9th Life

9TH LIFE CHAPTER FOUR ( Day four ) last part

They had the meeting and he tried all he can not to express his lack of interest in whatever they were saying. This competition or whatever it is meant nothing to him and he wondered why they want to involve him. To him it was pointless to wait for this meeting and he hoped that when the competition starts he wouldn’t be forced to participate because he doesn’t want to.

When he got home he met his parents talking and chattering like they usually use to do as couples. They had this smiles on their faces like everything was OK. If you look at them you wouldn’t take them for people that are in mourning. The first thing that came to his mind was maybe they’re just being positive by lightning their mood with a smile, but the strangest thing happened when he asked them about the burial arrangements for Michael and where it was going to be held. They looked at him like he was trying to crack a joke or something, a joke they were not finding funny for some reason.

His Mom asked what he meant by burial arrangements. He was confused and then he said, Michael’s burial arrangements of course, that he remembered them saying they’re having it tomorrow. Now the parents were the ones who were shucked, and with the look at things they don’t look like they’re faking that surprise. His mother said they layed Micheal to rest five years ago that why would he be asking about burying him again tomorrow.

“Wait what do you mean five years ago, Michael died yesterday” he said. His Mom covered her mouth with her hands with disbelief in her eyes and asked him why would he say something like that. Seth didn’t understand what was going on, it felt like he was talking nonsense. His Dad scolded him for bringing back something he claims they’ve already put to rest five years ago, and then asked if his intentions was to make his Mom cry.

Seth said “what” That No he didn’t mean it like that, then he said wait what’s happening? His father said he’s the one who needs to answer that question since he’s the one talking nonsense about burial. Seth was even more surprised when he saw that his parents were really serious about what they were saying. “But how could this be” he thought, unless what Sonia said about loosing their memories is true and it’s already happening. He got really terrified and puzzled at the same time. This was too expensive for it to be a joke and he wondered how come it’s only his parents who’s forgetting.

He decided not to say anything further about it since he could guess why this is happening. He apologized and left them. While heading to his room he noticed one of the family photos on the wall, they were all dressed in black standing next to a coffin the size of Michael. He has never seen that photo before. Immediately he saw that he had this strange feeling, it was as if a cold air ran through him. He didn’t remember them ever taking this photo but there he was standing next to his father with no Michael in the picture except the coffin.

While staring lustily at the photo he over heard Eva talking to herself in her room. As he stepped back and opened the door he saw her playing with the cat they threw out yesterday. Shocked by this he ran and lifted her up away from the cat. On hearing the shout his parents ran in immediately to see what was happening. “The cat is back” he said. “What cat?” His mom asked.

He pointed at the cat on the floor and said that was the cat we threw out yesterday. His Mom wondered if he was ok or something and told him that the cat he’s talking about is Eva’s pet “puppy,” that she’s had it for over a year now.

While still surprised at their reactions his father asked him to drop his sister down immediately that he’s scaring her. Then he continued lashing out at him that he’s done nothing but nag and complain since they moved here, and that he has to grow up and stop this endless paranoia.

Seth was just quiet looking at them, this had got the be the most well planned prank anyone has ever pulled on him. He dropped Eva down with his eyes glued to the cat as Eva ran to go pick her up. Fortunately he now understands that this is one of the things lady Sanya dose to her victims, make them slowly forget important details about themselves and how long they’ve been here before completely taking over their mind. So he knew there was nothing he could do or say to them about the actual truth that will make any sense.

His question right now was why is he the only one that still remember things as they are?. He needed answers but he was getting nothing. It sees now that his only option is to look for the preacher’s secret and end this whole madness. After leaving them he went straight to his room and took out his phone to call his girlfriend but he had no service reception, probably lady Sanya’s doing he thought.

He had the weirdest dinner with his family later that evening. He couldn’t believe how they suddenly can’t remember they haven’t spent up to a week here. They didn’t remember Eva’s dog, or the accident that happened with Michael and the cat, they said Michael has been suffering from an illness for a long time even before they moved here, and that his passing was a tragedy they really needed to put behind them.

Things was even more worst and complicated than he thought. The words from the note in class today kept ringing in his head, “you and your family are in danger.” Everytime he think of those words his mind skips a bit. The cat was always with Eva and when he looks at her he’ll always find that she’s looking at him. It was obvious she knew what she was doing, that his parents won’t believe any thing he says, and the worst part is that he doesn’t have enough information to know what to do, who’s the person that holds the key he seek.

That night he was in his room waiting for tomorrow to come. He kept rolling on his bed fighting for sleep to meet his eyes but he couldn’t sleep. He was scared of his mind, and with everything happening he hopped and prayed that it’s not too late for his parents.