The Cursed Power

Chapter 3: A New Friend

A new Friend
~

Elijah's POV:

When I was young, my parents told me ancient folklore and myths. They told me an ancient legend about a man who lived his life differently. He grew younger as years went by. But it was only a myth. Nobody knew if it was true.

But I can't help but think that myth is actually true. Maybe there was a person who lived just like me. But there was nothing else written except for him living his life backwards.

What happened to him? Did he die?

I put the book down, and look out of the window. The sky was bright and was the lightest shade of blue. There were only small clouds floating here and there. The sun was shining brightly against the land. It looks so peaceful and euphoric. But why do I feel gloomy?

This is the life I have to live right now. I really wish I was like others. I wanted to start as a kid and grow into an adult, and then live peacefully as an old man. But clearly that was not going to happen and I have to live backwards.

I sigh and walk outside. I feel my legs tremble as they take small steps. I have no clear sense of where I'm going. Maybe I should just stroll around in the neighborhood; absorb the fresh air. While walking, I see the kids running around again...

I want to run like everyone else, see things clearly, and be able to speak without difficulty. But I just have to bring all this gloominess down and seal it in there. I know that a day will come when I can do all these things but I just have to wait...

"Hi Elijah!" Someone takes me out of my thoughts. I turn around and see a very beautiful girl. Her dark brown hair flows right past her shoulders, and she wears this big bright smile. Her aurora screams joy. I didn't know her thought; what was she doing here?

"Hi? You know me?" The girl walks side by side and nods. I was walking at a pace that surely she could be ahead of me. But she keeps to my pace, and I feel for once like a normal person.

"Everyone around here knows you, you know."

"But why are you talking to me? Aren't you supposed to just walk past me? Because I have no power and I am an old man at age of like 16?" I say, but the girl shakes her head.

"Of course not! I actually think it's fascinating! You know, when we are old people, you will be able to run freely and be young."

"Yeah, but life is really difficult right now. Nobody wants to talk to me because of this. In school, I have no friends, I don't have partners, I am alone all the time. What good is that?"

"That is true..." She agrees, and then continues, "Well then let me be the person who accompanies you. I would love to be your friend." She stops walking, and faces me. I stop my tracks, and stare at her. She's willing to be my friend?

"Hi. My name is Jessica." She reaches her hand out, waiting for me to shake it. I look down at her hand, then back up to her. She just stood there, waiting for me. I hesitantly shake her hand.

"Well then, what's your schedule like? I have math first, then language arts, oh and I'm taking Spanish. You?" I feel a smile appear on my face. This was the first time someone spoke to me like I was just like them.

"I have math first as well, and I also take Spanish." I respond, and I tell her my schedule. We have 3 out of 8 classes together. How come I never noticed her? I internally slap myself for asking a stupid question. Probably because you never pay attention to anyone. Duh.

"Well, see you at school!" She runs off, and I wave at her. I stay rooted there until I just see a dot of her.

I let out a sigh of content. I finally made a friend who doesn't find me weird. I am not alone anymore.

~

Third POV:

Elijah walks to school with his cane in one hand. Yes, even though he was old, he was still in reality 16 year old, so he was allowed to go to school. Everybody who passes him quickly walks by, not wanting any contact with him. He used to feel pain when that happens but he's used to it now. Besides, he was busy today looking around his surroundings, trying to find that one girl.

"Elijah!" Well it looks like she found him first. He turns around and sees the girl he only met once, but he feels excitement around her.

"Hi Jessica!" He waves and she runs to him.

"I was looking for you." She pants as she catches her breath.

"Well I'm pretty easy to be found, considering I'm the only student in this school who has white hair."

"Yeah yeah. Oh, by the way, what is your power?" Elijah says nothing. He's afraid that if he tells her, he might be judged. But then again, she didn't judge him for being an old man. Maybe she wouldn't mind this either.

"Well.. I kinda don't have power. I don't know what it is. I'm pretty sure I don't have one." He murmurs quietly.

"Oh. That's fine. I guess there's always one who is different. But I don't mind." She smiles at him, trying to make him feel better. "I have an interesting power... I don't know if it is good or bad though... I can see numbers on people's heads." Elijah's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"What do the numbers mean?" He questions.

"The time a person dies."

"Well that's pretty interesting. I think it's a unique power." She laughs.

"Sure it is. But it's not fun when I have to see the numbers of close people who are getting closer to 0."

"How do the numbers work?" Elijah asks as they open the front doors, heading to the same class.

"It's from 24:00, and when you get to 0:00, you basically die." Elijah nods and processes it.

"Well I guess it is pretty harsh seeing close people slip away." He thinks for a moment. "Ooh! What about me? What does it say?" They head into math class and take a seat next to each other. The first time someone sat next to him.

"That's the interesting part. You are at 2:14." Elijah frowns.

"Oh..." Well that means he's close to dying then. But Jessica continues.

"But last time I saw you, it was 2:12." His face shows confusion and surprise.

"That means my time went...up?" She nods.

"I think so, but I don't know why."

"Okay...."

What would that mean then? He is never going to die?

~

"See you later!" Jessica waves, and runs home. Elijah waves at her and walks in the opposite direction. While walking, he thinks about the man from the legend, then to the ancient book he found.

Who is he truly? And is he related to the ancient man? Is he the man after 5001 years? But what does 'He will have the power of all powers?'. He can't help but continue to ponder. Maybe his actual identity is able to surface...

He arrives home, and looks through the ancient book again. The ending is cut off, but there is just a little bit that wasn't gone.

Gjkaskle111W9
D(*((#*)EK#KK

ti4iiud9vjkjklvjlwe9hh=f--
S3utils Jio esdfffssjf
oiwuiudigjsklshreiiii

Be aware. If not done
At the right time, it will
Become a curse.

Reversed time, may only meeting the
True person, saying the words...
May the curse be reversed.

His brain is filled with hundreds of thoughts. What does that mean? He can't find out any more because it's gone. He doesn't know where the rest is. The page was ripped out.

Who would do that to an ancient book!?

Well now he knows that if he continues to waste time, his reversed life will become a true curse. But he doesn't know what the words are, and who would be the true person?

He had no idea, and he has no intention of finding out today. He was tired out.

~

If there is actually someone reading this, hope you enjoyed the chapter!