I am thou, thou art I
Indulging in thou world, hast agreed that similarities between names, places, and events in thou world are purely coincidental
If thou agrees to this term, a new contract shall be created
Then thou hast established a new vow
Thus granting the power to change fate from the path of destruction
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In April, archaeological work begins in a certain tomb in Egypt.
April 24, mummies and artifacts are discovered dating back thousands of years.
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August 4th, Sunday.
I woke up feeling the heat of the sun hit my face. Yawning and stretching, I got up from the big cushioned chair and unwrapped my burrito blanket from myself. Looking through the window I see busy streets below, people filling the sidewalks, and cars honking to move traffic along. Closing the blinds I turn to my little sister. Still soundly asleep as the machines beside her bed softly whir.
“Mary…”
Sitting down next to her bed I gently pet her head. After a few strokes she slowly wakes up.
“Ngh.. I’m not... little anymore you know.”
“You told me you like head pats and how could I refuse my sweet little Mary?”
“That was years ago! An- ” Quickly sitting up she coughs mid-protest.
“Don’t push yourself, you know that the doctor said to refrain from sudden movements..”
“... I know I know, I’m turning 18 soon and you’re still calling me ‘little Mary’ just Mary is fine. Merlin.”
“Okay, ‘just Mary’ nice to meet you.”
“Jerk.”
I chuckle from my dad joke and pet her one last time before packing my bag and folding my blanket.
“Well I gotta go, I need to check in my class schedule.”
“Can’t you do that online, big bro?”
“I can, buut I wanna tour the place too, you know so I can perfect escape routes… to ditch classes to come see my favorite little Mary.”
“Don’t worry about me, stay in class or you’ll get dumber than you already are.”
“Sooo meeean... where’d my sweet Mary go?” Holding my hand to my chest as I dramatically fall to the ground.
“Hahaha, I’m sure the Drama club would accept you with that kind of acting.”
“Why thank you, Madam. Anyways I shall bid you, Adieu.” At the door I take a bow before leaving.
Mary calls out to me as I leave, “Don’t forget to text me when you’re finished!”
“Will do! I love you!”
No answer. I passed by the nurses’ desk greeting them before I leave, heading towards the parking lot. After ages of driving through traffic I finally park my car under the shade in the college parking lot. Pulling out the paper map of the college to locate the office. In Front of me stood two large buildings, similar to one another in shape with smaller buildings beside them. In the middle span a large grass courtyard. It was the day before the first day of school so the yard was bustling with students, and staff. Looked more like a festival than an organized administration event. Some stalls sold a variety of food, others advertised the different activities beginning this semester. Passing through the crowds and the ‘festival’ I head left towards the South building. Taking a step through the door a flash of red shoots down the entire hallway warping it only for a few seconds. The floor was all white and marble, the walls were draped with red curtains and distorted portraits of a man in a suit lined the hallway.
“Hey, excuse me sir. Are you okay?”
I felt a tug on my longsleeve as reality set back in.
“Wha- Was the hallways always like that?” Pointing down the hallway as I look at the guy who tugged my shirt’s sleeve.
“Uh… Why yes. Have you not seen… clean… hallways before?”
Realizing his confused look, I checked the surroundings again only to find that what I saw was an illusion.
“Wha- How- Ahem… No no, uh- I mean yes I have I was just.. Um my name is Merlin Addington, could you point me to where the student counselors’ office is?”
“Okay, Hi nice to meet you, Merlin. I’m Alex.” He shakes my hand and walks in front of me.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“It’ll be this way, it’s kind of a maze here but you’ll get used to it. And if you ever need help, either me or any of my associates would be at the front desk. Do you have your student map?”
“Yes I do, along with that uh.. ‘Student’s Fly High Audio card’. Kind of bizarre.”
“If you ask me yeah it is, but it’s tradition so you’re not the only one who had to listen to.. That before their first day. Also, you’ll be hearing more of it soon.. you’ll get used to it.”
“Haha…I bet ‘getting used to it’ is the theme of this college.”
While walking down the hallway with Alex I felt strangely cozy around him. He had short dark brown hair, almond brown eyes, and stood just below my eye level. He smells kind of like fruity candy, and his hand was soft to the touch.
I feel like I’m slowly getting attracted to him. I guess because he’s just generally cute to guys and girls alike. But man, is this smell peach or mango?
“Hey what kind of cologne are you using?”
“Huh?” After stopping suddenly, I bump into him.
“Ah sorry, I couldn’t help but be curious since I kinda like the smell. It’s peachy or mango-y hmm..”
“I-it’s uh homemade, a-and I like fruity smells more than the colognes” Awkwardly smiling as he takes a step back.
“The office is just around the corner, just turn right and it should be right there on your right okay? I-I got some front desk stuff I need to finish at the moment.”
