《Phantom Solstice》


 Chapter 1 - The Beginning? or the End?

    "Ahhh!", Mike screamed as he shockingly sat up on the bed. Brushing up his hair, soaked in sweat.


    *Huff, Huff* SFX


    "That dream again," he thought.  He stood up and went to the restroom. Washing his face, he saw on the reflection, a young adult, half naked, black disheveled hair, hazel eyes, and a scar on his left eyebrow.


    Sighing, he started his day. He doesn''t want to be late on his first day at college. Walking out of the apartment with his v-neck black shirt, beige jeans, and wearing his father''s merrel shoes.


    Its still 5:00 AM, and the University he enrolled is one and a half hour walk away, and with his bike, he may get there earlier.


    ______________


    "Okay Mike, this is your area, you need to be fast, in about 2 hours the University is going to open," the Sid, President of the SAO, Student Assistant Organization, said as he left.


    Mike stood at the area he is designated in, the Universities Park, withered leaves scattered all over the place.In his hand is a broom stick, a dustpan, and a garbage trolley by his side. Sighing he said ,"Yeah, need to be fast", as he observed his area ,"Two hours? Tsk", as he started doing his clean up.


    ______________


    "Hey! Brian! Long time no see, but now Sinaw(1)", a skinny man, with thick glasses, walked though the hallway as he addressed to a well built man.


    "Oh, Adam, hahaha, yeah," as Brian, the well built man, scratched his head, "Erpat(2) and me had a bet. I lost so," he shrugged off, as he tilted his bald shining head.


    "Haha, you and your father''s gimmicks,"  Adam glanced at Brian''s back, trying to find someone or something as he questioned, " Where''s everyone?"


    "Don''t know, come on, lets go to our class, we don''t want to be late."


    "Look whose talking. The Master of Cutting."


    "Shut up!"


    As they went to their respected classes, they saw a familiar guy. Both of them shocked and stood still. Silence pervaded the atmosphere and was broken by three women shouting and calling at them.


    But the two doesn''t seem to hear the three beautiful girls, and stared right at the guy cleaning up the park. Then the three girls gazed at where the two are looking. They too, got shocked. But one of the girls had tears on her eyes, and  a petite girl had widened eyes but a smile spread on her face.


    ______________


    "Oh Thank God! I''m done!," Mike thought out loud, as he finished his work. On the hallway, two boys and three girls, stared right at him.


    He felt his face burning, he lowered his head, then sprinted off with the things he had. "Need to get change for the class."


    Going to the storage room, dumped the things, then change his clothes. White Top, shoulder boards with and anchor on it,  black pants, and a shiny black shoes. College of Maritime Educations type-A uniform.


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    "Whew, time to go," carrying his bag, he went to his class. But he failed to notice an owl, staring at him on a tree.


    ______________


    "Discipline, Attitude, Character, is what most companies want in their crew," the Instructor lectured, "Remember the work ASK. Attitude, Skill, and Knowledge. Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering courses are semi-military, we discipline you. If you don''t have what it takes and you dislike how we handle you, I don''t CARE! You are in the wrong place my boy, so quit before regretting ''IT''."


    Mike and and the others stood at attention in front of the instructor. They are in the classroom, Mike is seated just beside the window. While the Instructor is lecturing, Mike saw on his corner eye, an owl on the branch. The owl jumped on the other branch which is near the window where Mike stood, and stared right at him. Mike focused his gaze at it, then a bumped on his head startled him.


    "Where you looking?," the Instructor said, gazing at Mike, seemingly melting him on the inside. Mike straightened his back and stared back at the Instructor. "LOOK STRAIGHT FORWARD!." Mike complied.


    The Instructor walk right in front of Mike, "You don''t stare at my Eye!," in a low voice  he said, "Give me 50!", Mike dropped down and pushed up.


    *Ding, Ding , Ding*


    "Alright boys, see you tomorrow,  read the history tonight, we have a test." Everybody took their bags and went out, Mike still doing push ups.


    ______________


    At Night, Mike was walking with his bike on the sidewalk. Exhausted and starving, he though about what happened today, his work as student assistant, him being a Marine Transportation student, and the scholarship he had.


