Chapter Text
I grimace, my hands tightening on the steering wheel as I register the time on the monitor. 11:46. Aunt Jenna is definitely going to kill me. Regrettably, I had left Tara’s place just moments ago, not realising how much time had passed while we indulged in the latest gossip from school, our notes abandoned on the study table, long forgotten. It doesn’t help that I’ll have to get ready for class in the matter of a few hours.
There are no other cars in sight as I cruise along the highway, a sort of calmness enveloping me as I hum along to the song on the radio. They’re playing one of my favourite bands, ‘The Cab’, and I belt out the notes shamelessly when the chorus comes on.
I let out a breathless exhale as I take in the night sky in the distance, relishing the beauty of the moon and the way the golden stars scatter across the dark canvas. My moment of peace is short-lived when something crashes violently into the car.
A choked gasp escapes me as my body jerks to the side without warning, causing my head to thump painfully against the window. The impact throws the vehicle midair, and my hands instinctively leave the wheel to protect my face.
Death is a funny thing. It defies the law of science as time stretches out in my final moments. Everything seems to happen in slow motion as the air bag inflates and punches the oxygen out of my lungs. I hear the sickening crunch of metal as the car overturns and the windows shatter into jagged fragments. Shards of glass bite into my skin while a piece of metal lodges into the side of my ribs, making me cry out in pain.
Did a vehicle crash into me, or did a wild, feral animal find itself on the highway? The endless questions make my head spin as I hold my breath and brace myself for the end. But I can’t ignore the peculiar feeling that something is amiss. I was the only one on the highway, and I know that no animal is strong enough to turn the car over like this. Whatever had caused the accident was something far more sinister.
Blood gushes out of my gaping wound as the car topples over the smashed railing, tethering on the edge of the highway sixteen feet above the river. I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for gravity to take me, knowing that even if I survive the fall, the murky depths of the waters will soon pull me under.
But instead of hitting the icy surface, I feel myself being lifted out through the car door by a pair of strong, sturdy arms. My heart thuds heavily against my chest as I struggle to keep my eyes open, desperate to see my saviour.
What’s happening? Did someone come for me?
However, the feeling of nausea overpowers me, only giving me blurry glimpses of a man through my half-lidded eyes. I can’t seem to form coherent words, either, as the stranger lays me down carefully on the ground. The last thing I see against the brightness of the streetlamps is the most beautiful pair of eyes I have ever seen. I lose myself in those captivating, amethyst orbs before darkness claims me.
“Eva. You’re awake.” The deep voice mumbles in relief the moment I open my eyes, taking me aback as I blink a few times, trying to orientate myself. I drink in my surroundings slowly, all of its white walls, white sheets, and an uncomfortable white gown that clings to me like plastic. A hand is resting on my arm, and when I look to the side, I see Zayne staring at me intently, worry clouding his dark eyes.
“Does this count as being your first ever patient, Doctor Li?”
Zayne lets out a long sigh before he shakes his head sternly. “Now’s not the time for jokes. And be careful not to move too much. You had several stitches to close the wound.”
Just as he utters the last line, I feel a stinging pain in my right side and I wince, gasping sharply. A wave of memories hits me at this very moment, and I register the severity of the situation. I was in an accident.
“How long was I out for?”
“Five days.”
“That’s... that’s not too bad.”
Zayne doesn't respond to that. Instead, he cradles my hand in both of his and squeezes it gently. His touch is reassuring, and I smile at him weakly.
“Your aunt was here. Took me a bit of persuading before she decided to leave you to me and get some rest.”
“W— What happened? The car...” My brows furrow as I try to make sense of my hazy memories. I am sure that there is something I am missing, but I can’t seem to put a finger to it. It feels like an itch that I can’t scratch and it is driving me crazy.
“It was fully submerged by the time you were found. The police are still trying to recover it, but it’s going to take some time. You know how deep the river is.”
I turn to meet his eyes, a look of confusion marring my face. “What caused the accident, Zayne?”
Zayne looks exhausted and I wonder how long he has sat here for, waiting for me to come to. “Whatever had run into you had vanished without a trace. The surveillance cameras were out of order, too. You were found unconscious by the side of the highway, badly injured, but still, alive. The police have no idea how you managed to escape the car in your injured state.”
Abruptly, an image of striking purple flashes before my eyes, making my head throb painfully. A pair of eyes... Where have I seen them before? And why do I feel like they’re the missing piece to the puzzle? My shoulders stiffen as I frown.
“I’m sorry,” Zayne exhales. “I shouldn’t have overwhelmed you with all this information. You just got up. You should take it slow.”
