Human (Discontinued)

Prologue

*Two years ago*
Death is not the only comfort we have in the world.
Death is mocking.
Always ticking away on your wrist, slowly counting down to the moment to your oblivion.
Some people watched the clock their whole lives, wasting away their time and wondering how it would end.
The majority of us lived our lives without glancing at it, it was just another involuntary thing. Like breathing, or blinking.
But sometimes...I couldn't help watching it.
Like now, lying on my bed in the dark at three a.m., just watching the screen that had been implanted into my wrist sixteen years ago on the day of my birth.
It wasn't that I usually watched it or anything, I value my rest more than anything, actually, but I just couldn't sleep. I had an odd, apprehensive feeling in the pit of my stomach all day. I blamed it on the fact that my best friend, Meredith, had been out all day. It wasn't that her being out was unusual or anything, she had a habit of not coming in every so often, it just meant I was alone for most of the day.
Next time I was out, I refused to listen to her complain about her day without me. She could suffer in silence.
A phone call distracted me from my thoughts, and I sat up and pushed a hand through my hair, wondering who could call at three in the morning.
I leaned over to turn on my lamp, illuminating the gloom of my room enough for me to see myself in the mirror. Black hair, blue eyes, tired face. I could see what they all saw in me, those girls are school that kept leaving the stupid notes in my locker that Meredith always laughed about. I just wished they'd realise I wasn't interested in any of them, I didn't really like brainless girls who fluttered their eyelashes anytime some tall, mediocre looking guy walked by. I just didn't see the appeal. What was the point?
My phone was still ringing relentlessly, so I stood up to go see who this person was, who wouldn't quit so late at night. Or, early in the morning, I suppose.
I squinted at the light, the brightness blinding my eyes briefly, before I pressed the call button and lifted it to my ear.
"Hello?" I muffled a yawn as I said it, glancing at the alarm clock on my wall. Three thirteen. Great.
The voice that replied was shaky and breathless, like they'd been crying for a few hours and were now trying to keep it together. It sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite put my finger on who it was.
"Callum...Callum, Meredith's dead."