Cara Bean was known to many as an enigma, an anomaly that defied social norms. She was a girl who chose to be alone, not because she had no other option, but because she preferred it that way. Despite her solitude, Cara was not an outcast nor was she shunned by her peers. In fact, many tried to befriend her but quickly learned that Cara was not one to welcome companionship. However, there was one persistent girl named Katie Genro, who refused to give up on Cara. Over time, Cara begrudgingly accepted Katie's presence in her life, though still refused to interact much.
Cara, at only sixteen years old, seemed to carry a heavy burden on her shoulders, evident in her tired and hollow eyes. Her jet-black hair flowed freely down her back, as though it had not been tended to in months. It was a stark contrast to her plain and unremarkable attire; she wore a black t-shirt and jeans that seemed to have been worn countless times before. Cara's disheveled appearance suggested that she had little concern for her outward appearance, yet there was a sense of intentional rebellion in her indifference.
On this unremarkable day, Katie approached Cara with her usual enthusiasm before class.
"Hey, Cara!" Katie's beaming smile was infectious. "How are you on this beautiful day?" Cara gave a simple thumbs up in response.
Katie was widely regarded as one of the most beautiful girls in school, second only to a girl named Amara. Her eyes were a striking shade of blue, bright enough to light up any room. Her hair, a stark white color, was cut short and styled in a way that accentuated her delicate features. Many assumed that she had bleached her hair, but to their surprise, Katie claimed that it was her natural hair color. On this day, she wore a loose-fitting tank top and a colorful skirt, which swayed with each step she took. Despite her outward radiance, Katie had a way of making those around her feel comfortable and at ease, a quality that Cara couldn't quite put her finger on.
As the two girls continued their one-sided conversation, the history teacher entered the classroom, signaling the start of another school day.
"Good morning, class," the teacher greeted, pausing for the customary response from the students. He held his gaze on Cara for a moment, hoping that she would engage, but as usual, she remained silent. “Now usually I am of the belief that religion should not be discussed in a formal setting like this,” The teacher's initial reluctance to discuss religion in the classroom was quickly overshadowed by his enthusiasm for the subject matter. He spoke with the fervor of a child who had been given free rein in a candy store. "However," he continued, "given the rich history of this religion, I simply cannot resist the opportunity to delve deeper into it with you all." He paused to build suspense, “Now do we have any students who follow the ‘Book of The Overseer’ with us in class today?” He scanned the room, looking for students who identified as followers of the "Book of The Overseer". A handful of students timidly raised their hands in response. "Excellent," the teacher exclaimed, "Would one of you be willing to come up and share some of your beliefs with the class?"
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Jordan Steele, a hesitant but willing participant, stepped up to the front of the classroom. "Well, according to the 'Book of The Overseer', there exist beings in this world so powerful that their mere breath can create a universe from nothing!" he began, his tone growing more confident with each passing word. "Our world is known as Dimension 1332, and it was created by the Overseer known as 'Fear Herself', which is a really cool name, if I do say so myself."
As he spoke, Jordan's excitement for his religion began to shine through. "The book prophesied that one day, a great disaster will strike this world and we, the believers, will be the first line of defense!" he exclaimed, his voice rising with enthusiasm. It was clear that Jordan took pride in his beliefs and was eager to share them with his classmates.
Cara sat still, seemingly uninterested in the discussion. She had never been one for religion or faith, finding solace in her thoughts and beliefs instead. As Jordan continued to speak, she found herself getting lost in the mundane details of the classroom. The hum of the air conditioning, the scratch of pencils on paper, and the soft whispers of students in the back of the room. It wasn't until Katie's voice broke through her thoughts that she snapped back to reality.
"Do you believe in anything like that?" Katie asked, turning to face her friend.
Cara responded with a curt "no." Katie's smile faltered slightly, but she didn't let it show. "Oh, okay," she said, her voice laced with disappointment. "I just thought it was interesting, that's all."
As the class continued, Cara's mind continued to wander, the words of the teacher and Jordan fading into the background. She couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to be the first line of defense against a large-scale threat. To be recognized as a hero. The fantasy was a brief escape from her lonely reality. But as the class ended and the students filed out of the room, Cara shook herself back to reality, returning to her usual state of solitude.
The day had been uneventful so far, but all of that changed when the ground started to shake violently. It wasn't just their classroom, but the entire world seemed to be quivering as if it was being shaken by an enormous force. Abruptly, the shaking stopped, and a young girl's voice echoed around the planet. The voice was high-pitched and childlike, but there was something unsettling about it, almost as if it wasn't really a child speaking.
"Attention, inhabitants of Dimension 1332!" the voice announced. "I am Fear Herself, and the apocalypse described in my book has arrived!" Cara couldn't believe what she was hearing. She hoped it was all just a prank, but the gravity of the situation seemed all too real.
"If you are one of my chosen warriors," Fear Herself continued, "a screen should have appeared in front of you. There are two quests for you to complete to prove yourself to me. And if you fail, well..." Her voice trailed off, and she began to giggle maniacally.
Cara's eyes widened as a strange screen appeared before her. This was no prank - it was actually happening. She felt her heart racing as she realized that her life was now at stake.