    "Whew, God help me. Life is hard," he thought, gazing up in the stars. He heard a swishing and flapping sound. He looked at his surroundings, then before he know it, he saw an owl flew over him, and his consciousness faded .


    ______________


    Everything was black.  Mike started to wake up. He can''t move, except his eyes rolling around, observing.


    A Glimmer of light appeared on the horizon. He focused his gaze on it, and a voice came, booming all around him.


    "The Beginning is the End, The End is the Start of the Beginning. Why bother seeking the truth? The Truth cannot be seek, it seeks you."


    Then the glimmer of light expanded and Mike''s vision were covered with light.


    ______________


    Notes:


    (1)Sinaw - means Shiny in visaya terms in the Philippines.


    (2)Erpat - means Father in Tagalog.

 Chapter 2 - A Dream?...

    Light enveloped Mike''s vision. He squinted his eye as he felt his body flying forward in a fast pace.


    He slowly opened his eyes, and what he saw shocked him. Everything was a blur, he was hovering in the air. Below he saw the land change. Day and Night passed, extinct creatures roam the land, until catastrophe befell. Volcanoes erupted, the continent split. Meteorites crumbled down from the heavens.


    Then, Mike''s flight speed up, and the scene change. He is in a paradise, a beautiful scene. Mountains on the horizon, a waterfall on the left side, and a forest full of animals. Birds flying on the sky beside him, a complete opposite of the previous scenario.


    Mike was mesmerize, but he still can''t move his body. Only his eyes darting left and right, observing the surroundings.


    He speed up again, and the scene change. It was now midnight. He saw a bird flying above the forest. As he focused his gaze, it was an owl, and on its claw a blue orb. Then he pasted through the forest and before he knew it, he was on the owls claw.


    Mike, still can''t move, does not understand whats been happening. "Is this a dream?," Mike thought, "What a weird dream."


    The Owl flew through the air, and Mike saw a cavern right on the middle of the Cliff. He was dumped by the owl, and he flew inside.


    *SWISH*


    His eyes bulged, as he flew inside. Everything was dark, and he felt his body slammed on a pool of water.


    A viscous feeling came over him, as he was enveloped by that body of water.


    Then he heard growls and moans. Slowly opening his eyes he was stunned. An aurora appeared in his vision, and silhouette''s of animals could be seen inside it.


    Lion, elephant, bear, a deer, even extinct ones like dinosaurs. Mike glance at the aurora, he saw some silhouette''s of a person. All of them seems to be staring up the ceiling, and as he stared at the top, he saw many prints. Hooves, paws, claws, all kinds.


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    Then his body hovered upwards and stopped right in front of a print. Not just any kind of print, but a humans hand print. A hand print of a very large man. Mike''s right hand uncontrollably raise and put it on the print.


    The other prints, then faded, the aurora trembled, seemingly agitated. All of the silhouette''s roared. Mike seems to be unable to hear them, as his hand was still on the huge hand print.


    The prints now on the verge of vanishing, a silhouette from the aurora cried, and a white light came forward. It flew towards Mike, and hovered above his head. That was then when the prints faded except for two. The huge hand print, and on the far corner of the ceiling, a hoof print. Then Mike was enveloped by the white light hovering above his head, and his consciousness blacked out.


    _______


    The sun peeked out of the horizon, and the intensity of the light woke up Mike.


    He sat up and he felt a breeze come over him. "What a weird dream," he thought while rubbing his eyes. "Need to prepare, has some job to do."


    Still in a daze, he reached out to his pocket, and get out his phone, "What time is it?," on the phone''s display, 6:03, "Oh crap! I''m late."


    Mike stood up and his eyes bulged. Because on his perspective, he is up high, and down below forest runs through to the horizon. He looked down, it was like looking down from a 10th floor building. He looked back, there was only pitch black darkness. Beside where his standing, there was his bike.


    Then he recalled something, ".... A Dream?...."


    ______


    Note:


    Hey guys, this is my second chapter, and there maybe more tomorrow, but I cant promise you.

 Chapter 3 - Whats Happening..

    In a dimly lit room, where the lighting''s came from a laptop and on a flat screen TV. Adam, with his Afro-like hair, and thick eyeglasses, was browsing on the net. When he abruptly stared at the door, a shocked expression crept on his face. He stood up, grabbed his bag and left.


