After Dylan told me about his abilities, I started to wonder. How come he has those abilities? Do we get freebies when we time travel? I haven't watched a movie that has something like that though. Or perhaps, it has something to do with our own interests. I always wanted to go back in time, maybe that made me acquire a time-related ability. And for Dylan, he might have to do in getting others to obey him, right? No, I don't think that's how it works. I'm not sure that's what Dylan is interested in nor have that kind of personality. So, theory one is out.
Theory two, maybe we have it at random. But still, that doesn't explain how we acquired it. Maybe we just really have them. No need for reasons. So if that's the case... Why can I just stop time?! It's not that even powerful! Well, maybe... Ugh! But I need a lot more thinking to do that!
Wait! Have I stopped time right now, just brainstorming about this? It's like how everyone went silent and even Ms. Carol. So that's the reason why they didn't do anything at that time. Maybe I stopped time at that moment. Hmm, so I can use it subconsciously. Maybe only if I overthink too much.
Anyways. I need to understand my powers too. I don't want to be a liability to Dylan. We might even become superheroes. Ha! It's not like there are villains around though. With all of this happening, it feels like I entered into another world than going back in time or something.
"Yohan, what do you know about your ability to stop time? Is there something else you haven't tried yet?" Dylan asked.
"You mean, like if I can also forward time or rewind it? Unfortunately, I can't. I'm only able to stop it" I responded with disappointment.
"Oh, it's okay... How about knowing what is going to happen? Like foresight?" Dylan asked with hesitation.
"I don't think that's related to time though, it's more psychological I think. Besides, if I was going to see the future that means it's another take on trying to forward through time and going back right? I answered.
"Yeah, I knew that wouldn't work, sorry that was stupid of me" Dylan replied but with a slightly sad expression.
"Don't apologize. It's alright, I also sometimes come up with things that are very unlikely to be plausible. I replied to Dylan as I try to cheer him up.
"How about we try it out some other time on the weekend?" I asked Dylan with an excited face.
"Sure, but I know a place where we can talk about it freely so no one could hear us" Dylan replied.
"Okay, I'll be at your lead" I replied while I gave him a smile.
(Caution: The following scene contains gore)
Meanwhile, at the playground.
Liam was pouring all of the water from his water bottle into the soil while biting off a sandwich with a very annoyed expression.
"Those nerds have the nerve to act like they own the place. I'll show them I'm more fitting to be the leader. Just wait and see" Liam said with a menacing grin.
His eyes began to sulk in darkness. Not knowing what was going on, his head started to hurt and with the undeniable pain, he screamed and made the other children who were playing startled. Syndey, who was playing in the playground, tried to approach Liam. Then Liam reacted and grabbed Syndey's arms with brute force hurting her, then she screamed with fear.
A child ran away towards the school faculty. Ms. Carol was walking outside the school. She manages to bump into the child who was running and then asked, "Oh there, Why are you running?"
The child replied, "Teacher, there's a fight at the playground", Then Ms. Carol went to the playground while holding the child's hand.
As Ms. Carol was near the playground. She saw a very terrible and frightening scene from afar. Every child was stunned to the ground, motionless, with great fear. They all saw Syndey's chest ripped out open and Liam holding her bleeding heart with the deepest fear and confusion.
"Wha-what what-have-I what have I done?" Liam spoke those words while cowering with utmost terror.
Ms. Carol immediately let go of the child and went straight toward Liam reprimanding him and yelling, "Liam, what did you do?!" Liam replied with tears of pain, "I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to" He continuously cried out.
Meanwhile, Dylan and I headed to the canteen after we had our talk. Then Dylan saw what was happening outside and asked what was happening. "Hey, what do you think is happening there?"
"Huh? Where? I can't see. Let's go closer" I replied.
As we got closer, we felt sick at the sight of Liam holding someone's heart, bleeding, and being held by Ms. Carol, as they were both crying. Everyone was shocked at the scenario that they couldn't even move.
Then Dylan said, "Yohan stop the time"
"Got it!" I replied then closed my eyes and when I opened time froze.
Dylan on the other hand didn't freeze in place this time.
"Huh? I can move?" Dylan questioned while looking at his hands.
"I tried to simulate stopping time while making you move. I never thought it would work, but I guessed I'm more capable than I imagined" I replied while scratching my head with doubt
Good thing it worked. If that didn't work I had to think of some way to handle the situation by myself.
"Can, you try and rewind time right now then if you're able to pull off me being able to move" Dylan requested with a serious tone.
"I'll try" I answered with uncertainty.
Okay. So, how was I able to make Dylan move while everyone had stopped? Actually, I only imagined Dylan moving while the others are frozen in time. If I imagined that everything got rewound then maybe I can pull it off.
I approached the scene closer and analyzed it. First, let's imagine Liam didn't rip out the heart of Syndey. Then, Ms. Carol was at the side with the children. But how could I rewind if I'm just imagining what I wanted to see? It's not rewinding it's rewriting. Hmm, I'll just have to assume what happened.
Seeing the expressions on their face, they haven't moved and also no one soiled their pants. Good, even though I stopped time, I can still smell things. There seems to be another kid further back, maybe she was the one who called Ms. Carol.
