My whole life I had been somewhat of a failure.
And not in the traditional way, I mean I had friends, I had a girlfriend, I was decently smart, and had a good family life. But, anything new would ultimately fail. I think it started when I turned 13. If I tried to learn a new skill I would forget everything the following night, If I tried to make new friends they'd be nice to me for a week and then all of a sudden I was a stranger to them. So since then I became something of a recluse. Well as much as I could I mean, I still went to school and I still went to my "job", which was really just being my fathers son.
My father, Eric Kirchner was an influential and frankly famous politician turned actor, not only did he have a web of connections in the political world but also in the entertainment, which in some cases was even more dangerous. I was enrolled in a prestigious academy that only pushed through geniuses, which I was far from. But as I stated "daddies money", my class was small. Not allowing any new students in, or out unless in the instance of death.
The academy was from kindergarten all the way to senior year of college. So I had known both my teachers and my classmates more or less all my life. We had all been friends, and even now with my "curse," we had a decent standing. I simply didn't interact with them all that much.
Following my own monologue I continued my morning routine before waiting outside my father's massive and awfully luxurious mansion for the limousine to arrive to pick me up. After only perhaps three minutes of waiting three blacked-out SUVs had arrived, one for transport and two for protection. We departed for the academy and I was there within the half hour.
I glanced at the outside of the classroom and viewed my classmate's outdoor shoes. Somehow I had made it last between the rest of my class, even though the academy session opened at 9:00, it was currently 8:05. Sliding the door open I bowed to my professor and then my classmates and sat down.
There were only nine of us, all of us from different regions of the world for the most part. We had a pretty niche and cliché student archetypes if I had to say so.
First up was: Alexander "Alex" Thompson, Alex stood about 6'2", with a lean and toned physique. He had sparkling blue eyes that are framed by long, thick lashes, and his blonde hair falls in soft waves around his face. With a chiseled jawline and a warm, welcoming smile, Alex is the epitome of a heartthrob. Despite his good looks, Alex was humble and kind, with a great sense of humor that made him obviously the most popular among us.
Then there was: Emi Nakamura, Emi is a petite 5'2" with long, silky black hair that falls down her back in gentle waves. She has a heart-shaped face with delicate features, including bright brown eyes and full lips. Despite her small stature, Emi is fairly confident and outgoing, with a bubbly personality that draws people to her. She's been dating Alex for two years, and they have a strong and loving relationship. And God do I envy them, their relationship is so sweet it makes me want to vomit.
Looking past her to the right was: Caleb Rodriguez, Caleb stood at 6'3" with broad shoulders and a muscular build. He had dark brown hair that he kept short and styled, and piercing green eyes that seem to twinkle with energy. He was also easily the most athletic person I knew... even though I didn't know that many to begin with. He was an under-20 soccer champion for his club, as well as being a near-pro level basketball player he was certainly a physical force to be reckoned with.
With his arm slung over Caleb's shoulder was: Eliza Espada a stocky 5'9", with short, curly brown hair and a mischievous grin that is never far from his lips. He's the class clown, always cracking jokes and making us laugh, even me. Sitting on her desk laughing with Eliza was:
Lily Martinez: Lily is a slight 5'1" with short, spiky hair that she likes to dye in bright colors. She had big brown eyes that always seem to sparkle with mischief and a wide, infectious smile that lit up her face. Although she's not the sharpest tool in the shed, Lily makes up for it. And on top of that, she very much had an amazing body.
In the back of the class sitting at a seat right beside the window was: Benjamin Lee. Ben was a lanky 5'7" with messy black hair that fell in his eyes, and thick black-rimmed glasses that make him look bookish. He has a quiet and introspective personality, preferring to spend his time reading or studying than socializing. Despite his reserved nature, Ben was highly intelligent and excelled academically in all subjects.
The only one... well two who could rival his own intelligence were the twins. Sophia and Samuel Kim were fraternal twins who both had an IQ in the genius range. Sophia stands at 5'8" with long, straight black hair and piercing green eyes that seem to see straight through you. Samuel is 6'0" with short, curly black hair and warm brown eyes that twinkle with intelligence.
Sophia was distant and cold, with truly the only one she opened up with being her brother while Samuel was the exact opposite, he was truly friendly to everyone in class besides his sister. Which I assume was due to her lack of understanding of boundaries. Even the brightest don't have all the knowledge I guess.
