MATTHEW'S POV
School had ended. The familiar ring of the bell made the students celebrate. I marched out of the classroom and into the wide campus.
"Now, where's the library?"
"Matthew!" A voice that I wished I wouldn't face today rang in my ears. I forced a smile before turning around to face Sasha. "Hey."
"Are you going back to the dorms?"
"Not yet, I was hoping to stop by at the library."
"And I assume you don't know where the library is?"
"You got me." I raised both of my hands. Sasha giggled at my actions. "I can take you there-"
"No!" I shouted a little too quickly. The green-eyed girl tilted her head in confusion. "Why not?"
"Well..." I had to think up something. I didn't want to hurt her feelings by saying that I didn't want to face her right now.
"You must be busy too, right? You had a class with mister Asher. And I can say by his way of teaching that he assigned you to do something." Damn, I lied twice today.
Sasha looked shocked. She clapped. "Wow, you're good." She then pointed straight ahead of me. "The library is next to the grade 7 building. You'll see it on the right side." I thanked Sasha before saying goodbye to her. I could finally breathe normally when she was out of sight.
"Here I thought I can have a normal school life without any of this." I muttered to myself. I followed the directions Sasha told me and sure enough, I came face-to-face with the library door. I entered and the smell of old books filled my nostrils. Huge shelves with signs 'A-B, C-D, E-F,' and so forth hung high above. There were long tables with numerous chairs to sit on. There were even some staffs that handed the students water.
'You get service here?'
Snapping me out of my baffled state, the librarian spoke. "Can I help you with anything?" The librarian smiled. She seemed to be around her late 40's with brown eyes behind black rimmed glasses.
Something in me shouted, 'Danger! Danger! Danger!'
I needed to say no to this woman. I didn't know why she gave me bad vibes, but I just felt it.
"Oh, no. I'm fine, ma'am." She bowed a little before going back behind a counter. Well, that was something.
I went to the B section of the library to get any books related to Biology. The same goes for plants and gravity. After a long time of carefully finding each, I brought the heavy books to a table. I accidentally let it fall on the table and it created a loud 'bang'.
A few heads turned my way. I apologized and bowed frantically. After that slight commotion, I opened a book and took out some papers and a pen. Cracking my knuckles, I got ready for the report.
"Auxin... Plant Hormones... Stimulates growth... Gravitropism..." I unconsciously mumbled out what I was writing. The librarian from before brought me a cup of cold water. I simply nodded to show my thanks because I didn't want to lose concentration.
A few minutes into writing the report, I paused a bit to take a sip of my water. I never knew thinking too much could make me thirsty. The cold water flowed down my throat. I sighed when I finished drinking all of it.
Half an hour later, I started feeling sleepy and woozy. The book in front of me was blurry and the words were becoming unreadable. I tried to stay awake to finish my task, but it was futile. In the end, I didn't even know I fell asleep.
-
I woke up in a hurry. I was surrounded by nothing but darkness. I could only hear the ticking clock that showed the time - 8:55 at night. My hand flew to my head as it throbbed. I would be lying if I said that wasn't a nice nap though.
I needed to get out of here, I hoped they didn't lock the doors.
'Why didn't anyone wake me up? If someone's asleep in a room they shouldn't be sleeping in, and night time is coming, surely they need to wake him up, right?'
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Today's not my day."
I pushed open the library doors. Good thing it wasn't locked. I let my eyes scan around the area of a peaceful night. Seeing no one, the coast was clear. I began navigating the campus back towards my dorm room. Although, my plan didn't go through.
When I was near the dorms, I saw a group of students wearing uniforms and the principal with them - mister Angelo Carter, a man who was in his early 40's. I raised an eyebrow at why they would wear the school uniform at night. Also, why was the principal out with students?
Questions ran around my mind. It was none of my business what they were up to, but alas, I still gave in to curiosity.
I began to follow them. I would hide behind tall trees every once in a while when some of them would look back. A few more times did I keep up with my actions before they arrived at their destination. It was outside the school gates.
They all stopped simultaneously. I waited behind a bush for what they were about to do next. Then, I was mystified.
The principal chanted in a language I seemed to comprehend. It wasn't English, yet I understood. "Ad Sekim Yu Melia." I command you to open.
After the principal finished, a purple light glowed around the school gate. As I witnessed this, my chest tightened, my head ached, my insides felt hot, then the all too familiar sense of dread came back.
