The alarm shrieked like a sound from a nightmare. Damien blindly flailed his hands across the bedside table until touching his phone and stabbed his thumb into it until the alarm silenced. He rolled onto his back and wiped his eyes with the back of his hands. He was not ready for the day. He never was on a school morning, especially at the start of the school year. He threw his blanket off, put on his glasses and walked to the bathroom, swaying from side to side like a zombie. One more year, he thought as he brushed his teeth. Grade 12. Matric. The final year of school before university.

He washed his face and continued his mindless routine. Eleven years of it was more than enough to burn it into him. Putting on school uniform was done on autopilot while his brain was still starting up. If he was too conscious about tying his tie, he’d do it wrong. “How you feeling about this year?” his father came into his room and asked.

“It’s just another year of school. What’s new?” He finished off his flawlessly done tie.

“It’s not just another year. It’s your last one! It’s matric! Aren’t you excited?”

“Clearly not as much as you.” He slipped into his blazer and did the top button.

His father sighed, walked to him and placed his hands on his shoulders. “You don’t have to be excited, but participate a lot. You’re going to miss it once you’ve matriculated... Now get your bag and say goodbye to mommy.” Doubt I’ll be missing anything, he thought. Damien unzipped his backpack and scratched through it to make sure he had everything he needed before swinging it on. He went to his parent’s room. His mother was still in bed, reading a book for her unborn son. Damien would be an older brother soon. He was more excited about it than he showed. “Bye mommy,” he said and hugged her. She hugged him tightly and said, “Enjoy school.”

Damien took his bowl of cereal and lunchbox on the way out of the house and into the car. His father started the car and before it started moving the radio came on. News of a recent demon sighting played on all of the stations. Two gangs had an encounter in a nightclub. Disagreement turned into violence and violence turned into - what the witnesses claimed to be - a literal firefight that burnt down the hub.

Attention seekers, Damien thought as he swallowed a mouthful of oats.

The firefight burnt down the building, but nobody died and nobody was injured. That was a convenience that gave Damien doubt. There was always something stopping him from believing the stories. The one major reason is that the sightings were taking place for as long as he could remember, but for some reason people still had doubts. At a certain point, a conspiracy was just a lie people wouldn’t let die. The demon sightings were one of those conspiracies.

He didn’t like thinking about it. It was annoying to have fantasy arguments, whether he was winning them or not. He stared out of the window to give himself something else to think about. The world changed subtly every day, and nobody noticed. Between that instant and the previous year houses changed colours, new shops opened up, a new boerewors stand or fish & chips place opened. Some places stayed fairly the same, like Table Mountain.

Damien wondered about himself at the same time the previous year. There was something inspiring about how at the end of 365 days you would have changed so much without noticing unless you turned around to see who you used to be. Who would he be tomorrow? Who would he be next month? Who would he be next year? He would have to wait and see, because change is too subtle to see too early.

“I’m going to be busy today. I might have to pick you up late,” his father said, looking at Damien in the rear view.

Damien shook his head and said, “It’s fine. I’ll walk.”

“Okay. You sure?” he asked, concerned. The radio quietly continued talking about other demon conspiracies.

“Ja.”

“Okay.”

Driving up the road to the school, he saw many familiar faces. As much as he hated most of the subjects and as unenthusiastic as he was about school, he was happy to be back. Being at home all week was becoming frustrating.

The car stopped. Damien’s father greeted him and wished him a good day. He got out and fetched his bag from the boot. His father drove away, and his day and final school year began.

He stood and waited...

He didn’t know where to start. It’s been a while...

So he stood and waited in the morning air for an idea to meet him...

If she’s anywhere, she’s in the art class, he thought and started walking. As he walked, he looked around at the place as if it was his first time. He tried taking his father’s advice. He’d been there for four years. This was his last year, and he had to experience it fully. He remembered how he and Aubrey - his best friend - felt on their first day. They were all nervous, but they dealt with it differently. Aubrey got herself to meet people while Damien, being the shy introvert, just tagged along. After the slope into high school, they comfortably endured the following four years in their duo.

