The Oracle's Heart

shores of Lake Michigan, wreathing dead leaves and humidity as

dewalks, and the air smelled of salty lake wa

wed. His lanky frame is wrapped in a tattered gray sweatshirt wi

if it were a joke about to fall apart. Its straps were fray

ing to avoid the loud talking and laughing students,

leftovers again?" A raspy voice came fr

cks and looked up, obvi

-three, blonde, wearing a brand-new North Face du

the sidewalk, blocking t

round him, some chewing gum, some holding Starb

ed his eyes, and squeezed out

his South Side background already ma

e gunshots were more frequent than sire

e leaky, run-down apartment, hide in a corner where no one could fin

lways seemed to

eserves to be here?" Brad took a step forward

lling over, his book bag slipping to the ground, the tex

as flipped open by the wind, it

louder, like a flock of crows circling

tained fries at Jace's feet, the ketchup

ne of the heels shrilled, hi

e this humiliation in silence, bending down to pick up the

ok up at those superi

ding white light suddenly flashed in his mind as if som

use the sudden image was so quick and clear, so cl

car, the roar of the engine speeding past alon

rs tapping the steering wheel in time with the rhythm, chewing

control, the body violently hit the guardrail, rolled twice, and then came to a standstill, glass shards sp

he ticking of the second hand, like

rt palpitating, his hand trembling so badly

smiling, seemingly completely unaware

left in Jace's ears was the sound of his violent heartbeat,

bothering him for years - the first time was in elementary school, when he saw

e shooting death of a street gangster, which c

others, but no one believes

Jace couldn't help but blurt ou

aps it was Brad's arrogant demeanor that had

g into a fit of maniacal laughter, laughing so hard that he almost fell

he collar and cornered him, h

even more emotional and were up

closes his eyes and p

usly before letting go and pushing him away, "Get out of here and don'

he fell to the floor. He picked up his scattered

s cheeks sting and his heart beat fas

g to do with him, that despite the hatred he harbored for

were consistently occupied with that sc

ained. The pen in his hand-scribbled mindlessly in his notebook

ontain his curiosity, and he threw on the tattered cotto

th the moisture of Lake Michigan and bl

whizzing by in the distance, his hands in his pockets c

sharp sound of brakes c

mbled twice, and came to a standstill, the engine emitted thick blac

he scene in front of him to be so vivid, no

y light of the streetlamp, he witnessed Brad's dead eyes, blood flowing

truly pas

the sirens wer

, he let out a dry heaving sound, and was about to turn around and flee from the scene,

e was in a desp

t him, their lights flashing blindingly in the snowy night, "Someone reported you f

n't threatened Brad, merely out of

orld, who would believe a

fantasies, he turned and

dly, the water splashed his pants, but he was

affiti-covered wall and gasped for breath, as if

urn himself in, but the moment his finger touched the s

dle at his feet, and his own reflection begins to look unfamiliar, his pupil

f they were diving into his mind from under

rned to normal, but the voice still echoed

uddenly came from the mouth of the alleyway amid a misty b

eagle eyes, and the red light from the motorcycle's t

ace whispered to himself, hi

t his instincts told him they were

the wind and snow swallowed his figure, but the roar f