A rainy day.
A musty smell.
Some creaking sounds.
A door's swing.
A man's shout.
A lonely candle.
A happy smile.
A broken mirror.
A woman's cry.
A dead man's sigh.
And ghastly green eyes.
----------------------------
Grey snapped up from the bed, quickly glancing around his environment, as sweat dripped from his drenched back. Rubbing his face, he quickly realized it was just another nightmare.
' I don't think they're going away anytime soon.'
Grey sighed as he looked at the alarm clock. Surprisingly it was still early in the morning. Seeing that, Grey's body relaxed as he looked out the window reminiscing about last night.
After Magnus left the roof, he stayed there for a while before eventually retiring. He spent some time thinking then. He really didn't want to kill himself, but now he had no solid goal except maybe investigating the possibility of the curse being alive or someone being behind the curse.
In reality, he was just looking for someone or something to push part of the blame for Ash and Denise's deaths, he couldn't bear the guilt of being the only one that caused it. Although deep down he knew he caused it, he wanted something to share the blame with.
What Magnus told him before he left made sense, The curse was similar to a force of nature, in his exact words "just how things were", the curse kills people and leaves their loved ones broken. He was going to try his best to stop it regardless of it being alive or dead, although Grey knew that was a madman's dream, it at least gave him a sense of direction. So now the only thing he could focus on was surviving the limbo and getting stronger. Also, trying not to focus on his newfound fear of his reflection.
Suddenly, a beeping sound echoed within his mind.
[ You have one new notification.]
A blue panel popped up in front of him.
[ From xxxx-xxxx]
[ Kid, meet me on the ground floor by 9, we'll be heading to the Academy today, your one-day period of grace is over. Also, remember to save my name as Storm, children of this era tend to forget such little details 🙄🙄.]
Rolling his eyes at the snide comment, Grey saved his name before getting out of bed. The time was currently about a quarter to eight, so he still had some time.
Looking at the nearby table, he saw a new jumpsuit resting there with a bag by its side. The CCD was very generous when dealing with cursed, after all, who wouldn't be, newly cursed were the perfect products to invest in.
Grey quickly went for a shower before donning the new clothes, it was the same as yesterday, by the end only his eyes were visible.
Now that he could think a little bit clearer, the implications of his true curse started settling within him. It meant he would have to keep dressing up like this in all his public appearances, he couldn't bear to think of what would happen to normal people after they touch him, and most importantly what about marriage, he'd never be able to have children.
Reaching that point, the bright attitude he woke up with this morning felt doused.
Sighing, He shook his head before checking the contents of the bag. It contained two more pairs of clothing, a pair of snickers, and some food paste. Zipping it, he guessed he could use it since he wasn't going home anytime soon. Slinging the bag over his left shoulder, Grey took one last glance at the room.
" I guess third time's the charm, I'm not coming back here again."
And then he left.
---------------------
A figure garbed in black stepped down from the elevator. Adjusting the bag on his shoulder, His green eyes sieved through the people on the floor apparently looking for someone. His gaze stopped at a place before he started walking in that direction.
Grey carefully made his way through the crowd on the floor, trying to reach Storm.
' You never know when you might mistakenly step on a cursed.'
Frustratingly slowly but surely he wafted through the crowd, appearing before Storm.
He found Ember standing close to him with a similar bag on her. On her neck were segmented rings of metal, it was almost as if her neck was completely comprised of metal, He hadn't seen it yesterday but since she wasn't wearing a hoodie today it was quite visible.
' ....is that an implant?'
Grey was no stranger to cybernetic implants, it was just that he'd never seen one done so crudely before. She looked a little self-conscious about it, but apart from that she seemed pretty fine.
"What took you so long, Grey? I almost went up there to bring you myself."
Grey scratched his hoodie awkwardly.
" It's that so, I didn't think I would be late though."
Storm shook his head.
"But you were, late to being early. Jeez, and who the hell told you to go to the roof yesterday, now you've got the chief on my case."
Grey finally understood, it also made him grasp the reason for the tone of annoyance in his earlier message.
".. You know what, just forget it. Both of you come with me."
Storm spoke before Grey could even open his mouth, motioning them forward as he led the way, leaving Ember and Grey behind.
Grey felt a questioning gaze coming from Ember, before shrugging in reply.
The duo followed Storm as he led them out of the complex. This CCD branch was quite huge, measuring about one and a half football fields in length and one in width. That was quite a lot, considering how expensive land was sold for in this part of the city. They eventually made their way through the park-like compound of the base. Looking at the vegetation here, Grey estimated they should probably be somewhere in the middle of the second ring of the city.
Eventually, they reached the exit, all the while conserving what Grey considered a very welcomed silence between them. Waiting for them there was a sleek white hover car with a creamish color gently pulsating from where the wheels would normally be located.
" How do you like my ride, got this beauty off a sweet bargain. With a Level 2 power saving levitation system and a V2.12 new gen engine. It's truly all a man needs to be happy."
Storm's mood seemed to take a turn for the better as he started stroking the car. Grey just felt speechless looking at the man lovingly cuddle his car, while a burning desire seemed to awaken in Ember's eyes as they darted ravenously around the man's car.
Giving the car a final peck, Storm looked at the teens.
" Alright enough of that for now, we've got an Academy to go to."
He moved towards the front of the car, placing his thumb on the door to the driver's seat for some time as a blue light shined across his eyes. There was a clicking sound, then seams appeared on the sleek surface of the car before completely opening, revealing the interior of the car.
' Maybe it truly is what all we need to be happy.'
Grey's eyes gleamed as he looked at the car, enchanted by its mechanics. He had never really seen hover cars up close before, much less entered one. Ember seemed to be struggling to compose herself as she entered its interior.
" What are you looking at, She's already taken."
Storm brought Grey back to reality.
Grey quickly entered the car, and he had to say its chairs were the softest things he had ever touched. Storm entered immediately after Grey.
By the time Grey turned his head to the window, the car had already started moving without his knowledge.
' I never knew Storm was a big shot, his car is even gyro-stabilized.'
He slowly rested his back on his chair, as his mind drifted to his current destination, The Academy.