Spectral Showdown

Chapter 2: Beginnings of a Story



'If only... I could end things right here.'

AS she walked through the bustling streets of New York.

The sounds of taxis, muffled all the city's sounds.

The familiar smell of hot dogs and car fumes filled the air.

The vibrant city that never sleeps, pulsed around her.

Despite the lively atmosphere around, She felt distant and lost in her own thoughts.

"Aya! Over here!"

She looked up and glanced at Joy, her friend, who stood patiently by the school gate.

Both were senior high school students in the university.

Aya found herself increasingly weary of Joy's incessant chatter and gossip.

She secretly craved moments of solitude to process her own thoughts and emotions.

But deep down, Joy's presence offered a temporary reprieve from loneliness.

"Morning —"

Joy's arms wrapped around her in a tight hug, cutting off whatever she was about to say.

'Ouch..'

"Morning!"

Aya winced showing a slight distaste upon hearing the high pitched voice of Joy, obviously trying to keep her ears out from the sudden noise.

"Joy—

Before she could finish her sentence, Joy immediately chimed in showing that worried look.

A look that Aya will never get comfortable seeing.

"Hey did you cried?"

Aya abruptly frozen in her place, before shooking her head trying to avoid her question.

"When did you see me cry?" She scoffed. "I'm chill."

Joy did not buy that, her raised eyebrow was enough to prove she's skeptical.

"You are hiding something, aren't you?"

Aya sighed and shook her head. "I'm fine!.. nothing's up!" she replied firmly.

"I promise!"

"But—

"I'm fine, there's nothing wrong with me.."

Joy sighed, knowing she couldn't force the truth out of her friend.

Aya knew that, but she wouldn't utter a single word.

"and I know you always have something up in the morning, so tell me...what is it this time?"

Aya changed the topic, she was eager to shift the subject and was ready to listen to whatever was in her friend's mind.

"Have you heard the incident in Kensington? It's viral all over the social media platforms!" She replied. "The videos, the news? It was all over there and they never denied what they saw, but they couldn't even see anything!?"

Aya was silent for a moment.

"Hey, Aya?" Joy waved her hand in front of Aya's face.

"Ah, no ..I-I didn't." She snapped out of realization. "What's that about?"

Joy sighed. "There must be something horrifying thing or maybe it's their ploy to divert the world's attention else where! No one knows what truly happened!"

"Oh?"

"Yeah! Know what? You should watch news from time to time, instead of slacking off in your room, Aya!" Joy scolded her.

'of course, I won't.'

Aya sighed and shook her head as the both of them went inside the school's grounds and their chatter continued.

Reaching the sixth floor where their designated classroom was.

They used the stairs and walked down the hallway towards room 606.

They let themselves be immersed in the pinnacle of sharing their thoughts with one another, when...

"AHHH!" She hollered out in agony and fell to the ground. "OUCH!"

A guy ended up colliding with her, his shoulder hitting hers and fell to the ground, her buttocks landed on the ground with a loud thud.

The pain was unbearable; she felt like the bones in her butt had just cracked.

"OWW! YOU DAMN BASTARD!" She yelled in agony. "AHHHH!!"

"Damn! I'm sorry! Sorry miss!" Apologies mixed with frustration filled the air as the guy continued to run.

"Aya! Are you ok!?" Joy immediately tried to help her get up, but Aya ended up running towards the guy.

"COME BACK HERE!" her voice echoed, drawing the attention of onlookers who watched the chase unfold.

As they ran outside the schoolyard, whispers rippled through the crowd of students.

They raised their eyebrows, confused and frustrated when a senior highschool student chased a college student.

Some girls, in particular, judged Aya harshly, whispering that she was "a whore" for pursuing a college student.

Their judgment, unfortunately, reflected a common, and often unfair, attitude towards girls who pursue older men.

Aya continued to chase Kazuki while gasping for breath, the eyes of the crowds following their relentless chase.

She was starting to feel overwhelmed. Kazuki was like a blur, his speed was like a car tearing through the crowds.

Until...

"OUCH!"

Aya suddenly collided with a little boy, sending him to the ground and cried. "Brother!"

The onlookers in the city stopped to stare, their faces a mix of concern and amusement.

Aya scrambled to her feet, helping the little boy up.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! It was my fault! I'm sorry, little one!" she said, trying to comfort him. She blew on his hands, hoping to soothe him.

The people around her began to approach the little boy, offering comfort and sympathy. Some of them even muttered harsh words towards Aya, but she didn't pay attention.

'Because she felt something...weird.'

"Alistair!" A voice boomed, and a boy, not much older than the first, approached them.

'So this kid's name is...Alistair?'

"Brother!" The little boy ran to his brother, hugging him tightly. He looked up at his brother, who was intensely glaring at Aya.

"You! What have you done to my brother!?" the older boy demanded, his voice sharp with anger.

"I...I didn't mean to!" Aya protested. "It was an accident! I said sorry, you have to believe me!"

The crowd around them began throwing harsh words at her way.

They told her to shut up and apologize sincerely, others took their phones out and began recording but the brother dismissed her.

"You're lucky, I won't report you, be careful next time and act your age!" He said, scolding Aya.

Aya quickly shut her mouth, her anger was simmering.

She couldn't believe a child was lecturing her like this. This wouldn't have happened if that guy, that freaking bastard, apologized to her sincerely!

She didn't want this shit to end up like this!

"Well, damn—it"

Aya suddenly felt a sharp, searing pain in her abdomen.

She gasped, clutching her clothes tightly, as if a frigid blade was scrapping her insides.

Then, a chilling voice whispered in her ear.

"amma, ištu 'ādam.."

Chills went down her spine as she felt her body frozen.

"not.. not now!!"

Blood began to spill underneath her skirt, was this hers? Perhaps not, but it won't stop spilling until it floods the entire floor.

The world shifted upside down and the sky turned red. Buildings and skyscrapers around her lay in ruins.

She gasped, her eyes widened in terror at the sight of the dead bodies strewn across the ground.

'W-what's happening!?'

"Ana aššur ina ṭābi..." (I will return in time)

Her eyes widened and suddenly—

"HEY! are you ok!?"

The voice jolted her awake when a man tapped her shoulder.

She spun her head around and the scenery was back to normal —

no flooded floor, no dead people, and no blood dripping down her thighs, Just an ordinary floor.

'What.. what the hell was that!?'

"Hey! I'm talking to you—

Aya immediately ran away, instantly forgetting the sight she saw back there.


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