“Oh okay thank you again, Alex. I’ll come to you whenever I need help then.” I smile as he quickly walks down the hallway.
Turning away I head into the office to finish up with my class schedule and first initiation into the college. Passing the front desk I waved to Alex who sat typing away at his computer. Noticing me, he gave a small smile and a short nod.
“Have a good day, Seth.”
“Thanks you too, Alex.”
Is it me or.. Is this place full of ‘unique’ people??
I held a cupcake given to me by my student counselor, he was all smiles and happiness. He offered me sweets while telling me to stay in good health. I couldn’t refuse though, the man had an overwhelming charm about him, despite being a blissful ray of sunshine. After finishing my cupcake and enjoying the view of the festival under some shade, I started my tour of the school. The structure of the campus is fairly simple. Coming out of the South building (Student Center) there is the North (The Lab) and West (Auditorium) building. Most of my classes were held in a building Southwest from the courtyard, Mechanics and Utilities. And further south stood the Gym and Athletics buildings. Walking around to see all the buildings took half an hour. By then most of the people early this morning had left. I stopped by the Student Center and checked my phone. A few messages were sent by Mary.
Aww she’s worried about me! I saw what I wanted to see so better let her kno-
“Hey!” My phone flew off my hand when a shady-looking guy bumps into me.
He stopped, looked at my phone then at me with a glare. He wore a grey hoodie with his hood down showing his short cut black hair. His hands in the pockets of his black pants. Without a word he continued down the cement pathway.
Asshole, I was texting my sweet Mary and you knock my phone like that.. Huh? What’s with this Red Eye app?
Ring Ring Ring Ring
“Oh Hiiiii my sweet Maryyy!”
“I’m gonna hang up now.”
“NO! Please, I’ll be good. Big bro wants to talk to you!”
“Fine, how’d it go. Merlin?”
“Least call me Big bro… well it all went great except for the part some guy bumped into me as I was about to text you. Knocked my phone right off my hand, can you believe that?”
“Some people are just natural-born as- idiots.”
Sweating from the heat I head to a table under a tree nearby the courtyard.
“So Big bro, what's the schedule looking like? Stumbled upon a cute girl to date in college?”
“You know I wouldn’t leave my Mary alone like that, I have all the time for you. It’s a pretty standard schedule, but I’ll be out late a lot since I took afternoon classes.”
“I appreciate you spending time with me, but please use your time wisely okay?”
“Look I know you’re wo-”
“Hello! Would you like to join our new club? It's called the Phantom Club. I recently got backings from the principal of our college, Nathon Mahuney. My name is Sarah Becker by the way, nice to meet you.” She held out a black and red card with letters written like it was cut out and pasted onto the small card, topped off by the logo of a mask on the back. She smiled as I read through the card.
“You mysterious stranger.. Have been lurking in the world of darkness till now. With the help of you and our friends… We shall light up the way and fight to protect our dreams. Come join the cause to break from our chains of destiny… the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.... The LA Trade College.”
I’ve heard of them before, they were a big thing years ago… to think they’d still be this popular huh…
“Thank you I’ll think about it…” Getting up, I grab my bag ready to walk back to my car.
“Wait!” She grabs my arm and holds my hand preventing me from leaving.
“Please wait, I-I hate to push this onto you and I’d really understand if you decline, but… but could you pleeease join this club.. I’m the club leader… and the only member…” Despite being so close she looks at me with unnerving puppy eyes.
Gah! My eyes are only for Ma-
“F-fine I’ll join okay.. Just please let go, I need to go somewhere.”
“Thank you so much!” With a jump of joy she hands me a paper to sign and then hands me a finely made mask.
“Keep the calling card, you'll need it to get in okay? After classes tomorrow, meet up with me at the Auditorium.” Again looking at me with unnerving eyes, but with a serious glint.
“Y-yeah I will thanks again and I’ll see you tomorrow after class..” I wave goodbye and head back.
“It’s like a weird maze-like mansion inside that’s why we need to meet up so I can guide youu!” She calls out as I walk away.
I forgot to give her my name… well I’ll see her anyways.
Checking my phone Mary had already hung up, sadly. The app from earlier was already flashing red and black on my screen warping everything around it. Curious about it I tap on the app.
Warble Warble Warble Warble
I bump into a wall, hard.
“Wha- What the hell?!” A tall white marble wall blocked my path to the parking lot, it stretched both sides for miles seemingly encompassing the outskirts of the college. Not too far south was a large gate with lines of cars coming in and out of the entrance.
“What in the world..?” Looking back at the campus the whole college had changed into a ridiculously large and wide building, entirely made out of white marble. From the balconies hung red velvet drapes with huge portraits of a man in a suit. Strange deformed creatures crudely dressed in black suits were patrolling the area around the building, some were scattered about in the wide courtyard.
“You have arrived at Nathon’s Mansion”