《Infinity's Bliss》


 Prologue: Void In Blue

    I deserve this.


    I¡¯m dying.


    The light dawning from a lightbulb shone across the white painted walls, a streak of brown patterned carpet covered the floor as the led lights flashed red from a lonely computer desk in a dimly lit corner of the room.


    From the corner a shadow rested on the wall. Mixed sounds of coughing and grunts of pain echoed throughout the room.


    ¡°Eugh.. ahh.. Mhphhh¡­ EUGHHH.¡±


    Do I¡­ want this? This pain¡­ no¡­


    Laid upon the ground beside the desk, a boy turned on his side. His big, honey brown eyes struggled to stay open, his light caramel brown skin turned as gray as ash.


    The beams of the flashing red lights from the computer continued upon his backside as a white streak of foam poured from his mouth. His body began to twitch more and more and his heartbeat grew fainter.


    Maybe¡­ is this¡­ good?


    As the white foam continuously spewed from the boy¡¯s bluish lips onto the carpet, he tried to make any form of movement to get up, but ultimately, his only achievement was turning from one side to the other.


    Being poisoned is a really strange feeling.


    Especially if you¡¯ve done it to yourself.


    The boy thought in his head what if he could turn back now from the fate he has set in stone for himself. What if he could extend his arm just enough to reach for the phone slightly hanging off the desk.


    ¡°Ma- ma- mama¡­,¡± said the boy as the word struggled out of his mouth, spitting out some of the foam as he did.


    Maybe if he picked a different method, he wouldn''t have to sit with his thoughts as long as he has now.


    Second thoughts maybe? Maybe a last minute pathetic attempt at an epiphany.


    Is this¡­ regret?


    As he stared unto the flashing red lights he knew he didn¡¯t deserve to feel regret, all he could do was lay there and stare as his thoughts started to run out.


    The boy started to make delirious sounds, as if he were laughing.


    Lights¡­ bright lights¡­ soooo pretty...


    Vision fading from his eyes, he stared at what seemed to be a letter on the desk next to his phone, knowing his time was coming to an end and the final breaths being drawn from his body, the boy thought to himself¡­


    I¡¯m sorry¡­ everyone.


    *********


    ENTER LOUIS YOUNG


    Why am I running¡­?


    Illuminating out from a cold darkened void, floating, broken down, small platforms of which seemed to be made from rock could be seen. Each platform just a few feet from one another with seemingly no end in sight.


    The boy is running and jumping from each rock as if he was being chased by a monster or the very void itself. His sweat ran hot down his body, to the bloody bare feet of his he ran on as fear engulfed his very mind. If this was death for the boy, then it must be punishment, he thought.


    Am I dead?!


    ¡°Am I¡­? What is this feeling!? ¡­This coldness, t-this darkness¡­ I can¡¯t stop. I can''t.¡±


    The farther I went on, the more and more less visible the rocks I stood on became, yet I continued to jump. Not concerned for the depths of what is below. I run and I run, I jump and I jump. The air is thin, each breath exhausts me more than the obstacles in front of me. My body can¡¯t stop.


    My body is trembling, and I can still taste some of the foam in my mouth¡­ It¡¯s disgusting.


    As I was jumping, one jump I came to made me slip as I was running to perform the jump. As I slipped off the floating rock, my head crashed into the next one. Just as I was about to slip off, I somehow managed to extend my arm, holding on desperately. ¡°S-SHIT! Please no¡­ ugh cmon!¡±


    Am I gonna fall? Stop¡­


    Banging my head on the platform caused blood to start leaking from my head, onto my face, and into my eyes.


    ¡°It fucking burns¡­¡± I muttered from my bluish lips. My feet dangled in the air helplessly as I tried to pull myself up.


    I tried to gather enough strength to pull myself up, but I wasn¡¯t budging.


    My vision is all over the place. The way I hit my head I''m surprised I wasn''t knocked out cold on the spot. Everything just feels wrong. The only comfort I feel is from the heat of my blood pouring from my head. And even then my body. It¡¯s cold.


    As I stared at some of the blood dripping off my cheek down below, my body grew even colder, the fear of falling raced through my head like wildfire.


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    The sweat from my hand started to make it slip more and more from the platform.


    ¡°If this is really hell¡­ then why do I have this feeling like I''m gonna die again¡­ why¡­ no matter what I do¡­ there¡¯s always something. Something to make me question myself even more¡­ I wish I wasn¡¯t such a fucking coward¡­ even in death.¡±


    A flurry of emotions filled my brain. I wanted to cry yet I always seem to fight my tears back. Can I even cry anymore? What would I even be crying for? I did this to myself. I wanted to die. What would my hand slipping do but help me towards my goal. This was inevitable. ¡­But why am I afraid?


    ¡°Then why¡­ this can¡¯t be the end yet.¡±


    Do I want it to be¡­?


    ¡­Is it really?


    I¡­


    ¡­..


    No.


    No¡­


    I refuse.


    There has to be something¡­


    A single tear fell from my face, and at that moment, I gritted my teeth, and swung my body forward to extend my other arm to grab onto the platform.


    Could I do it?


    Struggling and on the brink of total exertion, I made it up. Only this time it wasn¡¯t just a broken pillar but instead a platform and in the center laid a pitch black hole that seemingly led nowhere or¡­ somewhere?


    I inched closer and closer to the hole. As I got closer it seemed as though I couldn''t stop moving forward. It started whispering to me. Drowning out my ears yet I could only understand one word.


    ¡°Infinity.¡±


    It called to me like a siren singing to a sailor, it beckoned me forward, and next thing I knew, I was falling.


    *******


    Where am I?! Why is it so dark?!


    It took me a minute to get my bearings but when I stood up to look around, all I could see was¡­ nothing?!


    Am I dead? What¡­ no¡­ I thought¡­ What?!


    Nothing but darkness¡­ all that fills my eyes in my field of vision is just¡­ darkness or¡­ nothing at all.


    Is this the void?! Limbo?! ¡­Hell¡­?


    It¡¯s funny, looking closer the void looks more of a dark bluish color.


    I just stared off into the void, not knowing what to think or what to do. I¡¯m trapped here probably forever until the end of time. Does time even exist here? Does anyone know that I''m here?


    ¡°Why did I do it? ¡­No! I wanted to do it! Regret? No. None at all.¡±


    No.


    No?


    No¡­


    No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no-


    ¡°FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!¡±


    ¡°So there really is nothing after death¡­ and here I did all that running¡­ all that time thinking¡­ all the time living, breathing, learning, talking, ¡­eighteen years of living¡­ what was it all for huh?¡­it really was all for nothing¡­ I learned nothing.¡±


    ¡­.


    I can¡¯t even cry¡­ I can¡¯t- I feel¡­ empty¡­ like I''m nothing at all. Just a hollow shell¡­


    ¡°This is death¡­ so be it.¡±


    My body starts to drift away slowly, further into the void.


    To his surprise, he began drifting at a fast pace, towards another direction.


    What is this?


    A bright light started to shine in front of me, blinding me at first, but after blocking my eyes for a moment, it gave my eyes the chance to fully adjust to the brightness. When I removed my arm from in front of my face, what I saw was very surreal.


    However great in brightness it was, the bright white light was floating in a sphere-like shape, it was no bigger than I''d say the size of well¡­ it was gigantic but still not as grand to block out the void surrounding it.


    I could hear familiar voices coming from it¡­ as if they were trying to talk to me somehow. When I got closer, I could finally make out what was inside the light. ¡°Those people¡­ those are-!?¡±


    ¡°LOUIS PLEASE WAKE UP, WE¡¯RE IN TROUBLE¡­ PLEASE!,¡± A voice screamed out from the light.


    Is that¡­ Eli¡­?


    ¡°My friends!? What are they doing here?¡± I said with such disbelief. It doesn¡¯t make any sense¡­


    ¡°DAMMIT WE¡¯RE GOING TO HAVE TO CARRY HIM! WE HAVE TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s Robbie! Is this real?!¡±


    I say that but the sight of them makes me want to break down in tears. I¡¯ve never been more happy to see them than now! Wait, why are they here? Is my life flashing before me¡­ no¡­ wait I can see my body¡­ they¡¯re standing over it¡­ trying to wake me up.


    Fuck.


    What¡¯s going on? Why are they there? What could possibly have them screaming in such a way? Why am I there?! No¡­ They can¡¯t find me like this. No. No. No.


    The boy began inching closer towards the light. Is this an opportunity?


    ¡°Wait, what if I can just¡­¡±


    I can¡¯t die now, I need to help them. I need to. They need me! I¡­ I don¡¯t wanna¡­, ¡°I can¡¯t have them see me like this¡­ no matter how I feel¡­¡±


    The closer I got, the more my vision blurred, while my ears were drowned out of any sound. This feeling, it¡¯s warm, and comforting. The familiar feeling you feel when you get a wave of nostalgia.


    I¡¯m starting to feel¡­ whole¡­ I-I feel like¡­, ¡°Me.¡±


    When I got close enough, I reached out my hand, and touched the light.


    ¡°EUGH¡­EUGHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH¡±


    Screaming his head off, the boy¡¯s life began flashing before his very eyes. Memories. His life. A doctor, pulling him from the womb. The first taste of milk from a nipple. Being dropped off at school. Tying a shoe. Riding a bike. Memorable birthdays. Relationships, and competition. From the highs that made him as if the world was in his very hands, to the humiliatingly, suffocating moments that made him want to erase his very existence as a whole.


    Eighteen years of living all culminated into a seemingly summarized slideshow presented, and gone in a flash before the eyes.


    What was the point¡­ of me?


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    A hallway.


    I¡¯m walking down a hallway¡­ Why? Just what significance does this place have?


    ¡°Did that white light send me here?¡± I continued walking. Besides the white, marbled floor, there were no walls or even a ceiling for that matter. Nothing but the void I became so accustomed to before. But this time I paid it no mind. I just keep walking.


    Could I truly call it the void though? Is this the universe? This can¡¯t be a natural phenomenon¡­ unless this happens when you die¡­, ¡°No one knows what death is like but the dead.¡±


    I can put on a tough front, but I know it won¡¯t do me any good. Everything that I¡¯ve seen so far¡­ I''m afraid¡­


    I thought the light was gonna lead me to my friends¡­ that must¡¯ve just been one of the many functions of a dying brain. Woo hoo¡­., ¡°tsk!¡±


    I walked until I started approaching what looks to be a desk.


    ¡°My desk? ¡­It is.¡± As I approached the desk I noticed a piece of paper lying flipped over. I pick it up, and flip it over so I can read it. As I started to read it my heart started to sink into my stomach.


    ¡°Hey to whoever finds this¡­ and well finds me as well. I just want you all to know it wasn¡¯t anyone¡¯s fault- AH,¡± I slammed the paper back down on the desk, and jumped back away from it.


    ¡°NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! WHY IS THIS HERE?!¡±


    I immediately rip the paper to pieces, and throw the remains floating off into the void.


    ¡°What the-... why? Why? Why?


    Why?


    Why?


    Why?


    Why?


    Why?


    Why?


    Why?


    STOP FUCKING WITH ME!¡±


    I yelled out violently to the void of nothingness.


    I don¡¯t know if it was rage, but I jumped back in front of the table, and started beating at it repeatedly. The tears I couldn¡¯t contain anymore started to run freely down my face. All that I could do now was scream.


    There¡¯s nothing here¡­ what am I even getting mad at? This is just my brain torturing me in my final moments¡­ ¡°haha¡­ hahaha¡­. Hahahahahaha haaaaaaaaaa¡­.¡± I started to tug at my hair. ¡°Hahaha¡­ I could rip it out, and still fill nothing¡­ nothing at all.¡±


    Pain is nonexistent in death¡­ so then why do I still have this aching feeling in my heart¡­?!


    ¡°I didn¡¯t wanna leave them¡­ I don¡¯t¡­¡± I fell down to my knees. I feel so weak, and helpless.


    ¡°I made a mistake. I know I did¡­. I shouldn¡¯t have written that letter¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have swallowed that pill¡­ I-I¡­ I wanna live¡­! I wanna protect them!¡±


    With a stroke of fate, the ripped pieces of paper appeared before the boy, floating all around him like leaves in the wind.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ reforming?!¡±


    The ripped pieces start to reform into the letter. After it is reformed, it flips itself to the other side. Words start to be written on the blank side of the paper.


    ¡°Human.¡± A voice so malevolent, and divine, yet soft and calm that I couldn¡¯t help but feel safe, spoke out to me from text on the paper. Yet¡­ a looming fear of the unknown is making me waver before it. ¡°You wish to save your friends, yet have no regard for your own existence. Wasteful, downright shameful, yet intriguing. You and your friends will go through many great trials indeed. ¡­Welcome Louis, to infinity. The journey of the fools starts once more. Will you see the end? Will all your friends? I wonder.¡±


    ¡°W-what¡­ are you?¡±


    ¡°Everything, Louis. Everything.¡±

 Chapter 1: Death Awaits

    I flung my head up awake. I¡¯m sitting at a desk inside a classroom.


    ¡°My homeroom? Why?!.¡± I can see all my classmates sitting, and listening to the teacher at the front of the class giving a lecture. I was at the very back.


    Why am I at school? The better question is why doesn''t it look the way it usually does?


    My classroom that was once filled with colored marble floors, brown walls, and decorations of various math related things, was now nothing more but pure glistening white. Even the desks. ¡°I think i can almost see my reflection-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but does there seem to be a problem Mr.Young?¡± My teacher said sharply while glaring at me with a cold expression. If looks could kill, I would surely be dead right now.


    ¡°N-no Mrs.Watson¡­,¡± I said, lowering my head in embarrassment.


    ¡°Pathetic.¡± A voice rang sharply coming from the other side of the class.


    Shortly after that comment , every student around me in the class began to laugh.


    ¡°W-what, who said that?!¡± I demanded loudly. But it was drowned out by the laughter. It sounded so mechanical and fake. Like a joke that wasn¡¯t even that funny yet you laugh anyway.


    I pleaded with them to stop but the laughing persisted. In a rush I tried to stand up to run but upon doing so my shirt got caught on one of the corners on the desk, tugging me back hard, making me hit it and fall to the ground. It hurt.


    I let out an intense moan of pain. But while I wailed in pain, the room that was filled with laughter and snickering had grown silent. I looked up to see everyone eyes wide, staring at me, like taking a peek into my very soul.


    This silence feels terrible¡­ horrifying. Their eyes turned black as night and their mouths started to enlarge and widen into a devilish yet comical looking smile. The laughter that came out was now more disgusting, twisted and evil sounding. It felt like my ears were going to burst.


    Not wanting to hear them a second more, I got up and ran. I ran out of the classroom and into the hallway. But when I got out into the hallway, I stopped dead in my tracks at the site of what I was seeing.


    Large numbers of people on each side of the hallway. Some of my friends, everyday students that I would see walking in the halls, teachers, and even the security guards. Why are they all here?!


    Just like what had happened in the classroom. Their mouths widened and enlarged as their eyes blackened and they started to laugh at me. ¡°STOP IT, S-STOP! I DID NOTHING TO ANY OF YOU!¡± I broke down on the ground. ¡°P-please stop¡­¡±


    ¡°If you want it stop Mr.Louis you could always just kill yourself again.¡± One of the teachers said to me, holding back their devilish laugh.


    ¡°Yeah Louis! You seem to be really good at that!¡±


    ¡°Kill yourself Louis!¡±


    ¡°Oh Mr.Young, your life is so Frivolous!¡±


    ¡°Wah wah, pathetic little Louie crying on the floor!¡±


    More and more people started to join in mocking me and telling me I should off myself. But what made it scarier was that it didn¡¯t sound like mockery. More like¡­ encouragement. None of this makes sense.


    ¡°You¡¯re a walking disaster, Louis. A living, breathing, disaster.¡±


    ¡°....What? ¡­None of this makes sense¡­¡± I said with tears starting to feel my eyes.


    ¡°Nothing, Louis? What have we been teaching you at this school then!¡± Another teacher shouted loudly causing the others to laugh even louder in unison.


    I tried to get up but I slipped on a white foamy substance that appeared on the ground suddenly, ¡°What is this?!¡± I kept trying to stand up but each attempt was met with the same outcome. I slipped and slipped. Each time I did I felt their laughter even more. The sound pierced my very being. I feel like clawing at my ears and ripping them off.


    I pleaded with them more and more to leave me alone. But they didn¡¯t care. I¡¯m the center of attention. They think I''m a joke.


    Suddenly one of the other teacher¡¯s walks up to me. ¡°Hey to whoever finds this¡­ and well finds me as well. I just want you all-¡±


    ¡°STOP IT! YOU SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!¡± I lunged at the teacher.


    Soon as my hands made contact, the once lively and living teacher dissolved and turned into the white foam that covered the ground.


    I looked around me as everyone, one by one started to dissolve and turn into foam. Yet the laughter persisted, this time as one singular voice.


    ¡°Stop it! This isn¡¯t real! I¡¯m dead¡­ I get it now okay! I was a fool to believe I had another chance! My one chance at life¡­ I threw it a fucking away! Erase my soul! Plunge me into eternal darkness! I deserve punishment¡­ I know I do¡­¡±


    None of my pleas were heard. I feel burnt out. A boy yelling at nothing. A pathetic, wasteful human who holds no value to existence whatsoever anymore, or ever for that matter.


    I just want it to end. I cave. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s left for me and honestly I could care less.


    The white foam of the dissolved teachers and students started to fill the room like a wave of water. It¡¯s at the level of my waist, and is starting to rise higher, and higher by the second.


    Death awaits me.


    I¡¯ve made a joke out of myself.


    ¡­I¡¯m a fool.


    Pathetic.


    ¡°YOU ALL DON¡¯T HAVE TO SAY WHAT I ALREADY KNOW!¡± I shouted at the top of my lungs, overshadowing the sound of laughter, ¡°I¡¯m tired¡­ I died to escape all this¡­ this is just me delaying the inevitable¡­¡±


    There¡¯s nothing left for me here¡­, nothing but darkness, and regret. This hatred for myself I feel wallowing up inside my body. The feeling I so desperately wanted to escape, has now once again invaded my mind.


    The white foam started to envelope my body. Drowning me.


    I reached out through the foam, but I knew there was no escaping this.


    I¡¯m suffocating in a grave that I''ve built for myself. This foam is my tomb¡­ my reckoning. Why would a god judge me when he can just send me a flood of my sins.


    There¡¯s nothing left for me. I¡¯m done, gone. No longer a person that walks these halls. I am now, nothing.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    If this is where damnation leads me¡­ then¡­ let it be so.


    Giving up, and surrendering myself to the inevitable, a hand reached out, pulling me up to the surface above the foam.


    Before me stood a being I''ve never witnessed before, it was like they came straight from a vintage photo, but¡­ it appeared to be¡­ me?


    My black frizzy hair, those bright honey colored brown eyes¡­ even my big lips?! Its body matched mine down to the very precise measurements. The hair on my arms started to stand up as my body screamed at me. This guy is me. Why? Is this really me? It can¡¯t be! I¡¯m me!


    ¡°A-are you me?¡± As the words slipped out of my mouth, the vintage looking being that resembled me didn¡¯t say anything back. Instead it pulled me in, giving me a hug.


    ¡°You will go through much more than you are now. But always remember. To love me, us, yourself. Be you Louis, the best you.¡±


    ¡°...What if I can¡¯t? ¡­What if I just do it again¡­? I¡¯ll just disappoint them all¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that what you want? Ponder that.¡±


    The unknown version of himself began dissolving in his arms.


    ¡°Wait¡­! Don¡¯t go! ¡­Please!¡±


    ¡°Go? You¡¯re funny.¡± The being began laughing at me, only this time, it felt different. Comforting. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere. We¡¯re one in the same, Me.¡±


    ¡°Me¡­¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    My vision is blurry and I can feel myself slipping between consciousness and unconsciousness. Am I being carried? And what are those¡­ What are those things chasing us!?


    I lift my head only to be greeted by what seemed to be twisted, and deformed creatures with skin as dark as coal. They were wearing something close to resembling security guard uniforms. When they ran, they used one of their deformed and grossly shaped arms to glide them further, while their fat, stubby, and gross legs slid across the floor, causing nasty scraping sounds to be heard from them while they ran.


    They¡¯re fast! They were chasing us through a white hallway. Wait this hallway¡­ windows, the floor pattern. I¡¯m still¡­ I¡¯m still in my school?!


    Before I could continue scoping out the scenery even more, my attention was quickly turned back to the more pressing matter at hand. What are these things?! Just the sight of them made my skin crawl. Those things shouldn¡¯t exist. They look like demons! What do they want with us?! What did we do?!


    When I made eye contact with one, it grinned at me with such malice that it was almost like it¡¯s been waiting its entire life for a chance to catch me. These things without a shadow of a doubt have every intention of killing us!


    Next thing I know one of the guards grabbed a piece of the concrete wall, and chucked it flying straight at my face like a baseball.


    A hit like that would surely equate to death.


    What should I do?! What could I do?!


    ¡°Ahh¡­ AHHHHHHHHH-¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    ¡°-EUGH-... what¡­ what happened?¡± I said waking up distressed, and confused.


    My head hurts. ¡°Damn¡­,¡± The piece of wall that hideous monster threw at me must¡¯ve knocked me upside my head. Hard.


    I started to grab my head, when I touched it, it felt strange. My head had a big, soft balled up bandage of cloth, to keep the blood leakage at bay, while another bandage of white cloth was wrapped around my head tightly, putting pressure on my head. I can feel some wet spots on it, that must be some of my blood. It seems a little might still be leaking out, this bandage is mostly more red from my blood than white. But now looking around, I can see that I''m in some sort of room. Another classroom of some sort.


    Just across the room from me I can see four individuals who looked to be arguing amongst themselves.


    ¡°You¡¯re insane you know that! High off of your ass while our lives are at risk right now!¡± A boy screamed.


    No way¡­ no way in a million years.


    ¡°I-it it it ain¡¯t mahhhh fwault!¡± Another boy said, hunched up against a wall, slurring over his words. ¡°I-! Mrhmmmm justalittleundertheweatherziongetoffmybackprettyplease.¡± He said, jumping up at him immediately. He began to laugh hysterically.


    ¡°JESUS ROBBIE!¡± The boy flinched away in fear.


    That¡¯s Eli! Oh¡­ and my good friend Robbie. He¡¯s¡­ Is that why he didn¡¯t show up to his track competition? Because he got fucking high?! It was regionals! ¡°Dude¡­¡±


    Hearing me speak, they all looked back at me in horror. those faces of terror turned into tears. Without a second more of hesitation, they all ran up to ask me if I was okay, while Robbie fell back down against the wall when he tried to move more.


    ¡°Louis! Thank god I thought we were gonna lose you again!¡± Zion yelled with tears in his eyes while he squeezed both of my shoulders as tightly as he could.


    ¡°Louis, shit man we all thought you were dead, and then you woke up screaming out of nowhere while we were running, almost giving me a heart attack!¡± Elijah said, examining the side of my head. I could tell he was trying to hold back his tears.


    ¡°And then that piece of shit monster threw something at you. It was brutal to witness¡­ we thought you were surely gone that time¡­ I wish¡­ we all could¡¯ve done something¡­¡± Ryan said quietly, he had his head down the entire time while talking, when he looked I was surprised to see both of the lenses on his glasses were cracked.


    Before I could speak they started screaming at me with more questions, asking me if I was fine and if I felt off in any way.


    ¡°Guy¡¯s guys, slow down¡­ my head.¡± I said letting out a groan. ¡°Wait¡­ Zion what did you mean by again?


    ¡°Louis¡­, the reason why we¡¯re worried this much is¡­ well, it doesn¡¯t just have to do with your head¡­,¡± my friend Elijah said hesitantly, ¡°it¡¯s¡­ ugh-¡±


    ¡°What? What else happened to me while I was out?¡± I said, rubbing my head softly.


    ¡°Before we started getting chased by those¡­ things. You¡­You¡­-¡°


    ¡°You had no pulse!¡± Ryan shouted with terror in his voice.


    ¡°W-what.¡± Do they know? They can¡¯t¡­


    ¡°Y-you no heartbeat¡­ your body was getting colder¡­ and colder.¡±


    I-I can¡¯t believe it. Well I mean what did I expect but¡­ I actually died. ¡°But why am I still here?¡±


    ¡°What? Well¡­ you must have temporarily died and resuscitated. But even then it¡­¡±


    I think I know what he''s getting at. The chances of a person dying and coming back to life are extremely, extremely low. And even if it were possible in my case, none of the needed necessities to attempt such a thing were even present. That light¡­, ¡°Did I revive myself?¡± I mumbled under my breath.


    ¡°It¡¯s gotta be a miracle!¡± Zion said, wiping the tears from his face..


    The others started to express how happy they are that I''m alive. I could tell most of them were fighting the urge to cry.


    He was right. That light was a miracle of some kind. But that dream¡­. It was far too real to be a dream. And my letter? What was all that about? Did I speak to God? I had my doubts but holy fuck. I might¡¯ve actually¡­ me, spoken to a literal God.


    The moment of when the being spoke to me started replaying through my head.


    Great trials? What did it mean by great trials?! And my friends, what did it want with my friends?!


    Wait¡­ am I in hell? Nononono. FUCK! At the very least don¡¯t punish my friends alongside me! They don¡¯t deserve this. None of them do!


    Zion noticed the fear on my face just now. ¡°L-Louis calm down, more stress will only damage your head more.¡±


    He was right. ¡°B-but-,¡± I-I can¡¯t stop shaking. What did I do? We might be in hell. Are we? Did I just doom them? No I-I couldn''t have. I I I I SENTENCED MY FRIENDS TO DEATH!


    My stomach started to turn at the thought. And I could feel myself sweating profusely.


    ¡°We used the white T-shirt Zion was wearing under his clothes as a bandage, while we used my tanktop to wrap your head up with. It¡¯s not perfect¡­ but it¡¯s working, and there¡¯s no other supplies in sight. ¡­Also Louis¡­ I gotta ask, your skin is pretty pale, and why were- are your lips blue?¡± Elijah said with a worried expression. ¡°You look as if you ate something terrible¡­ hah¡­¡± He was trying to lighten my mood with that little laugh just now.


    Wait. My lips? The poison¡­ do they know?! How long have I been dead?! No, not like this. Not like this, Not now!


    I started to breathe heavily. My mouth started to feel wet as drool fell out from it. I¡¯m starting to fight back the urge to vomit. ¡°I-I-I-I feel sick¡­ I feel sick¡­¡± I covered my mouth with one hand while holding my stomach with the other.


    ¡°Shit, get him something to throw up in!¡± Elijah barked at Zion.


    ¡°T-there¡¯s nothing to use.¡± Zion said with a distressed face. Trying to look around the room to see if he missed anything of use.


    Upon hearing that, I sprung up, running to a nearby corner. I hunch down as I start to gag. Sounds of me vomiting violently rang through the room. Some of it got on one of the socks I was wearing. Gross. But the smell¡­ was another thing entirely.


    Before I could catch my breath, another wave of vomit shot out from my mouth. ¡°Eugh¡­¡±


    I think¡­ I think I just threw up the poison. I wanna say I feel better, but looking at it on the floor, it¡¯s bluish color mixed in with my spit and stomach acids. Honestly it just makes me wanna hurl even more.


    I feel a hand patting my back. After catching my breath, I stood straight up to see who it was. It was Robbie. ¡°Y-youuuu mrhm scard me Louiiiiii-¡±


    ¡°Tell me you''re joking right now.¡± I said turning quickly to the others.


    ¡°He carried you all the way here while we were running, and just as we got inside this room to hide, it hit this motherfucker right here like a truck. You should''ve seen the way he looked first.¡± Elijah said, annoyed.


    ¡°He was like a deer in headlights. Then he collapsed on the floor!." Zion said with another disappointed look on his face. ¡°I swear man we all thought he was gonna overdose!¡±


    I turn to look at Robbie with. ¡°What the hell did you take¡­?! No wait-," I took a closer look at him. His eyes were a reddish yellow but they hung so low it was like he could barely see. He was shaking all over and twitching with an intense expression on his face. It went from a smile to a blank face back and forth repeatedly. This wasn¡¯t the cause of just one substance. ¡°What all did you fucking take?! Are you trying to die?!¡±


    He looked at me with an intense gaze before shrugging his shoulders as if it wasn¡¯t a big deal. ¡°Hell if I know, and damned if I care, you get what I''m saying Louis?!¡± he said to me in a loud humorous tone.


