9 Days Before

Lin awakens with a weight occupying his head, sensing a chill beneath his sheets despite the summer heat. A lingering remnant gloom from nights past followed him as he lifted himself up right, staring intensely into a transparent daydream.

Contemplating skipping school, he recognized that he'll face consequences during school hours, slightly hoping that Opel wouldn't show up.

He reached for nearby clothes with a groan.

As he prepared himself for his final school day, he anticipated the freedom that would follow; an escape.

Descending the stairs, he passed his mother as she carried laundry, his mother stopped, but Lin was already exiting the flight, giving her a chance to inquire the night before.

Rin, his sister, seemed to grasp his intentions, letting him go, sensing the gravity of his situation with his weighted expression. She grabbed her bag and left the house swiftly, just moments before their mother entered the kitchen.

"Take care today," Rin said in passing, heading to the gardens.

Lin paused briefly, trying to catch his sister’s words. Though he shakes off the thought, and continues his way to school, choosing shortcuts and side streets.

Avoiding his classmates as he navigated through alleyways, backyards, and playgrounds.

Making the final stretch through a backyard.

Lin arrived at his destination, only needing to cross the bustling street one last time.

Lin couldn't help but wonder why there were so many failing students this year.

Last year, it had been just a few, and he had been among them. Not exactly a point of pride, but the group had felt like a close-knit family.

Now, he stood alone. His mistakes had driven away even his closest friends, but what he had done with Kel was on a whole different level; taking the blame.

Frustration welled up within Lin, and he kicked a nearby pole while waiting for the street sign to change.

Emotions overwhelmed him, triggering a flood of memories. The signal changed, but he remained lost in his thoughts.

A horn blared, snapping him back to reality. He sprinted across the street and into the school.

With his movements of going into the classroom a sudden tug sent him sprawling backward, his head hitting the pavement with a deafening crack.

Voices became muffled, and he struggled to comprehend what was happening. Figures loomed over him; their faces blurred.

Their shouts were unintelligible - almost haunting like, as if it were spoken in an alienated language the world had never heard of.

Still confused, he managed to get up, only to be knocked down once more.

The shock of the impact made him cough; a series of tingling in his chest, as he tried to get back up, hit the ground again. Emotions swirled within him - confusion, panic, and an ever-growing sense of dread.

Gradually, his vision cleared, and he saw Xiel standing before him, accompanied by a couple of other friends.

“What have you done to my friend, Freak!” Xiel yelled, pushing Lin with his foot as he struggled to rise once more.

“What’s your problem?” Lin grabbed his foot, struggling to pry it off.

Xiel climbed on top of Lin, his intentions clear, readying his fist for a blow.

A teacher arrived in the nick of time, intervening Xiels attempts. Students were herded into detention, where tensions ran high.

The teacher threatened to call Xiel's father, but he appeared unflinching, responding with disrespect before the teacher stormed away.

Lin entered the nurse's office, pressing a cold pack to his head.

"A fight, huh? Looks pretty serious," the nurse observed as she tended to him.

"Want to head home?"

"No, I need to face some people - more than one person."

The nurse awhed, scanning his injuries as she wrapped another cold sack in paper towels, handing it to him.

"Make sure to take it easy, let's not get into any more fights." She said softly as Lin grabbed the pack, thanking her with a gentle expression followed by him tucking in his lips as he looked down, contemplating events that could take place.

Lin left the nurse's office and walked through the corridors. He scanned the area for Xiel, ready for any surprise attacks like before. Not seeing him, he felt safe enough to head to his classroom before the bell rang.

Inadvertently, he bumped into someone.

"Opel-!?" Lin stumbled over his name, his voice trembling as he tried to find words.

"Hey," Opel greeted softly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Discomfort hung in the air between them, and the bell rang, signaling the need to head to class.

"Gotta go!" Lin rushed to his classroom, pushing past Opel. He wanted to escape the uncomfortable situation, the memories of Kel and last night's dispute flooding his mind.

He was frustrated at himself for showing such emotions at school - it was practically an invitation for harassment, amongst the failed attempt of him wanting to confront his demons.