“Zayne... don’t you have classes to attend? I’m feeling fine, actually. You probably shouldn’t be spending so much time here during your last year of medical school.”
He stares at me for a moment, silent, and then his eyes trace my features fondly. “How can I leave you when you’re hurt? You’ve always been this careless... ever since we were kids.”
I break into a chuckle at his serious expression, hoping to lift the mood a little. “I’m not that little girl from your memories anymore. Look at me. I’m all better now, aren’t I?”
He lifts a thick brow, unconvinced. Still, he returns my smile. “You’ll forever be that little girl to me. And I’ll always be there to patch you up. That’s never going to change.”
The mechanical crow perches on the edge of the hospital window. His red, beady eyes blink once, then twice, as he fixates on the girl before him, as though intent on memorising the scene. With a loud caw, he flaps his wings and leaps into the air, heading for the looming clock tower at the old church.
With smooth and calculated precision, the crow comes to a stop as he lands on the shoulder of his master. The male has both hands shoved into the pockets of his long coat, his silver hair shining white under the stark illumination of the moon. His lips quirk into a smirk as he stands over the rest of the town, a look of intrigue dancing in his eyes.
“It’s been a while since things were this interesting, isn’t that right, Mephie? The last time I felt this alive was when I was still in the skies, waging a war against the old man.”
Mephisto tilts his head to the side and lets out a thoughtful caw in response. The male grins darkly as his memories take him back to the moment that shifted his world forever. Within a few steps, he reaches the edge of the roof. He steps off it calmly, disappearing into red and black swirls, as though he was never there to begin with.
“I missed you so much. You have no idea!” Tara exclaims the moment she spots me in the hallway, almost slamming the locker shut in her face as she hurries over. Her wide eyes are swimming with a mixture of worry and relief as she looks me up and down. “How are you feeling?”
I roll my eyes playfully, a grin on my lips. “We were just on the phone last night. You asked me the same question.”
“I know, I know. But I’m just glad that you’re alright.” Tara wraps her arms around my waist and squeezes me tightly. A terrible realisation dawns upon her when she feels my body going rigid. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry! I forgot about your wound.”
I can’t help but laugh at her frazzled expression as she pulls herself back in horror. “Seriously, I’m not going to break from just that. Besides, it’s been a whole month. I’m recovering well.”
As soon as I finish my sentence, the shrill and nasal sound of the bell resounds loudly, signalling the start of the school day. As though a switch had been flipped, all at once, the students in the narrow corridor start pushing in different directions towards their respective classrooms.
We shoulder our way through the chaos as Tara fills me in on the latest assignments and the upcoming test. Just then, a tall and broad figure brushes against my shoulder ever so slightly. I still instantly, goosebumps lining my arms. All my senses sear to life as a stark feeling of familiarity strikes me.
Tara continues to walk on ahead, unaware that I had paused in my steps. “Did you ever find out who the culprit was, though? I mean, the whole thing was kind of strange...”
Her words fade away as I spin on my heels belatedly, watching the stranger disappear as the crowd swallows him whole. The touch had lasted for barely a split second, but it was enough to keep the voices whispering in my ears: I know him I know him I know him.
Huh... that was weird. I shake the strange thoughts away as I catch up to Tara, telling myself that it probably wasn’t anything. I know that I haven’t been the same ever since the accident. I often catch myself being jittery and overly paranoid at the smallest things. Still, I can’t seem to ignore the uneasy feeling that pools at the pit of my stomach as we continue making our way to class.
“I can’t believe that I’m saying this, but I kind of miss school.”
Tara, Simone and I are sitting at our usual spot in the cafeteria, watching with interest as the jocks at the next table get up to their usual antics. One of them almost slips when he tosses a fry in the air and tries to catch it with his mouth.
“You know what? I think someone misses you, too.”
Simone has a smug look on her face as she looks over my shoulder, urging me to turn. I almost choke on my food when I twist my body around and make eye contact with Rafayel. His eyes widen comically when he realises that he was caught staring and he belatedly snaps his head to the side.
“I swear he has a crush on you.” Tara giggles, and I feel the blush on my cheeks grow.
“Come on,” I sputter, biting into my sandwich distractedly. “We’ve had this conversation before. We’re just friends.”
“Uh huh,” Simone responds, entertained. “I can literally see him drill holes into your head as we speak.”
I will be lying if I say that I don’t find Rafayel attractive. He has a mess of wavy, ash purple hair that reminds me of a poodle and eyes the most vibrant shade of pink and blue. It doesn’t help that he’s the star athlete of the swim team, either.
