9th Life

9TH LIFE CHAPTER THREE ((Day Three ) part one

Seth had his first peaceful night rest since they got here. With the first dream he had involving cats and the fact that he isn’t really a fan of them, getting rid of that cat seem to have eased his mind away from the weirdness going around. He got up later than usual and noticed he was going to be late for school. First he was surprised that his mom didn’t wake him up like she use to do whenever he was going to be late and he wondered how they were OK with him delaying them given that they all leave the house together. But as he came out of his room he heard someone subbing, it seem to be coming from his parents room. He went in and he saw Michael on the bed and his mom sitting next to him. She was crying and for a moment Seth’s heart skipped at the sight while hopping it’s not what he was already thinking.

As he was about to ask what was going on his mom told the dad that she doesn’t understand, that she thought they said the scratch wasn’t infected. His father who was also worried told her that he’s going to be alright. But Micheal was burning up way too much for this to be normal. And it wasn’t. His hands was swollen and the side of the cut on his hand looked brownish. There was no sign that any of this was going to happen yesterday when they took him to the clinic, and now this she thought.

Seth didn’t know what to say with the way his mom was crying. For one he now see why she didn’t wake him up early, Michael was in a bad condition and all he could think of was the cat that cut him. He asked if this has anything to do with the cat and his father’s response was for him to go get him and his sister ready that they’re going to the clinic for Micheal to get some treatments before getting them to school.

“But what is wrong with Michael” he insisted to know with worries in his tone. His father told him to go do what he asked him to do instead of standing there and asking him questions he has no answers to. As he went to go do as his father said a lot of things were going through his mind and all of it was scary. He hoped his brother’s condition has nothing to do with him getting that cat killed yesterday because at this point he’s ready to entertain any crazy theories due to everything he’s seen so far. Right now he was going out of his mind thinking the worst of things. It wasn’t his intentions to imagine the worst but it takes little thinking with everything that has happened since they got here for someone as paranoid as him to believe this is connected. First the dog and now his little brother. No he wasn’t having it.

He started thinking about how things were for them before Micheal came into the picture. When his mom got pregnant for Michael their first option was aborting, but it was that same time that his father got a job he’s been pursuing so they took it as a sign from the universe and decided to keep him. It was clear that they’re struggling to raise Seth and Eva as it is but that hope of Micheal being their miracle baby made them to hold on.

After his birth things started to look up for them, they were fine with a good roof over their heads and food to eat at least twice a day. They were not completely ok but things was definitely better than before. Michael is the blessing they waited a long time for. Everybody love playing with him and adored his little cuteness. Seth didn’t want to hear that something happened to him. When they got to the clinic and they had him put on a stretcher and drove him to the ER, Seth felt like his heart was going to pull out from his chest with the amount of fear he was in. He couldn’t understand why it was so hard to be hopeful and so easy to think of the worst at this point. It was like he wasn’t in control of his mind.

The doctor that took Michael said the scratch mark has been infected, that they don’t have enough supplies to treat it but they were going to do the best they can to make sure he comes out of the fever. His mom was doing her best to stay strong just as her husband was suggesting. He told her to stay close to him and let him know she’s around, that he’s going to come back after dropping off Seth and Eva at school.

As they got to school Seth noticed the usual stares from the students. It was as if they know what was going on. He didn’t understand what was happening but he wasn’t really surprised at the same time because this isn’t the first time people here are behaving strange. Sonia was sitting about three seats away from him. Everyone in the class were staring at him while having side conversations and it was making him uncomfortable. The only person that showed a little concern about his discomfort with their absurd interrogation and probing was Sonia. She kept looking at him and would smile when there eyes meet but Seth was not interested in whatever they had going on, left for him he’s better off not talking to any of them at all.

Eva on the other hand was having a better time in class than Seth. Her classmates seem to be interested in making friends with her, something her brother told her to be careful about. But she didn’t have any conspiracy theory going on in her head about this town and the people in it so she didn’t mind relating back as warm and gentle as her classmate were to her.

Seth was indeed paranoid for good reasons but Eva was open to be as friendly as she could be, more like their parents. They met with their dad during break time before going to the cafeteria to eat. They wanted to know how Micheal was doing and the good news was that he wasn’t burning up as bad as before so whatever treatment he got seemed to be working. This news was a big relief to Seth and it freed him from all the crazy things he’s been camping in his mind. His father told them that by the time he left the clinic Micheal was still asleep and the doctor said he needed the rest to get himself back. Then he told them to go eat their food before break time will be over.

Seth and Eva was at the cafeteria eating alongside the other students. Eva was just telling her brother how pleasant her classmates is with her and at the very least he was happy that it wasn’t like his own experience. He still mentioned that she should be careful though and not get too comfortable with anyone yet and she said ok.

Sonia came to join them and before sitting down she asked if it was ok. Eva was happy to have her join them but since Sonia was seeking consent from both her brother also she looked at him and was really hoping he’d say yes. Seeing that this means a lot to Eva he told Sonia that she can join them.

One of the reasons why he seemed more chilled than before was because of the good news their father gave them about Micheal’s condition. While they talk, Seth was more engaging than he used to with her around and wasn’t being overly sarcastic with his response. And at least Sonia appreciated that.

Couple more minutes into their conversations Seth noticed something right at the entrance of the cafeteria. It was a black cat, fully grown, and it was exactly one of the ones he saw in his dream the night after that driver and his assistant was killed. Immediately he saw her his heart skipped again with this terrible feeling in his gut. She sat there looking straight at him with a look he hasn’t seen on a cat before. His heart was racing fast. He pointed at it and asked if they can see her too. “See what” Eva asked and he said that cat at the door. But before Eva and Sonia turned around the cat was gone. Then he noticed some group of students laughing and he could tell it was about him from the way they were looking at him. Sonia told him to pay them no attention that that’s just how they are.

When he asked her why people in this town are being so creepy she smiled and said she understand how strange it feels but he should give it some time that he’ll still get use to the flow around here, just the way she’s being patient about him being rude to her since day one.

Seth was a little calm realizing she’s right and told her he’s sorry for giving her that vibe. She told him not to worry about it that she isn’t taking it personally. Before they could continue he saw the cat again.