Lo-Fi music blasted from the speakers of the art class as Damien walked up the stairs. Typical, he thought. He tried opening the door, but it was locked.

“Password!” yelled Aubrey’s voice from inside.

Damien sighed. “Aubrey, it’s Damien. Just open the damn do—”

“PASSWORD!” she yelled again.

“It’s- Uhm... Lollapalooza?”

The door unlocked and swung open. A hand reached out and pulled him in and the door was locked again. “Why does the teacher give you the ke—”, Damien was silenced by a hug from Aubrey.

“You’re acting like I wasn’t out of the country for a month you dick. You haven’t changed.”

“Aubrey you’re hurting my back.”

She let go of him and punched his shoulder. “You need to start obeying my password rules,” she said and sat down at a table with her sketchpad. She didn’t have the tan that he was expecting, and her hair still had a bit of purple left over from her vacation.

“Helluva greeting.” He smiled.

He rubbed his shoulder and sat down on the table, beside her sketchpad. “How was England?” he asked and looked through her fashion designs.

“Ups and downs,” Aubrey said. “The weather is definitely the major down. You’d imagine vacation to be sunshine and beaches. The closest I got to wearing a bikini was before and after showering. Other than that, it was nice. What about you? I miss much?”

“Not really. You know me. At home playing games mostly… This is a nice one.” He tapped his finger on a dress she designed.

“Thank you. You hear about that demon incident last night?”

“Stop calling them demon incidents.” Damien put the sketchbook down.

“A place burns down and witnesses speak of people throwing fire? Sounds like a demon incident to me.”

“People throwing fire would have led to an injury at least. Easily a third degree burn. Somebody should have even died. And all the witnesses have no idea who the people were or where they went. It’s a sloppy lie.”

“Okay fine, myth-buster. Maybe this one was just an attempt at 15 seconds of fame. What about the rest of it? Worldwide and for the past— hell, the past century maybe.”

“If you were a traumatised victim of an arsonist incident, you’d think men with flamethrowers are demons too. It’s just a radical group of thugs going around making life hard for everyone.”

“So a group of thugs have been going around the world burning things down for fun for 100 years?”

“Aubrey, I don’t know, but do you really believe in demons? Do you really believe there’s a secret civilisation of demons?”

“I don’t think the people were traumatised actually. Or they were, but I don’t think trauma is the reason they saw demons.”

“So you think they saw actual fire wielding monsters?” Damien asked.

“No, but the descriptions of the fire wielding monsters are similar to the creatures Crazy Jakob described in his old videos and stories.”

“You can’t trust your grandma’s delusional neighbour. Crazy is a part of his name.”

“Crazy is part of the nickname that we gave him. What if he isn’t crazy? He may not be studying demons, but whatever it is, he understands it more than anybody else I know. Enough conspiracy talk! Time for something light hearted, something normal people would talk about.”

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“You’re the one who brou—”

“EHEM!.. How are you feeling about our last year in school?”

“Eh. Nothing special,” Damien said.

Aubrey looked at him with squinted eyes. “You are going to grow up to be a sad and lonely man.”

Damien snickered. “I just don’t get why it’s such a big deal. There’s nothing for me here. I’ll be glad to get out of high school.”

The intercom beeped and the school bell sounded. Aubrey looked at her watch. “These hustlers are ringing the bell early!” she said.

“Or you just set your time wrong,” Damien said and put on his bag.

“My time setting abilities are perfect, thankyouverymuch.”

______

Damien and Aubrey sat in their class waiting to receive their books for the year and their matric ties. The class clapped every time somebody got called up for their tie. The first day of the school year was the least eventful, but it helped everybody ease back into the routine of showing up where you needed to be, when you needed to be. Some people never really ease into that.

To pass the time, Aubrey scribbled her fashion ideas while Damien familiarised himself with upcoming work by reading through the physical sciences textbook. Aubrey looked to the side at him.

