Back to the Present

  A Few Days Later

  Location: Salie Fradik High School

  Near the Bathroom Door

  Kalik, who was calmly walking out of the bathroom while drying his hands with toilet paper, felt a strange sensation right after tossing the crumpled paper into the trash can, making the atmosphere in that hallway grow denser than usual.

  [(Kalik — Voice Slightly Confused) Wait... what is this feeling in the air? (Slightly fearful breathing)]

  In a matter of seconds, Kalik felt his body go numb from the tips of his toes to his head. At the same time.

  His hairs stood on end at the presence of someone he did not expect to encounter so soon, appearing in the span of a single blink a few meters away.

  [(Kalik — Voice Slightly Startled) Damn it... this feeling can only be that bastard. I thought he was out of town on some mission assigned by Miss Lax... (Trembling breath)]

  The moment he raised his gaze, his eyes fixed ahead, toward the end of the corridor he had been walking through moments earlier all alone.

  [(Kalik — Voice Slightly Panicked) Damn! Damn! Damn it... (Trembling breath)]

  The perspective shifts outward from the corridor, revealing that one entire side of it is fully lined with windows, all of them open toward the empty school court.

  His eyes then meet the figure responsible for this overwhelming presence — a presence capable of altering the entire atmosphere without uttering a single word to Kalik from a few meters away.

  [Kalik — Breathing Slightly Frantic And Heavy]

  Kalik sees a boy apparently the same age as him, not wearing the school uniform, but instead dressed in a black suit made of impeccable, finely tailored fabric.

  The boy has short, reddish hair, slightly tousled by a subtle breeze that seems to emanate from his own body within a small radius around him.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] ...I really thought our paths wouldn't cross again so soon, Kalik. [Empty little laugh] —

  At that moment, Kalik noticed the boy's piercing gaze rising calmly to lock onto his. Instantly, Kalik's eyes widened, revealing in their reflection the image of a nostalgic, cheerful smile directed at him.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] But it seems the world is so "tiny," isn't it? [Empty little laugh] —

  However, Kalik, who knew the young boy well, quickly understood that behind that seemingly innocent smile lay a palpable emptiness — a complete absence of empathy or mercy, a foul and despicable essence that burned in the depths of his heart like searing flames.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] Wait! Before you answer my questions, you'd better remember my current position... compared to your own. [Mocking, delighted laugh] —

  [(Kalik — Heavy, Furious Voice) Damn it! I can't control my body or stop it from collapsing! (Shaky, heavy breathing)]

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] After all my achievements were acknowledged by the Begeneri twins themselves — our highest-ranking superiors among the Oculi. [Mocking laugh] —

  After saying this, the young boy began walking forward, his steps calm and unbothered, approaching Kalik with such an imposing presence that even a casual observer would notice it instantly.

  With every step, the murderous aura radiating from the mysterious boy grew stronger, rising gradually.

  And with each simple step he took, Kalik's body felt an immense pressure crushing down on his bones and muscles.

  [(Kalik — Heavy, Furious Voice) How the hell did this bastard get so strong in such a short time...? (Shaky, heavy breathing)]

  As the distance between them shrank, Kalik's body seemed to give way, bending involuntarily toward the young boy against his own will.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] Don't look at me as an equal, Kalik... Because right now, in this present moment, we are no longer on the same level, understood?! [Deeply sadistic & vindictive laugh] —

  Even baring his teeth, Kalik found himself failing miserably in his attempt to resist the pressure being forced upon him.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] Are you not listening to me, Kalik? [Deep sigh] —

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] Resisting is useless, and you know that very well... because you taught me that perfectly when I was nothing but a servant forced to follow your orders. [Deep sigh] —

  Kalik felt as though a snap of fingers echoed around him, and the scene before his widened, disbelieving eyes turned completely negative.

  [(Kalik — Heavy, Furious Voice) Damn it... he's even affecting my existence with that suffocating aura... how did he reach this level of ability?! (Shaky, heavy breathing)]

  Everyone else was inside their classrooms studying, which left most of the school hallways empty, as the second-to-last class of the day was still in progress.

  [Young Boy — Soft, Cheerful, Delighted Laugh]

  Outside the corridor's windows, the sports field and the storage shed were visible. The few trees swaying in the breeze suddenly shifted in color within the blink of an eye.

