It was a cloudy morning as I walked to the cemetery, alone. My right hand is holding a bouquet
I didn't know why I wanted to come over here again, perhaps it's because of that weird 'memory' I experienced before
The surroundings are gloomy, filled with cries from family members. Some are walking back home, eyes either red from crying or hollow
But, as I walked, my face didn't show a gloomy expression, and my eyes didn't tear up even a little
There's not even a little touch of sadness in my heart
Just an uncanny calm expression, as I walked into my parents' grave
"Huff. . . Calm yourself, Dani. It's just your parents " I murmured to myself calmly
As I stopped in front of my parents' grave, my eyes still didn't budge from the usual calmness, before I put the bouquet calmly
". . . Sorry, for not visiting you both. . . It's been a long time, huh? "
There's no answer I got, except the sounds of the wind passing by
"Can I ask you both something? But don't feel weirded out if you heard me, that's all"
". . . "
"Actually. . . I just had this. . . Dream. I was at the funfair with you guys. . .aa You both never did that, right? "
". . . "
". . . Yeah, thought so. I must have missed you both to fake a memory. That must be it, huh? "
". . . "
". . . Sorry, shouldn't have hallucinated again. It's been years already, should have known better "
". . . "
"Anyway, happy anniversary. Hope you both enjoyed whatever you did there. I'm sure it's much more fun than here "
"I'm sure they are, dude " A voice responding to me from afar
As I turned my head, I saw Adam strolling before stopping beside me
". . . Visiting your little brother? " I asked calmly
"Yeah, it's been a long time since I cleaned his grave "
". . . I see "
He stared at my parents' grave for a moment, with dry leaves and dead grass surrounding it. The only thing that looks fresh is the bouquet
"You didn't clean it? "
". . . There's no need. Their souls are in a better place, aren't they? Why should I clean these graves? "
". . . Well, what if your parents decide to visit you? "
"You still believe that clean graves are a medium for souls to visit here? Adam, that's just a legend. Grow up already "
"Then why did you bring the bouquet? "
His question struck me silent for a moment before I answered him calmly
". . . No reason. It's just for their anniversary "
"Heh, so you're still hoping that the legend is true "
". . . I don't want to put so much hope on a simple fairytale. That's all "
He then smiled gently at me before putting his hand on my shoulder
"Well, then for starters, how about you clean your parents' grave? I'll help "
I then stared into his face calmly before sighing and crouching, picking up the dead leaves
He then crouched beside me and picked up the grass before covering the holes with dirt, as he's already experienced at doing this
"Hey, Adam? "
"What? "
". . . Say the legend is true, what will you want to tell him? "
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"Well, I will tell him that I missed him. And I got a very dumb friend " He smirked as he ruffled my hair
"What about you? What will you tell your parents? "
I didn't answer him right away, but instead just stared at my parents' graves that are now cleaner than my own room
". . . Probably told them that their son is now a trouble magnet "
"That's all? You don't want to tell them how much you missed them? "
". . . No. I'm not worthy to tell them that "
"Wha-. Dude, don't say things like that. You're still their son, I'm sure they want to hear a lot about what you're doing "
"Even when that bastard hero is still out there? "
". . . What? What're you talking about? "
Without saying much, I pulled my phone out and showed him the recent press conference with Frost Diamond
"Sir Frost Diamond, we heard you fought valiantly against one certain maniac at the Eloimas techno expo " The female host said
"Yes, and the fight caused me my arm. . . But as long as the people there are safe, I'm willing to do a little sacrifice. But don't worry, as I will get a new prosthetic arm soon "
The hosts clapped for him, as he then waved his hand at them and walked away from the podium while smiling
"What?! Farah is the one who helped them get out! This fucker-! " Adam's anger burst out
I then put my phone back in my pocket, before standing up and talking calmly, with a bit of solemn tone
"As long as that bastard didn't die, I'm still a disgrace to my parents "
Adam just stared into my face, as if he could understand what I felt right now, before standing up and wrapping his arm around my shoulder
"Come on, let's go get breakfast. My treat "
". . . Hmm "
I just stared at the pancakes, didn't even bother to pick up the fork
"Mmph---oi, eat your pancakes, you're wasting my money if you didn't " Adam said, his mouth full of pancakes
". . . I'm not in the mood to eat " I said calmly
He then swallowed the pancakes before looking at me with a small grin
"Well. . . If you're not going to eat it. . . Can I? "
I just stared at him with a deadpan expression before sliding the plate of pancakes to him
His grin widened before he stabbed the whole tower of pancakes and stuffed it into his mouth
"Mmph---thanks, dude "
I then stared outside the window as he stared at me, swallowed the whole pancake
"What's wrong? " He asked
I then turned my head and stared at him, before closing my eyes and letting out a deep sigh
". . . Nothing, just got a. . . Weird feeling "
"Weird feeling? Dude, don't jinx it. I don't want any fucking demons or maniacs to attack you again "
"No. . . That's not what I mean. Got a feeling that something big is about to happen "
"Or you just worry too much. This is what happens if you don't eat your breakfast. You overthink things "
As I was about to argue back, just then, my phone got a new message from Suraya
"Dani? Awake already? "
"Whose message is that? " He asked before I could even reply
"Suraya "
"Oh? Did your wife miss you already? "
"Can you stop with the 'husband and wife' jokes? We're not even married " I said, glaring at him
"Not married yet. It's just a matter of time "
I then sighed in defeat before replying to her message
"I'm with Adam right now. Why? "
"Come over to my house tonight. Bring Adam as well. My family will do a celebration party "
"For passing your exam? "
"And for being an official hero soon. Hehe "
"Oh. . . Congrats btw. I forgot to tell you that "
"No worries. Just come over, ok? "
"Ok "
"So? What did your wife talk to you about? " He said, smirking at me
"She invited us to her celebration party. You come? "
"Obviously, if there's food, there's me. So when? "
"Tonight "
"Hmm, then I'll wait in front of your house. How about 8? Sounds good? "
". . . Just don't be late "
"Late? Me? Come on dude, if I'm late, I don't deserve my speed power "
". . . Well, you do late one time back when those demons attacked my school-"
"That's just one time! " He shouted, his face fully red out of embarrassment
After I wear my T-shirt, I then check the time on my phone calmly
7:45 p.m.
