Cyrus was from earth, a planet notoriously known for being without any form of magic. Now he didn’t mean the kind where you waved your hand and you magically pulled a card out of nowhere or pulled a hat out of a rabbit. No, this magic was in the form of being able to heal wounds with the wave of your hand, or literally shooting fire out of said hand.
It didn’t get much better from there, humans were the only real sapient species on earth and therefore weren’t easily adjusted to the experience of others. Enough of that, this all brought Cyrus back to the concept of flying, because he could really use the chance to learn right about now. Birds were trained to fly by their mothers dropping them out of a tree, this process was not at all meant for humans.
Example one would be the fact he was falling out of the sky like those said baby birds. He had been above the clouds when he was dropped and would probably make his landing in just a few short minutes. In reality it would be less of a landing and more of a SPLAT! Or a WHAM! Neither of those options sounded any good, but he was running out of them quickly. A quick assessment drew him to the conclusion that he already predicted after ending up in this predicament, he was screwed.
Now, you might be wondering how he ended up so high up in the sky? That would also be his first question if he didn’t know the answer already. It was not his fault; it was some God’s fault. That God was going to pay.
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Literally just earlier
It was far too damn hot to be running in this weather. He was wearing a simple t-shirt with a thin jacket for style points. Below he wore sweatpants, they were baggy but comfortable and that was all that mattered to him at the time. While many would argue this was not proper college wear, he couldn’t really care less. He got in this school, so he would wear whatever his heart desired.
While normally he wouldn’t be running this early in the morning, odds were he was going to be late to class. Again. Sad to say he wasn’t known for his punctuality, but he more than made up for this with his work ethic. His messy black hair dripped with sweat; it was short but cut clean so that he didn’t look like a total mess. At the minimum, he did keep a clean-shaven appearance. He despised facial hair and the way it felt on his skin for whatever reason.
He finally was able to slow to a halt as the school entrance came into view, knowing that he’d be able to walk the rest of the way without being late. This was more exercise than he bargained for; the true college experience was upon him. He was interrupted from his train of thoughts when he heard his name being called out in front of him.
“Cyrus! Hurry now, we’re going to be late if you continue to dilly dally. You should know that Professor Augustus will be furious if you get another late mark.” the girl shouted at Cyrus, seeing him lightly jogging towards her at the entrance of the school. She was leaning against one of the schools tall pillars with a book in one of her hands. Clearly having been made wait by his tardiness.
Cyrus, for all his panting couldn’t help but raise his eyebrow lightheartedly and smiled at his companion. “Are you kidding? It’s part of my charming personality, where would I be without it?” Cyrus said between breaths, unable to help himself from smirking despite his tired state. Cyrus was anything but unathletic but having ran several miles in order to make it to class on time was certainly not helping. “Besides, haven’t you been known to skip a class or two Trinity?”
The girl, Trinity, couldn’t help but laugh mirthfully at the comment, gesturing her head towards the inside of the building as she started to walk inside. “Yes, but it’s far more fun for me if I get to make fun of you. Let’s head to the library, you wouldn’t know since you were too busy running, but the Professor is late, so we have some time to relax.”
“Of course, that would happen, seeing as I worked so hard to get here on time. You couldn’t have thought to call me so I wouldn’t be so tired, would you?” Cyrus said begrudgingly, following Trinity inside the building. They bantered back and forth until arriving at the library, taking a seat near the far corner as per their usual seat. Most people at their college fall into groups, clicks or categories, but not Cyrus and Trinity. Christler College was known for being a high-level pristine college that only the wealthiest traditionally went to, having to pay their way into success and allowing them an easy future so long as the students passed their classes. Cyrus and Trinity did not meet those criteria, having grown up in a smaller town together and becoming lifelong friends. Hard work did not betray them, both obtained scholarships due to their grades and applications that seemed to impress the staff enough to welcome them into their halls.
“Did you hear the news? Another country seemingly disappeared overnight; all 1.2 million people are gone. That’s the second one, what do you think is happening over there?” Trinity asked, putting her legs up on the desk as she always did. The librarians stopped telling her to put them down when they realized just how stubborn and rebellious, she really was. Despite her mean streak and often cold expression, one couldn’t help but admire her. Ocean blue eyes that glimmered with challenge to anyone that would dare go up to her, beautiful crimson hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of fire. Her gaze seemingly pierced your soul, always looking a person directly in the eyes with confidence. While she may have been on the shorter side, Trinity more than made up for her height with her attitude.
“I’m not sure I believe it, there’s no logical explanation for people disappearing like that without a reason. I’m sure some way or another, governments are responsible as always.” Cyrus argues, leaning back so his chair is standing on only two of the four legs.
“That or perhaps they heard you were thinking of vacationing there and decided to vacate.” Trinity quips and a hint of a smile shows on her face, a rarity but never unwelcome.
“Go to hell, Trinity.”
“After you Cyrus.”
This sort of behavior was par for the course between the two. They both shared the same kind of wit and enjoyed attempting to have the last word with the other. No one else was really able to get inside their little circle. Except in this case it was less of a circle and more like a box with impenetrable walls that kept in their terrible attitudes. They were both content with that outcome. However, other people were far too emotionally weak to deal with.
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A few minutes passed as the two went back to reading and finding entertainment with their phones. Trinity starts to adopt a more uncomfortable look for whatever reason, shifting in her chair looking almost squeamish about something. Whatever she was having a problem with, Cyrus couldn’t tell but he wisely chose not to comment on it.
“You know… your birthday is coming up tomorrow, I was just wondering if you wanted to go out and do anything for it?” Trinity says nervously, shocking Cyrus a little as she is normally self-confident about whatever she does.
