Alice could feel the bright warm light streaming through her window as she turned in bed.
"My, you sure sleep soundly for someone who's about to have their life taken."
Alice's eyes snapped open immediately and she sat up to glare in the direction of the voice – at the man who she'd known had spoken. And there he was, sitting against the windowsill, light streaming behind him, casting him in that halo-like glow of an angel once more. It was a dangerously deceptive look.
"What're you doing here? How long have you been there and would you stop appearing like that?"
The man smiled as he hopped off the windowsill and walked toward her. Alice instinctively pulled the bedcovers closer around her. She glowered at him, annoyed that he'd wiped all traces of sleep from her, annoyed that he was even there which proved that Alice truly hadn't been imagining things yesterday.
"Your hair is like a bird's nest," he smiled.
Alice scowled at him. Her hair was the least of her concerns.
"And your eyes are puffy, and red. You've been crying."
Evan crossed his arms as he stared at Alice who looked away. So she probably looked like a crazy panda but she was beyond caring.
"If you were in my situation, you'd probably cry too."'
"So you've accepted your predicament then?"
Alice let out a bitter laugh.
"Seeing you first thing in the morning really doesn't help me with my theory that I must've been deluding things," she muttered.
Evan chuckled. "So have you given your wish any thought?"
"Sorry to disappoint, but I do have a lot on my mind at the moment."
"And saving your life isn't the top priority?"
"Well, you know, this situation isn't exactly easy to believe. It's not every day that a genie pops up in front of you."
"I can't say this situation is entirely normal for me either. I've never been attached to a wishmaker for so long," he frowned.
"So what, out of all the wishes you've granted, you're saying I'm abnormal?"
"I've never had anyone make a wish at the price of their own life either," he teased.
Alice sighed.
"I-if you were to, you know, kill me, how would you do it?"
Evan frowned at her crude way of phrasing it, "I assure you it would be quite painless. Like I said, I'm not a murderer, I don't kill."
Alice swallowed, "H-have you done it before?"
The man shifted, "No. I haven't."
"Then how do you know!"
"I've been doing this job long enough to know how it works."
Alice turned to face the man, "Wh-what'd you do before? How does that work being, you know, a genie?"
The man laughed, "You're awfully concerned about me at the moment, given your own circumstances. And I'm not really a genie. You know, I'm human, too."
"What?"
"This is my… temporary job. Until I wake from my coma, I suppose."
Alice looked to Evan for a better explanation.
"Believe it or not, I'm human, like you. But I got into a car crash one day and my body's been in a coma since."
"So y-you're really a spirit?"
"I guess so."
Alice gaped at Evan, "A-and, can you see your own body then?"
"Sure can, even gone back to visit it at Elm Hospital."
"That's-"
"Weird? I've gotten used to it."
"I- I can't imagine. Your family must be so worried."
Evan didn't say anything. Alice's eyes widened.
"Do you want me to pass any messages to them? You know, it'll be like in those movies where-"
Evan shook his head, laughing, "You're incredible, you know that?"
"Huh?"
"I tell you that I'm here to take your life and you're worried about me?"
Alice crossed her arms defensively. Perhaps it was because it was easier to think about someone else's problems than her own that she was so concerned about him. Or maybe trying to get to know Evan better as a human, rather than a genie made him and her whole situation seem less terrifying.
"Speaking of that, if you were to take my life in order to grant my wish, how would I end up with Adam?"
Evan shrugged, "I don't know. I'm just responsible for claiming the price and making sure your wish gets passed on. I'm guessing he'd die too so the two of you can be together in the after life?"
Alice gasped, "Kill Adam?"
Evan gave Alice a funny look, "You can barely guarantee your own life, I wouldn't be worrying about someone else's."
Alice chewed on her bottom lip. If Adam's life was at stake too, she really had to get her act together. According to the stages in accepting death, the first was denial. Perhaps that was where she was currently at, not that her circumstances were ordinary though. In saying that, thirty days was not a lot. So if she was going to get to the next stage of bargaining for her life, she'd better start soon. Because, literally, that was the only way she was going to keep her life. Trade it for another price. If only she could find something of equal value to her life first…
The sharp ringing of Alice's alarm sliced through the air and Alice groaned. She climbed out of bed, indifferent to the fact that she was wearing the gaudiest over-sized t-shirt that she owned. The whole situation with Evan somehow made it hard to care.
"You're still going to work?"
"Yes, why?"
"You know, when someone's just found out that they've only got so long to live, they usually don't bother with the mundane things in life, work being one of them."
"Well I've got articles to write for my boss and deadlines to meet."
"And that's not mundane?"
"My boss is counting on me."
"So… you're going to work not because you want to but because others are counting on you to? Even on the verge of death, you're still set on pleasing other people?"
Alice frowned.
"You make me sound like I'm ill. I'm not. And I'm not on the verge of death."