    On the park, Brian was having a jog. Earphones on, and having his morning routine, he stood still, heavy breathing, and looked at his shoulder. He groaned, packed up his bags and went out of the park.


    The same happened to two other girls, they were out having their breakfast, gazed at an empty space, then left.


    Moments later, the four of them gathered outside of a forest.


    The four of them nodded to each other, then Adam instructed, "Lets get this over with."


    Then another girl, cute and petite, with her unusual beaming smile, came out of the forest, "I have been waiting," she said.


    __________


    "HELP!", Mike shouted as his voice echoed through the horizon.


    He was pacing back and forth from the edge of the cave. He looked down, and a sense of fright came over him. "No, no, I''m not going down that hell," Picking up his phone, still no signal. "FUCK!."


    He has been like this for hours. Mike took out the things inside his bag, clothes, books, everything. Luckily, he had bought his dinner yesterday night, and had just eaten it. He sprawled over the floor. "Whew, what the hell is going on," he thought, "Why the hell am I inside this FUCKING CAVE!!", shouting out his frustration, "Why does life is so hard to me," and he broke down and cried.


    He can still remember how just two months ago he just woke up in his comma. For four months, he was in a comma, as a result of an accident with his parents. The worst part, is that he can''t remember anything, his name, his identity, everything. Do you know what it feels? When you went to your parent''s graves, but you don''t even know them?


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    The strange thing is, the only important memories are the only things he had forgotten. Family, friends, and he himself, who he is, his identity. A blank slate, as what he use to describe himself. He sat up and an object reflected the sunlight towards his eyes, which made them squint.


    Lowering his head, his belt buckle was the culprit. He move to the side to avoid the light. He move his head and watch where the light lead to. The light illuminated the cave he was in. What he saw, shocked him.


    The wall of the cave, kept changing form. Ripples formed like waves on it. Mike stood up and went inside. He can now clearly see whats on the wall. A mirror like surface, that ripples like water. On the other side, he could see strange beings.


    "What?..", Mike stretched out his hand and touched the wall. He felt viscous substance, and his hand pass through. "This was in the dream," he thought. He was about to pass through as a powerful wind carried him backwards, and an unexpected thing happen.


    The place where his hand was, a hole of light could be seen. In Mike''s watchful eyes, he saw a red dot on it. Then a roar erupted, and Mike observed as the hole expanded.


    A black monster, came out. The whole cave trembled, as the hole stretched out until the whole wall was covered by it. Then, different kinds of Black monsters, seemingly looking as shadows, came out of it. Mike scrambled backwards, as the shadows neared him, he abruptly covered his head and laid down, in a prone position.


    The shadows hovered in the air and flew out of the cave. On the outside perspective, you can see a black miasma coming out of the mountainside.


    The group of five that is running through forest, felt something. They stood still, glance at each other, and saw the clear blue sky, started to turn black.

 Chapter 4 - The Abomination...

    Brian muttered, "Jane, what''s going on," still staring at the ever changing blue sky to black.


    Jane, as usual is beaming a smile, "It has begun." The others eyed her. Jane looked at them and shrugged, "I don''t know, just heard it from grandma."


    Adam then interrupted, "There is no time for this," he said, "Lets split up, everything is now too late," he stared at the black sky, "We''ll find the source." Then the five of them went to different directions.


    In town, the civilians sighted the black sky. But they were unable to see the shadows behind.


    __________


    Inside the forest, a person was running, bruises covered his body. Heavily breathing he thought, "Shit! Shit! What the fuck have I gone into."


    Awhile ago, the shadow of monsters hovered over him and flew out of the cave. Moments later, the trembling of the cave, the buzzing sounds, went completely quiet.


    Mike then slowly got up, "The heck ...", but before he could finished his sentence, he heard a laughed. A sinister laughed that terrified him. He glanced at the cave''s entrance. There he saw an abomination.


    "I thank you for releasing us from our prison."


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    It got closer to Mike, as he step backwards slowly. The wall stop Mike for going any further, and that made the abomination get close to him. A strange looking figure, with a disfigured face, and long limbs.


