And Just A Touch of Death

Part II

9:03am

After homeroom, Winter spent the next hour in biology, where of course she could barely focus on anything Mrs. Robinson was trying to say. How could she? One of her friends was going to die. And soon.

Micah picked up on her behavior immediately.

He poked her side with a pencil. "Who is it?" He whispered.

Micah and Winter had met the first day of middle school. They had homeroom together and were always late, which meant they always served detention together too. They got to know each other pretty well. Micah was barely 5'5, with flaming red hair and deep blue eyes. He was a pretty easy going guy, funny, and played just about every musical instrument you could think of.

Winter sighed at Micah's question. Micah found about Winter's gift only a few months ago, when she had stopped him from getting into a friend's car after a party.

"You're going to die if you get in that car." Winter had stated.

Micah had looked at her, confusion and amusement written on his features. "You're being dramatic."

"Micah, please believe me." Winter had begged. "I'll pay for a cab so you'll get home safely. Just please, don't get into that car."

Micah had hesitantly agreed. It only took five minutes for the ambulance to come rushing pass in the direction where the car had driven off. The driver, who had had too much to drink, had driven off the side of the road into a ditch and rolled the car three times into a tree. The driver was okay, but the passenger seat where Micah would've sat was smashed to pieces.

Micah wanted an explanation on how Winter had known he would've died if he got into the car. She had to tell him, but didn't expect him to believe her.

He did though.

And they've been best friend's ever since.

"It's Robin Sterling." Winter whispered.

Micah's brow furrowed, a frown etched on his face. "What do you think it is?"

Winter shrugged sadly. "I honestly don't know."

"How long do you think he has?" Micah asked. He turned towards her in his seat, concern in his eyes. Micah didn't really know Robin the way Winter did, but that didn't mean he wanted the guy to die.

"Not long." Winter answered. "Maybe a day?"

Micah's eyebrows flew up his forehead. "A day?"

Winter nodded, a blank expression on her face. She felt like crying.

Micah licks his lips. "Do you think there's any way to stop it?"

Sometimes, there are ways to prevent deaths. Sometimes, there are not. There is never any way for Winter to tell which deaths are preventable and which ones aren't.

She was able to save their neighbor's son that time he tried to jump off the balcony because he thought he was Superman and could fly, but when her hand brushed against her grandmother's, who was suffering from dementia, she knew there was nothing to be done.

A rule about death? It will take when it wants and doesn't ask permission.

Winter's ability is the loop hole in this rule. She can sense when someone is about to die. How far or close someone is to their end depends on how strong the feeling she gets when she touches them; and she has to touch them. Skin on skin. Just a simple brush of fingers or even a full on hug, she can tell.