“No not really, I’ve never really celebrated most of my birthdays so why would I start now?” Cyrus asks confused, having seen his birthday as just another passing day every year. Both he and Trinity shared that trait as they rarely did any birthday related activities. Her eyes shift from his, down to the bag beside her chair, as if thinking about something.
Trinity closes her eyes for a moment, then as if finally coming to a decision she opens them, seeming more determined than just moments before. “I know we never really do anything... I just thought that since it’s been just us here at college for our first year that you might want a gift.”
“Come on you don’t have to worry about stuff like that, I don’t really expect anything from you.” Cyrus says pointedly.
“But this is something I want to do so I guess you’ll have to deal with it.” Trinity says with a smirk, reaching down into her bag and pulling out a small cube shaped box and sliding it across the table. Wrapped in bright orange with a red bow on top, the name Cyrus written across the top in beautiful cursive.
Cyrus’s eyes widen in surprise and a faint red hue makes itself known on his cheeks. They rarely gave gifts to one another, the fact it was meant for his birthday, and she went out of her way to get it for him made it all the more special. “I… you didn’t have to get this- “
“Ah, ah. You can thank me later or whatever, just open it on your own and tell me what you think then.” Trinity says while pretending to be indifferent.
The truth is written on her face though, Cyrus can tell that inwardly she is far happier that she lets on. Fact is, the same could be said about Cyrus, his heart pounding at the rare but not unwelcome show off affection their friendship had built up over time. He put the gift in his bag and couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face, an almost bliss feeling blessed the air surrounding them as the two enjoyed the comfort of the others presence.
As if waiting to destroy the moment, the intercom cackled to life. “Professor Augustus’s class, please proceed to the auditorium for class.”
“Here I was hoping that we wouldn’t have class at all” Trinity joked and got up from her seat, making towards the door.
“As if we’d be that lucky.” Cyrus sighed, thinking back to the preciously wrapped gift in his bag. He would never admit it, but he treasured that small, wrapped box more than anything else right now. Promising himself to open it the first chance he had, Cyrus caught up to Trinity and walked beside her to class.
Walking through the crowded halls for normal people is like dodging cars on the freeway. Walking through the halls for Cyrus and Trinity was more akin to Moses parting the red sea, students instinctively moved out of the way. It wasn’t long before we reached the auditorium, and we stopped before the entrance.
Cyrus inwardly argued with himself, turmoil ravaging his brain as he tried to find words that rarely left his mouth. “Thank you… for the gift you gave me. I can’t wait to see it.”
“Awe is the prince finally stooping down to my level to thank me. I truly am honored.” She remarks playfully, but Cyrus can tell that she is more satisfied than she lets on, a smile gracing her face again that warms his heart inwardly.
“Oh shut up, I shouldn’t have even said anything” Cyrus retorts and stares heatedly at her, Trinity’s gaze unrelenting and confident as she meets his halfway. Warmth fills his core as a silence falls between them, conversation filling the air without a word between them. Neither ever having been good with emotions, but nearly two decades together make their understanding of the other run that much deeper.
A tension fills the gap between them, Cyrus freezing while his eyes become unable to surface from the ocean in her eyes. Frozen in place while he tries to find the next word. Trinity seems to find the courage he lacks and takes a small step forward, filling part of the gap between them. One step becomes two, two steps become three until he can almost hear her breathing. Each labored breath hitting him like a breeze.
The closeness of Trinity becomes known to Cyrus and he snaps back to reality, his gaze faltering and his eyes widen with panic at a situation he could never have prepared for. He takes a step back and lets out a small but clearly fake laugh. “We should really get to class; Professor Augustus’s wrath is not something I’m looking to invoke.”
“Yea… I guess you’re right. Go on ahead I’ll meet you later” Trinity mutters, clear disappointment written all over her usual confident face. Turning her back she lets out a bated breath before walking down the hall, the tension that once filled the air replaced by a distance.
“I guess, see you later. Text me if you need anything!” Cyrus calls out but his voice dies at the end, cowardice and regret filling his heart for what he did. He wasn’t sure what he felt during that moment where he was mesmerized, lost in a sea of emotions that never once occurred to him. Once he snapped out, the emotions turned to fear, what he was scared of however, he did not know. He watched as Trinity stalked down the hall, slower than her usual pace and his eyes never left her back as the distance between them grew greater.
Inwardly, Cyrus made a promise to himself. That he would face his emotions and talk to her later, knowing that he would have plenty of time during class to think on what happened. To think on what didn’t happen. He turned to make his way inside the auditorium and stopped as a searing pain filled his skull, pounding its way into his brain and taking over his thoughts. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before, like his entire body was on fire and he couldn’t put it out. Falling to his knees, tears dripped down his face, falling off his cheeks like a facet that wouldn’t turn off.
In the same fashion that the pain filled him, it was gone as if it was never there. A sigh of relief escaped his lips, Cyrus still shaking after an experience that might’ve left him scarred if it had kept going. Slowly, he began to open his eyes, expecting to find the halls filled with concerned faces while he screamed his lungs out on the floor.
What Cyrus found instead was nothing. Not in the terms that the halls were empty, and no one had heard the screaming. Nothing as in, all that surrounded him was a blackened room. One could hardly call it a room as the black seemed to go on endlessly as if he was in a void. Confused, Cyrus reached his hand out to touch what would hopefully be anything. His hand touched nothing, like he expected, and he stood up on his shaking legs. The pain still fresh on his memory, unable to decipher the sight in front of him.
The air suddenly become cold, each of his breaths felt like ice in the air and a presence filled the blackness. Something was here with him, in the air, maybe even everywhere but Cyrus could not tell its location. A light surrounded him, taking up the space and a humanoid figure took shape. It was faceless, made of light in its entirety and walked towards him. This was it he thought, he was going to die from whatever drugs that someone fed to him.