Chereads / The World of Ruins / Chapter 4 - Birth of the Hero [3]

Chapter 4 - Birth of the Hero [3]

I looked at my back to see if who said that to my ear, and---

"Surprise Brother!" Ellie jumped into my chest and hugged me, I just remembered something, "Happy birthday, Adam" Mom and Dad stood close to each other and smiled at me. "I can't believe that I forgot my birthday" I looked at Mom while preparing the table for breakfast. We sat on the dining table and happily ate.

"Oh right, Adam, I just enrolled you to an advanced university at Huete" My father spoke as he ate the chicken wings barbarically, "You enrolled me to what?" I looked at him with my confused look, "I enrolled you to Huete Giere Academy" he looked at me while eating another piece of chicken.

People who work as a Giere needs to devote their lives on the line, Giere are people who are licensed to kill a villain, but their job isn't that easy, they would go out of the city and travel around the world for the sake of their quest, they would arrive at the city, often without legs or arms, or even die. That's the dream I have been aiming for, ever since that faithful day, I have never been so full of hatred.

"Thank you for that, Dad" I smiled at him and he smiled back.

After the feast I took my shoes and opened the door, "Mom, I'm going to go somewhere...." I pointed my thumb outside, mother just stood there and nods, "Come back before dark okay?" she wipes my cheek off and I set off to find the guy with mask.

I just only walked down the streets and into the narrow street, I went in deeper and deeper, and looked at the right side of the alley, I tried to open the door and it was locked, I knocked one time and there was no reply, I knocked two times and there was still no reply.

'Where could he be? He said I am welcome to his place anytime?'

I sighed and walked out instead, something is very weird lately, after the day I stopped coming, he became silent, that's it! I'm going to report him to the Giere's! I hit my palm with the base of my fist, I walked down towards the pavements and decided to go the Giere's base here in Gilnshe.

Giere main base in Gilnshe:

"Umm, what are you going to report, young one?" the lady on the desk looked at me with a confused look, "Could you find someone who has a mask covering only his eyes?" I looked at her while pinching my hands, she smiled and said "We'll try whatever we can to catch the guy you're looking for" she bowed and I took my leave.

I went back to my house, "Welcome home" mother took a towel and dried her fingers, "I'm home, I'm going to bed now, I'm incredibly tired Mom" I looked at her and headed upstairs.

I opened the door and jumped on the bed, I darkened my eyes, I glared at the ceiling, my thoughts became dark and filthy, the thoughts of blood, murder and hatred. 'What's wrong with me?' I reached out my hands to the light, it became dark and I stiffen my brows, and tears fell out of my eyes.

'Seriously, what's happening to me?' I wiped my eyes and looked at myself at the mirror, I was shook of what I saw, my chest was black and it had no heart in it it was an empty hole.

'It's your fault!'

--!! "Who are you?!" I shouted as I grip my chest so hard to know if I would still know pain, my eyes narrowed and I drop my jaw slightly.

'I am just a nobody' his smile was eerie and drove in back on my chest, I looked at the mirror once more and it was back to normal, I huffed hard, I could feel the pressure on my heart, my mind calmed a bit and I sighed hard.

I looked at the stars and I began to calm a little, I laid on the bed and drifted to sleep.

Next day, it was time for school, I took my shoes and wore it quickly then I opened the door, my mother stopped me from behind and handed me a lunch for later, I smiled and said, "I'm off." She waves her hand good bye and closes the door.

On my way to the school, I saw a group of boys circling around another boy, they kicked and spitted on him, I jumped in the situation and said "Stop it, who are you to do these things?" I looked at their so called 'leader' and the leader smiled, I pulled the boy on the ground and wiped off the dust then gave him my jacket.

I then looked at the group of boys and there were all like laughing at us, then the leader spoke, "Well good to see another boy who have the guts to confront me from the bitch, my name is Luke Graham, and I am the son of the duke, YOU must be obeying me!" he shouted at me and his saliva came splattering from his mouth.

I took a step back and escorted the boy, they laughed and he grabbed my shoulder, I quickly shook my arm off and said, "Don't touch me, you loser." That made Luke angry and he sighed then he laughed.

