Amidst the dreamscape, during the tumultuous clash of great forces in 'The Great Incursion,' the hammer of Annihilator came crashing down upon the unyielding stone of Infinity, setting off a tempestuous chain of events. Suddenly, Clark woke up, his heart racing, caught in the distress of the fading dream. He took a moment to regain his composure, reaching for the lamp and gently rubbing his eyes.
"Ah... that dream again," he mumbled, while tenderly massaging his left eye with his left hand, a clear sign of discomfort.
Turning his attention to the digital alarm clock, the numbers swiftly changed from 7:29am to 7:30, and the alarm jolted him awake. His younger brother knocked on the door, announcing breakfast.
"Bro! Breakfast is ready!" his brother called.
"I'm up!" Clark replied.
His phone buzzed with a reminder for an upcoming field trip tomorrow.
In the bustling kitchen, Clark's mother orchestrated their morning meal with a rhythmic dance of pots and pans. Seated at the table, Clark and his brother eagerly awaited the feast. Amid bites of scrambled eggs and toast, Clark's memory jolted him.
"Oh, wait! I almost forgot," he exclaimed, sifting through his backpack. Retrieving a field trip waiver, he handed it to his mother.
His mother took the paper, her eyes scanning the details. "A field trip on January 13, 2017? Tomorrow?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Clark, with a mouthful of breakfast, nodded. "Yeah, to a museum."
Her eyes lit up with excitement. "A museum? That sounds fascinating! What's the exhibit?"
Clark shrugged, displaying a touch of disinterest. "Eh, just some collections. Honestly, some of it seems fake."
Undeterred, his mother chuckled. "Well, you might be surprised. Museums can be full of hidden gems. What museum is it, anyway?"
"Some astronomy stuff, from what I’ve heard." Clark replied.
Her excitement grew, and she signed the waiver. "Well, even if you think it's boring, it's a chance to learn something new. You never know, you might discover something amazing."
Clark rolled his eyes playfully. "Yeah, we'll see about that."
Clark left the house and walked to the bus stop. The bus pulled up and as he stepped in, he noticed Aikozo and Raekwon, two of his classmates, standing in the crowded bus. Their eyes met briefly as he made his way through. Holding onto a handgrip, Clark faced the front of the bus, aware of Aikozo and Raekwon's presence.
The bus stopped near the school, and the three disembarked. Clark walked ahead, with Aikozo and Raekwon a little distance behind him. Aikozo called out to him, expressing concern.
"Hey!" Aikozo exclaimed.
Clark stopped and turned at them. "What?"
Aikozo's frustration bubbled to the surface. "How long are you going to be like this?"
"Like what?" Clark's response. "‘Like what’?" Aikozo scoffed. "You've been ignoring us!"
Clark sighed and tried to clarify, "I'm not ignoring you. I just... I have nothing to say."
As he turned to resume walking, a sudden surge of resolve prompted him to pivot back toward Aikozo and Raekwon, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Stop involving others in this issue," he implored. "Rae has nothing to do with this."
With that, Clark continued his walk, leaving Aikozo and Raekwon in a tense silence. Aikozo looked at Raekwon, frustrated, while Raekwon shook his head in response. Aikozo clenched his fist, torn between emotions.
Inside the school, Clark felt uneasy, his thoughts dwelling on the recent argument with Aikozo. The memory of their clash replayed in his mind, haunting him. Suddenly, Edrich, a friend of his, startled him.
"Eyyy!" Edrich greeted, "Wtf dude!" Clark jumped in surprise. "Let’s go to our room together," Edrich suggested. "Where’s Felix?" Clark asked. "I just texted him, he said he’s already up there," Edrich replied.
Returning to Aikozo and Raekwon, their tense encounter with Clark was replaced by a meeting with Varro and Jyrus.
"Oh, here they are!" Varro's voice bubbled with enthusiasm. "Aiko! Rae!"
Aikozo and Raekwon shifted their attention to Varro and Jyrus, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. The moment of reunion, however, proved to be brief as Aikozo spoke up.
"You guys can go on!" Aikozo's voice carried a sense of urgency. "We have something to look at."
With that, Aikozo and Raekwon discreetly moved away, leaving Varro and Jyrus standing there, puzzled and slightly exasperated.
"What the? They made us wait and now they’re telling us to go on?" Varro exclaimed. "Never mind them. Let’s just go; we’ll be late," Jyrus suggested.
