Finally, I was awake.
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the Petra still clutched in my hand. Strange. I didn't even remember holding it before.
Weird doesn't even begin to cover it.
I'd tell you it felt like a dream, but that'd be a lie. Everything—Geo, the Petra Zone, the sheer weight of it all—felt far too real. It was so real that I couldn't even begin to put it into words.
As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts spiraled. What happened back there had completely distracted me from the grief, the ache that had been gnawing at me since… well, since he was gone. Should I be grateful for that reprieve? Or ashamed for letting myself get distracted? He deserved to be mourned, not pushed to the back of my mind.
I sighed. No point in spiraling. All right, Ladon, pull it together. Time to get ready.
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and blinked at the screen. 10 a.m.? No way. I hadn't gotten up this early in ages.
I placed the stone on my bed and headed to the bathroom.
A shower first—no way was I tackling the day looking like I'd just crawled out of a cave.
My reflection wasn't doing me any favors—patchy beard, unkempt black hair. Nomad vibes, but not the cool kind. A quick shave, a scrub, and some hair-taming later, I almost looked human again.
I returned to my room. I pulled out a T-shirt from one of my favorite bands and paired it with black pants and my trusty Converse. Classic, simple—just how I liked it.
Then came the accessories. I dug into a small box tucked inside my closet, a little treasure trove of necklaces and bracelets I'd collected over the years. One necklace caught my eye—a sturdy rope cord. Perfect. I tied the Petra to it, making it into an impromptu pendant. Took a while to get it just right, but after thirty minutes of fiddling, I had something that looked half-decent.
Finally, I finished the look with a black hat and my shades. The shades weren't just for style, either. They helped cover my mismatched eyes. People tended to stare, and I didn't need the extra attention today.
With one last glance in the mirror, I sighed. Alright, Ladon. Showtime.
I popped on my headphones, tucking the necklace under my shirt to keep it out of sight. As I headed downstairs, aiming for the door, a voice suddenly echoed in my head.
"So, where are we going?"
I froze mid-step and yanked my headphones off, looking around like a lunatic.
"Relax, Ladon. It's me—Geo."
Great. Voices in my head. That's totally normal.
"So, I'm not crazy yet. Good to know," I muttered.
"Answer the question, Ladon," Geo demanded, his tone firm.
I sighed, rubbing my temples.
"Listen, Geo, mornings aren't my thing. So, respectfully, could you not? I'm in no mood for conversations."
"You need to learn some respect, but fine," Geo grumbled. "I'll keep quiet."
Pleased with the silence, I slid my headphones back on, letting the music drown out my irritation. The door clicked shut behind me, and I started walking, finally at peace. Or so I thought.
"Wait, how am I hearing the music?" Geo's curiosity broke through again.
"Oh, yeah, you weren't around when earphones became a thing." I sighed. "I put these on, and it's like a concert in your head. Disconnects you from reality. One of my favorite inventions, honestly."
Geo sounded intrigued. "So, what can I listen to?"
"Anything online, really. But, wait—how are you even hearing this?"
"The Petra connects us," Geo explained, matter-of-fact. "I see what you see, hear what you hear, and feel what you feel. We're synced. Five senses and all."
I stopped dead in my tracks. "Pause. You mean everything? So, like, bathroom trips—"
"Oh, stop. I don't care about your 'private moments.' Gross." Geo sounded thoroughly offended.
"Still, you should've warned me, dude. Now I have to take the necklace off every time I—"
"Spare me the details," Geo snapped.
I grinned. "Kinda sus you didn't mention this earlier."
"Sus?" Geo repeated, confused.
"Never mind," I said, dismissing him.
By this point, anyone watching me would've thought I was crazy, talking to myself in the street.
I reached my destination and announced, "We're here."
-
"Where exactly is 'here'?" Geo asked.
As I walked through the gates, I smirked. "The zoo. I live near one, so I'm just gonna grab some... samples."
"Wait. Zoos? Are those... legal?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Legal? Bro Relax—there are thousands of zoos around the world."
Geo groaned, his tone heavy with disapproval. "Zoos were so illegal in my time. Capturing animals like this? It was unthinkable. I can't watch this. Disconnecting for now."
I shrugged, pulling out tweezers to collect soil samples near the cages.
The Petra absorbed each one instantly, vanishing like magic. It was mesmerizing—no matter how many times I saw it.
Hours passed before I realized I was almost done.
