Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Suspense/Mystery

Chapter 2 :

James was 9 when he ran in front of a busy route blindfolded and survived, he was 12 when he jumped into a river only to be fished out by a passerby. He was 15 when he stood under a tree under a storm for 3 hours straight, not only to not lose a single strain of hair but not fall sick. 

 James hated many things in life, he didn't think that it was possible to add any more to that list.

There was 48 floors, there was just no possible way he would have survived that fall! Not only did he not pass, but there wasn't a single broken bone or scrapped skin. He wasn't a hooked up to a life machine or any fancy gadget hospital's have. He felt eerily normal, like he decided to go to sleep and wake up at 6 on a Sunday morning. 

James shot up from his bed. For a brief moment he wondered if he was dead, and wherever he was was where the dead are at. His mind was running a mile a second. He was confused, shaken and disorientated. He reckoned he was way too lost in thoughts because the next time he blinked was when he heard the only door to the room shake in its hinges. 

James had half the mind to hide under the bed but refrained himself from doing so. He needed answers and if the man that just walked in can provide him with just that, he'll take it. Saves him the time anyway.

"How are you feeling James?" The man flicked a switch and all lights in the room flickered to life.

Not shying away from the brightness that enveloped the room, James answered monotonously, "Not good." Was he the person that saved him? Was he the one that stopped him from ending it all? 

Smile not leaving the man's face, he walked up to James. 
"Well, I'll need to check your condition and if I see you fit, you may leave. You'll be out of here in less than an hour." 

James supposed the doctor was expecting him to be in delight, after all, any normal person would be ecstatic to  hear that they would be discharged from a hospital. But, James could only frown at the news, he pulled the blankets covering his lower body up to his chest, wrapping himself up. A weak attempt at showing his dissatisfaction. 

The doctor's smile faltered ever so slightly. He must have thought that James was afraid of him because he stopped at his tracks, a few feet away from the bed, after all, he has seen many patients throughout his career, it was no surprise that one out of many has some sort of fear of doctors. 

"What am I doing here?" James questioned cautiously. 

"You were found unconscious outside the office building." The doctor explained carefully.

James scanned the man's face for any hints of a lie, when he found that the man didn't look like he was lying, he almost trusted him, almost believed in his words. He tensed up immediately at the thought that he didn't remember anything. 

"... Who found me?" James asked cautiously.

"It was a staff at the building that notified us. Passerbys and staff thought that you were drunked or homeless and hoped that you would wake up but when hours passed and you just laid there motionless, the office decided to call authorities."

If James wasn't confused then, he certainly was now. The entire situation was hard to wrap his head around. He remembers walking off the ledge, he remembers the wind in his face, he remembered the blue skies but after that everything else was a blur. Did he just imagined that all up? Did he actually just like what the doctor said, merely drank too much that he passed out in front of the office building?

"But, we couldn't find a single trance of alcohol nor drugs in your system or anything physically wrong with your body. It was like you decided to just fall asleep in the middle of the road." The doctor continued and James must have forgotten to blink again as this time he felt his eyes burning.

James blinked once before the doctor spoke up again," Maybe you would be able to fill in the blanks. "

James knew what the doctor was getting it, he knew that the man was trying to coax an answer out of him. James knew better than to trust the man and tell him what he actually remembered to have happened. Sure, the doctor did tell him he was physically fine but he never mentioned anything about his mental state. If he so much as hinted to the man that his last thought of ending his life, he'll be stuck in here for the rest of his life.

Looking away, James lied, "I don't know." Not the type that would indicate to the doctor that he had amnesia but the the one that indicated he has no intention to entertain the man's questions.

The doctor must have caught on to James's discomfort for he merely smiled warmly and James was growing anxious because he couldn't tell if the smile was genuine or fake. 

"I understand. I've checked your files, you are free to go, your belongings are in the drawer to your right, you can settle the bill at the counter." Very professionally, the doctor relied before leaving James to his own devices.

James pushed the blankets off himself as if it stung him, opened the drawer a little bit too harshly, grabbed his wallet and cell, changed back into his own clothes, which was folded neatly at the end of the bed and left the room. He asked around for the counter to settle his bill, which wasn't that expensive considering if anything he merely gave the hospital staff a fright when he didn't respond to their attempts at waking him up.

James left the building more lost than confused. It was like he was missing a very big chunck of his memory. He was forgetting something and he realised that he was growing frustrated, frustrated that he couldn't remember anything that happened. If what the doctor has said was true, that would mean he never jumped in the beginning but he remembers everything as clear as the day his girlfriend broke up with him. His mind definitely didn't make it up, he had jump. 