The two friends proceeded to their classroom, leaving Aikozo and Raekwon to deal with their unresolved matters in private.
As Edrich and Clark entered the classroom, they continued to their usual seats, weaving through the maze of desks and students. The atmosphere buzzed with the energy of a new school day, as their classmates exchanged stories, laughter, and the occasional whispered secret.
Before Clark could fully settle into his chair, Nyle, the class comedian, rushed towards him with his phone in hand, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Clark!" Nyle exclaimed, attempting to grab his friend's attention.
Clark, however, was evidently in no mood for Nyle's usual antics. "No, Nyle. No time to check out your 'hot chix.'"
Nyle, taken aback by the bluntness of his friend, questioned, "Hey, am I that bad to you? Is that how you see me now?"
Without hesitation, Clark delivered a response that was equally frank, "Yes."
Nyle retaliated by showing Clark a ‘fascinating’ picture in his phone, leaving Clark momentarily flustered.
"What the hell!," he exclaimed while grabbing a nearby book from a classmate's desk giving Nyle swift smack on the shoulder with it.
Nyle couldn't contain his laughter, the amusement radiating from his infectious chuckles.
Felix and Edrich, having missed the beginning of the spectacle, now sat bewildered by the sudden commotion.
"What? What is it?" they questioned, demanding an explanation.
Nyle eagerly obliged, showing them the peculiar image that had caught Clark off guard. Edrich recoiled, his eyes widened in astonishment.
"Agh! My eyes!" he proclaimed, as he shielded them from the baffling image.
"Dude! I expected something. Dammit!", as Felix decided to jestingly escalate the situation. He stood up and acted as if he were about to engage in a mock fight, jokingly challenging Nyle.
Nyle couldn't help but burst into laughter at the playful banter, adding to the overall commotion in the classroom.
Meanwhile, Vanessa, the classmate whose book Clark had taken, gave him a fierce look. It became apparent to Clark that it was, in fact, her book. In response to her stern gaze, Clark offered her an apologetic smile and carefully returned her book to its rightful place.
As the classroom settled, Varro and Jyrus made their entrance, prompting Felix to inquire, "Oh? Where are the other two?"
Jyrus, bemused, responded, "Hmm? Oh. Aiko and Rae?"
Varro chimed in, "They said they have to check out something. So we went ahead."
Edrich couldn't resist a playful jest, wondering aloud, "What the... Are they dating or something?"
Laughter rippled through the classroom as Varro and Jyrus proceeded to their seats.
Clark turned his gaze elsewhere, as he couldn't help but drift into a memory of the earlier encounter with Aikozo and Raekwon. His mind wandered back to an incident that took place a year ago—a recollection of a time when Raekwon had bravely shielded a fellow classmate from a cat's scratch. In that moment, Clark had watched intently, as he happened to witness who had thrown the cat into the midst of their group of friends.
However, the vivid memory from the past was soon supplanted by the arrival of their teacher, who strode into the room and transformed the atmosphere with a hearty greeting.
"Good morning Class 4-B" the teacher's voice filled the classroom, echoed by the chorus of students replying, "Good morning, Sir Ahgase."
The teacher proceeded to address the class with only one significant announcement—a reminder of the upcoming field trip scheduled for the next day.
At that moment, Aikozo and Raekwon, who had taken a slight detour on their way to classroom, arrived late and attempted to sneak into the classroom, but their subtle entrance didn't escape the teacher's keen observation.
The teacher's playful teasing was swift and straightforward as they inquired, "Here we go. Aikozo and Raekwon. I appreciate your not-so-sneaky entrance. Do you mind explaining why both of you are late?"
Aikozo attempted to come up with an excuse, but the teacher couldn't help but indulge in their banter, instructing, "Answer together at the same time. 1, 2, 3..."
"Toilet." Aikozo and Raekwon responded in unison.
The classroom fell into an uneasy silence. Some students even playfully covered their noses, feigning discomfort.
The teacher couldn't suppress a chuckle as they continued, "Is that so? Both of you? Why do you need company in the toilet? Do you need help with your business?"
Aikozo ventured to explain, "I've got a bad stomach."
Raekwon, at the same time, said, "He's got a bad stomach."
Their responses were perfectly synchronized, leaving the class stunned and speechless. The teacher, in response, couldn't resist making light of the situation.
"Are you sure you're not making this up?" The teacher quipped, a hint of amusement coloring their tone. "You two seem so in sync; you might have prepared for this before coming here."
