***
Ana was watching, a while later she saw a light coming from my room Ana got up from the couch and walked slowly… She looked at what book was lying open on the floor, closed the door and window and approached it carefully and stopped in front of it.
一Why is the book like this?
Make your choice…
The light gets even stronger and I am pulled into the book.
The smell of passion fruit makes the room calmer, I open my eyes and see a large chandelier I stand up and look around, this place is huge and very beautiful.
Where am I? What is this place?
The door opens, I get a little scared, from behind it I see a black panther, I take a few steps back and fall to the ground.
一Move away from me, if I don’t die with book, a panther will kill me, I really have no other choice?
The panther sits up and watches me.
一I didn’t know that using the book as a door would help, Ana I need your help.
I recognize that voice.
一Zyan?
Yes, it’s me.
I didn’t recognize you, you scared me to death.
一I apologize for that… I should have told you that here I’m a panther, but I forgot.
一 But what kind of help would that be?
一 It’s about Louis.
I get up quickly, startled.
Is he okay? Where is he?
Come on, I’ll take you.
We climbed a staircase and walked down a huge corridor, he led me to the last door.
I hesitated to open the door, I looked at Zyan, he nodded and I opened it.
I see Louis lying on the bed, I walk over to him.
一 The creature that shot him didn’t use normal ammunition, I did the whole process but the wound didn’t heal, only you can do that.
一 And what can I do? I don’t know anything about it…
一You’ll only use your blood.
My blood?
I look at my cut that hadn’t healed.
一If we don’t do this he might die little by little from the poison.
Don’t say that, I’ll do whatever is necessary.
一It’s fine.
He goes to a black bookcase and looks at the dagger, I follow him and look at the dagger.
一This dagger he used to make the contract.
一It’s still wet.
一This is because he decided for you, the contract understands that you didn’t agree to do this, he refused your blood.
Is that why the cut hasn’t healed?
一Exactly, the contract needs to have “yes” on both sides, since you did not accept the cut will stay there, until you accept, if you agree the cut will disappear and your name will come out of the book and stay at the end of it, along with Louis’ signature.
一I get it, what do I do now? Ana took the dagger.
Zyan and I returned to Louis.
You just need to pour three drops on the wound.
一Okay.
I bring the dagger closer in my hand and Zyan interrupts me.
From the moment you do this you are accepting the contract.
一 If I cut myself… will everything you have told me about happen?
Zyan nods and looks at Louis.
一But it will only work if you want it to, remember the cut? He didn’t heal because you didn’t agree to the contract, and the same thing will happen with Louis… “If you do it because I called you and not of your own free will then he won’t get better, I’m not fit to save you Ana the contract is made between the two of you.”
I accept.
I look at Louis.
一 I’ll do it. Ana takes a deep breath.
一 Your life will be in danger, and all you have to do is protect the book until the end, and never break the contract, if you break any of the rules a very big consequence will await you in the future. “Don’t you want to think a little more? There’s no going back, think about it … We don’t want to destroy your life, I won’t lie to you, things will only get worse … It’s all a matter of life and death.”
“From this moment on, I will not live but survive, protecting the book until the end.”
一What if I give up?
一Well, everything that happened until this present moment will be erased, your life will go back to normal, you won’t remember anything, and if you bump into him in the future, the two of you will just be strangers.
一But before you said I had no choice …
Louis did it on purpose to get you to accept because he knew you wouldn’t agree to it, so he wanted to put fear in you, but when he decided for you too, the contract refused and the cut is still there, he doesn’t work with just one person, he wants permission from both of us.
I get thoughtful about everything, so from the beginning I could have given up and lived in peace, have a normal life without depending on a book and him to protect me, I could have gone my way, without worrying about tomorrow.
But I don’t know why I feel this way, I feel sad, in fact it was my fault that he stopped this way, I can’t leave him like this, I will accept this contract, my life will be different from now on, I am very afraid because I don’t know what is waiting for me out there.
一Is there only this way?
一There are many other ways, but this is the best way…
一And what are the other ways?
You sell your soul, and the other would be to go back in time exactly.
一What would it be like to go back in time?
一In this option instead of him getting shot for you, you would be the one getting shot instead…
一You’re right, I’ll stick with this option, it seems much better than the others…
一If you do this, there’s no turning back.
I’ve made up my mind, and I’m not going back.
一 Then you may proceed…
I bring the dagger close to where my cut was and squeeze hard. The blood starts to drip and falls on top of his wound.
一If that was your choice then come here.
I leave the dagger on top of the bookcase and approach Zyan he bandages my hand, as soon as he finishes his paw remains on top of my hand.
一He will do everything to save you, the contract is done, when you go back to your home remember, don’t trust anyone your life belongs to Louis.
一I get it, I’ll fulfill the contract.
一I’ll walk you to the door.
一Is he going to be okay?
一He just needs some rest, everything’s fine now, no need to worry about anything.
If he doesn’t get better, call me again.
I’ll do as you wish.
We go downstairs and I go back to a room where I came from.
一In a moment you will return to your home as soon as I walk out that door.
一All right, take care of him.
一Nothing bad will happen to him, I assure you, see you later Ana.
Bye. Ana smiles.
Zyan turns his back and leaves, the door closes and a flash appears.
The next morning Ana wakes up scared, she looks to the sides and to her hand that was with the bandage, she undoes the bandage and the cut was gone, Ana breathes relieved.
The meeting.
一If the bruise is gone then it means it worked, he’s going to be fine, I’m happy, only I couldn’t apologize yet I hope he gets better soon.
I get up and get ready, I leave my room and prepare a nice breakfast, turn on the TV and sit on the sofa.
一Are you ready yet? Sandra yawns.
一Yes, and hurry up or the coffee will get cold.
一You’re excited today, what happened?
一I just had a good night’s sleep, that’s all.
I’m glad you’ve gotten used to it.
一Yeah, I’m glad too .
I look down at my hand and smile slightly.
I’ll be right back.
***