NOte: the editing has been heavily lost in copy-paste, read the pdf for a clearer version. Dialogues are always alternate, unless specified. i.e. person1-person2-person1. Hope that clears all confusion.
pdf>> https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B53lfcusFirgVmdIQ3M3OFBuNHc/view?usp=sharing
All right, now I see that the whole volume didn't make it in the thread. The pdf has the whole version.
_____________
I am standing, half confused, half confident. Even though I say I’m standing to me it looks like I’m delicately balancing myself atop the edge of a huge sharp blade. I truly cannot comprehend what is happening… I feel I’m firm and unflappable, standing on an edge finer than the finest silk thread, sharper than the most polished diamond and more dangerous than a thin rope stretched between the Petronas towers and yet I stand impassively and boldly. Even the best acrobat cannot achieve a feat like this. At the same time I feel befuddled and stressed, shocked, afraid, indecisive… I don’t know how I can feel contradictory feelings at the same time, each unaltered by the other. It’s almost as if two of “me” existed within me. Each could feel the other but exist independently, unaffected by the other.
I stand meticulously with both my hands stretched. They aren’t constrained but I’m holding something in each of them. I don’t know what but I cannot lose either of them without the risk of falling. There’s another reason I cannot let go of them but I don’t remember…
The blade I’m standing on extends from darkness to darkness, probably infinitely… I don’t know because the only region that’s glowing is my feet. I take a peek sideways without a minuscule movement of my head. I can only feel despair and darkness below me. The abyss on my right tingles with the faint glimmer of a frigid atmosphere. It’s overflowing with emotions that descend upon my right arm making me shiver. Is it grief? Despair? Deceit?... I don’t know. I can’t tell. Maybe if I could take a deeper look– but I can’t. I see flickers and sparks on my left. They are brief and almost inconspicuous but my eyes can register them. The abyss on the left also reeks of dark emotions. They rise as thick dark fumes, hot and squalid; they burn my skin with mild irritation and flare up my nostrils.
Someone appears before me. Of course I can’t see it but I know that it’s there. Am I being paranoid? But then suddenly –
“Welcome”, it says, in a cold voice.
“You have been chosen as –
The voice falters. It’s still audible but there is so much interference. A few chuckles mix in. It becomes incomprehensible.
“Enjoy your –
It turns to gibberish again…
What? I want to ask. But the “I” don’t. What’s wrong with me? I should be asking it something but instead I’m standing calmly as if I know everything. Does one of “me” already know the answer? Then I should know it too. Since we’re both me.
And then –
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
*BEEEEEE –
I pressed the ‘snooze’ button of my alarm clock which had agitated me out of sleep. The sun was already shining on my face through the gap in the curtains. I pulled them away and hurried to the bathroom.
Same dream again. I looked into the mirror while washing my face. I had been having the dream for quite some time, I didn’t remember since when as it was only after a certain number of repetitions that I became aware of this but it had been long enough that I could remember it distinctly; the scenes seemed to fade in and fade out but the feeling it left was distinct although queer.
I had given quite a thought to the recurring dream; the precarious situation that I stand in, the inexplicable surroundings, the enigmatic voice and most of all, my own contradicting emotions. Initially I was of the opinion that it was me experiencing conflicting emotions, but since I could feel them so distinctly and completely and also because I felt both confused and determined at the same time I began thinking there were two of me.
Now I thought there may be actually three, two which existed in the dream and the usual me which only existed as a spectator within the consciousness of the dream. Anyways, I had decided that it was useless to ponder over it because nothing came out of it. Mind you I had already given thought about what it might be linked to but it turned into nothing plausible. I was in my thoughts almost till breakfast, which was too long. Then I took off to school.
I must admit that I had no idea that there onwards my life was going to be thrown into some of the most unbelievable circumstances I ever imagined. The omens however, had begun from the dream itself.
*
A morning of surprises
I’m Krein Shallards. I was a 14 year old male student in 9th grade of Hertuud’s Academy at the time. An average looking student with average personality, above average marks, below average recognition and average physique. I had neither any inclination nor averseness to studies and I liked to kill time by brooding over anything and everything. I was a bit timid and liked to keep a low profile but I had good friends.
I was commuting to school on my bicycle. Like always, I met my friend Frost on the second intersection. He was wearing our usual school uniform of white shirt and navy blue pants with a matching tie. Yes, our school had us wear full clothes even in summer, only 9th grade and above though. Rarely, it tolerated half shirts. It wasn’t that uncomfortable once you’d grown used to it.
“Good Morning Shards, how are you today?”
Shards was my nickname among my closest friends. How it came to be I shall discuss at some other appropriate time.
“Good Morning. You seem quite gleeful today, care to elaborate.” It was rare to see such a genuine smile on Frost.
Frost Itenard had been my friend since 6th grade. He was a composed and sharp kind of guy having white blonde hair with piercing blue eyes, straight pointed nose and a sharp chin. His fair complexion and fine built attracted quite a few admirers among girls. A sparsity of facial expressions added to his character.
“Wow I really must be in bliss if even our dumb Shards can figure me smiling.”
“No need to praise me, just that your plastic face has an unusually contorted mouth today”, I retorted. I had always been frank with Frost to the point of open criticisms and retorts. He was one of the only two friends before whom I was hardly ever timid and I valued this.
“Did you know that rare things are valuable? Say for example between a group of monkeys that giggle all day long and the soothing smile of a beautiful maiden once in a while people always prefer the latter.”
The answer came in less than a second. A simple metaphor had just delineated me to a monkey without openly offending me. He had brains alright, good brains which didn’t always work for good purposes. His quick wit and glib tongue gave him a reputation in the school— whether it was good or bad was another matter. In many respects Frost was almost the opposite of me but it wasn’t the attraction of opposites that bonded us, it was something much more fundamental.
“So what is it actually?”
“It’s a surprise”
“Eh?”
But Frost ignored and just continued pedaling his bicycle.
Strange. Too strange. It was already rare to see Frost smile and the reason was something meant as a surprise gift for me. It became clear at the next stop. She was there.
But of course, I should have known. I had wished it subconsciously but I hadn’t known it. After nearly six months of total absence Emine was back, back with us. I think you already know by now but she was the other close friend I mentioned.
Let me say something a bit unrelated at this juncture. I was not blessed with beautiful childhood friends or pretty neighbors to wake me up in the morning. As a matter of fact I had spent most of my early childhood in the village and my memories from that time were a blur. It wasn’t like amnesia or trauma it was just… I simply forgot them.
After my father moved away from the village I kept transferring schools with him and slowly everything was forgotten, or may be overwritten. It was probably the result of those frequent school transfers that I had adopted a low profile platonic lifestyle. After 6th grade however I had started living on my own, though my father and brother often visited me for two years.
Back to the point, since I didn’t have any deep friends from before 6th grade I valued those two a lot. They were almost a family to me. Of course, an expression of surprise and happiness formed on my face. My mouth opened a bit but I didn’t know how to begin.
“Good morning”, Emine said, breaking my trance.
“Morning”, Frost replied from behind me, “I see some people can be caught off-guard even under the most expected situations.” That was probably his attempt to hide his own joy with cynicism.
