
‘Oh, is that right?’ I sarcastically replied. The boy’s face soon became distraught. ‘I’m sorry. What did you say?’
‘I’m sorry,’ he mumbled. He picked up the book from the ground and tore out the page he had been drawing on. He handed it to me. ‘Will you take this for me?’
‘What is it?’ I held the torn paper.
‘It’s the drawing. It’s the best thing I’ve ever drawn.’
‘Why do you want me to have it?’
‘You’re the only one who’s ever bought them.’
‘I’m sorry, but I don’t buy them. I just like to look at them.’
The boy looked at me sheepishly and then at the page in my hand. ‘Take it.’
I walked towards the boy’s home. I turned around and placed the page on the horn of the bicycle.
‘Thomas,’ I called.
The boy’s head jerked up. He looked in my direction and walked towards me.
‘I’m not giving that back to you.’
‘But do you like it? The drawing?’
‘Yes!’
‘Then take it,’ he pleaded.
‘I can’t.’
‘But you do. I see it on your face.’
I caught myself staring at the boy’s face.
‘If you only like it so much, then will you let me have it?’
I looked up to the sky. There were a lot of stars up there. Each one was different, but they all possessed a similar beauty.