Raekwon then humorously revealed a roll of toilet paper Aikozo apparently used, much to the class's horror and disgust.
As the humorous exchange concluded, the teacher instructed, "Just go to your seats."
Clark observed Aikozo and Raekwon as they returned to their seats, a sense of suspicion growing within him. He couldn't shake the feeling that their tardiness had a deeper, undisclosed purpose. He was certain they wouldn't have taken such a prolonged detour just for a visit to the restroom, especially at the start of the day.
The teacher then continued and shifted their attention to the day's agenda, addressing the class, "Okay. Has everyone got their waiver signed?"
The class collectively affirmed, "Yes."
Following their acknowledgment, the teacher assigned the task of collecting the waivers to the class president, Iris, with the instructions to submit them to the faculty after class.
Iris promptly responded, "Noted, sir."
The teacher then proceeded to conclude the morning assembly. "Okay. Prepare yourselves for tomorrow. Good luck in your classes today. That's all."
With the morning assembly concluded, the homeroom teacher departed, leaving the classroom to the lecture teacher. Aikozo then glanced at Clark gazing out of the window, lost in contemplation and deep in thought.
Amid the ever-evolving flow of knowledge, students actively participated in a sequence of classes, immersing themselves in the subjects at hand. The progression of time was marked by diligent note-taking, lively conversations, and shared insights.
And as the final bell rang, a symphony of liberation echoed through the corridors, signaling the end of another school day. Students burst from their classrooms, their faces alight with the excitement of imminent freedom, eager to head home.
In the bustling hallway, Vanessa sprung onto Clark, who was strolling peacefully, and playfully draped her arms over his shoulders.
"Clark! Let's hit the arcade later!" she bubbled with excitement.
Clark, however, rejected the skinship and gently removed her arms from his shoulders and replied, "I'm heading home early, Nessa. Sorry."
Vanessa protested with a hint of frustration, "But you promised yesterday we'd play 'tomorrow'! Well, today's 'that' day!"
Clark chuckled, "Stop overreacting. How about just dinner? My treat. I really have to head home early."
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Vanessa fired back, "As if! You didn't even pay for our dinner last week! I did!"
Clark, realizing his oversight, admitted, "Did you? My bad. So that’s a no then? Well, I'll make it up to you on our field trip tomorrow. See you later!"
As Clark briskly walked away, Vanessa called after him, "CLARK!!!"
Iris and Jaiden, who had been observing the interaction from behind, shared a knowing glance. Jaiden couldn't help but offer her insight, "Nessa, don't push it. You're coming off a bit too desperate." Vanessa sighed, "I'm not being desperate."
Jaiden, with a skeptical grin, retorted, "Sure."
Vanessa emphasized, "I'm serious! I'm just comfortable around him."
Jaiden leaned in, her voice filled with candor, "But are you sure he's comfortable with you? It's pretty clear he's moved on after you turned him down last year. He's in a different place now."
Vanessa earnestly explained, "That's precisely why I'm getting comfortable with him."
Iris chimed in with a touch of empathy, "You're not trying to win him back, are you?"
Vanessa shook her head, denying any ulterior motives, "No! It's not like that! It's just... After I turned down his confession, we came to an agreement that he sees me the same way I see him – as a friend, nothing more than that."
As he arrived home, an exhausted Clark entered his room, flinging his bag onto the bed with an exasperated sigh. He lay down and immediately drifted into a dream.
Within this enigmatic dream, a mysterious pink aura enveloped his left arm. Suddenly, someone grasped his back, and another figure kicked that arm, as if trying to free him. These cryptic images swirled in his subconscious.
Clark was abruptly awakened by his blaring alarm clock, its harsh tone breaking the dream's spell. Fuzzy and confused, he muttered to himself, "What the heck was that?". Clark slowly gathered his disoriented thoughts. It struck him that he had gone to sleep in his school uniform, yet here he was, tucked under the familiar comfort of his blanket in his pajamas. The hazy memory of either having dinner or not remained elusive as well.
He extended his arm, reaching for his phone, where he diligently tapped out notes in his notepad app. Over the past week, he had developed a habit of documenting his dreams. They felt uncannily real. And one recurring dream, in particular, had begun to occupy his thoughts — the vivid image of a relentless hammer shattering an unyielding stone.
"Bro! Breakfast!" his brother called from downstairs.