F̶o̶l̶l̶o̶w̶ t̶h̶e̶m̶ a̶n̶d̶ s̶e̶t̶ m̶e̶ f̶r̶e̶e̶.
I unknowingly obeyed the voice. One by one they all entered what I assumed was a portal. I hesitated, unsure if my next action was the right thing to do. Perceiving this occurrence stirred up questions and unknown feelings. I wanted to stop asking 'Why? How?' And find out the answers.
I knew mom wouldn't approve of this. Still, I wanted to know the answers to my questions.
Before the portal could close, I rushed to jump in.
I fell for what felt like hours, even if I knew it was only a minute. I began to panic.
'I'm gonna die!'
Luckily, I didn't die. I did land harshly on my butt though. Rubbing the sore area, I gazed at the place in front of me.
It looked like a forest. Trees stood tall. But it was a bit dim. Not dark, but it looked like this place hadn't seen light for years! Fog slightly surrounded the location, making it hard to see.
I got on my feet and turned my head from all directions, taking it all in.
"What is this place? Where am I?"
Then I recalled what Stacey said to me the first day I met her.
"There's this mysterious place full of darkness and fogs. People don't know where it is since they can't find it on the map. Heck! Some say it doesn't exist on Earth."
No way... Could the rumors be true? Does the elite title have much more to it?
I cautiously placed one foot after the other, I couldn't see well and I was afraid that I might trip on something. And I did. It wasn't on something, but rather because of someone.
I heard a person yell out a battle cry followed by a gunshot. 'What the hell?!'
I scooted backward. I was beginning to hear sounds that could be produced when someone was stabbed. Also growls.
'Danger! Danger! Danger!'
All kinds of alarms flared up within me as I warily eyed my surroundings and started to hyperventilate.
I stood up quickly and stepped back, only to bump into someone. I turned around to see a horrific creature.
'Danger spotted.'
It had a wide mouth with rows of sharp teeth. It had more than two arms. I counted to see it had six. Its body was round and had red eyes. Its feet reminded me of a duck.
I screamed in terror and ran for my life. It may not be a manly move, but I was scared so sue me. I didn't care where I was going, all I knew was I had to get away from it as far as possible.
'What the hell was that?!'
I ran and ran. When I felt safe again, I placed a hand on a tree to support my stance while I tried to regain my breath.
I panted and listened to the gunshots and cries around me. I was starting to regret my decision into following the elites here.
'I should've known why they were out so late.' The rumors were true.
Suddenly, it went quiet. The eerie silence raised some suspicions and panic in me.
I couldn't relax for long. The same creature had appeared right next to me.
I thought I lost it.
Everything went by in slow motion as I stood frozen in fear and just watched as the creature raised its hand to hurt me.
I closed my eyes, waiting for the impact and accepting my doom. It never came. Instead, a loud gunshot pierced my ears and caused it to ring.
I grunted in pain and re-opened my eyes. On the creature's head was a bullet hole, red liquid seeping from it. This seemed to stun the creature as it wobbled from side to side. 'Why isn't it dead?'
About ten seconds later, the creature roared at the one who shot it.
Standing bravely in front of it was a guy who was a bit older than me - around eighteen or nineteen years old. His blonde hair swayed with the untamed wind and gray eyes that held so much courageousness in them.
He notice me and blinked, mouth agape.
"How did you get here?!"
The creature roared and pounced at the guy. The gray-eyed boy snatched his red button from the sleeve of his uniform. I realized it wasn't sewed on the clothing. It served more as a magnet, but instead of being drawn to metal, it was attracted to the fabric.
The guy tossed the red button up in the sky. The button spun and glowed black the same moment the guy's eyes momentarily shone a white light. From that red button, transformed an all black-figure that rivaled the darkness. The figure landed heavily on the ground and left a crack.
The shadow figure had eyes. Not ordinary ones, but orbs that glowed bright blue. The said figure charged at the creature with amazing speed and knocked it off the ground. The creature slammed onto a tree before letting out a pained howl.
The guy grunted and his expression showed signs of pain.
After the howl, the creature was vibrating. I didn't know what that meant. The guy who saved me did.
"Shit, it's calling for reinforcements. I have to go warn the others-" He couldn't finish his sentence as another creature swept him off his feet, literally.
