Dreamless dorm, ticking clock,
I walk away from the soundless room.
Windless night, moonlight melts,
My ghostly shadow to the lukewarm gloom.
Nightly dance of bleeding swords
Reminds me that I still live.
I will burn my dread!
I once ran away from the god of fear,
And he chained me to despair!
Burn my dread!
I'll break the chain,
And run till I see the sunlight again!
I'll lift my face and run to the sunlight!
#1 – The Broken Shell
I've been expecting you.
After all, I've been waiting a long time.
The time has come.
Don't be scared.
No need to shut your eyes and cover your ears anymore.
There is no denying this world.
"This is Megakat University. I know it's a pretty big campus but you'll learn your way around. By the way, I'm Callico Briggs."
The tom was amazed at the sight of the campus he'd soon be starting the next few days. His bus ride was a torture and seeing the beautiful landscape really made him forget his complaining. The cute shekat waiting on him wasn't a bad sight either.
"You'll be dorming with us just a few blocks down the road. Don't worry, it's not so far." The shekat started to lead the way then stopped all of a sudden, "Your name is Chance, right? Chance Furlong?"
"Yeah."
"That's a relief. I was told your name but the head dorm keeper gave me quick description so I had to be sure." She nervously chuckled at the small embarrassing moment she just had.
They both walked in silence down the seemingly empty streets of the city. Chance expected there to be a lot of kats walking to and from where ever they go like his uncle once told him. Well, foster uncle anyway. His time as a foster kitten wasn't exactly the most pleasant but it was a decent life. Nothing much ever happened and he kept to himself. Kept up good grades and attended events he found pleasing or interesting. Hardly talked much so Chance had very little friends or even saw them as friends.
Chance wondered what his life here will be like. Though he planned to study and keep to himself like always, that sort of thinking never came to mind before. He felt strange thinking about what would happen since he hardly cared for the consequences of his actions.
"Hey, Chance," She spoke breaking his thought, "have you... I mean, do you ever feel, like, a different person?"
"I'm afraid I don't follow."
"I'm saying... Never mind. Um... Forget I even asked."
"Okay... Callico."
"Oh, please, call me Callie." She smiled as they kept on walking.
It was odd of her to ask him such a strange question, and out of the blue. Chance wondered what she meant by "a different person". He wondered if he did ever feel like that back home but nothing seemed to come to mind. His past was a blur and not much memories to remember or even recall as he had just passed through most of his days.
Callie had broken his thoughts again to tell him that they had arrived at the apartment like dorm. It wasn't so big and had what he guessed only three floors. There was even a sign just next to him protruding over a bush with the name of the building and it didn't seem to be that old. In fact, it looked almost new. Recently new.
'New Hearth Dormitory' was written in bold letters across the top of the sign while the bottom half contained the campus's crest. With more inspection, he seemed to have noticed that the area was a little run down but the building itself.
"You tend to observe a lot, do you?" Callie asked. Chance nodded out of habit, hardly ever answering a question. He wasn't shy, just not really interested in making long conversations. "Well, come inside. I'm sure you'll get comfortable once you've made yourself at home."
Inside, Chance was impressed at how clean and well renovated it was. The lobby resembled a hotel style look, dim lighting, and relaxing to the eye. Not much color around but the simple shades of brown.
"Sign your name here." There was a young kit, probably around ten or so, on the other side of the front desk. He held out a folder and opened it to a one page piece of paper. "It's a contract. By signing your name, you are agreeing to accepting responsibilities and consequences from the choices of your actions." Chance thought it no different as common sense and signed his name without any questions. "Thank you. This contract is proof of your first step. From here on out, all your choices will have an effect. You cannot turn away responsibilities or even block out what you hear."
"Chance," The tabby turned to Callie almost looking at him confused, "you seemed to have spaced out for a second." He turned back to he front desk to try to explain himself but the little kit seemed to have left.
"What was that contract for anyway?"
"Contract? What are you talking about?" Chance explained himself everything that just happened and about the little kit he just saw. "There's nobody like that in this building. I'm sure you're just tired from your trip. Why don't I take you to your room?"
As they walked up the stairs to the second floor, he felt rather sleepy. The weight of his backpack seemed to have felt heavier than normal and lugging around his duffel bag only added the weight. When Callie showed him his room at the end of the hall, she gave him his own key to the room. "Oh, and one more thing, don't tell anyone what you saw. Just to be safe."