    Does he think this was a game? But wait¡­ how is he intoxicated right now? Aren¡¯t we supposed to be in hell? Well I''m not even 100% sure if that¡¯s even where we are right now. ¡°How? How are you high right now?¡±


    Robbie looked at me once again with that intense blank expression. It was like there was no life in his body, but when he spoke he was so animated it felt eerie. ¡°Question? A question¡­ oh oh ohhhh,¡± his words were clearer but he still spoke like you expect of a person fried out of their mind. ¡°I reeeeeee member¡­ ahhh¡­ haha. Haha¡­ HAHAHA HAHAHA.¡±


    Why is he laughing? But looking closer I could see tears start to form in his eyes as he laughed more manically. ¡°W-what, what¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡±


    ¡°You wanna know what happened!¡± He said, stopping his laugh, staring at me with a face of grief. While his once watery eyes now spouted tears down his face. His face sank down to his chest.


    ¡°My mother¡­ Mom, she died¡­ I got the news a couple hours ago. Overdosed on meth in a fucking alley downtown on fucking MAINE STREET! ¡­those people, THOSE POEPLE SEEN HERE DYING ON THE STREET AND WALKED BY LIKE SHE WAS JUST ANOTHER SKID ON THE FUCKING SIDEWALK!¡±


    He raised his head, his eyes full of anger and his breathing growing more agitated by the second. ¡°You wanna know how she got in that alley! Instead of someone helping her, they dragged her there because they supposedly thought ¡®she was in the way,¡¯ she was on the ground having a fucking seizure! That motherfucker! When I find him I''m gonna put him in the ground!¡±


    ¡°Robbie..¡± I didn''t know what to say. The others were just as shocked as I was.


    ¡°I know my mom wasn¡¯t perfect, far from it¡­ but I thought¡­ she was- she was getting better¡­ my mother was getting better slowly but surely. Why¡­ WHY?! Why did she have to¡­ die¡­?¡± After saying that Robbie broke down. His cries were loud, and all of us could feel the pain behind them.


    I only met Robbie¡¯s mother a couple times. I couldn¡¯t say every time was the best though. His mom has been an addict since he was a kid and has been struggling with it all of Robbie¡¯s life. I always felt bad seeing Robbie¡¯s mother. Out of the few times I''ve seen her, only once did I not witness him helping her off the ground while she was high out of her mind to the point where she wouldn¡¯t respond to anything for hours. On the day that she wasn¡¯t though¡­ She looked like one of the sweetest women I¡¯ve ever met.

 Chapter 2: Some Eggs

    Enter Robbie Willlaims


    *ring* *ring* *ring*


    ¡°Uhhhh getting up now¡­ you stupid alarm.¡±


    I turn off the alarm and get out of bed. I stretched a little before making my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Admiring myself in the mirror.


    My curly, burgundy hair, these big bright green eyes, my handsome freckled face, I really am the spitting image of my mom. Not that I mind anyway. My jaw was smooth but I still have ways to go before it¡¯s close to Eli¡¯s. Gotta be his genetics man.


    Alright Robbie! Today¡¯s the day! Today you become a regional champ. And pretty soon a state champ after¡­ hopefully. No, I can''t be having doubts. Today after school¡­ I have a meeting scheduled with destiny. Considering I placed 3rd last year, and 7th at state last year. If I do well today, colleges will have no choice but to throw me some offers my way! ¡°I have to do good¡­¡±


    I need to. I gotta get my mom out of here, but first I gotta get myself out. If I make it to college and do well enough to get noticed, who knows what opportunities will come my way?


    ¡°I just gotta believe.¡±


    After brushing my teeth, I rinse my mouth out and use the water to wet the rag I brought with me to wash my face.


    ¡°Some facial hair would be nice, any day now!¡±


    Walking out of the bathroom, I¡¯m on my way to the kitchen to make myself some breakfast. I made my way through the living room first.


    In doing so, I found my mom on the floor curled up in a ball against the side of our beaten up looking couch, with a black expression on her face as her eyes were wide open, barely blinking. Her skin was pale, and her hair was filthy. But even now, I still find her hair to be lovely in my eyes.


    I could tell she was feeling a little cold. Even if she barely showed it.


    ¡°Oh mom, did you fall again trying to find your bed,¡± I said with a cheerful tone. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your strong son is gonna carry you to bed.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°You must be really tired.¡± I said, chuckling a little.


    ¡°...¡±


    I approached my mom, and kneeled beside her. I placed my arm under her head as support as I placed my other arm on the other half of her body. Using my legs, I was easily able to lift her.


    My mom felt light as a feather. ¡°Hehe you know you gotta eat more mom, I¡¯ll make you some breakfast as well, you can eat it after you wake up.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    I carried my mom to her room and placed her on her bed. I put her head on the pillow, then I placed her bright and soft blue cover over her body as I tucked her in. Sometimes when I do this, I wonder what being tucked in would¡¯ve felt like as a child.


    After staring at her for a little bit making sure she was okay and comfortable, I gave her a kiss on the cheek. ¡°I love you mom, sleep well.¡±


    As I walked out of the room I made my way to the kitchen and opened the fridge. ¡°There isn¡¯t anything worth a rat¡¯s ass in here¡­ wait there¡¯s still some eggs!¡± My face lit up at the sight of food.


    I grabbed the eggs and took them out. I¡¯ve decided to make scrambled eggs with the last of the eggs we had remaining. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was something.


    After finishing, and putting my portion on a plate, I put a lid over the pot of eggs sitting on the stove. My mom will eat after she wakes up. She always does. Honestly without my cooking my mom would go days without eating. It¡¯s like she doesn¡¯t even notice when she¡¯s starving or when she¡¯s thirsty or¡­ anything for that matter.


    I get so scared of leaving her when I have to go to school. It¡¯s even worse when she leaves the house for hours on end with me not having a clue of where she might be¡­ well I have a clear idea of what she goes out to do at least¡­The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    After finishing, I rinse my plate off and put it into the sink. I go to my room to finish getting ready.


    ¡°Alright that''s about it¡­¡± I said making sure before grabbing my bookbag and heading out of my room towards the front door.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back a little late today mom!¡± I shouted before leaving out the door.


    School was quick. I talked to Louis during classes, telling him about how excited I was about today. He gave me words of encouragement, though he did sound very strange today. Off I would say, but I paid it no mind. Zion told me to give them hell when I get there. I love the little guy¡¯s spirit. I don¡¯t see Elijah that much in school besides at lunch because we don¡¯t have any classes together but when I saw him walking through the halls at the end of the day he gave me a fist bump, and told me to ¡®Run till my legs feel the burn of victory.¡¯ It made me laugh a little, he can be a little intense at times, but his words of encouragement helped fuel me even more.


    ¡°You got this Robbie!¡± I shouted at myself while slapping my cheeks, possibly disturbing some of the lower classmen in the hallway.


    School ended but I don¡¯t have to meet up behind the school until an hour and a half from now to catch the bus. I would usually wait at the school but I needed to walk home and get my running shoes. I somehow forgot to put them in my bookbag.


    Some of my teammates were deciding to wait at the school for the bus. I waved and told them I¡¯ll be going home real quick, and I¡¯ll be back before the bus arrives. They nodded and waved me off.


    After arriving home and coming inside, I shouted out to let my mom know I was home. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m home!¡±


    I walked to her room to see if she was there. She wasn¡¯t. I walked to the kitchen to see if she was there but all I found was an empty pot stove where her portion of the eggs used to be. It made me smile knowing she ate today.


    ¡°Sorry I couldn¡¯t make you a little more.¡±


    After looking around the house more, and calling out to my mom, I realized she wasn¡¯t here. Honestly I wasn¡¯t surprised, she¡¯s always gone by the time I come home. She doesn¡¯t usually come home until between the hours of 10pm and 4am, I try to cook dinner almost every night so she¡¯ll have something to eat again when she comes home.


    Oh I know! Since I won¡¯t be home till late, probably a little after 11pm since the bus ride to and from the competition is pretty long. I¡¯ll make her a snack and put it up for her in the refrigerator if she comes home before I do. But¡­ we don¡¯t have any food¡­


    I didn¡¯t really know what to make her. I haven¡¯t had the chance to go grocery shopping. Well even when I do you can hardly call it shopping. I¡¯m only ever able to afford three or four items.


    ¡°Hmmmm¡­ wait!¡± I go and look into my bookbag, I pull out one of those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that are wrapped up in the plastic. The ones they give you in the cold food line during lunch.


    My mom loved PB and J¡¯s. Before she became less¡­ expressive, she used to make them randomly, and bring them into my room during the night when she would get home. She would always have two for me and two for her. Looking back it was probably a little unhealthy for a kid to eat that much at night, but honestly it made me so happy. We didn¡¯t talk that much, but we would smile at each other while we enjoyed the taste of our sandwiches. Sometimes she would even toast the bread.


    It continued until I was fourteen. Some nights I¡¯ll still wake up expecting her to be there, placing the plate of sandwiches next to me on my bed as she sat across from me. I miss it.


    I placed the sandwich into the fridge along with a juice box I also found in my bag from the other day. ¡°Neat.¡±


    I use the bathroom, then gather my shoes into my bag, and prepare to leave out the door.


    As I was putting my bag on my back, I heard a knock at the door.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    I walk up to the door opening it. To my surprise, it was a police officer. Why was he here?!


    ¡°Are you Robbie Williams? Son of Elizabeth Williams?¡± The cop said in a concerned tone.


    What is he here for? Did my mom get caught up in some sort of trouble?! ¡°Y-yeah that¡¯s me.¡±


    Looking at me, he let out a deep sigh. ¡°You might wanna sit down for this son.¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­


    Me and the cop sat across from one another at the kitchen table. To be polite, I offered him a glass of water, but he declined. He looked as if he didn¡¯t know what to say to me. What was that scared look on his face for?


    ¡°Sir, did my mom do something wrong? I¡¯m sorry, my mom isn¡¯t in the best of health right now. I promise you sir, my mom doesn¡¯t mean any harm. ¡­She¡¯s a kind woman¡± I said with a heartwarming tone.


    ¡°No, uh¡­ I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m here for something different Robbie¡­ you¡¯re mother, she¡­¡±


    He couldn¡¯t finish his sentence. But I already knew what the next word he was gonna say out of his mouth¡­


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...l-listen kid-¡±


    ¡°No¡­ nonononono NO! You¡¯re lying! Say it isn¡¯t so! Say so please!¡± I cried out, yelling.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry kid¡­ she¡¯s g-gone.¡±


    I didn¡¯t wanna believe him. How could I? My mother who I had just tucked into bed this morning. In this very house. She ate the food I made her! Now a cop sits in front of me saying that she¡¯s¡­ gone?


    ¡°Mom¡­,¡± tears started to run down my face. It¡¯s starting to feel hard to breathe.


    ¡°I know it hurts¡­ I lost my mother as well when I was around your age.¡± He said, trying to console me. ¡°It¡¯s gonna be hard¡­ but you have to be strong, for her.¡±


    Be strong? Strong?!


    ¡°My mother is gone and you want me to be strong? ¡­H-how did she go?¡±


    The cop kept biting his tongue before speaking, probably thinking of how he could tell me. ¡°Your mother was found passed away in an alley. Upon closer inspection it came to a conclusion that she suffered an overdose¡­ we¡¯re still trying to figure out exactly what she took, but our guess is that it was¡­ meth. ¡­And possibly a few other substances as well.¡±


    I had no words. An overdose!? ¡°A-alley? W-which alley? Where did it happen?!¡±


    ¡°Kid¡­,¡± the cop gave me a look that said I probably shouldn¡¯t hear the answer, but I nodded to him to go for it. I needed to hear it.


    ¡°According to Witnesses, they say she was having a seizure on the sidewalk on Maine, and court-¡°


    ¡°Sidewalk!?¡± I said cutting him off. ¡°But you said she was found in an alley¡­ and Maine street, that¡¯s the street that has that emergency care office on it!¡±


    The cop gave me one last look before he got up, and walked to a window, looking out of it. Why won¡¯t he face me?!


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m not strong enough to look you in the eyes while I tell you this.¡± He let out a deep breath. ¡°Some of the people witnessed your mother while she was having a seizure¡­ they all¡­ just walked over to her during it.¡±


    What. The. Fuck.


    ¡°You¡¯re joking¡­ you¡¯re fucking joking with me right?! Say that you¡¯re kidding¡­¡±


    ¡°A man¡­ a-a man was seen dragging your mom in the alley across the street from where she was laying, a lady witnessed this and asked him what he was doing¡­ he said¡­ he said¡­ ¡®She was in the way¡¯¡±


    ¡°He¡­ he what¡­¡±


    ¡°L-listen¡­ we¡¯re working on identifying the man now. It¡¯s gonna be okay son-¡±


    I started screaming.

 Chapter 3: A Demon

    ENTER LOUIS YOUNG


    ¡°And then the woman called 911, but the police¡­ arrived before the fucking ambulance¡­ hahahaha¡­ I''m probably gonna die like my mother one day, I''m just like her¡­ just another damn addict.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that. I¡¯m sorry about your mother. She was a kind soul regardless of her circumstances." I pulled him in, giving him a tight hug. ¡°Don¡¯t take it out on yourself. And don¡¯t say stuff like that, please. We all love you, ¡­and we don¡¯t want you to die.¡±


    ¡°Louis is right Rob.¡± Elijah expressed his sympathies. ¡°I know how you feel right now. My dad died when I was nine.¡± Elijah walks towards me and Robbie, and he starts to pat him on his back.


    Zion stood there without saying anything. He couldn¡¯t believe what he had heard.


    ¡°Robbie, you worked too hard to get yourself clean. You know this wasn¡¯t the right thing to do.¡± I said, in an empathic but also disappointed tone of voice.


    Wiping the tears from his eyes. Robbie started to smile more and more. ¡°Clean? Oh oh oh oh jack we all die eventually. What does me having the indulgence of a few substances corrrrrrrespond with that a-a-anyyyway.¡±


    Goddamn what did he take? He felt like a cartoon character. The way his eyes wander off I wouldn''t be surprised if he was seeing stuff that wasn¡¯t there. Why now¡­? Damn!


    Suddenly, a loud banging sound could be heard from outside the room.


    ¡°T-that sounds close!¡± Ryan said, distressed. ¡°I don¡¯t wanna seem like an ass, but we got to figure a way out of here before we can address this.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. What did you say your name was again?¡± Elijah asked curiously.


    ¡°R-Ryan, Ryan Smith.¡±


    Oh yeah, that¡¯s right! Ryan doesn¡¯t know these guys. Even though me, Rob, Zion and Eli go to the same school, Ryan didn¡¯t. Actually¡­ I haven''t seen him in person since eighth grade. We would chat here and there through texting but well, I guess we sort of stopped in a way. He was one of my best friends. Seeing him here and now, I''m glad I still feel the same. I wonder if he does too.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen any of you before, but I''ve known Louis since middle school. Though we haven¡¯t seen each other really since then. It¡¯s weird, this is how we meet again.¡± He let out a slight laugh.


    Elijah, and Zion start to introduce themselves formally.


    ¡°Elijah Wilson, as far as introductions go, I guess this is a pretty strange one.¡±


    ¡°Z-zion! Nice to meet you! Oh wait, my last name is Matthews as well. I-if you wanted to know.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you all as-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯sssss nice to meet you Ryan the man!¡± Robbie said, running up to him, and extending his hand, signaling that he wanted to shake his hand.


    ¡°Likewise.¡± he shook his hand. ¡°Now can we think of a way out of this place, or at least to another area. I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be safe in this room for long.¡± He said, pushing his glasses up, fixing them.


    I could tell he was struggling as well, but he¡¯s surprisingly collected, to be dealing with all of this. This place is taking a big toll on us already. We needed to think of a plan out of here. But I''m not gonna lie¡­ I¡¯m scared of what might be waiting for us on the other side once we leave this room.


    ¡°Let¡¯s come up with a plan!¡± I said with a hopeful voice, making them all light up in a way. I guess anything that sounds like a way for us to find a way to get out of here, they¡¯ll jump at the occasion. Just where are we?


    ¡°Well¡­ hmmm?¡± I looked around the room and the only solution I could see was the door. I have a plan but I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll like the idea of running from more security guards that look like spawns from hell.


    ¡°I see that look on your face, what are you thinking?¡± Zion asked with a slight concern.


    ¡°You guys aren¡¯t gonna like it but there¡¯s only really one thing we can do, and I know you''ve all probably thought about it as well already.¡±


    They all let out a deep sigh.


    I stand corrected.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, but I guess none of us said it because we didn¡¯t wanna believe that was the only way.¡± Elijah admitted.


    The atmosphere started to grow tense and pensive by the second. We¡¯re all afraid. I mean why wouldn¡¯t we be! We¡¯re high schoolers for crying out loud here!


    ¡°But still¡­ those things¡­ they¡¯ll just find us and chase us again¡­ they''re already waiting outside the door!¡± Elijah barked, standing up while gripping his fists tightly.


    ¡°But we can¡¯t just stay here, there¡¯s no vents, or even windows for us to crawl out of. We¡¯re sitting ducks.¡± Ryan said, crossing his arms, he let out a sigh.


    ¡°Hm¡­¡± I glanced down at the floor. ¡°The pattern on the floor looks a little strange, dont''cha think? You think we could pull them up?¡± I asked, before gripping my head tightly, ¡°Ack-¡±


    ¡°Go sit back down, vomiting might¡¯ve made your head hurt even more. Also I¡¯m sorry, but that floor is as solid as steel. No hidden passageway this time unfortunately.¡± Elijah said, feeling around the walls, coming to the same conclusion for them as well.


    ¡°Gotcha. Zion, did you spot anything out of the ordinary? Anything at all please.¡± I said walking back up towards him to sit in the spot I was previously in.


    ¡°No uhh, nothing. I do remember seeing windows in the halls while we were running.¡± He said, touching his chin.


    ¡°Windows? You sure?¡± Elijah said, surprised.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t see them? I mean it was on three of them that I saw, and they were back to back. You guys probably didn¡¯t notice them since we were getting chased.¡±


    ¡°Did you see anything out of it?!¡± I asked, too excited, before having to grip my head in pain once more.


    ¡°Easy, please¡­,¡± He held his arms up in case I was gonna fall over, ¡°But yeah, it was¡­ strange. I think¡­ we might be floating¡­¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The room grew silent all around. We all stared at Zion.


    ¡°Well don¡¯t just leave it off like that! Explain!¡± Eli yelled, curious to hear his explanation.


    ¡°When I looked outside, it looked like I was staring into a different world. ¡­.no it had to be.¡± He started to look as if he were afraid, ¡°I¡­ I saw giant whirlwinds filled with lightning, and¡­ I could barely see, but the terrain didn¡¯t look natural down below, everything looked twistedly large yet small in comparison to the tornadoes. The mountains looked more grand than anything I''ve ever seen. But the thing that stood out the most¡­ they were everywhere¡­ the skies, the ground, even inside the giant whirls,¡± the face he made before speaking, told everything that we needed to know. The look of lost hope in his eyes consumed our gaze, ¡°Monsters¡­ Monsters that looked on an entirely different level from the guards¡­¡± His head sunk down into his chest at the thought.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    What could Zion have seen to have him like this? Could we not be on earth anymore? I might¡¯ve actually¡­ doomed my friends. Even if we do get out of here, there¡¯s just a world full of monsters to chew us up whole.


    ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ let¡¯s worry about that later! The knocking on the door seems to have subsided. We should quiet down a little so they won¡¯t come back.¡± Elijah said, changing the subject immediately.


    None of us wants to bare the thought yet of there potentially being something out there far worse than the situation we are currently in.


    ¡°Oh you flatter me so- wait guys! Come see my friend!¡± He shouted enthusiastically.


    We could hear Robbie calling out for us, when I looked around, I spotted him talking to himself in the corner that I vomited in.


    Huh, friend? What was he talking about? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I questioned.


    ¡°Leave him be.¡± Elijah reassured. ¡°He¡¯s probably just hallucinating shit. I hope he sobers up soon, we need him.¡± He started to scratch his head at the sight of Robbie.


    He was right. Rob was probably just seeing things. Besides, the bigger thing we have to worry about is keeping him safe. He¡¯s in no condition to be in a hellish place like this right now.


    ¡°Robb-¡±


    Before I could finish calling out to him, he cut me off. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me? Okay, have a look for yourself!¡± Robbie turned around, extending his arms out showing us his so-called friend.


    ¡°Robbie-robbierobbierobbie! WHAT IN GOD¡¯S NAME IS THAT!¡± Zion screamed at the top of his lungs.


    Looking forward to my horror, a flower, but not just any flower, it is an enlarged sized dandelion almost as if it was mutated. It has glaring red eyes, and a mouth that hangs low, showing off its razor sharp looking teeth. Drool leaked from its mouth like a pug. It had multiple legs in the shape of leaves with blistering red and green veins popping out on them. It has a disastrous looking aura around it. So much so that it appeared all around. It is a terrible mix of black and white with the look of moving static within it.


    ¡°T-THAT¡¯S A DEMON! THAT¡¯S A REAL EXISTING DEMON! ROBBIE FUCKING THROW IT!¡± I screamed at my delirious friend.


    We all jumped up at the sight of it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be such an ass Louis. I¡¯m sorry for my rude friend.¡± He said, leaning in closer to the dandelion demon, ¡°he¡¯s not very good with women.¡± He started laughing maniacally once more.


    That thing¡¯s supposed to be a woman!? ¡°Get your head out of your a-¡±


    ¡°Robbie, now''s not the time! You were right, it was real! Now put it down!¡± Cried out Elijah, while motioning slowly towards Robbie and the creature.


    ¡°T-they¡¯re real! Are those actually¡­!¡± Ryan screamed in disbelief


    No, there¡¯s just no way. There isn¡¯t?! ¡°Wait, what is it doing!?¡± I said pointing my finger at it.


    The plant starts to wiggle itself back and forth in a dancing motion.


    ¡°I-it¡¯s dancing!?¡± I said, not wanting to trust my eyes.


    ¡°See! Little mama is harmless, aren¡¯t you?." Robbie said, asking the plant while giggling.


    I wanna punch him. He¡¯s treating this thing like a girl you try to talk to at the mall! Why is it dancing?! It can¡¯t mean anything good! I need to get that thing out of his hands!


    ¡°Robbie, drop it!¡± I demanded.


    ¡°Whaaaat? Nooooo can do,¡± he refuted. ¡°Me and her are getting to know each other, she¡¯s doing this little dancey dance I like.


    ¡°Put it down! We don¡¯t know what that thing is! And do you not see the crazy looking whatever it is around it! That¡¯s some demonic shit!¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s your chivalry? Your honor?! You dare speak to this magnificent, young, and pure of heart maiden, I will not stand for it good sir! You dare?!¡± He said in a joking manner, putting on his best British accent alongside it.


    ¡°You think this is a game?! I¡¯m not gonna stand by while you let that thing murder you!¡± I shouted, running towards the plant in Robbie''s hand, fist first.


    ¡°Louis, wait! We don¡¯t know what that thing is!¡± Ryan screamed at me, while running behind me.


    I punched it straight into what you would call it¡¯s face. ¡°IT¡¯S A DEMON!¡±


    Thinking I had done something, everyone included, but to our surprise, my punch didn¡¯t even phase it. Actually¡­ I think I just pissed it off instead.


    The flower dropped out of Robbie''s hand, and landed on the floor like a really heavy weight being dropped at the gym. It left a crack in the floor when it landed. Its body started to pulse. After each pulse it grew more, and more in size. Each pulse twisted the room more than the last.


    The first pulse as it grew made the room sprout out leaves around it. The sheer difference in size was frightening. The once flowery looking demon that was only a mere few inches in Robbie¡¯s hand, was now as tall as the ceiling, and as grand in width as half of the room.


    Second pulse, the room shook us up in the air a little bit as the entire atmosphere of the room was shrouded in its aura. Almost like a filter being placed on reality itself.


    Each pulse after, just continued to strengthen the intensity of its aura, more and more.


    I don¡¯t know if it''s just me, but it''s getting hard to breathe. Not only that, but my body is starting to feel heavy, and hard to carry.


    I could feel blood starting to gush out from my nose. It flowed through my mouth, leaving me with a tangy, coppery taste.


    ¡°Wh-what is this¡­?¡± I looked around to see, and, as I thought, everyone was experiencing the same symptoms I was. Robbie was getting the worst of it as I witnessed, or so I thought. He was laughing as blood ran from his nose, down to his neck.


    ¡°FORGET ABOUT A PLAN! RUN!¡± Ryan shouted, panicking.


    None of us gave it a second thought, we sprinted towards the door.


    As I made my way there I grabbed Robbie¡¯s arm, forcing him to move his legs to run with me so he wouldn¡¯t be dragged along.


    All of us made our way to the door, but suddenly, another pulse echoed throughout the room. All of the nearby leaves and plants created by the dandelion have now started to fall towards us in a fast, violent manner, as if gravity was pulling them towards us.


    ¡°WE¡¯RE ALL GONNA DIE!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯M TOO YOUNG I SAY! TOO YOUNG!¡±


    ¡°I WANNA GO HOME!¡±


    ¡°SHIT!¡±


    We all yelled frantically while trying to make it out of the room in time, but to no avail, the barrage of greenery reached us, striking us hard, causing us all to scream in pain.


    Luckily though I managed to open the door as it struck us, so it knocked us out of the room in the process. We all crashed down on the ground hard. The door closed behind us on its own.


    ¡°For goodness sake¡­¡± I muttered under my breath.


    We all struggled to get up, wavering in pain. We were all holding certain parts of our bodies while moaning out in agony. My head was already messed up to begin with, now I seriously think I might pass out at any moment.


    ¡°D-did¡­ anyone break anything¡­?¡± I asked, letting out a groan in the process.


    They all responded in pained ¡®no¡¯ or a groan, assuring me that they faced no grave injuries. That made me feel a little relieved.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so worried about us Louis, your head is leaking again!¡± Zion said while pointing at my head.


    I placed my hands on top of my head, and sure enough, more blood started to leak out, it even started to leak out from the wrapping onto my forehead a little. On top of that nosebleed caused by that demon¡­ How much blood have I lost already!?


    ¡®¡°You''re losing too much blood.¡± Elijah screamed, stating the obvious.


    ¡°G-guys w-we¡­ we gotta go!¡± Zion said, staring off behind me with a terrified expression on his face.


    Turning around I was greeted to see the same black, distorted, and deformed creatures posing as security guards from last time. ¡­Running full speed ahead at us.


    ¡°T-those security guards¡­ they¡¯re back!¡± we all shouted in terror.


    ¡°RUN!¡±


    We all struggled to get up at first, but once we did, we started to run like there was no tomorrow.


    ¡°EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF WOOOOO HOOOOO!¡± Robbie shouted before running away as well.


    We took off down the hallway, not sure of where to go. Stopping, or slipping and falling would surely equate to death.


    We ran up, and down hallways, turning corners left and right. There seemed to be no exit in sight.


    ¡°If this is supposed to be a school, then where are the stairs?!¡± Elijah yelled, scared and confused about our situation.


    ¡°There has to be stairs somewhere! This school is gigantic!¡± I screamed.


    ¡°Maybe we-......¡±


    What is this red sight I''m seeing? My ears are ringing¡­


    I could barely hear or see who was talking. There was a lot of blood coming from my head. My blood was covering half of the left side of my face, even getting into my eye, staining it red. I could feel my blood leaking off of my chin onto the ground as I ran. If the demons don¡¯t get me, the blood lost surely will. But even then I''m starting to feel a little woozy¡­ I¡¯m starting to get dizzy¡­ I might pass out.


    ¡°My head¡­ I can¡¯t keep¡­ going!¡± I cried out.


    ¡°Louis!¡±


    I¡¯m starting to slow down.


    The monsters¡­ they''re gaining on me. They are surely to catch up to me now. Dammit¡­ I feel too weak right now. Am I gonna die again? No¡­


    Suddenly I could feel myself being spun around fast, picked up off the ground, and thrown onto a firm, and strong shoulder.