  The entire landscape had transformed — the same scenery, now fully rendered in inverted, negative tones.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] Kneeling before your superior is such a simple gesture... one I did countless times for you, remember? [Deep sigh] —

  [(Kalik — Heavy, Furious Voice) You filthy bastard!!! (Shaky, heavy breathing)]

  The entire hallway kept its colors intact, yet dimmer for some unknown reason, giving the young boy the sensation of a shift in reality—imperceptible to everyone else present, who seemed to vanish across the school.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] I'm enjoying being in your former place, the one you occupied for so, so long. [Deep sigh] —

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  [(Kalik — Enraged & Heavy Voice) I'm going to kill you!!! (ragged & strained breathing)]

  Upon hearing that, Kalik saw the young boy just a few meters away, and as he tried to speak, he felt his anger mix with pain under the pressure imposed on his body.

  It slightly crushed his muscles, which were gradually beginning to atrophy as he still dared to think about resisting the will the young boy had imposed upon him.

  [Young Boy — Sadistic & Hollow Voice] Bow before me, you big "show-off" idiot. [A mocking, pleased little laugh] —

  Kalik immediately felt a force ripple through the environment around his body, compelling him to fall to his knees before that young boy, against his own will, in abrupt speed.

  [Young Boy — Sadistic & Hollow Voice] ...The same thing you forced me to do so many times before, all because you were considered a "prodigy" in the eyes of our superior, Lax. [A mocking, pleased little laugh] —

  Before that pathetic scene unfolding in front of him, the young boy formed a wide smile on his lips, expressing an intensely sadistic pleasure at what he saw.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] Now that we are in our proper places—me above and you below, bowing to me in respect... [Deeply tedious breath] —

  It was nothing less than Kalik on his knees, his forehead touching the ground, bowing to him against his will, his body being forced to remain in that deeply submissive position.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] I can finally get straight to the "point" of our conversation, the reason that motivated me to come to this pathetic place in person... [Deeply tedious breath] —

  Meanwhile, Kalik bared his teeth in a grin consumed by fury toward the young boy who had forced him into such a humiliating pose.

  The tension in his facial muscles made his veins stand out, revealing the burning rage and hatred in his heart.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] Even though I hate being this close to a place like this, surrounded by disgusting, foul-smelling humans in their oh-so-pure essence... [Tedious & slightly deep sigh] —

  With a single blink, the young boy's face radiated absolute superiority over Kalik. Both his eyes became completely black—no pupils, no irises, no shine, no reflection anywhere on their surface.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Thoughtful Voice] I remember you mentioning Miss Lax... that your younger brother managed to return to the physical world a few months ago, and... [Lightly mocking breath] —

  [(Kalik — Confused & Worried Voice) Wait, I'm getting a growing feeling of something terrible approaching... (heavy breathing)]

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Thoughtful Voice] If I recall correctly, your younger brother is an Oculi Albi, one year younger than you, if my memory isn't failing me. [Lightly mocking breath] —

  From the young boy's perspective, a surreal sight unfolded: an invisible force seemed to distort the space around Kalik's entire body, wrapping him in a sort of mantle of energy faintly visible to the naked eye.

  [Young Boy — Serene & Thoughtful Voice] You must remember that there is a rather busy human institution in this region. [Deep, soft breath] —

  [Young Boy — Serene & Thoughtful Voice] One that serves as an information hub for all Oculi Nigri and Albi in this region of the Reginae Faction... [Deep, soft breath] —

  Kalik was left completely unable to retaliate or even consider moving a single muscle in the miserable situation he found himself in.

  [Young Boy — Hollow & Ironic Voice] That very base suffered a strange break-in a few days ago, which resulted in the theft of some rather "sensitive" documents. [Deep, soft breath] —

  [Young Boy — Hollow & Ironic Voice] Documents that our agents managed to obtain and keep in our possession—soon to be passed on to our superiors in the coming months. [Deep, soft breath] —

  Kalik is forced to fix his gaze on the floor against his will. He then notices the young boy kneeling before him, displaying a calmness and superiority in the way he moves in front of him.