"Gosh, I should tell Dad about this, don't go crying and begging on me for mercy you little shit." Luke grabbed my collar and walks away, I then quickly held the bays hands and he was crying. "What's wrong?" I asked him

"Thank you for what you did back there *sniffle* I really appreciate that…." He wiped off his tears on his eyes and shook my hand to show some gratitude

"No need to thank me, I only did what's right for you" I replied while helping him standing up, he then opened his mouth and tried to say something and didn't finish it

"My name is Adam Grey, what's yours?" I looked at him and touched my chest, "My name's actually Drake Hemington" he looked at me and sniffed

"Um, by any chance, do you perhaps learn at Damoca University?" he held the coat that I covered him and was stuttering

"Yeah, are you also a student perhaps?" I asked, he nods and gave back the coat I gave him, I smiled in appreciation

After the little incident, we walked to school together and become friends, he looks happy about it and follows me wherever I go at the school grounds. At recess he always shares his food to me and at lunch he buys me a juice every single day.

"Um, Drake do you want anything from me?" I confronted him about it and he nods, "What is it?" I crossed my arms ad sighed

"I am scared to go to the library alone" he looks away and chuckled a little

"It's only for THAT?!" I laughed and suggested we go to the library together every day. After a few hours, it was finally time to go home and Drake keeps looking at me as if he needs another help, turns out he is also afraid of going home alone because Luke always bullies him every day before and after school. During the time we walked towards Drake's house, Luke stopped us on the pavements.

"Listen kid, I am back and I am going to whoop your ass off" he cracks his fingers and Drake began to freak out, "Where is your father? I thought you'll tell him about me" I looked at him and crossed my arms, he grit his teeth and clenched his fists and replies, "He isn't here because he doesn't care about his son's goddamn life!" he prepares to punch me on the face but someone budged in.

"Huh?" Luke looks from the side and was startled, he took his fist off and knelt on the ground, confused, I looked at the side and Prince James was there with Luke's father assisting the prince, "Sorry for the commotion your majesty" I told James and scratched my head, "We are going to take our leave now…" I turned away and sighed, "Let's go Drake…."

"Wait, perhaps you shall need to tell me what happened here" James held my arm and smiled

"Tell him Luke" I drifted my eyes to Luke and he just knelt, but didn't say anything

"Very well, I also apologize for my son's actions um…." Luke budged in, "Adam" I replied, "I apologize for my son's actions Adam, I will give him a talk when we get home" I nodded and we took our leave.

Drake and I walked down the pavements and we arrived at his house, "Thank you very much for today Adam" Drake opened the door and bows at me, "Don't thank me, and also don't bow on me either" I shook my hand, we laughed and said goodbye to each other, "See you tomorrow Drake" I left his doorstep and waved goodbye.

I arrived at my house and opened the door; nobody was there, "Guys, stop making pranks on me…." There was no response, and I started to feel a little nervous, my heart began to pump hard, I checked around the house and it was quiet, the lights were off and no one was really around, "What's happening?" I put my bag on the couch and went outside.

There was even no food left for me to eat, I sit back

on the corner and touched my face, this is just a joke right? "Hey, Mom this is no longer a joke!" I shouted politely, and there was still no response.

'Why are you afraid?' the figure of a shadow pointed me at the chest, it was the one I saw last night, "You're the one who is behind all of this aren't you? Are you the guy on mask?!" I shouted

The shadow just stood there and looked at me, then smiled, 'I told you, I am nobody' he shrugged and shook his hands, "Stop lying! Ever since I met you that day, my life became more and more dark, it's your fault!" I gripped my shirt and held my face, 'Tell me' the shadow said calmly while approaching me; 'I look hideous don't I?' he sat on the ground facing me don't I?' he sat on the ground facing me

"Yeah." I frowned and looked away, he smiled and stood up, 'I didn't take your family, I have only taken you to your soul, and as you can see, it is drastically empty.' He looked at me and smiled, 'Find a way out of here, don't worry I will aid you from this dark prison…" he continued and then disappeared.

