I had a dream, or rather a memory in the form of a dream, about when I was younger when my life was normal. Well as normal as it ever was.
Before the incident that changed the direction of my life, I had been a relatively regular kid, except for being poor and living in an orphanage.
I was athletic, and my brain worked quite well, so my future looked pretty bright, at least to me. Studying hard, working side jobs for money, getting a scholarship, and changing my life. A -> B, B -> C, C-> D. The path was pretty clear, and I originally planned on following through, but life didn't go my way.
That was how life worked right? The person made plans but the universe worked in mysterious ways that could cancel those plans and divert the path you worked hard for.
The private orphanage I lived in was run by a figure simply called the Boss. He didn't handle the day-to-day operations of the orphanage but when anybody reached the age of 14 they were called to meet with him. It was a short 30-minute conversation that would alter the trajectory of your life with the options given to you.
Join the Boss officially and join his organization, i.e. become a member. Or become an affiliate that did small jobs until you were of legal age and were free to go.
Those were the two choices that were offered. Or there was the third option, starve to death and hope that the government system could help you, but in a privately owned orphanage, that was like expecting rain to be diamonds and pigs to fly. Realistically, there was no choice.
After all, nobody cared about children who were abandoned.
Being the rebellious person that I was, in an orphanage where 99.99% chose to join the Boss officially and live a better life than what they had now, I was the little nail that stuck out, choosing to do small side jobs for the Boss instead of joining up fully.
It wasn't because I felt special or had a sense of overinflated importance; I genuinely thought I could escape with my own skills and talent. I was smart, constantly topped the class in everything I did, and was consistently praised by adults everywhere. By all appearances, I was a rags-to-riches story in the making. The proof that hard work paid off.
Looking back now, many years later, it was easy to see that my insistence on choosing my own path was the beginning of my downfall.
In high school, I was friendly to all the teachers and was popular with my classmates. Tall, handsome, smart, and athletic. My only sin was being poor and an orphan, but even that couldn't dissuade me since I was personable and found it very easy to navigate social situations, from faculty to students.
However, among the teachers, there was one I was particularly close to. An old man who taught advanced sciences. Old Man Kev as we liked to call him as nobody knew his real name since he had been teaching longer than most of the teaching staff had been alive.
He was old, had a crotchety temper, and was quick to throw a marker straight at the forehead of anyone who wasn't paying attention; his aim unimpeded despite his thick lenses, humped back, and shaking hands due to his advanced age.
Old Man Kev, despite his harsh words and demeanor, was a softy at heart. He was one of the few who saw through my grand ambition and the persona I put around myself and fully supported me in pursuing a better life than the choices I had around me.
He saw clearer or maybe refused to turn his eyes away from what was happening around him. In other words, he was the only one to pay attention to the orphanage students who became proper delinquents and knew what they were secretly doing along with the faculty of not only our school but multiple schools.
After all, anyone with a brain could see the truth. They could see that delinquents ran the school, no, the whole district. From the principal down to the students, shady things were happening, and everyone turned a blind eye and ignored it. Metaphorically, sticking their heads in the sand or receiving benefits that allowed it to keep going.
Once I became familiar with him, each of us exposing our true natures to each other, Old Man Kev often gave me tasks to clean and organize the lab or do a little extra work for some extra cash or in exchange for a recommendation to different programs, sponsorship, and more which I appreciated as it gave me an excuse to avoid my extracurricular duties for the Boss.
He often gave me advice, hating the side jobs that I did, and I often ribbed him for being a nosy old man who should mind his business before he disappeared without knowing how.
He was tough at times, strict, and had a sharp tongue, but his actions showed he cared. A real man among men I thought. An example I wanted and aspired to be like once I escaped this tedious life I lived.
It was probably the most happy and stable time of my life.
Things changed during my final year. I was almost 18 and the end was in sight. The deadline for my freedom was soon approaching and I had achieved everything I wanted. Valedictorian, numerous awards, a full scholarship to the best schools in the country, a clear path to a brighter future, and the end of living a sketchy in-between life for somebody who controlled my actions and forced me to do distasteful things.
I had a literal calendar counting down the days and my excitement at my approaching freedom was visible to any who knew me.
One day, I had been called to meet the Boss of the orphanage who also doubled as the superintendent of the district. As I sat in a chair in his extravagant office, I received unwanted praise and an unwanted offer.