    "And I want my benefactors blood," It flicked its tongue out, "cause its tasty," it said in a hideous way.


    __________


    In an alleyway, an old man, dressed in ragged clothing, was pushing his cart full miscellaneous things. Bald long grey beard and thin, when someone may saw him, one can tell he is a homeless person. But, looking at his strange green eyes, one can see that this old man is not an easy person.


    He sighed, "Can''t believe it," staring at the black sky, "That it would happen in my generation. And! When I am an old man at that!" He shouted as he gestured his hand towards the sky. People around the old man moved away from him, thinking that he is retarded.


    Inside a Nanay''s Bakery, an old woman wearing formal clothing, glanced at the skies above. A strange glimmer could be seen reflected on her eye behind the eyeglasses.

 Chapter 5 - Mayhem...

    In an underground lab, a group of researchers were discussing about the project they were working on. The door of the lab slammed open and a man wearing lab coats came in, covered in sweats. He frantically said, before the others can say something, "Something is going on in Mac Town, sir."


    A 40 year old man, also wearing lab clothes replied, "What is it?," he squinted his eyes. He felt something is wrong, because this was the first time that they were ever interrupted in a meeting.


    "I-Its about the sha... the shadows, sir," the man stuttered.


    Everybody sealed stood up and looked at the old man. Some has shocked expressions, others had exciting faces, "Give me the details," the old man said as he walked towards the door. The others saw this and followed the old man.


    They went inside a room full of monitors. One big screen on the wall and numerous small ones on the side.


    The man who informed them, stepped up and relayed his findings, "Approximately 9:50 AM, there was strange readings of energy on the forested area of Mac Town," the screen depicted the world map, and zoomed in on a particular area on the South East.


    "And the most peculiar thing is, it has multiple readings about the phantoms," the man continued.


    "Have you double checked it?"


    "Yes, sir."


    The old man then commanded, "Alright, mobilize the Troopers and close at the area," he swept his gazed on everyone on the room, "You know the drill."


    Everyone scattered, proceeding to their designated duties and assignments. The old man just keep staring at the forested area of Mac Town, where a black kind of energy keeps on spreading.


    __________


    On a rooftop, a fat student was pushed on a wall.


    "That''s what you get! Fatso!," a blonde haired boy said with two others on his side sneering at the fat student.


    The one on the left spit on the fat student, "Heh, such a loser," the one on the right then throw an object at the fat student.


    It hit the face of the fat student, "Thanks for the donation, Dumbass!," the blonde boy shouted at him and they left the fat student there on the rooftop.


    The fat student slowly stood up, grabbing his wallet, the object that was thrown, and backpack. Afterward he chuckled, and tears streamed down his cheeks while his head is lowered.


    "For God knows how many time I have endured," he thought, "and just this once I have retaliated." He clenched his hands, "But still got the same treatment. Well, it got even worst. I. HATE. THIS. WORLD."


    That was then when the shadow covered the area and looked up. Black clouds are forming, "Its about to rain," he thought. While gazing at the sky, he muttered, "Even the heavens pity me."


    He was bout to head down when a sinister voice echoed in his ears, "Do you want revenge?," like a wind whispering on his left ear. Turning his head at his left, no one was there.


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    "Then what you need is power!," This time the voice came from his right and turned his head. A shadow stands in front of him, formless, and as the fat student saw it, his mouth opened wide with shocked, the same with his eyes. And before he could shout, the shadow with the start of its head, flew and went inside the students mouth.


    He gurgled as he felt it went down his throat and he felt a surge of power. Black veins could be seen running through his body. He laughed, slowly at the start, until he burst out loud. A minute later, he stopped, and lowered his gaze, a sinister grin crept on his face.


    __________


    The same things are happening throughout the town.


    Different men and women, different scenarios, but what they encountered are all the same. A shadow, formless, entering their orifices, then a surge of power ran through their body, with the same black veins.


    Then chaos occurred, its like everyone is being possessed. Children, Adults, Elderly, all of them. Roaming through the streets and started fighting. The strange thing is they were laughing. Even when blood covered their bodies, they still fought and was laughing all the while.


    Cars could be heard screeching, and crashing into each other. Mayhem is the word that could describe on what is happening.


