"The light from the key!" I snapped, turning to face him. "I was about to put it back, and then this crazy bright light exploded from it. I couldn't see anything, and then I blacked out!"
Josh's expression twisted with concern. "Neon, there wasn't any light. You just collapsed. That's it. No glowing key, no blinding anything. Just you, dropping to the floor like a sack of bricks."
I stared at him, my chest tightening. He didn't look like he was lying. But if he didn't see the light, then what just happened?
"You sure you're okay?" Josh asked, concern flickering across his face.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, waving him off. But truthfully, I wasn't sure. Something felt off, although I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
By the time one o'clock rolled around, Josh and I decided to head to the nearest convenience store in the neighborhood. Truthfully, I wasn't planning to tag along. I had been all set to go home, but Josh promised to treat me to any unlimited wings restaurant I wanted if I joined him. Golden Spoon kids really are a different breed.
After nearly thirty minutes of walking, we still hadn't found the store. My patience was wearing thin.
"Didn't your Aunty Deth say the convenience store was nearby?" I asked, pausing to glare at Josh.
"Yeah, she did," he replied, scratching his head as a frown formed on his face.
"Then why can't we find a single store out here?" I snapped, frustration creeping into my voice.
Josh hesitated. "I think she said to go straight, turn left at the mango tree, and then turn right."
"Huh? Really? I thought she said to go straight right and then turn left," I countered, trying to recall her instructions.
Josh shrugged sheepishly. "Maybe you heard wrong."
"Then why didn't you say something earlier?" My irritation was bubbling over.
"I just remembered it now," Josh admitted, avoiding my eyes.
"You do know the way, right?" I asked, hoping for reassurance. But his guilty look told me everything I needed to know.
"I don't," Josh muttered, looking at the ground.
I groaned, feeling utterly defeated. "So, how do we get back now?"
We stood there for a moment, exchanging dumbfounded looks, hoping the other would magically come up with a solution. The streets were eerily empty, and just when we thought we were hopelessly lost, a tall man in strange, outdated clothes strolled by, and he wore sunglasses despite the day being far from sunny.
"Excuse me, sir," I called out. "Do you know where the convenience store is?"
The man shook his head. "Sorry, I'm not from around here," he said, his voice deep, like the resonant depths of an ocean. After a brief pause, almost as if the thought came to him at the last moment, he added, "But I do know there's a supermarket near the school around here."
My stomach sank. "He must mean our school," I thought, dreading the distance.
"But that's, like, thirty minutes away!" Josh exclaimed, echoing my exact thoughts. The man nodded politely and continued on his way.
"Was he cosplaying?" Josh asked, squinting after him.
"I don't know, and I don't care," I muttered, my focus already shifting back to our predicament.
With no better options, we decided to retrace our steps. Somehow, instead of finding my house, we ended up at the supermarket near our school.
"Did we just go farther away?" I asked blankly, staring at the large building.
"Looks like it," Josh admitted, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
Too thirsty and tired to argue, we trudged inside and grabbed some drinks. The exhaustion hit us so hard we completely forgot what we had originally planned to buy.
As we stepped outside, slightly refreshed but still worn out, a sharp voice cut through the humid air.
"Please stop. That's enough! She already said she doesn't like you."
Josh and I froze, turning toward the commotion. A girl from school stood nearby, her face pale but determined. It took me a moment to recognize her—the same girl who had gotten hurt when the fan shattered in class.
"Wait, isn't she the girl you saved, Neon?" Josh asked, squinting at her. "I don't know her name, but I think she's Fuentes."
Fuentes stood with another girl, taller and more intimidating. Three boys surrounded them, their postures aggressive. Her eyes met mine, and even though she said nothing, her expression pleaded for help.
"Let's go. They can handle themselves," I muttered, turning to leave. I didn't plan on getting involved. It was too much trouble. But before I could leave, Josh had already moved to intervene.
"Hey! What are you doing?" I hissed, trying to stop him.
"I'm going to help them," Joshua said firmly, stepping forward.
Before he could reach them, though, the taller girl slapped one of the boys across the face. The sound was so sharp we heard it from where we stood. The boy staggered, clutching his cheek in shock.
"Whoa," Joshua muttered, wincing.
The boy's blood began to drip slowly, a dark crimson stain spreading. The others froze in terror at the sight of their friend's blood. But the girl with Fuentes wasn't finished. As the boy attempted to fight back, she swiftly delivered a brutal kick to his groin. He collapsed, groaning in pain. The other two boys glanced at her once and bolted, leaving their friend to stagger off, barely able to stand.
"That's gotta hurt," Josh muttered, grimacing.
Now that the commotion was over, I finally got a good look at her. She was nothing like Fuentes. Where Fuentes was soft-spoken and shy, this girl radiated confidence. Her long, jet-black hair shimmered under the sunlight, and her sharp features gave her an almost regal air. She was stunning—completely my type.
At least, until she turned to me and sneered.
"What are you staring at? Want your eggs kicked too?" She snapped, her voice sharp.
"Who's staring at you?" I shot back, her audacity instantly grating on my nerves.
"Why are you two fighting?" Joshua interjected, glancing between us.
The girl ignored him, her glare still fixed on me. Fuentes whispered something to her, and whatever it was seemed to calm her down.
"Let's just go, josh," I muttered, turning away. I didn't have the energy for this.
"Wait," Josh said, walking toward them. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine. Thanks," Fuentes replied shyly, her usual calm tone returning.
"Let's go, Josh," I muttered, grabbing his shirt and pulling him away. But just as we turned to leave, something caught my eye. A faint glow emanated from the taller girl's palm. It was a key-shaped mark, just like mine—except hers was violet instead of gold.
Without thinking, I stepped closer and grabbed her hand, inspecting the mark.
"You. Why do you have this?" I demanded, my voice low and tense.
"What are you doing?" she snapped, yanking her hand away, her expression a mix of anger and confusion.
"What's going on?" Fuentes asked, looking between us in bewilderment.
"Neon, you're acting weird," Josh said, pulling me back. "What's wrong with you?"
"Can't you see this?" I asked, pointing to the glowing mark. But Josh and Fuentes only looked at me as if I was going crazy.
"See what? Her hand?" Josh asked, raising an eyebrow.
I looked back at the girl. Her wide-eyed expression told me she could see it too.
"You can see this, right?" I whispered.
Even though she didn't respond, her silence spoke volumes. Realizing I was still holding her hand, I quickly let go.
"Oh, I'm sorry," I mumbled, stepping back, feeling awkward.
"Neon, what's gotten into you?" Joshua asked, pulling me away. Fuentes and the girl looked shaken, and I felt a pang of guilt for scaring them.
"What's your name?" I asked, looking directly at her. But she didn't answer. Instead, she turned and walked away.
"She's Lily, my cousin," Fuentes said softly after she was gone.
I immediately apologized, realizing how weird I must've looked.