“Why did you bring your bag?” she asked.

“Because… it’s school.”

“Ja but it’s the first day. We just get our books.”

“Which is why I have the bag. To carry books.”

“You shouldn’t be using a bag.” She squished his bicep with her index finger. “Noodle arms. I’m gonna make you carry my books. Make you look bigger than the first-team rugby players.”

Damien said nothing and continued reading the textbook. Aubrey rolled her eyes and continued her sketches.

A few name-calls and claps later, “Sophia!” the teacher called. Aubrey looked up, not recognising the name. Damien looked up like his body’s security was warning him. A shy, new student walked up to collect her tie. She sheepishly smiled at the class who clapped for her even though they’d never seen her before. Aubrey looked back down, but Damien kept looking as she walked back to her seat and for a bit longer. She seemed disturbingly familiar. He knew who she was; he didn’t know her at all.

“Do you have an eraser here, mister overpreparation?” Aubrey asked, “I left mine at ho—” She looked at Damien... then at Sophia... then back at Damien. He didn’t hear her question. Aubrey slowly smiled and her eyes widened. “Ooh la laaaa!” she said and nudged Damien’s arm with her elbow. Damien looked at her and asked, “What?” Aubrey tucked her bottom lip in with her smile and looked back and forth between Sophia and Damien. “Aubrey, calm down,” he said, “She just looks familiar. I’m trying to figure out where I’ve seen her before.”

“I heard that when a person looks familiar, it means you find them attractive. And I know very well that you don’t meet many girls.”

He looked at her with an irritated expression. “Whatever. Grow up,” he said.

“Look, I don’t get why you’re so shy about this.” Aubrey looked at Sophia who quietly read a novel at her desk behind the door. “She seems nice. I’m not sure what your books will think though. They might get jealous. You won’t have any more time for them.”

Damien wasn’t impressed. He went back to reading the textbook. “Come on man. I’m just messing with you,” she said, “If you think she’s cute, don’t be afraid to talk to her.” She left him alone and started sketching again.

Damien waited a moment then looked back at Sophia. She rested her cheek on her hand, the back of her head turned to the class and her face turned to her book tucked between her and the wall she sat by. She had long auburn hair that flowed down to the small of her back. The words fiery waterfall popped into his head, but in a very specific voice. He heard the words before from somebody close, but he couldn’t remember who. He pushed the thought away to think about it another time.

She lifted her head to free her hand to turn the page. She had pale skin and Damien caught a glimpse of her round, pimpled cheeks. The more he looked at her, the stranger he felt. He shook it off as him just being weird and continued reading. Either he really was being weird, or Aubrey was right.

______

Damien sat on one of the bleachers beside one of the school’s sports fields. Most of the other students had gone home and it had only been 10 minutes since school was dismissed. Aubrey didn’t stay long either. She had artistic plans for her afternoon. Damien stayed to eat the lunch he packed before walking home. This would be one of the few mindful moments of peace he would have this year.

The wind blew and a chill rushed through his body, up his spine. He felt higher up. The bleachers were placed along a red brick pavement that divided the field from the road that went through the school. It was half a metre higher than the field. When Damien looked down, he felt like he was at the peak of a mountain. He stared at the ground with wide eyes, not focussing on it.

They’recoming.Gohigher.

He shook his head and continued eating, as if nothing happened. Nothing happened as far as he knew. He’d already forgotten it.

Walking home was a mindless experience. That freed up his brain for something to think and worry about.

I wonder if there really are demons... No. None of the sightings make any sense.

I don’t think I can manage school this year. Afrikaans is going to be the death of me. Isn’t that what I thought last year too?

I should start thinking about what University I want to go to.

When’s the matric dance? Two weeks into March, right?

A stick cracked behind him. Damien twisted around and his hand slapped his pocket in a sloppy attempt to take out a pocket knife he used to carry with him. He left it at home. A familiar girl stopped in her tracks with wide eyes, her pimples bright from blushing. Damien looked around at the quiet residential area he was in.

