I stepped into the gym, the familiar scent of sweat and lemon cleaner hitting me like a wave. My body still hummed from yesterday's... high, but the cravings were starting to creep back in. I pushed them aside, focusing on the present moment.

Kat waved from our usual spot, Carter standing beside her with an easy smile. As I approached, I couldn't help but notice how his golden aura seemed to brighten the entire room. Sure, everyone had a golden aura, including Kat, but Carter’s was somehow brighter. Stronger.

"Look who decided to show up on time," I teased, nudging Carter with my elbow.

He laughed, the sound warming something inside me. "I aim to please," he replied with a wink.

The instructor called the class to order, and we fell into the familiar rhythm of warm-ups. As we moved into partner work, I found myself paired with Carter, which was clearly Kat being sly. Watching him move was mesmerizing. Each punch, each kick, was delivered with precise control and barely contained power.

"You're pretty good at this," I commented, narrowly dodging a well-aimed jab.

Carter grinned, effortlessly blocking my counter-attack. "Years of practice. It's all about finding your center, you know?"

I snorted. "Yeah, well, my center's been a bit off lately."

His eyes softened with concern, but before he could respond, the instructor called for us to switch partners. I spent the rest of the class trying to recapture that sense of balance and control I'd seen in Carter's movements, but it remained frustratingly out of reach.

“Kal, you’re supposed to be hitting the bag, not staring at Carter,” Kat teased.

My cheeks heated. “I—I was just amazed at how flawless his movements are. This is his first class here.”

“Sure,” Kat rolled her eyes, but I didn’t waste my breath arguing.

After class, Kat rushed off to work, leaving Carter and me to head to the coffee shop. As we walked, I couldn't shake the memory of yesterday's events.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Carter asked, his voice pulling me back to the present.

I shook my head. "Trust me, you don't want to know what's going on in here," I said, tapping my temple.

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"Try me," he challenged gently, but I just laughed, sure he’d be repulsed by my darkness.

We entered Bean Town Coffee, and my eyes immediately went to the barista. Her green aura was pulsing a little faster today, the sight making my stomach churn with a mixture of dread and anticipation. Was the flashing like a countdown clock? The man yesterday and Phillip had been flickering so fast, and this Batista was approaching that stage, too.

"Okay," I said slowly as we sat down. "Hypothetically speaking, if you knew someone was going to die, would you try to stop it?"

Carter's eyebrows shot up. "That's... heavy. Where's this coming from?"

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Just something I've been thinking about. With everything that's happened lately, you know?"

He nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I think if you had the power to save someone's life, you'd have to try. Right?"

"But what if it's their time?" I pressed. "What if by saving them, you're messing with some greater power’s cosmic plan or something?"

Carter leaned back, his steady golden aura comforting. "I don't know about cosmic plans, Kal. But I do know that life is precious. If we have the chance to preserve it, to give someone more time with their loved ones, more opportunities to experience joy and growth... isn't that worth fighting for?"

His words washed over me like a cold shower. I glanced back at the barista, her green aura a constant reminder of the power I now wielded. Could I really just stand by and let her die?

Was she a struggling student, like I had been? Did she have a sister, like Kat, the loved her? My mouth dried. Would she take her own life? Sure, she looked happy and had it all together, but was she hiding her struggles like I had been?

"But what if..." I hesitated, searching for the right words. "What if helping people puts you in a difficult position? What if it costs you something?"

Carter reached across the table, his hand covering mine. The warmth of his touch warmed my entire insides. "Then you have to decide what's more important," he said softly. "Your comfort, or doing what's right."

I stared at our joined hands, feeling the weight of his words. For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine a life where I could be normal, where I could pursue whatever was growing between Carter and me without the shadow of death hanging over everything. That someone so good, like Carter, would like someone so…dark, like me.

But as I looked back at the barista, her aura flickering, I knew it was impossible. I was caught between two worlds now, and there was no going back.

"You okay?" Carter asked, concern etching his features.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, just... thinking about what you said. You're pretty wise for a guy who punches things for fun, you know that?"

He laughed, the sound lightening the atmosphere. "What can I say? I already told you yesterday that I’m quite layered," he quipped, echoing our conversation from yesterday.

As we finished our coffee and parted ways, I felt the craving I thought I satisfied last night return. Not too strong, but clearly there and growing. But mixed with that familiar hunger was something new – a sense of purpose, perhaps. Or maybe just the first stirrings of rebellion against this unwanted calling.

Walking home, I made a decision. I wouldn't just be a passive observer, a mere reaper of souls. If I had the power to see death coming, maybe I had the power to prevent it too.

The thought both terrified and exhilarated me. As I climbed the stairs to Kat’s apartment, my mind raced with possibilities and questions. Could I really change fate? And more importantly, what would be the cost?