Tara leans forward on her elbows as she sips on her carton of strawberry milk. “What’s stopping you, though? Rafayel’s a little cocky at times, but apart from that, he seems pretty decent.”
“I— I just...” I stumble over my words, not knowing what to say. Tara’s right. It’s been a while since I last dated, and Rafayel and I have been hitting it off ever since we were partnered up for a project. But considering what I had just been through, it doesn’t feel like the right time for a relationship. “Not right now. There’s been a lot going on lately. I’m still trying to get over the accident. Romance is the last thing on my mind.”
Simone nods in agreement, a wistful look on her face. “Of course. Your health comes first. Take all the time you need.”
And then, she coughs awkwardly as she looks away and mutters under her breath. "Guess who’s swimming our way?”
Before I can even turn to look, a smooth and boyish voice speaks. “Uh... hey. Wanna walk to class together? Got some questions to ask you about the... the history test!”
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face when I see Rafayel standing to the side, his hands shoved into his pockets in what appears to be an attempt to look casual. Uncharacteristically, he can’t seem to meet my eyes, his usual confidence replaced by a touch of shyness.
“I would love to,” I beam at him, and he finally looks up, a genuine smile on his lips.
The whole world falls silent the moment the male strides in. I barely register Tara sucking in a deep breath beside me as the class erupts into hushed whispers. The newcomer looks straight out of a Greek mythology.
He is devastatingly beautiful, with pale skin and a muscular torso that pushes against the thin, grey shirt he has on. His raven-black hair is parted to the side, with some stray strands falling over his long lashes and defined cheekbones.
The same peculiar feeling from before grips me when I register his unfathomable, amethyst eyes. Those eyes. I know without a doubt that they are the ones that have been haunting me ever since I woke up from my coma. Where have we met?
Professor Claude’s small stature is made more apparent by the newcomer who towers two heads above him. He clears his throat, waving away the disruptive conversations with a pudgy hand. “We have a new student joining us this semester. We had some paperwork to attend to in the morning, but here he is. Come, introduce yourself.”
The male takes a step forward and the room goes quiet. Despite the newcomer’s easy smile and relaxed disposition, his presence is somehow intimidating. It feels as though gravity had shifted the moment he entered the classroom.
“Nice to meet y’all,” he says simply. “I’m Caleb Xia.”
Professor Claude dismisses him promptly and Tara exhales under her breath. “...Holy shit.”
Caleb has a backpack slung casually over a shoulder as he makes his way to the back of the room. His steps are lithe and graceful, and he walks as though he has all the time in the world. Unsurprisingly, the girls are busy running their eyes all over him while the guys look on with envy. I am no exception. I can’t help my gaze from following his every movement as he pulls out his seat and settles down.
Yes, Caleb is quite possibly the most breathtaking human I have ever seen. He has a way about him that commands attention effortlessly, as though the world will bend to his every will. But that is not what has me captivated. I am certain that he is the stranger from this morning.
Compared to our brief interaction from before, seeing him so closely sends a strange feeling thrumming beneath my skin. It seems silly, but it feels as though we met a lifetime ago. There is an inextricable feeling of connection between us that I can’t explain.
I find it increasingly hard to concentrate as Professor Claude drones on about the topics included in the upcoming test. Distracted, I find myself turning to the side to sneak a glance at Caleb, hoping that he wouldn’t notice. But Caleb’s gaze is already on me. My heart skips a beat when we lock eyes, surprised. Neither of us moves for a second. And then he breaks into a smile, one that drips with amusement. I snap my head back immediately, cringing as I beat myself up internally.
Shit. I probably gave him the wrong idea. I spend the rest of the class worrying my bottom lip and fidgeting with the pen between my fingers. Professor Claude’s words fall on deaf ears as I lose myself in my thoughts, trying to remember where we have met.
This was a horrible idea. The full realisation that I should have gone home instead hits me as I wipe the perspiration off my forehead with the back of my hand. With a grunt of dismay, I come to a halt, stepping off my old bicycle before I lean it haphazardly against the metal railing.
The blistering heat beats down on me relentlessly as I squint against the overbearing sun rays and examine my surroundings. The walkway here is narrow. Just a single misstep, and I’ll find myself facing the unforgiving horde of cars weaving through the lanes on this busy afternoon.
I had cycled over to the highway the moment school had ended, making up a clumsy excuse to Simone and Tara about needing to run some errands. I know better than to tell them the truth. My friends will only worry if they find out that I intended to return to the site of the accident.