Chance nodded, then unlocked his door. He watched her walk downstairs from the corner of his eye, wondering if there was more to this building than what meets the eye that she wasn't telling him. But fatigue hit him harder now and he practically dragged himself inside his room, dropping everything after shutting the door.
There wasn't any time to set up. He just wanted to sleep. Chance fell on his bed and blacked out.
A light flashed by. Then another.
Chance opened his eyes, unnaturally looking around to find himself somewhere else. He was sitting up on the ground of some strange place. It was dark in every direction and there was the light that woke him up, just hovering above him. The light didn't last long as it vanished in the endless darkness.
Usually, the tabby would ignore everything and just wake up in his bed, but when he tried, he was still in the darkness. He felt alone, cold, and really small compared to the massive darkness surrounding him. It was suffocating. He wanted it to stop.
This is your reality.
Chance felt another presence just across from him. He couldn't see who or what it was, but his fur stood up on its ends. That creeping feeling seeped into his mind. Looking around frantically for what was a closing on him, the darkness felt heavier and he panicked.
You will be mine.
The tabby kept searching for who was speaking to him. His eyes couldn't keep a focus to the presence that seemed to move away from his view. Chance froze. The presence was heavier and right behind him.
Fear. Panic. Despair.
It weighed him down like chains dragging him to the ground again. Chance tried to get the strength to look at who was behind him. All his fears were telling him to not look. That he'd die. That he'd disappear.
Then it vanished. There was nothing. Chance still felt chained to his place and feared to check if that "thing" was really gone. His mind was full of thoughts on escaping and running away, but he couldn't see a single direction that seemed the right way.
Trapped. Alone. Forgotten.
"But you're not going to give up, are you?"
Chance heard the familiar voice from before. He looked up and found himself staring into the ceiling. The tabby sat up, his vision blurry, and had a massive headache. He looked outside his window and noticed it had gotten dark. The lights were still off and the moonlight allowed visibility.
He was breathing slow and hard. His clothes clung on to him from the sweat caused by the nightmare. The room was bare and everything was quiet. The voice he heard disappeared and his heart kept racing. Something wanted him alive, but Chance took his last deep breath and shook it off.
Chance had gotten his belongings packed away and sighed in after the small ordeal. He didn't realize how much he had brought with him and it was only going to be a long year here. The tabby had woken up early, a few hours after falling asleep again from the nightmare, to get ready and then head downstairs for his walk to the campus. His laptop was set and charging for later use, and his cell phone ready. Not much of home was taken with him to remember.
"Gah!"
A loud crash was heard right outside his door. Chance didn't know if he wanted to check, but since he was going out to leave anyway, he thought to see what happened.
After locking up his door, he saw a small tom, light brown, and pretty fit for a small guy. The tom was picking up his luggage that he had brought with him and thought to himself that maybe he didn't really bring a whole lot.
As Chance made his way toward him, the tom smiled at him sheepishly and continued on trying to carry his bags up to the third floor. The tabby didn't want to be late to go the Student Center and pick up his schedule, but he couldn't just watch and have this guy struggle up to the next floor.
"Hey, um, need some help?"
"Please," the small tom smiled with a hint of guilt, but he was thankful. Chance took the bigger bags from him, almost surprised to actually have them pretty hefty and impressed that the small guy made it this far. The tom took the lighter of the luggage to his door which happened to the first. Inside wasn't much different to his room except for the lack of a window.
"Thanks, man, I didn't think my supplies were going to be that heavy." The small tom sighed, still embarrassed. "Say, I haven't seen you around here. You must be the new guy everyone was talking about before we all got our rooms assigned. I mean, we all knew your name since you didn't show up for our first meeting here."
Chance saw the small tom looking at him, checking him out and then seeing him sigh. "Not what I expected."
"Something wrong?"
"No. I just didn't picture you to be, you know, big."
"Excuse me?" Chance softly blushed under his fur.
"Anyway, thanks for the help. Oh, and my name's Jacob Clawson. But I go by either Jake or the prier."
"Chance Furlong, nice meeting you." The tabby shook the tom's hand and started walking out.
"Nice to meet you too. If you're busy right now, I don't mind if you go. Thanks for the help again, and we should hang out sometime. Probably when I'm not trying to pull a muscle." Jake chuckled. "Tonight won't be a good time since I'll be busy building my project for the presentation this Wednesday. Maybe right after Morning Assembly tomorrow."
"Sure."
The campus was a lot more active than when he arrived. Though it was the afternoon and he didn't really get a chance to walk around the campus. He knew where he was going with the map Jake gave of the campus and his only clue was to follow the clock tower.