"Asani Martin. You know kid, I quite like you. You're smart, focused, and determined. I especially like those eyes of yours. Obsidian orbs that are purer than anything found in nature. Focused on your vision, spotting little details, and not wavering with a hidden anger at the world that put you in this position. It makes me want to pluck them out and save them in a jar so I can stare at them and reminisce. I've asked you before but I'll ask you again. Are you sure you don't want to work for me? I can treat you quite well. All the things you worked hard to earn can be given at the snap of my fingers if you just do a couple of things for me. With your talent and my support, you can rise to unimaginable heights. What do you say?"
In moments like this, it was best to stay silent and I did while staring at him with a blank expression while hiding my thoughts.
I didn't have anything to say as the moment I revealed my thoughts, this polite curtain that covered up the truth between us would be pierced through. I didn't want to argue or fight. I just wanted to leave.
As if sensing my thoughts, the Boss laughed wildly before giving me an envelope and to this day I could still feel it in my hands, like a phantom mark that wouldn't go away.
The thick cardboard of the envelope, the golden scripted print addressed to Kevin Verity, the feeling of a small note card inside. I could remember every bit of it, like a memory branded into my brain, never to be forgotten.
"Deliver that to that old buddy of yours and tell him that if he doesn't heed my warning, well he knows what to expect. And…"
The Boss paused before staring into my eyes, his tone casual despite the "When you deliver it, make sure everything in that house is in the state that it was before. You're a smart kid so you can slowly think through what I mean. This will be your last job so do it well.
I had delivered it to Old Man Kev. Privately, and in his living room which I was quite familiar with. As I sat on the opposite couch anxiously petting the cat and dog sprawled on my lap, my vision was focused on his face, memorizing every eyebrow twitch and clenching of his jaw as he read through the letter.
Even if I couldn't read the note, I could summarize the contents.
In simple terms, it was a cease and desist.
In street terms, it was a threat with the consequence being his life.
Despite not knowing the full extent of what was happening, I had cautioned him to stop whatever he was doing to make the Boss mad, but each time I spoke up the old man just laughed.
"Asani." I distinctly remembered the hoarse voice that quivered a bit and the warm wrinkled hand that patted my head familiarly.
"There are some things that are worth doing, even at the cost of your life. You're a good kid and this doesn't concern you so stay out of it and let the adults handle it. Just live your life and escape the way you've planned for years. It will all work out. The only thing I ask of you is to help me take these two far away. They deserve a loving family and a peaceful home. That's something I can no longer provide."
Seemingly resigned to his fate, he had given me a sad smile and bowed his head while pleading with me. This prideful old man who refused to cave into anyone, bowing his head down to a young person like me and pleading. To a young person he knew was an accomplice to the bad things going on around him.
I could do nothing but oblige. I owed him that much.
I had accepted, temporarily renouncing my selfishness and relocating the animals as far as I could.
It was the least I could do for an old man who treated me like his own son.
Then I pretended to go back to my daily life of school and waiting for the other shoe to drop. It wasn't that I thought I could fool the Boss, but rather I didn't think a couple of animals were worth his attention when he had already zeroed in on his target.
Besides, I had done my final job and successfully turned 18.
I was free.
The first and last time I saw the old man was when he celebrated my birthday. A small cake, an envelope filled with heartfelt words and wishes for my well-being and a small hard drive he told me to hide well and utilize if I needed it.
The next day, the old man supposedly passed from a heart attack, and I remember the Boss calling me to see him a couple of days later at his home.
He was seated on his couch smoking a cigar while staring at me with cold eyes, but that wasn't what caught my attention.
In cages were the pets of Old Man Kev. Kaya, the black kitten I had helped nurse to health during this past winter, and Rocky, an old dog Old Man Kev had for years.
As I stared between the Boss and the frightened animals who started whimpering when they saw me, the Boss began laughing before gesturing for one of his men to drag me to kneel before him.
The Boss looked over me slowly for several minutes before finally speaking.
"I told you. Everything should be as it was. Didn't you hear me clearly?"
He was clearly talking about my relocation of the animals.
Defiant as always, I had coldly responded, my anger getting the best of me.
"They're animals who can't speak and have done nothing wrong."
"It doesn't matter if it's a rat or a person; if I say nothing leaves, then that's what should happen. Since you want to have an opinion of your own, they'll have to suffer for it. We can start by interrogating them. They say animals are pretty smart so we'll see if they can talk and beg for their lives."
