The cat begins to speak and I am left open-mouthed.
My name is Zyan and this is my master Louis.
一Master ? Is he a king? said Sabrina in surprise.
Basically, I came here because you have something very valuable.
What?
The man points to the book on the bookshelf next to my lamp.
一Do you want it back? I can’t even read it myself, the words are completely different, I don’t understand anything.
一 I’m not here to take the book, but to take care of you while you have it.
一I understand…
Do you want to make a contract with me? You take care of the book and I’ll take care of you.
Can I talk to my mom about it?
That’s our secret, between you and me…
一Can I think about it?
Okay, I’ll give you just one day to think about it, then I want my answer.
Tomorrow when you come back I’ll give you my answer.
The next day I wake up and realize that the book is out of place and that there was a small cut on my right hand.
I get up and get ready to go to school, all the time I can’t forget that man.
I wonder if it was just a dream.
The day passes slowly, I return home talking to my mother about school matters, night falls, I take a glass of juice and watch for that man to appear but end up falling asleep, hours later I feel as if someone is moving in my hair, I open my eyes and he was sitting next to me.
一What took you so long?
一I have to come at this time.
一I brought you something…
The little girl stands up and picks up the glass of juice, at that moment I remember the little girl named Ana that I met a few years ago.
Louis’ Past 2
一Maybe you’re thirsty.
一Thank you, but can you give me the answer now?
一I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I wish the day could pass quickly so I could give you an answer, and I accept, but I accept on one condition, there’s a girl at school who does me a lot of harm, and you said you would protect me.
Louis looked at her, and put the juice back where she had taken it from.
Why don’t you tell your mother?
She said I couldn’t tell my mother, so I’m telling you.
一Ok, tomorrow I’ll go with you to school, and there you’ll show me who the girl is.
一That’s good.
The girl lets out a beautiful smile.
Now you need to rest so you don’t fall asleep in class.
I lay down on the bed and the man stays beside me until I fall asleep. The next morning I get ready and have breakfast, my mom takes me to the school door, I get out of the car and look around, I don’t see Louis anywhere, the girl pushes me and I fall on the ground, I look at them, who approach me.
一I like your outfit, but it doesn’t look good on you.
一Leave me alone.
一Leave me alone, blah, blah, blah.
Just as she’s about to hit me, someone grabs her arm, she looks back scared.
一If you lay a single finger on her again, I’ll do something you won’t like.
They run off, Louis holds out his hand and I take it, I stand up.
一Thank you…
Take care, and don’t let anyone touch you again.
Days passed and many things were happening, I was scared, a blue eyed man came to me and said I should see him at a place, but I shouldn’t take anyone and only the book I was holding. He said it would be fun, and that it was a surprise, the next day I leave the house without my mom knowing and go to the address he had given me. Hours later I see Louis, my tears were coming down and I couldn’t contain my crying.
一At last you came, I was getting tired.
Let her go now.
He stretches out his arm and I stand with my feet outside the building.
Are you sure? It wouldn’t be nice if that happened…
一Let her go, she’s just a child, I’m the one you want.
一Give me her book she’ll live.
一If I do, will you let her go?
Of course I will. Gabriel cracks a corner smile.
一Okay.
一Don’t give him the book, you’ll die if you do.
Your safety is more important now.
Give me the book now! I’m already losing my patience.
I throw the book on the floor and walk away.
Louis don’t do this, I’ll save you.
What are you talking about?
一If the book is destroyed you won’t exist anymore, you’ve saved me several times, so it’s my turn to pay you back.
Stop talking nonsense.
For a child, she has courage… Gabriel looks at Louis.
一Adeus Louis.
I bite his arm and he lets go of me, I run to the edge, just as I was about to jump to save her, I hear her say:
一Don’t save me.
I get stuck trying to jump but can’t, my eyes fill with tears, the book opens and the leaves start moving by themselves.
一Because of your carelessness you lost something important, I tried to help you but you won’t listen to me look what you did you killed a child, when will you come to your senses? 一You’re dangerous, but until you understand this story will repeat itself over and over again until the time comes when you’ll do my job yourself.
Gabriel leaves and Louis falls helplessly to his knees.
At the bookstore…
一 The contract has been broken…
The gentleman takes a white rose and puts the petals on the counter
***
Zyan arrives at the first floor and runs towards Louis
一Where’s Sabrina? he spoke worriedly.
Louis stood up and wiped his tears.
She’s gone Zayn, forever and I couldn’t do anything.
Louis took the book and disappeared, he appears in his house near the bookcase and put the book inside, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath and then Louis speaks:
一If you are going to choose another contractor, you better not let me down, otherwise I will end this myself, I will destroy you….
I hear Louis talking to the book, he turns his back and disappears, I am sad because I was not able to do anything.
I lower my head and lie down on the floor.
Inside the bookcase the book opens and glows, and closes again.
***
一I will leave you here, when the real contractor comes this will no longer happen.
The old man turns his back and leaves the girl on the terrace and walks away.