  [Young Boy — Serene & Ironic Voice] Those same "sensitive" documents contained the data of the several upcoming human targets of harvest in this region. [Soft, deep breath] —

  [Young Boy — Serene & Ironic Voice] All that theft was committed by a single "individual" you know very well. [Deeply mocking breath] —

  As that statement echoed, a heavy silence seemed to take over the corridor, growing overwhelming, with only the louder beat of Kalik's heart rising in fear as that sense of impending doom drew closer to becoming real.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] This "individual" who carried out that invasion had the nerve to enter our base without permission and, once he succeeded in stealing those "sensitive" documents, to leave as if nothing had happened. [Soft, deep breath] —

  This silence in the air felt as though it weighed upon Kalik, as if his essence and existence were being lightly crushed — though not destroyed.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] He demonstrated a rather "interesting" capacity, a kind of "work of art" made of flesh and liters upon liters of blood from our agents who tried to stop him from escaping. [Deep breath] —

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] All those allied agents ended up losing their lives in the underground levels of our base in this region, trying to stop this single "individual." [Deep breath] —

  The young boy remained kneeling less than a meter away from Kalik, who stayed in position with his head and forehead against the floor, unable to raise his eyes to see the boy's face.

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] This "individual" alone not only killed but also took pleasure in brutally ending the lives of four security squads. [Deeply curious breath] —

  [Young Boy — Cheerful & Ironic Voice] Using only his Oculi abilities and his own hands, crushing them against the walls and dismembering them as if they were nothing — even while they were still alive. [Deeply curious breath] —

  As the focus shifted to the boy's face, his gaze slightly distant, the strange negative-colored landscape of the school grounds could be seen through all the corridor windows, sending even stronger chills through Kalik's body.

  [Young Boy — Slightly Angry & Vengeful Voice] This "individual," after all that massacre, had the even greater audacity to reveal his face out of his own free will. [Heavy breath] —

  At the same time, the once-smiling boy gradually revealed his true face, showing an expression completely hollow and devoid of any empathy for the pain Kalik felt in his body, unable to look up at him — unable even to look at his face.

  [Young Boy — Slightly Angry & Vengeful Voice] His face was stained with the black blood of the guards he killed so brutally and sadistically, having enjoyed much of the fight. [Heavy & slightly amused breath] —

  [Young Boy — Slightly Angry & Vengeful Voice] And so this "individual" was captured by the many security cameras that watched him leave the base with complete tranquility. [Heavy & slightly ironic breath] —

  From the boy's perspective, Kalik remained kneeling before him, still not having earned the right to meet his gaze as an equal.

  [Young Boy — Slightly Angry & Vengeful Voice] The base had to be shut down after the destruction in the underground corridors made them impossible to clean due to the stench of rotten flesh. [Heavy & slightly ironic breath] —

  [Young Boy — Cheerfully Ironic Voice] Do you know what's most amusing in this entire account of that surreal invasion I'm telling you about, Kalik? [Deep, ironic sigh] —

  [(Kalik — Trembling & Incredulous Voice) Why do I feel this overwhelming cold in my stomach? (Trembling & fearful breath)]

  Kalik was a low-ranking Oculi at that time, in contrast with the young boy who, despite being the same age.

  Held a slightly higher rank after his successfully completed missions earned him recognition and the right to rise among the Oculi who followed the Begeneri twins.

  [Young Boy — Cheerfully Ironic Voice] It's that this "interesting individual" who did everything I've just told you is, at this exact moment, inside this very school we are in — in one of these classrooms. [Deep, sarcastic sigh] —

  [(Kalik — Trembling & Incredulous Voice) Why is this sensation of cold in my stomach getting stronger and stronger... (Trembling & fearful breath)]

  [Young Boy — Cheerfully Ironic Voice] "He" is studying beside several human students, as if he had not used his own hands to kill nearly a hundred security officers in less than ten minutes that night. [Deep, ironic sigh] —

  In that current situation, kneeling there, Kalik recognized his hierarchical inferiority, and the young boy before him was the one in control of the conversation.

  It was clear that Kalik wanted to retaliate. But knowing that confronting someone of a higher rank was treated as treason—with only one punishment, death for lack of respect—he held himself back.

  [Young Boy — Voice Cheerfully Sarcastic] And deep down, Kalik, you know that... [Deep sigh] —

  [(Kalik — Trembling And Unbelieving Voice) ...Don't tell me that this "individual" who did all of this is who I think it is... (Trembling, fearful breath)]

  [Young Boy — Voice Cheerfully Sarcastic] If I were granted permission by Lady Lax herself to go meet, with my own hands, the bastard I'm referring to... [Amused, vengeful laugh] —

  The young boy ended his statement while staring intensely at Kalik. His heart burned with hatred as he revealed that the only individual responsible for all those acts in a single night was none other than Kalik's younger brother.

  Kalik's eyes widened upon hearing the name of his younger brother—Téo—spoken by the last person in the entire world he ever expected or wished to hear utter that name even once.