CHIN-HAE

The Power of Gossip

“So, as I was saying before Mr. McCaughnahey oh-so rudely interrupted me, Joshua decided he wasn’t going to let Steven’s nonsense slide so they’re going to fight outside the Subway today.” Alice recited absentmindedly, cracking open her can of Sprite and taking a drawn out sip. “The one next to the school by the way, not the one near Fortune Drive.”

I'm not sure how she manages to keep all of this pointless information in her head but that memory of hers is impressive, so I’ll give her that. Besides, her endless yammering is what gets me through most of this awful prison known as American school. Seriously, for a place intended for learning its system is just, bad? It’s set up to prioritize grades over actual education and mix that with a...variety of other issues and poor managment, it’s no wonder Americans are considered stupid. For Christ’s sake, the only drinkable water comes from a vending machine! I swear this shoddy constitution of mine-requiring water only makes this body more irritating.

Finally, my water rolls out of the vending machine with a thud, as I bend down to pick it up Alice continues to talk about some other gossip she picked up. Which reminds me, I’ll have to tell her and the rest of them about James before our scheduled meeting. Otherwise something awful could happen. These people aren’t exactly the best at resolving unexpected situations civilly after all.

With a sharp crack akin to a swift brushstroke I open the cap of my water, I can feel the coolness of the drink just from opening it. I could almost picture myself somewhere far more empty rather than this chatter filled, sardine can I find myself in. Teeming with near endless gossip and-

Before I can even finish that thought, a wave of water rushes out from my bottle, which Alice’s hand now tightly grips. Splashing my chin, face, bangs, sweater vest and shirt in clear, refreshing aqua. I crane my soaking wet face to my left where I hear faint giggles almost overpowered by the crowd of students as a short bob of blonde hair sways slightly as she tries to hold her laughter in.

The subsequent glare barely dampens her glee.

“Alice. Explain.” I spit out the words, both harsh yet drawn back, enacting violence here of all places wouldn’t benefit anyone after all.

“Relax Chin-Hae, you were thirsty anyways, besides you weren’t listening to the biggest gossip of the month and I can’t have you being a social outcast!” She says sarcastically as if I’m not already a social outcast.

“I heard, someone named Jeremiah fought a near indestructible mosquito in the Chem Lab, correct?” Not gonna talk about how unsanitary that must have been.

“Yep, it was stomp resistant, book resistant, fly swatter resistant, it was 20 times the size of the average mosquito.”

Ah, I’m losing her.

“Alice.”

“It had red eyes, which wouldn’t happen unless it wasn’t from here, which would mean we have a big problem on our hands.” She laments with accentuated hand gestures, her various colored bracelets and wrist watch glistening in the light.

“Alice, I don’t have time for this, I have to go clean up.”

She just keeps talking as if she can’t hear me.“He also tried spraying bleach on it, which was a failure, so he lit it on fire. That’s how I knew this story was bullshit because he would’ve gotten suspended.”

“Alice.” I grit with finality, I’ll just leave her at this point.

“Oh Chin-Hae, you should go clean up. You’re dripping water all over the floor.” She smirks before in a swirl of pink fabric, turns around and walks away. “See you at the occult club!”

The crowd of students surges like a tidal wave, causing me to start to drift away from her as she walks off, her honey blonde hair and pink plaid skirt becoming lost in the endless ocean of people. The only remnant of her left amongst the crowd being the few glimpses I could get of her crown braid amongst the various hues the hallway was filled with. Ugh.

The last stray droplets of water clinging to the inside of my bottle trickles into my mouth after a few shakes and I’m off to the restrooms. They’re not far away, a mere three hallways away, I’ll be there and back to the clubroom in time to explain everything. It’s loud in the halls but years of experience has made me adept at shutting out the voices of others. My breath cools and grows slow and deep as the various mingling hues afloat in the halls drift away.

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Akin to the fog at that bar drifting away, eventually I find my way into a darker portion of the halls without any noticeable voices, the day is almost over so the lights are off. My steps echo through the empty hall, drifting over the closed wood doors and glossing along the tile floors that are desperately crying out to be swept. If I wait to get rid of the water in the bathroom I could end up being late. I might as well remove the water here, shape it into a manageable form and then take it to be disposed of in the sink. With a sharp tap I come to a halt as I glance around my surroundings to make sure there’s no one around before preparing to remove all the water.

I place my hands together, formed akin to a half heart, the back of my thumbs touching and the tips of my fingers touching as inhale and exhale. Though this is rather rudimentary it’s important to keep up the basics in order to improve. Finally, with a pull, I gather some of my mana pool into my chest, drawing it all to that area and holding my breath, letting pressure build like a balloon about to pop. And then I let it go with a push.

The pool of mana in my chest explodes outwards, casting all the water on my outwards onto my surroundings with a splash and a gasp. Hold on, a gasp? With haste, I swing my head around to see a slightly soaked, black haired, brown skinned, yellow eyed walking headache.