Opel watched him go, his gaze following Lin as he wiped his eyes with his hoodie sleeve, still wearing the same hoodie from the previous night.

"What even happened anyway..." Opel muttered to himself, trying to piece together his memories from the previous night.

Having the hoodie was like having a missing puzzle piece.

"Hey, buddy," a familiar voice reached his ears, the waves of recognition causing his ears to buzz. Shocked, he looked in the direction of the voice.

"What's up? You're acting strange today, Opel."

"How are you even here..." a slight memory sprouted in his mind regarding last night's events.

"What do you mean?"

"You've been missing since -" remembrance of that night remains a statue inside his bank.

"Since what?" The familiarity interrupted Opel, making him stumble over his words and thoughts.

"Let's go to class," the figure pulled Opel, who desperately hoped that the door wouldn't open. pressing up against it, emitting a thud due to his panic.

"He can't see you," Opel finally realized, the recollection colliding, yet a piece remains missing.

"Why not?" A change in tone crept into Opel's ears. The cold, patterned hand touched the metal handle, and Opel glanced down at it, shaking his head with widened eyes.

"No..." Opel said unnervingly, replaying his cold accusations towards Lin, leaving him feeling remorse.

The hand turned the knob. A twisting sound cut through the air, heads turning in the classroom to look at the door.

"No..." he repeats, the missing pieces trying to convey outwards, but a lingering force deters the memory from arising.

And then it opened.

The detention classroom had a foul odor, and Xiel felt annoyed as he crossed his arms. His leg bounced with frustration, his eyes darting around with anger.

"Almost had that... that -" he stumbled over his words, struggling to find the right term for Lin.

His frustration grew, and he let out a groan while bouncing his leg even faster.

Ripped jeans tearing even more with each repetitive movement.

The teacher, at the back of the room, grew irritated by the disruption he was causing. She snarled at the teenager.

"Kids, I swear, there are times I wish I didn't have this job dealing with children like you," she directed her words at Xiel.

The sound invaded his ears, and he groaned again, countering her with a string of 'fine' words. She stood up abruptly, pushing her chair back with force.

"Get out of my classroom!" she yelled. Xiel groaned once more, calling her another derogatory term for a dog.

This time, she gasped and swiftly moved to his side to usher him out. He allowed her to, and just like that, he was out of detention.

"Easy as that," he muttered with determination. "Time to find that freak of a Vel."

Xiel turned around and stomped toward the classrooms, looking through every window. He didn't care if he disrupted the buzzing classrooms - he was on a mission.

Dealix shot up from his spot, a sudden noise eliciting awe from him. He woke Chandra as well, who sprang up, her hand swinging defensively.

"Whoa... whoa!" Dealix hurried over to her, nearly tripping over growing roots as he moved.

He reached her and placed his palms next to her, and she turned, smacking him in the face.

"I am so sorry. It was a reflex," she quickly tried to explain, concern evident in her expression as she looked at Dealix's face, which was now red from the impact.

"Oh -"

"Oh!?"

Chandra takes her gaze off of Dealix's red imprint and glances at the spot Mier was sleeping at.

"Wait, Where's Mier...?" Chandra pointed to where he had been sleeping, and Dealix turned his head to the spot.

There was no sign of the mysterious guy who had been curled up like a beetle in a tree.

"Right... Where did he go?" They both scanned the surroundings, but Meir was nowhere to be found.

They wanted to call out to him, but they didn't want to attract any potential chasers.

"Well, I'm sure he's fine. I just wanted to thank him," they both agreed before heading out onto the streets. Puzzled and unsure of their destination, they exchanged a glance, a passing vehicle zooming by them.

"Let's just keep going," they nodded and began walking, allowing their legs to guide them.

"So... are we heading back anywhere?" Dealix asked during their long walk.

Chandra pulled something out of her pocket and held it in her hand, staring at it intently.

"I had a strange dream that this will lead us where we need to go," she said softly, looking up at Dealix.

"And you're somehow connected , though I'm not sure how." She tossed the stone into the air, and Dealix instinctively caught it. He then tossed it himself.