There's still 15 minutes left. . . What should I do?
I looked down at my clothes, just wearing a simple white T-shirt and black track pants
"Huff. . . I looked like I wanted to go out for a jog in these clothes " I murmured to myself
I then sat down on the couch, with my head looking up at the ceiling
Guess I'll wait until Adam knocks on my door. . .
As I sat, my instinct couldn't help but keep telling me that I should get out of my house. Right now
. . . Maybe I should follow my instinct
I then got up and walked towards my door and opened it. But as I opened it, a few dark tentacles had been blocking the way out
". . . What the hell? " I whispered, my eyes slightly wide open
"Sharp instinct as always. Just like I know you " An unfamiliar voice said behind me
As I turned my head, I saw a figure casually sitting down on my couch, looking at me
I couldn't see his face. Just total darkness like the void
". . . Who the hell are you? " I asked, my voice sharpened
"You may call me 'The Lord of Fallen Angels' "
"---! "
I quickly reached my phone, trying to call my friends. But the next thing I saw made me know that no one would come help me
7:45 p.m.
The time didn't even budge, even though 3 minutes should have passed
"I stopped the time, so there's no need for you to call your friends " He said to me, his head leaning on his fist
". . . Why did you come here? "
"You don't think I would spill my plan just because you ask, do you? "
". . . You're here to kill me? Possess me and make me your vessel? "
"You overthink stuff. I'm here to help you to be precise "
". . . Help? With what? "
He didn't answer me, instead slowly getting up and strolling to the picture of me and my parents, taken a few days before they died
"I'm sure you know what I want to help you with "
". . . I refuse "
"Ha? "
"If you want to give your power and make me your pawn, I refuse "
He didn't answer me, and the silence around us could cut through steel, before I heard a laugh coming from him
But it's not maniacal, not cold either
It's a laugh that someone will make if they hear a funny joke
A simple, genuine laugh
Which by any common sense, he shouldn't have laughed like that
"Hahaha. . . Hahaha. . . Oh you. . . "
". . . What's so funny? "
". . . I'm not making an offer for you to refuse "
Before I could react, a sea of shadow swallowed us both, taking us somewhere
As I walked to his house, I checked the time on my phone while smirking
7:46 p.m.
I'm purposely coming over to Dani's house much earlier, to prove my point
Heh, this time, that dumbass can't say that I'm late
But, as I arrived at his house, his door was wide open
Huh, that's. . . Weird
I then entered his house and called out for him loudly
"Oi, dude. You leave your door open. . . "
But there's no sight of him in the living room, not even a reply from him
"Huh. . . Does he forget to lock the door? "
. . . No. He's not a careless type of person
. . . Don't tell me. . .
I then quickly darted around his house and checked every corner in seconds
But he wasn't in his kitchen
Nor in his bedroom
Even the bathroom
My eyes started to widen, and my cold sweat started to break out across my skin
I quickly reached my phone and dialed his number, only to be left with voicemail
Shit
Shit
Shit. Shit. Shit
SHIT!
I then bolted out of his house, running to the nearby police station before the wind could even catch me
I try to make sense of where I was, before realizing the surroundings around me were just pitch black, as dark as the void
. . . Where. . .
Before I could take a step forward, I felt myself fall into a deep pit of darkness with no end
"---! "
As I was about to process what happened, the surroundings changed from pitch black to an unfamiliar surrounding in seconds, before I could feel myself rolling on the ground
"Ack--! . . . Ahh. . . That hurt. . . " I said as I got up and rubbed my back before looking around
The surroundings were dark and dirty alleyways, and there were hundreds of posters of propaganda patched on the wall with language that I couldn't understand
I then looked behind me and saw a dark portal already opened in the alleyway
. . . Is that where I'm coming out from?
The space around it looks as if it were torn open by someone before I was out of the void
. . . How-
"Well, looks like you're fine "
I instantly turned my head to the voice source and saw him already standing beside me
"How do you-?! "
"That's not the first question that you should ask now, don't you think? "
". . . Where the hell is this? " I said, my eyes sharpened
"This is the hometown of someone that you hate with all your being "
Someone I hate. . . Wait. . .
"You mean-! "
"Yes," He said, before he spread his arms wide open, tilting his head slightly
I couldn't see his expression while he was making the gestures, but if I could take a guess. . .
He was probably smiling
"Welcome to Aloren "