“Were you... following me?” he asked, looking at her confusedly.

“Not exactly following,” Sophia said and shook her head. “Just heading in the same direction.”

Damien took his hand off his pocket and took a deep breath. He continued walking and heard her behind him, the chains of her bicycle rattling. He was back in his thoughts, but now she was in there too - her familiar face. Where have I seen you before?

He stopped and turned back around. “Your name’s Sophia?” he asked.

Sophia stopped also, out of surprise of the question. “Yes,” she answered. Damien nodded and continued walking. She took the question as a friendly invitation to walk alongside him rather than behind. She sped up, her chain rattling and her tires scraping.

“I’m Damien,” he said before the dreaded awkward silence creeped in.

“Nice to meet you,” she replied with a smile and the same shyness that he had. Damien noticed her accent. “Where are you from?” he asked, “You sound European.” Damn that’s real specific, he thought.

“Is it that noticeable?” She smiled. “My family and I moved here just before Christmas.”

Damien waited for her to continue. “... From?”

“Hm?”

“You moved here before Christmas from where?”

“Oh! Sorry!” she laughed loudly and then quieter, trying to contain her laugh. “I have the social skills of a tortoise.” She cleared her dry throat. “We came here from Spain.”

“Wow. Long way from home.”

“Very long. I am still trying to settle in. It is wonderful here, but it will still be a while before I can call this place home.”

“It’ll be easier now that you’re in a school here. Once you’ve made friends, you have kind people to introduce you to it all.”

“And where would I find those? One the side of the road on the way home?” She looked at him and gave a sheepish smile. Damien smiled back.

“Do you know where to find the art class?”

“No.”

“What do you know where to find?”

“The girls bathroom and that class we were in today.”

“Then wait for me by that class tomorrow morning and I’ll take you to the art class. That’s where my friend and I spend most of our time.”

“Okay. Is that girl who was next to you in class your friend?”

“Ja. Her name’s Aubrey. I think you two will get along.”

They walked in silence for a bit, but it wasn’t awkward. It just… seemed right. To Damien, it felt like they were just picking up where they left off.

“Have we met before?” Sophia asked. Damien looked at her and realisation arrived like his insides turned to stone. She looked away when he looked at her.

“I’ve never been to Spain,” Damien said, “So no.”

Sophia nodded and then shook her head with a sheepish smile. “It’s a stupid question,” she said, followed by a forced laugh.

“It really isn’t,” Damien said and then mumbled, “I actually feel the same.”

“Hm?”

“... Never mind.”

Sophia started to turn as they approached a crossroad. “Oh, you aren’t heading this way.” She stopped.

Damien shook his head, pointed forward and said, “I live further that way. This side of the world is too rich for my family.”

“Oh. Well, I will see you tomorrow then?”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She smiled brightly and waved before hopping onto her bicycle and riding away.

Strange person, Damien thought.

He looked down at his watch - 15:28 - and continued walking. He felt a relief to have met her and a joy to have made a friend, but it was reduced to apathy by that annoying familiarity that made him want to figure out who she was.

Damien let out a sigh when he stepped through the front door of his home. He went to greet his mother, then threw off his tie and unbuttoned his collar in his room. Before he allowed himself to relax, he took out his workbooks to start covering and tagging them. Objects in motion, stay in motion. He made sure not to spend too much time on it. Once he was done with that, he took out his journal to make sure he had nothing else to do. All done. Free time for the rest of his day. He took out his phone and opened up his chat with Aubrey.

Damien: Sleepover this weekend?

Aubrey: Maybe

Damien: Maybe?

Aubrey: I live a busy lifestyle (-3-)

Damien: Put your busy lifestyle on hold. We have a short grace period before the teachers start drowning us in homework and projects.

Aubrey: Fine. I’ll ask my mop

Aubrey: mop*

Aubrey: mom**

Aubrey: Ducking autocorrect

Aubrey: Mom said yes. Friday night?

Damien: As always