Beyond Shadows (11th entry)

Ameylia White
12:41pm

He was so unbelievable. I couldn't believe he admitted it that easy.I meant, stalking was a serious matter and yet he claimed to do it without second thought. He even smiled. He managed to. Things were getting complicated. I didn't know but, there was this instinct telling me that we were somewhat connected. A link? But how? Why?

I didn't know, I really didn't. Dammit. Why did I walk out anyway? I could have answers from him if I wanted to, but I walked out! No, Ameylia. He was just so tough. He didn't want to give me answers. He didn't tell me exactly why he was following me. It was the biggest question, and the most important. I heard many stories like this one. Like, those of the celebrities. But I was not a superstar to attract maniacs like him. Ah! I was so frustrated. I couldn't handle him. Now that I knew it was him, I was more anxious about this guy. I didn't think I could talk to him once more. Or even look at him. Okay, that was it. I would just avoid him. Ignore him all year round. Until we separated ways.

I saw Shane coming with a tray of burger and her favorite soda. She sat beside me with a wide grin.
"Diet?" I said as I started to munch my sandwich I left frozen in the tray because of wondering about Brian.
"Not really. Alex told me I'm gettin' fat so...I'll just have these for lunch."
"You mean, THIS? You think a burger can burn your fats?"
"Haha. So, hello with your sandwich," and she grabbed the can and opened it.
She was talking about Alex, as usual, again when something caught our eyes. It was Morgan and his gang. Wait, were they approaching us?
"Hey, yo, Amy...So...how's your dandy dude?" Laugh from his friends.
"What?"
"Hey, Morgan, you want a burger?"Shane called innocently.
"Look, I don't know what you're talking about. I think it's better if you just leave us alone." Irritation was in my voice. If I couldn't handle O'Connor, worse of Morgan.
"Nah way. What? After your boyfriend made a hell of me?"
"Boyfriend? Are you nuts? I don't have..."
"ha! Denying him? He's gonna be very, very mad at ya baby. Hey, listen Amy..."
"For heaven's sake Morgan. Don't call me that way like you...know me" And I stood losing my temper on him. We were face to face and I could clearly see his black eyes.
Shane stood by me too, grasping my arm. She knew I was a low- tempered woman. And that I didn't back off from guys.
"Forgot what he told you?" I heard Shane broke the silence. "He said, stay away from her or you'll be dead."
I saw Morgan choked. What was that all about? After one last look, Morgan left.
I looked at Shane who went back to her food like nothing happened. I sat beside her and noticed she was staring at me.
"Something to say Shane?"
"Nothing yet. But...you, you have something to disclose today."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you." She leaned over to come closer."Tell me about Brian."

I felt my blood raced to my face when I heard his name. Did Shane knew about it already? But how?
"W- what are you saying? I- I don't know anything about him." I said nervously spilling some juice from the can I bought. And oh, it was warm now.
"Relax. Why are you so nervous hearing his name?" She laughed.
"Stop it Shane.Just tell who the HE you were pertaining to Morgan."
"Oh, It's him."
"Him? Who's he? C'mon Shane I-"
"Brian O'Connor"
"W-what do you mean?"
She munched her food again and savor it for some seconds before speaking.
"I saw them, he and Morgan. On the hallway. They were talking but i wasn't able to hear it. I was too distant. But ah...I think Morgan somewhat offended him that he just...grabbed him and slammed him on the lockers. I, I was about to stop them wen I heard your name. Brian was warning Morgan about playing dirty tricks on you. He said 'hands off her'"
I needed time to collect myself. "He...did that? I mean, we- we barely know each other."
"I know. At first, I was confused about it too but, you see, Morgan have just proven my speculations." She smiled at me once more."Maybe he likes you."
"You shut up Shane!" I nearly fell off my seat while she was laughing at me.
"Well, no one can be certain of that. O'Connor's one man, aloof with others. He used to be alone but, I'm sure of one thing Amy."
"What?" I said spying around to track him. In a snap,I was conscious that he was around. I didn't want him to hear that we were talking about him.
"Whatever Morgan told him about you, it offended him."

Beyond Shadows (10th entry)

Brian O'Connor
11:45am

I was carried out. So much carried out that i admitted the whole truth about stalking her. Well, not the whole truth as it was anyway. When she asked me why I was doing it, I just said truth- that I had to. Nothing else. When she inquired about how long I had been watching her every move, I said "For a month now, since I first saw you."

I was carried out, yes. But there was something else that pushed me not to lie to her. She wasn't able to sleep last night. At eleven, her lights were turned off but it was on again at 2am. She was just like that. She could not sleep if she was bothered about something. She'd been like that ever since I came and I couldn't let her this way. She was killing herself.

