Chapter 1: Prologue
We got on the bus like any other day, my sister Alice and I.
"Hello there Mr. Bus Driver," I said, like I do everyday. His slight beard and bright yellow vest was his most outstanding features at the moment. His dull grey eyes only shone as bright as they do when they saw me. His hair used to be thick and blonde, but now its receding and greying.
"Why hello there Zhalar, how is your day going?"
"Pretty fine and swell, how about yours?"
"Doing mighty fine," the bus driver replied as I took my seat.
"And how about you, Alice?"
"I'm doing great!" Alice giggled out. Alice took hers next to her best friend, and they happened to sit right in front of me.
"I'm so excited for the field trip today!" Screamed Mau Likuna, the Lil' Ultimate Pony Rider. Her long, green hair bounced in excitement along with the rest of her. Her bright green eyes sparkled as the sun's light hit them. Her pink dress, and cowboy boots looked especially muddy today, probably from riding a pony earlier this morning. Her adorable little pink backpack with her name on it was tightly strapped to her shoulders.
"Me too! I'm so ready to go!" Alice responded. Alice was my younger, and only sister, being 13, and 4 years younger than I.
"I hope Ratue will be in our group!" Mau exclaimed and clapped.
"Ratue and Mau, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-" Alice was interrupted when Mau shoved her hand over her mouth.
I decided to tune them out, and listen to some music. The bus stopped a few more times to pick up the rest of the kids. 14, just like usual. We were now on our way to school, Hope's Peak Academy. It has been nearly a century since the Biggest, Most Awful, Most Tragic event in Human History, and the world has basically recovered itself. Makoto Naegi, the Despair Kids, and the Remnants of Despair, Junko Enoshima, are all long gone, way past their due date.
I heard some ruckus from the back of the bus, and decided to check it out. I took an earbud out, and looked back to see some idiots from my class fighting, like usual.
"Can you guys just shut up for once? Thank you," I said, turning back around.
"Shut up, nerd. You're not even a real Ultimate!"
"Actually, I am. I got in just the same as everyone else!" I shouted back.
"No, not really! You just play a dumb tuba, and its not even good!" Another voice shouted.
"God, he's so dumb and annoying. He shouldn't even be in Hope's Peak," some female voice said. I heard the kids laughing, and I was suddenly hit in the back of the head with a large book. More laughter.
"Hey, don't worry about them, Zhalar. You made it in, and that's all that matters," Alice comforted me.
"Yeah, don't listen to those meanies!" Mau butted in.
"Whatever…" Even More Laughter.
I just tuned them out when the laughter became too unbearable. Wild animals, Wild animals I say. All of them. They don't understand. I got into Hope's Peak Academy, fair and square enough.
Hope's Peak Elementary school was interviewing my little sister, the Lil' Ultimate Arcader, when one of them heard me playing my Tuba. Honestly, I didn't think I was that good, but apparently I am pretty good, when it comes into terms of "tuba-ing." Is that even a word? I don't know. But after that, I got enrolled into Hope's Peak Academy, as Zhalar Nikjimi, the Ultimate Tuba Player. Ever since then, my life has gone down in a spiral of nothingness
I looked out the window to my left, when I noticed something in the distance. It seemed to be moving pretty quickly. The scattered trees blocked and resumed my view of the object at intervals. As our bus approached the stop sign at a 4-way stop, the object kept coming closer and closer. By the time I noticed it was a semi truck, it was too late. It blew straight through the intersection, right as we were going through, and our bus flew.
Time seemed to stop. Blinding pain and bright white lights. It felt like I was in space, with zero-gravity and able to move as I will. Nothing holding me back, just being able to float. Being able to go and do anything I wanted to. No bullies, no school, no fear, no more books to the head. Only freedom. I wanted to float out the window. The window with the shattered glass. To fly right through it, unscratched. Unharmed by anything and everything. I wanted to float away to space, to where no one can hear my internal screams, my wretched screams. Where you were free. I finally snapped back to reality, and saw past my daydream. It felt like my whole life flashed before my eyes. Alice. How was she holding up? Is she dead? Am I dead? I soon realized I was not dead when it felt like someone flipped a switch and gravity had taken control again. My world came crashing down as the bus did the same. More pain soured through my body.
Shattered glass was everywhere. There was a fire near the front of the bus. Oh god, the bus driver. Is he okay? I sure hope he is. I hope everyone is alright. I look over to Alice and see her. I can't tell if she's breathing or not. Her brown hair is covering her face.
Man I hope everyone is alright. Alice, Mau, the bus driver, even the stupid bullies in the back of the bus. I hope everyone is alright. I just need to make sure Alice is alright. I try to reach out to her, but I can't, I don't have any strength. Im useless. All I saw was Alice's crumbled body before my vision went out. Alice…