Veiled Echoes

P R O L O G U E

AIDEN
3 years ago

This was bad.

Really fucking bad.

I cursed under my breath as I watched the black cat crossing my path and jump over the fence of my neighbour's house. I ran my hand over my face, reflecting on the bad things happening since the start of this morning.

First, I woke up with crows cawing their way through my sleep and waking me up. Justified that I had slept through my alarm and forgot that my training was going to start in half an hour. Then, just as I was going to leave the house, the mirror hanging right next to my door unpredictably fell and shattered into pieces.

The two worst things that could happen today considering it was the first day of training.

"Aiden?" My mum's voice spoke through the phone and I snapped out of my stupor.

"Yes, sorry. I just called to ask you if you were alright," I said, adjusting my bag across my shoulder and standing rooted to my spot.
Her soft chuckle managed to ease a little bit of the anxiety I was feeling, yet I could not help the slight tremor in my hands. "I am alright, sweetheart. Your father is right next to me having breakfast, would you like to talk to him?"

Despite my anxiety, a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I appreciated how understanding she was of my superstitions, never judging me. In contrast to my teammates, who had a tendency to poke fun at me for my beliefs, making jokes at every opportunity, she was different. Whenever I reached out to ask how they were, she made an effort to comfort me, acknowledging and respecting my quirks rather than mocking them.

"It's alright, as long as nothing happened to the both of you." I walked around in a circle, counting to thirteen in my head as I waited for someone to cross the path for me so they could take the bad luck with them. "I have to go now. Love you, Ma."

It felt as if a higher power had heard my silent plea when a girl darted past me, hurrying towards the pedestrian light that was about to turn from green to red. I proceeded on my path shortly afterwards, feeling a pang of guilt, as if I had passed my misfortune onto her. This whole superstition might seem silly to others, but to me, it held great importance.

Something shit always happened, and I wished nothing traumatic happens to the girl who had obliviously passed by me. By the time I reached the crossing, I saw her standing there, impatiently pressing the call button as if it would miraculously light up for her. When the sound of the other light rang, she nearly walked through the busy road and my hands reached out instinctively, pulling her back.

As her footing faltered, her head fell onto my shoulder, causing us both to flinch at the unexpected contact. Reacting instinctively, I quickly removed my hands. When she looked up at me, her long lashes framing those beautiful brown eyes, I could hardly breathe. Her expression was filled with anger, as if she thought I had offended her by saving her from walking into the street.

Before she had the chance to say anything, a loud screech echoed in the now-silent highway taking away her attention. Whatever she saw, it was enough to push her right up against me, her back to my front.
I furrowed my brows at her reaction, dragging my gaze to the road when I heard the skull cracking and a woman laying still on the crosswalk, with her blood pooling around her.

I cursed again for the second time today, watching as the truck driver jumped out of his vehicle and approached her in horror, his phone already out as he called the emergency services.

Jesus.

I looked down when I heard a choked cry and realised the state the girl before me was in: the white blouse was splattered with blood. Her hand, which had specks of blood, covered her mouth as she turned around and pushed through the crowd. I stood there, staring at the gruesome and terrifying sight, before glancing down at my watch.