“Good morning Emine. When did you return?”
“Just yesterday, I transferred back. I’ll be living with just my sister now.”
And we began talking about various matters. Emine’s family had moved to Dreas six months prior because of her mother’s treatment. She had moved with them almost abruptly and disappeared with just a message. Couldn’t blame her, she’d always been spontaneous and unpredictable. Emine Cartner was a queer girl and a queer human, that didn’t change the fact that both of us admired her. Her rounded face wore innocence, her large green eyes exuded vitality and her mid-long red hair leaked mischief.
Her mother’s treatment was successful; she only needed time to recover. Emine talked about her experiences at Dreas and her achievements. Although she looked nothing like it, she was a black belt in karate and quite a monster at P.E. By the time we reached school we were enlightened about how an urban legend about the invincible transfer student was born in Terfant High School centered around a girl who had beat a bunch of bullies, overwhelmed the sports meet, blasted a perverted teacher and overtook the karate club all in one month. Now you see why we admired her.
*
The morning assembly was over and we were back in our class. Vague chatter penetrated the classroom. Emine was talking with her other friends while Frost sat like a statue. It was like usual. And then, she walked to my desk—
“Krein, I need to talk to you.”
Someone probably pushed the mute button. Actually, she pushed it. The whole class fell into abrupt silence. Evil glares penetrated my back and ill-intent suddenly flowed through the atmosphere. I can’t deny the shock I myself felt.
Let’s clear my mind first. Okay. Situation: Claise Herfeeld, school beauty and class idol, despite having minimal prior contact with me, is currently talking to me personally. Danger alarm. No, before that, delusion alarm.
“Krein.”
It’s not a delusion. Then it’s danger! Let’s keep a low profile. Calm down. First—
“Uh-um. What do you wish to speak about Herfeeld? Is it about the project?”
Nice one. It reduced the tension. We were both in the same group though I’d hardly talked to her outside of “Can you lend me that?” or “Is this the correct answer?” type questions.
“No. It’s something else.”
Damn. The tension escalated again.
“Oh. I’ll listen.”
“Not here, somewhere more private preferably” That wasn’t loud but it wasn’t soft either.
That did it. The evil glares suddenly turned to bloodlust, a few jaws dropped open, someone dropped his pencil box, a table toppled somewhere. The following silence seemed like a requiem and the atmosphere turned to vacuum. My mind went blank. Overloading—
*Trrrriiiiiiinng*
The bell rang. Thank god!
“Then could you please wait at lunch”. Apparently she took my silence as an approval and left. The homeroom which followed was the harshest ever.
When lunch began Frost greeted me dryly. He’d been enjoying the development with real pleasure though it never showed on his face.
“Finally, it’s spring for you Shards. But we’d all like to know what it’s all about.”
Believe me, even I would!
A group of boys were crowding around me ready to resort to drastic methods.
“Somewhere more private preferably”, Geff mimicked, “You rascal, how’d you get your hands on one of our goddesses?” Geff was a simple looking guy, about my height, with dark brown hair and deep black eyes. He characteristically parted his hair in the middle and tried to dress up as a delinquent outside school. He was a master at creating trouble.
Someone please help me. I looked at Emine but she was also enjoying this.
Just then, the crowd fell silent, split and dispersed to make way for Herfeeld. She called me amidst envious eyes and took me to a group of shaded trees at the edge of the playground.
“The weather’s nice today, isn’t it?”
“A-ah, yes it’s great.” I was nervous but she was soft and simple. The title of class idol really suited Herfeeld. She was excellent at studies, good at P.E. and extra-curriculars, polite, intelligent and helpful. And of course, she was beautiful. Her long black hair gleamed like silk in sunlight, azure blue eyes filled with kindness and snow white cheeks that flushed red mildly, everything about her was exquisite and I was probably baffled.
“How’s your project going?”
“It’s good, thanks for all your help”
“No need, it was our whole group’s effort”
That wasn’t what she had wanted to talk about. A long talk carried its risks. Not only would it have made me the subject to deep interrogation and envy, my whole peaceful life would’ve been blown to bits. I was not hell-bent at maintaining my low profile, but I didn’t want to disrupt it without a cause and I hardly believed that she had much interest in me so there wasn’t much of a cause. I should try to end this soon and avoid trouble.
“S-so what was it you wanted to talk about Herfeeld?”
“Hm”, she looked at me with scrutinizing eyes, “Krein, do you trust me?”
“Eh?” It came out of nowhere. It made no sense. “Ah- Of course I do. What kind of question is that? The whole class trusts you.”
“No, no. I meant you. Do you trust me as a human?”
“Yes I do. Why would I doubt you?” I mean I don’t even know enough about you to doubt you.
“I’m happy to hear that. I need your help.”
Wait a second. She needs my help? I am not anyone special, have no particular outstanding skills, not very intelligent either and I hardly know her. Why would she need my help?
“I, uh, don’t think that I’m the right person to help you. I’m timid and nothing special and I don’t know enough about you and there’re lots of people better than me—
“But I know you’re the one who can help me. So will you help me, please?”
That was a request too firm to be denied. In the first place how could I have denied Herfeeld? I could only have escaped. And by asking me privately she’d just cut off my escape. I couldn’t imagine the aftermath if I rejected those pleading eyes filled with a hint of sadness; I could’ve been easily ostracized if they’d turned to tears.
Nobody knows what happens in private. Allegory, anything private can be blown out of proportions.
“I will be pleased to help you if I can”, I sighed.
“Thanks”, a grateful smile lit her face. For some reason my mind went to the metaphor Frost had used this morning… people always prefer the latter. Ah, it was true in more ways than one.
“So, what is it that I need to do?”
“Would you be my friend, Shards?”
I was startled. It was rhetorical. It was a petition already answered with ‘Shards’. That had meant she had already inserted herself into my inner circle and that I couldn’t deny it.
The rest of the day I was bothered by the quizzical glances of my classmates, eager on the content of my conversation and the piercing sight of Frost whose expressionless face analyzed every expression on my face. Emine was mostly silent and not bothered at all. At the end of the day I slipped as quickly as I could to avoid unnecessary gossip. I waited at the stationery shop, the usual stop to meet up with Frost and Emine. I wanted to discuss about today. Much to my surprise, our new friend had accompanied them all along.
“You could have told me if that was all. Shards isn’t that smart, he would think you fell for him.”
Ha. As if I could. What are you babbling so easily Frost.
“Maybe he still thinks so.”
So you support him Emine or do you just feel joy in humiliating me.
“I w-wouldn’t be bothered if he actually thought so.”
“Oh! Looks like our Shards really scored this time. I’ll support you with all my might.”
Emine’s just like always.
And like that, Claise (which I had to call her from then onwards) was easily assimilated into our group in just one day. She had her own followers, virtually half the class, and was usually surrounded by girls but she started eating lunch with us and interacting with me more often. The malice and anger could have easily eaten me but Emine shielded me from some of the more violent aspects of envy. In a week, nobody was satisfied but the commotion had softened.
