I looked at my phone as I laid in bed with Lynn and her dog. As I scrolled on my Instagram, I got a call from Tyler. I answered it to see what he wanted.
"Yooo! You gotta pull up! Hella hoes are coming here bro!" Tyler said. "They asking for you man!"
"Nah, I'm chilling tonight. I'm tired and sore." I said.
"Come on bro! Don't be lame and miss this party! Look even Chloe's here!" Tyler said and showed Chloe dancing to the music.
I watched and sighed. "Fine alright, but I'm not gonna be staying long! I'm supposed to be meeting up with my aunt tomorrow."
"Yessirr! Aye, Bryson said he's coming!" Tyler said then the crowd cheered.
I hung up and looked at Lynn. "Hey—"
"Denied! This is Rashaad we're talking about, Bry. I'm not gonna let you go or anything! We literally just got renewed, who's to guess what the fuck happens out there..?" Lynn said.
I held Lynn's chin and leaned into her. I placed my forehead against hers. "I'll be safe...unless you wanna join me and you can keep watch over me.."
Lynn blushed and grunted softly. "Bryson...I don't want you to go..."
I smiled and pulled away. "Alright, I won't go..."
Tyler called me again then I answered. I looked at the phone and noticed he was looking a bit worse than before. Lynn noticed as well and grunted softly.
"Where are you at man? The party is getting lit! Aye I see Lynn too, get her in here too man!" Tyler laughed.
Chloe texted me.
[Chloe: If you show up, there will be fighting. Strange creatures are at this lame ass party! I already know you're an Astral so it's safe for me to tell you to not hold back!]
"Alright man, we're coming." I said.
I hung up and set down my phone then got out of bed. "This is what our purpose seems to be. Defeating these creatures that are terrorizing our universe."
Lynn watched me and grunted then got out of bed. "Dammit...! I did NOT want to go anywhere while I was like this. You shouldn't be going anywhere either! You actually have bruises and wounds!"
I put on my jacket and looked ay Lynn. "You actually best that thing?"
"No, I couldn't even touch the Soulless I went against. Caesar saved me. The point is we don't know what exactly we're getting into. We've never actually fought a day in our lives!" Lynn said as she quickly followed me.
I grabbed two knives from kitchen and handed one to Lynn. "Looks like we're gonna learn today..."
Lynn looked at the knife and back at me. She took the weapon and sighed. "Alright."
{Day: October 31st}
{Time: 8:55 PM}
{Location: Greenlane St.}
I parked my car in front of Rashaad's house. I got out of the car and noticed people outside looking worse for wear. Their skin was losing their color, turning grayish. They moved sluggishly and sounded hoarse.
I walked toward the house and held my hand out to Lynn. She quickly held my hand then we walked toward the house. We walked inside and noticed the same scene inside the house.
"Yoooo!" Tyler said and walked over to me. His skin was also turning gray and his eyes looked blank.
I stared at Tyler and pushed Lynn back a bit then watched his movements. Everything about this scenario was wrong. My senses were going crazy once again.
"Yo bro, you straight?" Tyler asked.
I panted softly and looked around. The voices in my head spoke to me once again.
"Corrupted. They are the Corrupted. The Fallen are amongst you.." The voices said.
I subtly reached back without drawing attention to myself. "Y-Yeah I'm straight...are you?"
"Why does it feel like you're suspecting me of something..?" Tyler asked. "Come on it's a party! Let's go party!"
He pulled me arm and dragged me into the crowd where everyone was dancing, drinking, and smoking. Lynn's hand slipped and she called out my name. I looked back then noticed someone taking Lynn away.
"Yo! Let me go! Someone took Lynn!" I yelled.
"Don't worry, she's safe." Tyler said and gripped my arm tighter.
"I said...let go!" I bellowed and used my Plasma Energy to shock him.
He groaned and let me go then looked at his hand. He looked back at me then grinned. He punched my face, causing me to stumble backwards. A group of Corrupted surrounded me and I looked around. I reached back to grab my knife, but noticed it wasn't on me anymore.
"Looking for this..?" A man asked and looked at me holding the knife at me.
I looked back and noticed the man's insane smile. I looked back at Tyler and knew he was corrupted as well. I tried to look for a route to escape from. I heard someone call my name.
"Bryson!" Chloe called out.
I looked over and noticed Chloe waving. I nodded and charged forward, pushing my way through the Corrupted. I took Chloe's hand then ran for safety. "Did you see where they took Lynn?"
"Rashaad took her! He went to his room!" Chloe said. "He's immune to the curse as they are in his domain. He can't be corrupted and he also isn't an Astral...I also read about this in comics where people can be immune to everything if they are in their domain."
"I see. Looks like we are going to his room!" I said and ran up the stairs then rushed down the hall with Chloe.
"Get off me! I don't want you!" Lynn yelled.