    What?! Who?!


    ¡°I GOTCHA LOU LOU!¡± A red-headed boy screamed out joyfully.


    How is he doing this?! Carrying me on his shoulder while he ran?! Now Robbie is a track star, and I don''t doubt his strengths, but I''m pretty sure I weigh more than him, and too much so to be carrying while running from spawns from hell!


    ¡°THE ADRENALINE! I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BONES!¡±


    For the sake of my friend I''m not gonna even try to figure out what he took. If it¡¯s giving him a cliche power up, by all means let the man¡¯s high continue. I have to find a way to live through this, or my shining white miracle will be for nothing.


    ¡°I am your knight in shining armor at your service milady!¡± He said, all chivalry like.


    What the hell is he talking about at a time like this? We¡¯re not in school, we¡¯re in a damn murder house!


    ¡°Shut up¡­ you damn¡­ damn¡­-¡± I struggled to get out.


    ¡°Your head is busted open Louis, don¡¯t try to talk, just relax!¡± One of them screamed out. It sounded like Ryan. The ringing coming from my ears is making it so I can barely distinguish them from one another.


    Thanks for the suggestion. But how could I relax? I¡¯m facing Robbie''s backside. Every time I try to look up even a little bit I see those things trailing behind us. What if they throw another piece of wall at me?!


    I can see my blood leaking off my head onto the perfectly pristine white floor as we ran, soiling it. It feels so warm as it slips away, off of my face.


    My blood. I can¡¯t help but imagine it as the foam leaking from my mouth. The foam that stained my carpet. The foam that drowned me¡­


    This entire situation feels similar. Laying back, unable to move, awaiting the inevitable to happen, just like before.


    I¡¯m a stain everywhere, aren¡¯t I? Even on the very floors of this school¡­ What am I?


    I came back just to die.


    I¡¯m still the same weak me.


    This is a madhouse. There¡¯s no exit for us is there? What have I done to them? ¡­I wanted to save them? Can I save them¡­?


    I¡­ Can¡¯t¡­.


    Louis, what have you done?

 Chapter 4: School Announcement

    ¡°STAIRS! THERE''S STAIRS!¡±


    Shouted out one of them.


    ¡°COMING UP STRAIGHT AHEAD!¡±


    Desperation has now turned into a bout of hope. Making their way towards the stairs, Robbie came up with a grand scheme to get Louis back on his feet.


    ¡°Louis! I¡¯mmmm sorrrrr-ry my man but daddy¡¯s gonna have to drop you. You gotta fly, okay? Sprout your wings young cub. Do you think you can doooo it?¡±


    I¡¯m tired, hurt, bleeding out from the head, and I feel like I''m about to pass out at any moment. Run? That would be a good joke.


    ¡°N-no¡­ c-chance¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worrrr-ry, you just need a little¡­PUSH!¡±


    At that moment as we were approaching the stairs, Robbie grabbed me and launched me off his shoulder, sending me flying in the air, down the stairs. All my friends watched in awe as they were running down the stairs. Zion, who was in the front, tried to hurry up and make it down the stairs to catch me, but I knew he wouldn''t make it in time.


    Goddammit Robbie, you dumbass!


    It was like everything was moving in slow motion. I was falling head first, towards the ground at the end of the steps.


    If I fall now¡­ I die. If my head hits the floor, Robbie risking his life carrying me would¡¯ve been for nothing.


    I¡¯m not gonna die¡­ just yet!


    Just as I was about to land, I extended my arms, reaching my hands out to the ground. I caught myself in a handstand position, I used my arms to propel myself forward into a jump. My luck must¡¯ve ran out because after jumping up, I crashed into the wall. Staggered and barely able to stand up from it, I wobbled near, and fell down the next flight of stairs. ¡°Why¡­,¡± disregarding the pain, I stood up and continued to run.


    My friends who witnessed it all unfold were all shocked, while Robbie had a devious grin on his face, but that was only for a moment as they continued to run after me from behind. I can curse Rob all I want later, now, I have to focus on staying alive. There were more and more stairs leading down, and those monsters weren''t going anywhere any time soon, this was gonna be a while. But none of us are gonna let up.


    The wrapping of the bandage began to unravel slowly as red started to fill my other eye from the blood, making sight even more worse than it already is. But I don''t care, I have to keep moving. I won¡¯t die again. I won¡¯t! Ever since waking up in that void¡­ I refuse to waste this opportunity!


    These stairs felt like they were never ending. But I don¡¯t think I can see those things behind us anymore. Did we outrun them? It¡¯s a strong possibility. I don''t hear the gross scraping sounds of their legs anymore¡­. We¡­ we MIGHT be good.


    ¡°I don¡¯t hear them anymore, we should¡­ we should rest!¡± I roared.


    We looked up, and around to see if they were truly gone. The disgusting sound of the guards¡¯ scraping legs were no more. Seeing that we were okay, our running came to a halt on the staircase.


    ¡°This is¡­ too much¡­ running than I''m used to¡­¡± Ryan said, bending over with his hands on his knees, his breathing running ragged. He looks like he¡¯s reached his limit.


    ¡°We should¡­ take¡­ a break.¡± I also said out of breath, just barely holding myself up now that we¡¯ve stopped. ¡°Ryan has asthma and Robbie is completely out of it right now. Not to mention I feel like utter shit.¡±


    ¡°True, but as far as I''m concerned, I¡¯d rather be sitting ducks elsewhere. The monsters may be gone but I still have this eerie feeling.¡± Elijah said, sitting down on one of the steps. He leaned back against the steps, after catching his breath, he lifted his head up to see the vast amount of floors we cleared in such a short amount of time. The scenery of the staircase left him in awe.


    ¡°I¡­ I know what you mean.¡± Ryan said, finally managing to catch his breath a little. ¡°Like we¡¯re being watched. I felt that way in the room before that¡­ flower showed up.¡± He leaned up against the weirdly pattern, white wall, to support his tired body as he talked.


    ¡°This place is the worst. The hosts are even shittier,¡± he lets out a sigh and leans his head against the railing, ¡°This is all too weird, like I can¡¯t even wrap my head around it yet.¡± Elijah started to grab his head from overthinking, ¡°I didn''t, it was just the guards that were here, and I was right, that flower was something else entirely¡­ if we¡¯re being watched¡­ then we have no idea what it could be¡­¡±


    ¡°Watched? I wonder¡­¡± By the way they¡¯re speaking it has to be something besides the monsters. But still, hm¡­ could the place itself be alive¡­?


    The weird pattern of the walls, and that demon seemed as if it came out of thin air. I guess it wouldn¡¯t be too crazy to think if this place IS actually alive, and I do get this creepy feeling that Elijah was describing while I looked at the walls. For some reason that perfect white color keeps throwing me off, like I can¡¯t get used to it, and the pattern is strange¡­makes me sick in a way.


    Maybe it came from my vomit¡­ No, highly unlikely. Could it have been something from the outside? The window. If what Zion said is true¡­ then what will be waiting for us on the outside? Beings far beyond what we can imagine? From what he was describing, A different dimension maybe, or a realm between life and death. Like the void maybe¡­


    If I was in the void before, then this time¡­ Hell then? I doubt hell is a place where we would¡¯ve held out for as long as we have now. ¡®Abandon hope, all who enter,¡¯ I don¡¯t feel hopeless yet. At least if not for them¡­, ¡°Robbie¡­ did you perhaps see where the flower came from- EUGH!¡± My head started throbbing as the bandage of shirts fell from my head. A wet, splashing sound could be heard as they came into contact with the ground. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a lot of blood¡­¡± It grazed my shirt as it fell, leaving a large stain of blood on it.


    Everyone''s reactions were as expected. But we don¡¯t have time to focus on a petty injury. We have to figure this out, now.


    ¡°R-Rob¡­ d-did you hear me?¡±


    ¡°s-STOP! I- STOP TALKING!¡± A terrible screech came from Robbie¡¯s mouth, anxiety filled his voice, it made my ears turn and ring even more. ¡°Stop speaking for a second! I¡¯m too high for this, I say! Too high! These sounds¡­ they¡¯re freaking me out right now! MY GOD!¡±


    Turning to look at Robbie, I could see him holding his head with both of his hands, he was bending over staring at the ground, he¡¯s whispering very fast and quiet to himself. It¡¯s as if we weren¡¯t here at all, he¡¯s starting to panic too much, this could get bad if we don¡¯t try to calm him down.


    ¡°You!,¡± Elijah yelled, getting up and marching towards Robbie, ¡°Are you fucking crazy?! You could¡¯ve killed him!¡± He screamed, pointing at me, ¡°His head was already as bad as it is! And here goes you with your stupid fucking plan of throwing him, you could¡¯ve smashed his head! And now I bet he can barely see from his eyes, burning from his own blood! You goddamn¡­ UGH!¡±


    ¡°e-ELI, stop!¡± Zion screamed, ¡°don¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°No! He¡¯s our boy, but he just pissed me off. Louis could¡¯ve died! He¡¯s barely standing up right now! Everytime he wobbles, I can see more blood dripping on the goddamn ground!¡± He grabbed Robbie by the collar of his shirt, pulling him in closer, ¡°This isn¡¯t a game! Sober the fuck up, or i¡¯ll beat you till you are!¡±


    ¡°S-stop¡­!¡± Robbie pleaded with him, ¡°Let me go!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you go when you start making an ounce of sense!¡±


    Walking up to him, I pulled Eli off of him, ¡°I got this¡­ Please?¡± He didn¡¯t like that one bit, especially after seeing my red eyes up close, but he bit his tongue, and listened.


    I lifted Robbie¡¯s head to see his face, he was sweating bullets, his breathing made him sound like he was about to hyperventilate. It looks like he¡¯s about to explode. ¡°Robbie, what''s wrong? What are these sounds you¡¯re talking about? ¡­I¡¯m here man, you gotta calm down, just try to focus your head for a second.¡± I sat him down on the ground, ¡°Are you seeing things? ¡­Look at m-¡±


    Before I could finish, I started to fall back. Before I was met with the ground, Elijah caught me, and sat me on the ground next to Robbie. ¡°Woah!¡±


    ¡°Just¡­ sit down please¡­¡± Eli looks angry, but I can tell he¡¯s worried about all of us. I hate that I have him going through all this. It¡¯s my fault. ¡°Don¡¯t forget about the state you¡¯re in¡­,¡± he let out a sigh, ¡°What did you take Robbie¡­?¡±


    There was no response. Just the same fearful expressions.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him like this¡­ what did he take to trip like that¡­?!¡± Zion said in a small voice. He¡¯s never seen him like this before. Rob had gotten better with this stuff. Everything with his mother, sent him crashing back down to square one again. ¡°r-Rob¡­ it¡¯s okay¡­¡± He started to walk towards him. Giving him a warm, hopeful tone as he spoke, ¡°What did you take¡­? Tell us, we can help you.¡±


    ¡°Better yet, how did you even get it? Where did you get the money from?¡± Elijah asked. After a couple of seconds of getting no response, he asked again, ¡°Rob-bie, ¡­where did you get the money?!¡±


    Just like before in the room, he sprung up to his face like an animated being, ¡°Yeah well¡­,¡± he began to smile a little, ¡°I took what was left of the money I saved up for a college. It wasn¡¯t much anyway, just a shitty two thousand, annnnnnnnnnd I went on a little shopping spree¡­¡± Robbie admitted, not a shroud of regret in his voice. ¡°No point in going, and seeing as we¡¯re marching to our deaths, I''ll say, I''d hate to be you guys right now¡­ SOBER!¡±


    There¡¯s now way¡­ Did I just hear him correctly?


    ¡°What do you mean?!¡± I jumped up, screaming at him.


    Zion¡¯s eyes started to widen, as the words that left his mouth were of utter disbelief. ¡°What is wrong with you?!¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    All of us were in shock. What Robbie did¡­ he worked his ass off for that. Why?!


    ¡°I thought I could feel good while also seeing cool shit, I didn¡¯t think i¡¯d be at the haunted mansion of the fucking younger plummer brother! Don¡¯t blame that on me if we die!¡±


    ¡°What are you even- what are you talking about?!¡± My head started to ring from my screaming, ¡°EUGH¡­¡± I crouched down on the ground, and started to hold my head from the pain, ¡°Stop saying¡­ we¡¯re gonna die!¡±


    ¡°T-take it easy, Robbie calm down!¡± Zion tried, ¡°Don¡¯t forget where we are right now!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, we¡¯re in school. I always knew this place would be the death of me. HAH!¡±


    ¡°STOP! Just stop¡­ we don¡¯t have time for this right now¡­¡± Elijah said, leaning against the wall, covering his face a little, not wanting to register what was just said from his friend. ¡°We just need to get out of here. Or¡­ we might not after all. ¡­Maybe Rob¡¯s right. We¡¯re just parading to our deaths.¡± Sounding defeated, he slid down the wall, onto the floor.


    Eli saying that didn¡¯t help the situation at all one bit. In fact it made it worse. Our resolve was already on the verge of breaking, but that might¡¯ve been the nail in the coffin.


    All of them started to stare at the ground aimlessly. The atmosphere turned dark and melancholy. Thinking about the impending inevitable. It¡¯s despairing. The feeling is crushing us.


    Is there any hope in their eyes? If there was, I wish I could see at least a twinkle. We need to get our heads in the game fast. We have to¡­ we need to! Or¡­ we might as well consider ourselves food for those monsters.


    ¡°We¡¯re never gonna make it out of here. This place is something we can¡¯t even comprehend¡­ stuff like this¡­ shouldn''t exist¡­¡± Ryan blurted out, not a sliver of hope in his voice.


    ¡°Haha¡­ haha! You¡¯re right¡­ has god abandoned us? ¡­Why?" Zion said. I turned around to face him, only to be met with him on the ground holding back tears in his eyes.


    We can¡¯t give up. Not yet. I have to say something¡­ anything. But would my words even reach them? ¡­NO! I have to try.


    ¡°g-GUYS!¡± I yelled, managing to grab ahold of their attention. ¡°We¡­ we can¡¯t stop! Not now! We can get out. N-now I know this looks bad, hell even now i¡¯m not in the best of shape¡­ but w-we can¡¯t give up hope! We¡¯re gonna get out of here, we have to.¡±


    It was as if I said nothing at all. The despair they felt overpowered my hopeful words. The look on the faces of my friends was straight out of a nightmare. This is not what I wanted.


    ¡°If either of us were alone right now¡­ we would surely be goners already, right?


    I gotta tell it to em straight. There¡¯s no sugar coating our predicament.


    ¡°There¡¯s no one we can wait for to come and save us. In fact, at the pace we¡¯re going, Rob¡¯ll be right. We¡¯re just walking corpses. ¡­But that isn¡¯t something I want. That isn¡¯t what you guys want. I know it is.¡±


    I struggled to my feet as I stood up, ¡°Enough! I¡¯m still standing aren¡¯t I?! A face as broken as mine, yet I look stronger than all of you right now!¡±


    I have more right to be angry then all of them right now. They wanna give up now?! What was the meaning, the point of the other times then?!


    ¡°Have some pride! Where¡¯s your will to live?! I didn¡¯t think I was friends with a bunch of Wusses!¡±


    I started to grip my head from aching, throbs of pain surging through my head. The sight of that made all of them lift their heads.


    ¡°I¡¯m not ready to give up. Surely if either of us were alone right now, we¡¯d be dead. But the five of us are together! You guys are my best friends, and I refuse to lose any of you¡­¡±


    I removed my now bloodsoaked hand from my head, and began gripping my chest with determination.


    ¡°I¡¯m still fighting¡­ Fight with me!¡±


    Hearing my words, and seeing the determination in my eyes through the broken state of my body. They saw I wasn¡¯t ready to give up hope just yet. Seeing a man before them who¡¯s willing to move even as blood falls from him, they knew that they couldn¡¯t be the ones to give up.


    ¡°Depending on how long it¡¯s been, our families are probably worried sick about us. We¡¯re going to survive! We¡¯re gonna make it back to all of them! Don¡¯t give up yet¡­ Please don¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right Louis¡­.¡± Elijah said, with a new look in his eyes, ¡°We have to look on the bright side, we all still have each other. That alone can get us through this, and out of here. ¡­Back to our homes.¡±


    The rest of them, with a more confident head, began to look up with more hopeful eyes.


    I¡¯m grateful. But now for a change of topic.


    ¡°Do any of you have an idea of where we might be?¡± I said with a concerned look on my face, hoping they knew anything. But unfortunately, they all seem to be just as clueless as I am. ¡°Nothing huh¡­ dang.¡±


    That was to be expected, as much I wanted to think otherwise.


    ¡°Sorry it¡¯s just¡­ well¡­ hmmm. I actually don¡¯t know how I got here. Last thing I remember is going to bed, then you guys waking me up, and I was¡­ well, here.¡± Ryan said with a puzzled look.


    Woah. so they were all doing things as well before this happened. ¡°That¡¯s bizarre. What about you guys? How¡¯d y¡¯all get here?¡±


    ¡°Well for me¡­¡± Elijah said, scratching his head. ¡°Well¡­¡±


    I could hear the hesitation in his voice. ¡°Take your time. My head isn¡¯t the only one that¡¯s hurting from all this I bet.¡±


    He let out a deep sigh. ¡°I broke up with Eliza. It was night out and I was walking home from her house, then suddenly I was in a white room with all of you, as if I was transported there. One second I was walking on a concrete road, the next I felt my feet leave the air and fall on the floor we¡¯re standing on now. Ryan sleeping, Zion and Robbie crying, and you¡­ dead on the ground¡­¡±


    ¡°Woah, I was already creeped out by the time you said you were suddenly transported¡­ but damn man, I''m sorry to hear that also.¡±


    The other¡¯s tried to express their sympathies as well.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be, the air headed hoe cheated on me.¡± His entire demeanor changed, he looks angry. ¡°I came over and walked in on both of them, I beat the fuck out of the guy and it took everything in me to not hit her as well. I swear I could hear the very first time my mom told me not to hit a girl echoing in my brain. She had no right to feel sorry or scared! You were only sorry because I caught you red handed and was gonna beat both of your asses!¡±


    His anger quickly turned to an emotion even Elijah couldn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°Two and a half years¡­ for what? It¡¯s stupid¡­ stupid¡­¡±


    I could tell he was hurting, hell they were dating damn near all throughout high school. But cheating¡­ I don¡¯t think any of us know what to say to him. I wouldn¡¯t even if I did go through the same thing.


    ¡°Keep your head up man, there¡¯s more-¡±


    ¡°Yeah yeah more fish in the sea and what not, I know. Just drop it.¡± He interrupted.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t gonna say that, but yeah you¡¯re right.¡± I think that¡¯s about all he¡¯s ready to say on the matter. I think it¡¯d be best to leave it be for now.


    ¡°What about you Zion? Wait¡­ Eli said you were crying, what was that all about?¡± I said, concerned for my friend.


    ¡°I-I was uhhh¡­ at the hospital.¡± He said looking away while he talked.


    ¡°At the hospital? Why would y-¡±


    ¡°Louis, wait!¡± Elijah screamed.


    I was confused. Why did he do that?


    I started to notice tears coming from Zion¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Zion¡­ before¡­ you texted me as I was walking from Eliza¡¯s House¡­ I''m so sorry.¡±


    ¡°Why? What happened?¡± I asked. I¡¯m so confused.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ I didn¡¯t wanna say anything because I thought it¡¯d only make the mood even darker after what Robbie told us¡­ but¡­ my grandma, the one who i¡¯ve been visiting in the hospital¡­ I got a call saying she passed while she was supposed to be taking a nap¡­ I rushed to the hospital, not caring about check in or security. I busted open the door to her room, only to be met with her body laying in bed with none of her vitals showing on the monitor,¡± he paused for a moment trying to wipe his own tears from his face. ¡°T-there was b-...blood coming out from her body¡­ h-her n-nose, e-eyes-¡±


    ¡°Zion! Stop, it¡¯s okay.¡± I said, reassuring him he doesn¡¯t have to say any more.


    ¡°Y-yeah, thank you, I''m just¡­ still a little shocked is all. Like I can¡¯t comprehend what happened, I know she died but¡­¡± Tears start to fill his face once more. ¡°Visiting her¡­ cracking jokes with her, w-we¡­ we have no more time together¡­ no more¡­ she¡¯s really gone.¡±


    It seems like we¡¯ve all been through the ringer before being sent to this place.


    Me and Elijah walk up to him and start to help him up to his feet. ¡°Zion, we¡¯re for you man.¡±


    ¡°We can talk about it later¡­ after we escape,¡± He said faintly, finally managing to the flow of tears.


    ¡°This has to be the worst timing ever. I¡¯m sorry for your loss, and that all of you have to be dealing with this right now.¡± Ryan said, feeling sympathy for all of us. ¡°I know I probably won¡¯t be able to do much, but please don¡¯t be afraid to depend on me if the situation calls for it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a little quiet like Louis, and Zion, that¡¯s funny, but thank you. I really appreciate it. Any friend of Marrion is a friend of mine.¡± Elijah said with a smile, laughing a little.


    I¡¯d be lying if I said that didn¡¯t make me smile, because it did. But, ¡°You dummy, you¡¯re still here too, we¡¯re here for you just as much. Depend on us just as much as we will you.¡± I said with a smile, extending my arm, giving him a thumbs up. I would probably appear crazy to the average person if they saw how happy I looked, while covered in my own blood, ¡°Thank you, I''m happy to see you after all these years, regardless of our hellish circumstances.¡±


    Ryan¡¯s face started to widen with a smile, he started to scratch his head and look away a little. ¡°T-thank you, we¡¯ll get out of here. I know we will.¡±


    ¡°T-thank you Ryan,it means a lot.¡± Zion said, wiping his face of tears.


    Robbie sprung up to his feet, pointing a finger at us.¡°Hey! Don¡¯tttttttt leave me out of the emotional moment-¡±


    Suddenly, The strange patterns of the walls started to light up. The outlines of the patterns started to glow even brighter. Then with a loud clanking noise, the walls started to open up in a twisting fashing.


    As if the situation couldn¡¯t have gotten any more unpredictable, More of those twisted demon security guards started pouring out from behind it.


    Without wasting a second breath, I shouted. ¡°GET DOWN THE STAIRS NOW!¡±


    Without a moment to lose, we all took off down the stairs.


    Some of us jumped down a few of the steps or even over some of the railings when we were low enough to do so, not caring about the risk of landing wrong or falling. Any means that widened the distance between us and those things were welcomed. Stopping now would mean dying a fast and cruel death.


    My body feels like it¡¯s on fire, I don¡¯t have adrenaline helping me anymore. My head is beating in pain, it¡¯s hard to breathe, and my legs feel like they are about to cramp. I can hear a tiny voice in the back of my head telling me to just stop running, but I''m using that as motivation to keep going. I don¡¯t wanna get caught by those things.


    Please¡­ there has to be some type of exit. Wait¡­


    As I''m running down a flight of stairs I tilt my head over to look at the ground and sure enough through my red field of vision, I can see the ground¡­ and a door leading out of here!


    ¡°g-GUYS! There¡¯s an exit at the bottom of the stairs! Get ready!¡± I shouted, preparing them.


    As we made it to the last set of stairs, I got a little ahead of myself and jumped off, halfway off the steps. Although I landed it, I couldn¡¯t handle the momentum and ended up slipping and crashing head first into the right side of the double door.


    ¡°Gahh¡­ dam¡­ mit¡± I wept.


    ¡°LOUIS!¡±


    They all made it to the end of the stairs. Elijah, and Ryan helped me up while Zion held open one of the doors for us all to pass through.


    ¡°We have to¡­ We have to go! We have to go! God we have to go!¡± Robbie said with terror in his voice.


    After they helped me up and made sure I was good to go, we started running again.


    I think we¡¯re on the first floor now. The scenery isn¡¯t all too different from its usual white tone, but as we ran through the hallways, we passed by dozens of lockers, even some classrooms, I think I even spotted a bathroom once. How long is this hallway¡­ no how big is this school?!


    Suddenly, we made our way into the middle of a large empty area. Standing in the middle, we could see dozens of different pathways leading off into different hallways, with some that looked like they had no end in sight, while others had doors that led to only who knows where. There were also different staircases leading upstairs and downstairs, even some hung off of the ceiling. It all felt eerie and looked unreal.


    ¡°T-this place¡­ what is this place?!¡± Zion asked, looking scared.


    ¡°It¡¯s like a mini and weird looking Times Square.¡± Elijah uttered, not being able to believe what he¡¯s seeing.


    ¡°D-do you guy¡¯s think we¡¯re on earth? It¡¯s like Hogwarts¡­¡± Ryan asked, also in disbelief.


    The others pondered at the question, reeling that our situation might be even more twisted than it seems. Robbie sat on the ground and started to mutter a prayer under his breath.


    This place is breathtaking. The sheer size of this room is probably half of our school¡­ maybe more.


    The entire scenery of this location has me in awe. It looks twisted, yet beautiful in an uncanny sort of way. Judging from those staircases going up towards the ceiling, we¡¯d probably look like ants from here.


    My eyes were nearly closed from squinting them, trying to see if I could spot anything else above us. I spotted a bunch of Speaker phones, spread out a few feet from each other. They covered the entire wall, just a little below the ceiling.


    Just how up is that¡­?


    ¡°Holy shit¡­¡±


    It was weird, where do all these paths lead? And which way would we even go?


    Damn¡­


    I start to look around, trying to see if I can spot any clues. There¡¯s nothing to be found in this room. Just imagining having to cross to the other side is a nightmare for my legs.


    The pure white color of the room is making my eyes turn, and my head throb even more.


    ¡°I¡¯m not gonna lie¡­ we¡¯re just gonna have to say fuck it and pick one. Stairs¡­ or a hallway.¡± The best solution I could come up with.


    ¡°I applaud your enthusiasm Louis but I don¡¯t even think we would know where to begin.¡± Ryan said, peering up at the different staircases on the ceiling.


    ¡°Well maybe- EUGH!¡± I fell back, collapsing on the floor. My head feels like I just banged it against a car. I started to hold my head with both of my hands in pain as I curled up into a ball on the ground.


    Everyone started to run towards me to make sure i¡¯m okay. Zion and Eli kneeled down, trying to see if there¡¯s any way they can give support to my head.


    ¡°M-my head¡­ it hurts¡­¡± My voice cried out as my eyes started to tear up from the pain, I sniffled my nose repeatedly to stop snot from coming out of it.


    ¡°I think he¡¯s losing too much blood! He might pass out soon!¡±


    My eyesight started to look fuzzy and I started to feel dizzy. I could barely even tell who was speaking.


    ¡°Pass out?! Will he survive that¡­?! Cmon Louis you gotta stay awake!¡±


    ¡°One of us might have to carry him!¡±


    If I lose consciousness now¡­ I might die. I have to¡­ stay¡­ awake!


    A loud ringing sound started to play from the speakers, hurting my ears more, causing the pain in my head to increase.


    My body twitches and spasms from the pain. The ringing from the speakers felt as if it was vibrating against my skull.


    I began screaming in agony, hoping my friends could come up with anything to aid me in my current state.


    Am I gonna die again?


    ¡°Attention all students, class has concluded for the day. Unless you have club activities, please exit the building swiftly, and safely so you can make it to your ride or bus on time, so you can go home. See you all tomorrow morning.¡± A soft echo spoke out from the speakers.

 Chapter 5: Attention All Staff And Security Personnel

    ENTER ZION MATTHEWS


    ¡°S-so what are we going to do?!¡± I asked, panicking now that Louis was unconscious.


    Suddenly, students started to flood the halls in a fast manner. They all looked different somehow, like people but hollow. They started passing us, going in all directions. They seemed to be harmless, but we were getting crowded fast from them trying to leave.


    ¡°Shit someone pick up Louis before he gets trampled!¡± Elijah screamed.


    Without a moment to spare, me and Ryan helped each other pick Louis up by his shoulders.


    ¡°What are we gonna do?¡± Ryan asked desperately.


    ¡°I know! Put him on my back!¡± I said, getting into the position to perform a piggyback ride. One person ran into me hitting me in the head, but they continued moving like nothing happened.


    The same started to happen to all of us. We¡¯re getting shoved and pushed around. It feels like we¡¯re gonna drown in this crowd, it¡¯s too many people!