There was another reason. Claise did have a lot of fans but there was another idol, Leara Shiffe. She was as outstanding as Claise, beautiful, bright and brilliant but reserved and somewhat shy. Our class was considered truly lucky for having two idols. Those two weren’t in clash rather they were in harmony, complimenting each other like two pillars. So some worshippers had diverted their interest towards Leara, much to my relief.
“So, how did you like that last match?”, Frost asked me on the way back from school.
“It was too one sided.”
“That’s partially true. But didn’t they make a comeback halfway?”
“What are you saying? That was just desperation. It’s not a comeback unless it succeeds.”, I told Frost.
“Sometimes you really say meaningful things.”
“Sometimes even you can understand the meaning behind my words.”
Claise and Emine laughed. Emine was sitting behind my bike as she had damaged her own. Claise had her own bike.
“It’s great seeing that Shards can finally repel some insults.”, Emine complimented.
“I think he’s good at repelling them”, Claise said.
She added, “So Shards, did you watch that 9’o clock show?”
“The one with supernatural and stuff?”
“It’s not supernatural. Well, most people see it as that but it’s mostly to do with psychological and other views about unexplainable phenomenon.”
“Like ghosts?”
“There are a few instances of ghosts but it deals with a lot more, uh, queer things.”
“Yeah, the other day he was discussing about the subconscious abilities like prediction and flight.”, Emine butted in.
“I can’t believe even you have an interest in that, Emine.”
“You trust Emine a lot, don’t you?”, Claise teased me.
“She’s the most level-headed amongst us and also truthful.”
“Thanks.” She was happy.
“Does that make me a liar?”, Frost enquired.
“He doesn’t mean it that way.”, Emine said.
“I do”, I provoked Frost.
“That makes you a liar too”, he retorted.
“I wish you’d trust me as much as Emine.”, Claise remarked.
“Oh, he trusts you as much, he’s just too shy to reveal it.”
We parted ways at the intersection where I left to take Emine home. When I dropped Emine she said, “Thanks, but you should be more contemplative of your speech.”
“What for?”
“I think Claise was a bit hurt.”
“I doubt it. She’s a near perfect human, she wouldn’t take offence at something an insignificant guy like me said.”
“She regards you as a true friend and she might even be into you, so don’t hurt her.”
“Sorry, I won’t. But I don’t believe she’s into me, it’s ridiculous.”
She smiled but said nothing.
When I returned to the intersection Claise was still there, waiting. I felt somewhat guilty when I approached her.
“Why did you wait for me? I didn’t want to hold you back.”
“I just wanted to accompany you home. I also have to give you the new data about the project and collect your assessment report.”
“Ah, you could have just asked for it. I would have brought it tomorrow.”
I said that but there was no use defying her. I had already learnt how persistent she was. So I accompanied her.
“Ah, uh, s-sorry about earlier” I stutter a lot when I’m alone with her.
“Earlier?”
“That, uh, I didn’t mean to say I doubted you. I – just – meant that Emine doesn’t play with words, she’s – straightforward – unlike Frost. That was to irritate Frost, it-it wasn’t to offend you. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize. You are simple Shards, and straight, I like that about you.”
I blushed red, then redder. Apparently I wasn’t too good with compliments or hiding my expressions. And she saw it and smiled lightly. Ah, no good.
“S-so you were talking about that ‘The Unnaturals’ show.”
“Did you watch it?”
“No, but I remembered the name.”
“It’s interesting. It provides you with other interpretations of queer phenomenon which cannot be explained by science yet, like predictions or Déjà vu. They showed a girl who had already known about her accident but couldn’t avoid it. She knew she’d get hit by a vehicle and avoided the roads. She still got hit when she had only stepped out of the house.
Premonitions may not be the product of over-sensitiveness but the result of an altered psyche which can interact with time and space. If the brain holds the ability to interpret the sensory inputs in more ways than apparent, humans may be subconsciously capable of ‘inhuman’ feats. That’s what they said.”
“I don’t think it’s true. It’s just a gimmick. Humans are aware of their own limitations.”
“Isn’t that the same as saying humans define their own limitations?”
Huh. She may be right. But that doesn’t mean you can become a superhuman if you wish to. I neglected it because it didn’t concern me.
When I reached home I realized another important fact. I was just about to bring a girl to my house and, I lived alone. It wasn’t just some girl, it was Claise. What wouldn’t people have given to set off such a flag! It would be a lie to say that I didn’t feel fortunate. I too craved for such developments, but I didn’t feel that excited. I was rather cautious and attentive though I don’t know why. Maybe it was just that I couldn’t accept everything that had happened over the week. I didn’t find it rational.
I was actually theorizing at the moment, thinking possible reasons for Claise to suddenly approach me. She hadn’t told me much except that she was in a precarious situation where she couldn’t trust anyone. I was an exception because she had accidentally verified I wasn’t an enemy. That had sounded like some clichéd out-of-movie scenario but she had sounded serious so I didn’t completely deny it.
“Please come in. It’s a bit messy, I hope you don’t mind.”
“Thanks.”
I welcomed her into the living room and proceeded to make tea. As I was thinking about what to do afterwards, she came up from behind.
“Hm. So this is your kitchen.”
“Wha..”
*thud*
“Ouch, ouch…”
I slipped and fell. It wasn’t very hard.
“Are you alright?”
She offered her hand to help and I got up. I felt weird while I stood up but I didn’t fall again. I stood perfectly, feeling comfortable but my vision suddenly got blurry then blacked out and my consciousness drifted. I fainted while standing perfectly.
Maybe I fell again.
Black. Pitch black. Where am I? Ah, it’s that dream again. As the darkness disperses mildly, I find myself standing on that thin, huge blade. The events repeat, almost like a recorded memory that my brain plays repeatedly. When was the last time I saw this? I don’t know but it feels almost yesterday. It appears again, that creepy presence, that cold tone.
“Welcome”
What is it? Why do you pester me? Just leave me alone.
“You’ve been chosen –
That again. Just how many times do you think I’ve heard that? I don’t care anymore.
Shallow chuckles rise and fade in the background.
“Enjoy your –
“I don’t want to!” Oh. This time I actually said something. Then let me ask –
“But you will have to. You are a […..]. Wake up boy. Realize what is happening. If you want to protect them, that is.”, he interrupted.
I have to ask him. What is this entire riddle that he is spouting? Who is he? What does he want with my friends? Friends! That’s what he meant by them.
I thought for some time. Should have known. I’ve probably grown paranoid. Because I couldn’t accept the change outside I have created a pseudo-opponent subconsciously. And everything that I’ve found irrational I’ve heaped upon it.
“Before I depart I should tell you. This isn’t your delusion. You’ll see soon anyways…”
And the faint glimmer disappeared from my feet. Darkness enveloped everything…
…
I opened my eyes. I was lying on my bed with a blanket pulled over me and two pillows under my feet. Huh, so I’m awake. Wait, wasn’t I in the kitchen with Claise! Where’s she? Did she bring me here? I got up and looked around. She wasn’t there. There was a note by my side, a glass of water and some pills on the table. I switched on table lamp and glanced at the note.