"What do you…"
"Quest, let's get started. You know the drill. Claws first, then you slowly flay them. If you dare to look away, Martin, I'll make them suffer even more."
"Why would you do this? You already got your target. The old man is dead! You killed him!"
"So? I hate when people disobey me and I hate when people argue back. And saying I killed him is incorrect. Haven't you heard? Old Man Kev's death is a murder case. Somebody tampered with his medicine and the only other fingerprints on it are yours, his little pet student."
"I didn't do it. You and I both know that."
"Ah, but that's not what the police think. This is your fault. You're linked to four different murder cases didn't you know? Leaving your fingerprints and DNA everywhere though I will admit that you were careful and it took a bit of work on my part to frame you but isn't it worth it? Hmmmm? Tsk. Tsk. You did this. You killed your mentor. You killed his pets. They died because of you! Kev, his cat, his dog, and soon his daughter because you decided you knew better. You didn't want to listen or come work for me. Well, here you go. Here are the results. Welcome to being an accomplice, and to being my dog. I told you, you're quite smart so I'll keep you around for a long time. It's either come join me or rot in prison. What do you think?"
I had stayed silent but the Boss nodded as if I had agreed.
"I've always wanted a valedictorian in my organization and now I have one. With that pretty face of yours and your amazing record, nobody will ever suspect you."
As I glared at him, the Boss smiled radiantly.
"Ah, you don't have to worry. You aren't going to be a thug roaming the streets, you're way too good for that. You're going to go into high places Mr. Martin, and be my little insider doing all sorts of things for me. But first, take a look at what happens when you disobey me. I'll start with these two little animals here. Quest. Get started."
That was my first time seeing something get tortured for a long time without dying and the second time something I cared about was taken while I was powerless.
The scent of blood splattered around the room, and the sounds of terrified screams of the animals sounded out. All I could smell was iron, and all I could see was blood, a ridiculous amount that shouldn't come out of small beings like Kaya and Rocky.
And when it was finally quiet, when they had departed to what I fervently hoped was a better life and world where they hadn't met me, the Boss turned to me with a wide smile.
"It's your turn, Martin. For daring to disobey me, for daring to talk back, and for daring to look down at me from that low position of yours with those condescending eyes. You won't be able to attend the class for a while but don't worry; I've handled the paperwork. Quest, get started but do it lightly. No broken bones. He's still a kid after all, and he needs to attend classes in the fall and give his little speech at graduation. Harvard was it? Congrats Mr. Asani Martin. Job well done."
As the Boss finished speaking, my face was crushed into the carpet and then my own torture began.
"First is the nails…." A gruff voice sounded out as my wrist was twisted painfully.
As the nails on my dominant hand were pried off and I began to scream, the dream ended abruptly transforming into a white space.
What a useless dream.
I thought dispassionately. The dead were dead and I didn't need to see dreams of my useless past.
It was enough that I lived through it once.
As the dream faded away, the faint sound of familiar laughter echoed in my head, and my consciousness slowly awakened, I could hear the hoarse voice of somebody screaming before unimaginable pain wracked my body.
The screaming was coming from me, being ripped unwillingly from my raw throat as I cried out in pain.
From the crown of my head to the nerve endings of my feet, I felt like I was being branded, being electrocuted, having my bones broken, and the air continuously ripped out of my lungs.
I couldn't focus, couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All I could feel was a compulsion to murder everything around me or shred my body to pieces in hopes that the pain would stop.
A red haze covered my vision, causing everything to appear as if it were behind a bloody mist. I could feel my body jerking as it tried to escape from whatever was restraining it.
Crack.
My left arm became free and it began scratching as best as it could despite something flopping at the end. I wanted to claw my skin off, rip my throat open so air could come in, and shred my eyes so they could stop pulsing as if they were on the verge of explosion.
I could feel liquid dripping down my face and buzzing in my ears and despite the pain shooting through me, I couldn't lose consciousness.
Bang!
My head leaned forward before slamming against the hard surface behind me.
As my brain rattled, the pain paused for one second and I had a moment of clarity. As the pain surged back, I repeated the action.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Slamming my head repeatedly as hard as I could, I felt something rattle in my head, then my eyes rolled back.
The sweet relief of unconsciousness flowed.
