Human: Paradigm (COMPLETED)

CHANGHEOM

Three men are guarding the gate. They all wear black suits and shades that make them look like assassins. I put my hand on the wall, and it passes through without any resistance.

Oh? No sound’s created, there’s no alarm! Good. I push my body further to the wall.

It shifts. The view shifts. Everywhere I turn my head are guards all over the place. They just got broke in after all, but little did they know someone’s breaking in again.

Before the door stand two men. Because of their shades, I can’t tell if they’re looking at me or not, but I touch the wall.

Passing through, a faint shiver flows. Suddenly, there’s a dull sensation in my muscles.

This must be because of the wires.

The place in front of me changes. On the left, a sofa with gold lining is set while on the walls, paintings of some sorts are hung.

Tap tap tap

A dark shadow has passed the door. I run toward it.

Behind the door fronts a very long hallway. The one who passed just now wears black clothes like the guards earlier. It turns to a big staircase at the end of the hallway. Is Jules supposed to look like that? Ah, whatever. I rush.

Good thing, my feet kinda sink on the stairs’ carpet so I don’t create noises at all.

I arrive on the second floor. Jules walks to the door on the other end. Before he arrives, it suddenly bangs open, and an old man comes out.

Jules bows to him. “Sir, good morning.”

Sir?

“Ah. Have Richard arrived yet?” the old man asks.

“He hadn’t returned for two weeks, and I’m afraid he still is not here.”

“Just let that child. He must be busy, which reminds me. Where is Jules?”

Where is Jules?

“Sir, that child rarely stays here. I checked the room earlier only to find it empty.”

So this man is not Jules? What the heck! I’m just wasting my time here then. I need to move on. To check things before leaving, I take one last look to check if I got it right.

Suddenly, the scene has changed. From just the old man and his servant, a tall figure is also standing behind the old man.

“Excuse me, I have finished the papers needed.” the tall man says.

That man...

Voices echoed throughout and all over. They’re all speaking because of the scandal, but I completely ignored them. Across uncle was a tall man with tapered hair.

“You really have guts to show up when you’d disgraced the name of our association.” the tall man said.

With glare glued at uncle, he lifted his toward him.

Now, my heart is banging my chest. This man, he’s the bastard who hurt uncle!

“I understand. Please excuse me, sir.” the bastard replies and walks away.

I’ll make him pay.

I chase. But my body freezes on the spot. Every fiber of my muscle starts pulsating. I lean on the wall. Is this because of his ability?

From the side, I see him walking away.

Grrr... I can’t let him get away like that. Putting my weight forward, I run.

Suddenly, a strong force pulls me in the opposite direction. Just before I notice, it’s already dragging me to the wall behind.

The wind slaps my skin with great strength. Around me, things are changing. I’m falling! I activate my ability.

Everything becomes pitch black then, the surrounding becomes hot. I’m in the underground. But still thinking revenge, I rise.

Suddenly, the force earlier drags me forward again. I resist. My muscle won’t even move an inch, and my body moves forward to the force instead. It’s very dark. Every corner of the darkness becomes deeper and turns into a big stream of a void.

After a while, my entire body feels lighter like I’m floating.

Vroom...

The sound of the engine enters my ears. Opening my eyes crawls a blinding light. It seems a bunch of are people passing by my side while tall buildings and vehicles surround the place.

“Excuse me.”

I flinch at the voice.

Behind me, there’s a girl wearing casual clothes. However, something in the way she moves tells she’s elegant.

I’m supposed to be invisible!

I walk to the side. “S-sorry, miss.”

“It’s alright. Just don’t space out in the middle of the city.”

“Sorry.”

“You remind me of a certain someone.”

“Sorry, but where am I?”

“You don’t know where you are? How come?”

“H-hey, don’t come too mu-Whach!”

My voice cracks. Shit.

“Alright. Alright. Don’t worry I’m already taken so you’re safe. Anyway, you’re in District 2.”

She waves her hand and joins the movement of the people. Her shiny brown hair twirls in the air.

“Thank you.” I shout.

Her back disappears in the crowd. On the other hand, I’m still standing in the middle of the sidewalk. District 2? How in the world did I arrive here?

Tch. That bastard... I’m going back. I walk forward to where everyone is going.

I start seeing roofs, which seem too small, in the lines of the building, but can still be noticed. Several shops fill the block. Many people are strolling. I don’t remember this place earlier. I should probably take a taxi back there.

Chan

A voice appears in my head. Uncle?

Finally, I’m able to reach you. I’ve been trying for the past hour, but I can’t get through. What happened? Are you alright?

I’m somewhere in District 2.

You’re supposed to be there.

I mean there’s a force that dragged me away from the house. Anyway, he isn’t at the house. And I’ve seen the man who slapped you at the convention.

Just focus on finding Jules. Don’t hurt anyone and don’t put yourself in more danger than necessary.

Fine.

Hold on. The system detects something.

I take a shade at the cake shop behind me. There are a couple of boys talking about the hottest idol right now, and then, there are two girls swooning over an actor. I can’t remember any of them though.

Chan. You’re around the residential area, right? I can see it from here.

Yes. Somewhere here. Why’s it?

I can see it from here.

You’re coming to pick me up?

Later. Now, I’m seeing his location.

Really?

Look to your left. There should be an apartment unit.

On my left only lies a road so I look around. In front of me, a building with terraces stands. The poster on the wall indicates it’s a boarding house for boys.

Jules is inside that apartment. Unit 201 to be exact.

Ok! Activating my ability, I run across the street to the wall.

I pass through. The apartment is 2 stories and each floor has 10 rooms. I take the stainless stairs.

The empty hallway greets me. Beside me, there’s Room 210, and I run to the other end. Just like I thought, 201 crosses my sight.

A pair of shoes rests, and the door remains closed in all of this silence. Something fishy is going on. I go through the wall.

Thump

I hear a loud sound. What’s that?

Thud

My attention averts to the room on my right.

Thud

I tread past behind the corner. There, the door of the room is slightly open. Within the cracks, I catch a glimpse of a body lying on the ground.

Did Jules kill him?!

Inside the room, a boy’s leaning over the window. He cocks his head in my direction, and then, his face becomes a sour expression. Jules... you’re not going anywhere. Trying to catch him, I make my steps light.

Suddenly, he jumps to the window.

“Hey! Wait!”

I look outside. What I see is a vacant alley and a black cat, not Jules. I put my hand on the railings and lean the weight on the frame.

Chan!

I just need to catch up.

Don’t follow him. Remember? You can’t hurt anyone.

But-

I let you there to know what he’s going to do with the substance. Now that he’s committed things, you don’t need to go further.

He killed a person!

But we can’t do anything for now.

What are you saying?

Don’t touch the body and don’t call the officers. You’ll become the prime suspect if you do so. Instead, come out of that apartment and wait for me. I’ll pick you up.

My jaw trembles.

Chan?

How can I watch him go like that, especially when he’s within my reach? I’m sorry uncle. But I’m not letting him go.

I push my body to the window.

Black Morphine.

My body stops in one blink. What’s happening?

Tell me, how can you seek revenge if you’re putting yourself in unnecessary danger.

Uncle’s voice sounds rougher but still deep. It’s dizzying.

Just do what I said.

A prickly sensation stabs my head. W-what’s happening?

THUD!