    ¡°Zion, you sure you wanna be the one to carry him, I¡¯m more than willing too.¡± Elijah asked, worrying if I¡¯ll be able to handle it. ¡°I don¡¯t wanna berate you¡­ but you¡¯re the smallest one here, size wise.¡±


    I let out a deep breath and lifted up, standing up with Louis on my back with his arms and legs wrapped around my body. I was also holding his arms as a support as well so he wouldn¡¯t fall back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I got this.¡± I said, reassuring everyone.¡±


    More and more people start to flood the hallways. This is all moving way too fast, we haven¡¯t had a moment of rest¡­! What if a guard tries to catch us off guard in this mess?!


    ¡°We got to move! Follow me, and stay close to each other!¡± Elijah roared.


    We started pushing our way through the crowd. It was hard for me to get through, especially with Louis on my back. But I have to keep going. I¡¯m praying for you man¡­ please be okay. We¡¯ve all lost so much today¡­ I don¡¯t wanna lose you too.


    ¡°Stay together! It¡¯s starting to become too much!¡±


    I could hear Ryan screaming, but I could just barely see his shoulder. I¡¯m starting to get cut off! ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s too many people!¡± I cried out. As we were running I started to get overcrowded more, and more, eventually getting cut off altogether from everyone.


    ¡°Some- someone help! I need one of you!¡± I yelled out, hoping one of them heard. More, and more people started to flood around me and Louis in all directions, trapping us in a small circle, they started to bump into me on every side. It felt like some of them even elbowed me in my back and stomach. The endless entourage caused me to fall on the ground and drop Louis on the floor. He fell back and landed on the back of his head¡­!


    ¡°No¡­ s-Stop! Where is¡­ everyone¡­¡± I said holding my shoulder in pain from landing on it wrong. I turned to look at Louis on the floor and we were starting to get cut off from one another from people walking all over us. ¡°...Louis!¡±


    They were starting to overtake us, I could feel some of them starting to run into me more and more. Their feet kicked me as they walked, their legs feel like I''m getting hit with iron. ¡°Not like this¡­ please¡­¡±


    ¡°HE¡¯S SIXTEEN! GET OFF OF THE MINOR!¡± A voice rang out in the distance.


    I could hear some of the students start to cry out. Is that¡­ Robbie?! He was fighting his way through the crowd to get to us, well, I wouldn¡¯t really call it fighting, more like him hitting the shit out of everyone in his way. ¡°I- we¡¯re over here!¡±


    Making his way to us he punched another person on the ground. He had a furious look on his face, combined with how red his eyes are right now, they probably think he¡¯s a monster. ¡°You guys can have Louis though, he¡¯s eighteen!¡± Robbie yelled, dropping his intense face into a smile when he spotted us. ¡°You guys! C''mon we got to get out of here!¡±


    ¡°Help me pick up Louis real quick! He¡¯s over there past those people!¡± I said, pointing towards the encirclement they formed around him.


    ¡°I got you! Rush them with me!¡± He began running towards them, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, they don¡¯t fight back!¡± Hearing that gave me some confidence as I started to rush towards the crowd of people with him.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Robbie shoved a bunch of them out of their way to get through, while I took a more practical approach. I jumped up, and staged dived my way to get through,


    ¡°Ah! I did it!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right there!¡±


    We dashed over to the middle. Robbie helped pick up and position Louis back on my back, but suddenly we started to hear the same loud ringing noise as before from the speakers.


    ¡°Attention all staff and security personnel. We have multiple violent entities causing harm to students. Find them and neutralize them.¡± A soft voice rang out once again from the speakers overhead.


    ¡°Neu- neutralize?! What the hell do they mean neutralize?!¡± I screamed, looking at Robbie with a scared look on my face. He gave me the same expression.


    A look of even greater horror covered their faces as the loud, hideous tone of scraping sounds could be heard, echoing against the hard, white floor. The sound began increasing in volume by the second. A familiar presence will soon appear again.


    ¡°Are they¡­ heading for us¡­?


    ¡°W-where are they coming from¡­?! Are we gonna-¡±


    ¡°Come on, we have to catch up to the others!¡± I said, not wanting to despair over the situation any more than we already have. If we don¡¯t survive, Louis enduring all this pain would be for nothing¡­


    Not wasting another second, we started running back the way we came. Robbie was in front to guide, and protect me and Louis from the onslaught of students. But no matter how many people we shove by, it feels like we¡¯ve barely made any distance. I can¡¯t spot any of the others, there¡¯s just too many people. And I¡­ I can hear the guards getting closer¡­!


    ¡°Z-Zion! Look!¡±


    Stopping and looking up above the people, A trail of students were being flung up through the air, something was running towards them at a violent pace, so much so that it¡¯s knocking away everything in its path. Causing a spectacle of destruction for the eye to gaze upon.


    ¡°What the hell is causing that?! What is that thing?!¡± Robbie screamed. His body began twitching in fear. His body itching him to run, yet he stood there, too scared to move even a toe.


    ¡°I think¡­ I think it¡¯s a guard! Dammit, turn this way!¡± I turned and ran in a different direction away from the incoming threat. Robbie followed, we pushed our way through the crowd more, and more violently.


    All of these students need to get out of the way!


    Suddenly I could hear the same onslaught of students getting thrown in the air, looking up, the guard was much closer than last time. I can hear the sounds of its legs so clear now, as if it¡¯s about to be right in front of me at any second!


    What do we do? It¡¯s too close! If we run they¡¯ll just knock into us like the students- ¡°TURN BACK AROUND!¡±


    ¡°No Zion, that¡¯s not the same one, it¡¯s a second one!¡±


    What?!


    I turned facing a direction that I thought would be away from them but doing so only brought more horror to my eyes.


    ¡°W-what-¡±


    Dozens of students were being flung in all directions. The security guards are coming at us from all sides.


    We¡¯re¡­ We¡¯re gonna be boxed in¡­!


    ¡°Robbie we¡¯re trapped!¡± I screamed out in terror.


    ¡°Shit shit shit shit, nononono! We have to find a way out!¡± Robbie screamed, trying to find an opening from any side, but it was to no avail. ¡°If we don¡¯t find a way out¡­ we¡¯re dead!¡±


    Maybe¡­ Cmon! Something? Something?! There has to be something! I¡¯m gonna die¡­ I don¡¯t wanna die! It¡¯s not¡­ it¡¯s not supposed to go this way!


    ¡­Grandma¡­ please save me¡­.


    ¡°C''mon! We can still get-¡±


    ¡­


    They¡¯re here¡­.


    All of the people that were within close proximity to us were no more, bodies thrown and flung out of the way. We¡¯re surrounded. There¡¯s six of them. Six of these twisted creatures eying us down like food.


    Me and Robbie aren¡¯t moving. I don¡¯t think either one of us can move. We¡¯re frozen, scared.


    They¡¯re just standing there, staring back at us. Are they taunting us?


    Could they escape, while also carrying the now, incapacitated Louis. This looming atmosphere of murderous intent caused a wave of despair and helplessness in the spirits of the two. This must be the feeling of being seen as prey. Hunger for a beast they cannot understand. An animal for their instincts.


    The tension drowned out the sounds of the numerous students parading by.


    This is it¡­.


    This is¡­


    Robbie gathered whatever courage he had left, and let out what sounded to be a war-cry. He grabbed my arm and started to run, dragging my feet along causing me to jog along.


    What was he hoping to achieve? There¡¯s nowhere to run¡­


    Tears started to fill my eyes. I started to move my legs more, running with him, holding on to Louis tightly with my other arm.


    We¡¯re marching to our graves¡­


    ¡°NOT YET! I DON¡¯T WANNA FALL TO SUCH CREATURES!¡± His cry carried a hint of desperation, but also a sliver of hope in its wake.


    I guess our plan is to try and run through a small gap between two of the guards. We¡¯d just have to worry about pushing through more people.


    Just a couple feet away from the gap and the guards have yet to react to our movements. We might actually have a chance!


    ¡°It''s working, they haven¡¯t reacted yet! We¡¯re almost there-¡±


    In an instant, a flash could be seen from the corner of my eye, and all that followed after was pain.


    A large thumping sound echoed throughout the room, Sounds of torn flesh and cracking bones echoed through the area.


    What¡­ happened¡­ to me¡­?


    ¡°ZION!¡± I could hear Robbie crying out in the distance. He ran over to me.


    I¡¯m¡­ on the ground? Where¡¯s¡­ Louis¡­?


    ¡°Zion nonono please! GOD!¡± Robbie started to hold me tightly as tears came out of his eyes.


    ¡°What¡­ happened¡­ Rob?¡± I struggled to get out. He then got off me and what I laid my eyes on made the pain even more unbearable.


    To Zion¡¯s horror, his chest and stomach were covered with bruises and gashes all over, completely covering his torso. Blood was pouring out fast. If there was even an ounce of more force in that blow, it would have surely carved a hole through his body.


    Before Zion or Robbie could get another word out, one of the guards rushed up in front of them, picking Zion up by the head. It delivered another fatal kick to the same spot as before, launching him flying into the air. The impact from the kick caused blood to spurt from his mouth as he flew.


    ¡°wh¡­at¡­¡±


    Looking down I couldn¡¯t even see Robbie anymore, only the vast gigantic crowd of students. I started falling down further and further. It started to get darker the further I fell. It was fast yet felt as if time had slowed down a little. I could see the railings of a large staircase as I descended.


    I¡¯m gonna die.

 Chapter 6: A Siren鈥檚 Call

    How long have I been laying here?


    I was laid down upon his back, upon a bed of sunflowers. The fall feels like I''ve been embedded into the ground.


    The only thing I can see is the white, and silver staircase going up and up. I can¡¯t even see the top.


    ¡°Augh-¡±


    I can¡¯t move my body. How am I alive? I was sure that thing killed me¡­ and that drop, how far did I fall?


    ¡°R-Rob¡­Bie¡±


    No matter how much I try, I can''t move my body¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t even move my neck. Every attempt only caused more pain to soar through my body. Did I break some bones? No it has to be more than just some.


    The more I tried to speak the more intense the pain in my face and mouth got, causing me to spit up some blood. I hated it¡¯s iron taste in my mouth. And that doesn''t even account for how the rest of my body feels¡­


    It was cold, the silence started to make me paranoid. How long until those things find me again? I can¡¯t stay here, I have to get to the others.


    ¡°...eugh-AHHHHHHH,¡± I tried to call out for help but was only met with pained grunts and more blood coming from my mouth.


    I don¡¯t know what to do. Wait¡­ what about the others?! Are they alive?! What happened to Robbie, and Louis?! We were surrounded¡­ and what about Elijah, and Ryan?! What happened to them?! Just where could they have gone¡­ or¡­ did they get surrounded as well?


    They could be in a worse state than me right now¡­ They¡­


    My mind burned with imaginative images of their deaths. One by one, I could see all of them Dying in their own fast, and gruesome way. A death they didn¡¯t even have a chance to comprehend.


    My heart started to ache, as my eyes began to cry out for them.


    They can¡¯t be¡­ no¡­


    Me being on death''s doorstep doesn¡¯t make it any better for the imagination. We all came to a place we know nothing about¡­ and are dying in ways we can¡¯t understand¡­


    Is this the end? I don¡¯t wanna die¡­ I really don¡¯t¡­


    Why today¡­It''s not fair¡­


    First grandma¡­ now me, and my friends¡­


    What kind of rotten luck do I have¡­? Why do I have to die in such a way¡­?


    I just wanted to finish out the school year with my friends by my side, and my grandmother alive. I said numerous times that if I could change places with her I would¡­ but what does dying now do for me?


    It does nothing¡­ I get nothing.


    I¡¯ve lost so much in just one day. I just wanna go home¡­ I just wanna be in my room not worrying about anything else in the world.


    ¡­


    What would grandma do¡­? What would she do¡­?


    My grandma¡­ she said¡­ When I''m scared, pray. How could I pray? Would that really save me?


    I started to think about my grandma, and all the times she would have me pray with her. She always felt stronger afterwards.


    Maybe¡­. I¡¯ll become strong too. If I pray¡­ God will save me.


    I plead with you, it is not my time to go yet¡­


    Through the pain, and through my bloodied tongue, ¡­I began praying.


    ¡°S-so¡­ do not¡­ f-fear¡­ f-for I-I¡­ am wi- ¡­with you¡­ do¡­ not be¡­. D-dismayed¡­ f-for¡­ I-I am¡­ y-your God! I-I w-will¡­ s-strengthen you¡­ and¡­ h-help y-you¡­¡± I began to cough up more blood. ¡°I w-will¡­ uphold you¡­ with my¡­ righteous hand¡­!¡±


    Amen.


    ******


    Enter Elijah Wilson


    ¡°BRING IT ON YA BASTARDS!¡± I shouted at the top of my lungs, facing the three security guards in front of me and Ryan.


    ¡°They need to get here fast, what is taking them so long?!¡± Ryan shouted, trying to look for them in the crowd, ¡°Do you think they got caught as well?!¡±


    ¡°...,¡± They aren¡¯t moving, why aren¡¯t they moving?! Is it a trick?! Whatever it is, I see it as a blessing for giving me more time to think, but having a closer look at them¡­ those things could definitely kill us easily. ¡­Is that the only analogy I can come up with for right now?!


    For fucks sake.


    ¡°Screw it! Follow me!¡± I barked at Ryan while I began to run away from the guards, barging my way through the crowd, he followed me not wanting to be left behind.


    I¡¯m not dying here. No chance in hell. I get cheated on, now I''m dealing with horrors beyond my comprehension. Who the fuck did the karma hit for christ sake.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Me and Ryan shoved our way through the crowd not even bothering to look behind us. We know they¡¯re there, chasing us. If these students were hostile, we¡¯d be screwed. We started to shout, calling out to see if any of the other¡¯s could hear us.


    C''mon Zion and Robbie have to be around here somewhere! Did something happen?! Should I have carried Louis?! No¡­ I Can''t think this way. They probably ran into some of those guards as well, but that¡¯s equally worse! And that announcement¡­!


    I just gotta hope that they¡¯re alive and trying to escape just like we are. They are, I know they are! C''mon Elijah! Don¡¯t let this stop you! I¡¯m. Going. To. Fucking. Live.


    ¡°STOP RUNNING- STOP!¡± Ryan screams at the top of his lungs.


    What? I looked up. The sight that caught my eye was a horror. A being unimaginable in the real world. I-I can¡¯t describe it¡­ wait is that¡­ you guys? You guys are here! I see them! They¡¯re really here! They''re trying to get me, and Ryan to come over to them. Are we safe?! I think we are. Thank you thank you thank you.


    I started to walk further and further towards them, there¡¯s a bright light flashing from them but I pay it no mind. ¡°My friends, you''re here.¡± Tears started to feel my eyes from joy. ¡°C''mon Ryan, we don¡¯t have a moment to lose-¡±


    ¡°ELIJAH NO!¡± A voice rang out, piercing my eyes.


    Suddenly my vision shifted. What? I could see Ryan pushing me away, I fell back onto the ground. Why does he have that look on his face, he looks terrified. Ryan stared at me before his eyes started to glow and he started to walk forward.


    ¡°W-what¡­ why is he doing that?!¡± Turning to see where he¡¯s walking to, my eyes catch sight of the being I laid eyes on before. It looked¡­ beautiful.


    Her bright porcelain skin. Those big, cute, blue eyes. Her beautiful long blonde hair.


    She has curves that compliments her slender frame, and those bright blue and pink scales that shone across her tail fin as she sang made her look ever the more elegant.


    ¡°S-she¡¯s a mermaid! I¡­ I can¡¯t believe it. It''s real! ¡­how?¡± I murmured in disbelief, but my attention started to turn to Ryan once more, once I saw him getting closer and closer to her.


    The color of his eyes reflected the blue field of light blaring from the mermaid''s eyes.


    It doesn¡¯t look like of his own will.


    ¡°Wait! ¡­What are you doing to him?!¡±


    She didn¡¯t even bat an eye at me. So focused, so in tune with her singing. It¡¯s beautiful¡­ her voice. She¡¯s lovely, everything about her, it makes my heart quiver before her.


    She¡¯s perfect. A doll. A woman deserving of the highest applause.


    My mouth hung wide, as drool leaked from it like a dog.


    I¡¯m getting hot¡­


    I wonder¡­ was she calling for me¡­?


    Her singing from before. It was for me, not another¡­


    She wants me to come to her. Her singing is beckoning me, begging me to come to her.


    She¡¯s mine.


    The singing that Ryan is hearing¡­ His ears don¡¯t deserve such soothing. It was not to be heard by the likes of him.


    He¡¯s¡­ trying to steal her from me¡­ that¡¯s why he pushed me out of the way¡­


    That bastard¡­ He means to take my dove!


    I won¡¯t let him. I¡¯d rather kill myself, then let the likes of him take her away from me.


    You messed up¡­


    I¡¯m gonna bash your skull in¡­!


    ¡°Homewrecker.¡±


    In a fit of rage, I broke into a sprint, dashing at a violent pace towards him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll use your trick against you, petty asshole!¡±


    Blocking out the world around me, I didn''t care if more guards showed up. If they come, I''ll take Eliza and we¡¯ll run away together! Ryan can go fuck himself for all I care.


    After closing the distance, just about three meters away, I jumped forward.


    ¡°BACK THE HELL OFF!¡±


    Reaching him, I wrapped my arms around his body, tackling him to the ground.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you take her from me! Stay away from Eliza!¡±


    He looked me in the eyes, fuming with a rage of his own, he began screaming at me.


    ¡°What are you going on about?! Your lousy ex isn¡¯t here! These are my dreams right before my eyes! I won¡¯t let you stop me!¡±


    He began thrashing his body, trying to fight me off of his back. My weight was too much for him and he continued to struggle.


    The rage in his eyes grew more intense every second I continued to lay on top of him. His mouth began foaming as he screamed out, cursing my existence.


    ¡°EUGH screw you! You won¡¯t stop me! You won¡¯t fucking stop me! This is my freedom!¡±


    ¡°How delusional. You see my woman as an escape. Dumb.¡± I gripped the back of his hair and lifted his head closer to mine, ¡°You''re not shit! Hardly worth a box of rocks, you stupid motherfu-...¡±


    I froze in horror at the unruly sight before me.


    What was I doing?


    I stared down at Ryan, while I held the back of his head by its hairs. Looking into his eyes, they shone a dark, shadowy blue color. The veins on his neck were bulging, bigger than they would normally be.


    ¡°Ry¡­an¡­¡±


    He¡¯s fuming, he sounds like he¡¯s speaking in tongues. He¡¯s fighting desperately to get free from my grasp. He¡¯s not as skinny as I thought he was.


    Foam started to fly on me as he shook his head, trying to free it. He managed to break free from my grasp, doing so, he slammed the back of his head into my face, causing blood to spurt out as I fell off on top of him.


    ¡°Loser. Dreams don¡¯t exist for shitheads like you!¡±


    As he began to run away, he kicked the side of my face, causing me to roll over in pain. Gripping my face from the pain, I could see him run back to the bright field of blue light through the gaps in my fingers.


    ¡°Ryan¡­ wait¡­¡±


    Liza¡­ Help me¡­


    Wait¡­ why did I think it was her¡­? That mermaid¡­


    Something¡¯s off.


    She looks so much like her¡­ but she¡¯s not her.


    And we broke up. Done.


    So why¡­


    She was controlling me. The reason me and Ryan fought, and the way she looks so much like her¡­


    She has to be putting us in some kind trance!


    ¡°It has to be that light! When I was facing away from it, it must¡¯ve broken the spell she had over me!¡±


    Without wasting another second, I got up and started to hurry towards him.


    I¡¯m afraid of what might happen if he reaches her!


    ¡°Ryan, snap out of it! I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s doing but you have to stop going near her! She¡¯s dangerous!¡±


    He¡¯s not stopping! I need to do something fast!


    Maybe if I push him out of the flowing ray coming from her eyes like he did me¡­ then maybe he¡¯ll start to think clearer again. But I have to make sure I don¡¯t fall for her trance or whatever it is again. If me and him start brawling again, it¡¯ll be the end of both of us.


    The sound of her voice began to increase in tune, almost deafening the ears. The sound of her voice made it hard to breathe, my heart shuddered before her presence.


    It¡¯s her singing¡­ I need to be careful!


    ¡°Here I go!¡± I sped up pace, running full speed ahead towards him once again. Once I got close enough, I lunged my body at him, tackling him out of the glowing ray coming from her eyes, ¡°Snap out of it!¡± I yelled, giving him a hard smack on his face, hoping it would be enough to break her trance.


    ¡°Ughhhhh,¡± He let out a large gasp of air, ¡°...Y-you¡­ did it¡­¡±


    ¡°What is that thing trying to do?!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s trying to eat us. Look at it now, that¡¯s no damn mermaid.¡±


    He was right, turning around, what I saw was not the captivating being from before. Her eyes were dark, devoid of any life. Her skin was wrinkly and torn. Her teeth were as sharp as those nails on her fingers. Her hair stood up floating as if she were still underwater. The noises that came from her were not a song, but a cry of wrath.


    ¡°It''s a siren.¡±


    ¡°Is there a difference?!¡±


    ¡°Does it matter now?!¡± He pushed his cracked glasses upwards, fixing them. ¡°Help me up, please!¡±


    ¡°C''mon! We got to go!¡± I said helping him up to his feet, but before I could the Siren rushed me, and tackled me to the ground in the same manner I did to Ryan.


    ¡°Watch out!¡±


    ¡°AUGH- AHHHHH¡±


    I screamed in agony as its sharp teeth came seeking into my shoulder. As it mounted on top of me, it began clawing at the sides of my stomach.


    ¡°AUGH- RYAN PLEASE! GET IT OFF OF ME! GET IT OFF!¡± I screamed at Ryan. It tried to bite down on my neck but I managed to pull my hands up in time holding her back by the neck, but she¡¯s not letting up, she¡¯s determined to bite me. She¡¯s trying to kill me!


    ¡°I¡¯m trying! I-It won¡¯t budge!¡± he screamed, trying to pull her off of me.


    ¡°She¡¯s too strong! ¡­RYAN PLEASE!¡± I could hold its head back but it¡¯s still clawing at my sides, I can see Ryan trying to pull her from her by the hair now, but to no avail. She won¡¯t budge.


    No! I don¡¯t wanna die, I don¡¯t want to!


    ¡°Elijah I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m trying my best! I-I c-can¡¯t! She won¡¯t budge!¡±


    I can¡¯t hold her back for much longer¡­ she¡¯s gonna maul me to death. ¡°R-Ryan I-I can¡¯t¡­ hold her¡­ back¡­. anymore!¡±


    My arms gave out, the grip I had on her neck faltered. Not losing a moment, she bit down hard on my neck. I can see my blood spurting out violently. Her teeth piercing through my neck, the pain was of nothing I''ve ever experienced before. It¡¯s agonizing. She¡¯s tearing through my platysma like it¡¯s nothing. It feels like my head is gonna be chewed off of my body!


    ¡°NO- NO- NO! ELIJAH! Just hold on¡­ a little more!¡±


    He¡¯s pounding on the back of her head viciously, but it¡¯s not even stirring a reaction out of her. He¡¯s trying¡­ but it¡¯s not enough.


    There¡¯s nothing we can do¡­.


    I¡¯m¡­


    I''m done for.

 Chapter 7: A Rude Awakening

    No.


    It isn¡¯t over yet! Why do I have to die? Why not her?! What the fuck is wrong with this world? It¡¯s not fair! It¡¯s not! Why me? Why me?!


    I worked my ass through high school. Kept my nose clean and stayed in line¡­. I stayed faithful to a person who didn¡¯t even feel an ounce of the same way towards me. I finally turned eighteen, and now the world is telling me to screw you, and die?


    No! I hate this! I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!


    He began pounding his fist on the ground as the siren ate from his neck.


    The world thinks I''m just gonna let it chew me up, and spit me out?! I did my best to earn my keep more the next motherfucker ever tried to do!


    Anger was the only thing befitting of describing Elijah¡¯s current state. He no longer cared for the pain the siren caused, his rage blinding him from the world around him.


    I¡¯m not dying. I¡¯m not! Damn it damn it damn it damn it! I¡¯m gonna kill you! I''m gonna live! I¡¯m going to!


    I¡¯m. Not. Done.


    The boy¡¯s body began to glow as he screamed out.


    Cursing the world for the fate they placed on him, Elijah¡¯s body began to glow brighter and brighter. Is this an awakening for the boy?


    The sudden burst of energy caused a shockwave throughout the area.


    Something is surging through my body.


    But now¡­ I¡¯m floating in the air¡­ Why am I floating?! My injuries¡­ Are they gone?


    What is this feeling¡­? I feel good¡­ Really good.


    I marveled at the sight of my glowing hands.


    ¡°They looked so surreal¡­ I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before. It looks¡­ amazing.¡±


    I looked down at the crowd of students beneath me. It all looked bizarre. From here they looked so small.


    I thought I was gonna die¡­ did I die?


    ¡°This energetic feeling I''m having¡­ I feel powerful.¡± Looking around I spotted the siren, glaring up at me with those empty eyes of hers, screaming at me, completely ignoring my friend next to her.


    Ryan had a look of amazement on his face. He looks as if he completely forgot about the dangerous being next to him. I don¡¯t blame him, even I have no idea what¡¯s happening right now¡­ but I¡­ I feel strong. Stronger than I''ve ever been.


    This green glow around me, what is it?!


    The glow¡­ it¡¯s like when that flower had that black, and whiteness around it, except this time I don¡¯t feel scared around it. It¡¯s making my body feel really strong, I feel like I can do things I wouldn¡¯t be normally capable of.


    I mean well¡­ I am technically flying right now¡­, ¡°Did I¡­ awaken powers?!¡± But how is that possible? It shouldn¡¯t be, is it an effect from being in this strange place? Or is my will to live truly that strong? Whichever one, I''m thankful. I¡¯ve asked myself enough questions, if I wanna survive, I''m gonna have to throw out my natural way of thinking! This place won¡¯t wait for me to adapt, I have to do it now!


    I glared down angrily at the siren. Her previous aggression raced through my mind like wildfire.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ gonna kill you.¡± I said before dashing towards her at a speed I didn¡¯t even know I was capable of, clearing a distance of what was seemingly hundreds of feet.


    Before it could react I grabbed them by the neck, slamming it into the ground. I got on top of the siren, and wrapped my hands tightly around its neck, beginning to squeeze.


    She tried to claw at the sides of my stomach again with her sharp nails, but I lifted her head up, strengthening my grip even more. I smashed her head into the ground, repeatedly, until I saw that it could no longer muster the strength to move its arms.


    I caused a crack in the floor from how hard I was banging its head against the floor. Now that it¡¯s weakened, I began to tighten my grip on its neck, more and more. The sounds of it choking was a sound far greater than its singing.


    ¡°You don¡¯t like that huh?¡± I said taunting the siren. ¡°The feeling you get when your neck is about to burst open, the only difference between me and you, was that mine happened in an instance from those sharp teeth of yours. You don¡¯t have that luxury. I¡¯m not stopping till I see the inside.¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The harder I squeezed the more and more she fought, and squirmed to get me off of her. Blood started to run from her eyes, blood burst from her ears and spat out of her mouth.


    I¡¯m gonna crush her throat.


    Wait¡­ her?!


    Its eyes started to glow once more as blood ran from them. ¡°Why¡­ WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE HER!¡±


    Her red hair, those big brown eyes- NO!


    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna see you¡­. You don¡¯t care for emotions, only your own gain. ¡­I hate you! I hate you! What was it all for, huh?! You never fucking loved me! Three years!


    I started laughing at her like a madman. Directing all my anger and frustration into my words.


    ¡°You know what I could¡¯ve been doing with those three years?! You deserve to be in this hellish place, not me! You and that bastard you decided to lay up with! You did this to me! You¡­! You¡­ I HATE YOU!¡±


    ¡°STOP!¡± Ryan screamed, throwing me off of her. He held me by the shoulders so that I wouldn¡¯t move. ¡°...Y-you¡­ a-already killed it¡±


    ¡°W-what¡­?¡±


    I looked down at my hands, they were stained red from her blood. I looked over at the siren¡¯s lifeless body. Its neck was barely hanging on to its body, blood filled its face.