Clark replied with a muffled acknowledgement, "Mmm, alright," while continuing to type on his phone. He tossed his phone onto his bed, eventually deciding to get up and join his family for breakfast.
Descending the stairs, he greeted his mother, who seemed surprised by his early rising.
"Oh, you're up!" she exclaimed.
Clark casually responded, "Yeah, I got up a bit early, didn't I?"
His mother couldn't resist a sarcastic tone as she noted, "You're only five minutes ahead of your usual schedule."
Clark smirked and said, "Well, not bad, right?"
Mocking him lightly, his mother nagged, "Not bad, you say? Look at the time! Your call time is 6 a.m., isn't it? That's what the letter said." Clark glanced at the clock and mumbled, "It's 5:15 a.m."
His mother gave him a curious look and observed, "Oh?"
"Why?" Clark questioned.
His mother examined him closely and noticed, "Your left eye is red..."
Tears began to trickle from Clark's left eye, causing his mother to react with surprise, exclaiming, "OMG! You're crying?!!"
Clark quickly reassured her, "No no no... It's probably just because of the way I slept, maybe my arm was pressing against my eye..."
Still concerned for her son's well-being, his mother offered a solution. "There’s an eyedrop left from when I had sore eyes a few weeks ago. I’ll go get it for you."
Resisting the offer of assistance, Clark insisted, "No, Mom, let me go get it myself."
She conceded with a maternal sigh, "Alright... Just hurry up, or you'll be late."
With the soothing drops applied, Clark set about devouring his breakfast. He swiftly organized his belongings in anticipation of the impending field trip. A sense of urgency gripped him as he sprinted towards the bus stop.
As Clark waited at the bus stop, he checked his phone, earphones securely in place. A notification flashed on the screen, announcing the impending "Field trip at 6:00 a.m., 15 minutes left." He swiped away the notification, only to be haunted by the lingering images from his earlier dream.
His eyes stung, and he shook his head, trying to shake off the unsettling sensation.
Soon, his bus arrived, heading for his school. The bus intercom then announced their arrival at "SaenJu High School," and Clark disembarked.
Entering the school premises, Clark was met by a bustling scene. The school grounds were a lively tapestry of students lined-up, eagerly awaiting their respective buses.
Clark then saw his class, and Edrich greeted him enthusiastically, exclaiming, "There he is!"
Clark, somewhat perplexed, inquired, "What is it now?". Edrich extended a cup of hot coffee, remarking, "We bought you some coffee.". Clark, slightly suspicious, questioned, "Who told you I'd like coffee?". Edrich laughed and replied, "Me. I bought some for others too."
He then saw Nyle and Felix, each holding a coffee cup.
Clark finally took a sip and retorted, "I'm not paying for this." But just as he took another sip, Edrich playfully remarked, "It's fine. I spat on it, so it's definitely fine." Startled, Clark spat out the coffee, much to the amusement of Edrich, Nyle, and Felix, who erupted in laughter while clutching their coffee cups.
As the class began to board the bus for their much-anticipated field trip, the girls gracefully occupied the front seats. With the front seats claimed by the girls, the boys are now left with the middle and back seats. The homeroom teacher then announced that the boys may enter the bus.
Vanessa suddenly stood up from her seat and drew a perplexed reaction from Jaiden, who questioned her intentions. "Hey! Where are you going!" Jaiden exclaimed, surprised.
Vanessa's reply was a sly grin as she declared, "I’ll make Clark sit beside me."
"You’re crazy!" Jaiden exclaimed as she tried to stop Vanessa from her playful act.
As Clark strolled down the aisle, he couldn't ignore Vanessa's playful wave and her signal for him to occupy the empty seat beside her. Finally realizing her intentions, he decided to play along and sat beside her, catching her by surprise.
Vanessa hadn't anticipated Clark's willingness to play along, and it was a revealing moment for her. He approached the situation with calm assurance, undeterred by the potential awkwardness and embarrassment. It became evident that Clark's feelings for Vanessa are still lingering.
However, the class watched with fascination as Clark seated himself beside Vanessa, a twist in their story they hadn't anticipated. The sight of the old flame rekindling drew hushed whispers and hopeful speculation, but there was an undercurrent of tension.
Vanessa, growing increasingly concerned, couldn't help but be caught off guard by Clark's newfound composure. A mischievous gleam danced in his eyes, signaling his awareness of the game they were playing — a game of hearts and emotions.
