Web of Thorns

1 Chain "These days, everything has a theory."  **** “Did you provoke him?” I have been told that everything is related to a single central unit. Although unknown, it was implied to me that what happens is a consequence of what has happened and what will happen is an outcome of what ought to be done. “I said no!” Whoever tries to pry with the threads of our fate can never stop what is bound to conclude and the only thing we can do is to decide how long we can delay our inevitable dark ends. I was bound to prove it. “Are you certain?” My fingers flew over the keys as I kept transcribing a client’s testimony. “That’s what I said, yes. I remember him lifting his baseball bat and started bashing the lock of my drawer. I can smell alcohol from his heaves.” I was bound to prove it. “Mira, are you going with us?” I just don’t think I really can bear another consequence. “James really had it the worst that night. He was laughing like a maniac as he bagged all of my jewelry.” At least not for now. “Mira?” I pulled out of my trance when I felt the vibrations of my desk after someone lightly knocked on it. Pause. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” Ada has always been a warm colleague and inviting workmates to breaks has always been her routine. Ever since I have been hired as an assistant legal researcher, she has always offered friendly gestures to everyone. For eight weeks now, I am well-aware that I can’t refuse her. Not because Ada is simply sweet and irresistibly persuasive. As expected, she reached her hand out across the division of my cubicle and pinned my stray hair to my right ear. “Honey, you’ve got to quit fasting. If you can’t go with us, I’ll have to order you a gigantic set of meal that would last you fortnights.” There it is. If it weren’t for my polarized light-blocking contacts, I would have been staring at her face for a long time since she knocked on my desk and traced the stream of lines weaving and winding around her, the tips waiting for a definitive response before aiming for a strike. She has a lot of cards to play. “What do you say?” she beamed. The tips of her pink hair were slightly playing by the whiff of the vent and I wondered how long this will delay my work.   “WE SHOULD DO this more often. We could also invite the guys over next time. They have really nice wine selections,” Ada went on after we finished our meal. “Oh, I knew it! There is a Karaoke bar near the train station. It has rumours that every Friday, idols sneak out of their dorms and rent the other wing to party. Do you want to crash?” In my workplace, there are five of us who just got in and two of them are males. The other two females who are giddy at the moment are the figures that complete us. “Mira, would you like to come with us?” “No, I wouldn’t. Thank you anyway.” As expected, Ada asked away. “Why would you not? Do you have important things to do at Friday night?” I finished my glass of water and wiped my mouth dry. “No, I don’t.” “Then why can’t you come with us?” “If it’s about money, I’ll treat you,” Caroline weighed in. Through my peripheral vision, I got alerted of Ada’s motions so before she could grab my arm over the table, I pulled it under and I stood. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I require a reason in order for me not to go.” “Do you really not like us?” Ada intoned with her voice slightly trembling. I have observed her doing this to Jay and Matthew. Before I answered, I actually had the time to ask myself why I was doing this. But the more I go through the series of consequences that follow my would-be actions, I was quite sure I am just again, lonely. So right before I could even do something I will regret, I avoided their gazes and said, “It is better this way. You’ll get in trouble if I keep being around you.” I expected one of them to throw in and Caroline did. “What do you even mean by that? Don’t get cocky with me just because you’re accomplishing more transcripts than any of us. I heard a lot about you, Mira.” “Seeing that you’re quite good at researching about me, have no worries. You’ll keep hearing more.”   “YOU’RE HOME EARLY,” Jules greeted from the living room. We are not entirely acquainted except from the fact that we share the rent. He currently studies in college although we are of the same age. I had no intentions to know why and I have no purposes to do so. “You too.” “Have you seen the news while you’re on the bus?” “Not entirely. What did I miss?” “Well, if it interests you, a famous predictionist is coming to the city.” “Does that interest you?” “I want to give it a shot. Besides, they’re holding a party. Do you want to tag along?” “No.” “Do you want to know why he came here?” “No.” “I’m saying it anyway. He said someone who has great thermo-potential energy is living in the city and he will do everything to meet this person.” “Okay.” “It might be any of us!” “Good night, Jules.” I slammed my door and immediately dropped my back against the mattress. The fluorescent bulb burned bright, glaring straight down my eyes as I lied vulnerable of its scattered waves, thanks to the depolarizing features of my contacts. What even is thermo-potential energy?  Walking up to my drawers, I pulled the one that stores my lens case. In a swift, practiced—almost voluntary flick, my lenses stuck with my fingertips. I stared at my face from the mirror and the sharp, concentrated energy of tension wiring around me turned on like a fountain of glowing strings. I reached my hand for one end of the string afloat but just like before, it repelled my own touch. “So, this is why even if you get to kill yourself, you couldn’t actually die?” she scoffed at me as I picked myself up from the ground, post-jumping out the balcony. Blood was trickling down my face and all I can see was her infuriated glare. “If that’s the case, then I’m going to have to finish you off myself!” She drove the knife in her hands straight to me when I was engulfed into a tight embrace. “No!” I shouted while wriggling away from the sudden interference of my attacker’s action but it was too late. My stomach felt the spreading of an unusually warm feeling creeping across my skin. I looked up and saw the strings around him flailing around snapping into a crunch of golden little sparks while he was fighting off the looming doom of death invading his eyes. “No!” Her hand pulled his shoulders away from me while she stared at her work in horror. “Why did you get here?!” He was not answering. I fell on my knees as I watched him helplessly and stared at my hands. I did this to him. I saw the last glowing string of his consciousness and even without reaching for it… it already bonded with one of mine and sent me the stream of his consciousness during this moment. A minor electrical shock shot through my head and as I heard her stepping close to me, I saw the last possible consequence if he did not run for me. What have I done?   “MIRA, ARE YOU awake yet?” Jules called from outside my door. “Yes. Is there something wrong?” I answered and began arranging my stuffs before I prepare for my dinner on the kitchen. “There’s a mail for you.” “Thank you. I’m coming out.” “I’ll leave it by the table.” “Okay, thanks.” I went to the dining area where I spotted the mail later on. Jules was absorbed into his laptop from the living room. The mailed letter bore an unusual appearance that resembled a poorly-edited background filled with graphic purple, blue, and pink glitters that try so hard to imitate a swirling galaxy of stars. In the address line was my location with Jules but it was no doubt for me because the recipient line indicated my name. Luo Mirathelle. I tore the envelop open and flipped the letter that it enclosed.   Good evening, Mira. I do know that by now, you will wonder how I knew your name and how I got your address but fear not. I have no other intentions but to have a formal conversation with you. I have a lot of questions that I was hoping you could answer. I will send someone to pick you up on Friday, 6PM. Until then, have a nice dinner. Chester Wang   I placed the letter into my pocket and hesitated to call Jules’s name but he turned round and smiled at me. “The TV fairly reflects you from there, Mira. Do you have something to tell me?” “I’m sorry.” “No worries, I get that all the time.” “Can I ask you something?” “You’re not asking me out, aren’t you? I swear I am going to transfer pads again,” he jested. “It’s not anything like that.” He beamed at me and waved his hand off. “I’m just fooling around. How may I help you?” “Do you know who that predictionist is?” Jules lit up just by hearing about my sudden interest for the celebrity. Two of his strings immediately got alert and waved around him, pointing to opposite directions. “Yes.” The other string retracted and the other shot straight to me before dissolving into thin air. The residue of the transfer of energy from the consequence that Jules chose fluttered around us without him knowing. “What is his name?” He fished his phone out and went on to type a few times before biting his lip while he waited for the screen to load. When it did, he beamed and showed me the online profile of a fair-skinned young man who fashioned an impeccable set of pink crystal on his left ear as he stared back at me. “It’s him.” It’s him.