I sharply decreased my speed to take a better look at the situation.
This was a peculiar situation.
I slowly walked forward, streetlights lighting up the sidewalk.
"Where am I?"
I had never seen this part of the city before, the journey home is straight without a single turn. It would be impossible for me to get lost on the way home knowing that fact.
"Did I mistakenly take a turn somewhere? I should go back!"
I turned around and walked back the way I came. I walked for over 10 minutes but still didn't see a landmark I recognized, at this moment I started to get nervous.
I pulled out my phone to call my parents.
[No Service]
Thinking carefully about the situation, I did the only thing I could think of—something that Mom told me to do whenever I find myself in a difficult situation: "Trust your instincts."
I closed my eyes and cleared my mind.
With a clear and calm mind, I opened my eyes and chose a random direction to walk in, continuing until I saw something familiar.
The streets were dead silent, and so were the buildings in the surroundings. Though the lights were on, there didn't seem to be anyone in them.
I kept walking until the sun set bringing about nighttime.
"Mom is gonna kill me when I get home..."
I lamented.
As I was walking, I kept feeling like I was getting more and more lost with every step. With no way to call home and no one in sight to ask for directions, I continued on my journey.
Click! Clack! Click! Clack!
I heard footsteps coming from behind me.
There's hope!
I turned around excitedly, only to be disappointed. The streets behind me were still just as solitary as the streets ahead.
Dejected, I continued. As I took a few steps forward again, I heard footsteps from behind.
Click! Clack! Click! Clack!
I immediately stopped in my tracks but didn't turn back.
Click! Clack! Click! Clack!
'This is definitely not the sound of my footsteps.'
The sound of footsteps kept getting louder and louder
I turned around nervously; again, there was no one there, but the sound of footsteps continued.
My heart started beating out of my chest. It felt like it was in my throat, and it became difficult to breathe.
I was lost, alone and in a situation that was difficult to understand.
I was scared!
Though I had been training my body for years and had enormous strength, I had never thrown a single punch in my entire life. I didn't know how to fight; I barely even knew how to make a fist. I had no means to protect myself from whatever was coming after me.
I remembered something else mom once said to me, "Being strong doesn't mean you know how to fight. If you can't fight run, if you can't run hide, ensuring your own safety should be your number one priority."
I heeded her words and ran as fast as I could. No one was around, and this was a special situation, so there was no need for me to hold back.
Every time my feet hit the floor a print was left on the concrete.
The sound of footsteps coming from behind me didn't seem to fade even while I was running full sprint, it sounded like it was getting closer even.
Panic appeared on my face.
"Hyuk?!"
Suddenly, I felt something yank me from behind, choking me.
I could feel something cold caressing my face; it felt like a pair of hands—cold and bony.
I couldn't utter a single word. I could hear only the sound of my own heart thumping in my chest.
I looked down and saw the shadow of something in front of my shadow.
I looked back up again, and a figure started manifesting before me—a dark and malevolent figure.
Its dark eyes with red pupils stared into my eyes. It continued to manifest until I could see a solid-looking figure.
It didn't look human at all. The figure was a grey-skinned man with black hair that seemed wet and blue lips—the kind you would find on the deceased.
"I've found you nephilim!"
Its voice was raspy but every word sounded clear
It tapped on my forehead with its finger. I felt something surge within me.
"The Fallen Ones now know of your existence, and they will come for you."
It smiled villainously, as if it had found a new plaything.
Its smile showed me its sharp teeth and black tongue.
A chill ran through my spine.
It suddenly looked over its shoulder.
"Tsk, ruin my fun why don't you?"
It turned back to look at me, then licked the side of my face with its black tongue.
"I will be seeing you soon, nephy."
It released me and I immediately dropped to my knees. The figure melted into the ground while looking at me with amusement, it was probably amused by my scared shitless facial expression.
It disappeared.
My head felt heavy, my eyes were out of focus, and I struggled to keep them open. The struggle was short-lived, and I collapsed.
Gasp! Gasp! Huff!
My eyes shot open, whilst gasping for air it felt like the oxygen that filled my lungs wasn't enough.
My panic-filled eyes darted across my surroundings, searching for the threatening figure that saw me as its plaything—only to find out that I was in my classroom. It was the afternoon, and only I had remained.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow."
I heard Gabriel's voice coming from the hallway.
He entered the classroom already mentally prepared to wake me up ruthlessly. But, to his surprise I was already awake.
Surprised as he was, he was still perceptive enough to notice the state I was in. My panicked eyes, heavy breathing and clothing drenched in sweat.
"What's up? Are you good?"
I wiped the beads of sweat off my forehead.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What time is it right now?"
I asked as I shakily got my things together.
"It's 5PM... Are you sure you're okay?"
'5PM? Hmm,'
I looked outside the window, things were exactly the same as in the dream I just had.
'Doesn't this mean I'll get lost on the way home and meet that creature that grabbed me?'
'Holy shit, this is like Final Destination! Awesome!'
'No, not awesome! Doesn't that mean even if I avoid it, it'll get back to me in the end?'
I took a deep breath and regained my composure. I had come to terms with my situation.
'I'm fucked! I am fucked.'
Am I okay with being fucked?
No, I am not.
Am I able to do something about it?
I am not.
'I'll go with the flow, other than that there's nothing I can do.'
'If this shit is anything like Final Destination, there's no point in trying to prevent or avoid this thing.'
While I was contemplating my situation, Gabriel had carried me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes all the way to the school entrance.
He set me down gently, but I know him better than he knows himself.
"You thought of power slamming me right now, didn't you?"
"Yes and it would have been your fault if I did!"
"How?"
"You tempted me."
Just as I saw in my premonition Gabriel's butler was waiting for him with the car door open.
"Alright, later."
"Stop dozing off in class, you'll miss something important one of these days."
"I have you to remind me."
We gave each other a fist bump and went our separate ways.
I looked at the long journey ahead and sighed. With a quick glance around to make sure no one else was around, I started jumping up and down to get the blood pumping.
Suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the air as the ground beneath my pushing-off leg split wide open. I was thrown forward with a force that made my heart leap into my throat.
Crash!
Mid-air, my muscles tensed and were ready to explode with power.
I landed, barely touching the ground, and in an instinctive blur, I launched myself after Gabriel's car with breakneck speed.
'Nope, nope, nah-uh, not doing that, not happening.'
I slowed myself significantly as I inched closer to the car.
The driver saw me frantically waving and stopped the car. Gabriel rolled down his window.
"Can you give me a ride home?"
"..."
He blankly stared at me.
"Sure, but I have to do something at home first."
As I got in the car, I suddenly felt like I was being watched. I looked up with a quick searching glance only to find that the area was desolate.
I ignored the feeling and got in the car.
On the rooftop of Star Academy, a figure was perched on the ledge. It was the figure I saw in my premonition, its hideous eyes fixed on the car Gabriel and I were in as we rode off.
"Hihihi, I~ found~ you~ nephy~ Kihihihih~."