Bears and big cats, though? Those samples would need... alternative methods. Online shopping, maybe
"You done?" Geo chimed back in, sounding grumpy.
"Yeah. Chill."
"Good. Don't bring me here again."
As I was leaving, I realized the necklace was outside my shirt. Rookie mistake.
A girl with long black hair, striking blue eyes, and a black jacket looked at me and said smiling, "That's a pretty necklace."
"Thanks, but nothing near as pretty as you. I love your style," I replied. cringing internally as the words left my mouth.
Geo's voice echoed in my head. "Oh, kid, that gave me a stomach ache. Do you even know how to talk to women?"
The girl smiled. "Thanks," she said.
"Anyways, I have to go, I'm in a hurry. See ya," I said, quickly walking off.
As I left, Geo started laughing. "Okay, kid, why's your heart beating so fast? HAHAH!"
"Shut up, man," I snapped. "I panic, okay? Ever since my ex—"
"Nope. Don't care about your love life. Focus on the mission, Romeo."
Embarrassed, I trudged home.
The blazing sun didn't help my mood. When I stepped inside, my sisters were eating at the dinner table.
"Where'd you go so early? You sick or something?" Vanu asked, mouth full.
"Nah, just went for a walk," I said, trying to sound casual.
"Yeah, you're definitely sick," Minu chimed in.
"I'll explain later," I mumbled, retreating to my room
As I closed the door behind me, Geo chimed in. "So, I'm guessing those are your sisters?"
"Yeah. I usually tell them stuff, but not this. Not unless I have to."
"Fair." Geo paused. "Anyway, let's hit the Petra Zone. Time to train."
"All right, Geo, but I need to lie down to do this, right?" Ladon asked.
"Yeah, pretty much," Geo replied. "Your soul leaves your body and enters the stone when you're in the Petra Zone. Your body keeps breathing normally like you're asleep."
"Got it." I lay down on my bed after changing into something more comfortable, the necklace still around my neck.
One minute, I'm drifting off to sleep, and the next—my eyes are wide open, staring up at the sky as I lie on the grass.
I turn to Geo, curiosity getting the best of me. "You can change into different animals, right? Why are you always a bird?"
Geo's voice sounded distant like he was trying to gather his thoughts. "I'll explain later, but for now—"
He pauses mid-sentence.
"Wait...what?" I ask, confused.
"Why is there a door here?" Geo's voice is startled.
I glance around. "Wasn't it always there?" I think, unsure.
"No," Geo responds, "it wasn't there before."
"Okay, don't read my mind, thanks," I snap, feeling a little weirded out
"Sorry, let's just focus on the task at hand. I'll enter it later," Geo says, but there's a trace of concern in his voice.
Geo's tone turned serious. "Ladon, focus. I need you to think of an animal you feel a strong connection to. When you do, you should be able to transform into it naturally."
"Alright," I said, closing my eyes. I tried to think hard, but the only thing that came to mind was my little buddy, Teo.
When I opened my eyes, everything looked... huge. Geo towered over me like a giant. "Wait, what—" I started, but before I could process it, I was back in my human form.
Geo stared at me, visibly stunned. "That's... weird. That shouldn't happen."
"Uh, is that bad?" I asked, already bracing for the worst.
Geo didn't answer immediately. Instead, he paused, his gaze fixed on something ahead. "Hold on... Let's check that door. Maybe it's connected to the problem."
I turned to where he was looking. A glowing white gate stood there, shimmering like a mirage. "That door's always been there, right?" I asked, unsure.
"No, it hasn't," Geo said sharply.
"Well, great. Love that for us."
Without wasting another word, we stepped through the gate together.
The scene changed instantly. We were in a quiet neighborhood, the kind with narrow streets and a heavy sense of nostalgia.
Geo's voice broke the silence. "HUH? WHAT IS THIS?"
Before I could answer, a cat leaped off a nearby building and landed gracefully in front of us.
It spoke. Yes, spoke. "Do you think you're worthy enough to wield my power? Meow."
Geo's jaw practically hit the ground. "She... she didn't just meow and talk, did she?"
"Apparently, she did." I rubbed my temples. "I didn't sign up for this."
Geo took a deep breath and addressed the cat. "uh... cat, what's going on? Why are you here?"
The cat flicked its tail, looking smug. "Ms. Dove has added... extra precautions. Anyone seeking her power must pass a trial. Meow."
"A challenge?" I groaned, throwing my hands up in mock excitement. "Great. Just what I needed. Truly the cherry on top of my day."