Ms. Carol is holding down Liam but, the distance between her left foot and her right ankle is far so she might've run toward him and it was done in maybe a minute or two. Then the amount of blood on the ground is not that much. If I guessed it right, a single drop can accumulate half an inch in diameter and it didn't make a puddle of blood, so I estimate maybe four minutes after her heart was ripped off.
Now, the hard part. When did Liam rip out her chest? Hmm, the wound is excessively stressed out and if it were moving I might know how fast the heart is beating. Or has it already stopped pumping blood? The heartstrings are still connected to her, but I don't think she is alive. Her brain might've been dead now and the heart might not work anymore. So, let's imagine the following in progression.
First, Ms. Carol released Liam and walked back to where the other children are. Then, Ms. Carol might've been holding onto the child as they came here, they need to go way back in the school hallway. So if the amount of time they spend there, it could give me some allowance of what happened here. I'll just imagine that the child was running and still haven't bumped into Ms. Carol. Then, I'll imagine that Liam didn't remove Syndey's heart and Syndey tried to approach him. But why did she approach him?
I can see that her left arm is stressed, Liam might've grabbed her with force. But a child doesn't have that much strength. So I assumed, he was controlled by someone or by something. I can only imagine a demon or an evil spirit. Let's imagine, when Syndey approaches Liam while suffering some sort of painful experience. I have to assume something to do with touching him, maybe he was holding his head from a headache.
Okay, I think that's enough time for Dylan to control their perception of what happened. And let them think nothing happened.
Dylan approached me and asked, "Have you come up with a solution?"
"I think I have an idea. Can you change their perception of what happened here while I try to rewind time" I said to Dylan.
"Are you sure it's gonna work?" Dylan asked.
"I'm hoping it would," I said nervously.
Hmm, but wait. If we didn't do anything... Liam will just be handed to the police and let his parents take the blame. Syndey, who will no longer have to bother my brother or me anymore? But it will make me a bad person leaving the rest and even Ms. Carol having to experience this trauma.
No, I must make sure that this will work, I have to. Dylan and then went to an area where it was not suspicious enough to make the others think about where we have been and how we get there. Then I closed my eyes and imagine time rewinding.
As I opened my eyes. I can see nothing happened, everything was still frozen in time.
"No, that can't be!" I said while trembling.
"Don't give up!" Dylan shouted to support me.
Yes, I won't give up. I'll try again. I closed my eyes and imagined the events. As I opened my eyes with confidence and hope. I can see Liam and Syndey right there. Liam is about to go through her chest. I yelled at Dylan as I panicked.
"On it!" He replied and looked at Liam. Liam stopped and everyone stopped too.
I sighed with relief and tapped Dylan's shoulder and said, "Great job partner, looks like we became heroes..."
Wait... didn't he say he can only change the perception of others in a limited amount in one day. Did he lie? Was he messing with me? Or is he planning something else?
"What heroes?" Dylan said with a smirk on his face.
"We're just two young boys, having superpowers. We're not heroes. We're just friendly helpful classmates." Dylan replied as he mess up my hair.
"You said you already reached your limit in using your power," I said to him while my face was facing downwards.
I rushed in too quickly again. I was too caught up in the moment I forgot that he couldn't possibly help me with this. I can't trust Dylan, I'm still not sure if he is still the real Dylan or not.
"Sorry. You must be annoyed that I didn't help you in class earlier. It's true I have a limit but, I was surprised too that I could still 'mind-control' them." Dylan replied and somehow he seems like regretting something.
Then I realized. How long will I have to doubt him? I'm really overthinking this. I should just have to be careful around him. I don't want to ask anything of him concerning his true identity. I might hurt him. He is already in this predicament. He must be shouldering a heavyweight and doesn't want to show me. He already explained how he tried to hide his feelings and I wasn't even aware that he liked me too... he liked me too...
Wait, I just remembered. Ah! I forgot I confessed to him! Oh no, this is awkward. No! Don't show him my face.
As I was flustered, Dylan was done changing their perceptions. Everyone then continued playing. Syndey and Liam on the other hand were wondering why the two of them are in front of each other. Then both of them saw that Liam was holding onto Syndey's arm. Liam let go of her instantly and became shy. Syndey then walked closer and teased him by saying, "What were you doing?"
Liam responded as he was flustered, "I wasn't doing anything!", then he immediately said to her out of spite, "How about you?! What were you doing?!" Then she replied, "Hey you were holding me, so why do you have to blame me?!"
Both of them were arguing but to me, it seems like they were having a lovers' quarrel. Then I looked at Dylan and saw he was looking at me with a smile. I blushed like I ate a ghost pepper waiting to release the flames of fluster.
"Good job partner," he said while giving me a thumbs up.
"Don't repeat what said, it's embarrassing" I said while pouting.
As the school bell rang, we went back to our classroom. And both Liam and Syndey were still arguing. All of our classmates sat down and my brother was already in his seat. Dylan and I sat down and both smiled at each other and waited for our teacher. The day ended and we both said goodbye to one another.
Dylan's parents went and picked him up. My brother and I also got picked up by our parents and we both went home, feeling like we saved the day.
But I never wanted to be a hero. However, this feeling, I don't quite hate it. It's like a dream come true.
...
But I was just too naive...