“Sorry, it was just meant to surprise you. I didn’t think that you’d fall and pass out. Really sorry. I laid you on the bed. When you got up you were still saying something about “I don’t want to” so I gave you a glucose drink and left you to sleep. Give me a call if you feel too weak. I’m sleeping in the living room.
P.S. I had to rummage through your kitchen and room to find the glucose and medicines. Sorry. Also, I ate the food in the fridge.”
I felt guilty then grateful then stunned. I looked at the clock. 04:30AM. Does this mean she spent the night at my house? Just to look after me? And she looked through the contents of my room? That wasn’t the right sequence of thoughts. At least my actions were orderly. I got up, took the pills, gulped down water and washed my face thoroughly. I went to the living room. She was sleeping peacefully.
Her elegant figure was wrapped tenderly in a thin blanket and illuminated differentially by the faint moonlight. That was a living wonder indeed, a gossamer appearance enough to captivate anyone. For a moment I felt spellbound… and then I left. Granted some leeway I would have taken a photograph, but if she woke up it might not have ended well.
I reminded myself of my fortune once more and— took a snapshot of her. My brain’s not used to ignoring rare chance like these within the range of modesty.
*
Frost’s vague message came suddenly in the morning.
[Urgent]
Meet now at Coff’s.
It seemed important. I already had plans to leave separately in order to avoid any suspicion or rumors from getting around. It would’ve been quite a predicament if anyone found out Claise had slept at my house. So I left her breakfast and some necessities with a spare key and a note. That was minimum courtesy.
I reached Coff’s in ten minutes. Frost had a pained look on his expressionless face. It really was important. Emine had gotten into an accident.
I pedaled frantically to the hospital, so did Frost. Accident, he had said but he’d meant disaster. To Emine accidents were close acquaintances. Standing on telephone poles, walking on railings, jumping off roofs, cycling on staircases and balancing her bike on one wheel; she was the definition of mischief when I had met her. After all that, she never received any severe injuries. Few days ago she had wrecked her bicycle and came out without a scratch. She was the invincible legend, how could she be wounded?
“Which room?”
“ICU-04”
“Excuse me, where’s ICU-04?”
“Turn left at the end of corridor”
We raced to the door. Her sister Serah was outside, crying profusely. Frost calmed her down and we tried to console her. Last night, Emine had gone out abruptly and not returned for hours. Worried, Serah went out in search but instead got a call from the hospital. Emine was injured, real bad.
Apparently a swaying truck had hit her square and crushed her bike. She was thrown into the air, hit the pavement and rolled over several feet. Left arm and leg fractured, multiple bruises all over the body and blunt trauma to the head, it really was a disaster.
When we entered the room we could see a body with a bandaged head, plastered limbs and blood being transfused. Emine lay unconscious on the bed in front of us. It was pitiful and tragic and infuriating.
…if you want to protect them, that is…
Is it my fault? But it was just a stupid dream I dreamt up. It couldn’t have had any connection with reality.
..This isn’t your delusion…
I can’t get anywhere like this.
Frost went paler than usual and his eyes turned red, almost on the verge of tears. It seemed so ironic, as if a stream of water was about to burst out of an unchanging desert. It really hurt. While I still rejected the possibility of the incident being intentional and devised, I had to be completely sure of it.
..
By the time we reached school, rumors of Emine’s accident were already beginning to fly about. How, we didn’t know. All eyes turned to us when we entered the classroom.
“Is it true?”, Geff asked anxiously.
“What?”, Frost replied in a dull tone.
“A-about Emine being in the hospital”
He was evidently anxious. Poor guy had a crush on her. He often tried to stay close to us to score on her.
“Yeah, she got into an accident and is currently admitted in ICU.”
The class fell silent for a while and then started whispering among themselves. A group of girls, including Leara and Claise, approached us. They enquired about her condition and where she was admitted. Claise looked distressed and pale but yesterday had been so awkward that none of us said anything. At lunch, however, I sought her to talk about everything that was troubling me. I would have preferred Frost but he wasn’t in the mood.
“Claise”, I called her out when she had just stepped out of the staffroom.
“…” She was startled and stepped back instinctively.
We went outside for lunch. Having lunch on a bench away from common din was necessary if I wanted to sort my thoughts.
“I-I’m sorry to hear about Emine.”
“Yeah, it was really unfortunate.”
“So.. how is she doing?”
“Alive but badly injured. It’s pitiful.”
“I know you’re grieved and confused. I know what you’re feeling. I will listen to your burden if it helps you. I-I am also sad but she needs you and Frost by her, so you need to be strong.”
“I know, I know and I really appreciate your help, even yesterday you were really helpful.”
She blushed faintly and got a little confused.
“No no. I-I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just too confused with all this and then Emine and then that dream…”
“It’s OK, I understand.” Her words had a soothing effect.
“When I left her she was totally lively and then she went around roaming in the night. She always does mischief, but she’s strong and not so careless. I can’t believe she got hit that badly. It’s almost like it was pre-meditated.”
The color left Claise’s face and she shuddered, only for a moment though. She quickly regained her composure and continued talking. In that moment I sensed something akin to fear and insecurity. If I hadn’t been looking at her I could never have guessed that she was affected. Claise didn’t have an impassive face like Frost but her expressions rarely varied more than a smile. Although her voice carried emotions and emphasis, her face always had the same pleasant countenance.
“I mean it’s unbelievable that she couldn’t avoid the truck despite her inhuman reaction speed… it’s just…”
This time the face had retained its contours but I had peered clearly in the eyes and known she was trying to avoid this particular subject.
“Claise.” Time to take the offensive, I decided.
“This may not be the time but I want to ask.”
She nodded slightly.
“I told you I trusted you, but do you trust me as well? If it isn’t mutual—”
“Of course it’s mutual. I trust you as much.”
“Then why don’t you tell me what’s troubling you?”
She glared at me lightheartedly.
“What are you talking about? It’s nothing pressing.”
“It is. And from what I can tell it might relate to Emine’s accident too. That’s why you’re afraid, aren’t you, that you pulled her into this. You don’t need to evade me out of guilt, you need to tell me so I can help you. I’ll force it out of you anyways.” I tried to fake as much confidence as possible and it apparently worked. She was influenced and smiled sadly.
“I can’t hide anything from you can I? You really are sharp Shards. But I don’t know if you can digest this. Do you believe in existence of transcendent or inexplicable abilities.”
“…”
“Ahaha. It seems I said that stupidly, we’ve already had this conversation haven’t we?”
“I’ll listen.”
“Eh? Hm…. Well, imagine a human or trans-human who commands control over other humans, a god-like entity with a supreme status allowing him to judge humans, a [Sovereign]. He is god-like but not God so of course he isn’t immortal, irrespective of whether he has lived too long or he covertly rules over the whole humanity. When he is near death, he wants to choose a successor and shape him as the next [Sovereign] for the [Rule of Minds]. Thus, he gathers a group of young people with potential and throws them in a contest of trials and conflicts. The emerging victor shall succeed his throne.”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
She looked at me with a frivolous smile but truthful eyes.