Once again lost in his thoughts, he didn't even notice he had entered the building that he had jumped from, the woman at the front desk looked up and when their eyes met, her eyes widened comically, she stood up so abruptly, her chair almost fell backwards. The entire commotion elicited loud gasps that collectively echoed throughout the room.

A hand landed on James's shoulder, grabbing his attention. 

"Are you ok?" The man asked. James looked to the man's outfit and name tag, he was the manager.

"My staff found you unconscious outside our building and we called the ambulance when you didn't respond even after we poured water over your head."

Seemingly a little taken aback at his own explanation, the man added, "I admit that wasn't the best course of action but we really tried everything we could and you were scaring away customers so we really had no choice." 

"You don't have to worry, I don't remember anything." James assured the man. Ignoring his first question because James was anything than ok, far from fine. 

"Who found me?" James asked. 

"Mrs Taylor here." The man pointed to the woman at the front desk. That would explain her reaction when she saw him. 

She was still staring at him strangely. 
James softened his gaze, not wanting to scare her. 

"I'm sorry that I scared you but I'm equally as confused as you, I don't remember anything that happened to me so could you tell me what happened?" James asked sincerely. 

The lady visibly relaxed, "I was on my way to work, I usually am the first to open up the building when I found you just laying on the ground, You weren't blocking the entrance but I was afraid, so I used the back door."

The manager chipped in, "We couldn't not open the door so we did but you just remained there unmoving, we eventually called an ambulance because at one point you looked like you were dead. " 

How I wish, James thought. 

He thanked them before leaving, making a mental note to not walk into the building ever again unless necessary. So far he had debunked his suspicion towards the doctor's words. Unless the entire office building was in with this sick of a joke and had amazing acting skills, the doctor had not lied. 

That must mean something happened in between the fall. He noted that he had jumped just before the sun rose and he was found exactly at around that time when the sun was coming up. 

James was close to pulling his hair out of his scalp out of pure frustration out of the pure incredulity of the entire situation when he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He felt eyes on him. James turned around surprised. He scanned the crowd.

And there it was, the pair of eyes watching him and James wondered why he hadn't noticed her earlier. 

Their eyes locked and for a brief moment, James forgot to blink, he's been doing that a lot since he woke up. His eyes lingered on the girl and she froze. Like she was surprised at him noticing her. She looked no older than 18. 

James knew that he should have looked away by now. He was a grown ass man, staring at a underage teenager would not sit well with the authorities and James honestly didn't want to be sent back into the hospital. At the point, he was already viewed as a weirdo with the supposed stunt he pulled, he didn't want to be labelled a stalker next.

James should really really look away but the girl had already started walking up to him.

She stopped right in front of him. "You can see me?" She asked, her voice light but slightly hoarse, as though she just woke up from a sleep. James wanted to scoff.

"Of course I can see you, what do you mean?"

Seemingly delighted with his answer, "Would you help me then?" She raised her hand out to him.

James cocked an eyebrow. Perhaps he wasn't the craziest person he knew.

James didn't want to help anyone. He needed help himself. 

"I'm sorry, you'll have to find someone else." James just wanted to fall in bed and sleep. He didn't realise it but exhaustion was catching up with him.

"U have to help me, I helped you then."
The girl mentioned. 

James processed her words. Now, there's one thing that James absolutely didn't engage in, and that is owning other's favors, heck, he rarely even left his house, so to say that he owns someone a favor is close to impossible. 

"Don't know what you're talking about." James was close to just walking off. As interesting as she was, the girl was not making any sense. Probably wanted to scam him. 

"I helped you survive that fall."

The moment the words left her mouth, James burst out laughing. People around him turning to look at him. 

Was she one of the office employees? So she must be talking about that. 

"Look, thank you for sending me to the hospital but I really can't help you with anything else." James declined.

"No, I'm not an employee, I'm dead, you're not supposed to be able to see me."

James walked off.

He noticed something or rather someone bounced beside him and proceeded to skipping, "You don't believe me?" She asked, amusingly. 

James groaned internally. That's what you get for staring, James! He could only comfort himself with the thought that at least she's not calling the police. 

"Do you not remember the fall?" She asked this time.

James came to a screeching halt. He turned in her direction. 

"The fall?" He asked, rather dumbly. 

"Yes, the one where you decided to jump, unless I'm mistaken and someone pushed you off the building."

Still very confused, James asked, "You saw?" 

"Yes I did, and I helped you survive." The girl replied proudly. 

"Wait what?! Why?!" James exclaimed, suddenly preoccupied with the fact that she had saved him and not how. 

"You were the one that decided to jump and fall on me, I would not have saved you if you had decided to jump off another building."

James felt every ounce of life leave him. "Usually, people just pass through me but for some reason, I could touch you, so I was able to cushion your fall. And apparently, you can see me."

"W-Who are you?" James asked warily. 

"I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that myself."
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