THIS IS FATE

THIS IS FATE 2

CHAPTER TWO

I scratched my throat hoping to hide my anticipation. I didn’t want to look too enthusiastic. He was blackmailing me after all.

“Fine”

I said putting my bag down.

“Where do you want me?”

Dr Luca’s expression remained perfectly impassive though his body tensed slightly.

“What,where and how do you want ?” I batted my eyelashes at him

“Or shall I just get down on my knees? On your…”

Dr Luca’s eyes widened in disbelief and then he slightly recoiled.

“I meant doing extra credit,a chance to redo the assignment”.

I felt my heart sank into my stomach from sheer embarrassment. Had I really gotten it wrong? But how?

I would have loved nothing more than for the ground to open and swallow me whole but I couldn’t let it show.

“Redo the assignment?” I scoffed

“I’m not about to redo something I already spent hours on.”

I raised my nose in the air satisfied by Dr Luca’s stunned expression.

“You’re too good for extra credit yet you offer yourself up to any random stranger?” He asked raising an eyebrow. I clenched my jaw,feeling my face flush in anger. I hated how he made that sound like I was something so cheap and easily disposable.

“Well,it would have been less time consuming” I reply feigning to sound just as indifferent as he did.

“Get out of my office” Dr Luca snaps,jaw clenched and that about sums up how he and I met .

In the months that followed,my relationship with Dr Luca didn’t improve much though my grades did as there was no way I was going to let that arrogant prick the satisfaction of looking down on me ever again. He had made me feel so small and insignificant. I now rejoiced in the reluctant looks he would give me everytime he was forced to hand me back a successful test,though he made a point always getting my name wrong.

“Yes,Mitch,you have a question?” Passable work today Rita? Anybody know when Aria Pierce…?”There was no way he didn’t remember who I was. By this point,that jerk was doing it on purpose.

All this to say,the man and I do not get along. This is why being in his room and in the middle of the night no less feels downright elicit. Nevermind how I even got there in the first place,why I haven’t made myself scarce yet,now that’s the real mystery. I’m unable to tear my eyes away from him like a new unspoken connection is bridging the gap between us.

How can someone so aggravating in the light of day evoke such a storm of warm emotions in me. Now I jolt at that last thought and step back. My breath catching in my throat as the realization of what I’m doing and feeling slowly sinks in.

What exactly is happening here? For some unknown reason, I’m in my college Professor’s room watching him sleep instead of getting out of there before getting caught and also trying to figure out how I had even gotten to his house when I don’t even know where he lives. The last thing I remember,I’d convinced Ophelia to come out with me. We were supposed to go dancing together.

“Had we gone? Why can’t I remember?

“I have to go home”. Unfortunately light comes on outside the bedroom and I hear footsteps coming my way. If I g eat caught her,I’m dead. The sheer humiliation will likely kill me. I dodge behind a curtain just as someone bursts into the room. It’s a tall beautiful woman with long red hair who is wearing a light silk robe.

“Kael,wake up” the voice said.

Dr Luca immediately sits up in bed looking remarkably composed for someone who barely just woke up.

“Vee,what’s wrong? asked Dr Luca.

I briefly wonder if Vee is this woman’s actual name. Dr Luca bothered remembering before focusing again.

“It’s Ophelia,she needs help.”

They are not talking about my Ophelia,are they? Why would she need help from Dr Luca of all people. I watched them exit the room before getting out myself though not before glimpsing into the hallway to make sure I’m alone.

Slowly I make my way towards a couple of voices I can hear arguing a little further down the hall. I’m led to the top of a large wooden staircase at the bottom of which I saw none other than Ophelia as she collapsed on her knees in tears. What’s going on with her? Did her boyfriend do something? I see him close besides her an angry scowl on his face.

“What happened?” Dr Luca asked placing a hand on Ophelia’s back. I blinked in surprise. Are they actually acquainted? But then why hadn’t Ophelia ever mentioned that?

“Maverick?” Dr Luca insists,but the guy is busy staring at Dr Luca’s hand on Ophelia,clenching his fists like a child would,upon having been denied his candy.

“It’s her friend” Maverick muttered reluctantly before shutting his mouth like he said everything. It’s clearly not enough information for Dr Luca though.

“Which friend?” Dr Luca asked.

“You know the one she met in class,the small obnoxious brunette who talks too much?” Maverick replied

Dr Luca’s head snaps up

“You mean Aria?”

