The air in the small room was stifling, thick with a tension that clung to the skin like a shroud. Each breath felt laborious, weighed down by an invisible hand gripping the chest, quickening the heartbeat—a frantic rhythm in an otherwise suffocating silence. Shadows danced along the walls, flickering like ghosts, whispering tales of a world beyond that felt so far away, so out of reach.
"Hff, hff, hff," came the desperate gasps, barely breaking the stillness. Each inhale trembled, caught somewhere between panic and a primal instinct to remain silent, to hide from whatever lay beyond the door. The very walls seemed to close in, tightening the grip of fear.
Thud.
A sudden impact jolted through the room, the sound reverberating in the air like a warning bell. The door shuddered under the force, the wooden frame vibrating, sending a dull tremor through the walls. It was a sound that echoed in the mind, sharp and unyielding, a reminder of the chaos lurking just outside, of the uncertainty that threatened to spill over and drown him whole.
Breath hitched in the throat, caught in the web of fear. The silence felt like a living thing, wrapping tightly around every inch of the room, suffocating, almost tangible. In that moment, time seemed to stretch, each second drawn out as the heart raced, pounding in the ears, drowning out all else. The taste of metal lingered on the tongue, a bitter reminder of the tension that coiled tightly in the gut.
Thud. Thud.
Two more strikes, louder and more insistent, as if the world beyond the door was demanding entry. Each impact resonated, a visceral reminder of power, an authority that crushed the fragile peace. The air was electric, charged with an unnameable tension that left the lungs aching, breaths growing quicker, a desperate "hff, hff, hff" echoing in the thickening silence. Each breath felt like a rebellion against the oppressive darkness, a fight for survival amidst the chaos.
The stillness returned, pregnant with anticipation, heavy and oppressive. It was a silence that begged for release, that thrummed with the promise of impending chaos. And then, the sound broke through again—thud, a sharp echo that seemed to linger in the air, vibrating with an energy that felt almost alive.
THUD
"HEY!
THUD
"HEY!"
Without warning, the door burst open with a crash, the wood splintering under the sudden force. A figure stood silhouetted in the doorway, a shadow against the light that poured in, illuminating the room like a beacon of hope.
"Hey!" The purple-haired figure shouted, before finally a voice sliced through the fog of delusion that had enveloped the mind, uncovering the true figure.
A boy with a black mohawk, scarlet tips, and a distinct scar over his lip. "Hey! My name is Eli; what is yours?" The black-haired boy in return smiles; his lips curve upward, and a bright smile spreads across his face, illuminating his features like the first rays of sunlight breaking through thick clouds. His deep, expressive eyes shine with mischief and warmth, enticing others with his genuine sincerity. He leans forward. "Name's Riku Yayameshi; nice to meet you." As he vigorously shakes Eli's hand. Eli gives a tiny chuckle and smiles as a nervous sweat runs down his cheek. "You're a weird one, huh."
However, as if a knife cutting through butter, someone cuts their chat short. A man with an undeniable aura of confidence and charm that compels attention. He stands tall with a calm manner, his keen features accentuated by a determined gleam in his piercing eyes, hinting at the intellect and ambition that drives him. He exudes an electric energy, a captivating presence that entices people to listen. His every movement is purposeful and precise, as if he is constantly conscious of how he affects others around him. He speaks in a rich and commanding tone."
Section One Riku Yayameshi, Destiny Thomas, Cory Ken, Shu Kurenai, and Tre Thompson. Proceed to your section and wait to be partnered with another section." "Aww man, we're not in the same section," Eli says with an audible sigh. "But we could be partnered up since two sections are going to be together," Riku replies. "I thought you were day dreaming how do you know that" Eli comments. "I don't know" Riku retorts his face is blank as a plain canva as he shrugs his shoulders.
Riku turning to part ways. "Welp, on to my section. Bye, see you later!" Smile still radiating with joy, Eli, contagious with Riku's joyful smile, says, "Bye, see you later, hopefully!"
Riku traverses the long, hellish hall of the facility. He encounters multiple doors, none catching his eye but a few, until eventually he spots a door that really catches his eye. On the door it is marked as "Destruction Class." Can't imagine what monsters take this class, When Riku finally arrives in the section one room, he immediately scans the room, observing that.
There was a girl sitting alone in the corner. Riku takes a deep breath, and his excitement begins to bubble over. Alright, time to get my rizz on, babyyyy!!! he thinks, grinning. He straightens his jacket, giving himself a little shake before he sets off toward her, adding a little dance to each step, his feet gliding as if the floor beneath him were a stage.
Swirling, twirling, and chuckling to himself, Riku moves across the room like he owns it. When he finally reaches her, his bravado almost falters as he takes in her beauty, his gaze lingering longer than he intends, fully entranced. Her deep brown eyes glint under the lights, framed by flawless black braids that cascade over her shoulders.
"Hey!" she snaps, catching him off guard. Her face flushed with irritation. "Stop staring at me and go elsewhere, you weirdo!" Her words carry a mixture of frustration and irritation, but Riku just grins wider, taking her reaction in stride.
Before he can come up with a response, though, something shifts in his gaze. His playful smirk vanishes, his face hardening as his instincts pick up on a subtle, creeping danger. The lighthearted approach, the chuckling confidence—gone in an instant. His arm moves swiftly, pulling the girl against his chest in one smooth motion.
"Wh—" she starts, but Riku gently places his hand over her mouth, his serious gaze unwavering. The unexpected closeness leaves her momentarily speechless, her heart pounding against her ribs. She can feel the warmth of his chest, his protective stance enveloping her like a shield.
His arms around her feel solid, unbreakable, as if he's ready to take on anything that might come their way. For a moment, the world outside his embrace fades, leaving her sheltered in his hold, sensing a new kind of calm despite the tension.
He holds her close, his embrace not just protective but gentle, she finds herself feeling safe—an unfamiliar feeling but one that she can't help but lean into, even if just for this moment.
But the embrace is cut short when a familiar, hulking man bursts through the entrance of the seemingly impenetrable structure next to him. Six people, one giving another one an earful, the other three standing next to the unusual and enormous African man. His voice cuts through the silence like butter as he joyfully declares, lips wide in a smile, "LET CLASS COMMENCE!!!" slamming his fist into his open palm.