James.

“Sup, didn’t expect to see you here! Do you always do,” He motions around the hall and then to himself. “This?”

It seems like he’s trying to initiate conversation, however that isn’t needed for the task at hand, and I’d rather not engage in conversation unless needed so I’ll just ignore him and hope he catches the hint. My eyes close as I suck in another breath and pull all the water in the hall back towards me. It flows smoothly together before coalescing into a bubble of water that I allow to float beside me. Fluid enough to not require too much thought but stable enough not to drip. Continuing down the hall I approach the restrooms. This part of the hall is nearly pitch black aside from a single hallway light near the end.

“I feel like I'm in a horror movie.” James jokes, he’s still here? Surely he understands there is nothing of worth for him here and he should return so he doesn’t disturb me right?

Right?

“Why are you still here?” I say as bluntly as possible, my tone flat with hopes of getting it through his thick skull that I don’t wish to conversate.

“Because I have no idea where the Occult Club room is and you haven’t taken the liberty to tell me. Also are you seriously wearing church shoes at school?” He jested nonchalantly before pointing to my brown dress shoes.

“Excuse me?” I spluttered out, turning around to face the smug faced teen, the glint of his yellow eyes slightly shining in the dim hall. I’ll admit that statement certainly caught me off guard. What does my outfit have to do with Christianity at all?

Drip

“What I said, you look like you’re fresh out of Sunday school my friend.” James asserted.

“Friend?” We aren’t friends, we’re not even acquaintances.

“Pal, buddy, bestie, comrade, you want more?” If his grin gets any wider I swear his scar would tear open.

“No, do you make a habit of talking to people that don’t want to talk to you?”

“You don’t want to talk to me?” He repeats, his words doused in shock as if the idea hasn’t crossed his mind. It must’ve been really shocking since he took his hands out of his hoodie pockets to gesture to himself in faux sorrow.

Drip

“No.” I huffed dryly.

“Really? Because you’re talking to me right now.”

“This doesn’t count as a conversation.”

“Oh so you’re the “Conversation Captain” now?”

“What does that even mean?”

“It means you’re wrong and you do want to have a conversation with me.” He quipped, pointing his russet colored index outwards to amplify his point.

“No, I don’t and this is not a conversation.” I asserted.

Drip

“We’re exchanging banter, we’re talking.”

“Fine, I suppose we’re talking, but now the conversation is over. So leave.” I wave him off in the direction of the more lively hall we both left behind.

“No, I have a reason to be here outside of you y’know.”

“Then get to it and go!”

“You don’t want to know what it i—”

Before he can finish his sentence another wet splash on the ground is heard. It’s louder this time, and clearer. It’s not water, it’s thicker, it’s a tang of iron amidst the cold hardwood floors that assaults my senses.

“Did your water bubble just drip?” He asks, his tone casual as he asks.

“No, it doesn’t, it can’t.” I clarify, flexing my right hand and feeling the bubble morph and warp but still remain sealed tight.

Drip

It happened again, this time a low droning buzz can be heard from further along into the hall, the distant light isn’t enough to showcase whatever it is’ form but given the slow rise in volume, it’s getting closer.

Drip

James clenches his fists, he seems to have noticed it, the closer it gets the more pressure and tension in the hall. The stable system of mana in the school is growing distorted by its presence, it’s a slight. He glances at me as the hallway is filled with the familiar hue of red. Everything is doused in red as it gets closer, the tiles, the walls, the sound, and the metallic taste in the air are all red.

Drip

Finally, it’s here. First all we see it’s it’s eyes, but that was enough for me. They were red, a deep, glowing, nearly nauseating shade of it. It pierced through the darkness in a way so familiar it felt like blasphemy to see, carrying with it the drips and the buzzing as it creeped closer and closer into the hall. The slight was thin, spindly and yet it’s presence was so huge. It was black for the most part, aside from its eyes and white underbelly. It’s wings flapped repeatedly to keep it afloat as it slowly approached us. Inside its body was a thick, swirling fluid, I could hear James’ breath hitch with recognition as his yellow eyes widened in fear.

It was blood.

Dripping from its long straw-like mouth and swirling around in its twitching pulsing body was blood, if I were someone else, I might’ve believed this was some sort of cosmic joke. Mocking me on how close it is to her but it still not being her. But, I am not someone else, and due to the presence of a target, I am not someone at all.

If I am to engage in combat, I am a tool.

A tool intended to shed blood and complete tasks,

That is my purpose.

The bubble beside me coalesces into my hand as a single dragon pierces through the bubble. As it slithers through the air it wraps around the rest of the water as it forms the long handle of the dangpa. Finally it’s mouth opens, with three blades formed of water jutting out of it, until finally the spear is complete and placed firmly in my hand as I get into position. A step back, dominant hand low, non dominant hand high, feet spread apart, knees bent, and back straight. I feel the chilled liquid against my fingers, I take in a deep breath, let it go, and finally strike.