My soul? What does he mean by that? After what happened, I stood up and head back to my room, I tried to think of an answer to these thoughts, if this is all from my soul then does that mean I am locked in this prison? I sat on the chair

"Shadow, umm, come forth for I shall need your help" I shouted, and after a few seconds, the shadow appeared

'You don't need to say it like that kid' he looked at me and sighed

"My name is Adam, and I know you know that, what's your name?" I looked at him and asked

'If I am a nobody then that means I have no name Adam, give me a name and I shall aid you even after you manage to break out of your soul.' He knelt and looked at me

"Shade." I looked at him and he was silent

'Very well, you shall now call me Shade….so, what do you call me for Adam?' he stood up and brushed off the dirt

"If this is my soul, then why is everyone else here?" I stood up from the corner and sat on the dining chair

'Well, it's pretty simple; this is the soul society, for short you are in another world apart from Earth. I wasn't the one who brought your soul here, it was someone else.' He followed me towards the table and sat at the opposite side

"So that means if I die here, I will no longer exist on the Earth?" I crossed my hands and began to wait for Shade's answers

'Yes, but that isn't necessary, if someone is determined to live until it's body dies then the stronger power your soul has, for example: you are about to die but your mind keeps telling that you wanted to live, your soul takes that mind set as luck.' He pointed his fingers and explained

"I see, but why were you inside me before and even now?" Shade became silent for 2 minutes straight and finally answers

'Honestly, I didn't know; first thing I know is that I was a stray soul and I need a body to hide from someone…." I was shocked from his answer

"I understand, you said you will help me get out of here right?" I looked at him and he nods, "Then tell me what to do" I stood up from the table and he only looked at me from his seat

'Think, dream and make it real.' He then dissipated; I became speechless of what he said to me. I went to sleep and kept thinking about going back to the world I belong to, and the family I had, I kept thinking. Then I dreamt.

I was falling on an endless mountain, I wasn't scared about being squished when I am about to go down, I was scared that it was endless, no end, no happiness. I grasped towards the clouds, and then suddenly I floated. "What is this?" I was standing on nothing and looked down, nothing was there even water or land was on there, I looked up again, and all was white and then I closed my eyes and there was darkness.

Drip—

"Adam, are you okay?" Mother held me in her arms, and she cried, was shook to see them standing there waiting for me to wake up, "What happened?" I asked Father, "You were asleep for three days, we were worried sick." Father approached me and patted my back, Ellie was there right beside me, watching me looking at her, she was crying.

(Shade, what happened?) I talked to myself, 'You heard your father right?' he replied, (I was at the soul society minutes ago!) I frowned, 'Time works slower there' he replied.

My mom escorted me towards the kitchen and let me ate, she let me take a bathe, and won't let me go to school for a while. The next day, I went to the Giere base to see if they have already found the guy with mask, "So did you found him?" I asked the lady on the table, "According to our archives, he is too dangerous for you to even see him now." She looked at me with cold eyes.

"Then that means you found him right? Where is he now?" I asked once again, "He is currently held inside the facility, don't try to go near him even if you have permission to go in." she replied while tapping the folder and then left. 'Follow her…' the voice in my head controlled my body and began following her, (What?! Shade what are you doing?)

I couldn't perfectly stop my body from moving and as soon as I realized that I have arrived to where she stopped, I looked closely from behind and as I saw her went in into that white room I followed her in an instant, as soon as I got in, the door closed in its own. It was dark at first but I checked the surroundings and there was a glass, I looked through it and she was inside another room with the guy on mask sitting on a chair with his arms and legs tied with iron chains.

*****

"Why did you do that?" the girl asked while holding a gun pointed at his head

"Ahaha, It's people's fault anyways, you, me and even that boy." The man with the mask replied while looking at the lady with no signs of fear

"Answer while you still can" she clicked the gun and was ready to shoot

"My answer is quite simple, I hate humanity." The man with the mask answer without hesitation

"I looked into your history and as I suspected, you kill people who has a background of murder cases, why did you do that?" she asked while looking into the papers she had held

"Ah that, I only

want peace using violence" he held his head high and looked at the ceiling

"Take off that mask—" he slapped the girls hands as she almost took the mask off his face, "Don't touch that." He stood up while he held her hands so tight that she can't take it off

"You were just as asking me questions and now you're trying to know my identity?" he sat back and sighed

"How did you free your hands and legs off?" she brushed off her hands

"I have methods on doing that, I learned a lot on killing someone" he shrugged and sat there quietly

"The numbers of murders on the country of Verlin has increased, is it one of your works?" she

looked through the papers and looked at him

"Even if I can do that, I won't. Verlin is such a huge country, and besides, I am working alone." He shook his hands off, and smirked

"Great. Now die." *BANG*

******

"….." shiver goes down to my spine, I was trembling in fear, I remained silent as I hid behind the pillars, then the lady went out, I covered my mouth.

"Found you."