Obscura: The Dark Chamber Series Book 1

Chapter 2

        Instead of going to work, I went to the building where the murder from last night happened. I ask for details about the murder to several personnel in the real estate company where the victim works. Then my fears came true, the victim was Marco Evangelista.

        I introduced myself as an elementary classmate and a close friend of Marco during those days to be able to get his address. I never have acting skills but my grieving about a friend came natural. At some point, I feel responsible for his death. I had the dream a night before he got murdered. I saw everything through his eyes. I felt his fear. But if I’ll tell anyone that I saw Marco gets murdered in my dream, no one will believe me. I will just look like a crazy person looking for some publicity.

        The sun is almost at its peak when I find myself standing at the front gate of the Evangelista’s Residence. It is a small bungalow house in a middle class subdivision in the outskirts of Makati. The gate is completely open. I can see a group of people at the front lawn wearing black clothes preparing for Marco’s funeral service.

        I was still making up my cover story when I hear a small shy voice from behind me says. “May I help you with something?” He asks.

        I turn and find a man standing behind me. I almost didn’t recognize him. He is James. He has puffy cheeks and his hair was no longer mold to a slight spike, it sits down in his head with a side swipe on his forehead. “Hi," It seems inappropriate to say good morning after they suffered a loss. "I’m Ar-cee, an old friend of Marco.” I continue. He gives me a quizzical look. For a moment, I think he can see that I was lying. Then he gazes to the floor. I can feel from his aura that he is deeply saddened by what happened to Marco. I step beside him, embrace him with my left arm and pat him at his left shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

        “He didn’t deserve this!” He says with a crack voice.

        “I know,” I manage to say.

        I stare at his face. I remember he doesn’t have puffy cheeks in my nightmare. Clearly, he lacks sleep. Maybe he’s having dreams about Marco and when he wakes up, he finds himself crying about it. I escort him inside the Evangelista’s Residence and settle him on the railing of the porch.

        The house is filled with grief. Everyone seems to have a lot of work to do but they don’t have the energy to do it. Their movements were slow, like they were all in deep thinking. The house is small, maybe with two or three bedrooms. I can see through the open front door, a portrait with two persons on it, a young boy and a woman, hanging on the wall. Their smiles were captured perfectly. No pretense. From there, I knew that the house used to be filled with joy and now it has been taken away in a snap.

        “I’m sorry for breaking down like that.” James says. “I am James, his best friend.” He reaches out for a handshake.

        I shake his hands. “I know,” I say. He looks at me quizzically again like he was wondering how I knew his name. I instantly remember that the first time I saw him was in my dream. So, we literally haven’t met yet. “I saw you on the TV this morning.” I followed up. I sit beside him and softly pat him on his shoulder. “It’s alright. I completely understand,” I say with concern. “Losing someone you know is hard, but losing a best friend is shattering.”

        A woman maybe in her mid-fifties wearing a black dress, steps out of the house carrying a tray with several cups of coffee and plates of biscuits.

        “Morning, James.” She says.

        “Morning, Aunt Linda. Anyways, this is Ar-cee, a friend of Marco,” James replies.