    ¡°I did that¡­?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have any time to lose, we can think about it later, c¡¯mon!¡± Ryan screamed, pulling me up my feet.


    ¡°...Okay!¡±


    He¡¯s right. There will surely be more. What if the same thing happens to Ryan like what happened to me?! What if I can¡¯t save him when it does happen? I feel strong but those things¡­ they¡¯re too unpredictable. Who knows whatever twisted abomination might appear next! We might die if we stay any longer!¡±


    ¡°More guards are here!¡± He shouted out. We could see dozens of students flying in the air before being met by the presence of eight of them.


    Shit.


    They¡¯re all around us, not leaving a single gap unchecked.


    ¡­I know! This power, it¡¯ll help me!


    ¡°Stay behind me!¡± I barked at Ryan. He didn¡¯t know what I was planning but he listened and moved behind me.


    This aura around me¡­ it can be our key!


    ¡°What are you gonna do?¡± He asked, looking around to see if there¡¯s a safe spot to run away towards.


    ¡°You and I are about to find out.¡±


    If I can move as fast I did earlier than maybe I could take out some of them and give us an opening. But what if they¡¯re faster¡­? Shit, this isn¡¯t the time to be having doubts. Ryan is counting on me, the others are as well!


    The greenness around me started to glow even brighter.


    My field of vision widened, my ears felt more aware of the sounds around me, smells were more precise and distinct due to my nose increasing in sensitivity.


    My senses are sharpening!


    I dashed towards the closest guard in front of us, only taking me two steps to get there. After closing the distance between me and him, I thrusted my leg forward, kicking it, sending it flying back into the crowd. I lunged at the one next to it, grabbing it by the back of the head and slamming it face first into the ground.


    ¡°...Holy shit! I¡¯m doing it!¡±


    ¡°LOOK OUT!¡±


    I quickly turned my head, and was met with a kick to the head from another guard¡¯s deadly leg, but before it could connect, I put my arms up blocking the blow. It was a pretty strong attack, it sent me flying back towards Ryan, but I was able to catch myself in time, regaining my footing.


    ¡°S-shit! Am I okay- ¡­I¡¯m¡­ okay?!¡± That blow didn¡¯t hurt nearly as much as I thought it would. How strong have I gotten?!


    Before I could ask myself any more questions, the same one lunged at me again, this time followed by two more of them.


    They see me as a genuine threat now, they won¡¯t be playing around with me anymore!


    The first one tried to throw another deadly kick to my head but I ducked down dodging the attack, the next followed up with a kick to my stomach but I grabbed its leg, stopping it in its tracks. I wasn¡¯t fast enough to react to the attack from the third one in time. It¡¯s kick struck me hard in my chest, knocking me back a little.


    ¡°Looks like¡­ I''m not invincible...¡± A part of my shirt was ripped off in the chest area. There was a giant purplish, red bruise on my chest with some blood leaking out from it. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s the adrenaline or my powers but I can just barely feel it. ¡­Still, that isn¡¯t me saying it doesn¡¯t hurt, the pain feels like someone is constantly wailing at my chest with their fists. I think it might have cracked some of my upper ribs as well. Isn¡¯t that just peachy¡­


    ¡°E-Elijah!¡±


    Ryan screaming my name alerted me to what was coming my way. All the guards were rushing towards us in unison.


    They¡¯re trying to dogpile on top of us?! What the fuck?!


    I quickly grab Ryan by the arm, ¡°Hold on! I¡¯m gonna try something!¡±


    ¡°WH-¡± Holding Ryan by the arm, I turn us around, facing the pile of guards struggling to get up. I start to run towards them. ¡°Are you insane?!¡±


    ¡°Trust me!¡±


    Getting a running start, I squat down, giving myself a big boost before jumping up, launching Ryan, and myself into the air.


    ¡°HO-LY SHIT!¡± We¡¯re almost touching the ceiling, I can see the speaker phones clearly from here. ¡°HAHA, look at us! They¡¯ll never catch us now!¡±


    ¡°You''re right! Your-¡­ why are we starting to fall?!¡±


    ¡°What-¡±


    As quickly as we made it into the air, we started to fall just as fast.


    ¡°QUIT MESSING AROUND!¡±


    What the fuck?! ¡°WHY AREN¡¯T I FLOATING!¡±


    We both start to panic and scream at our impending doom. Maybe I could survive a drop like that but Ryan- wait! That greenness around me¡­ where is it?!


    ¡°WE¡¯RE GONNA DIE!¡± He screamed, his glasses started to float off of his face. I wasn¡¯t holding on to his arm anymore, the fall made us drift apart somewhat.


    Cmon! Not now! Focus Elijah! Focus! How did you do it before¡­?!


    I close my eyes, and try to reproduce in my head whatever caused the reaction.


    I-I-I I can¡¯t do it! I can¡¯t focus!


    Not again¡­ not like before¡­


    Wait¡­ before when I thought I was gonna die. I was angry¡­ angry about everything.


    I started to think about things that made me mad.


    School¡­


    ¡­Eliza.


    ¡­These monsters.


    ¡­This place .


    ¡­This life¡­


    It¡¯s all so¡­ aggravating.


    I started to glow.


    The green enshrouded my body once more.


    I feel good.


    Ryan was screaming at me to do something. We¡¯re nearly at the ground, even at this height, the people wouldn¡¯t break our falls, they¡¯d just be casualties in the process.


    ¡°I got us!¡± I propelled myself forward in the air, and extended my arm, grabbing ahold of Ryan¡¯s, I pulled him in, putting him on my shoulder. As we approach the ground I greet it by crashing into the ground landing perfectly on my feet. There was a small crater on the ground from my landing.


    In quick swift motion I squat down before launching us back into the air this time sending us flying straight ahead across the room instead of just jumping straight up.


    ¡°You did it! Thank whatever''s helping you do that!¡± Ryan rejoiced.


    ¡°I think I might have powers!¡± I yelled in his ear. I¡¯m shocked, yet I couldn¡¯t stop smiling at what I just did.


    ¡°Not think! You do! This is incredible! I never thought¡­ I mean how?!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ I just-¡±


    I was met with a crushing feeling. Me and Ryan cried out for one another as our bodies slammed into one another.


    We crashed into one of the staircases, hard.


    I can feel my consciousness slipping as I fall once more.


    ¡°R-... Ry¡­an¡­¡±

 Chapter 8: Answered Prayer

    ¡°You¡¯re so funny you know that Eli.¡± A woman with a soft voice said, giggling.


    ¡°The joke wasn¡¯t even all that!¡± I said laughing with her. She grabbed my right hand and interlocked it with hers. I gave her a kiss on the forehead.


    I love spending time with her. I get to truly be myself around her. I¡¯ll never get tired of these moments. She¡¯s been my anchor throughout these years.


    ¡°Eliza, life has been getting pretty hard with us about to become adults, and all.¡± I brought her in closer, ¡°But I''m happy I have you¡­ you just make me¡­ so sure of everything you know. I feel like I can do anything with you by my side.¡±


    She looked confused at first, then gave me one of her warm smiles. She looks so cute with her dimples. ¡°I¡¯m happy I have you too Elijah.¡± she started to lay down, resting her head on my lap. I began to stroke her hair. ¡°I love you Eli.¡±


    ¡°I love y-¡­ I¡­. I¡­. I¡­¡­¡­¡­..¡±


    Her red hair that adored so much, feels stained. Her hand on mine makes my stomach turn.


    ¡°...this¡­ isn¡¯t right¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She let out another smile.


    She began to caress the side of my face with the back of her hand.


    Her soft touch feels wrong¡­ This isn¡¯t the woman I know¡­


    ¡°...You don¡¯t love me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Eli¡­ what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re what¡¯s wrong.¡±


    I can¡¯t even look her in the eye¡­ only past her.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Get the fuck out of here¡­¡±


    Just looking at her is making me wanna rip my eyes out of their sockets. Since when did looking at her become so distasteful? It hurts when I try to view even an inch of her.


    My heart began to ache amidst the confusion of my emotions. It¡¯s painful to bear.


    ¡°...Eli come on, you wanna go home? We can do that if you want, don¡¯t get all upset silly.¡±


    Stop talking¡­ stop talking¡­


    She started poking my face while giggling. ¡° Astronaut Eli, earth to Eli, do you copy?¡±


    Her laugh felt like a knife twisting in my ear. I can¡¯t bear to be around here any longer.


    ¡°Does the gravity of the moon have your brain floating as well?¡±


    This is too much¡­


    ¡°...Get off of me¡­¡±


    She stared at me, not being able to believe the words that just escaped from my lips.


    ¡°...,¡± she stood up from my lap, and looked me dead in the eyes. ¡°...This isn¡¯t funny anymore¡­ Eli¡­ baby, what¡¯s wr-¡±


    ¡°GET THE HELL OFF OF ME!¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    ¡°WAH!¡±


    ¡­.


    A dream?! ¡­A dream.


    I should¡¯ve said more¡­ I could¡¯ve said so much more¡­


    This is¡­ so damn frustrating¡­


    Oh¡­


    I¡¯m still¡­ in the school?


    ¡° ...WAIT! RYAN?!¡±


    Where is he?!


    I began to look around. I¡¯m on a staircase.


    ¡°...Not again.¡± I looked up. I couldn¡¯t see the top no matter how hard I squinted my eyes. ¡°Well¡­ it could¡¯ve been way worse, I could¡¯ve fell straight down to the bottom.¡± Looking down it was the same. The bottom is nowhere in sight. Saying this place is huge is an understatement.


    We were gonna escape, but then ran into one of the staircases going upward along the ceiling. We crashed into it pretty hard. Just where could he have landed? What if¡­ he¡¯s still up there?! The guards¡­! No, the best scenario I could hope for is that he also fell down somewhere else. ¡­But¡­ would he be able to survive a drop like that?! I mean I had that strange green power protecting me. ¡­If I had to guess, he may have fallen down the same staircase as me. But would he be more towards the top or the bottom?


    I let out a deep sigh. ¡°Why did we all have to get split up? I didn¡¯t even think of that possibility. Nor the possibility of Ryan¡¯s chances with that fall¡­ You gotta believe Eli. You got to believe¡­¡±


    I don¡¯t wanna be here. I just wanna go home. Landing on the stairs has my back aching. It feels like my spine was ripped out, and placed back inside me upside down. At least I''m not bleeding¡­


    Wait. My chest¡­ it¡¯s healed?! The once bruised, and bloody spot that covered my chest was now no longer there.


    My shirt is ripped all over to where there¡¯s no point in me even wearing it. I took it off but decided to keep it in case I get wounded again and need something to cover it with. No use in worrying about a little show of skin. I¡¯m alone right now for the time being. If I don¡¯t adapt to this place, I''ll be eaten alive by it. I doubt any of the others are somewhere close. I¡¯ll start by making my way down. Best case, I''ll run into someone along the way. If they¡¯re thinking like I''m thinking then they know that they have to keep moving.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    I¡¯ve been walking for about twenty to twenty-five minutes now. I¡¯ve been a little anxious the entire time. What if those walls open up again and those guards start flooding out? Running sounds like a monumental task right now¡­


    I just can¡¯t help but wonder... I mean I have every right to be angry but, what if it was my fault. What happened to Eliza¡­? Was she unhappy with me? I thought she was happy with me, ¡­she said she was. I just wanna know why¡­ Why did she do that? Maybe that¡¯s why she didn¡¯t wanna go to the same college. Maybe she was already planning on leaving me after we graduated¡­The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I think the guy goes to our school. I don¡¯t know how I''d react if I were to see him walking through the halls. ¡­Or if I were to see her.


    What if I see them in the halls together¡­?


    It¡¯s bullshit. That¡¯s all I can see it as right now.


    Why was she the one crying¡­? ¡­.What could she possibly have been crying for?!


    I just wanna know if she really loves me¡­


    ¡°C¡¯mon¡­ focus! I can worry about that later.¡±


    I say that, but she¡¯s the only thing I continue to think about.


    Ten more minutes passed. It¡¯s still quiet, no sign of anything. Just me, and these stairs. So. Many. Stairs. My knees¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m taking a break¡­ just for a little bit.¡± I stretched my legs, and leaned across the rail on the staircase, ¡°Mhmmm, that¡¯s better¡­,¡± I started peering down below. Trying to figure out just how much farther I am from the ground, ¡°Wait¡­ what is that?¡±


    I couldn¡¯t quite make out what it was, but what I definitely could see clearly was the ground.


    Ecstatic, I walked a few steps further down for a better look.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Zion?!¡±


    He was laid out across a bed of flowers. His eyes, and mouth laid open. Blood, and bruises covered his body.


    I sprinted down the stairs.


    I fell down to the floor upon reaching him. I grabbed him, holding him in my arms. I was holding back tears.


    ¡°Zion, no¡­ please! Wake up! I¡¯m seeing things! Just like before! I have to be¡­! Not you¡­ not you¡­¡±


    One of my best friends¡­ is gone¡­


    He¡¯s the youngest out of all of us. He doesn¡¯t even graduate for another two years¡­ Why?!


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    I can¡¯t even hold back anymore. I¡¯m crying while hugging his lifeless body tightly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t there to protect you¡­ I¡¯m sorry Zion¡­ I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡±


    His body is still warm. I looked at his eyes. They¡¯re empty¡­ it doesn¡¯t look like he died upon impact¡­ he had to suffer in his last moments¡­


    Zion¡­ If this happened to him¡­ then what could be said about the others?


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ all alo-¡±


    ¡°E-e¡­Eli¡­jah¡­¡±


    ¡°-!¡±


    I was alarmed by the sound of Zion¡¯s voice. Looking down at him I could see his eyelids twitching.


    The light in his eyes is faint. I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s breathing or not.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to talk¡­ I-I¡¯ll do something!¡±


    ¡°I¡­ Don¡¯t¡­ l-let me¡­ die.¡±


    He grabbed my wrist. His grip was so weak, his hands slipped off as soon as he touched me.


    ¡°I-I got you! ¡­I-I¡¯ll try something!¡± I don¡¯t how it did it but that greenness healed my body. Can I heal him as well? I grabbed the hand he tried grabbing my wrist with, ¡°Trust me¡­?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    He gave me a little nod.


    I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath.


    Now¡­ focus.


    I want to help my friend. He needs me or he¡¯ll die. Help him the same way you helped me. Save him¡­ help him¡­ please!


    I began to squeeze his hand even harder. We both started to glow. Everything around me feels warm.


    Is this it¡­ is it working¡­?


    His wounds started to close, as if they were being re-winded. His eyes began blinking normally, as his grip on my hand started to regain its strength.


    ¡°EUGH¡± Zion wheezed, jerking his body up fast, while holding his throat with both hands.


    I immediately pulled him in, probably giving him the biggest hug in his entire life.


    ¡°...You¡¯re okay! You¡¯re okay¡­!¡± I can¡¯t believe it!


    This power is weird. The feeling is so eerie yet natural, as if it¡¯s something I knew I could do. Yet I don¡¯t understand it. Why can I do this? ¡­I don¡¯t give a damn! I just saved my friend¡¯s life!


    ¡°Eli¡­ you¡¯re squeezing me.¡± Zion wept.


    ¡°O-oh! Sorry¡­,¡± I let go of him, ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry it¡¯s just¡­ I thought you were¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I thought I was too¡­ but what¡­ what is that?¡±


    ¡°?¡±


    The green aura around my body subsided, and vanished, as if it were never there to begin with.


    ¡°That glowyness! It came from you right? What was that?!¡± His eyes sparkled in excitement. A much better look from his state from before.


    I¡¯m still in shock a little from the sight of him from before. I can¡¯t get the image out of my head, even as he looks me in the eyes with a smile.


    ¡°It was¡­ well¡­ where should I start¡­?


    ¡°Anywhere!¡±


    I thought to myself for a moment before looking at him.


    ¡°...Okay. ¡­A monster attacked me and Ryan. They weren¡¯t like any of the guards we saw before. It kind of resembled an evil mermaid¡­ I think Ryan called it a siren. Same thing though, basically. Long story short it jumped on me, and tried to bite my neck off. I didn¡¯t wanna die, so I guess I got¡­ a little upset, and next thing I knew I was floating in the air. I had this green aura around my body. I fought the thing, and crushed its throat.¡± I started to glare down at my hands. ¡°I can still feel how cold it¡¯s neck was, even when it¡¯s blood spilled on my hands. ¡­It¡¯s weird, I don¡¯t wanna have to touch another one of these things.¡±


    ¡°Woah.¡± That was the only word he could think of for it. ¡°That¡¯s amazing¡­ Really, you¡¯re like a superhero! And I thought me, and Robbie had the short end of the stick.¡±


    I began to scratch my head, ¡°I can¡¯t really control it though. It comes, and goes. I feel really good when I use it. I have this nostalgic feeling when it comes out¡­ as if it¡¯s always been with me. Yet it still feels unknown to me. I¡¯ve only used it twice- wait no three times now.¡±


    He raised his head, and placed a hand on his chin. ¡°The first time was for that, and you healed me just now. What was the second time?¡±


    I let out an awkward smile. It¡¯s gonna be embarrassing for me to admit. ¡°I picked Ryan up, and jumped up high in the air to escape some of the guards¡­ I failed both jumps. ¡­We crashed into a staircase¡­ and then I woke up on yours truly right behind us,¡± I pointed my thumb backwards at the staircase behind us.


    ¡°Woah that¡¯s-¡±


    ¡°But what happened to you?!¡± I said, interrupting him, ¡°You fell all the way down it!¡±


    He was quiet for a few moments before opening his mouth.


    ¡°Me, and Louis got overcrowded by the students when we were all running. Robbie came back for us but before we got a chance to keep moving¡­ that announcement.¡± He started to tremble.


    ¡°I remember that! Robbie said he¡¯d be right back and to wait for till you all got back, but¡­ They came for you guys too¡­?¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah. We tried to outrun them but they caught us. We were surrounded¡­ One of them¡­ came at me pretty fast,¡± He started to hold his chest tightly, ¡°It kicked me straight in my chest, twice¡­ the second time sent me flying into the air, then down here. I don¡¯t know what could¡¯ve happened to Louis and Robbie¡­ they might¡¯ve¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey¡­ we don¡¯t know for sure what happened to them. But I know that they¡¯re still out there.¡±


    ¡°How can you¡­ how can you say that for sure?! That ¡®thing¡¯ kicked me all the way down here! We can¡¯t be so certain that the other¡¯s got off any easier.¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    He started to grip each side of his pants tightly. His teeth quivered as he began shaking.


    ¡°Elijah¡­ I''m scared¡­ You can say anything you want about me right now, but I''m terrified. I don¡¯t wanna die. ¡­That moment keeps flashing in my head every second of me speaking. The pain¡­ everything. It just all happened so fast¡­ and I couldn¡¯t do anything. If I¡­ if I didn¡¯t lose you all in the crowd then maybe-¡±


    ¡°Shut up¡­ it¡¯s like I said, we don¡¯t know for sure what might¡¯ve happened to them. There¡¯s nothing you could¡¯ve done, and that¡¯s okay¡­ no one is gonna blame you. Lift your head. We¡¯re gonna find them. Me, and you.¡±


    He stopped shaking. He loosened the grip he had on his pants and raised his head.


    ¡°Thank you¡­ this place is¡­ taxing. It feels like I can still feel the pain from that kick. It was putting me on edge a little. ¡­I don''t think I''ve had this many near death experiences at once like this before.¡±


    ¡°I get what you mean. Shit I don¡¯t think I''ve ever had one in my entire life before this.¡±


    ¡°I have¡­ I wasn¡¯t strapped in all the way on a rollercoaster when I was nine, and almost flew off¡­ my dad managed to grab me in time, and he held me down on his lap.¡±


    ¡°I remember that¡­¡±


    We both let out a laugh. This is a refreshing interaction.


    I remember him telling me about that randomly during lunch one time. It still sounds crazy even hearing it the second time. What was even crazier was how much money his parents got in lawsuit money.


    His eyes started to widen with curiosity.


    ¡°So how does your power work?! What can you do?! What is it called?! Is it-¡±


    ¡°Woah woah woah, slow down! ¡­I don¡¯t really know how it works. Like I said before, it comes, and goes. But¡­ I think it¡­ enhances my physical body, maybe.¡±


    ¡°Can you elaborate more?¡±


    ¡°Yeah I can. My body starts to feel a lot stronger. I was able to move way faster than a human would be normally capable of, and my senses, my perception, it was as if nothing could get past me. Well I guess not everything. If that was the case I wouldn¡¯t have crashed. But as for how I healed you¡­ I''m not really sure. It healed my wounds so I think I was able to use it to heal yours as well. This is puzzling.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a miracle, is what it is! You saved my life!¡± He lets out a joyful smile, ¡°Thank you. Really¡­ Thank you so much.¡±


    I let out a smile while giving him a pat on the back. ¡°You know I got you. We¡¯re brothers. But still I wonder now ....¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Do you think you could maybe do it too?¡±


    ¡°Are you joking?¡± He shot me a smug look. He¡¯s not taking me seriously.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious. Think about it for a second. This strange place we¡¯re in. The awful timing of it all. Not to mention those monsters. What if you awaken them too? I think it might be fate!¡±


    ¡°You make a pretty good point, but I was already on death¡¯s door like you were and nothing awakened out of me. But then again, that couldn¡¯t have just been some once-in-lifetime thing. I wanna hope that it¡¯s possible.¡± He gave me an intense look with sparkles in his eyes. ¡°Then I would have powers as well! I¡¯d be like Spider-Guy!¡±


    ¡°Still, this is real life we¡¯re talking about. We can¡¯t just jump to conclusions like that. I doubt attaining these powers will be that easy. And again this is just assuming that you guys can do it as well¡­ no offense.¡±


    ¡°None taken.¡± He crossed his arms, ¡°Real life. Well do you think we should keep moving? I don¡¯t think we should stay in the same place for too long.¡±


    ¡°We should¡­ but I think we should try to come up with a plan first.¡±


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    I stood up, and crossed my arms.


    ¡°Well for starters, if we run into any monsters we need to be able to quickly assess our situation, and act calmly.¡± I pointed towards the vast hallway in front of us, ¡°We have to stay calm, and can¡¯t give them the chance to corner us. We¡¯re gonna be in another hallway, the worst power they have is their numbers. Not to mention the size difference. So I was thinking that when we make our way down the hallway in front of us, we should both walk close to the wall on each side. You walk on the right, I¡¯ll walk on the left. It¡¯ll give us both opportunities to check out what¡¯s inside some of these rooms through the windows. That¡¯ll help us find where we need to go faster. And it¡¯s also good for if a monster tries to approach us. It¡¯ll give us time to put ourselves in the right positions.¡±


    ¡°What, we have battle positions?!¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a video game¡­, but you can call it that, I guess. It¡¯s not anything fancy. If a monster shows up, on my word, we¡¯ll both rush to the center of the hallway. You¡¯ll get behind me, and I''ll be in the front, facing the threat, so don¡¯t worry about anything like fighting. I¡¯ll protect you. If there are multiple monsters I¡¯ll find an opening to get us past them so we can run away without having to turn back around. But if there¡¯s only one¡­ I¡¯ll try to kill it. ¡­Well what do you think?¡±


    ¡°I have no complaints. You sound confident so that¡¯s all the assurance I need. That power of yours looks promising¡­ and cool! Help me up,¡± He extended his hand out to me.


    I helped him up. He started to examine himself. Probably wondering if his body had truly healed fully.


    ¡°How do you feel? Good?¡±


    ¡°I-I feel fine! It¡¯s like the fall never happened. I kind of feel oddly refreshed as well.¡± He raised his arms in the air, stretching his body. ¡°Mhm¡­ well then¡­ I''m ready when you are. I need to get away from these stairs.¡±


    ¡°Ready as I''ll ever be. Also, remember, don¡¯t leave your side of the hall until I give you the go ahead.¡±


    He gave me a firm nod. ¡°Got¡¯cha¡±


    ¡°Alright then¡­ Let¡¯s go!¡±


    We both started to march towards the hallway.


    Just try to hold out a little while longer guys. We¡¯re gonna get out of here!

 Chapter 9: The Binding Cloth

    ENTER ZION MATTHEWS


    We¡¯ve been walking for over half an hour now I think. Nothing really out of the ordinary has stood out. Not that I can call this place ordinary, but there hasn¡¯t been anything going on in any of the rooms. A lot of the rooms we pass are just empty classrooms or janitor closets. All the doors are locked so they¡¯re pretty much useless.


    We gave up looking at the rooms and just decided to try and find another hallway that leads to somewhere else like before when we all made it to that giant announcement Room.


    We¡¯ve been quiet the whole time. I guess we¡¯re too afraid of hearing us. Or maybe it¡¯s something else. We both have a lot on our minds. Maybe talking will lighten the mood a little bit.


    ¡°Soooo¡­ you and Eliza-¡±


    ¡°Not talking about it.¡± He shot me a cold response.


    ¡°...Okay¡­ Do you think this is our school?¡± I asked him. I was dragging my hand across the lockers as I walked by.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I mean those security guards uniforms did look kind of like the ones at our school, but¡­¡± He shook his head.


    ¡°I noticed that too. What else?¡±


    ¡°This white keeps throwing me off. Everything is WHITE except for the windows and the silver railings on the staircases.¡±


    ¡°And the doors¡­ well not the doors, but the beam around them is black. The handles on them are silver as well¡­¡±


    He raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°You think the colors have something to do with this?¡± He gave me a sarcastic tone.


    ¡°Oh don¡¯t give me that! I¡¯m trying! But it¡¯s weird¡­ you said you were walking and next thing you know, you were just¡­ here?¡±


    ¡°It was like¡­¡± He raised his head a little. ¡°Everything just shifted. Like¡­ there was a flash of black and then¡­ the classroom. I was really freaked out. ¡­It felt like I was gonna have a panic attack. It felt like my mind couldn¡¯t comprehend the sight it had seen. I think you and Robbie didn¡¯t have the same reaction as me because you both weren¡¯t aware of it at the start maybe.¡±


    Oh yeah¡­ I was crying.


    ¡°And Louis and Ryan were asleep.¡±


    ¡°¡®Sleep¡¯ for Louis is an understatement.¡± He started to grit his teeth as he spoke. ¡°He was dead. He wasn¡¯t breathing¡­.he¡­¡±


    ¡°H-hey calm down. He came back¡­¡±


    I honestly don¡¯t know what to say. When we all saw Louis like that we couldn¡¯t believe our eyes. One of the core parts of Louis¡­ I would see him walk into the cafeteria for breakfast every morning. He would grab his food and come sit down next to me. We would talk endlessly until the bell rang for class¡­


    Seeing him lie motionless on the ground. It was¡­.. it felt dreadful.


    ¡°We don¡¯t even know how. Who knows what could¡¯ve happened to him¡­. When I heard him wake up screaming, I thought I was going insane. I wanted to cry. I did cry¡­ I don¡¯t¡­. I don¡¯t wanna ever have to see any of you like that again.¡±


    Elijah¡¯s voice started to quiver, as his nose began sniffling every time he inhaled through it. ¡°Y-you both¡­ really¡­ scared me¡­¡±


    Our walking came to a halt. His body sank to the ground.


    ¡°e-Eli!¡±


    I started to walk over to him.


    ¡°D-don¡¯t¡­ leave your side¡­¡±


    ¡°...Okay.¡± I returned to my side of the hall.


    I did think it was a little strange he was handling our situation so normally. He was still his quick-witted self. But I see it¡¯s finally piling up on him from our time walking. Even he isn¡¯t gonna be able to hide his emotions right now.


    ¡°I just¡­.. It¡¯s just getting overwhelming¡­ I wanna ignore and just keep pushing forward, but¡­ Seeing this place¡­ hurting you all like this and not knowing if there is a way to escape¡­ I feel like¡­ I could lose you guys at any moment¡­.¡±


    I sat down on the floor against the lockers.


    Eli¡­ talk to me.


    He wiped his nose before speaking again.


    ¡°Our last moments together could be you dying in an instance¡­ no way for either to react to anything¡­,¡± His face became riddled with tears. It became hard to understand him from his crying, ¡°A-and these powers¡­ whatever they are¡­ they just make me feel weaker now. When the time came for me to show up¡­ I failed¡­ and now r-Ryan¡­¡±


    His head sunk down into his lap, slightly muffling the sounds of his cries.


