In a world where the spiritual connects with the human, there exist beings that dwell in the shadows, invisible to most—especially to those who refuse to see. Spiritual animals, demons of light and darkness: creatures of astounding power and beauty, each one wanders among us. Only those with a special spiritual energy can see them or at least sense their presence. They are guardians of forgotten secrets and bearers of ancient wisdom, but they are also reflections of the existence of those who encounter and perceive them.
Kayl, an 18-year-old man, lived in a luxurious mansion, surrounded by wealth and comforts; however, he often led a life of constant loneliness. His life, at first glance, seemed perfect, but behind that facade lay a past that sometimes haunted him. He often felt trapped in his own world, even though the luxuries of his home surrounded him everywhere he went.
That night, after tossing and turning on his comfortable bed a thousand times, he finally succeeded in falling asleep. He slept so deeply that it led him to have a strange dream:
"A young man was battling with a supernatural force. His appearance was striking: he was tall, with long, straight black hair that flowed with the wind, and a determined, beautiful gaze. His eyes were so blue that anyone who saw them couldn't help but stare; they were hypnotizing. Beside him, there was an animal very similar to a cat; it was majestic, seeming to move alongside the young man as he healed his fallen companions with his power."
Kayl looked at himself in that dream, as if his own voice narrated what he saw:
Kayl: "I was a healing being… My abilities were the most important, a power that connected me to the world of spirits. But… I don't understand, why would they condemn me for being myself?"
Suddenly, everything began to fade until it turned into darkness. At that moment, Kayl jolted awake, sweating, with rapid breathing and his heart racing.
Kayl quickly got out of bed and went straight to his garden to clear his mind. That dream… why did it feel so real?
As soon as he stepped outside his house, he felt the presence of eyes staring at him. "Was this a coincidence?" he thought as he saw the unusual creature in front of him: a cat with shiny black fur, its eyes yellow and large.
"Since when is there a cat here?" he murmured as they stared at each other. "It must belong to Mrs. Lourdes; I've never seen it around here before."
Mrs. Lourdes was Kayl's siblings' nanny. It was to be expected that she would have a cat, as she was a fan of them; she always said they were magical and important animals.
He tried to approach the mysterious cat, but it kept its distance; however, Kayl felt a strong connection to the feline, as if they were friends.
Days passed, and the cat became a part of Kayl's routine. Every time he left his house, the black cat was there, sitting and watching him intently. It seemed to be waiting for him, as if it had something to say.
The young man tried to ignore it, but curiosity was eating away at him inside; he began to feel that there was something more to its arrival.
"Who are you really? I'm sure you don't show up here every day by coincidence," he said as the cat looked at him as if it wanted to say something.
That morning, Kayl was in the kitchen while his mother prepared breakfast. Amelia and Leo, his younger siblings, were playing near the window.
"Kayl, do you have everything ready for the new semester?" his mother asked with a smile.
"Yes, I think so. I'm not sure if I'm ready for what's coming," Kayl replied, glancing at the cat that was settling on the shelf.
Amelia approached, her eyes sparkling.
"Look, Mom! There's a cat! Can we keep it?"
"It's not just a cat…" Kayl murmured, while the cat continued to stare at him intently.
School wasn't a horrible place like everyone described, at least not for Kayl, since he was an honor student, though it wasn't always welcoming. Upon arriving, he noticed a group of students whispering in a corner. Kayl described them as pathetic people.
"I feel like throwing up every time I hear them; I hope their stupidity doesn't rub off on me," Kayl thought as he walked past them.
At that moment, Isaac, the new student, walked into the classroom. He was a handsome young man with brown skin, large eyes, and wavy brown hair that fell gracefully. His expression was serious, and his posture was determined. He approached Kayl, ignoring the laughter of that group of students.
"Are you Kayl, right?" Isaac asked, with a confidence that resonated in his voice. "Professor Jackson suggested I come to you, said you were someone I could trust."
Kayl frowned, surprised.
"Me? Why?"
Isaac stepped forward, determination in his gaze.
"I feel a strange vibe in this place. There's something… different. Some people don't seem trustworthy to me," he said, glancing at the group in the corner, "and definitely not intelligent. I need help with some subjects; I thought you could assist me."
As the conversation continued, a blond boy with a face marked by bruises hurried over to the two young men. Kayl felt his stomach tighten at the sight of him.
"Ale? What happened to you?" Kayl asked, not hiding his concern as he held him by the shoulders.
"It was them again," Ale replied, his voice trembling as he looked away. "I told them I wouldn't run their errands and…" He paused, struggling to hold back tears. "They beat me."
Ale, whose real name was Alessandro, had always been more vulnerable, an easy target for others due to his humble background. They had known each other since childhood, and Kayl, without hesitation, had become his protector, the only one who could lift him up when the world seemed to crush him. His expression darkened at the sight of the traces of violence on his friend's face.
