Seer: The Blessed Child

A Time to Mourn

Sachi rubbed her eyes while stifling a yawn.

While her English teacher lectured the class on Contemporary literature, her mind wandered. She wondered who would send a time clock to her house as a cruel prank. After much consideration, one person came to mind—Emma.

She held a grudge against Sachi ever since Callie fell victim to the Time Clock Killer. It escalated to where whenever their paths would cross be it in the hallway, the cafeteria, or on the school grounds, she would leer at her; her eyes dark and intimidating.

She didn't put it past her to pull such a cruel prank. Sachi debated confronting her but didn't want to create a scene. She'll wait until after school when most of the student body had left for the day to confront her.

"Ms. Starlet, I hope you wrote detailed notes since the conversation is boring you," the teacher said. Caught daydreaming, she straightened up in her chair. "Sorry," she muttered.

"Turn your books to page twelve please," the teacher instructed the class.

Sighing, Sachi stared at the black ink on the page. Her vision blurred, her teacher's voice faded...,

A cardiac monitor flatlining. Weeping. "Sleep well, darling."

Sachi jolted, gripping the arm of the chair.

"Callie. She's...," 

Unshed tears filled her eyes.

The bell rang.

As the classroom emptied, Sachi sat still in the chair, processing what she saw and felt.

"Please, no," she mumbled.

"Ms. Starlet, is everything okay?" The teacher said. Wiping her eyes, Sachi looked at her teacher staring at her with concern.

Sachi grabbed her book, stuffed it in her bookbag, and hurried out of the classroom.

Overcome with overwhelming sadness, she forced her body to move, arriving at her locker. "Please don't let it be true," she repeated in her mind. She opened her locker to find a note taped on the shelf.

Scrawled in large bold letters it read:

How was the gift?

She stared at the note in muted disbelief, blinking her eyes to make sure that her mind wasn't playing tricks on her. Her bewilderment turned into anger. Someone was brazen enough to post a note in her locker, taunting her. She tore the note off the shelf and crumbled it in her fisted hand.

"Let me see it, Sachi," Kael said appearing beside her. 

She looked up at him. After a beat of silence between them, she wordlessly opened her palm revealing the crumpled note.

He took it, smoothed out the wrinkles, and read the contents. He gritted his teeth, balling the paper. "Who would do this?"   His eyes flashed with anger. 

"I know who," Sachi said, disgust lacing her voice. "Who?" Kael said when the intercom popped with static and feedback.

"All the student body, please report to the auditorium. We have an important announcement. Repeat. All student body, please report to the auditorium."

Sachi closed her locker. "We'd better go." 

"But you were about to tell me who put this note in your locker," Kael said. "It can wait," Sachi said somberly, her fears all but confirmed by the announcement.

They arrived in the auditorium and took their seats amid the whispering and murmuring.

The principal, school secretary, teachers, and staff came out on stage in a show of unity, their faces solemn. Some faculty members appeared to have been crying. 

Sachi felt a knot in her stomach; the assembly hushed.

The principal approached the podium. For minutes, he said nothing as though he had trouble speaking. He adjusted the Mic and stared into the crowd. 

"This is an announcement I wish I'd never have to make. This morning, Callie Parker passed away."

Emma screamed while gasps and sobs rang out throughout the auditorium. Emily, sitting next to her, tried to hug Emma, but she shoved her away. Rising from her seat, the blond ran out of the auditorium sobbing.  The faculty ran after her. Falling back into her seat, Emily buried her face in her hands crying.

"I didn't want it to be true," Sachi said, distraught. "I didn't want it to be true."

She looked over at Kael. He struggled to keep his composure while staring at the floor. "Kael," she said, her voice caught in her throat making the sound come out like a hiccup. He looked at her sorrowfully. Reaching out for her, he took her in his arms; cradling her like an anchor.

The principal wiped his eyes with a handkerchief. "Today, we want to remember Callie Parker and celebrate her life. If you want to sing, talk, recite poetry, the Mic is open."

A silence fell over the auditorium except for an occasional sniffle here and there. Emily rose from her seat and walked up to the stage.

She grabbed the Mic from the podium and clasped it in her hands. "Callie, wherever you are, just know that I will miss you. I will miss seeing you every day, talking to you, and hearing you laugh. This is for you."

She closed her eyes, brought the Mic to her lips, and sang, Welcome to the Black Parade, meekly at first then shouting the lyrics.

Refraining from embracing, Sachi and Kael listened as the girl's voice, ripe with pain and willpower soared throughout the hollow walls of the auditorium.

Others who knew the song joined in. Musicians and band members joined her on stage playing guitars, trumpets, drums, tambourines, and the piano.

Before they knew it, the whole auditorium stood on their feet joining in on the chorus while Emily sang through her tears.

Throughout it all, Sachi couldn't help but wonder how different things would have turned out if she had never taken Callie to the mall.

If she hadn't, she'd be alive. Not the seventh victim of the Time Clock Killer. Even in death, he still won. Nothing will ever change that fact.