"With what I experienced in that dream, I have a feeling that you might be onto something," he caught it again.

His expression shifted from confusion to realization. His curiosity was piqued.

Chandra and Dealix continued down the road, engaging in conversation and laughter as they tried to leave the past behind.

"Aarrugh," Mr. Clark paced back and forth in his classroom, disrupting the students who were trying to study.

"Find my son! He's been missing for two days straight now!" He yelled into his phone, engaged in an argument with the voice on the other end.

More students were drawn to the spectacle. Some were genuinely worried, while others were relishing the drama that had been unfolding for the past week.

"Maybe he just ran away?!" He continued his rant. Some students chuckled softly.

Sharing knowing looks with their friends to avoid drawing the teacher's ire.

Tay continued to work, undisturbed by the commotion.

He was focused solely on his studies, with no care for anything else. At the same time, Tay could be a bit overwhelming, as Chandra had said to him countless times before.

He looked up from his desk, just taking note that Chandra herself and the seizure kid didn't come into today.

Today was important, meant for those who failed to 'graduate' will be getting their diplomas with those who already had.

Tay, feeling restless, got up from his desk, went over to the teacher, and placed the finished work on the hard surface.

"Just, please find my son " The teacher pleads, Tay hearing the individual on the other side. "or I’ll be contacting a Detective"

"Well... that's strange, Mr. Clark," the teacher glanced at Tay, closing his phone and hanging up on what could've been the sheriff.

"Sure is, thanks for turning it in, Tay. You can go." Tay smiles, grabs his stuff from his spot, and walks towards the door.

Stopping, remembering what he was going to say before the teacher dismissed him.

"By the way - Mr. Clark, Kellic came to school today - that's why I thought - "

"What!?"

"Yes, Mr. Clark. In-room 102, like - "

Before Tay could finish, Clark had already gotten up and was exiting the classroom, for some reason, pulling Tay with him and out the door.

Classmates rushed to the door, having three following them from behind, potentially to engage or witness any drama that may happen, with students peeking out the window to observe.

As she walked through the sandy fields, Eve marveled at her newfound ability to walk.

However, she was also puzzled by the ghostly fragments that kept appearing before her eyes.

While some vanished before she could fully see them, others brought back distant memories she never knew she had.

Seeing herself as a child with a familiar figure that she can't quite put her nose on, standing by watching her.

Curious, Eve reached out to touch the ghostly images, however before she could touch them, the images dissolved into sand particles that merged with the ground beneath her feet.

A warm voice greeted Eve, making her feel comforted, mirroring the sun on her skin.

She took a deep breath and felt her emotions steady. However, when she turned around, she realized that no one was there. The warmth dissipated, replaced by a chilly ominous breeze.

The voice urged her to "run." as dark fog particles emerged, creeping towards her, pulsating with energy.

Resembling lightning bolts connecting to nearby outlets, with fragments breaking off, attempting to ensnare Eve as she sprints to escape.

Broken pieces from the strike drift onto the golden sand, altering the minerals on impact, casting a gray coloring to the sand.

Flowing the path the fragments took, they gradually constructed a shape in the distance.

The fog halted its approach towards Eve.

"Eve~." a voice beckoned. Instantaneously, the sand began to take shape, forming a structure. "you don't want to miss this ~Eve~"

However, another voice interjected, "Don't pay attention - Run"

An otherworldly force captured her before she could escape, with it came an ominous dread sheathing around her, firmly gripping onto Eve.

Her skin starts to react from the coercion causing a cascade of goose-flesh. "You don't want to miss this either." the voice spoke to the other.

Eve forces her attention away.

"Look!" jerking her neck from the struggle, seeing the structure through a damaged lens.

The sand settled beneath her as a warm voice greeted Eve, painting a vivid picture that spoke to her.

Please don't be afraid, the presence you are encountering here is--

Dark particles formed lightning within the scene, rolling it about before striking beneath her feet.

Exploding the image into dark sand upon Eve, interrupting its attempt to reassure her. its ear-splitting crack thrashes her.