It seems foolish to think that I may be able to uncover something that the police haven’t been able to. But a month has flown by, and I still haven’t gotten an answer. I refuse to accept that my near-death experience will forever remain a mystery. I am willing to do anything to change that, even if it means having to find the culprit with my own devices.
I bend down on a knee as I inspect where my car had crashed through. In place of the broken railing, a new one had been seamlessly installed. The surrounding area has also been thoroughly cleaned. There is not a single shard of glass or a droplet of blood to be seen. Apart from a new warning sign that was put up to promote safe driving, there is no other indication that this was the site of an accident.
After spending another ten minutes just pacing along the same spot, I finally resign to the fact that there is nothing out of the ordinary. I don’t know what I was expecting to find in the first place. I rack my brain, running through the list of potential culprits. Who did I offend so greatly to want me dead?
I dismount the bicycle, intending to head home after the disappointing search. I throw a casual glance at the incoming traffic, realising all too late that I shouldn’t have done that. My heart thunders rapidly in my chest as I register the vehicles speeding towards my direction.
I have avoided taking car rides ever since the accident. And as much as I know that I am safe on the sidewalk, I can’t help the feeling of paranoia that overwhelms me as I take in the multitude of cars racing by. My hands grip the bicycle handle tightly as flashbacks to that fateful night start replaying in my head. I feel my legs going limp, about to keel over when—
“Eva!” someone calls out, his voice thick with urgency. And then, I feel two hands wrapping firmly around my arms, anchoring me. “You’re alright. You’re safe.”
I glance up, still in a daze. The words get caught in my throat when I realise who is standing before me.
“...Caleb?” I mumble, unable to believe my eyes.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he frowns disapprovingly. Caleb takes a cautious step back when he sees that I have recovered my footing. Still, his hands hover by my sides, as though ready to catch me if I were to lose my balance. “You’re still recovering from the trauma.”
I stare at Caleb blankly, blinking a few times in confusion. Why the hell is he here in the middle of the highway? And why is he overly concerned about my well-being?
“How do you know about the car crash? And were you following me?”
Caleb shakes his head, his stormy eyes trained on me intently. Those eyes... “I’m as surprised to see you here. And about your accident. I overheard a few people talking about it at school.”
“Then why are you here?” I ask pointedly, not particularly interested in being cordial.
“I’m here to investigate the case,” he laughs easily, raising a hand to run it through his dark hair. “I’m embarrassed to say this, but I— I’ve always been a bit of a nerd. Kind of into crime and stuff.”
Caleb’s a good liar, that I have to admit. His charming smile would have enamoured anyone else. But he’s not fooling me. There’s something fishy about him. Us being here at the same time seems like too much of a coincidence.
I cross my arms as I wait for him to confess the real reason. Caleb grimaces before he finally sighs. “Come on, I’ll cycle you home.”
“I’m good. I can do that much on my own. Thanks, though. You... you go ahead and enjoy.”
Caleb doesn’t respond. Instead, he seems rather distracted, his eyes trained on a particular spot on my face. Did I leave a crumb there or something?
“Your injuries. They left scars on your face.”
I wasn’t expecting that. Taken aback, my hand instinctively reaches for the thin, jagged line under my brow. “Uh, yeah. They did.”
The muscles in his jaw tick as he clenches his teeth. And then he lifts a hand, as if to touch the scar. It hovers midair for a few seconds before he decides to drop it. The pained expression on his face squeezes my heart for some reason, and I feel the same undeniable pull towards him that I can’t explain.
I speak before I can think. “Have we met before?”
Caleb flinches, and a bittersweet emotion flashes across his eyes. “...No. No, we haven’t.”
Something in me screams that he is lying. For a few long seconds, neither of us speaks. Caleb seems content with just looking at me, an unidentifiable emotion on his face. The tension in the air is palpable. Feeling slightly awkward, I break the silence, mumbling something about needing to get home before the sun sets.
Caleb doesn’t say a word as I get on my bicycle and bid him farewell. As I ride off into the distance, I can’t help but wonder if I was overthinking. Maybe Caleb was really there out of mere curiosity. It seems pompous to think that someone like him would stalk me.
I find myself unable to sleep that night, tossing and turning under the sheets as memories of the car crash haunt me. The sickening sound of metal crushing scrapes the insides of my ears as I squeeze my eyes shut. It does nothing to help as images of the car overturning play behind my eyelids over and over again. And alongside all these painful memories, a pair of eyes keeps returning to mind.
The newcomer, Caleb, who is he?