    __________


    Meanwhile inside the fores, a person heavily breathing, blood oozed out of his wounds, was rushing.


    This person is Mike.


    He leaned on a tree, head glancing once in a while towards his back. A terrified expression was plastered on his face. He continued to run, but obviously much slower because of exhaustion.


    *BOOM*


    He heard exploding sound, which made the birds flew away. Smoke came from the North, Mike''s eyes opened wide, "That''s where the town is."


    Rustling could be heard on Mike''s right side. A familiar looking man came out. As Mike sighted the familiar looking man, he subconsciously shouted, "Run! The Monster is coming."


    The familiar looking man, had an afro hair, and thick eyeglasses, this is Adam! But something is strange about him. On his hands are two daggers that had strange gleams on it. Adam ignored Mike and slowly step closer.


    Mike sensed a dreadful sensation, the same thing he felt when the abomination came at him.


    __________


    "Cause its tasty!," the abomination then turned to a black mist and attacked Mike.


    Mike raised his hand over his head in order to defend and closed his eyes. He waited and strangely nothing happened. Opening his eyes a strange light surrounded him, "What?"


    "AHHH!" The abomination was screaming, it got hurt. When it was about to attacked Mike, the strange light covered Mike and deflected it, "You! You are a Guardian?!"

 Chapter 6 - Guardian?...

    "... you''re a Guardian?"


    The abomination had smokes coming out of its body. Its blood red eyes squinted and stared at Mike, "No! You don''t have the ...."


    It screamed and swept Mike, making him flew out of the cave, "Then die!", the abominations hand had sizzling sounds as it hit the light.


    *BANG*


    The light around Mike got dimmer, as he screamed. The force of the hit was so strong that he dropped down further away from the cave, somewhere in the forest.


    Branches, leaves hit the light surrounding Mike, until it shattered half way down. That''s when Mike''s body got his wounds from.


    Mike slammed down and he groaned in pain. In the cave, black enshrouded the entrance. Then a roar could be heard inside.


    As Mike heard the roar, he tried to prompt himself up, and started moving away from the place, despite the pain he felt.


    __________


    Mike stood still as Adam neared him, "Stop! What are you doing with that knife?!," Adam stopped, raised his hand to put the dagger on an eye level.


    "Its a dagger," He flicked it upwards, and a shadow fell down between the two. Mike swear he saw sparks coming out of his hands.


    Mike watched the thing that fell down. It looks like a shadow, formless, but Mike can see the dagger embed on the chest part of it. Mike can see that the thing and the abomination look alike. But the abomination more like solid in form and this shadow is hazy.


    That was then when he remembered, "Guardian?," he muttered in his breath, then glanced at Adam, "Are you a Guardian?."


    This question made Adam''s face flicker, but quickly change to his previous expression, but now more vigilant and cautious.


    Adam smirked, "Yeah," crouching down to get the dagger, "but your only half right."


    Mike saw a flash of light, Adam''s figure disappeared, until he felt a sharp object pierced into his back.


    *Whooshed*


    Came the wind sweeping Mike''s disheveled hair. He coughed up blood, as a hand wrapped itself on his shoulder, "You should have not come back here," Adam who was now on his back, whispered to him.


    Pulling back the dagger from Mike''s back, he stabbed it again and again, while he held Mike up preventing him to fall.


    The light on Mike''s eye slowly faded, Adam dropped him. Checked one last time whether Mike is dead, and left the scene.


    __________


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!"One of the captured entities are wreaking havoc inside its containment, Sir," a woman said in a rushed to a 40 year old man in lab clothes.


    "Which one?," he said.


    "The white stag."


    *Ring, Ring*


    The alarm went on and red lights flickered out through the hallways. Footsteps could be heard on the intersection, men and woman in lab clothes were running towards the other direction.


    "What''s happening? Hey! You! What''s Happening?!," the old man shouted to a guy in glasses.


    The guy turned his head and immediately stop, "Dr. Fring, its about the White Stag. It escaped."


    "What?," the old man then instructed, "Turn on the EMP field on the building," then he with the woman earlier, also rushed towards the direction everyone is running through.