Meanwhile, Nyle seated himself beside Jaiden, who’s now sitting alone after Vanessa changed seats. Felix, who apparently has a crush on Jaiden, noticed this and grabbed Nyle’s shoulder asking, "What are you doing?".
Nyle leaned close to Felix’s ear and simply whispered, "My turn." Felix, in disbelief, whispered back, "You wanna die?". Nyle simply laughed, teasing Felix even more.
Edrich then came in between the two, "You two are in the way! Stop playing!" and proceed to pull Felix away.
Edrich and Felix, now seated together, chose a spot beside Clark and Vanessa to watch the unfolding drama with amusement.
As Aikozo and Raekwon passed by and settled in the seats behind Clark, the atmosphere shifted from excitement to palpable tension, evident in the silent exchange of glances between Clark and Aikozo.
As the bus embarked on its journey, the excitement among the students grew, their anticipation for the upcoming field trip reaching its peak.
In the midst of their travels, Vanessa remained puzzled by Clark's actions and leaned in close to him, speaking in hushed tones to avoid attracting the attention of their peers, "Why did you do that?"
Clark, seemingly taken aback, responded in a hushed tone, "Do what?"
"Why are you making a move again?" Vanessa inquired, her voice tinged with concern and confusion. "I thought we agreed to stay just friends."
Clark chuckled softly, his breath barely audible, "Hold up. Me, making a move? You asked me to sit beside you!"
Vanessa sighed, realizing her slip of words. "I didn't mean... Why would you agree? Now everyone thinks we're a thing again."
Clark defended himself, whispering earnestly, "I was ignoring you for a whole year. I played along with your game and showed everyone my affection for you this one time, and suddenly it's my fault? And what would you even do if I didn’t sit beside you? What was your plan, really?"
Sulking and crossing her arms, Vanessa turned her gaze toward the window. Clark continued to explain, "You ask me out every day for arcades and dinner, you pick on me every chance you get, and you even publicly show affection to me. If there's anyone responsible for the 'fake news' between us, it's you."
Vanessa remained silent, choosing to ignore Clark, but her frustration with the situation was evident.
Clark, unable to resist teasing her even more, prodded further, "Wait a minute. You were making a move these past few weeks too. You've shown affection to me in public. Does that mean you also lik—"
Before Clark could even finish his sentence, Vanessa's patience snapped, and she pinched his left ear, causing him to let out a surprised yelp of pain. The commotion didn't go unnoticed, and their classmates Edrich and Felix started teasing them good-naturedly.
Clark, clenching his ear, mouthed the words, "shut your mouth or I'll kill you". But Aikozo, who had been trying to sleep and wasn't amused by the ruckus, had had enough. He kicked the back of Clark's seat and sternly said, "Hey. Quiet down, everyone's trying to sleep back here."
Clark was not pleased and stood up, locking eyes with Aikozo in a silent staredown. The tension in the air thickened, and for a few seconds that felt like a lifetime, it was unclear who would back down first.
Finally, Vanessa intervened, pulling Clark back down into his seat. She gave him a subtle, exasperated look, urging him to let it go. Their teacher, hearing the commotion, decided to intervene as well.
"Alright, class," their teacher announced, "our destination is still an hour away. You guys can still catch a nap on the way there."
With the teacher's words, an air of tranquility settled over the bus. The lights dimmed, casting a serene glow throughout the vehicle, and one by one, the students closed their eyes, surrendering to the gentle lullaby of the bus's motion as it carried them closer to their destination.
As the bus came to a halt in front of the ‘Museum of Astronomy’, they finally reached their destination. The excited Class 4-B eagerly disembarked, their youthful exuberance filling the crisp morning air. It was a much-anticipated field trip, and the prospect of exploring the mysteries of the cosmos filled them with boundless curiosity. Their laughter and chatter filled the surroundings, competing with the distant hum of the city.
The class started to form an orderly line outside the museum, eagerly awaiting their tour guide. Amidst the excitement, students from different schools joined the gathering, creating a vibrant tapestry of diverse uniforms and unfamiliar faces.
Standing tall in front of the mixed group, the tour guide welcomed the children and announced the day's adventure - a journey through the meteor section of the museum. With a flourish, they raised a flag adorned with constellations, a celestial banner that would serve as their guiding light through the exhibits. The air buzzed with anticipation as the amalgamation of students from various backgrounds prepared for a shared exploration of the cosmos.