"Hey, Brian!" A huge, husky voice interrupted me. I saw it was Morgan. We were classmates in Literature and English classes. He was kinda nice. In fact, he was the first one to approach me on my first day here in West. I stopped walking and turned to him. He was alone? Well, that was unusual. Normally, in this time of day, he would be with George and Nick flirting with girls anywhere they wanted. But there was something in him that often pissed me off- it was how he looked at Ameylia.

"Hey," I answered.
He had a big smile when he tapped me on my shoulder. "Wazzup man?"
"Just the usual." Ha, dumb answer. Good Brian, you were just making this thing just as nice as you could. We walked on the hallway then.
"So, how's your talk with the White girl?" I felt a sudden excitement in his voice.
"White girl?"
"Yeah, I saw you back there, just after class." I hated that silly smile. I was starting to get annoyed.
"Ah, Ameylia." I nodded, trying to entertain myself with the sight of the students strolling here and there.
" Lucky man, huh? Ya know, I was a bit shocked that she talked to ya. I mean, she doesn't speak a lot. Only with close friends."
"Really." Why I hated his face right now? He was playing with something in his mind.
"But she's wonderful dude." A chuckle.
"Yeah,she is."
"No, I mean..."He stopped and faced me as I stopped too and did the same.
"She's so...sexy man.Ya know, when she dances...agh! The butt man!" And his eyes got bigger. His white teeth shimmering in his dark face.
What was it? I could feel my body heat up.
"And she's...ah, the br.."
I couldn't handle it anymore. And then I felt my hands grabbed him on the neck and pushed him against the lockers.
"Hey! man, c'mon...what's wrong with you?" he asked nervously.
Eyes around were on us, but i was too mad to notice... and to care. It was this asshole i wanted to give some attention.
"Listen," almost a whisper. "Don't ever mess up with her...or I'll kick your ass in hell.Do you understand me?" I could feel him trembling against my arm. I was grabbing him to hard that he couldn't breathe so he just nodded.
I felt at little ease. I let go of him and let him collect his thoughts after the shock. Maybe I was too harsh. I was about to leave but...
"Bear this in mind fella." I said with my back on him. When I looked back, he was still there,looking at me with heavy breathes.
Silence.
"She's mine."

Beyond Shadows (9th entry)

Ameylia White
10:36am

"Brian O'Connor." I felt my throat dried up when I called his name. We were classmates for two weeks but it was the only time I would talk to him. I saw a little shock in his face and a bit of wondering when he faced me. Everybody had gone out of the room now. Better. I could talk to him the way I wanted.
"Yes?" He said, waiting for my next words.
I was supposed to speak. Yes, of course I knew what I was about to say before I approached him. Ask him if he was following me and if he was that weirdo who stopped the taxi last night and accidentally or meant, saved me. But I couldn't speak. The sight of him, so near to me.. gave me an unusual feeling.
"I'm glad you know my name." He smiled placing his things on the table.
"It's all I know about you." I automatically said. At least I managed to speak. "I'm Ameylia..Ameylia White."
"I know." Much like a murmur, with his eyes straight on mine. There was something in how he said it that it caused some strength in me.
"Look, I- I know I'll sound insane but..are you-"I stared at him once more. "Are you following me? A- are you that guy on St. Patrick last night? "
Stupid bitch. I sound more than an insane woman. He smiled again and so I felt how stupid of me to ask that way, speak to a stranger accusing him of stalking me. I turned back and was about to leave after I said I was sorry when he spoke again.
"I'm glad you're safe."
What? I faced him again and waited for another words. I could not speak for I was more interested in what he was about to say next.
"I can drive you home, next time."
I choked and tried to comprehend what he said. How he could talk to me like this? As if he knew me for so long. A drive home? He was offering a stranger a drive home?
"I wasn't able to introduce myself formally. Sorry for that." I saw him approaching then my feet backed off a step.
"Hey, I don't eat human." I heard a laugh.
But I looked at him straight.
"You don't answer me right." I demanded.
"I am Brian O'Connor, if you do not know yet,.."
"You're not answering me right..."
"I am your classmate...and"
"I said.."
"And Yes."
Silence.
Blood racing.
Eyes fixed.
"I am following you."
Time stopped.
"And I am the guy, last night."

Beyond Shadows (8th entry)

Brian O'Connor
9:15

She's safe now. C'mon Brian, you can leave her. She's safe.

I didn't know but when i saw the fear and the shock in her face a while ago, I could hardly command my body to leave her. I was stocked at the sight of her, trembling in so much fright. God, I came in time. Just in perfect time. That was close. If i was late for even a second, she should have been...No. No, she's not going to die. I won't let it.

