Emerald

"Your eyes are the source of struggle. The founder of grief; the bearer of death."

"What are you even talking about? What did I do wrong? I just saved people from dying!" I exclaimed, totally clueless about what this guy is babbling about. And it's frustrating that I see no future when I look into his eyes.

"You violated the laws of time just like the last person who had the same eyes as you. You disrupted the flow of reality."

His cold voice could extinguish the flames that are constantly eating the house whole at any moment. But his blazing stare says the contrary. It is as though he's strengthening the flames around much stronger than it is.

"I don't know what are you talking about, mister. And how come you don't suffer any pain from the heat?"

What exactly is he? Why is he not affected by the heat as I do? His name is Haze, right? He's such an unusual somebody.

"By any chance, are you and I the same?" I asked. Who knows? He might know something regarding this abnormality.

He gave me a nod. "By race, yes. By ability, no," he said.

"What do you mean?" By race? Ability?

But instead of further giving me explanations, he jumped off the bed and walk outside the room. "Those two are safe now. The only thing left to do is for you to come with me. I'll give you answers along the way," he said before leaving.

And because he left me on a cliffhanger, I followed without hesitation. I ran downstairs as quickly as I could but when I got out, he's no longer there. Where did he go?

I roamed my gaze everywhere thinking he's still around but in the end, I failed to find any traces of him. Surprisingly, the young boy who was earlier so powerless, now smiling as he handed me a tiny sheet of paper that's been folded four times.

McRed, Stone Forest. It's what is written on the paper when I unfolded it. This means he's not here anymore. He's in my town.

I realized shortly after that he's already in my hometown, waiting for my return. I've done what needs to be done here so all is left to do is to return to the present. Instantly, the entire place broke like thin glass as it vanished into the void. And here I am again, walking in almost seemingly neverending darkness. My footsteps make no sound as I walk straight without looking back.

It was a strange incident. I wasn't supposed to meet someone with no relevance to the task I'm about to accomplish. Someone who will accuse me of violating the laws of time or the flow of reality and all that nonsense. I don't care anyway. It's just that I'm curious how did he get himself there without getting hurt. Imagine appearing from nowhere trying to accuse me of a criminal when all I did was to save them.

Wait, he didn't say I'm a criminal but more likely implying that I am one. Not that it matters tho. I only want to know what kind of person is he. For someone who got in and out from the future without me noticing, he's indeed a strange guy.

Also, his eyes. When I look at them, it feels as though I was looking at a space devoid of everything. Could it be that he is the same as me?

He said something like 'race' in which we have in common? So says he. But what about the ability?

I was so drowned in my thoughts that I didn't even realize I was already in front of that woman again. I'm back to the present. Now I just have to head back home and meet that strange individual waiting for my arrival.

I ran as quickly as I could until I finally made it to the house's front door. And as soon as I pushed it open, my Grandmother threw a hug at me with a welcoming smile.

"Someone is waiting for you in the living room. He said he's from Emerald city. You should go and check," Grandma uttered gently as she caressed my hair.

"Did he tell you his name, Grandma?"

"His name?" Grandma paused for a second as she tries to remember what that guy has said. "His name is Casey? or Hazel? I'm not sure. You see, Grandma here appears to forget a lot of things lately."

Hazel? There's no doubt it's the same guy I met earlier. Haze. But Casey? Not even close.

"Thanks, Grandma. May I go now?"

"Go ahead, Marga."

I wasted no second and ran as quickly as I could to the living room. When I arrived, I saw him resting his back on the wall just under the ticking clock hanging above his head and he's looking down on the floor. I'm pretty sure he knows I'm already here but he didn't even dare to raise his head.

"Let me ask you again. Who are you? And why are you here?"

Finally, he looked at me and said, "First and foremost, you are under arrest for violating the laws of time as I've told you just a while ago."

Oh. He's still into that?

"So you have to come with me to Emerald."

"H...Huh?" I almost froze. "To Emerald? Why? And what are these laws of time you're saying I violated? Are you insane?!"

"Margaret McRed, a fortune teller. Am I correct? You and I know you have an extraordinary pair of eyes that are capable of letting you leap into the future."

As he was saying those words, I couldn't avoid letting out a surprised sigh. How did he know?

Okay. Now I don't understand what's going on. I mean, how did he know about my—

That's it! He told me something that in terms of abilities, we two have differences! Does that mean, this guy is also like me? But how on Earth would that be real?

"Listen carefully, Margaret. You have defied reality uncountable times. Don't just act like you don't have any idea what you have done. The major rule of time is to never alter it and you just did it many times. Now tell me, how are you gonna face the consequences of your actions?"

What? I just saved people! How was that a bad thing?

"Now, whether you like it or not, we are to leave this place at once."