The tour guide emphasized the importance of staying together and not straying from the group. "Stay close, and follow the flag," they advised, reminding the children of the wonders that awaited them.
However, as the group began to explore the exhibits, Clark noticed Aikozo and Raekwon discreetly slipping away from their classmates. A mischievous glint in their eyes and a playful smirk on their faces gave away their secret intentions. Clark's curiosity piqued, and without much thought, he decided to follow them.
Unbeknownst to Clark, Vanessa also noticed him sneaking out. She raised an eyebrow at his antics but decided not to raise the alarm just yet, assuming he might return shortly.
Clark tailed Aikozo and Raekwon through the labyrinth corridors of the museum, his curiosity growing as they led him deeper into the heart of the meteor section. However, he lost sight of the two and found himself lost in the hallway. As he turned around a corner, he stumbled upon a scene that sent a chill down his spine.
In a dimly lit stockroom, two menacing bullies were relentlessly taunting and intimidating a fellow student, their malevolent laughter echoing through the room. Clark's heart raced as he realized he had unintentionally stumbled upon a grave injustice, again. Taking a closer look, he recognized those were the same bullies from the incident last year—the ones he had let go. But this time, he knew he had to take a stand.
Summoning his courage, Clark pulled out his phone and began recording the confrontation, the device's camera capturing the bullies in the act. The recorded evidence would surely expose their cruel actions.
However, as he was filming, his phone suddenly rang, and the shrill ringtone pierced the silence of the stockroom. It was Vanessa calling, unknowingly becoming an unintended disruptor.
The two bullies' heads snapped towards the unexpected sound. A fleeting moment of panic washed over Clark as he realized he had been discovered. It was too late to conceal himself.
"Is that Clark?" one of the bullies asked, his eyes narrowing.
With frustration, the other bully declared, "Get him. Don't let him get away."
Clark's heart pounded as he made a split-second decision. He fled the room with his phone still on-hand, while the bullies gave chase, determined to keep their dark secret from being revealed. The corridors of the museum, once a place of wonder, now became a labyrinth of escape and discovery.
Clark's breaths came in ragged gasps as he stumbled into a dimly lit room within the museum, his heart pounding in his chest. The room was eerily quiet, with only one exhibit at its center – a solitary rock specimen, bathed in a soft glow that seemed to emanate from within. Exhausted and feeling a rare sense of safety, Clark collapsed onto the cold floor in front of the exhibit, his back against it.
He fumbled for his phone, still trembling from the adrenaline-fueled chase. As he played back the recording of the bullies' malicious actions, a triumphant grin crept across his face. "Finally, I caught you red-handed," he muttered under his breath.
However, a seed of doubt took root in his mind. What if the bullies caught up to him and erased the evidence? Determined to secure the proof, Clark scrolled through his contacts, his fingers dancing nervously on the screen. With a deep breath, he selected his homeroom teacher and swiftly sent the incriminating video. A sigh of relief escaped him as he saw the message marked as delivered.
However, his moment of respite was short-lived. Still fixated on his phone, Clark rose to his feet, his left hand inadvertently grazing the glass covering the enigmatic rock specimen. The room seemed to shift, and a shadowy figure materialized in his peripheral vision. Frozen in fear, Clark slowly turned his head to confront the unexpected presence.
As his gaze met the figure, the rock specimen at the room's center began to shake violently. The once-muted glow intensified, revealing hues of pink, orange, and white swirling within the rock. The colors merged into a mesmerizing dance, captivating Clark's attention. Before he could comprehend the surreal spectacle, an otherworldly energy surged from the rock, crawling through his left arm like a luminous serpent. It snaked its way up to his shoulder, then penetrated his left eye with a shocking, electric intensity.
Clark convulsed, a scream tearing through the silence of the room. The sound reverberated through the museum, reaching the ears of the bullies who were hot on his trail. Unbeknownst to Clark, the supernatural event had not gone unnoticed. As he sprinted out of the room, two unknown individuals lurking behind the doorway exchanged knowing glances, their presence shrouded in an air of enigma. The museum, once a backdrop for innocent exploration, now held secrets that transcended the boundaries of the ordinary.
Clark stumbled into the restroom, his breaths labored and his body still pulsating with the residual shock of the surreal events that had just unfolded. He felt an overwhelming sense of oddity, cold sweats clinging to his skin like a clammy second layer. The difficulty he experienced in catching his breath only heightened the disorienting aftermath of the supernatural event.
