Beginning of something…good or bad?

It was just an everyday Monday morning. I woke up from the sunlight peeking through my window. I grabbed my alarm and looked at the time. I was shocked it was already too late.

“Geez! How could I have slept that long…”

I mumbled to myself as I got up from the bed.

I made my breakfast and school lunch as fast as I could. I got ready for school too and finally left the house. I stopped at the door and turned toward the house. I mumbled “I'm heading out” as I stepped outside.

---
For some reason, I'm feeling unusually light and cold today. It also feels as if I'm missing something. Bam!! As I was deep in thought, a loud noise interrupted me. I tried to figure out the source of the noise.
While looking around, I came across a park. It was always on my way to school and home. But I had never paid much attention to it. Surprisingly, I’d never even entered this park. I looked at it properly this time, and I was sure the noise came from there.
I saw a boy lying on the ground in front of a tree, his eyes locked on a branch above. I followed his gaze. There was a cat on the branch, looking back at him. I imagined a scene in my head where he might’ve tried to save the cat and fell from the tree. Though no matter how I imagined it, it didn’t explain the bruises and cuts he was covered with.
I'm not the type of person to lend a hand to anyone who might be in trouble. I'm not a bad person either. First of all, I was in a hurry to school. Secondly, even if I offered help, there’s no way I’d be of any use, because I'm unbelievably weak. But something still dragged me into the park.
At first, I hesitated a bit but ended up putting one foot inside. There was a line drawn with red chalk at the entrance. The moment I stepped on it, I saw something incredible.
A bunch of shadows piled together in the shape of a human was standing a bit farther from the boy. I was stunned for a moment until I saw the shadow pile moving toward him. It seemed like the boy didn’t notice it—or maybe he couldn’t see it. He was lying there just as he was. The shadows moved closer.
As if my body moved on its own, I threw my bag toward the shadow pile and shouted “Look out!” The bag went through it. It didn’t do any harm. But its attention switched to me instead.
At least the boy noticed it this time. I looked in his direction. He noticed both the shadow and me. But he didn’t move an inch. He stared at me with a face that said he didn’t get what was happening. 

“Um—you have to get out of here…”

Before I could finish, I noticed the shadow pile rushing at me like it was going to eat me alive. I instantly backed away but bumped my leg. I fell outside the park.
Just before I fell, I heard a whisper. Though I didn’t understand what it said. Right then, the cat jumped down from the tree to the spot where the shadows had been.
I was still in shock. I looked back—but there was no trace of the monster anymore.
The boy came to me, putting one hand in his pocket. He held out the other to me. 

“You okay?” 

he asked, trying to give a friendly smile. 

“Uh-huh” 

I said as I got up with his help. 

“Though that should be my line. Are you alright? You don’t look it at least.” 

“I’m fine! I’m fine! It’s just a little injury. Btw, I have a more important question to ask you…”

 “You can ask while we treat your wounds too. Wait—I have a first aid kit in my bag. For now, we’ll have to do with it, and then we can go to the hospital if needed,” 

she said, moving forward to get her bag. She hesitated a bit before stepping back into the park, but she still did.

She grabbed her bag and looked around for a place to sit. She noticed a swing set nearby. She sat on one side and waved at the boy to sit on the other.
The boy sat. The cat jumped into his lap and curled up to sleep.
“Show me your wounds. I’ll treat them.”

 “It’s okay… I can do it myself.” 

He took the first aid kit. 

“Then can I begin with my questions?”

 “…Are you gonna erase my memories or something since I saw something I shouldn’t have?” 

“Eh? Why would I? Uh… pfft—you watch too much anime hahaha”

 he replied like it was obvious. 

“Do you think your reaction is normal? -_-”

 “Ah—are you not afraid of it?” he asked bluntly. 

“Hmm… not really… I think. I was more shocked.”

 “Haha, you’re weird!” 

“You’re much weirder though.”

 “Hmm… ain’t you curious either?” 

“Sure. But I doubt you’ll tell me.” 

“Hahaha, you’re funny! Well, well—wanna know something interesting?” he asked mysteriously. 

“…” She stared at him, waiting for him to continue.

 He leaned closer and whispered “…We’re the dead.”

Her face showed a little shock. 

“As in dead? And that was a ghost?” 

“Hmm… you could say that!” 

He put a finger on his lips and said “It’s a secret, okay?” 

“Sure. I don’t really have anyone to talk about it with anyway.” 

“Are you implying that you don’t have friends?” 

“I-it’s not like that! It’s just… they wouldn’t believe me if I said something like this. Btw, you said ‘we’, does that mean you’re dead too?” 

“Correct!”

 “Then how did you get hurt?” she asked, eyeing his wounds suspiciously. 

“Hehe, that’s a long story. I’m afraid I can’t tell you that now.” 

“Hm-hm. It’s okay.” 

She looked a bit disappointed. He noticed. 

“You seem quite interested in this kind of thing. You’re not scared either.” 

“Huh? Is that so… well, I actually am pretty interested in these things.”

 She scratched her neck out of embarrassment while saying that.

The boy stood up and picked up a cap from the ground. She hadn’t noticed it until now since her attention had been on the shadows and the boy. He walked in front of her, putting the cap on his head. He held out his hand to her and said with a bright smile,

 “Wanna see something more interesting? Like how the dead people live?”

“Maybe after you treat your wounds properly”

 she replied instantly. He was taken aback by the reply, but then laughed and said, 

“You’re a fun-killer hahaha. Then will ya help me with it too, please?” 

he asked while sitting back down on the swing.

 “Sure.” 

She started treating his wounds with the first aid kit.