    The burden that I felt¡­ must weigh on him as well. When I felt I couldn¡¯t protect Louis. But that¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t. You said I shouldn¡¯t think that way¡­ So I think you shouldn''t either!¡± He raised his head slightly to look at me. His face was puffy, and eyes red from his crying. ¡°We¡¯ve both¡­ have been on the verge of death already¡­ but look at us here now. Who¡¯s to say they haven¡¯t endured and survived similar circumstances. We can¡¯t¡­ We can¡¯t stop Eli.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    ¡°B-but-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like you said. We don¡¯t know for sure what happened to him or any of them yet.¡± I stood up, and walked over to him. Helping him up from the ground.


    ¡°Y-you¡¯re right¡­¡± He started to wipe his own tears. ¡°For all w-we know¡­ They could all be giving those monsters hell right now.¡±


    I shot him a smile. I started to pat him on the shoulder, ¡°Then we need to hurry and find them. So we can be right there along with them.!¡±


    The once teary eyed Elijah was now a face spouting a soft smile.


    ¡°I thought I told you not to leave your side unless I said so.¡± He let out a small laugh. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up before more of those guards come out of the walls.¡±


    Both of our expressions changed after that was said. I think both of our stomachs turned at the sight of seeing it in our minds again.


    ¡°L-let¡¯s go¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    Well¡­


    I¡­ have no clue¡­ how long we¡¯ve been walking for now. We¡¯ve been walking for a long time. We don¡¯t even see rooms anymore, just lockers. Just. Lockers. At one point I was thinking Of asking Elijah if he wanted to double back. But that¡¯d be dumb decision. My legs and feet are killing me. I¡¯m not used to walking this much continuously. I¡¯m ashamed to admit it, but I''m not in the best of shape physically. I¡¯m really skinny, and I''m short.


    ¡­I really am the younger brother of the group.


    It does get annoying sometimes though. Being the youngest. They¡¯re kind of protective of me in a way. Like they treat me as a child in certain situations¡­ I guess it makes me feel¡­ a little lesser in a way.


    Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m happy to have such good friends. They always stick up for me in times where I hadn¡¯t for myself. They¡¯re my voice in a lot of situations¡­


    They graduate this year. Elijah, Robbie, Louis They make me feel like a kid at times but¡­ am I ready to go deal with high school without them? I don¡¯t have that many other friends. People that I can, I really say I enjoy hanging around.


    They¡¯re pretty straightforward in their own way, but even after spending so much time with them¡­ I don¡¯t exactly feel like I''ve become as confident as them. I¡¯m only sixteen but¡­ I wish I was older.


    They¡¯ve got college. Dreams that they¡¯ve figured out already, and me¡­ I think I''m getting left behind. All because of something that I can¡¯t control or do anything about. I know they say every underclassmen has their ¡®Seniors¡¯ but¡­. What if they''re all I have?


    ¡°Zion¡­ Zion?¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±


    ¡°Oh sorry, it¡¯s just you¡¯re like Louis when he gets lost in thought. Both of you fuckers have the whole world around you tuned out. I just thought that there was something wrong.¡±


    ¡°Nah ah, sorry. I was just thinking about¡­ stuff.¡±


    ¡°I feel that. If you wanna take a break, we probably could. We¡¯ve been walking for about an hour now. The more we walk, the more I feel like I''m in some sort of sci-fi film.¡±


    ¡°H-hey¡­¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°What are your plans after graduation? Law school still?¡±


    ¡°Well I have to go to college first. But yeah, I plan on majoring in criminal justice and english.¡±


    I raised my head in awe, ¡°Two majors?!¡±


    ¡°One major, one minor. I got accepted into a few good schools actually. Me, and Eliza were planning on going to the same school but well, shit happens. I haven¡¯t heard back from Michigan yet now that I think about it¡­¡± He let out a deep sigh while shrugging his shoulders.


    ¡°Y-yeah¡­ how do you plan on paying?¡±


    ¡°Well before the government gives me my money, I actually have a lot of money in scholarships so far. You know with me being in the top ten of my class.¡± He said with some pride in his voice. ¡°Actually¡­ What''s your rank in your class?¡±


    ¡°....Eighty-eight.¡± I let out a frown.


    ¡°That¡¯s not bad at all. Not to mention you¡¯re only a sophomore, you have plenty of time to move up. Especially when it comes to your gpa. After junior year if your gpa is fucked, it¡¯s just gonna stay like that, I¡¯m not gonna lie. But if it makes you feel better, Robbie is ninety-six.¡±


    Such a lovely way of words, Eli.


    ¡°Ninety-six..? Wait, how many people are in your guy¡¯s class?!¡±


    ¡°One hundred and thirty-eight people. We do have one of the smaller classes. Our school¡¯s average graduation class size is a hundred and fifty.¡±


    ¡°Still, that is quite a lot.¡±


    ¡°A lot? I¡¯ll never forget the first day of junior year. I showed up to breakfast for the first time ever, and I couldn¡¯t even eat OR find a place to sit because you freshman were all crowding the damn cafeteria. Me, Louie, and Robbie would just roam the halls for the first few days instead of going up to the fourth floor to eat. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and I starved because of your class Zion. You need to take responsibility for this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not taking responsibility for something that happened almost two years ago!¡±


    I have a lot more than the average students in my graduating class. Around two-hundred something. I guess it won¡¯t be as easy to rise. Especially with so many with the same goal, behind me.


    Elijah must¡¯ve spotted the long face I was making.


    ¡°Stop making that face, besides, it¡¯s like I said, a good gpa is really all you need. And It''s not like it¡¯s bad for Robbie either. Considering everything he had to deal with, he actually started making a comeback our senior year with his grades thanks to me and Louis. Hell Louis is only forty-eight but that¡¯s only because he¡¯s lazy, if he actually tried more and didn¡¯t just do the bare minimum that gets him a passing grade he¡¯d be in the top ten with me as well.¡± He crossed his arms.


    ¡°You''re that sure?¡±


    ¡°Louis is really, really smart. I just feel he lacks something that he needs to succeed. Not to mention he waits till the last minute to do things. He didn¡¯t even buy his cap and gown until the very last day.¡± He sighed at the thought. ¡°As for Robbie¡­ I sometimes wonder how far he could¡¯ve gone, even in track if everything was different. I still believe he¡¯ll go far. It just makes me sad when I think about all the opportunities he missed out on. He deserves them all.¡±


    That¡¯s interesting. I was wrong. It looks like¡­ they¡¯re still figuring it out as well.


    ¡°I-I see¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Zion. You have plenty of time- ¡­wait do you see that?¡±


    ¡°See what.¡± I looked over down the hall.


    ¡°There¡¯s a staircase¡­¡±


    Hearing that we both started to stand on guard.


    ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the end of the hall and we¡¯re too far to turn back¡­ Let¡¯s just do it.¡±


    There was a hesitation in his voice. I don¡¯t blame him. I get a bad feeling the more and more we get closer to it. It doesn¡¯t feel natural. That staircase doesn¡¯t look like it belongs there. Should we run?


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t¡­ think we should.¡±


    ¡°Huh? There¡¯s nowhere else we can go? I¡¯m as spooked as you are, but the only option we have is this staircase. ¡­Don''t worry, just stay behind me.¡±


    I wanted to protest more but I just nodded my head in agreement.


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    We walked over and stopped in front of the staircase. It was dark. So dark you couldn¡¯t see anything down it past the first three steps. The sight didn¡¯t bear well for the imagination.


    ¡°Okay¡­ this is sketchy as hell.¡± Elijah said, concerned.


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me.¡± I started to scratch my head.


    After much consideration, we decided to go down the stairs.


    ¡°After you, your highness.¡± I said jokingly, bowing towards him.


    ¡°You have jokes now I see. I should push your ass down those stairs.¡±


    ¡°W-what-?!¡±


    ¡°HAHA, you should see your face right now!¡± He started pointing at my face while laughing.


    ¡°Funny guy, hooray.¡± I said sarcastically. ¡°Let¡¯s just go down the stairs before more guards come.¡±


    ¡°Make sure to watch your step once we get further down. Wait, hold on to this.¡± He reached into his pocket, and handed me a part of his torn shirt. ¡°We¡¯ll both hold on to this so we know where each other are at all times. It¡¯ll make going through the dark less stressful.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Good thinking!¡± I grabbed the end of the cloth while Elijah held on to the end on the opposite side.


    I actually haven''t noticed him being shirtless the entire time. If I didn¡¯t have to give my under shirt to Louis for his head, I could¡¯ve maybe given it to him.


    We gave each other one last look at each other before going. We both nodded and started to walk down the stairs.


    We were only slowly inching forward, but after passing the third step, my vision turned stale. As if the whole world around me disappeared.


    ¡°Z-Zion! Can you hear me?!¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah!¡± I gave a little tug on the cloth to reassure him that I''m still behind him.


    ¡°G-good. Just take it slow. Falling is a terrible scenario right now.¡±


    ¡°No kidding.¡±


    It¡¯s hard to navigate the steps, and Elijah keeps pulling the cloth and walking pretty fast. He¡¯s gonna make me slip.


    ¡°Slow down!¡±


    ¡°No, wait! I see a light!¡±


    ¡°A light?!¡± I uttered before I could even think of the words.


    Walking more it didn¡¯t even feel like we were walking down steps anymore, but on solid ground. I started to see the light that he was talking about.


    ¡°Woah¡­¡±


    It¡¯s getting brighter and brighter the further we walk towards it. We were able to see each other now yet we still clung to the cloth that binds us together. Even walking into this light we knew that this was still something that we could not trust. For this place is still nothing but a mystery that wants us dead.

 Chapter 10: After School Play: Theater Of Adultery

    ¡°Are we¡­. In an Auditorium?¡± I muttered.


    Stood out in front of us was rows upon rows of seats. There''s rafters high up stretching across the entire ceiling. We were on the one straight in the middle facing the stage. The stage was grand and as white as the surrounding room around it.


    Before we could muster anything. A curtain started to cover the stage. It was strange. It was the first thing here we¡¯ve seen that wasn¡¯t just the color white. The curtain was dark red, it¡¯s as big as the stage it covers. Watching it slowly close gave me a sinking feeling in my stomach.


    This feeling of fear¡­ dread¡­ it makes me want to throw up.


    ¡°Z-Zion, w-we should get going-¡±


    A loud banging sound echoed throughout the auditorium and was swiftly followed by a pounding sound of footsteps.


    Students flooded the rooms from all angles. As quickly as they came in, they made it to their seats just as swiftly.


    Me and Elijah examined the entire room, unable to follow what just occurred. We couldn¡¯t believe how quickly they moved. We turned around and even saw students sitting in the seats behind us on the rafter that we¡¯re on. Having a closer look at their faces, I could see now that they are nothing like us.


    They had the appearance and attire of normal students, but their faces were hollowed out. There was this white static moving on and covering their entire face. No eyes, no nose, no features. Just static.


    These aren¡¯t students. This really isn¡¯t our school¡­


    ¡°Attention ladies and gentlemen of the crowd! Please remain seated and keep conversations nonexistent until the end of the play!¡± A voice shouted from behind the curtain, echoing through the room.


    The curtain started to roll back and the stage was revealed once more. This time there were two individuals sitting down in chairs on the stage. There was a single stage light that illuminated around them while the rest of the stage laid dim.


    There was a girl sitting to the left. She had short, bright yellow hair. Her face was soft and pretty looking. She has a petite build and looks rather short. She wore a white sundress that highlighted her figure nicely. She sat with her legs crossed. The same smug smile has been on her face since the curtains opened. It looks like she¡¯s examining the crowd.


    To the right there was a boy. He was like all of the other students in the crowd. His posture in the chair made him look as if he were dead.


    ¡°I think a play is about to start¡­.¡± Elijah whispered to me.


    The woman did one last scan of the crowd. When she looked in our direction, she stopped. Is she staring at me specifically? We locked eyes and I quickly turned away. I could hear a slight laugh coming from under her breath as she looked away.


    She let out a deep breath and then started to stare at the boy in the chair sitting next to her.


    ¡°The bills came in today sweetheart.¡± She got up from her seat and began to circle around him, the sound of her heels tapping as she walked made the scene unsettling. ¡°That, and the tuition payment for Billy¡¯s second semester. The bank is also wanting to know when we¡¯re gonna make a payment on our bill, we have a pretty hefty past due amount.¡±


    She stopped behind him, and began rubbing the back of his head.


    ¡°Oh how thoughtless of me dear! Did you have a good day at work sweetie? You must be very hungry!¡± The woman said. Her voice was soft and had a tone of sweetness to it. ¡°That simply won¡¯t do! We have to get you something in your stomach dear!¡±


    There was a sudden silence after that, as if it was meant for the boy to be saying something.


    ¡°I could make a nice hot, meat, and vegetable stew. That¡¯d surely hit the spot after a long day of labor, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    Not a single sound came from the boy.


    ¡°Hm¡­? What do you mean honey? You''re not hungry? Are you sure?¡± The woman said with a worried voice, she started to get closer to the boy¡¯s face.


    Another few seconds of awkward silence went by.


    ¡°Oh¡­ I think I know what you want¡­ Dar-ling~¡± She put her hand on his chest and started to slide it down his body to his waist. She started to rub him up and down. ¡°I know you darling. You couldn¡¯t wait to get home to see your beautiful, loving wife, couldn¡¯t you?¡± She started to lick her lips and deepen her tone of voice in a seductive way. ¡°I¡¯ll make you feel good dear~¡± She got up and took a step back from him. ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere?¡± She walked away, behind the curtain.


    Me and Elijah looked at each other speechless. We can¡¯t believe what we¡¯re witnessing. And this play¡­ What the hell is it about? It¡¯s kind of¡­. Wouldn¡¯t this be rather inappropriate for a school play?


    ¡°I¡¯m not dreaming am I? Pinch me if I am¡­¡± Elijah muttered under his breath.


    ¡°This is insane¡­¡± I started to walk closer to the railing of the rafter. ¡°What kind of play is this?!¡± My voice echoed throughout the room. It seems I said that louder than I intended to.


    ¡°Z-Zion!¡± Elijah shouted behind me.


    ¡°HUUUUUUUH-¡± A voice rang out from behind the stage.


    The woman walked back onto the stage. This time not wearing a sundress but a very sexy and alluring red lingerie. Her garter belt had a flower pattern on it. Those white thigh high socks made her look all the more appealing. Her pretty yellow hair was now tied up in a bun.


    My face was turning red at the sight of her.


    Is that attire really school appropriate¡­? What if¡­ that was me on that stage?


    She turned and looked at me while putting a hand on her hip. ¡°And just who do you think you are?! Do you believe yourself to be above the rules of my very own theater?!¡± She barked at me while shooting me a cold and mean glare.


    Wait¡­ she¡¯s talking to me?! She is talking to me!


    ¡°N-no s-sorry I-I u-uhhh¡­¡± I stumbled over my words.


    Her mean gaze turned the opposite in an instance. She started to smile at me. ¡°Well aren¡¯t you just the cutest! I stole a few glances from you before the show but boy aren¡¯t you something to behold.¡± She licked her lips slowly.


    ¡°W-what?¡±


    ¡°Hey¡­ we¡¯re not here to cause any trouble. We¡¯ll see ourselves out now. Come on Zion, let¡¯s go.¡± Elijah said politely to her as he started to tap me to signal that it¡¯s time to leave.


    ¡°Zion?! Oh that¡¯s your name.¡± Her face started to grow redder from blushing. She grabbed both sides of her face and started biting her lip while staring at me. I could hear her breathing all the way from up here.


    This is starting to make me feel a little uncomfortable.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Elijah barked at me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but there will be no leaving until the play has concluded.¡± The woman said in the same cold way as before.


    ¡°Sorry lady but we have places to be and you look too old for my friend here.¡± Elijah said rudely to the woman.


    We started walking, but stopped as we noticed the dark area we came out from was no longer present. It was replaced by a solid, patterned, white wall.


    ¡°I see you don''t have any seats either. Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll happily accommodate you two.¡± She snapped her fingers and the next thing I knew, I was behind her. Sitting in the chair that the boy in the play was sitting in. She turns around and smiles at me before beginning to walk towards me.


    ¡°W-wait! What am I doing on stage?!¡± I shouted at her.


    ¡°S-shit! Zion run! We have to get out of here!¡± Elijah yelled from in the crowd. Looking around I could see him in a rafter, standing up from his seat. ¡°What the hell are you trying to pull!¡±


    ¡°...,¡± She stopped, and turned her head, ¡°I only have two rules yet you continue to break them so¡­¡± She said with disappointment in her voice. She let out a sigh. ¡°I have asked you to remain seated AND quiet for the duration of the play, mister.¡± She eyed Elijah with a sharp glare.


    ¡°Fuck you! You don¡¯t scare me! I¡¯ll come down there and-¡±


    She snapped her fingers again and this time the outcome was horrible. Blood started to burst from Elijah''s chest and neck. He fell back down into his seat.


    ¡°HW-¡± Elijah started to wheeze and moan from the pain. He can barely move. His face was barely seeable from the large amount of blood covering it. It looks like he¡¯s gonna bleed out.


    ¡°NO!¡± I cried out.


    ¡°Hm? What beautiful wounds you have. I wonder what you did previously that caused you to sustain them. I would¡¯ve loved to see the encore you received after your survival. I do so hope you can survive it a second time, mister. Don¡¯t make me have to stop my show again.¡± Without skipping a beat she began walking towards me once again.


    ¡°P-please! What do you want?! Don¡¯t kill him! Please!¡± I tried to plead with her.


    ¡°Oh he won¡¯t die. Take a look at that.¡± She raised her hand and pointed to where Elijah was sitting. His body was glowing green. It looks like his power is healing him. I think it¡¯s healing him pretty slowly because he is still not able to move and there¡¯s still a lot of blood. But I can see his wounds starting to slowly get smaller. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°You can control your body¡¯s aura¡­?¡± The woman covered her mouth in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s an interesting ability for someone so dull looking. I commend your strength, but its summit is nowhere near as grand as my capabilities. If you manage to heal yourself before the show ends I suggest you sit back quietly or it won¡¯t just be past wounds you¡¯ll be reliving.¡±


    ¡°Stop it! Please!¡± I stood up from the chair.


    ¡°Sit down dear.¡± She raised her index finger up and pointed it down in a swift motion causing me to be flung back down into my seat.


    ¡°W-what was that?!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t concern yourself with a man when you have me right in front of you! Is my beauty not to your liking dear? Should I have gone with a different type of lingerie?¡± she tilted her head up and touched her chin. ¡°Or maybe you don¡¯t like the color red? Hmm¡­¡±


    I tried to stand up again but was met with the same swift motion as before, planting me right back into the chair.


    ¡°Why are you doing this¡­¡± I muttered.


    ¡°What is it exactly that you don''t like dear? I¡¯d like to know so I can meet your standards honey~¡±


    ¡°W-what? I-I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± She stared at my flustered face for a second.


    I was by no means hiding my nervousness. My face is as red as a tomato right now. I¡¯d be lying if I said she wasn¡¯t attractive, and what she¡¯s wearing¡­ she looks¡­


    She grabbed me by the chin and raised my head up to look her in the eyes. I could tell she caught my wandering eyes. This situation is too awkward. Especially being on this stage in front of all these people. I feel confused and embarrassed right now.


    ¡°It seems that is not the case.¡± She started to smile. ¡°Dear¡­ are you perhaps a¡­ vir-gin~?¡±


    ¡°...w-What?! Why do you wanna know?!¡±


    ¡°So you are?¡± She lifted her head slightly and let out a smug grin.


    ¡°n-NO!¡± I yelled.


    She let out a gasp. ¡°You¡¯re not?!¡±


    ¡°N-no! I-I¡­. I am¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    Her grip on my chin tightened as she started to laugh.


    ¡°HAHA, why did you lie?! Are you embarrassed Zion? Are you ashamed? I mean you do look rather young. And that innocent look on your face. Oh Zion, you¡¯re everything I love about a man?¡± She started to rub my face and touch my lips. ¡°But you are not a man yet are you? You¡¯re still a boy growing into one.¡± She started to bite her lip so hard that some blood started to roll from her lip down her chin. ¡°But there also comes a time when a boy has to become a man a little earlier than others. I can make you a man Darling. How about it, sugar~?¡±


    She jumped up on top of me and planted straight onto my lap. She licked the side of my face, then looked me in the eyes.


    ¡°N-no¡­!¡±


    ¡°No?¡± She uttered in disbelief.


    ¡°I¡­. I''m not¡­ I don''t¡­ I don¡¯t want to¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to¡­?¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    My head sunk down to the point where I could only see the floor.


    This is overwhelming me. I can¡¯t do this. My heart feels like it¡¯s about to beat out of my chest. It feels too hot and I''m starting to sweat more and more. Why is she doing this on a stage of all places?! I can¡¯t think straight. I wanna leave. I wanna close my eyes and I want everyone to disappear from around me. The students have no faces but I can still feel their gazes. Their judgemental eyes. It¡¯s starting to make me feel like I''m gonna melt from the atmosphere around me. I want it to stop.


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t want to¡­ I-I mean¡­ I think you¡¯re very beautiful¡­ i-it¡¯s just¡­ not here on this stage¡­ not now¡­ not yet¡­ I-I''m¡­ not ready for that yet¡­¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    She was stunned.


    To admit that on a stage¡­ in front of all these people¡­. This is so¡­ Humiliating.


    She let go of my face, got up from my lap, and took a step back. She covered her face with her hand as she started to giggle. Her giggling quickly turned into laughter.


    Did she find that¡­ amusing?


    ¡°You pathetic¡­ Virgin!¡± She yelled while continuing to laugh. ¡°You confessed that in front of a crowd full of people! You¡¯re hilarious dear! I see why I chose you! You¡¯re a pathetic virgin boy who¡¯s so immature that he can¡¯t help but break down and lay it all out on the floor when presented with an opportunity of exploring a woman''s body right in front of him! You don¡¯t think you could do it? Are you scared of my body, Zion?¡±


    She started to rub her chest while she swayed her hips back and forth. She stuck her tongue out, and started to call out my name while moaning.


    ¡°S-stop that! What are you saying?!¡±


    ¡°You could never hope to satisfy a woman''s urges with that attitude! Am I ugly Zion? Do you find me unappealing? Do I not get that red rocket of yours rising? Or wait¡­ don¡¯t tell me¡­ are you waiting for marriage?!¡± She fell on the floor, rolling around while beating her fist on it from laughing too hard.


    Then something happened that I never thought would. The crowd joined her in her laughter.


    They¡¯re laughs¡­ are so loud.


    ¡°s-Stop!¡± I cried.


    ¡°Oh dear, is this humiliating for you? Do you feel embarrassed? Do you want your mommy? Want your little binkie? Or would you like the real thing.¡± She put her hand on her chest more, starting to fondle herself again. ¡°You¡¯re a filthy boy. I know what that dirty mind of yours is probably thinking right now.¡± She turned and looked at the crowd. ¡®Ohmygosh, is she gonna let me touch her boobs?! Am I finally gonna do it with a girl?!¡¯ She said in a tone as if she was attempting to mimic my voice. ¡°Do you think¡­ you could¡­ make me climax¡­?¡± she covered her face in embarrassment. ¡°Pfft HAH!¡±


    She started to laugh maniacally once more, the crowd laughed wildly from her remarks.


    I want it to stop¡­


    ¡°Am I degrading you Zion? Is this degrading for you?! Or¡­ do you perhaps¡­ like this?¡± She grabbed me by my neck and started to squeeze a little. ¡°Does this do it for you dear? Do you get turned on by me talking horrible of you in front of all your peers? Do you have some sort of humiliation kink?! I have to say darling, you are a different kind of man entirely~¡±


    No¡­ I don¡¯t like this. I don¡¯t like this at all.


    ¡°N-no¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m happy to fulfill your desires sweetheart. Allow me to do the honors of rocking your virgin world darling~¡± She gave me a devilish grin. ¡°Let¡¯s start with a little foreplay shall we!¡±


    The crowd grew dead silent.


    With a flick of her wrist, a large burst of blood shot out from my shoulder.


    I screamed out in pain. My body jerked from the shock and I started to fall from the chair. With another move of the wrist, I was back sitting in the chair. I leaned back in the chair, holding my arm.


    ¡°AUGH- w-what¡­ What did you do¡­! What did you do to me!¡±


    ¡°I slashed your shoulder sugar! I fancy myself a little blood play. I thought you wouldn¡¯t mind, you know, with your interests and all.¡± She let out a chuckle.


    She flicked her wrist again and another burst of blood shot out from my body. This time from my left thigh. The pain is excruciating. I¡¯ve never felt anything like it. It¡¯s even worse than when I got kicked by the guard.


    Some of my blood shot on her face. She wiped her face off with her hand then started to lick it off of her hand in a sexy manner while moaning. She looked me in the eyes while she did it.


    When she looks at me like that, it¡¯s not the eyes of a woman who¡¯s acting. This isn¡¯t a play. This is something else entirely!


    ¡°STOP!¡±


    The pain became too much for me to handle. I began crying, my tears started to drip to the floor.


    ¡°L-leave me alone! I don¡¯t want this! I never wanted this¡­¡± Not being able to fight against my tears, I stumbled over my words. ¡°I¡­ n-never wanted¡­ any o-of t-this¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you crying¡­?¡± She turned to look at the crowd, pointing her thumb at me, ¡°Is this man fucking crying?!¡±


    In an instant, the auditorium started erupting with laughter from the audience all around.


    ¡°He¡¯s fucking crying! I thought you couldn¡¯t get any worse! You started crying!¡± She started to point at me while laughing.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What¡­ you can¡¯t take it? Are you crying from how good it is? You want more? You think you can take more~?¡± She said while breathing hard and making suggestive sounds.


    ¡°I-I can¡¯t¡­¡±


    I can¡¯t take any more of this. ¡­She¡¯s gonna kill me at this rate.


    ¡°S-stop¡­ a-at least¡­ don¡¯t let my friend watch this.¡± I pleaded with the woman once more.


    ¡°Oh yeah¡­ your friend! I forgot all about him in the crowd. Look at you, breaking the fourth wall. Who gave you that permission huh?¡±


    She flicked her wrist again and this time she slashed my hand. Blood was bursting from it and I could see it split and slightly hanging off a little.


    I let out another roar of pain.


    ¡°But you''re right. I can see how having a close friend who has never seen this side of you, would surely make this too unbearable for you to enjoy, am I right? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll listen to your request darling. I wish to see your utmost satisfaction during our most intimate times.¡±


    She walked to the center of the stage and started to address the crowd.


    ¡°What should I do, my fellow audience? We can¡¯t have anyone leaving before the climax, but I also can¡¯t stand my precious baby¡¯s dissatisfaction.¡± She started to think.


    What am I going to do¡­ I don¡¯t know what to do.


    I feel¡­ violated¡­


    Physically my body is in pain but mentally¡­


    Her words wounded me more than her slashes. I was degraded in the worst way possible in front of hundreds of people, and one of my closest friends¡­ I¡¯m being abused on stage in front of everyone and there¡¯s nothing that I can do, nor can anyone do anything for me.


    I¡¯m trapped. Trapped up on this stage and I¡¯m the center of attention.


    Just what kind of woman is she?! She¡¯s terrifying! She¡¯s not right in the head! Why am I here?! Why is she here?!


    Please¡­ Please¡­. PLEASE!


    I don¡¯t wanna die here. Not after being subjected to this torture! I need to get away¡­ I need to stand up¡­ I need strength¡­


    A flash of green twinkled in the corner of my eye.


    ¡°Just try to get rid of me! You demon!¡±


    My vision was blurred by the shadow of a person. That person is Elijah. He appeared behind her in a mere blink of the eye.


    ¡°Demon? Judge, pumpkin~¡±


    Elijah flung his fist towards her face. She countered with her arm. With a swift turn of her wrist, she sent a slash across his stomach, sending him flying into the chair she previously sat in.


    ¡°...I¡­ a-ain¡¯t¡­ done!¡±


    He struggled trying to return to his feet. She took advantage of his moment of weakness, and with another turn of her wrist, she lifted him up in the air.


    ¡°E-ELI!¡±


    ¡°W-WHAT?!¡±


    He began flailing his arms and legs around, trying to free himself from whatever bind she has him under.