In an attempt to ground himself, Clark shuffled toward the sink, the cool porcelain promising some relief. He splashed water on his face, the droplets providing a fleeting sense of clarity. As he peered into the mirror, however, the reflection that met his gaze was a stranger to him.
His eyes, once familiar, now betrayed an unsettling dilation of the pupils. A chill ran down his spine as he blinked, witnessing his left eye momentarily bathed in a surreal pink hue. Panic seized him, and he instinctively rubbed at his eye as if trying to dispel the strange occurrence.
Discomfort lingered in his left shoulder, prompting Clark to shed his jacket in an attempt to relieve the unsettling sensations. As he continued to wash his face and hands, time itself seemed to waver, hanging in suspended animation. The restroom transformed into a surreal canvas as Clark's eyes emitted a soft pink glow once more.
In that moment, he found himself not within the confines of the restroom but looking out into the hallway beyond. A kaleidoscope of disjointed images flashed before him, snippets of different places within the museum, as if he had tapped into another person’s perspective. The disconcerting journey through these fragmented scenes lasted only an instant before he snapped back to his own reality.
Blinking away the residual dizziness, Clark's gaze returned to the mirror just in time to witness the reflection of a bucket hurtling toward him in midair. This revealed the impending assault of the bullies who caught up on him, and with a reflex honed by instinct, Clark deftly dodged the projectile. The mirror shatters, and the bucket clatters to the floor, empty of its intended target.
Shocked and now seething with anger, Clark turned to face his assailants. "What do you want?!" he spat out, his voice a blend of shock and fury.
Owen, one of the bullies, sneered in response, "What the f*ck did you do?"
Confusion etched across Clark's face. "What do you mean?"
"You f*cking snitch. I know you saw us," Owen accused, his tone dripping with hostility.
The restroom hung heavy with tension as Owen's accusations reverberated off the tiled walls. Clark, feeling the weight of the moment, remained silent, his lips pressed together in nervous restraint. Owen's hostile advance left Clark visibly apprehensive, a flicker of vulnerability betraying the usually curious eyes that were now fixed on his aggressor.
"Give me your phone. I know you recorded us, you son of a b*tch," Owen demanded, closing in on Clark with slow, deliberate steps. The threat in his voice hung thick in the air, an ominous cloud that seemed ready to burst.
"Why do you always get in our way? Sometimes I wish I could just gouge your eyes out, and you wouldn't have witnessed the incident with Raekwon last year and my life woul—" Owen's menacing words were abruptly cut off as Clark finally found his voice, a spark of defiance igniting within him.
"I already sent it to our homeroom teacher," Clark declared, his words slicing through the tension like a well-aimed spear. Owen's face contorted in disbelief, momentarily frozen by the revelation.
"It's too late. You're not getting away this time, Owen.", Clark added.
A palpable silence enveloped the room, broken only by Owen's disbelieving laughter, a sound that seemed to mask an undercurrent of annoyance. Owen, seemingly unimpressed, extended his hand to touch Clark's shoulder, a gesture that sought to reestablish dominance.
"'Too late,' huh? You know I could kick you out of the school before that homeroom teacher of yours can do anything about that video, do you?" Owen sneered, confident in his perceived power.
However, in a surprising turn, Clark, suddenly emboldened by newfound courage, retaliated. He swatted Owen's hand away from his shoulder and locked eyes with him.
"No, you can't. In fact, you don't even have that power right from the start," Clark asserted, his voice surprisingly steady and resolute.
Pointing towards Thomas, the second bully present in the room, Clark continued, "Thomas does."
Thomas, caught off guard by the sudden inclusion in the conversation, looked visibly surprised. Clark seized the opportunity to confront him, addressing the discomfort that had always been evident on Thomas's face during their bullying episodes.
"Thomas, are you really okay with this? Getting dragged into Owen's mess and having your father cover up your asses?" Clark questioned, his words exposing the unspoken complicity.
As Clark walked slowly toward Thomas, the room became charged with an uncomfortable tension. "I always thought the two of you are really sick individuals who prey on the weak," Clark continued, his eyes locked onto Thomas. "But no, it turns out Owen is the only asshole among you. While you, Thomas, being the beta male you are, acted as Owen's shield."
The truth bomb dropped by Clark wasn't an accusation; it was an assumption based on Thomas's visible discomfort during the bullying attempts, not only directed at Clark at this moment but throughout their history. In every act of cruelty, Clark observed that Thomas appeared visibly uneasy, not truly enjoying the torment he participated in.