    Passed through the hallway, down the staircase, two globe of glass-like structure could be seen. One on the left has lights on it, and one can see a wolf cub. The lights is coming from it. Occasionally its eyes would open and has seemingly intelligence written on it.


    It would usually float on the globe''s center, but now it is frantically running around and yelping with its cute voice, because on the other globe it saw that the one which is inside has escaped. Its friend, the white stag. It roared not because of telling the others about the white stag escaping but because it was happy of its friend, and a little bit of loneliness in its roar.


    The other globe has its top shattered. Based on its appearance, one can tell it was broken from the inside.


    A white orb is floating and moving left and right on the air. This was the white stag, but one cannot tell for it is just a town itself. The fawn then flew down and stared at its friend. It grunted and a worried look came from it.


    The cub flew and stared eye to eye with the fawn, it yelp, as the cub touch the globe with its snout. The fawn did the same and they stared at each other for a while.


    *Bang*


    Slammed the doors coming from upstairs. The cub then growled at the fawn, telling it to get out. The town was unwilling as one of its hoof raise and put onto the glass. A print hovered out of it and went inside the cub. The cub seemed to be shaken as it also resolutely did the same, a paw print also flew towards the fawn.


    And with a final grunt, the fawn flew up passing the wall and went outside.

 Chapter 7 - The Torch Enlightens...

    Mike''s P.O.V.


    I woke up by a strange sensation pressing on my body. Slowly opening my eyes, still muddle headed, what I saw got my head work and turn its gears quickly.


    "Ahhh!," I jumped up as I saw a small thing dropped from my body. It was the thing. Even though its small, I still need to be cautious. I can still clearly remember the strength of his sweep, and the wounds from my fall.


    Then like thunder roaring in my mind, I remembered the last time I lost consciousness. My hand went over my back and I felt scars, five to be exact, the same number I got stabbed.


    "Stop being a douche you Moron," The abomination floated towards me, I got scared until it knocked my head. Hard!


    "Hear me out, before you make any conclusions!," I stare at it in confusion, "Moron."


    "First things first, Lets introduce ourselves," I got a clearer looked at him, red eyes shaped like a goat, black irises in a rectangular shape.  Its head has spikes in a Mohawk style. Limbs is till longer than its body.


    "I''m Palong. A phantom," I frowned and it noticed because it further explained, "A ghost! Damn whats inside that brain of yours? Stupid, Moron," Now I got stupid in conjunction to Moron.


    "What are you talking about? Ghosts does not exist," I replied cautiously.


    "Then tell me," as it spreads its arms, "Why does words like phantom and ghosts exist?"


    The question got me into thinking, but my attention turned back towards this dangerous little bugger.


    "No answer? Wow! After a millennia you humans got dumber. Or is it only you?," it snickered.


    "They are only illusions of the mind."


    "There you go! Your brain seems to have its uses," It started to float counter-clockwise around me. I never left it out of my eye.


    "Illusions, we are one of it. But you are only half right. Why? Because we can also become solid or you could say tangible."


    I notice his wording about ''we'' now, instead of ''me'', "There are others like you?."


    "Of course, Like the things you have released."


    "That''s the thing kept me confused. How can I have released you? In fact, before that how did I even made it up there?."


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    "I don''t know, I just got released from my cell Stupid. Moron," I grunted as it continued, " But I can tell you why we are released."


    That perked my ears, "But! Lets go back to the topic," I grunted as I heard that, "There are levels and ranks among us phantoms. And the ones you released are the lowest level."


    "We call them the Formless, obviously. You can tell that a phantom is powerful, high level, and rank based on its form."


    "Then what about you?."


    "Me? I''m much powerful than all of those  Weaklings. Let me tell you this. That seal was created for me."


    So this rascal is damn powerful for him to be renowned as someone sealed it. I then asked, "Who?."


    It eyed me, "I am not obliged to tell you that. Even if I ever tell you, it would still make you head more confused. Moron."


    "Ok, then," My guard is still up, "Um, Why are you here then. With me."


    "Too many questions," as it wave its hands, "I''ll tell you just two more things and we''ll get ourselves out of here."


    I nodded because I don''t have a choice. This guy has some serious strength, mind you.


    "One, I''m stuck with you. Period. Don''t question anymore about this topic. And I will answer some of your questions. If I my mood is good."


