Sparks flashed and clattering sounds echoed in a distance, within a dark endless void.

Rowan Reagan walked listlessly through the darkness, steadily following random bright flashes. He raised his hand for a shield, as he got closer to the light.

"Hey..." he called as his hand extended to touch a rounded surface only to find it was a child with silver-white hair. The boy was shocked by this encounter and dropped two rocks in his hands.

The rocks clashed and clattered continuously, but quickly turned into a beeping alarm which woke Rowan from his sleep. He quickly realized that he was late for his semester and rushed downstairs towards the door.

" Rowan!...." Nylah called. " ....are you having breakfast!"

"No Mother, I’m late." He jumps onto his motorbike, but it fails to start after turning the key several times. He is frustrated and decides to walk.

…

Keito Amandla had just left the cemetery after the burial of his elder brother, Otogami Amandla. He takes a drive to remind him of the geography of the community and stops by Jameson’s park at the top of a hill. There, he can see the whole town and the city at the edge of the river. He whistled a lullaby, twinkle twinkle little star, but an ominous aura caught his attention and he stopped.

He grabbed the hand of a dark-haired boy rushing past and was taken aback by a burning sensation in his hand.

“Boy!” he said fiercely while his eyes met the dark glow in the boy's crimson eyes.

”What is your name?”

…

Rowan was stunned when a strange man in a black tuxedo grabbed his hand, only to ask for his name. He was too baffled to answer, but the stranger soon came to his senses and let go.

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“I apologize for….” Keito said whilst his back faced Rowan.

Rowan did not reply but backed away and continued on his way.

“Bradley, did you notice something strange about that boy?” Keito asked his escort, a dark-skinned broad gent who had been standing quietly beside the rails at the edge of the park.

“No sir, I did not” he answered bluntly. Keito turned and stared at Rowan vanishing down the slope, his curiosity had peaked and he wanted to have a closer analysis of the strange feeling he’d gotten.

….

Rowan got to the campus but found that classes had already started. He was stunned to find Decad Amandla, his best friend flirting with two Asian girls who also happened to be late. He looked disappointed when the girl suddenly left him which made Rowan tease him about his rejection, though Decad insisted he wasn’t rejected. They were interrupted by Aubrey Hanz, their not-so-fun friend, who’d made top of his math class.

“By the way guys, I’m having a party,” Decad said. He was inviting Aubrey and Rowan but they didn’t seem interested.

“It will not work out. Your old man, he’ll never allow it.” Rowan said.

“Well, he isn’t around this year.” Said Decad. Rowan shrugged and walked into his classroom.

Aubrey Hanz was equally pessimistic, he left for his own class but promised to show up if it was real.

…

Rowan's late entry called the attention of the tutor. He moved briskly to his table, pausing the class for a brief second. He didn’t get what the sudden halt was for but spotted Viola Amahira staring back at him from across the class. She smiled at him and he smiled back.

“Rowan Reagan.” The tutor suddenly called. “See me in my office after class” he glared over his spectacles.

…..

Class ended in less than an hour and the tutor did not wait to see Rowan in his office. He called him over and took him for a walk through the hall.

“Rowan, you know how difficult it is, for your mother to work up the tuition for your studies,” he said in a disappointed tone. “And you playing with…”

“Don’t lecture me about our struggle,” Rowan said with a dejected expression, as they turned into the staff room.

“Hmm, I see.” Mr Jemini looked at him predictably.

Rowan bumped into a short girl while walking into the staff room. She had Dull grey eyes that appeared blind, and long faded black hair. She had a dull demeanor and seemed to be unaware of her surroundings. She staggered and fell into Rowan’s hands.

She suddenly leaped off him and rushed off while looking back awkwardly. Upon leaving, Ria Hanz realized a scorching sensation in her neck. She had ignored it when Rowan caught her.

……

“Go to the janitor. Spend some time with him.”

“What for?” Rowan protested.

“So you can learn some life lessons boy!” 

Mr Jemini wanted Rowan to take his education more seriously. The teenage boy though had little love for books, and had arrived late for class countless times.

“Your mocking your mother with your constant late coming, while I’m here trying to make someone out of you.” He complained, but Rowan wasn’t taking any of his words. He turned away and left the room, while Mr Jemini looked on in disappointment.

Rowan met the janitor, Mr Craven, a man dating his mother. He disliked Craven, and couldn’t stand his presence, but respected him all the same.

“Well, this is a surprise.” Said Craven. He held a long mop and a bucket, which he gave to Rowan to take to the boy’s washrooms, as he headed to the staff room after he was called by the principal and informed of Rowan’s punishment to assist him.

Rowan met Anos Delgade, an overrated cool kid, with two other boys, including Jacob Kramel, a dark-themed boy in his class.

“Excuse me, toilet boy,” Anos said while passing Rowan who bowed with a smark and called him fat. This got Anos steaming and he pinned Rowan to the wall.

“Hey!” Craven came in, right when a fight was about to start.

“I’ll get you later!” Anos whispered and left with his crew.

“You’ve turned out to be a real troublemaker. Reagan” said Craven as he grabbed a mop.

“What do you know about me?!”

“Pick a mop.” Craven gestured at the long mop lying by a flipped bucket.

Rowan Reagan held the handle up, socked the rag into the bucked, and slapped it onto the floor, Left to right he led the mop over the washroom floor. Quietly recalling his dream.