I was in deep thought that i didn't notice I was inside the car for more than fifteen minutes, sitting there and staring in the air. When I became aware of the reality, I felt the cool air from the air con despite the sweat in my skin. I looked around. There was no one in the parking lot I was at. And oh, it's The Childer's parking lot. It was where she worked on Saturdays and Sundays. 8:00 to 7:00 pm. An unconscious grin fell in my lips. I rested my head on the head board of m seat and stared at the roof of the car.

"You put me in big trouble Trent." A chuckle. He did. That day, when he asked me to take his place in guiding her, I was half crazy. NO, of course I wasn't crazy. By the way, it was him who first saw the girl's fate. That she was to die at the age of seventeen. No clear description, but he said it was in a road accident. And now I saw it. I didn't know exactly where he met Ameylia. All I knew was that, he was so in love with her that he almost fell dead when he had the vision of her death. Trent was the hardest person to read,that was why I couldn't understand first why he had to stalk the girl and save her without her knowing when he could actually say it. But now, here I was, doing the same damn thing Trent did for almost a year and a half.

I looked in my wrist watch and found it was 10 minutes more to nine thirty. I pulled out the keys inside the pocket of my jacket and started the engine. She must be at home, wondering about that weird guy who just showed up on the road and saved her life from a definite death. I couldn't leave her. She had to be by my sight all the time. I had to be with her.

Beyond Shadows (7th entry)

Ameylia White
8:45pm

I wonder when my misfortunes would end. I had new papers to make and so i had to search for a shop to fix my laptop right after i got it from home. Why i hadn't brought it this morning?
Dah.
And where were all the taxi in this city? I had been waiting here for 10 minutes and there was nothing, even shadow of a taxi coming. I should have accepted Shane's offer for a ride. But she was with her boyfriend, Alex. And I didn't want to be a chaperon. Besides, I knew where the were heading after school. Some teenage love affair.
There it was. AT last I could go home. I ran to the car's door, opened it and hopped in.
"7th drive, east." I told the driver and then we went on.
I could still see some students in the front hall when i left. Would they be running home too? Would there be parents waiting for them? More probably. In my case, it was impossible. I lost my parents in a plane crash when i was six. I lived with my grandparents since then. When I was twelve, my granpa died of tuberculosis and granma of heart attack when i was thirteen. Auntie Melly, mother's sister, took charge of me. But when they flew to Paris three years ago, I had to live alone. They sent money for my studies every month. It was enough, much of enough but i could not depend on them all my life. SO I chose to work. I acquired a job at The Childer's restaurant as server and worked every weekend. Atleast I could save from my salary. Thank God I still had my parents' house. It was...
Screech!!!
My body threw itself forward. My head hit the seat in front.
"What the hell is that?!" I shouted grabbing my forehead.
"Hey you bastard! Get out of the way!!" I heard the driver yelled. competing with the sound of the horn.
It took several seconds before i could manage the aching of my forehead and recognized what was happening. A guy was in front of the car blocking our way. He was with his back on us, wearing a brown leather jacket with hood on his head. Crazy bitch. I almost forgot the pain when i jumped out of the door to approach him. "Are you nuts? Hey, I need to get home right now...And i don't have time to.."
I was near him when another sound bangled the whole road. I was frozen seeing lots of blocks and irons from an unfinished building some two to three hundred meters away from us falling. And then a loud BANG! Those hit the car below. A taxi. I could feel my blood on my head. I couldn't move or even speak. People were screaming. Some more seconds to comprehend. When i turned to look at the guy... he was gone.

Beyond Shadows (6th entry)

Brian O'Connor
8:35pm

Shit!
I was late. I was late! I could still feel the rush of heat under my skin and the sweat rolling down my body. I grabbed my keys and ran down the stairs of the six storey- apartment. And it was a damn, great damn that i was occupying one on the sixth floor.

Ran, ran, ran! I could scarcely recognize any face around. I had to be there. Her rehearsal would be up by now. She shouldn't take a taxi. Not now Ameylia. Not now. When I reached my car, the beating of my heart was the only sound i could hear. Loud and in so much panic. I used to have visions. Most of them were deaths of people. Almost everyday. It was the worst day, ever. I spent the whole night watching her house then now I spent the whole day sleeping on the couch. What the hell was wrong with me?

I dreamt of her. On a car, on a taxi...wrecked taxi.. she was full with blood. Her body was shattered in every piece of debris that fell on her. It was a dream, one which would be so ordinary for others but not with me. I could feel the urgency in my blood. It told me it was gonna happen soon. Sooner than anybody could think. "You can't die Ameylia." 8:40.She must be walking down the hall now, tracing her path out the university. She must be with Shane but she would leave her as soon as they got out. Ameylia would be alone soon, waiting for a taxi.