    ¡°I¡¯ve decided to let you stay Eli, honey. Hopefully this warning will make you wanna be a good boy from here on out.¡±


    She raised her arm, extending her finger out, she raised her arm down in a fast motion, sending Elijah crashing back up, into the rafters.


    That move caused some casualties to be made among the students. The entire rafter was half destroyed.


    ¡°Now!¡± she turned to look at the crowd, ¡°Where were we?¡±


    Eli¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s¡­


    Just like the despair I felt from before when the guards circled me, Robbie, and Louis. I couldn¡¯t move.


    She acts as if everything she does is normal. She¡¯s a force of nature. She sees my fear as an appeal for her fantasies. I¡¯m just¡­ an animal to her.


    There¡¯s no way out of this one. Me and Eli are gonna die¡­


    This is the end¡­


    But I prayed¡­ I thought God answered my call¡­


    Was it all¡­ a lie¡­?


    ¡°You have strength, Zion.¡±


    ¡­


    What¡­? Grandma¡­ was that you?


    ¡°You have strength, Zion Matthews.¡±


    My grandma¡­ I can hear her voice¡­ I remember her saying this to me when I was a kid. Why am I hearing this now¡­?


    ¡°You have strength, Zion. You have strength, Zion Matthews. Always remember that that strength will always be me protecting you.¡±


    She¡¯s right¡­ I have strength. Grandma is here with me.


    ¡­


    I need to get up from this chair.


    I lifted my hands and planted them on the arms of the chair. I gritted my teeth in pain as my wounded left hand gripped the chair.


    ¡°Y-you¡­ are gonna¡­ stop¡­¡± I started to lift myself up slowly. The pain was indescribable, but I kept going.


    She noticed me struggling to get up and turned around.


    ¡°Oh, trying to escape? There¡¯s no running from me sugar?¡± She flicked her wrist once more in a motion to slash.


    Only this time¡­ it did nothing.


    I finally managed to stand up straight. She had a look of surprise and fear on her face from seeing that her power didn¡¯t work on me.


    ¡°Did I¡­ do that¡­?¡± I uttered under my breath.


    ¡°Darling¡­ Why aren¡¯t you listening to me, you disgusting insect!?¡± She started to flick both of her wrists simultaneously at me repeatedly, sending a rapid volley of slashes my way. But alas, none of them phase me.


    In fact they didn¡¯t even reach me. Every time one gets close to me, it instantly comes crashing down into the ground. There¡¯s a big hole on the stage in front of me now from her repeated attacks.


    ¡°W-what¡¯s happening?!¡± she shrieked.


    I started to walk towards her slowly. Glaring at her, completely ignoring the world around us. There¡¯s a strange flame igniting in my eyes.


    ¡°W-what are you doing?! Who said you could start being so dominant?!¡± She started to send more and more slashes my way. But they all failed and ended up the same way. Crashing straight into the ground.


    I was getting closer to her. My body was still in pain, but it didn¡¯t feel heavy at all to walk. I felt light, as if I could walk on air.


    She started to rush towards me. She swung her fist at me but I caught her by the wrist.


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ done!¡±


    Her body suddenly crashed into the ground, splattering her into pieces. Some of her blood sprayed onto my face. It all happened in such a fast motion. It was a truly brutal scene.


    ¡°Did I kill her¡­?¡± I looked down at her corpse, she was in bits and pieces. Her blood covered a good portion of the stage.


    She¡¯s dead¡­ I killed her¡­


    That crazy person. Were they even human?


    ¡°Wait! Elijah!¡± I looked up in the crowd. Amidst the rubble, I spotted him, and saw that his wounds were almost done healing. ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡±


    I started to head towards the stairs leading off the stage.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so darling~¡±


    Hearing her voice after thinking I had killed her, she reappeared right in front of me.


    ¡°You surprised me but that won¡¯t happen again!¡± She jumped up in the air and into the crowd above. She landed next to Elijah and grabbed him and lifted him up by the back of his neck. ¡°I know how I''ll satisfy you next darling!¡± She yelled hysterically.


    ¡°NO! Don''t! Don¡¯t kill him!¡± I screamed.


    She let out a playful giggle. ¡°Darling¡­ remember this. This is all for your pleasure.¡±


    In a flick of her wrist, she slashed Elijah''s chest open. This time the wound looked even more gruesome than anything she¡¯s let out before. I could see the agony on his face as his eyes rolled back into his head.


    ¡°Your precious friend¡­ is dead!¡± She rejoiced.


    ¡°Y-you¡­¡±


    Elijah¡­


    ¡°YOU¡­ BITCH!¡±


    The room around us started to twist, spin and crash all around. Students, rafters, steps. Everything was flying.


    The last thing I remember seeing is the scared look the woman had on her face as the ceiling came crashing down.

 Chapter 11: Roxanne

    ¡°AH- eughhh¡­¡±


    I raised my head to see the remnants of the once broad auditorium. Looking at it now, you would never have guessed what the room had actually been. Unable to move my legs, I can just barely muster up the will to move my arms as I pull myself across the floor.


    It¡¯s hard to see, my vision blurred from my sudden awakening. It feels like my head has taken a dive against a curb. My sight finally returning itself, I was made aware of the carnage that filled my surroundings.


    ¡°I thought the students¡­ weren¡¯t real.¡±


    Their bodies laid decorated across the debris. Dozens of the student body laid twisted and mangled. Without my own doing, my body averted my head from the scene, stopping me before I gathered a fuller picture. ¡­I killed them¡­


    ¡°...I killed them. ¡­I-I killed them¡­¡±


    I held my breath, unable to allow myself to breathe. I turned my head to view the unruly sight once more. My stomach began rising with an uncomfortable and burning sensation. Saliva leaked from my mouth before being accompanied by the presence of vomit rushing out. Yellow stomach lining, and blood filled the spot on the floor under me.


    Writhing in pain, the realization of my own heinous actions, it bared too much for my heart to handle. If the students were real, then that could mean they were once like us, trapped. ¡­I took lives. Innocent lives. They were forsaken for a place of torture.


    Just¡­ What happened? I remember everything crashing around me. The auditorium was-


    The moments I spent on stage started to run through my mind. I can still see her face¡­ hear her voice. I remember it all so clearly. That laugh, everyone¡¯s laugh¡­ they all laughed at me¡­


    T-that¡­ wasn¡¯t a play¡­


    ¡°What did I do?! ¡­What did ¡®I¡¯ do?!¡±


    What did¡­ she do¡­?


    Tears started to feel on my face, as my breathing ran fast to the point my lungs were unable to keep up. I can¡¯t hold back my emotions. She brought them out and shoved them right back in my face.


    I don¡¯t wanna think about her. I hope I never run into her again¡­


    She¡­.


    She¡­¡­.


    ¡®Darling¡­ remember this. This is all for your pleasure.¡¯


    Darling¡­? Why do I keep hearing that replay through my head?! That wasn''t pleasure. It was torture¡­! I


    Am I¡­ a joke? What did she find so amusing about me?


    Is it really that bad that I don¡¯t feel all that ready yet for¡­.. Does that make me a kid? Does that make me less of a man? Was she right? Am I really that pathetic? Will I never be a person that someone loves¡­ on an intimate level?This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Everything she said¡­ could''ve been true. But I¡­ I didn¡¯t enjoy any of that. I didn¡¯t like being humiliated on stage in front of all of those people. I didn¡¯t¡­ I really didn¡¯t¡­ it hurted¡­ a lot. Who could¡¯ve found that pleasurable? Who¡­?


    ¡°Zion¡­ We¡­ gotta go.¡±


    ¡°...Huh.¡±


    I looked up to see Elijah staring down at me. He was holding the side of his stomach as blood leaked out between the fingers of his glowing green hand. He¡¯s healing while also pushing himself to move at the same time.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. This is nothing.¡± He extended his other hand out to help me up from the broken ground. I didn¡¯t take his hand.


    ¡°I can¡¯t move¡­ where is she, Eli? Where is she?!¡± I began looking in panic, trying to scan the field of dead bodies to find her. ¡°If you move she¡¯ll get you again!¡±


    Sweat ran rapidly from my forehead, I could barely hear the sound of my own voice through my shuddering lips.


    ¡°If I try to move again¡­ she¡¯ll slash me! s-She¡¯ll slash you too!¡± I said, helplessly pleading with my friend in an attempt to save his life.


    ¡°...I¡­¡±


    He doesn¡¯t know what to say. How could he know what to say?! We almost died! No! We still might¡­ she still might be here!


    I finally gathered the strength to raise my arms, but not to wipe my face. I grabbed my hair and started to pull at it.


    ¡°Z-Zion! It¡¯s okay! It¡¯s-¡± he said, before falling to his knees as he tried to kneel down beside me.


    My heart is beating rapidly fast, it¡¯s getting hard to breathe. The hair on my arms began to stand as a wave of dread filled up my body''s core. It felt like I was drowning. I don¡¯t wanna move nor do I think I can at all. She¡¯s gonna come back.


    ¡°E-Eli¡­¡±


    My entire body is twitching in anticipation of the incoming slash. If I prepare, If I tense my body at just the right moment¡­ maybe it won¡¯t hurt as much. Maybe it¡¯ll be more bearable. The stress is causing a knot to be tied into the back of my throat. Whenever I try to speak, I start to choke on my words, and get a sharp, and aching feeling pulsing through my chest.


    I-I¡­ I feel scared¡­.


    She¡¯s gonna kill us. We have to escape.


    I¡­


    I can¡¯t think¡­


    IcantthinkIcantthinkIcantthink.


    I started to grip my chest tightly.


    My ears are ringing from the painful remembrance of her laughter. The sound of voice is burned into the inner workings of my ear like clockwork, blocking out any other sounds from being perceived.


    ¡®Darling~¡¯


    ¡®Darlinggggg~¡¯


    ¡®Do you love me darling? Say you love me. Tell me how much you love me Zion. Tell me.¡¯


    Why did she do that¡­?


    Whydidshedothatwhydidshedothatwhydidshedothat.


    My heart hurts¡­ I can¡¯t breathe¡­ I¡­ I need help¡­


    Eli¡­ help me¡­ she¡¯s gonna come back¡­


    She¡¯s gonna come back!


    She¡¯s gonna get us!


    She¡¯s gonna come for me! She¡¯s gonna she¡¯s gonna she¡¯s gonna¡­.


    I felt Elijah¡¯s hand grab mine. He started to hold it tightly as he laid down beside me.


    He didn¡¯t say anything. He just gave me a comforting gaze.


    I wanted to speak but no words would leave my mouth.


    None of my pleas could be heard as I could not express them. It¡¯s all too much for me to handle. Eli¡¯s body shielded my view of the ruins around us. He just laid there. Why is he lying here with me? Why isn¡¯t he leaving?


    She¡¯s surely here still¡­ isn¡¯t she?!


    His mouth began moving but I was unable to hear his voice by the overshadowing of her malicious presence. Even as I lay here now, it feels like I can feel her peering down at my helpless, cornered self. She takes pleasure in my suffering. This is just another game of hers!


    His mouth moved again, I couldn¡¯t hear what he was saying, but the smile he emitted after each pause. Could we be¡­ Are we¡­ Are we safe¡­?


    Is she gone? She¡¯s not gonna do that again is she?


    She¡¯s not¡­ here anymore¡­?


    Eli¡¯s here¡­ are we¡­ We¡¯re safe. Do I feel safe? My big brother, he¡¯s here with me.


    I noticed the green glow around his body disappear. Looking at his body, his injuries were now nonexistent. My own aching feeling that had in every corner of my body was now no longer a bother. Is that his doing?


    The ringing in my ears finally subsided. My heart beat was starting to slow and I could start to breathe normally again. The surrounding terror of her presence was slowly eroding.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ I''m sorry.¡±


    Hearing his voice was vibrant and gave off an aura of ease.


    All of them¡­ you guys are always here. Even near death.


    I¡¯m gonna be okay¡­ I''m okay. Everything¡¯s fine now.


    Everything¡¯s okay¡­ everything is¡­


    My vision is starting to fade.


    I feel¡­ tired.


    ¡°You can rest now. I¡¯m here. I¡¯ve got you.¡± He said. His words gave me the assurance I needed to finally close my eyes.


    I¡¯m safe.

 Chapter 12: Another Encounter

    ENTER ELIJAH WILSON


    Zion, I promised I''d protect you. I¡¯m sorry¡­


    ¡°You get your rest. I¡¯ll carry you buddy¡­.¡± I whispered in his unconscious ears as I picked him up into my arms. Glaring past the destruction around me, I could see an exit, a door, a way out of this wretched room. I began to limp my way across the room as I coddled Zion. I¡¯m so tired¡­ but I have to keep going for his sake.


    The more I walked towards the door, a wet liquidity feeling started to flow into my damaged shoes. Positioning my eyes down, not wasting the energy to move my entire head, I spotted a pool of blood grow more in the size the further I traverse through it.


    I stopped and just stared off into the distance. Not a single shred of a thought behind my eyes. The pond of blood, the mass massacre of bodies scattered around, the mound of fatigue, the mental diminishment, it was all a means to an end. Nothing matters but the path ahead of me, the direction towards the door.


    I continued onward, the pool of blood reached just above my ankles, the feeling was cold and murky, like walking through a muddy puddle. The farther I got the more eyes I could feel gazing upon upon us like prey, it was a dangerous feeling. If there was something there, something watching¡­ could it be the students? Their dangerous vengeful wills maybe? Or¡­ Could it be¡­ Her?


    Before I knew it I''d already been standing in front of the door for the past couple of seconds. I must¡¯ve spaced out halfway through. Regaining my bearings to the world around me, I took a deep breath before clutching the handle of the door, swinging it open. A bright light clouded my vision before adjusting and taking in a sight I''ve become accustomed to over these past hours. A hallway.


    ¡°....Where to next?¡± I turned my head behind me to see the now blank canvas of a wall, the door no longer present. I turned to stare at Zion, releasing a faint smile before setting off down the long narrow hallway. Lockers filled the two walls around us. The bright, patterned floor was a much better terrain to walk over then. The ever extravagant white color was still a sore sight for the eyes. It¡¯s like staring at a light you have to constantly adjust your eyes for, it really makes them itch.


    I don¡¯t know how much of this we can take. If we keep moving like we do now, there¡¯s no telling what we might run into next. This place isn¡¯t a school, but I don¡¯t think we can just simply call this a ¡®PLACE,¡¯ either.


    The door we used to enter the auditorium vanished without a trace, all the entrances the students entered through disappeared like they were never there. And just now, before, the door we entered the hallway through, gone. It¡¯s moving, this place.


    How long have we been here? Maybe a few hours. In just those measly few hours, I¡¯ve had my body broken in every single scenario we¡¯ve encountered. As far as I''m concerned it could be anything we run into next. We can¡¯t predict, nor avoid what we run into. It¡¯s a frightening process for our escape. Strange architecture, dangerous monsters, and a weird human that radiates the presence of a God. That woman wasn¡¯t human¡­ ¡®Judge.¡¯


    That¡¯s what she said right¡­? Judge can mean a lot of things. For example, the judge of what exactly? If she wanted to kill us, she very much could have at any moment. Why wait? There has to be a reason for the cause in her delay. But with such a display as hers, the show she put on. What could be the deeper meaning then that?


    I¡¯m going in circles, there¡¯s no point in trying to comprehend a dead foe. We defeated her. Gone and dealt with. Right now I should be focusing on trying to learn more of our own strengths.


    ¡°Zion¡­¡± his power¡­ what happened?! I didn¡¯t get to see much, it was happening way too fast for me to keep up. Not to mention I had to focus on closing my own wounds. I remember seeing him crushing her on stage. It was a pretty gruesome thing to witness, she splattered into pieces. Some of her blood even covered the students who were sitting in the front row. Then she reappeared¡­ grabbed me and sent another one of those cuts across my chest again. That¡­ surely ended me? I couldn¡¯t have healed that¡­ These powers¡­ I feel like my brain is gonna pop right out of my head! This goes against the laws of nature! It¡¯s just¡­ it¡¯s just not practical!


    I let out a sigh in frustration. I could feel Zion turn his head in his sleep. Hopefully he¡¯s having a good dream.


    When I was healing him for a second time I could see something strange inside of him. Like a shadow illuminating faintly from the inside of his body. It was like I was seeing through another world. That¡­ thing, she said it had something to do with my aura¡­ my body¡¯s energy? That¡¯d be a good guess. It also explains how my body was able to move like it did against that other monster. So far what I¡¯ve been able to do¡­ I can use it to enhance my physical body and to heal wounds, others included. When I heal someone else, it must give me the ability to see other people¡¯s energy, though only faintly. Actually that might¡¯ve only been because of the state that Zion was in prior to me healing him. He was on the verge of death, so his energy must have been fading¡­ So in drawing out my own aura I can also see the auras of others. But her¡­ hers was nothing like mine.


    I couldn¡¯t see them at first, her slashes. But after the one she did on Zion¡¯s hand, I could see a faint glow from her attack. It looked like particles. ¡­Was that her ability? No, that might¡¯ve just been the energy behind the attack that I was seeing. That little energy? If it was so weak, how could it have done all of that? And the way she survived Zion¡¯s attack, it was as if it didn¡¯t even phase her¡­ wait¡­ her blood! Her blood¡­ the splatter, it disappeared once she reappeared! As if she never even died. The large crack in the surface of the stage was repaired as well, and the blood and bits of her that showered the audience was cleaned up. That was not a human¡­ I refuse to believe it was. A demon though? I can hardly believe that fairy shit either. But that siren or whatever¡­ that could be categorized as the same damn thing.


    I feel like she could¡¯ve killed us instantly if she wanted to. The weird game she was playing, that play. Why did those stairs lead us there? Are there more people like her here in places like those?


    I don¡¯t know how we¡¯ll survive another encounter. What else could be lurking in the shadows of this place? We need to get to the others. How many times have I said that now? I¡¯m tired¡­ I''m really tired.


    I¡¯m tired of having to heal injuries with nothing to show for it. That auditorium led us nowhere but to an attempt at an early grave. We¡¯re still as ignorant to this mess as when we first got here!


    If I wanna protect Zion, I''m gonna need to be more ruthless. There¡¯s no humans here besides us. Demons¡­ yeah demons¡­ that¡¯s what they are. Anything without similarities to us, should be¡­ killed without hesitation.


    Killing¡­ Kill¡­?


    Could I kill someone like her? Could I kill someone at all? I killed that Siren. But that wasn¡¯t a human? ¡­Does that make killing any more justifiable? There monsters, even that woman.


    Eliza¡­ What should I do¡­?


    I¡¯m scared¡­ This is different from a date with you¡­ or when we¡¯re studying for an exam. This is an even more difficult matter. One I don¡¯t think I can do.


    I couldn¡¯t do anything but watch. I tried to act like I knew what I was doing with these abilities. I now know that I don¡¯t¡­ that I was naive¡­ that I failed¡­ If I could¡¯ve healed myself faster, if I could¡¯ve just seen how her attack worked then maybe, just maybe¡­ he wouldn¡¯t have had to endure any of that. He¡¯s able to use one now but at what cost? Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    I should¡¯ve planned ahead for a threat like that. I knew this place wasn¡¯t normal yet I took no extra precautions. I¡¯m supposed to protect them. Why was this strength given to me if not for that purpose? How am I gonna do it though? They¡¯re my brothers, I¡¯ve always tried to look out for them and keep them safe¡­ but how am I gonna protect them all if I don¡¯t even know where over half of them are? How am I supposed to grow stronger if all I can do is get my ass handed to me, only to then be stuck healing myself¡­


    ¡°Eliza, what am I gonna do-¡±


    Stupid¡­


    I¡¯m stupid¡­


    At the very least, maybe I should try to practice using it while I walk, that¡¯ll help my body get a better feel of it. Yeah, that can work, maybe. Keep working Eli. Keep. Working.


    ¡°e-Eli¡­¡±


    I turned my head to see a drowsy Zion. His face suggests he got some much needed rest.


    ¡°Good morning- well, whatever time it is.¡±


    ¡°You can put me down now, please. Thank you for carrying me. I¡¯m sorry you had to.¡±


    I let go of his legs letting them touch the ground as I helped him stand up straight.


    ¡°Of course man. You sure you wanna walk? We can rest.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I''m fine. You healed me after all, so I''m able to keep moving.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡±


    The silence was loud. It felt like I could hear my heartbeat echoing through the hallway. Are we just¡­ gonna pretend like none of that happened?


    ¡°Hey, we can stop and talk about it for a moment. You probably have way more to process then I do. Sh- she did a lot of terrible things.¡±


    He looked past me, not acknowledging my words of empathy. The air of dread swirling around was like a cloud of darkness.


    ¡°You said we just got to keep moving forward, right?¡±


    ¡°y-Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just keep moving then. It¡¯ll be bad if more guards come.¡± He started to walk forward while looking back at me to see if I was gonna start walking as well. ¡°The longer we wait around, sooner or later she¡¯s gonna reappear again, and when she does¡­¡±


    He didn¡¯t keep speaking, only making the distance between us greater as he walked off ahead. Not wanting to be left behind, I followed him without further questioning.


    ¡°O-okay¡­¡±


    I wish I could do more than just walk beside him. I can¡¯t press him to talk to me right now. I can¡¯t do anything right now besides wait. ¡­I¡¯m sorry.


    We¡¯ve been walking for a while. Nothing noteworthy besides a few locked janitor closets. I think that¡¯s what they are anyway. One thing I have noticed though is that all the lockers have numbers on them above the handles. ¡°638,245¡­¡± That is not giving me good faith right now. There was also a very out of place mirror, it was about six feet tall, my height. I didn¡¯t really get to study that all, with Zion walking along without a drop in pace. Maybe it was a good thing. We don¡¯t have time to deal with a potential mirror demon.


    But luckily, I think I¡¯m starting to get the hang of my ability. When I close my eyes, I start to focus on my surroundings and then¡­ I start see to strange, glowy figures floating around through my dark field of view. Myself and Zion included except what I see between our auras and the surrounding energy around us are two different things.


    When I look at our energy I can almost see a glowing outline of our bodies. It shows me places where vitals would be, that stuck out to me the most. Each of them are connected like roots stretching off into the next one. When I was healing Zion, I was able to see his heart, but not exactly see it, I saw its energy, its root. My theory isn¡¯t exactly a longshot, it¡¯s a pretty good guess in my opinion. This power is still something I can barely explain, but the feelings it gives me when I use it, I trust it.


    It¡¯s all confusing. Am I gonna have this for the rest of my everyday life? This is really something I can do¡­ I don¡¯t by any means hate it. The more I use it, the more and more comfortable it makes me feel inside this place. I feel strong when I use it. Even when I¡¯m losing, it gives me an extra edge of hope to keep moving. It gives me a sense of security. I won¡¯t be able to be backed into a corner so easily as before now. I have a way that allows me to keep fighting through pain and bloodshed.


    ¡°Do you¡­ have any idea what you¡¯re able to do.¡± I said to him trying to see if he¡¯s open to converse.


    He was silent at first, but he turned towards me and started to think. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly sure. It all happened in such a short interval of time. I do feel different. My body feels weird, oddly light...¡± He sounded confused.


    ¡°What do you mean? Try trusting that feeling, maybe you¡¯ll be able to draw more of it out.¡±


    ¡°Draw it out¡­ hmm¡­¡± He stopped walking and stood up firm and straight. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.


    A couple seconds passed, nothing about his body stood out apart from constant clenching of his fists.


    ¡°Well?¡±


    He let out a sigh before opening his eyes. ¡°Nothing¡­¡±


    A glimmer of light made its way across Zion¡¯s entire body before vanishing. He tried to take a step forward to walk but suddenly lost his footing. His body lifted up from the ground like a stray balloon. He began floating.


    ¡°Wa-woah! What the-?!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re floating!¡±


    Well he kind of looks like a person who you throw into a pool who doesn¡¯t know how to swim. It looks like he¡¯s drowning in midair as he flung his limbs in panic.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let me fall! What the hell is this?! ¡­Why did my body glow?!?¡± He started to touch his body, examining himself. He looked at me with disbelief in his eyes but shortly was overcome with joy. ¡°I KNEW I HAD THEM! SAME AS YOU! HAH! YES!¡±


    Woah. I was not expecting that reaction, but it''s a welcome one. A relief actually. ¡°You can float like me? What else can you do?¡±


    I walked closer to him, examining him while he floated. He didn¡¯t seem to be getting any higher or lower. He was floating just slightly above my neck. Inspecting him even further I started to see him glowing purplish flame around his abdomen. Is that his energy from before?


    ¡°Do you see yourself glowing?¡±


    ¡°What? No¡­ am I?¡±


    ¡°Hold on¡­¡± I¡¯m able to see his aura way more vividly now. It¡¯s intense¡­ I feel like I could grab onto it.


    I reached out attempting to grab the source of energy emitting from his body. When my hand reached it, it felt hot¡­ unstable¡­ like a pot overflowing with boiling water.


    ¡°Eli, get back¡­ stop¡­ touching¡­ me¡­!¡±


    My entire body came crashing down face first into the ground. The force was strong enough to crack the ground. My body felt like a large weight had just been dropped on it. The pressure was immense and continued with the same constant force. I couldn¡¯t move a single muscle in my body.


    ¡°ACK-¡±


    ¡°Holy- nonono i¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to do that!¡± He screamed, trying to stop what he¡¯s doing to me.


    ¡°... gahh¡­ eugh¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you okay?!¡±


    I don¡¯t feel that immense weight on my body anymore. I lifted my head and started to gasp for air.


    ¡°Eugh¡­ I''m¡­ fine¡­¡±


    He leaned me against one of the lockers so I could gather my bearings.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I thought I was gonna crush you¡­ Do you need to heal yourself?¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­ just a¡­ sec¡­¡± I was lucky. Beside slight pains running through my body, the only real thing I sustained was a bloody nose. ¡°I think my body is getting stronger¡­ goddamn¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry it¡¯s just when you grabbed me, well you didn¡¯t necessarily touch me, but whatever you did. It made my skin crawl. My body started to scream and it just reacted on its own.¡±


    I didn¡¯t touch him physically? Was it because I touched his aura? Was that not it¡­? Was there something else I touched?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but it felt like you were attacking me¡­ I know you wouldn¡¯t but¡­ It just felt that way, and my body reacted on its own. I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s okay. At least now I have a pretty good idea on what your power might be.¡± I let out a wide grin across my face.


    ¡°What is it! Tell me!¡± The anticipation was nearly starting to kill him.


    ¡°All the evidence would suggest gravity. The floating, the crushing, and what happened with the auditorium. That might be it¡­ could be wind actually, no, would¡¯ve felt a breeze.¡±


    ¡°Woah¡­ that¡¯s¡­ so cool.¡± Stars filled his eyes. The discovery of his new found power was an amazing revelation to be excited about.


    I don¡¯t blame him for the way he¡¯s acting right now. This is damn near every person¡¯s fantasy. Suddenly awakening and discovering that you have powers.


    ¡°We can¡¯t say for sure though, hell it could be telekinesis- actually that¡¯d probably take a more deep level of concentration, and I doubt you would¡¯ve been able to lift yourself. Nevermind carry on with your amazement. I¡¯ll quiet my head.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re smart sometimes Eli.¡± He started chuckling to himself.


    ¡°Sometimes-?!¡±


    We¡¯ve been here for far too long. The walls started to glow and open up from all sides. Guards began to pour out like wildfire, surrounding us. The sound of their legs scraping across the floor filled the hall in its entirety.


    I got up from the floor, wiped the blood from my nose, and readied my fists.


    I could tell Zion wasn¡¯t ready for another encounter so soon. He¡¯s shaking and still crouched on the ground where I was laying.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t fight right now. Get behind me if you need to. ¡­I swear I''ll protect you¡­¡± I wish I could have a more confident tone in my voice, but this many in such a cramped space¡­ this is trouble.


    He stared at me before standing up beside me. Shaking his head before turning to face the guards, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m gonna fight too¡­!¡±


    I let out a big grin on my face. He put his fists up like me readying himself to fight. We stood back to back, each staring down at the dozens of guards we were faced with.


