The Gray Area

Chapter Three

Vita was furious.

Death was too strong. She thought it would be easy to convince people not to do it. That death wasn't a solution. It would never be. Committing a suicide is a mortal sin.

A month and a week had passed since the accident and she knew from the moment she woke up that everything would change. Well, not really. She was still twenty-four years old, had the same birthday and identity. The almost healed scar lining the side of her forehead was the only physical reminder of what had happened to her.

The accident could've killed her but then she somehow cheated death. Her conversation with the angel still ran through her head, like an old film that continuously playing.

The mission.

One of Satan's heir would walk the earth. Stop it.

She had no idea how on heaven she would stop it but the angel reminded her that God had a plan. Sometimes she would convince herself that it was just a dream but then she knew deep down that it wasn't. It was like Mother Mary being visited by the archangel.

Surreal.

The next morning, a sea of murmurs could be heard inside the faculty room- whispers about the suicide of one of their colleagues, Mr. Santos. He was an English teacher in the senior year and asked Vita yesterday about what he should do about his problem.

Vita told him to not lose hope, that things would eventually be okay and normal again. They talked for an hour and he seemed happy about the inspirational talk they had shared. Later that afternoon, Vita got a text from him saying he couldn't take it anymore.

And just like that, he was gone.

****

As the day went on, Vita's Literature class with the juniors were a bit cheerful. But there was a boy at the back who seemed not interested in the subject, though. He was staring out the window, bored like hell. Vita kept the discussion as cheerful as possible, her eyes would flick at the boy's direction every once in a while, checking up on him.

The air suddenly went stiff, as if she sensed some danger. The moment she glanced at the boy again, she saw the handsome guy from yesterday- the one who had called her crazy.

When their eyes met for the second time, the guy smirked at her as he stood arrogantly behind the bored student. He was only wearing black slacks, not bothering a decent shirt to cover his upper body. No one seemed to notice him, though, except her.

When the bell rang, she eyed the guy intently, trying to figure out what or who he was.

"I love your wings, Vita," the guy uttered as he produced a seducing smile.

Vita momentarily froze. "Who are you?" she said after all the students vacated the small room.

"Morte," he said, smile vanishing from his pretty lips. "Don't make me repeat my name the third time. It's annoying. Makes me think you're not interested in me." Then he winked.

Morte crossed the room and as he passed the mirror, Vita saw no reflection. Uninvited chill ran down her spine at the sight of it.

"What are you?" she asked in almost a whisper.

Morte sighed. "They call me death, the youngest son of Lucifer."

As his words sink in, fear instantly twisted inside her stomach.

"You are not joking." That was a statement. Vita didn't know what to make of it.

First she got into an accident, woke up from the hospital bed as a soul detached from her human body and met an angel and was given a mission. Meeting the son of Lucifer was just as surreal as everything that happened.

She didn't know how to wrap her mind around it. This was what angel Aya was talking about. The heir of Lucifer.

He wasn't joking, she knew. He wasn't really a soul, or a ghost. He looked tangible but he couldn't be touched. She saw him jumped from the rooftop, unscathed. Maybe he is Death, after all, Vita thought to herself.

He just shrugged at her stunned reaction.

"They can't see you?" Vita asked, a swirl of emotion invading her heart. She couldn't deny the beauty of the guy. His body was built in perfection, his bared chest inviting temptation. He was way more beautiful than the bright image of Angel Aya. Looks can be deceiving.

"You know the answer."

"But I can," she admitted with a frown and he nodded.

"You've got beautiful wings, by the way," he repeated.

Vita's brow furrowed. She looked behind her then glanced back at Morte. "I have no wings."

"You have angel wings," he replied in a matter of fact tone. "It's there, at your back."

"You're seeing things," she snapped and thought she shouldn't be talking to the enemies. Especially him, the Death. "You're crazy."

Morte laughed, mocking her. "Look who's talking."