    "Two, something told me your new to this stuff, and you must learn to use your power, you...."


    "Power? What Power?"


    "Shut up! Wait for me to finished. You dimwit. Stupid. Moron."


    I sighed inwardly, "I''ve got another nickname. Fudge."


    "Tell me about everything that happened before the cave, and tell me about you," It hovered around and neared me as I stepped back.


    "One more Final thing, we phantoms love blood, not your kind of blood but intangible blood. Others call it your Essence. Normally its colored red and we fed on it. But your color is different."


    "I''m not gonna eat you. Because..." It punched me on my arm as it got dislocated, I screamed from the pain.


    ".. of this," and I saw its hand dislocated like mine.

 Chapter 8 - The Current flows ...

    Mike''s P.O.V.


    I screamed, with my other hand supporting the dislocated arm. A black mist swirled around Palong, and his dislocated clicked and was good as new. This also occurred to me. I watched as the dislocated arm also clicked back to its former form. I tried to question him about what''s happening but it seems, he doesn''t want to indulge information at it. Now I know he can''t just clearly kill me or do any ill intentions towards me.


    After that, he said he needs to confirm something about what happened to the cave. So I went towards the cave while he sat on my head. On the way I questioned him about my wounds at my back, but he just shrugged and said, "I don''t know. You are laying there, unconscious, when I arrived."


    That got me confused again. What the heck is going on? So I just put it on the back of my mind. Another mystery to solve. I told him about myself. But not much details because of my amnesia. I told him about my name, Mike White. About my situation, and everything that happened before the cave.


    One thing I noticed that he had this poker face of his, that indicated that he doesn''t care. But when he heard about that voice I have heard I saw his eyes flicker for a moment. He pondered and said, "I think that owl is also a phantom."


    "Are you sure?"


    "Of course. Dumbass! I am the Great Palong. The Knowledge I have in my disposal is immense," With his chest out and looked quite proud of himself continued, "It is another kind of phantom. There are three kinds of phantoms. The Formless, the Totem.... and the ones gifted by the heavens... the Zodiac Beasts."


    "The Formless, just like I have said, are the ones like me and those who you have released. The Totem are spirited beings that displays as an animal that represents their powers."


    "The Zodiac Beasts. They are much more unique because they are only twelve species in that category, unlike the other two who had countless. And here''s the most important part. I have told you that phantoms had levels and ranks, right?."


    "Right. What about it."


    "You see, the Formless and the Totems, level up in many different ways. It leads us to evolve and make our intangible being to become more solid. Then the Zodiacs came in. Since the day they were born, they were blessed and was tangible. Which means they are much powerful than the ordinary. In earlier years, they were distinguished as Totems. And then time went on they made their own group, the Zodiacs."


    "Okay. I''ve got the whole point of it."


    "Good! Then I''ll tell you how phantoms evolve. The Formless evolved by feeding off in Essence. The Totem on the other hand evolve with integrating itself with a human." He lowered his head to gaze at my eye, "Like yours."


    That put me into contemplation, until he continued which interrupted my thought process, "The Zodiac Beasts don''t evolve. I mean, they can. But they despise evolution and has made themselves powerful as they are. I don''t know enough details. It dates back many, many years ago."


    "I thought you have immense knowledge?"


    "I told you MANY MANY YEARS AGO!"


    __________


    Change P.O.V.


    Mike and Palong walked out of the forest. Palong floated up towards the cave while Mike ventured on the surroundings of the cliff, below the cave. Moments later Palong came down in a state where his hand is holding his chin, clearly in a moment of thinking and pondering.


    "Hey Palong! Is my bike up there?" Mike asked.


    "A what?" Palong woke up from his own world, then questioned.


    "A bike! You know...." Mike was about to explain, then he smirk. "Immense knowledge my ass! You don''t even know a thing about a bike. Stupid. Moron."


    "Hey! Don''t think that I can''t hurt you, just because it also reflects on me!" Palong flew towards Mike and hand chop his head.


    Mike then explained what a bike is, then Palong flew out to search for it in the surroundings, for the cave is empty. Not long after Long came back with the bike. Then they ventured off their direction towards the town.