Heck! Traffic. I pushed the break. Who told ya, this only happened in movies? I should be there. I couldn't lose her this way. Trent would be very mad. He would kill me if I let this happen. A second, the lights turned green. Go, go now!

Beyond Shadows (5th entry)

Ameylia White
10:15am
West University

Things were becoming worse. First, I wasn't able to do the laboratory exercise written report because my laptop was broken last night.Some virus attacks in the net. Second, I was late because I forgot to set the alarm clock before bed. Third, I found I left my cell phone back home when I got to school. In short, this day was a shit.

Chemistry was my first class at 10 am every monday and wednesday. I entered at the back door hoping that Prof. Michel wouldn't see but then, he did. And he warned me about being late for the third time. I rushed in and said i was sorry. I sat down on my chair and started to flip the pages of the chemistry book i brought.

Hey, something was different. I couldn't feel the usual thing at this hours. When I looked at the right corner of the room, well then, I was right. He wasn't there. But where was he? Was he sick or something? Oh, c'mon, Ameylia..guys cut classes whenever they wanted. But where was he?

I never had a chance to know where exactly Brian was. For what reason I wanted to...I wasn't aware. And so I ended up thinking about it the whole day. I wonder what he was up to this time. Up to the rehearsal. I didn't see him like the usual, at the corridor or by the stairs before the hall reading a book. Or let us say, pretending to read a book.

Shane called and asked me to give her a demo of the step we rehearsed the last time. I stood up from the corner and wiped the sweat around my neck and face. In a final attempt, I looked around for any sign of him.

Beyond Shadows (4th entry)

Brian O'Connor
12:42 am
7th drive East Dublin

When I saw her at Glendalough two weeks and a half ago, I knew she was already bothered about something. She didn't even joined her friends in the valley and went to the riverside alone. She just sat there and play around with her moss green cap she used to wear. She seemed tired of something and glimpsed at all direction every second. I thought she was looking for something. Perhaps, someone.
I was enjoying the site of her when i heard something from behind.
"She's mine."
It was Trent. He was there too, of course. And of course, he was right. She was his. From the moment i thought i had seen her before, Trent had proven me right. In fact, i shouldn't be surprised that he was there. It should be the reverse.
" I hate you looking at her Brian."
I grinned and face him while he was approaching from behind that oak tree- his favorite hiding place. "Sorry. Don't worry.. she's all yours. And besides, i think it's too rude to have two stalkers at a time. She's not that pretty for that." Then i chuckled. He walked pass me and stood from where i was a while ago. "She's not a superstar Trent." I supposed.

Trent didn't say a word. He just stare at her until it was dark and she decided to go back to the camp site. And what else i would expect of him? He followed and spent the rest of the night watching over her. Tonight was my turn. I would never, ever let her out of my sight, unless i knew she was safe. Just like Trent....before.

Beyond Shadows (3rd entry)

Ameylia White
10pm


I left school at 6 and got home by 8 after I stopped by at the bookstore. The whole day was tiring and i thanked God Cragen didn't want the usual afternoon rehearsal. I got some trouble with my back then this past few weeks but decided not to go to the clinic. I hated the smell of alcohol and the hospital stuffs. Those just made me sick every time.
I remember that guy. Agh.. I thought i was paranoid. Since i saw him this morning, i had a feeling he was at my back every second. I used to have that strange feeling more frequent. During the class,after when i went to the cafeteria, when i went out to call for a taxi and even now at my own house. I could feel his eyes somewhere. From outside the window? Most probable for a stalker. Stalker? Now i thought he was my stalker? It was just some hours ago since i saw him. It was wrong... Totaly a mistake. I heard he came to town only a week ago and this sensation of being watched was older than the time he arrived in the city. Maybe it wasn't him.

Beyond Shadows (2nd entry)

Brian O'Connor
9AM
West University

She glimpsed. Well, I guessed i wasn't too good in sneaking. Goddamit, why do i had to do this? Left Wicklow for the noisy city of Dublin? Had a small apartment and drive my Ford on the populous roads of this city? I left a haven for hell! But i had to do it nonetheless. And she was the reason. Ameylia... Ameylia...she had a sweet, naive name.But she was nice. She danced this, hip hop as they weirdly called it and wore khaki pants and cap all the time. She acted like a little guy. No, not an ordinary girl. I had to look after her. My visions became frequent and clearer the past few days. Ah, this was why i was here. I left my peaceful life for this girl. The end of her days was near and it was me, only me... who knew that. I had to save her.