8. Help Me
1088 Words
Cassie arrived in less than fifteen minutes and is now looking at me with questions in her eyes. "Well? What's the emergency?" she asks.
"There's...there's something I have to tell you." My words stumble out awkwardly, tripping over my racing pulse. It feels like I am about to confess to a crime I hadn't committed yet somehow was guilty of all the same.
Cassie pats the cushion beside her, her brows knitting together in concern. I sink down next to her, the plush fabric offering no real comfort.
"Talk to me, Chlo," Cassie urges me softly, her hand finding mine and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
I draw in a shuddering breath, squeezing her hand back as if it was my lifeline. "It's going to sound insane. But I swear, it's all true. I remember...things. Things from before—"
"Before what?" The question hangs between us, suspended in the thick tension that had woven itself around us.
"Before this life. My last one." The words taste foreign on my tongue, the confession feeling terrifying. "This is my second chance in life."
"Chloe..." Cassie's voice trails off, laced with the skepticism I'd anticipated. "What the heck are you talking about?"
"I think...I think I have been reincarnated!" The affirmation burst from me louder than I intended.
Cassie stares at me for a moment, then erupts into laughter. "What?"
"I am serious, Cassie. I died and was brought back to life. I keep remembering things from my past life. And it's not just random memories. They're specific, Cassie. Horrifyingly so," I ramble on.
"Okay, Chloe. You always had a weird sense of humor, but this is extra weird," Cassie says, shaking her head.
"I am not joking!" I roar. I knew she wouldn't believe me, but this was still frustrating. "I was murdered in my past life and then poof! I am back to being alive. What else would you call this rather than reincarnation?"
"Yeah, but wouldn't you be reborn as a baby if that was the case?" Cassie reminds me.
"How should I know? There is some supernatural s**t going on and I don't understand it any more than you do," I groan.
"Okay, let's say what you are saying is true. What do you exactly remember from your past life?" Cassie asks.
"Like the way I died." My fingers clench into fists, nails digging into my palms to anchor me to the present. "I was murdered, Cass. And I think... I think it's going to happen again."
"Okay, slow down." Cassie scoots closer, her curiosity piqued despite the incredulity shadowing her features. "You think you're in danger now because of...past life stuff?"
"Exactly. Because of past life stuff," I echo hollowly. Was I making any sense? Did I even believe myself?
"Chloe, you're freaking me out a bit here." Concern laces her words, but she doesn't move away.
"Please, you have to believe me." My heart hammers against my ribs, each beat a drumbeat of urgency.
"Okay, okay. I'm trying to wrap my head around this." She scratches the back of her neck.
I wait patiently for her to say something. Is she going to believe me, or is she going to laugh at me again? I don't have anyone else to turn to so I hope she believes me.
"Even if—just for argument's sake—I entertained this idea," she says finally, leaning back and folding her arms protectively across her chest, "how do we know these aren't just... dreams? Or coincidences?"
"They're too vivid, Cassie. The smells, the sounds, the fear—it's all too real."
"Memories can be tricky, Chloe," she counters, her tone gentle yet probing. "Sometimes we think we remember things one way, but it's really our mind playing tricks on us."
"Tricks don't explain how I knew about the locket," I shoot back, feeling the strain of keeping my voice steady.
"What locket?" Cassie asks.
"The one Axel wears all the time. My murderer in the past life was wearing the same locket," I say.
Cassie gasps. "Axel? You are saying Axel murdered you? Why would he do that?"
"How would I know? Maybe he murdered me so he would inherit my mother's money," I argue.
Cassie looks thoughtful. "Hmm...we used to talk about that, I remember. When your mom just got married to his dad, you used to say he was after her money."
"See! That's a great motive!" I screech.
"But he didn't murder you, Chloe. You two fell in love and got married," Cassie reminds me.
"Yes, and I find that even more horrifying than the murder itself," I say, glaring at her. "Let's say things changed after my rebirth, and Axel is no longer murdering me. But it doesn't help because I still remember it, and it bothers me. I will go stir crazy thinking about it all the time."
"You're not making sense," she says in disbelief, her fingers drumming on the armrest.
"It's like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, Cassie. It's only a matter of time before it happens again." I shudder at the thought.
Cassie takes another sip of her drink and looks at me with concern. "I don't know what to say, Chloe. This is a lot."
"Tell me about it," I mutter under my breath.
"You need help," Cassie states finally. "A therapist, maybe? Or some medication?"
I cringe. "No meds for me. I know what I am saying is crazy, but..." My voice trails off as I struggle with how to continue.
"But what?" Cassie prods gently.
"But it feels real, Cassie." My voice drops to a whisper as if admitting this made it more real than ever.
Cassie bites her lip, nodding slowly as if she understands. "Okay then," she says after a long moment of consideration, "How about we do this? How about you keep a close eye on Axel and see if he tries to hurt you?"
"I think he already tried to hurt me in Hawaii," I say in a hushed tone.
Cassie gasps. "What?"
I tell her what happened in the ocean, how I felt like someone was pulling me underwater.
"s**t," Cassie mumbles when I'm done. "We will keep an eye on him. And maybe try to find out if he has any real motive to kill you in this life too."
I perk up. "Does this mean you believe me, Cass?"
"I don't know, Chloe," Cassie admits, "But I'll help you find out."
"Thank you," I whisper, relieved.
- Writer