    ¡°It¡¯s about time we took the offensive!¡±

 Chapter 13: Can You Keep Up? / The Changing Scenery

    ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡±


    ¡°You already know the plan. Except we¡¯re not running anymore. This place wants us dead, so we¡¯re gonna fight like animals till they finally decide to leave us alone.¡± I closed my eyes for a second and let out a deep breath. A shiver of warmth glossed across my body. A dark, greenish light began coruscating around my body, briefly blinding everyone nearby. ¡°You¡¯re probably not gonna be able to use it just like that right off the bat. My advice to you would just be to think about something that gives you an intense feel of emotion. A thought that can stir up and erupt within you in an instant. Be it happy or angry.¡±


    ¡°You make it sound easy¡­ but I''ll try!¡± He closed his eyes, and clenched his fists as he started to murmur to himself.


    I stared down the line of guards in front of me. There¡¯s eight of them lined up side by side in close range, and more in the back stretching far down the hallway. The distance they covered was intimidating, numbers far greater than what I¡¯ve witnessed so far. The same could probably be said for Zion¡¯s side of the hall as well. We wouldn¡¯t have been able to run even if we wanted to. Unfortunately for them, I didn¡¯t have the slightest intention of fleeing. I¡¯ve been learning.


    I leapt up on the locker, getting a high ground advantage. I got a running start before leaping once more, off of the lockers and diving head first into the crowd of guards. One swung its leg in the air, trying to kick me before I landed. I managed to catch it while midair. After landing, still clutching the leg of the monster, I began to swing it around, using its body as a weapon to knock the other guards around me into the lockers.


    ¡°HOLY- how are you doing that?!¡± Zion said in amazement, he was watching my every move.


    ¡°FOCUS ON YOUR SIDE OF THE HALL!¡± I screamed at him before launching the guard that I was using as a weapon down the hall towards another large plethora of guards. It was like throwing a bowling bowl down a lane towards the pins. None of them could escape the strike.


    Before Zion could turn around, a guard ran up towards him kicking him full force in the ribs, sending him crashing into the left side of the lockers.


    ¡°ZION!¡±


    I tried to make my way towards him but two guards dashed in front of me blocking me from getting to him. Shit! They¡¯re getting coordinated!


    One lunged its leg forward to kick me, I ducked, slid under it, and extended my leg out, kicking the guard behind it into the lockers. I sprung up off the ground, into the air, and threw a punch towards the first guard, sending it flying into the one that hit Zion.


    ¡°There''s still more coming!!!¡± I dashed over to Zion. I must¡¯ve moved really fast, he was frightened at first at me suddenly appearing right in front of him. It must¡¯ve looked like an instance for him. ¡°I need you to fight. Please.¡± The look I gave him was not me asking, but telling him. ¡°We can¡¯t lose this momentum!¡±


    ¡°O-okay!¡± I helped him back on his feet.


    ¡°Focus. Remember that I''m here.¡± I turned back to face my side of the hall but doing so caused a sharp pain to ring across my entire body. Blood shot out of my mouth as I trembled down to my knees. ¡°ACK-¡±


    ¡°W-what happened?!¡±


    What happened? I didn¡¯t see anything come near me¡­. Was it something else?!


    I tried to focus my energy to heal myself, in trying to do so I was met with another shot of pain that raced across my body like a shockwave. More blood followed its wake, spouting from my nose and leaking from my eyes. Another wave of pain paved its way through the body. A feeling so agonizing, the pressure from the energy around me feels like it¡¯s imploding on me.


    ¡°AUGH-... shit¡­¡± I fell face first to the ground. My body stopped glowing. I can just barely move my arms and legs. Did I overdo it with my powers? I didn¡¯t¡­ account for that¡­


    ¡°I got you!¡±


    He tried picking me up but met with sudden swiftness of another kick to the other side of his ribs, throwing him across the hall next to another massive plethora of guards. Is it me¡­ or is the hall getting bigger? This amount of guards doesn¡¯t make any sense any more¡­ It shouldn¡¯t be able to fit this many! Just before it was your average school hallway, about 12-14 feet wide. With us in the middle, it was only able to fit 6-8 guards at a time from each side, with the rest in the back waiting to get through. The hall was only able to have a set number of guards in front at a time due to the sheer differences in sizes of each of them. The room looks double the size, the lockers appear further, as if they¡¯re creeping away.


    ¡°Gah-¡± I tried to speak but more blood poured from my lips. Reaching my hand out for support, but my arm faltered midway and my head came sinking back onto the ground. I need to get him before more start to close in!


    ¡°Eughh¡­¡± Zion struggled to make it back to his feet. Just as he was almost up, a guard kicked hard on his back, slamming him back into the ground. As his head pushed up against the floor, a streak of blood squirted from its volley. ¡°...n¡­o¡­¡±


    I could hear more guards starting to approach me. Like rubbing nails on a chalkboard, the terrible scraping sound of their legs filled my earlobes. That sound feels like a requiem. If I stopped hearing it, I know that means I''m finally dead.


    I turned over on my back, trying to lift myself. To no avail, my body wouldn¡¯t budge. If this happened in the auditorium, I could''ve never hoped of carrying us out, let alone crawling away.


    Why can¡¯t I keep my promise to him? It¡¯s the same scenario all over again¡­


    They circled me, all peering down at my frail being. It was a horrifying sight. I¡¯ve never been up this close to them for this long. I¡¯m staring death itself in the eyes. They smell horrible, their deformed legs up close makes my stomach crawl. Their faces were dark but up close and personal, their eyes were clear as day. They reassembled mine, human eyes. They¡¯re eyes looked so out of place, it felt unnatural when my eyes met theirs. There¡¯s not a single thought behind them, just like puppets.


    I could hear Zion shouting in the distance. There¡¯s no telling how much the room has moved, he is probably getting overcrowded by more and more of them. He needs to get away¡­. If I can just use my power¡­ I can get us out of here¡­ But I can¡¯t. It won¡¯t work¡­ I-I can¡¯t use it. Please run, please run. Leave me. You can escape, I know you can!


    I can hear more coming from the walls. There¡¯s no end to them. Just¡­ give me a quick one. I don¡¯t wanna feel any more pain. It hurts too much, I''m tired of having to suffer before it¡­


    ¡°Just¡­ go.¡±


    ¡°NO!¡±


    In the blink of an eye, a shower purple liquid painted across me, the guards no longer in sight. Turning my head I then knew where they went off to. They¡¯re remains have become one with the floor. Just like on stage when he crushed her¡­


    The world around me began to ascend upwards. The weight of my body no longer felt like a burden. I¡¯m floating¡­? I tilt my head back to see every guard in the hall without footing. We¡¯re floating! Zion¡¯s doing it! Some of the lockers are flying as well. His range is insane!


    The world around me looked disarrayed as I viewed the bizarre sight from upside down. Without warning, we began moving down the hall at an alarming speed. It¡¯s like flying!


    My view of the situation was quickly out of my mind as I stared at the much bigger scenario before me. Guards were flying all around me, getting flung up, down, and sideways. Slammed into the floor, lifted up crashing into the ceiling, sent flying into the lockers. There was no time for them to get they¡¯re bearings or react. As soon as they crashed into one thing, they were back on their way to the next part of the hallway, speed not letting up once. The force of these blows are surely gonna turn most of them into mush meat.


    This is a chaotic sight.


    I appear to be unaffected by the motion of the guards. I just continue floating down the hall, though still keeping the same disastrous speed of the guards. I managed to finally muster up enough strength to gather my bearings while being in constant motion midair.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    What the hell was I thinking?! I can¡¯t just lie down and accept death! I didn¡¯t just make a promise to Zion and the others, but also a promise to myself. I¡¯ll keep moving forward. No matter how hard of a hit I take, or how big of a spill I leak. I¡¯ll keep moving.


    I have to find him!


    I began to shout to try and gain his attention. ¡°ZION! Where are you?! Zion?!¡± It was no use. I would have to try and find a way forward, but if I do, I''d risk one of the guards colliding into me.


    I let out a sigh knowing what I need to do. If I can get it to work, I¡¯ll have enough strength to move more freely through the gravity. I couldn¡¯t earlier but maybe I can push it¡­? Worst case scenario I overload again. If I do, I might have a harder time remaining conscious.


    Before I could focus, something unnatural was starting to come about. What we¡¯re approaching can¡¯t be called a hall anymore. Smoke filled my lungs causing my throat to itch as I coughed. The atmosphere changed to a dark, red blare. An ocean of lava flowed in all directions, completely covering the floor on the path of the hall we¡¯ve entered. An influx of guards began diving into the molten hot lava against their wills, courtesy of Zion.


    ¡°I can feel the heat from here, I''m sweating bullets already.¡± It¡¯s intense, it¡¯s like we¡¯re inside a volcano, I¡¯m scared to move. If I get hit by a stray guard in the process, I could potentially be dumped into the sea of magma with them! Some of them come too close at times, just within a few inches from me.


    No, I have to keep up. I have to keep adapting to the obstacles this place is throwing at me. This is my chance! Focus! This situation is different from everything I¡¯ve faced thus far. One thing I can say confidently is that I''m at an advantage here. If I can get my ability to activate I¡¯ll be able to move around more freely without worry of the physical toll my body has taken beforehand, but that strain has transferred into the ability. If I try to activate it now it¡¯ll be unsuccessful, I have to wait for the right moment. In the meantime I strategize a way forward. Look ahead, look for openings in the holes between the guards. The mass onslaught of them makes me up for a game of ¡®Where¡¯s Waldo?¡¯


    Whether it was confidence or pure arrogance, the smirk on my face was as genuine as they came. ¡°I got this.¡± A splash of lava raced upwards towards my direction with quick haste. ¡°Focus¡­¡± Scanning my surroundings, I left not a single part of the room unaccounted for, every guard is within my vision, none can escape my peripherals. Wait for the perfect opportunity from the most best positioned guard.


    ¡°...NOW!¡± I reached my hand out and gripped onto the head of guard flying past from behind me. ¡°WAHHHH-¡± this speed¡­ I can¡¯t hold onto this one for long! I have to find another one that¡¯s being thrown towards the ceiling. I began to quickly feel the drastic raise in temperature as we descended, sweat flooded my hands as a burning sensation began to rise on the bareskin of my shirtless body. The intensity of gas the lava emitted was a lot to digest. I covered my mouth and nose with my other arm, while still holding onto the guards'' head with all my strength. ¡°I''m not here for a dip in the pool.¡± I wouldn¡¯t have done this if I didn¡¯t believe I could pull it off.


    The skin of a guard is hard like steel, I doubt it''ll melt easily or melt at all. If it did, I''d see a significant decrease in guards already. The numbers haven¡¯t dwindled a bit, only due to the continuous growth of the room is that it¡¯s able to handle this many of them. But that¡¯s only half of my point. What goes up must come down, yes? With Zion here it now goes both ways. What goes down¡­ must also come up!


    As me and the guard were meters away from our bath of fire another guard erupted from its depths. Not wasting a single second, I planted both of my hands on the head of the guard and pushed off into the direction of the next guard. I managed to grab it¡¯s arm but a splash of lava followed him as he sprung by, burning me as I latched onto it.


    ¡°EUGH- TOO HOT! TOO HOT!¡± After gaining enough distance from the disaster down below, I let go of the guard. Before I could gain my bearings and come up with another solution, another guard from below came flying upwards. It collided with my backside, having me go with it to its course. ¡°ACK-¡± I coughed up a spurt of blood before gritting my teeth and getting back into it.


    Use it as an opportunity! Adapt more! Don¡¯t lose sight of the goal!


    Looking forward, another area began to emerge into my line of sight, this time it¡¯s on the more greener side of the spectrum. A forest or flourishing trees and beautiful lilies filled the green grass they laid upon. The more we approached, the more appealing and glamorous the forest became. The shine the leaves on the trees emitted, the captivating rainbow sparkle of the flowers made it feel like a fairytale.


    While busy admiring the scenery, I was too oblivious to what was going on directly in front of me. A tree came into view that we were coming at head on, without time for a plan I braced myself for the impact awaiting me.


    Taking the bark of a tree to the face at this speed was a nightmare, combined with the force and weight of the guard behind me, I was left dazed and unable to see straight. I fell from the tree, onto my back on a soft patch of green grass. The guard landed next to me on my foot. I managed to free it by jerking it hard in one fast motion. Sounds of flowing water filled my ears, I turned onto my stomach and began to peer upon an odd occurrence.


    A wolf twice my size. Its fur is a thick hide of silver with a white streak that spiraled across its body. It just sat there, resting on a rock in the middle of a lake. The waterfall that rushed behind it complemented its artistic and divine appearance. The sound of the water running along its course felt like bliss for a moment as I locked eyes with the mysterious beastly wolf. Its calm and collected gaze resonated with me on a personal level. I felt like one with the wolf while our eyes interlocked together. The posture of its body radiated a presence of superiority and dominance. The wolf tilted its head to me before looking away, no longer paying me any heed. A warmth that I could only feel while I used my ability, I feel it while I''m around this wolf. This person is not a wolf¡­


    ¡°y-You''re¡­¡± My body began to float and just as before, dragged down the hall by this strange concept of gravity. It¡¯s like being pulled along by a leash, I can fight it all I want, but as long as the collar is wrapped around my neck I''ll be forced to skip to its whim. I have to try it now! Before it¡¯s too late!


    Close your eyes, ignore everything around you. Think of something that stimulates the mind in a unique way. That wolf¡­ I''ve seen it before¡­ but where? The enchanting forest, the vibrant sound of spring¡­ I¡¯ve been there before. I started to feel tingles within the center of my stomach. My eyes darkened as visages of static raced through my mind. Am I remembering something¡­? I can¡¯t see anything through all of this¡­


    My head began to ring amongst the sudden attempt of repressed memories trying to resurface. My lungs began to feel suffocated from the pressure, my breath ran out, and I began to gag and choke. Opening my eyes I was greeted by the company of water. I can¡¯t¡­ breathe¡­. Water¡­ everywhere¡­ can¡¯t¡­ swim¡­ up¡­!


    I failed my arms and legs trying my hardest to swim in any direction. My mouth opened, no longer able to contain it shut. Water filled my body, beginning to drown my lungs. ¡°Arggg¡­ arghhhhhhh!!!!¡± I need air! I need air! I¡­ need¡­


    The light in my eyes slowly started to diminish by the second. I¡¯m gonna¡­ pass out¡­


    As my eyelids began to shut I was finally given the thing I needed to survive. Air. The scenery of the hall changed, no longer filled to the brim with water. I threw up what water I had swallowed and my lungs took in air once more. ¡°UAHHHHHHHHHHH¡­ That was close-¡± A guard crashed into me from the side causing us to hit a nearby debris. Looking at it, it was the shape of a giant glacier. A print of face painted the ice wall red as my body slid away continuing upon the path. Looking around, I can see we''re in a type of blizzard now. Either it¡¯s adrenaline or I''m in so much pain that I don¡¯t feel the coldness of the weather. I need power¡­


    Another wall of ice blocked my path forward. There¡¯s nothing I can do, I can¡¯t move a single muscle. ¡­C''mon! Fight dammit!


    A rapturous howl filled the enormous hall, its unearthly sound sent a wave of black and white vibrations throughout the atmosphere. Those shockwaves had to be of Godlike nature for they reshaped the entire hall in an instance, as if changing reality itself. No longer a blizzard blocking out vision from the eyes, no longer ocean, a forest or a sea of flames. The expansive returned back to its former school like nature. The numbers of the guards also lessened. Looking back I could see the wolf from before in the distance. It tilted its head once more at me before turning and walking away out of sight. Did it do that¡­?


    Turning my head and glancing forward I was alerted to the incoming exit in the distance, there was a wall with a large double sided door around it. ¡°A door! Wait¡­ we¡¯re still not stopping¡­ Does he know about the wall?!¡± We were approaching rapidly, in just a few minutes we¡¯ll reach it and I still see no sign of Zion. ¡°This is a big problem!¡±


    At this speed, We¡¯re gonna paint the walls red, the guards included. ¡­Screw it! I have to push myself! Adapt! I¡¯m just gonna have to take the shot, and hope it lands. Powers¡­ don¡¯t fail me now!


    I inhaled a large gust of wind, held it in, and closed my eyes. You have to stop Zion. You have to save your friend! I couldn¡¯t feel anything at first, but a fuzzy sensation began to make itself known deep inside, uncomfortable but secure enough to make me feel at ease. ¡°...It¡¯s here.¡± My body was glowing differently from its usual bright green glow. It now shone a dark greenish hue. Is this because of the state that I''m in right now? ¡­I have to hurry this along quickly.


    My body came falling to the ground, I did a barrel roll before hitting the ground all the way, softened the impact of the land, I began to dash straight ahead.


    ¡°If he crashes into the wall, it¡¯ll just be a ¡®me¡¯ all over again, except worse. I¡¯m hating these parallels right now.¡±


    A guard came flying towards, I hopped over him and began to pick up speed. There¡¯s three coming towards me, one coming from the left, one from behind, and another from above. Now that I¡¯m moving on my own, I have to be extra cautious of my surroundings this time. It¡¯s all or nothing!


    I jumped up, twisting my body, I flipped over the first one from the left, he flew into the lockers. I then side stepped, dodging the second one from behind, I used my hand to push off its body to dodge the third one from above. I landed against the wall, using it as a foothold to charge up my lift off from, propelling myself through the hall like a slingshot, just narrowly missing the guards being flung around.


    Zion, where are you?! Just a little further¡­ just a little, more further! Amidst a barrage of guards I spotted Zion by the dark, purple tint that covenanted his body. He was floating in a state that made him look like he might be unconscious. A dark and gruesome red aura that flashed inside the purple. He felt like an entirely different person. What is that energy?!


    I landed on the right side of the wall, using the momentum I built up to run across it. ¡°Zion! You gotta wake up! You¡¯re gonna kill yourself along with the guards if you don¡¯t stop!¡± He isn¡¯t letting up, I got to Grab him! ¡°Stay there! I¡¯m on the way!¡±


    I gathered what little strength I had left in my legs and leapt into the air, adjusting and maneuvering my body to dodge the onslaught of guards. I was too late to see one coming towards me and was slammed into a few of the lockers. The guard was once again flung away, leaving me planted against the wall.


    ¡°Fuck¡­ my pace gone. ¡­Let¡¯s start again!¡± I stood up and got myself into a position ready to jump again. Getting a running start, I launched myself into the air. ¡°Almost¡­ there¡­!¡± Another guard came flying towards me in my blind spot, catching me off guard. Just before it could hit me, I extended my arm, planted my hands against it and flipped off of it, using the momentum to propel me the rest of the way towards Zion.


    Time felt as if it had slowed down, an opening formed allowing me a clear shot to him. Just inches away it felt like the moment of me laying eyes on him felt like a lifetime. That immersion was short-lived as I saw the wall just a few feet away from us, ready for us to decorate its white look with our bodies.


    ¡°s-SHIT!¡± Finally reaching him, I wrapped my arms around him tightly. I flipped my body, sticking the landing against the wall, the force caused my feet and legs to crack as I landed. I caught us as we were about to fall by grabbing a hold of a hilt of a white flag on top of the door frame.


    Unable to hold my grip any longer, we fell down to the ground, I shielded Zion with my body as we hit the ground. I let go of him once we landed. The rest of the guards flew past us, crashing straight into the wall. I couldn¡¯t see them while they did, too damaged to lift my head, but the noise was gritty. Their blood was surprisingly purple. That and chunks of their body flew from the walls as they collided. Like flies flying into a windshield on a hot summer day. The lava must¡¯ve worn down their bodies. It felt like it went on for longer than it should have.


    Their blood and guts showered us in all its glory. It felt slimy and gross against my bare skin. The purple gooeyness makes me feel like I''ve unlocked a new phobia. It''s a traumatizing thing to behold.


    I can¡¯t feel my legs, I think they may have broken when I landed against the wall. ¡°C''mon¡­ got to... get up¡­ Zion¡­¡± I tried to heal myself but was met with a burst of blood coming from my mouth again, and the glow of my body faded away quickly after. ¡°As expected, but¡­ We did it¡­ we really did it¡­!¡± I let out a brief smile that was followed by another hurl of blood from my mouth.


    I got to¡­ move¡­


    Immediately the door came bursting open with a strong force. A disoriented boy with dark bags under his eyes opened it, clutching in his hands what looks to be a metal pipe.


    ¡°WHO IS IT?! HAVE YOU COME TO STEAL MY EYES?!¡±

 Chapter 14: Safe Room (Act 1 End)

    ¡°So where are we?¡± I asked, crossing my arms. I  leaned against one of the many racks formed a neatly filed line just a few feet from one another. I must¡¯ve regained the use of my power while I was unconscious, upon awakening my legs were healed. After Ryan busted through the door like a madman, I thought me and Zion were a goner. But after seeing his plain appearance I was overcome with joy and fainted on the spot. Though I¡¯m able to stand now, I still have this throbbing feeling in my lower half of my body, it can¡¯t just be simply soreness. My guess¡­ my abilities must not have fully healed me. I couldn¡¯t have been out for long. I should ask him about that as well.


    ¡°Storage closet. We entered through another door over there,¡± Ryan pointed his finger behind me down the row of rusted metal shelves. A double sided door similar to where we first entered came out of hiding each time the light above it flickered. ¡°There¡¯s a few more, Robbie¡¯s sitting over there in front of one, I wouldn¡¯t disturb him right now though. He¡¯s been through a lot since we all got split up. I placed Zion over there as well, I was gonna put you right there too but you woke up before I could grab you. Seeing your shadow rise behind me was like a nightmare.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah, sorry about that heh. I should¡¯ve said something.¡± Glancing over at Robbie, he sat up against one of the racks near the door with his head down, whispering to himself. ¡°-could¡¯ve helped her¡­ a track meet? I should¡¯ve been there with her instead¡­¡± I walked over towards him. Zion¡¯s laying on the ground next to him, still fast asleep.


    I¡¯ve never met Rob¡¯s mom personally. His mom has always been a touchy subject, I always just avoided it, not wanting to pry. We only ever spoke about her if he was the one to bring her up. Robbie preferred any conversation that didn¡¯t include his mother coming into the topic of discussion. Just the mention of a ¡°Will your parents be coming to your meet?¡± or a ¡®Parent-teacher conference¡¯ could make his face turn sour and yellow. They may seem trivial, but to the best of my knowledge Robbie now, has no family at all. I vaguely remember him mentioning that he¡¯s not originally from the U.S., his mom emigrated from Europe when he was just a baby. ¡°To find a better life¡­¡± that¡¯s what he said¡­ I think. There was an insanely long lecture going on in class that day now that I remember. More or less, his mom was all he had. His only parent to look up to. She was his dream, he worked so he could see her better self.


    My mom¡¯s a doctor, working an average of 60-70 hours a week left almost no time for her to keep up her role in my adolescence. Sometimes she would get off early from work and make it home just in time for when my dad would read me a bedtime story. Her eyes would sparkle when she would peek into my room and see that I was still awake. She would drop everything she was holding, grab a book and sit next to me on the bed. I would ask ¡°Why isn¡¯t my daddy doing it?¡± Hearing that line from your own child probably ached her heart looking back on it. Truth be told I didn¡¯t see her as my mother until the passing of my dad. In a way, I just saw her as a close friend of mine and my dad. It wasn¡¯t her fault, I know it wasn¡¯t.


    It all felt weird, when she came home that day and broke the news to me about him, I didn¡¯t react at all. I just thought in my head, ¡°dad is just gonna be away for a little while, like mom always would to her job.¡± I kept the same naive thought in my head, call it a child¡¯s way of coping maybe. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into one long painful month. Ignorantly sitting in front of the window awaiting his knock on the door. Once the funeral came, family gathered, aunties smothering me with their hugs of sympathy and the ever so polite, ¡®You¡¯ll get through this, you''re a young man now.¡¯ All of it felt like nonsense and banter. I thought¡­ If my dad truly died¡­ why did he promise to come back as soon as he could? I learned what the concept of death meant earlier on, courtesy of my mother¡¯s books from her countless studying in her college days. But¡­ to me, my dad felt immortal, like he¡¯d always be there by my side.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Walking up the aisle of the church, nothing could¡¯ve ever prepared me for the moment of witnessing my father¡¯s body lay lifeless and devoid of its essence. The cheerful, loud, caring, everyday person that I spent my first ten years with. My best friend, my dad¡­. That casket represented his end. What¡¯s happening with Robbie right now, it¡¯s only gonna get worse before it gets better, but if he has someone near, someone who understands the pain and dread inside his heart¡­ It¡¯ll make that process a lot less lonely.


    ¡°Robbie¡­,¡± I kneeled, and placed my hand on his shoulder, ¡°Rest, get some sleep. You¡¯re okay.¡± I gave him a comforting smile that locked on to his dejected leer, he gave me a nod, and layed down across the floor. It wasn¡¯t an ideal sleeping place, but I doubt that¡¯s what they''re concerned about. ¡°We can talk more later¡­ I love you man. We all do, you know that.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s been like that since we got here,¡± Ryan said while investigating a shelf, ¡°I tried talking to him, but well, he doesn¡¯t know me, and I don¡¯t really know what to say to him either¡­ I never had to deal with a loss like this¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°What? You don¡¯t have to apologize.¡± I walked up to him, beginning to express my gratitude towards him. ¡°Thank you really. My guess is that it wasn¡¯t easy for you to make it to this place either." He looked awful, his clothes were torn, and I could see stains of blood that most definitely weren''t his own. ¡°Me seeing you both here right now means you must have protected him, am I right?¡±


    ¡°Ugh y-yeah, it wasn¡¯t easy though¡­¡± He started to scratch the back of his head.


    ¡°Also¡­¡± It felt as if a knot had formed in my throat, my heart began to beat irregularly. Sucking up a gust of air, I calmed my disconcerted self. ¡°I owe you an apology.¡± I lowered my head slightly, ashamed of what I had done to him. My gesture must have caught him off guard, he looked a little shocked. ¡°I endangered your life¡­ I put your life in the palm of my hands without a second of hesitation, ¡­and I dropped it. Please forgive me¡­ I¡¯ll be better next time¡­ I swear.¡±


    ¡°Woah woah woah, it¡¯s okay! I know you didn¡¯t mean to.¡± He pleaded with me to lift my head. ¡°You did everything you could. You could¡¯ve left me behind or looked at me as unimportant compared to the rest of them. But you risked your life for me, a stranger. You grabbed my arm without a second thought, you have no idea how much that means to me.¡±


    Ryan¡­ He¡¯s a good guy. I still feel as though I have a great deal to him. I¡¯m happy there¡¯s no hard feelings. The same could have easily been said for him. He could¡¯ve seen Robbie as unimportant and left him to better his odds of survival. But he brought Rob with him. He¡¯s no longer a stranger to me. ¡°We¡¯re not strangers or some unknown person to each other anymore¡­¡± I extended my hand out towards him. ¡°Will you shake my hand one more time¡­? This time it¡¯s more genuine. We¡¯re friends for real now.¡±


    ¡°Friends.¡± He shook my hand with a smile. ¡°Thank you Elijah.¡±


    ¡°Heh, call me Eli. That¡¯s what the three other stooges refer to me as anyway.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Eli it is then.¡±


    With our new bond blossoming in its wake, a sense of comradery filled my spirit. If I could become close to a person in a hellish place such as this, then maybe our chances aren¡¯t as slim as we once believed. I''ve found another light that¡¯ll keep us moving. Ryan, you have my back, and I have yours.


    ¡°Also¡­¡± A deep sigh filled the room as he retracted his hand from mine. ¡°if I¡¯m being honest, you had way better control over your ability then when I first awakened mine¡­¡± He looked away, slightly embarrassed.


    ¡°Awakened?! You mean¡­ you have powers too now?!¡± I said, caught off guard by the sudden reveal. Is that hard to believe though?! Considering me, and Zion, but still, ¡°what happened?¡± He placed his hand out back in front of me. A spark of light began crackling the palm of his hand before shortly being followed with a ball of flame forming, floating just above his hand. Closing his hand extinguished the fire just as quickly as it came.


    ¡°...Fire¡­?¡±


    ¡°It was¡­¡± He took a seat on the floor and crossed his arms. I sat down across from him. Something tells me this is gonna be a long one. ¡°Those two are gonna be out for a little while longer. I¡¯ll start at the beginning¡­ from when we crashed.¡±