"Close enough. Your boyfriend's broken up with you, you have thirty days to live and you look virtually lifeless."
Scowling, Alice said, "You really have a way of cheering people up."
"My speciality," Evan grinned.
Alice shook her head and went to the kitchen to make herself breakfast.
"Er…" Alice stopped what she was doing and turned to look at Evan. Brown-eyed and blond-haired, he looked roughly the same age as Adam and her. However, he was of stark contrast to Adam. The way Evan carried himself was almost more elegantly refined. He had a heart-shaped face and soft, angelic features to match. Alice imagined he would be something of a pretty-boy in real life. Not that he didn't seem real, in front of her now.
"Do you… want something to eat?"
Evan gave a laugh, "You're the first to ever ask me that. But, no, thanks, I can't eat."
Alice paused, "Oh, sorry. What's it like? Knowing you're in a coma? It must be frustrating, wanting to get back to your own body but not being able to – sorry if that's a sensitive topic."
Evan shrugged.
"Wouldn't make much of a difference if I never return to my body. Life goes on, regardless."
Alice gave Evan a surprised look. For someone in a comma, you'd think he'd be more wishful in wanting to get back into his own body and carry on living again.
"But your family and relatives must be really worried about you."
Looking from Alice to the clock on the wall, Evan said, "Shouldn't you be getting to work soon?"
Alice looked at the time and gave a startled cry, "Oh my God, you're right!"
Evan chuckled as Alice ran to her room to grab her things. When she came back out again, Evan was already gone.
Given Alice's circumstances and all she had to consider, she found it very hard to concentrate at work. Thoughts strayed to Evan and the conversation they'd had, about her wish, about the old woman's prediction, about the talisman. She found herself on Google, searching for information about talismans. The first thing that came up was a definition of a talisman.
"Believed to contain magical properties and bring good luck to the owner…" Alice mused before reading on. Trying out different search terms, Alice absent-mindedly scrolled through the pages of links. It wasn't until she'd given it several attempts that she came across some seemingly useful sites. Eerie music began playing after she'd clicked on one and from opposite her, Christine shot her a look.
"Sorry," Alice apologised while muting the music. "Doing some research."
The site had a wooden background and odd symbols all around. There was something oddly mystical about it that made Alice probe further. Finding her way through the site, Alice came across some photos of talismans. She gasped and froze when her eyes fell on one that looked just like hers. She could have sworn it was the same. Scrolling down the page, she read on.
… Used in ancient times to summon a spiritual being with prayer. It was believed that the spiritual being could grant wishes for the owner…
Alice gasped. Had the old woman known? Was that why she'd given it to her? Alice's head swarmed with the number of questions. Again, she found that adrenaline pumping through her head, like a tornado weaving through.
After work, Alice drove straight towards the old shop where the woman'd made the predictions. It was dimly lit inside and the old woman was hustling about, putting things away on the shelves. The opening of the door signalled the doorbell and the woman looked up at Alice.
"Ah, you're back. I was expecting you," she said.
Alice stepped in toward the old woman.
"Prediction's come true, I see."
"My prediction?" Alice asked, wide-eyed. "You told me about a bright light and a union with someone."
"Yes."
Alice wished that the old woman would elaborate some more but she didn't.
"Er, about the talisman you gave me-"
The old woman held a hand up to stop her, "It's not time to return it yet."
"Then-"
"I have only one piece of advice: Don't become so focussed on your goal that you forget to see what's around you."
Perhaps she really was still in denial – she really didn't want to go home and have to face up to Evan again. After sitting in her car and deliberating for several minutes, Alice suddenly found herself driving in the direction of Elm hospital. What she was going to do after arriving there, she wasn't sure. Ask to see Evan? The thought was almost laughable. She didn't even know whether he was real or not. Part of her still believed that she was delusional even.
As Alice approached the front desk inside the hospital, she felt herself growing nervous. What if Evan had been pulling her leg? What if she really was just imagining him? And if she was just imagining him, how was it possible that he could be both standing in front of her and in a coma in hospital?
"Er, hi," Alice greeted the lady at reception. "I'm looking for an Evan Turner."
The lady looked through the database before pointing her in the right direction. Alice stood there for a while, surprise freezing her in place. She'd really expected the lady to give her a crazy look and tell her that Evan Turner didn't exist. Instead, the lady at reception glanced at her, an expectant look on her face.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?" she asked.
"Oh, no. Thank you," Alice smiled and headed in the direction that the lady had pointed her in.
Alice felt her heart pounding as she approached the designated room. She was half-expecting to see a stranger lying in a hospital bed, as if Evan had just faked his identity using someone else's. When she reached the room, she stood outside the door and took a deep breath before pushing aside the door. It opened with a creak. Alice peered across the room, eyes falling on the bed in the centre. She walked over and stared at the form lying there. Her heart thudded as she took in the blond hair and heart-faced shape - features of an angel, her angel. There was no doubt about it.
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