    __________


    A few hours later a heavy breathing Mike with Palong on top of his head in a meditative sitting posture, relaxing. They came out of the forest. In front of them is the town''s border. On Mike''s face could be seen, exhaustion wariness and anxiety. Because he can see smokes coming out of the town.


    "Palong, what''s happening out there?"


    "Like I said, those who you release are Formless, and they feed in Essence. And from the looks of it, they have possessed every person alive and killed each other to get the Essences. I hope its not too late."


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    Mike gulped down a mouthful of saliva. Killings. That word imprinted on his mind. He had now bad premonitions about the towns situation. And as expected, as they got near, a pungent smell polluted the air. Mike covered his nose as he pedaled closer to the town.


    What he saw is highly likely what zombie movies had in common. Corpses. All around. Mike sighted children, adults and elderly. None was spared. He even saw a little girl with her hands pierced through woman''s heart, while the woman had her hands on little girls throat, elbow deep. And the thing is, both of them seemed to have similar look. A mother and daughter.


    Mike couldn''t take it anymore and he puked. Palong sitting on Mike''s head floated forward and inspected the corpses.


    "Based on their appearances it has been a day some of them died and others a little older," Palong squinted his eyes, "Mike its dangerous here. A phantom could have evolve amongs them. They had a royal rumble of sort. The last man standing, the mightiest."


    "How do you know?"


    "Because that''s how I first evolve."


    Mike was inwardly shaken as he mumbled, "I did this. This is my fault," as he grabbed his hair. His eyes sweep through the ground full of corpses. The cars in flames. Buildings shattered windows. Mike''s consciousness is now starting to blacked out. Then he saw glimpses of the dream (1), or you could say nightmare.


    He saw a cloak person glancing at him sideways with red eyes. The are is rocky and desolate. A huge rock on the side are full of candles. Every candles were lit and a red liquid drips out of the candles, making the ground blood red.


    Mike blinked as he screamed, Palong kept on shaking Mike and shouting at his ear. But it doesn''t seem to have any effect. Mike was so submerged in his nightmare as his eyes started to turn blood red as well.


    __________


    *BANG*


    One of the building on the eastern side of the town, had its walls broken down by a person. As the smoke dissipated, black veins could be seen crawling over the body of the hulk-like figure, who emerge from the smokes. It stared at the area where Mike was.


    "Blood...," then he jumped from building to building.


    __________


    "Mike! Snap out of it! Hey!" Palong shouted frantically. He mumbled some words. Then he raise his head. In his eyes you can see resoluteness. Telling one he had decided on something.


    Palong opened his mouth and something strange happened to Mike. His hands still grabbing his head, blood red eyes and screaming. When suddenly something tugged on his head. His screaming halted, as his breathing also stopped. Then out from his orifices came out red liquid substance. But this is not blood. This is what Palong keeps telling Mike, the Essence.


    Red liquid substance kept coming out of Mike''s orifices. When the liquid change color to black, that''s when the hulk-like figure came in with a bang on the floor, cracking it. As Palong saw this he speed up the processes. After the black came the white. It coalesce up in the air. One part red, black and white.


    Then a small version of the orb flew out and went inside Palong''s mouth. Palong''s body trembled and changes could be seen on him. His black and shadow like skin peeled off as a skin of a human appeared underneath. His face also change and it looks like a smaller version of Mike. Except for the Mohawk hair and blood red eyes.


    Paong coughed out and a black liquid substance, looking at it, it glimmer with a violet color. The liquid flew and integrated itself on the three colored orb until it then went back inside Mike. Mike on the other hand is out cold, as he dropped in the ground, unconscious.


    Palong closed his eyes and on his forehead small stubble of a horn grown out, then opened his eyes again. Black mist sweep his body and then turned into clothes the same one Mike is wearing. Black v-neck, beige jeans, and merrel shoes.


    He stared at the incoming hulk-like figure. As the hulk-like figure neared them, it stopped eye Palong and said in a very raspy voice, "A Formless? Integrating itself on a human?" It barked a small laugh, "Despicable! Humans are weaklings and our livestock''s. Then you, a Formless went to be one with him?"


    Palong just smirk, "Who said his ''All'' Human?"


    __________


    Note:


    (1) The dream in chapter 1