“Hehe, I seem to be gabbling nonsense, don’t I? But this is reality, like it or not. I’ve been thrown into a no-holds-barred elimination contest with my life itself at stake.”
“Do those contestants also have inexplicable abilities?”
“Yes. They’ve psychic abilities called [psi-abilities]. Wait, do you already believe all I said!?”
“Eh? I told you I trusted you and I don’t think this is a prank, so yes. What else can the participants do?”
“Well, every [trier] has his own [domain] within which he can freely exercise his abilities or [judge] other [triers] as just or unjust. But they cannot [judge] other humans. They are forbidden to kill other [triers] directly but nothing applies to other humans. If their [judgment] and actions are unjust or fallible, they relinquish their [right to judge] and can be killed. An infallible [judgment] grants you better control of your [domain] and [domain] extension. An anonymous [Examiner] evaluates the [triers] secretly.”
“So why do you think your life is at stake? They cannot kill you unless you do anything.” Clearly, someone who remained passive couldn’t be [judged] at all. And killing other [triers] was forbidden.
“They can easily manipulate humans to kill me, either by force or by mind-control. Or to pressure me psychologically they will hurt those close to me. So I cannot trust anyone.”
“I see, a psychological onslaught disrupts your [judgment] capability and also forces you to join the war while the opponent’s identity remains concealed. But why do you not doubt me?”
“I discovered it by accident, quite fortunately. Do you remember when you were handing me the papers after school? Let’s just say I got alarmed and activated my domain. Activating your domain without reason is one of the most reckless actions; it’s like giving away your identity freely. But it immediately discloses if there’s another trier within your domain and you can use emergency countermeasures.”
So I wasn’t the first one to be trusted, I was actually the first one to be doubted, I thought sorely.
“And about me being manipulated?”
“I’ll tell you but you mustn’t tell others. My ability is like telepathy.”
“Eh?” I guess I had just been taking everything so readily I had gotten into my fantasy. What she just said pulled me back to reality.
“I can read minds.”
“What?”
“Ah, don’t worry it’s not like I am reading yours this instant. Moreover my ability isn’t that strong, I can only feel superficial thoughts unless you’re within my domain.”
“Oh.”
“Hmm. But I can tell you’re doubting me, hehe”, she chuckled.
“T-that, I didn’t mean. It’s just—
“I don’t mind. That much’s a given if I suddenly fill you up with so much. But you should understand that I won’t make up such a complex tale just to deceive you.”
She’s correct. Wait, does this mean I can be deceived easily?
“No, it doesn’t. Well, maybe it does.”, she smiled again.
“Waah! Stop reading me!”
“Sorry sorry. It’s just so much fun teasing you.”
“I just got myself another Frost.”
“Does Frost always pester you?”
She tried to divert the subject and I accepted it. For now, I had gotten myself everything I needed. We proceeded back after lunch.
The ‘anti-Shards’ glares greeted me in class, averse to me and Claise having a lunch alone. One of them felt particularly severe. I glimpsed briefly thinking it was Shawn or Farle, one of those avid Claise fans, but to my surprise I found the source to be Leara, with scary eyes, red cheeks and pouting lips. Now what is she annoyed about? I’ve enough to deal with as is.
I came to know after the school. After the last period when the teacher had left and the students were dispersing she came straight to my desk.
“Shards, we need to talk.”, the tone was soft but accusing.
Déjà vu. Infinite gazes turned at me, murderous intent flared up once again. Thankfully all the students weren’t in class or I would have been crucified by some. That doesn’t mean the atmosphere was congenial. Just why are these girls so blunt? Can’t they at least judge the situation before acting? Or do they not care if one or two are sacrificed in their name? I motioned to Frost to come. He nodded vaguely.
“Hmm?”
“Uh- just- wait a second. Frost’s also coming. We can -uh- discuss while we walk to the gate.”
“We-we need to talk, alone”, this time she had tried to gather all her cute anger to her red (not blushing!) cheeks and furrowing forehead. As a consequence the voice was loud enough but not reverberating, it still retained that soft tone. Ah, and it will softly grant me death—
Flash. Boom. Boom. KwaBOOM.
That remark just sent a chain reaction through the entire classroom. Every other boy exploded with envy and rage and every girl turned scornful. I thought I’d be roasted alive if it continued. But before I could say anything she pulled me along with her to the roof.
“Just what is this?”
Isn’t that what I should be asking you? “Um-uh, I don’t understand”
“I-I’m asking you what you were doing with Claise this afternoon.”
“I was just having lunch—
“I h-heard that you were laughing and t-touching her intimately. Is that how you eat lunch?”, she was embarrassed and angry at the same time.
“Wha..?” Laughing? Touching? Intimate? What sort of rumors did those bastards propagate!
“Emine is seriously wounded and you’re flirting with another girl you befriended a week ago. Does she mean so less to you?”
“N-no, but—
“You don’t need excuses. I know you’re infatuated with her. My friend told me that boys get a crush on any cute girl that tries to approach them. But are you so shallow that you cheat upon Emine when she is injured and suffering?”
What is this string of false accusations? Just how did you arrive at this conclusion!? Your thought process is messed up. Emine’s NOT my girlfriend and I’m NOT infatuated with Claise. Your friend is a dumb genius.
But I felt her presence creep upon me, I felt afraid and I couldn’t even defend myself. She was simple and graceful, quite cute to look at when angry but also fearful. Fearful? She looked harmless as a lamb but she had that aura.
“Emine is my precious friend and I will not condone your actions. When you visit her today apologize. Do you get it?”
“Y-yes” What the heck? I just admitted a crime which I cannot possibly commit.
“Good. I know you feel guilty, I hope you won’t repeat this.”
Her thought process was totally incomprehensible and absurd and her conviction was irrefutable. That’s amazing, to think such an intelligent person is so inept at judging people. I don’t think I can explain anything to her even if I try to, and it’s best the issue about [triers] doesn’t surface.
“Then please excuse me. You are good man Krein, I.. wish you won’t oppose me.” She disappeared abruptly after shouting all that random stuff.
Oppose her? As if I could risk that. It’s even more dangerous than opposing Claise. Whatever, at least I’m released from punishment. I don’t think my classmates will mind it too much if she doesn’t talk to me anymore. Good riddance!
The next day, as it turned out, I was wrong in more ways than one. I was the subject of conversation the next morning. Apparently they thought I was ‘three-timing’. Intense rumors spread their way throughout school. In brief they ran thus; I was cheating on Emine by going out with Claise and had confessed to Leara. By now I was the target of disgust among girls and wrath among boys. My peaceful days had been usurped without any remorse and my low-profile recognition shattered. I was redefined as some hideous beast in heat and nobody cared about my real plight. Those two aren’t idols, they’re devils! I mused and a caricature of both floated before my eyes, they had pointed ears and a devil’s tail. I laughed heartily and dismissed the subject.
I was disturbed, of course, but I had other important matters. Whoever had attacked Emine was after Claise, but since he couldn’t kill her he went after her friends. Assuming all that to be true the culprit now had two options, to continue with his assault on Claise to terrify her further or lay low and avoid suspicion. The latter was useless, since he didn’t entail any risk as long as he used indirect tactics. In order to attack Claise he could threaten her, harm her friends or relatives, coerce someone into harming her, injure her without causing her death or judge her.
