The final bell of the day rang through the halls of Dicaux Holistic School, and I found myself immersed in the vibrant heart of Meta, sprawling capital city of Theia. Students spilled out of the grand entrance, their youthful energy blending seamlessly with the pulsating rhythm of the metropolis.
Dicaux Holistic School was a beacon of knowledge and refinement. It stood tall, its sleek glass facade and staggering height a testament to Theia's technologically advanced society. The halls echoed with the voices of ambitious students, their footsteps mingling with the soft hum of electronics that permeated every corner.
As the crowd rushed on around me, I skimmed it in an attempt to locate Prince Omega, son of the Emperor, and my brother. Knowing him, he was probably surrounded by people clamoring for his attention.
"Hey, Delta!"
I swiveled around, trying to find the origin of the sound, which seemed to be a female voice coming from my left. I raised an eyebrow. It wasn't that I was unpopular at school, I was just a good amount more reserved than Omega. I tried to stay far away from his social life so I wouldn't get stuck in his shadow. There were times when I even stood to oppose him.
"Oh! How are you, Phoebe?" I addressed the source of the aforementioned voice, whom I had found standing at the bottom of the stone staircase in front of the grand doorway. She wasn't necessarily tall; the rocky railing next to the stairway was all the way up to her stomach. Nonetheless, her auburn hair and light eyes were rather attractive. Next to her was another girl sporting long, curly black hair. I gave her a small nod of acknowledgement, which she returned.
"I'm good, thank you! Where's-" She was interrupted by a crackle of lightning in the street, causing her to jump. I crossed my arms, unamused, having seen that trick done multiple times before. The crowd around us was enamored; it was none other than Prince Omega.
"Delta of Theia! Phoebe... And fairest Ophelia!" Omega pointed to the black haired girl, who let out a little giggle in response to his display.
"I hope they arrest you one of these days, Omega," Ophelia teased as the crowd began to dissipate. Omega, Phoebe, and I were first-years, and Ophelia was a second-year. Our little group of four talked for a few minutes about school and other mundane topics-mundane, but enjoyable nonetheless-- and I took notice of Omega's unusual behavior. The way he spoke to Ophelia made it clear that he had an interest in her that did not extend to the other girls he entertained.
Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a stark purple light gleam the darkness of an alleyway across from the school. It was just a quick flash, probably lasting less than a second, but it radiated pure uncertainty. Was it looking at me? The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I quickly turned my head away from it to get rid of the unpleasant feeling.
"Omega, would you mind accompanying me home?" I hastily asked before he could walk away with Ophelia, my voice betraying the tiniest hint of anxiety. He gave me a look and mouthed a few words, but I quickly shook my head, eyes wide in an attempt to communicate my thoughts without speaking. I tapped my nose, a signal for him. Thankfully, he understood, saying goodbye to Phoebe and Ophelia and smoothly sending them off together using his princely charm.
"What's the issue?" Omega asked me in a low tone, leaning in as we started off towards the suburban district of Meta. I made a point of taking a route that would bring us past the alleyway.
"Not sure yet, but I didn't want to be alone. Could be something," I muttered, glancing around out of the corner of my eye.
The air crackled with an electric energy as hovercrafts and other automated transportation glided through the bustling streets, their sleek designs expertly navigating the cityscape. Holographic advertisements were displayed on the sides of buildings, portraying images of the latest in Theic fashion. They reminded me of Omega's wardrobe.
Approaching that corner, I was careful not to turn my head. I stuck close to Omega, shifting only my gaze into the alleyway as we walked past it. There could have been something there, but we walked past too quickly for me to see, and then we were gone.
Bioluminescent flora illuminated dusk in the city, casting an otherworldly glow upon the streets as we walked. The air was filled with a symphony of mechanical sounds - the gentle whirring of vehicles, the soft hum of air purifiers, and the occasional burst of sonic propulsion from high-speed pods streaking across the sky.
"Delta..."
Immediately, I turned my head with an unimaginable speed, nearly snapping my neck in the process. My hair whipped around, hitting me in the face, but I hardly noticed because somehow I had caught it in my sights again-- the glint of purple. Alas, I was only just able to make out a dark figure before it vanished again. Though, how could it have vanished so quickly? I felt behind my head- nothing. Just paranoia.
"Hey...You didn't see anything, did you, Omega?" I asked tentatively. Omega didn't slow his pace.
"No. I don't sense anything supernatural either. No energy signatures. Only frogs."
We approached the pond which signified our proximity to my home. My brother was right, the frogs were out in full force, serenading us with their croaky voices as we rushed through Meta. On Theia, male relatives that are close in age are referred to as brothers. Truly, Omega was my cousin, though that term was hardly used outside of medical circumstances.
"Well, we're here," I said, not knowing what else to say and walking up to my front doorstep. My mother was already home, signified by the convertible in the driveway. I hoped that whoever was following us wasn't a thief, not that a thief would get as far as a block away since Theic police didn't slack here on the Northern hemisphere.
"See you later, buddy!" Omega said cheerfully. We did a little handshake before he gave me one last grin and dashed off. I didn't have to worry about him. Despite only being 15 years old, I could see that Omega stood among a group of unparalleled Theic prodigies.
I unlocked the door to the house and locked it behind me. Whatever was shadowing us didn't seem to have followed me in, but somehow, I still felt paranoid. I greeted my mother and went about my usual nightly routine, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something wrong. It kept me awake, deep in thought. Was my curiosity coming back to bite me?