Amidst the lively bustle of the cafeteria chatter, Connor found himself unable to move. The world had slowed down to a sluggish pace, and the voices around him had quieted down to muffled howls. He was staring straight into Jacob's concerned eyes, yet his friend who was sitting across from him, felt so indescribably distant within this moment.
Drum beats thumped within his ears, as he felt his heart rumble with the ferocity of a galloping horse. It wouldn't stop; he couldn't think. Trying to calm himself down, he exhaled a slow breath. Yes. That's it. Now he just needed to breathe in, and do it all over again. That's right, this will pass.
However, it didn't. No matter how hard Connor tried, he couldn't breathe in, it was as if he had forgotten. Beginning to feel suffocated, he desperately began to gasp for air. His vision began to blur as he realized that Jacob had long disappeared. A chill spread through his body, and he began to shiver involuntarily. Scared. He was terribly scared.
Connor felt his consciousness wavering, as well as the darkness that slowly began to swallow his vision. At this moment, in the peripherals of his eyes, several figures had rushed over to him. He couldn't tell who they were, since his eyes had long closed, however, he felt their touch. It was a distant feeling; a fleeting one.
It had come to him suddenly, and he should've controlled it better, however, it stands as is. He had fallen off the tight rope, and was torn apart by the raging waters below.
And all that was left... was darkness.
...
Shifting his position on the mahogany chair, he finally found the best way to sit for a situation such as this. He could've sworn that he was just having a panic attack a couple of minutes ago, so why did he suddenly awake to such a strange place?
Connor didn't know where to stare, since there was nothing to stare at for miles and miles! Well, nothing except him, a table, two chairs, and a finely dressed gentleman who is patiently sipping some tea right across from him.
Other than this, there was truly nothing else. Even the ground and sky was strange, it looked as if it was neither black nor white; real or immaterial. And it was precisely due to this, that Connor didn't dare stand from the chair, else who knows what could happen if he touched the floor? He might sink through, or even spontaneously disappear!
A soft clink broke the silence, and made Connor turn his head to stare at the man. It looks like he had finished his cup of tea, however, he looked to be in deep contemplation as he stared at his empty cup with a blank stare.
The man never once acknowledged Connor's presence since he opened his eyes, he was too infatuated with drinking his tea that he didn't even bother to give him a look. Connor even thought of the possibility that the man could not see him. However, that thought quickly crumbled the next moment.
"Have you ever had a moment in life, where your worst fear was realized?" The man quietly said as he fiddled with his teacup.
"..." Connor only stared at the man as he pondered over what the man had said.
And as if waiting for an answer, the man also patiently stared back at him with a slight smile on his lips.
"Yes." It was a soft mumble, but Connor had forced himself to say it, with much difficulty.
"Hmm, that moment for me, was realized when I had found out that I was all out of tea." The man sighed softly as he showed his empty cup to him. Plain sorrow was written on the man's handsome and fair face.
To the sight of this, Connor couldn't help but show disdain on his face, as he softly scoffed at the man.
"I'm glad to know that your worst fear could easily be amended with a slight tip of the teapot."
Hearing this, the man didn't find offense at all, instead his eyes shone an interested light, as he stared at the boy in front of him.
"You're right, that was insensitive of me, I apologize. Would you like some tea young man?" The man gently said as he grabbed a teapot from thin air.
Connor looked at the man with shocked silence, as he found that there was already a teacup filled to the brim in front of him. His gaze went back to the man, who was back to sipping at his teacup, as if the whole previous conversation never happened.
"I don't really... like tea." Connor said as he pushed aside the teacup.
"Pffft!" The man spit out the tea in shock.
"Don't say that, drink! It's really good you know? It can help calm your nerves and clear your mind! We'll be here for quite some time, so drink!" The man didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he insistently pushed the tea towards Connor.
Unwillingly, he picked up the teacup and took a sip. It was not too hot as it comfortably entered his mouth, nor was it too cool as it gave a warm and fuzzy feeling as the tea slid down his esophagus into his stomach. His eyes lit up; it was good tea! He didn't even need to add sugar, it was sweet to his preference, while also carrying the essence of proper tea.
The man stared with a big smile as he watched Connor gulp down the entire cup in one swig.
"Seconds? Didn't I tell you? The tea works wonders." The man excitedly said as he refilled the empty cup.
"It's alright." Connor said with a straight face as he took a small sip of the tea.
After a few seconds, silence had fallen once again. The man patiently stared at Connor's conflicted face, awaiting the moment where he started his barrage of questions. However, as time passed by... and by, the man's patience had finally reached a breaking point.
"For crying out loud Connor, just ask a freaking question! I don't have all day!" The man pleaded as he broke out of his elegance.
"You... know me?" Connor said in a low voice as he blinked at the man.
"Ugh! Yes, I know you! Wanna know how as well? I can tell you too if you aren't to bothered to ask me about it." The man harrumph as he rolled his eyes and slouched in his chair with his arms crossed.
'What a child.' Connor thought disapprovingly as he stared at the man as he threw his fit.
"I can hear your thought you know?!" The man glared as he fixed his posture, and went back to his tea.
"In that case, just tell me all that I want to know." He said softly as he savored the tea.
"Just so you know, you ungrateful kid, I'm the one who gifted you Umbra." The man said with a prideful tone.
"Lord of Darkness?!" Connor exclaimed aloud.
"Nooo! Stop!!! Don't say it out loud! That title just makes me cringe beyond words. Call me Bellinor."
Connor nodded in response as he began to contemplate, and signaled for 'Bellinor' to continue.
"Don't let my appearance fool you, I am the lord of... It just gets tiring being around so much black you know?"
"Get to the more important ones." Connor said as he motioned to speed things up.
"Alright, geez. I gave you Umbra because I took an interest in you, simple as that."
...
"I also know just as much as you do regarding that wretched app. Though I believe that it might reign from an outside power."
...
"That event is exactly as you think. And it'll be very dangerous, so be careful."
...
"Look, I can't give away any more information to you, at least not ones that I can't tell." Bellinor finished the last of his tea as he adjusted his tie, he looked like he was preparing to leave.
"Wait! Wait a minute! Can't you tell me how I can control Umbra-or at least how to stop fearing?" Connor stood up in a panic.
"You'll have to master Umbra on your own, as for your fear... the darkness might be of slight help. However, don't rely on the darkness too much. You see, darkness feeds off of fear, and once you begin to fear your own darkness, it will try to consume you." Bellinor stood up from his chair, and fixed his suit. Before leaving, he gave Connor one last look.
"But if you really want to fix your own fears, you have only yourself to rely on. And let me tell you, fear is not a bad thing. You should learn to embrace it, and control it for better use." With a gentle smile Bellinor slowly walked into the distance, before disappearing in a cloud of black smoke.
Left with mixed emotions, Connor sat silently as he poured another cup of tea with the teapot that Bellinor had left for him. Within his peripherals he saw the world around him beginning to distort, and collapse.
Finishing his last cup, he had a sudden thought, as he held onto the teapot firmly against his chest. He watched as the world began to be engulfed in darkness. He was probably going to wake up soon.
Closing his eyes, only darkness was left. There was no more world, no more chair, and no more tea.
That was a good dream. It was good tea.
...
Opening his eyes to a dark roof, Connor quickly got up and inspected his surroundings. He had apparently awakened in a school bus for some reason. Looking out the window with shaking eyes, he did not see the sun, but only the orange glow of embers against the distant night sky. The city was ablaze.
'W-What happened?! How long was I out for?'