There were also a few long-winded strategies but they were highly improbable. Given the circumstances, it was likely he would next harm another one of her friends to enforce his superiority and fear discreetly. So, we became one of the tentative targets. I had to deduce who he was before he could harm me or Frost.
At lunch, I pulled out a chair opposite Frost and sat down. If possible, I needed his opinion even if I had to tell him all I knew. Although I still didn’t completely accept Claise’s story, I decided to be believe it because Claise had been genuinely sincere when relating it. Frost would believe it too.
“Frost—
“Can I have a seat?” Claise pulled a chair beside Frost and sat down. The rhythm broke down but I still decided to continue.
“How’s your lunch?”
“It’s good”
“I brought sweets today. Anybody wants one?”, Claise inserted.
“Thanks”, I replied, receiving a sweet.
“Tastes great”, Frost complimented tastelessly.
“Frost, I wanted to—
*screech* *thup*
“E-Excuse me. Hi Krein.”
I was interrupted by Leara who had rather forcefully dragged the chair out and sat on it with a *thup*.
“Are you angry? Why won’t you at least greet me back?”
And so again, I’m the one at fault.
“Hi- Leara.”
She had just disrupted the flow. I could no longer talk like normal and I definitely couldn’t bring the topic of [triers] and Emine. I am having a succession of bad fortunes raining down lately, I sighed.
“Why am I getting the impression that you’re trying to create a harem here?”, Frost reproached me.
“I am not! I didn’t call her, she came by herself.”
“H-How rude, you’re treating me like I’m some intruder!”
Isn’t that the truth? The atmosphere just turned awkward. Whatever I thought, I couldn’t explicitly blame Leara since she was doing it out of goodwill for Emine.
“So, how is Emine?”, she jumped straight to the point.
“Not much better, but alive”, Frost replied.
“Why are you being so sad? You need to keep cheerful.”
“I think I’m just behaving normally. It’s rather you who wants to wear a mask of cheery optimism.”
She frowned a bit but shrugged it off. Frost hasn’t lost his edge, I thought. I felt somewhat relieved and also thankful. He could easily counter her.
After some more vague chatter the lunch ended. I still had another chance during PE.
“So, Frost I wanted to talk about—
“Hey, look out.”
*bam*
“Oof, ouch…”
“Idiot.”
A perfectly timed spike from Leara hit me straight in the face when I was just about to tell Frost. Our class had mixed volleyball practice and I was on the team, so were the other three. I had intentionally taken an insignificant spot so I wouldn’t be needed but her shot had hit me precisely. She probably enjoyed bullying me.
“Where are you looking Shards?”, Claise smiled.
A lot of guys stared at me with rage. As the game proceeded I became the target for practicing, every one in three shots was directed at me. I was so worn down and tired I couldn’t think of anything else till the end of P.E.
The day passed without me being able to consult Frost mostly due to the Leara interrupting. I came upon the possibility that she might be an enemy but rejected it. It was stupid to think that she meant harm to me or Claise and she had been a close friend of Emine for a long time. At the end, I couldn’t get any leads on the culprit.
<>
At night, I had that dream again. Slowly, I was becoming more conscious and attentive. After the usual events had repeated, it appeared. Its presence made me furious.
“Why did you hurt Emine?! She had nothing to do with this, you bastard!”, I shouted in a fit of rage.
“Such cruel words towards your benefactor”, it spoke in a cold, heartless tone.
“What benefactor? Why did you attack her?!”
“I never attacked her, I just warned you about your friends.”
“You planned it!”
“I never planned it. I just knew your friends were being targeted so I warned you. I told you to wake up, it’s your fault they were hurt.”
Despite the passive tone its words carried weight. It seemed truthful.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I’m merely fulfilling the wish of the [Sovereign]”
“What does he want?”
“Haven’t you already been told? I’m afraid I cannot tell you more than that.”
“Are you a product of my subconscious?”
“No I am not. You may regard me so since a fragment of me is in your subconscious but I’m very much real.”
“You are the [Overseer], aren’t you?”
“Bingo! I’m called the [Overseer], the [Examiner] and the [Shadower] but I’m essentially nameless since I’m not human.” The exclamation was mechanical in tone.
“Are you the only one?”
“Oh, there are a lot of overseers. I am but one of them.”
“What about—
“It seems our time is up. We’ll meet again when time comes…”
And the voice trailed off finally drowning in the noise of my alarm clock.
***
“Where’s Frost?”
“He isn’t coming to school today. He has fever.”
Frost had messaged me this morning of his fever. I had visited Emine by myself. She was awake, but unable to talk. I spoke about school and recounted some funny events. Her expression eased up in a while and she smiled faintly. Every visit made me sad. Her head was still bandaged, her limbs plastered and there were wounds on her face. To see a magnificent body in a crippled state was pitiful. She would heal but she would have scars for a lifetime.
“It’s rare for Frost to be absent”, Geff remarked.
“He’ll be back tomorrow, probably.”
“And that means you are alone today. These past days we couldn’t bother you but we have an opportunity now. So then, the male section of our class wishes to hold an inquisition”
“A- what?”
“We want to interrogate you about how you managed to grab both our beauties.”
“W-what are you talking about? I didn’t do any such thing.”
“So you say but clearly Claise and Leara have both been talking to you quite intimately for a while, not to mention those private lunch hours you enjoy.”
“Yeah” “True” The boys nodded in agreement.
“You didn’t blackmail them into doing this, or did you?”, Elard enquired.
I was getting cornered into trouble, when Claise arrived.
“Good morning Shards. Huh, where’s Frost?”
“Good morning. Frost isn’t present today, he had fever.” For the first time I heaved a sigh of relief at her appearance. The commotion calmed down.
“Is he alright?”
“He’ll be alright by tomorrow, seeing how stubborn he is.”
The bell rang and we got seated. The first period was History. While Mr. Breeck went on about the-someone-dynasty in his monotonous tone I was being glared at by Geff. Then a piece of crumpled paper hit my head. I picked it up.
‘Meet me before going for lunch’
Sure. I nodded. Not that I had much choice. After the fourth period had ended, I proceeded to meet him.
“Yo, partner.”
Partner?
“I assume you will now enjoy your lunch with Leara and Herfeeld.”
“Hmm…?”
“Don’t be so distant. You know, I’ve decided. From today I will join your group.”
“Eh? What?”, I blurted.
“It is in public interest that we prevent you from seizing both our idols. Also, if you conquer both of them half our class will slaughter you. So it is in our mutual interests that someone prevents you from getting too close to them. And that someone will be me. I will protect them. So you must allow me in your group.”
How self-righteous. But his proposition looked good, it would reduce the attention I was getting and moderate Leara.
“Fine”
“Hm?”
“You can come. By the way, that was a superb example of ‘mutual interest’.” —almost like ‘unilateral’ mutual interest.
“You are a true friend. And thanks for the compliment.”