"Don't worry, Eve. dying isn't an option for you just yet. And neither will be for our friend here. You two are cut from the same cloth, both stubborn in your ways."

A bolt of squealing lightning strikes the sand near Eve, causing it to melt onto her, following branches of hissing lightning striking the sand, picking her up.

Granting a stunning view of the tormenting structure.

Ionization pairing with a sulfur-like fragrance enters her sense of smell.

"What do you see?" the distortion echoes in her ear.

Eve's attention wanders but it quickly gets drawn back by the presence.

Clearing her vision, her eyes widened unnaturally.

Tears burst from her eyes involuntarily, her bones start to freeze, she starts shaking uncontrollably.

The makeshift sand pod seems to give way as if making more room for damage.

She still tries to stop her bones from rattling, but the potency of the shake causes her bones to crack and shatter.

Eve lets out an agonized scream, unable to pull her head back. Forced to stare at that 'thing'.

Eve becomes lost in her thoughts as flashes of imagery rush into her mind too quickly to discern any details.

She feels a sharp pain in her stomach that extends to her lungs. gasping for air as if everything is so cold that it quakes to escape its embrace - bringing her back.

Her dermis, swelling with goosebumps, rushing throughout the body, her veins start to protrude outwards.

Pieces of small screeching violet arches of electricity move through the sands, combing it into a solid mineral spiking towards the sky.

the air strengthens with the ionized aroma

Ripples of electricity spread throughout, doing the same, forming the pod into a coffin.

Another streaking lightning bolt flashes onto Eve's chest, allowing her body to loosen from the being's grasp. Her eyes rolling to the back of her skull, a sensation of unimaginable dread worsening the contractions -- her consciousness unplugging at the seams.

Thunderous flashes repeat, the lightning moves through the coffin, creating a more powerful ripple throughout, conjuring connecting arches onto Eve's veins, splitting them open.

Her blood is about to flow out but it gets blocked by the dark particles flowing within her.

Eve's body jitters, trying to flail, but is now being restrained into the obsidian-toned coffin.

The dark particles within her close the gaping wounds that the arches made. 'Healing' her wounds. With a final jolt of Eve's 'lifeless' body, it was over,

Eve gasps for air, her body sweating furiously, the torment cycling through her psyche.

Her eyes forward, staring at the 'Fulgurite' Structure, a series of words enter her mind, the thought forming of dark particles.

"I am you, but not you. - who I am."

"Is Singularity," the dark particles mimicking thoughts explode. Eve's body jolts again, possessing a dorsum of a figure protruding from within her skin, trying to escape the flesh.

Effort pulls Eve upright, watching the protrusion with wide eyes, the trauma paired with a baleful force brought her eyes back into her skull once more.

Rag-doll arms flow to her side as the figure protruding out of her skin lifts her up from determination to release.

The particles above the structure roll with caterwauling lightning, arches come down skidding across the structure and onto its grounds, creating a complex flower-like ring upon the surface, leaving an opening in the middle.

The figure within her skin becomes more contour, the emission from the lightning produces a silhouette of the figure within her skin.

Eve's epidermis tears, relieving her body from the now formatted figure. Her body flops into the coffin, her fighting spirit trembles life back into her eyes, she sluggishly looks at the figure.

Trepidation envelops her.

“You..-..you'r-..” Eve pushes back however she can.

trying to look with intent, the particle figure's elegant beauty peers into Eve's very soul.

"You are -"

"Me," the particle-shaped humanoid finishes her sentence, emitting a sequence of distortion as it speaks.

"We're not the same!" Eve screams at her with every strength that's remaining within her body. The sand flows back, the warmth returning stronger.

Eve faints as the warmth from before takes on a physical form of its own, pushing into the abyssal figure.

Screeching as the warmth merges with it, turning into a mimic marble of combined colors. Shining an immense light within the golden sandy realm.

Vaporizing the structure along with everything else.

Eve's eyes snap open. Jolting up, having her being snagged on medical equipment, specialists rush into her padded room as she breathes heavily, cold sweat forming across her face.