Black Cat Collection

Chapter 1 : Left Out.

My father is ignoring me. I do not remember since when, but I can see it clearly since this evening.

While riding the bike all the way home, he has taken me to the places that I like the most. Yet, he has not looked back at me nor talked to me. It feels like I am not there. So, I look at the city's main road to distract myself from an unknown fear. The road lamps and the lights of the shops illuminate under the dark sky of the night. Due to light pollution, I have not seen the stars. Besides, it has been pouring since the morning. Although the rain has stopped in the evening, the sky is filled with black clouds. I can still smell the fragrance of the wet soil.

I cannot see my father's face. He is engaged driving on the crowded Green Road. I also do not know where he is taking me, but I believe that we are going home.

Recently, my parents have divorced. Their relationship was not going well in all these years. So, they have decided to separate their paths. I decided to stay with my father because he has nobody. I have seen the light of his eyes fading away, but it cannot be helped. Sometimes letting go of a toxic relationship is far better than staying in.

At the last moment, my father turns his bike to the 2nd lane instead of the 3rd lane. Well, that is uncalled for. I have not expected him to turn his bike to the 2nd lane. Our house is in the 3rd lane but there is a street that connects the 2nd lane with the 3rd lane. So, he must have decided to take an alternative route to home.

I have heard of rumours about this lane. At the end of this lane, there is a detective's house. I cannot remember his name, but he is pretty young for his job. He has an infamous fashion choice which goes along with the description about the general appearance of Sherlock Holmes. This infamous detective has black hair, peculiar eyes. He is fair. He usually wears all black with the addition of a black cape and a hat. Very classic choice of clothes for a detective. However, something seems always off about him. It feels like I have met him before, not once but many times. He looks like a long lost friend of mine. Yet, I cannot remember when we met. My memories say that I have helped him investigate the murder case in the old judge's house at the 5th lane.

Suddenly, my father takes the direction of the other street that leads to a different main road. I wonder why. We have passed the street market and reached a 5th story building. Taking a look at the big electric board on the building, I realise that this building is a private hospital. I ask my father why we are here, but he ignores me again. I ask him a few times more until I give up. I follow him to the lift. When we are waiting for the lift, an old blonde woman asks where Detective Arthur lives.

Arthur... That is it! It is that detective who lives at the end of the 2nd lane.

When I am about to answer her question, my father's words stop me. He says that nobody named Arthur who looks like the woman's description lives at the end of the 2nd lane. Furthermore, his address does not exist.

Then a realisation hits me. I have been deceiving myself all along. This person is none but a character of my own unpublished novel. That is right! I like to write as my hobby, but I have not published them yet. That also means that only I will know about this person. Then... how does this old lady know? I become shocked, but I try to ask her how she knows him. To my utter surprise, she is not there anymore. She has disappeared into the crowd.

Meanwhile, the door of the lift opens. This one leads to the underground levels. I have looked at the board in the entrance. The board says that it leads to the underground operation theatres. Pretty heavy stuff. I still do not know why dad has taken me in here. Is someone going to be operated? Many questions begin to rise in my head.

We get in the lift and it stops at the 2nd underground level. When it opens, the smell of sanitiser hits my nose. I become scared. Did something happen to mom? Father is not looking at me. I do not want to raise my voice in this place. So, I have followed him without exchanging any word, fearing that something really bad has happened.

He stops at a certain ward. It is labelled as a place where they put patients after operation. However, the case looks more serious. Upon entering, I am met with a doctor who looks worn-out and distressed. I am still confused. I become more confused when the doctor starts speaking,

"I am sorry, Mr. Ftrigdgrat, but your daughter's life is still in danger. We have managed to take out the sniper bullet. The police have taken it to an investigation, but... we have to be very careful for the next 72 hours."

My father's daughter.... That is me. Why are they talking like that when I am standing right before them?! Can you not see me?!

I finally speak,

"What are you all talking about? I am right here."

I get no reply. I raise my voice and say the same thing, but still nothing. I see my father walking to the room where they said "his daughter" is. I decide to follow him. This is either a joke or something worse.

When my father opens the door, what I have seen makes me question the reality I am in.

I have seen myself, lying on the bed with a life support system. I have seen myself as the one fighting with death.

I flop down on the floor. What the hell? I do not remember getting shot. Besides, why are there two of me?

The door of the room opens again. This time it is my mom with my aunt. Her eyes are filled with tears. Mom begins to cry out loud when she sees me lying on the patient bed. The sound of her crying has taken me back to my senses again. They need to know that I am here. They should. So, I have begun to yell again and tried everything possible to get attention. But even if I interact with the objects in the room to prove my existence, they do not seem to notice me.

A new fear is born in my mind. Will I ever be able to talk to them again? I feel alone, scared and confused. There is no angel of death to take me to the afterlife, but I have already become a ghost. I see no way to talk to interact with anyone. It feels like I am watching the story of my life as a lonely spectator.

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