And in that period I dreamed of all the things I regretted and all the pain I experienced in my past life.
***********
POV Professor Rebecca Domare-Lee
"Julian! What the hell is wrong with him? Pump him full of anesthesia!"
"Any more anesthesia and he's going to die! His body is too weak to metabolize it! And he keeps breaking his bones to escape! I am already healing him as fast as I can. What do want me to do???"
"Heal him faster? Transfer whatever is going on with him to yourself? If he keeps slamming his head like this, isn't that just asking for brain damage?! Can you even fix brain damage?"
Professor Lee couldn't help but glare at the nurse as Asani slumped over after repeatedly slamming his head against the steel gurney he was strapped against.
The moment he had started convulsing and screaming while mutilating his own body in the holding cells of the academy, he was immediately transferred to an isolated medical ward and restrained while Professor Julian tried to take care of him.
The gurney was stained with blood, not only from the injuries where he clawed at his body without care as if trying to rip his skin off while screaming bloody murder until his throat was hoarse and he coughed up blood, but from his seven orifices which were consistently pouring out blood as if a faucet inside of him was turned on. The usual golden skin, tanned darker after being on an island for a week was covered in injuries that magically appeared were healed and came back with a vengeance.
It was like an invisible figure was constantly slicing him with knives that couldn't be detected and burning his body while gold and shadowy mana flickered around his body as if they were doing battle. Julian's orange mana that consistently healed the injuries could barely keep up she could see the blond man pale drastically as mana surged out of him.
From noon until the early evening, Julian had been in a cycle of healing for hours, keeping the boy alive, draining his mana, and dumping healing potions into him while trying to diagnose what was wrong.
Any diagnostic he ran said the boy was clean and in perfect health yet such a thing was happening right before his eyes.
If he hadn't been an A-ranked healer, one of the best in the country, Asani would have died by now due to injuries and blood loss.
Now, the young boy was repeatedly slamming his head into the gurney to knock himself unconscious, it could be seen how serious the issue was as the boy repeatedly went unconscious, his body still twitching while the screaming stopped for less than a minute before he woke up and began screaming again. The cycle repeating as he continually beat himself into unconsciousness.
Even forcefully restraining him had no effect as he would simply break his bones and almost tear off his limbs in an effort to attack his own body once he woke up.
In all her years of life, she had never seen anything like this at all. Was this a curse? Or was this possession? Who would do such a thing to a child? She couldn't tell at all and felt completely out of her depth.
"Julian..." Professor Les's throat had a growl to it as she called his name in frustration.
"I. Am. Trying. Lee! Wasn't it your carelessness that brought him to this state? Why would you torture a student? Even if he killed somebody that's too much even for you."
"You think I tortured a student? Julian, should I kill you now? If you don't transfer his pain into your body so we can find out what's wrong with him, I'll just think you don't want to live and put you out of your misery myself."
As Professor Lee spoke, her eyes turned completely yellow and fangs began sprouting from her mouth.
"Okay. Calm down. I need you to calm down. I don't need two crazy people in the infirmary. I'm doing it now. Just hold him down."
Orange mana completely surrounded Asani, leaving a slight connection to Professor Julian. The moment he tried to transfer the pain the student was feeling into himself, his pain receptors overloaded and he dropped to the ground and passed out, frothing at the mouth as injuries appeared and disappeared from his body as well.
Thankfully, it seemed the healing around Asani was still continuing despite Julian's unconscious figure.
As expected from an A-rank healer.
At the same time, the sun finally set and the dark mark mana surrounding Asani seemed to overtake the golden mana and even Julian's orange mana, devouring both of them while covering his body like a shadowy blanket of night and stars.
Asani's eyes snapped open as he jerked up and his hands stretched out as if reaching for something.
"Help…me." Broken words escaped from a throat that was raw and from screaming
Staring a the bloodshot eyes with pupils so dilated, the normal golden color was not visible, Professor Lee focused all of her attention on him. Trying to hear each word that he said.
"I am trying. Asani. What is going on?"
"Help me. Onyx. Wake up. Help me. Ste-"
Asani's eyes rolled back into his head as golden mana surged around him, overtaking the shadowy mana and he began screaming once more, his free hand immediately going for his throat and trying to rip it out.
"Asani. Focus. I am trying to help you." Her yellow eyes wavered as the student who was previously convulsing with blood poured out of his eyes and nose again, bones breaking and being healed as he tried to claw at himself to death.