"This can't go on like this; I can't stand those idiots," Kayl muttered under his breath, a mix of anger and helplessness in his voice.
He looked at Isaac, who seemed to have understood the context of the situation, and in total silence, nodded; it was as if an implicit alliance had formed between them.
While they were in class, Kayl looked a bit bewildered.
"Hey, Kayl!" whispered his friend Alessandro, looking at him with a mix of amusement and concern. "Are you okay? You seem out of it."
Kayl smiled, hiding his unease.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just… didn't sleep much," he replied.
Alessandro watched him with that penetrating gaze he always used when he tried to figure out if Kayl was hiding something. They had been together for so long, and Kayl knew Alessandro could read him like an open book. But this time, he resisted the urge to tell him about that dream.
"It's just a dream," he repeated to himself, trying to convince himself. But deep down, he knew there was something more, something that eluded his understanding.
That night, Kayl couldn't sleep well; Alessandro's situation and Isaac's arrival kept him awake, but there was something else: that strong and strange presence felt just outside his window. He got up to look out from his balcony and noticed the black cat still watching him from the same spot as always, as if waiting for Kayl not to forget it.
The restlessness and curiosity to know what was happening made him step outside to get closer to the mysterious cat. As he stood in front of it and looked into its bright yellow eyes, a memory surged in his mind; it didn't seem to be his, yet it felt as if it were his own:
A dark and desolate landscape appeared before him. The young man he saw in his dreams stood facing an unknown enemy; he noticed he was accompanied by the same cat that was now watching him. A power surged from his hands, giving the impression of being a power of peace and strength. "I was a healing being," Kayl thought, recalling again the voice from his ancient dream, "but I was unjustly punished, and now I must remain here trapped, living the life of a mere mortal."
He immediately stepped back from the feline, which was still in front of him, and took a deep breath, trying to stay calm after seeing everything more clearly than in his dreams.
"What are you trying to tell me?" he murmured, as the cat looked at him calmly. "It would be easier if you could talk, you know?"
The next morning, as he walked through the long, endless hallways of school, Alessandro appeared in front of him. His gaze was calm, but Kayl noticed the marks from the recent beating. Alessandro had always been a cheerful and optimistic person, even in his worst moments, but at that moment, he looked more fragile than ever.
"You don't have to worry," Alessandro said with a forced smile, noticing the look of anger on Kayl's face. "You know it's not the first time, and it won't be the last… but I don't want you to get into more trouble because of me."
Kayl frowned.
"I'm not going to just stand by while those idiots hit you like you're a punching bag. It's not fair that the teachers always justify them. Of course, I'm going to defend you."
At that moment, Isaac appeared and seemed to have heard most of the conversation. His serious expression reflected everything he wanted to say; he seemed to fully understand what was happening.
"Alessandro, right?" Isaac said in a calm voice. "If you need help, you can count on me. You don't have to face those idiots alone."
Alessandro looked at both of them with a mixture of gratitude and surprise. The friendship among the three seemed to begin to take shape, as if there were something greater that connected them. Alessandro felt a little more secure hearing the words of the other two young men.
Kayl felt that Isaac's arrival was not a coincidence; it was as if he had known him for a long time. There was a part of him that still couldn't understand what was happening. "Why do I feel like I already know him?" Kayl thought as he walked alongside Isaac.
Isaac returned his gaze, as if he could read his thoughts.
"I'm sure this school is not what it seems. There's something else in the air, but I can't explain it. Have you ever felt like this place is watching you?" Isaac said while observing Kayl's expression of confusion.
Kayl nodded silently. Isaac's words resonated within him like a distant echo; each one awakened new questions in his mind, reminding him of everything that had happened in the past few days.
That same afternoon, while the young man was at home, a strange sensation overcame him. He decided to go to the garden, hoping to encounter the cat he saw every day; however, this time the feline was not alone. Before him appeared a girl with a mysterious appearance. Her figure emanated delicacy and softness, and her gaze conveyed sweetness, although at the same time there was a certain sense of authority. Curiously, she bore a resemblance to Isaac, except that she was a short girl; her eyes shone with an almost hypnotic intensity, and her hair was very long and wavy.
"Kayl," she said. How did she know his name? "Isaac told me he would find you here; apparently, it was true," the young woman continued while observing the look of terror on Kayl's face. "I see you've already met FĂ©lix," she referred to the cat as she pointed at it. "I can't believe we've met again."
Kayl felt a chill run through his body upon hearing his name, experiencing the same connection he had felt with Isaac when they first met. The atmosphere became denser, as if nature itself was anxiously awaiting his reaction.
"Who are you?" he managed to ask, although his voice sounded shaky and his terrified expression lingered. Kayl thought he looked calm as he glanced at the cat rubbing against the girl.
She smiled, her bright eyes radiating a mixture of sweetness and… madness.
"I'm Elizabeth. But for you, I'm Ellie. Did I scare you?"