I spent the lunch surrounded by Geff while sitting opposite Claise and Leara. I say ‘surrounded’ because I kept being bombarded by persistent questions and retorts coupled with his resounding laughter which made it seem as if there were ten Geffs standing all around me.
“So he asked, ‘So, what’s the solution proposed Mr. Shallards?’ and Shards who had just awoken answered, ‘T-they signed the Torsec’s Peace Treaty’. Ha ha, HAHAHA. Can you believe it? He told the Maths teacher to solve the integration using a peace treaty. HAHAHA.”
Another one joined the group ‘call-him-Shards-if-you-want’. He was recounting some of my last year’s misadventures and laughing crazily. This guy had a crush on Emine? I thought to myself, such a fickle man! At that point I really despised Geff. As the conversation proceeded, Leara asked-
“Did you visit her today?”
“Yes I did… she’s still in ICU.”
“What do the doctors say?”
“Since she regained consciousness, they say she’s better than before and she can be moved to a normal ward soon.”
“Should we visit her today after school?”, Geff asked suddenly.
“Yeah, let’s do that”, Claise approved and Leara nodded. So it was decided.
After school we left together and headed to the hospital. Leara usually returned by car which she had refused today. So Geff, I and Claise were pedaling and Leara sat behind Claise. We cycled through the busy roads before finally turning a left at The Crosshearts, the building on the east side of the Fotod Intersection where Emine met with the accident. We were cycling through double-storeyed buildings mostly filled general stores and markets so the building marked a sharp contrast.
The Crosshearts was a ten-storey building, the tallest in our town, with offices on lower two floors and amusement mall on the upper eight. It was a one of its kind in our town. We passed it by and continued on the road to reach the hospital. I lead them to Emine’s room.
She was sleeping, but the commotion woke her up. She seemed surprised and pleased by our visit. Geff was looking at her with grief but Claise punched him and he went “Owww..” before realizing, then turned silent. Maybe, he still had some feelings or maybe just pity. We sat beside Emine.
“Hi, Emine how’re you doing? You seem pretty comfortable here.”, Claise joked and Emine smiled.
“What are you saying? We came all this way to see Emine?”, Leara said.
“Did we? I just had free time so I decided to spend it in hospital like Emine, only difference that she’s on the bed.”
Emine smiled again.
“How are you Emine? Are you feeling better now?”, Geff asked her comfortingly.
She nodded simply but I felt sad seeing her. She saw this and looked reproachfully at me.
“You shouldn’t make her sad, Krein. Don’t worry I will lecture him about appropriate behavior towards the sick.” Leara told her then scolded me, “Say sorry to her. Tell her you will make her happy.”
I really need to be wary of her. She just turned an apology into a proposal.
I stood and approached Emine’s face and held her hands. “Get well soon, we’re waiting for you, even the idiot Frost who got a fever today. We’re both there for you.”
She smiled then cast a questioning glance at me, her hand twitched, her expression contorted, a tear drop formed in her left eye and she suddenly started gasping for breath and convulsing. Her breath grew more painful and I panicked.
“Get away”, Claise shouted and pulled me away. Leara pressed the emergency call switch and the nurse came rushing in. She told us to go outside and called the doctor immediately. We waited for half an hour till the doctor returned from the ICU.
“H-how is she?”
“She’s stable for now, but unconscious.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t exactly know for now, we’ll investigate. I can’t tell anything for sure but I would like you to refrain from mentioning any painful or traumatic experiences before her, in case that was the trigger. Please remain cheerful before her.”
The doctor left after assuring us. The three glared at me furiously.
“What did you tell her?”
“Wha-t?”
“Don’t you have the slightest common sense? How could you behave so stupidly?!”
“You should mind your actions, Krein. Think about Emine’s condition right now.”
“It’s as they said Shards, you should more caring.”
I was lectured and scolded for fifteen minutes. I felt guilty and remorseful. But I hadn’t said anything painful to her. I had tried to encourage her. I didn’t think she’d react that way. Was it Frost’s fever? No way. Then what was it? Confused and remorseful, I left the hospital with other three.
On the road I pedaled behind the three, pondering over my actions, and Geff was leading Claise who slowed her pace to match mine but remained in front of me. When we reached the Fotod Intersection, I slowed even more in anticipation of the traffic light. For a moment Geff left my view and then—
*Honk! HOOONK!!* *ScrEEEEE..ch* *Skid**skid* *CRASH!!!*
In the surrounding confusion, I couldn’t grasp anything and stopped to look.
“Eeeeek!! Eeeeep!!”
That was a familiar voice. Leara was shrieking in a terrified manner and had fallen down from the bike. In the direction she was looking a truck had crashed into the wall and toppled. It lay on its side, its wheels still turned and its fuel-tank leaked petrol. The oil spilled slowly on the floor and formed a puddle, at some distance it grew ominously darker in shade and looked dirty and turbid.
When I continued to look another puddle had formed at some distance from the front wheels, it mixed with the first puddle and made it turbid. It was dark red in color and its source seemed to be a curiously shaped ball of hair which looked like a squashed foot ball spurting fluid from one of its ends. It looked like… It is blood! Oh My God! My mind went blank with terror. I tried to look again. What.. what is that? Geff’s head was crushed beyond recognition, his scalp probably torn and covering part of his face which wasn’t visible.
His neck was partially severed from the rest of body as if the tires had dragged his head against friction and tried to rip it off probably against the metallic fence near the sidewalk. The rupture in his neck spurted blood.. Ugh! I felt like vomiting. His body seemed to be twitching and struggling against death. His bike lay crushed to junk. I moved slowly, gathering all my strength, towards him.
“Call an ambulance!”, I shouted to Claise who stood there shaking in fear. Beside her Leara was crying incessantly. People were only beginning to notice what had happened.
No time to waste. Maybe he can still be saved. I walked, and my eyes caught a minuscule spark near the fuel tank. Then it ignited. The vehicle was even carrying LPG cylinders. My brain registered everything in a fraction of a second, it looked at Geff and his body which was gradually becoming motionless. I never thought or knew anything, I did it all unconsciously. I scanned the building behind me, beyond the glass doors was an ornate metal door. I could see it clearly.
“RUN!”, I shouted at the peak of my voice.
Both of them looked at me baffled. But there was no time to waste. I ran recklessly, pulling both of them with me and rushed past the guard, through the doors. Fortunately, the metal door wasn’t locked and opened with a kick. I shoved the door aside, pulled both of them in and banged it close.
“What—
*BOOM* *shatter**shatter**shatter*
A loud blast drowned Claise’s voice and shook the ground. Tremors followed, the ground wasn’t trembling, it was us. Leara gripped me, terrified, and I gripped her, equally terrified. Claise stood holding my arm and the door handle tightly, shaking and shivering. When the blast had subsided we slowly ventured out.
From what I could see, I thought that was how it probably looked when a bomb detonated. The glass doors and panels were shattered, the wall was inexistent. The furniture was in bits and pieces sprinkled on the floor, some of which were burning. A shower of sprinklers quenched the fire continuously.