Lightly infusing her hand with mana, she slapped his cheek repeatedly and restrained his hands before turning his head and forcing him to look at her instead of out into space when he woke up.
The shadowy mana surrounded him once more and he jerked up, his eyes looking around as if searching for something or someone.
Seeing that he finally had some clarity now, she tried to get him to focus but his eyes weren't looking at her, the black eyes ringed with a thin layer of gold set in blood blood-stained sclera looking past her as his hands snapped free of hers, the bones breaking as he reached up, trying to crush his throat once more.
Moving to block it, his hand was redirected and wrapped around hers instead, digging in and spasming as if he were fighting against something.
"Asani, what is wrong? Let me help. How can I help?" she couldn't help but ask again but he ignored her and looked away once more.
"Onyx. Wake up. Help me. Steal something. Come here." Asani spat out through gritted teeth as he bit his tongue while pleading to a name she didn't know.
"Asani, focus. What is going on?"
The dark eyes flashed back to her, coldly evaluating her as she felt the familiar feelings of Analyze flow over her body before his hands released hers and slammed into her throat.
As the grip around Professor Lee's throat tightened, Asani's fingers dug in, causing a slight wound even as his fingers broke. Her gaze couldn't help but soften even as she used her mana to protect her throat from being crushed and protected his from being broken.
"How can I help you? Who is Onyx? Asani. Focus. How can I help you."
Finally focusing on her, the handsome childish face let out a small smile.
Seeing the familiar mischievous smile that was filled with pain as blood continued pouring down his face from his eyes and nose, the young boy whispered his tone light and teasing despite its hoarseness, "Hands up, this is a robbery. I'll be stealing this. Consider it stolen not gifted. And tell that bastard god I'm going to remember this."
Shaking bleeding hands carefully crept up and snagged the small earrings out of her ear. Tossing it into his mouth, the young boy swallowed before sighing in relief as his body went limp and the golden and shadowy mana that had been battling around him disappeared.
As she stared at the unconscious student sleeping peacefully before her, her mind began to wander but before she could think too deeply, a little black bird slammed through the door, splatting into a pool of shadows before reforming and flying straight to Asani while being followed by a red-haired student panting from exertion.
"Onyx. You get back here right now! Spit out what you ate right now!" Lina dashed into the room while angrily yelling.
As Professor Lee watched, the bird landed on top of Asani's chest, pecking him lightly before transforming into a hideous beast and growling at everyone in the room.
It was finally quiet and Professor Lee took a deep breath to calm herself.
This…was a lot, but it seemed that an individual who could provide some answers had arrived.
"Miss Meraki. Would you like to explain this?" Professor Lee looked between the red-haired girl, the shadowy beast in the form of an amalgamation of human and animal parts standing protectively over the sleeping boy while growling and using an extra mouth to lick the blood covering the prone student's body, and the unconscious professor lying on the floor, she felt another headache forming.
"Uhhhhh, I plead the fifth?"
"Try again. Does this have anything to do with what was going on during the test on the island?"
"I'd like my lawyers?" Lina Meraki nervously smiled at the professor before trying to back away and make a run for it.
Thud!
The room door slammed shut trapping the four humans and one beast inside and Professor Lee had a dangerous smile on her face, her fangs poking out as wolf ears appeared on her head.
"Try again. Explain to me from beginning to end why there's a mimic in the academy. A mimic you know and gave a name. And explain to me why it's protecting student Martin. Unless you want this to be reported? And I don't want to hear you claim your innocence. You and student Martin have been thick as thieves so spit it all out. Otherwise, it's straight to prison since you want to be an accomplice. Even your family won't be able to save you."
Seeing the threat apparent on Professor Lee's face, Lina gulped before properly kneeling down with a contrite expression.
The best thing to do now was….pass the blame onto someone else. She was just an innocent bystander dragged into the mess.
Solomon, Asani, Julius, I blame this all on you!
Even though she was unwilling, the entire story of what she experienced on the island came out.
As Professor Lee heard all the details, her headache grew even more and she couldn't help but glance at Asani sleeping peacefully while being guarded by a large black snake that wrapped around him and watched her with cautious yellow eyes.
Sure enough, her original instinct was correct.
This one was a natural-born troublemaker on the level of Solomon Nova.
It seemed she would have to contact Caerus and have her take a look at him.