And what did all these characters have in common? All sixteen eyes were plastered right onto me. Some stared into my own eyes I tried to look somewhere else just to meet another gaze and some simply flashed a smile and went back to their conversations.
And I suppose that left just me, my hair was stark white, identically that of my skin which was a ghostly pale. The only color on my being were my eyes. That which were a deep crimson red. Truly in comparison to my classmates, I seemed like an anomaly. Like the others I myself was what I would consider attractive, I mean... Wouldn't you?
Tall, lean and my long white hair created almost a feminine charm.
"Shiro-You're late." Our Professor spat out. If there was anyone in this world that I hated it would be the bitch in front of me. Madam Glendale, she was a short and plump woman, and not in a good way. She had a multitude of wrinkles from what you would assume to be old age, and an attitude even worse than her looks.
I took a deep breath in before I addressed the monstrosity in front of me. "Yes... I understand Madam." How could I be late if the school hadn't even started? If I wasn't the last one in class would she have said that to Caleb? Or Lily?
Shaking my head I went to my seat and began to take out my laptop and other class materials before I felt a light tap on my shoulder.
I knew it was a girl due to the force of the touch but I had assumed it would be Lily as she was more or less the only girl to talk to me on a consistent basis, but to my surprise, it was the iceberg, Sophia.
She stared at me for a moment, with her eyes scanning me like a raven. And then her face contorted into some grotesque state... Oh, she was smiling.
"Did you do the homework for last week? I'd ask bro but he seems to be mad at me for whatever reason." She said pointing to Samuel before looking back at me.
I nodded slightly and began to type up the documents in my laptop folder.
"What's your email?" I asked, not really paying mind to what I had said before I felt a finger poke at my cheek.
"Hmm, what is this? Mr. Deadpan asking for the ice queen's email. Who would've thought? A match made in heaven isn't it?" Lily said teasingly. I smiled slightly and swatted her hand away.
"More like hell!" Eliza shouted out erupting the class in laughter. I cracked a slight smile with the humor in the air. I looked around once more, enjoying the view of my classmates.
The thing is they didn't hate me, and I didn't hate them. I had simply grown distant to the others, but they were good to me. I had never been bullied, or picked on. Teased? Sure, but who hasn't? We were all friends, and at one point in my life, I had been the class leader.
I smiled inwardly reflecting on the old days. Yet locking eyes with Alex for just a split moment I understood that those days were gone. And I could try and be friends with them once again but who's to say it won't make our relationship worse? So to avoid this curse affecting the only people who don't hate me of course I'd stick with the status quo.
After a fit of laughter class went back to normal, and I sent my homework over and began taking notes. Madam Glendale's voice had been fading in and out of my ears as my eyes began to droop.
And before I knew it I would have made the worst mistake of my life... I had fallen asleep and met... Him.
My vision turned black, which is what happens when one sleeps, but this was different. I was genuinely somewhere else, I had thought I was dreaming but no... I felt it, the ground shifting under my feet. Wind flowing through my hair.
I tread upon an endless expanse of darkness, the abyss seeming to stretch out into infinity. My footsteps echo hollowly as if I am the only living being in this desolate world. There is no light to guide me, only an all-encompassing blackness that swallows everything in its path.
The ground beneath me is cold and unforgiving, and I stumble over jagged rocks and unseen obstacles. A chill wind howls through the void, carrying with it the faint sound of distant screams. The air is thick with the stench of decay, and I can feel the weight of despair settling heavily upon me.
As I journey deeper into this abysmal landscape, I realize that there is no escape from this endless void. It is a place of unrelenting darkness, where the only company is one's own thoughts and fears. I am lost in the abyss, doomed to wander aimlessly forevermore.
Or so I believed.
"Shiloh." A low whispering shrill called out to me. At first, I believed the endless void of black had driven me mad, but then I heard it once more and I knew something else was here.
"Shiloh, answer me." It called out once again. Much louder this time, akin to that of someone looking for a dog or cat.
I remained silent for a moment before I dared to even utter anything resembling enlisting. I was petrified, there was another entity here in this void. It didn't know where I was and neither did I.
"Y-yes..." I let out, my voice hoarse and tight.
And then in an instant, I felt my neck tighten. No, as I opened my eyes there lay another set before me. I was being strangled.
"Found you!"