"Why do hang around that mark ass fool? He ain't go no paper, he ain't pushing. That punk works dead end jobs and you're attracted to that?" Rashaad asked and began to unzip her jacket.
Lynn heard the door being kicked open and looked over, relieved to see me. "Bryson! Chloe!"
"So y'all survived the Zombie Apocalypse down there huh? I bet you feel real lucky...well allow me to tell you that you ain't taking another step..." Rashaad said and took out his pistol then aimed it at Lynn, pressing it against the side of her head.
"Rashaad...I said you were cool and all but you're doing shit like this..? You're gonna regret this!" I yelled.
"Regret what? Regret taking your bitch? Shit, you can have the scene girl, I got the baddest bitch in Warren and there ain't nothing you're gonna do about it... Just like in middle school, once a bitch, always a bitch..." Rashaad said and stared at me.
I glared at him and felt my heart thumping faster. Everything in my body began heating up. I began to grow angrier and angrier. "Let her go right now..."
"Or what? If you move closer, she's dead. You best option is to just go on your merry way and get the fuck out of my house." Rashaad said.
I panted and held my head. My canine teeth grew sharper, my nails began to turn into claws, my eyes began to shine gold. Tiny embers formed around my body. "I told you...to let her GO!"
I roared and launched a stream of fire at Rashaad, hitting him then blasting him to the wall. He yelled in pain as his body was now on fire. He tried to put out his flames but his erratic movements caused other furniture in his room to be set ablaze.
Lynn grabbed the pistol on the bed then quickly hurried over to me. "The Fallen...The Fallen is still around here somewhere. We have to escape while we can..."
I nodded and looked at Chloe. She held her head and her body shook a bit.
"Leave me...I'm... showing signs of being corrupted. You two need to leave on your own..." Chloe said.
"Chloe, we can't just leave you! You're coming with us! You might be showing signs, but that doesn't mean you are corrupted!" Lynn said.
Chloe shook her head and smiled. "Leave me...don't take any chances. Not even for me..."
I stared at Chloe and she looked up at me. "Chloe..."
"Bryson, I've always had a crush on you...I wish I would've taken my chance earlier and...told you how I felt..." Chloe said softly and looked down. She walked toward the flames. "I hope to see you in the next life..."
I couldn't watch Chloe take her own life. I took Lynn's hand then hurried out of the room then ran down the stairs. I stopped when a group of Corrupted hurried up the stairs toward us. A burst of energy shot up from underneath the Corrupted.
I looked back and noticed a woman standing behind us. She had six white rifles floated beside her. Her light blue eyes shined brightly as she began to fire bullets at the Corrupted. Lynn and I took cover from the bullets and watched the number of Corrupted decrease in numbers.
She stopped firing and put her blonde hair in a ponytail. A white cloak appeared around her body with her Astral Crest on the front of it. "You don't have to hide anymore..~"
I walked out the room with Lynn and looked at the woman. "You're..."
"Also one of the six Astral Leaders~ My name is Taffiel~ Kalmira and Caesar told me that there were three newbies who had just become Astrals. Where's the third one?" Taffiel said and looked around.
"She's dead..." I said softly. "She was corrupted..."
"Oh dear...seems like the Fallen's presence was too strong for her to handle. That also means the Fallen is still here somewhere. Follow me." Taffiel said and walked forward.
Lynn and I followed Taffiel. I kept her close to me and carefully walked down the stairs with her. My senses were going crazy then I pulled Lynn toward me, causing the unknown figure to miss their attack.
Taffiel noticed the figure land on the ground then smirked. "Well well, Malice...you finally show yourself?"
"I was expecting such easy prey, but that man with the Lion's Heart...has better reflexes than most Astrals..! I like the fact that he can dodge my attacks!" The man laughed then dashed toward Taffiel.
She dodged his attack then manifested one of her rifles then fired a light blast at him, but he dodged it. He propelled himself toward Taffiel then went for a spinning kick, but she dodged his kick then used her holy energy to blow him away. He groaned as he crashed through a wall.
"Corrupted, Attack!" The man commanded.
The wave of Corrupted rushed toward us. Taffiel looked at her rifle and noticed it needed to recharge. She formed a magic circle under us then warped us away, escaping from battle.
{Day: October 31st}
{Time: 9:50 PM}
{Location: ???}
Taffiel, Lynn, and I appeared in a courtyard and I looked around. I noticed a few people in uniforms looking at us. Lynn stuck close to me and held my arm.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"The Astral Academy. I was tasked with retrieving you and bring you here. This is where New Astrals come to learn how to use their powers effectively. You will spend your time here to learn and grow. Meet and unite with other Astrals. I am one of the teachers here~ I hope to see you around.." Taffiel said and walked off.
Lynn and I were in uncharted territories now. Not knowing where to start when getting used to the academy, we started with trying to find the front office.