The guy groaned on the ground. Surrounding us were creatures that had questionable anatomies. Either they had too many arms or too little legs.
The shadow figure left the first creature alone and went over to help his summoner. But a third one bit his neck and the figure disintegrated. The creature who attacked the guy was snarling and trying to bite him. If it weren't for his gun, his head would be off by now.
The creatures were closing in on us. And I, for one, knew a single gun wouldn't be enough.
'The button...'
I noticed the guy's button was missing, given that he still didn't summon the shadow figure. While the gray-eyed boy was too busy trying to live, I happened to glance at the button that was near my feet.
I bent down to pick it up. Despite its size, the red button was heavy on my hand. As soon as I touched the thing, the voice spoke in my head.
Y̶o̶u̶ k̶n̶o̶w̶ w̶h̶a̶t̶ t̶o̶ d̶o̶. O̶n̶c̶e̶ y̶o̶u̶ r̶e̶l̶e̶a̶s̶e̶ m̶e̶, I̶'l̶l̶ g̶l̶a̶d̶l̶y̶ o̶f̶f̶e̶r̶ y̶o̶u̶ m̶y̶ p̶r̶o̶t̶e̶c̶t̶i̶o̶n̶, s̶e̶r̶v̶i̶c̶e̶, a̶n̶d̶ l̶o̶y̶a̶l̶t̶y̶. K̶n̶o̶w̶ t̶h̶i̶s̶ t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶, t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ i̶s̶ n̶o̶ g̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ b̶a̶c̶k̶ w̶h̶e̶n̶ y̶o̶u̶ u̶n̶l̶e̶a̶s̶h̶ m̶e̶.
I didn't know what the voice meant by that. I didn't know anything. All of the things that were happening right now was like out of a fantasy book.
Right now, I knew that I had to get that thing away from the guy. I closed my eyes but I couldn't focus. These gunshots were unnerving. I inhaled and exhaled before tossing the button. It didn't transform into a figure like when the guy threw the button in the air. It just looked like I was playing with the button.
I frowned while panicking. 'Maybe I'm just not meant for-'
N̶o̶! Y̶o̶u̶ m̶u̶s̶t̶ f̶o̶c̶u̶s̶ M̶a̶t̶t̶h̶e̶w̶. S̶u̶m̶m̶o̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ m̶e̶ w̶i̶l̶l̶ n̶o̶t̶ b̶e̶ e̶a̶s̶y̶. F̶i̶r̶s̶t̶, y̶o̶u̶ m̶u̶s̶t̶ c̶a̶l̶m̶ y̶o̶u̶r̶s̶e̶l̶f̶, k̶n̶o̶w̶ t̶h̶a̶t̶ t̶h̶e̶ g̶u̶n̶s̶h̶o̶t̶s̶ a̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ y̶o̶u̶ a̶r̶e̶ n̶o̶r̶m̶a̶l̶. T̶h̶e̶n̶ t̶r̶a̶n̶s̶f̶e̶r̶ a̶l̶l̶ o̶f̶ y̶o̶u̶r̶ b̶e̶i̶n̶g̶ i̶n̶t̶o̶ t̶h̶a̶t̶ b̶u̶t̶t̶o̶n̶. Y̶o̶u̶r̶ l̶i̶f̶e̶ d̶e̶p̶e̶n̶d̶s̶ o̶n̶ i̶t̶.
I followed what the voice told me. I tried to calm myself and ignored the sounds around me. Mom popped into my mind. She was smiling at me while holding my hand. "You can do it, Matthew. I believe in you."
Her voice made me at peace. The next thing I did wasn't easy. I didn't know how to 'transfer my whole being' into a button. I shut my eyes tightly like I was meditating. My chest began to feel warm and my heartbeat quickened. But it was soon replaced by slight pain, like a mob of ants found their way inside of me and took a bite at the same time.
Having a gut feeling I should throw the button up, I did so.
I gasped as power and adrenaline surged through me. My eyes were opened wide as I felt my soul was cut in half. The red button stretched in all kinds of directions until a figure of darkness emerged out of it.
The figure hit the ground and stood tall. It had the same features as me - my height, the length of my arms, the size of my head, my disheveled hair - everything was the same.
Then after its grand entrance, the shadow figure opened its eyes. I was expecting the same blue eyes as the figure from earlier, but mine had orbs that unyieldingly glowed gold.