Outside, people were running frantically amidst fires that sprang up rapidly. The wall against which the truck had crashed was no longer there, instead the inside of the other building was visible and looked as if it had been eaten through by an invisible monster. Fragments of bricks and metal lay here and there. A crater had formed in the road and a wave of destruction surrounded it. I stood there fear struck, shocked, unable to comprehend the tragedy.
“We need to go.”
“W-where?”, Claise asked, intimidated.
“To the hospital, of course! Get ourselves checked for injuries and call your parents.”
“D-don’t go! Don’t!..”, Leara’s voice drowned in crying again. I put my hand on her head and tried to console her.
“Listen. We need to check if you are hurt and we need to inform your parents. I know you are feeling terrible but you need to come. I will come with you, so will Claise. I promise you that’s the safest way. A lot of people are terribly injured, so the medics will prioritize them over us. I can’t just take you home directly. So please, understand.”
She nodded meekly. I held her hand and started out with Claise but she withheld my shirt.
“Do you want something else?”
She shook her head sideways.
“Then what?”
“I-I need to g-go…” She pointed towards the toilets at one end. I tried to leave her hand but she pulled me to the door then darted inside. Claise followed her. They had thoroughly washed their faces when they returned but they still looked frightened. I probably looked the same way. We went outside the now open building, walked a little distance and hired a taxi to the hospital.
*
The next day, on my way to school, I met Frost who was gawking at me as if I was a ghost. I had told him I was involved in that accident they had displayed on the news. The last night, after we were checked for injuries and given some first-aid, we left. Thankfully, none of us had more than a few bruises. Leara called her parents who picked her up but since Claise’s family wasn’t home that day I had to accompany her. Frost was still in bed with fever and couldn’t come. All said and done, I was going to school like usual.
Last night’s incident had been a tragedy; almost fifty four people were injured and ten were in critical condition although no one died. The driver was not found. The morning news portrayed it clearly and the newspaper had a decent article on it. It was enough to send waves among the town. And a survivor was walking, unscathed, to school. I think this was why he looked at me as if I was a ghost.
“You’re totally fine? Or are you a ghost?”
I pinched him and he punched me.
“Che.. you’re real.”
“What.. ?”
“I was hoping for something like the ‘Sixth Sense’.”
“Sorry to shatter your expectations.”
“Feel free to.”
That way his way of saying ‘I care’. I smiled at him, he didn’t smile back. Usual Frost. I didn’t want to visit Emine that day because of what happened yesterday. Strangely, Frost followed me without turning at the Fotod Intersection.
“Won’t you go?”, I asked.
“Won’t you?”
“I can’t, today.”
“I won’t, today. I’ve something to think about.”
“What about?”
“About Emine then Geff and you being in an accident at the same place and similarly.”
Geff… That was a sad topic. The news didn’t inform of anyone dead, but he had died… before my eyes, I had left him to die without hesitation. He’d been half-dead but I couldn’t save him. I couldn’t possibly have but I also chose not to. And then there was no report of a corpse, burnt or otherwise.
I wished, somewhere in my heart, that news meant he was saved. But it was weird, even if I chose to ignore it. It was highly unlikely that he was alive but if he was dead his corpse couldn’t possibly have evaporated. Maybe it got charred to ashes, but I didn’t want to believe it. I wanted to believe that he was alive. The buildings still wore the scars of the tragedy and the crater was still there…
“Hey?”
“Hm?”
“I’m asking if you think someone is after you people, you and Emine.”
So he also suspects foul play. I needed to tell him about all that. It was possible that he wouldn’t believe me, but I believed what I was about to tell. I knew it was related to my dream and to that succession war. I was instinctively sure of it. No, it was more like I had already known it. As I predicted, the culprit had tried to attack another friend of Claise.
Unfortunately, I didn’t include Geff in my predictions. He became the target by chance, but I came to know a few things. One, the culprit was bold enough to strike at the first opportunity. Two, he was monitoring us for a major part of the day. He might have even been one of us but the probability of that was low, for now. Three, he could manipulate other people easily. Four, he knew Claise was a participant and probably other participants too. Also, he enjoyed the war and tried to play with the opponents. I had some more conceptions which weren’t totally proven. I told Frost about the [Sovereign], [The Rule of Minds], the [triers] and everything Claise had told me. He listened and then shunned it.
“Are you stupid? You believed what she told you just because she looked truthful. That girl’s deceptions are not to be taken lightly. She might actually be the one behind it all. If you just fall for her charms and pretense you might get Emine killed. Don’t lead her to Emine anymore.”
I thought something was off, Frost was behaving weirdly. Of course he would have told the whole thing off as unrealistic but that wasn’t how he reacted. He would have been more merciless and straightforward, more compelling and less flustered. Maybe it was because of Emine, it was probably because of Emine. I decided to leave it alone for now.
Both Claise and Leara were absent today, of course Geff was too. I felt guilty looking at his desk. Bell sounded and our Class-teacher came for attendance. He might ask about Geff, saying he was missing. He will probably ask about yesterday’s accident. But he did no such thing, he just took the attendance normally and left. The classes began and ended. I ate my lunch alone. Frost was in deep thought and I decided against disturbing him. I missed Emine, and Claise, and Leara, and Geff…
People were discussing yesterday’s incident quite fervently but apparently none of them knew that we were involved in it. And though they were bothered about Claise and Leara, they didn’t seem to even remember Geff. I was angry, at myself, at them too. I stood up and went to the staffroom, I needed to enquire about Geff. I went to our Class-teacher Ms. Neina.
“What is it Krein?”
“Mam, I was wondering, d-did you get a call from Geff’s parents?”
“No, why?”
“No, just… he was absent today and nobody asked… s-so I was…”
“What are you talking about?”
“Huh? Uh- I’m talking about Geff, he was absent today…”
“Krein, are you attending classes?”
“I-I am…”
“No. I mean, are your mind and body both in class or are you just daydreaming?”
“W-what do you mean? I was asking about Geff—
“Geff transferred schools yesterday, didn’t I tell you during homeroom?”
I stood stunned. What is she saying? When did she say anything about transferring? Wasn’t Geff creating mischief yesterday morning? Didn’t we have lunch together? How could he transfer when he was with us all day long? Then it struck me. What if we were all being manipulated by the culprit? But it wasn’t convincing. We had seen the accident before our eyes and it was on news, so it was real. He can manipulate me but he cannot manipulate half the town or the TV cameras.
But, Geff’s body wasn’t mentioned, so it might never have been there and we could have been tricked. Or, he could have tricked the rest of the class. So just to hide Geff’s death he had made it all false? Either way, it was detestable. I had decided, I would bring them out no matter what, both the [Overseer] and the culprit. I would see to it that they get what they deserve. The problem was how? If they actually had inexplicable capabilities it would be difficult to trap them. I would need Claise’s help. But first, I needed to ascertain the culprit’s identity. I needed a bait, something strong enough to lure him out without him doubting or even knowing about it. And I had planned the bait.
I met Claise outside the school gate, she was waiting for us.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks for accompanying me yesterday.”
“Y-yeah. Er, I wanted to ask you something… about yesterday.”
“Sure.”
“W-was it-Geff… real or was it some sort