Now, faced with Clark's piercing accusations, Thomas's nervous demeanor confirmed the assumption. It was a revelation that Owen was the only bully; Thomas was unwittingly complicit, a beta forced to play the role of an alpha's accomplice. The power dynamics within the room had shifted, leaving Owen exposed and Thomas struggling to reconcile his actions with the truth laid bare by Clark.
In the charged atmosphere of the restroom, Thomas shifted his gaze from Clark to Owen, then to the floor, a silent acknowledgment of submission to Clark's unexpected revelation. Owen, caught off guard, couldn't fathom the unfolding scene and scoffed in disbelief. "What kind of bullshit is this? Am I watching a drama or what?" he sneered, his contempt evident in his tone.
Satisfied that he had struck a nerve and unraveled the dynamics between the two bullies, Clark decided it was time to leave the scene. However, just as he began to make his exit, Thomas, who had remained silent until now, finally decided to speak out.
"I know why you're hanging out with Edrich," Thomas asserted, his words hanging in the air like a storm on the horizon. Clark, stunned by Thomas's unexpected admission, halted in his tracks near the doorway, curiosity piqued.
"I know you know what happened to Raekwon last year wasn't an accident. But, if you think I'm as innocent as Edrich was, you're dead wrong," Thomas continued, his confession casting a shadow of complexity over the situation.
Owen, growing increasingly agitated by the unfolding drama, interjected, "Alright, this is getting ridiculous. Come here, you bitch, and give me your damn phone."
As Owen reached out to grab Clark by the shoulder, Clark’s left eye glowed pink once again, a mesmerizing hue that hinted at the mysterious power within. A sudden surge of electricity coursed through Clark's body, a familiar sensation reminiscent of his encounter with the rock specimen. In an instant, his perspective shifted, as if he were observing himself from a different vantage point - from outside the restroom.
Suddenly, Aikozo made an entrance in the restroom, executing a flying kick aimed at Owen's arm just as he was about to grasp Clark. With impeccable timing, he pulled Clark out of harm's way and outside the restroom, effectively saving him from Owen.
Outside the restroom, Raekwon awaited, ready to act. As Aikozo dealt with the bullies, Raekwon rushed toward the door, prepared to seize the opportune moment to close it and contain the chaos within. Spotting Clark's jacket he left on the sink, Aikozo swiftly retrieved it.
Executing a final back kick to incapacitate Owen, Aikozo sprinted out of the restroom. As he stepped into the hallway, Raekwon hastily pulled and closed the door, but the struggle from within persisted as Owen and Thomas violently attempted to reopen it.
In another surge of electrical energy, Clark gained a momentary glimpse of Raekwon's perspective as he glanced at a mop. Understanding his intentions, he seized the mop and inserted it into the door handle, effectively locking Owen and Thomas inside the restroom.
Clark, Aikozo, and Raekwon found themselves in a momentary standstill, their eyes locking in shared bewilderment. It was a brief respite before a sudden spark of electricity ignited once again, illuminating the mysterious connection that bound the three of them together. As if choreographed by some unseen force, their actions synchronized, triggering a surge of energy that manifested in glowing hues.
Clark's left eye, a portal to this newfound power, emitted a captivating pink glow. He couldn't help but notice the ethereal radiance extending to Aikozo's wrist and Raekwon's back hand, as well. The trio stood, a tableau of uncertainty, as the realization dawned that something extraordinary had bonded them in a way they couldn't yet comprehend.
Aikozo and Raekwon made the swift decision to run, who exchanged a knowing glance that spoke of shared understanding. They bolted down the hallway, leaving behind a perplexed Clark, still grappling with the enigma that had unfolded.
Amidst his confusion, Clark sensed a presence at the opposite end of the hallway. As he turned to gaze into the distance, a silhouette is seen standing, a person with long hair cascading in the dim light. It was a figure that seemed to linger in the shadows, casting an aura of mystery.
Perceptive to Clark's preoccupation, Aikozo immediately went back and urgently called out to Clark, commanding him to snap out of his reverie. Clark shook off his daze, his feet finding purpose as he joined Aikozo and Raekwon in their sprint down the corridor. The museum, once a haven for exploration and learning, had transformed into a stage for a mystical connection that defied understanding, propelling the trio into a realm of unknown possibilities.