“Ahhh I knew it,he knows my name” I muttered to myself. He’s suddenly looking a little pale though probably a trick of the light. My thoughts are interrupted by a piercing scream. Ophelia is now panting against the floor,face contorted in pain. The redhead looks at her with a worried frown.

“Kael,she’s going to turn” Vee said

What does she mean turn? What’s wrong with Ophelia? I hesitate to step out of my hiding place when Dr Luca gets her to her feet and drags her off in his arms.

“Hey, where are you going? Ophelia is my mate.” Her boyfriend protests as he begins to trail after them but redhead Vee grabs him by the arm…

“Enough! Only Kael can help her now,you know this. Tell me what happened.”

“I already did Vesper,” Maverick said

“She’s in shock because her friend had an accident.”

“An accident? Wait! Are they still talking about me?”

“What kind of accident?” Vesper asked sending Maverick a pointed look.

“She got hit by a car on her way out of the club she and Ophelia were at,don’t look at me like that,I had nothing to do with it.” Maverick continued.

Hit by what? That can’t be true. I would remember if I had been in an accident right? A vague impression of fear,the distant sound of yelling as I’m dragging Ophelia on a street in the rain echoes in my mind. I’m confused. Too confused to stay hidden any longer. Embarrassment be damned,I have to know what’s happening here. I get out of my hiding space and make my way downstairs.

“Look! I don’t know what Maverick’s deal is but I obviously wasn’t in any accident. As you can see I’m right here doing just fine. So…”

I interrupted my speech when it becomes obvious neither Maverick nor Vesper are paying attention to a word I’m saying. They are continuing their conversation like I’m not even there.

“Rude much,why are they pretending I had an accident? I’m right here.”

I try waving my hand in front of Maverick’s face but Maverick doesn’t bother to acknowledge me in the least,though neither does Miss Vee over there which is worrisome. It’s like they can’t even see me. Things quickly escalate to downright terrifying when as I try to catch Maverick’s attention by grabbing his shoulder, I find my hand going right through him like it would through air. I’m stunned in place. I’m I dreaming?

“Let’s wait in the living room.” Vesper says,though her voice seems to reach me from miles away. I feel like I can’t breathe. What’s happening to me? I throw myself in front of them trying to block their path but they pass through me like I’m nothing more than a wisp of smoke,their bodie chillingly insubstantial as they intersect mine. It’s like they never even touched me in the first place. I can’t stay here any longer. I need to find someone,anyone who can explain what’s happening to me.

Questions circled in my mind,each one feeding into my growing terror,my feet carry me outside the mansion,it’s vastness giving way to the wilder scenery of the wood that border the property. I don’t even think about where to go. I begin to run straight ahead without looking back. Inside the forest,the branches seem to reach out to me as eerie dance of shadows and moonlights. I can’t feel the cold of the night air,the ground beneath my feet feels non-existent. I am moving. Yes,but it’s as if I’m floating untethered from the earth like I’m there but not. My heart races,pounding against my rib cage.

“I’m I dead? Is this some sort of limbo,a place between walls where I’m doomed to wander alone?”

The thought brings a fresh wave of anguish that threaten to swallow me whole.

“What will I do if no one else can see me either?”

Tears stream down my face as the weight of my situation settles in. I am more alone now than I have ever been in my entire life. I might never have feel the warmth of a hug or see someone smile at me again. How can I find my way back from this? Will I wake up to find this was all a nightmare? I know this feels too real to be a dream. I close my eyes trying to think about my next move. I should go to my dorm room on campus and start from there.

I get up but find that each new step I take is more draining than the next. I feel like I’m under water fighting against the current,an invisible force pushing me back as I try to advance and then for a brief instant,there’s a tug and it feels like I’m falling off a ledge being pulled by gravity. The forest around me dissolves into the dimly lit confines of a familiar bedroom I left an hour ago. My heart skips a beat,not just from the sudden change in scenery but from the sight of Dr Luca fully awake this time,pinned down on his bed by a half naked brunette. A long calming breathe exhaling loudly in it’s wake but I freeze in shock as Dr Luca’s head snaps up,his eyes lock onto mine widening in an expression I’ve never seen him wear before. I feel like I can’t breathe,he can’t actually see me right? How embarrassing would it be if he could actually see me.

“What the …Aria?” Dr Luca said in shock.

“Oh my God,he can!”