On his way he saw the rush of students volunteering to set up the decoration for the first day of classes tomorrow and Chance had never seen a school dedicated to starting. He figured it would have been just like always but the school seemed to be celebrating something else along with the first day.
Students called out to each other, maneuvering well with decorations and setting up projects further up ahead. Then he remembered that Jake was also setting up a project but he didn't know what for.
"Not sure what's happening, do you?" Chance turned a dark orange tom leaning on a lamppost. His blond hair was slightly messy but he seemed to be relaxing or resting. "It's the Annual House Contest. Dorms go against each other decorating and show casing their school's history. Ours is too new and, yet, that dumbass insisted on building something. It's a waist of time and there's not much history to it."
"So there are two new dorms added to the campus?"
"You're a dumbass too, huh?" The tom sighed irritably. "Our dorm is the only new dorm." Chance caught on to that stressed "our" in the other's voice. "I'm your neighbor at the dorms. Don't expect me to be nice to you like today."
Chance huffed and strolled on. He thought to himself that that was nice and he'd really hate to see his ego in full run. So far, he didn't like him but he still had to respect him no matter what the tom said. He brushed off being insulted, but hearing him call Jake a dumbass was just not right.
And that surprised Chance since he hardly cared for others too. Worrying about Jake being insulted felt rather strange.
After finally arriving at the Student Center without any further interruption, he found the tom still leaning on the lamppost. He tried not to make eye contact but it was inevitable, and the tom's reaction was a grunt.
"Hey, wait," the tom spoke out again. Chance wanted to keep going, though his attention quickly replied faster, "you spoke with Callie, right? Don't get any bright ideas. She's out of your league."
And with that, Chance rolled his eyes and kept on. Did he pull a nerve on him or was the guy normally that much of an ass, the tabby thought as he walked on. His thoughts kept him busy and almost passed by the dorms if it wasn't for the loud thud again. Only this time Jake was outside.
"Ow..." The tom was rubbing his head and crawling out of the bushes. Callie was the first the get to him from inside.
"I told you to be careful. You're always getting into accidents." By the way of her tone, he guessed they know each other well.
"I'm sorry, I thought I could reach it. You know I wasn't so quick to grow taller." Jake laughed sheepishly.
"You're just lucky you hit a growth spurt in high school, Clutzon." The nickname didn't seem to bother Jake and he embraced it as if it was a regular name. Chance smiled, but quickly went back to mind his own business. He didn't want to get involved and sure didn't want to get a certain asshole angry if he passed by.
"Chance," Callie called out, "I was wondering where you went. Jake said you went to the campus, so did you find Steele?"
"Does he look irritated and pissed off for no reason?"
"That's him... He was supposed to come back to help Clawson, but I don't want to take away any of your time. So, do you think you can? I'm too busy rehearsing the speech I have to give for tomorrow's Morning Assembly."
"Gah!" Jake wobbled a bit on the ladder and quickly regained his balance. It didn't seem that tabby had much of a choice and he was sure going to use that nickname eventually on accident.
The morning was a calm, cool day. The excitement of the new students and murmur filled the large suite. Chance wondered if this room was used for anything else when not holding meetings like this. He sat down next to Jake, already wishing he sat next to Steele.
All three sat near each other, but Steele was a lot more distant from the two. Chance was told that there were others staying in the dorm, but so far he has only seen them around the lobby. He did wonder who else was at the dorms, since he did hear moving from the room above him. Must have been arriving.
The tabby's suspicions about the three was true and dead on. Jake had told him that they had known each other all their lives. The small tom's tone toward Steele was more aggressive and harsh in his whisper. Obviously the two didn't get along, since the night before they had an argument which Callie broke up very easily.
"...That concludes the main portion of today's Assembly. Now for an important message from the Student Council President, Callico Briggs." Students stood quiet as she walked up to the podium, thanking the dean as she got there.
"So, she did get elected." Steele said, almost sounding proud.
"Well, she was the most popular in our school." Jake retorted. Both tom's huffed at each other and continued to ignore their presence.
"As I begin my term as Student Council President, I'd like to share with you my vision for this coming year. It is my firm belief that each of us must accept the responsibility of bettering our school. However, change cannot occur without sustained effort and an unprecedented level of commitment. That is why we must restructure our daily lives to accommodate this lofty goal. I'd like each of you to dig deeply into your well of motivation, and re-evalute your convictions...to imagine a bold new future without losing sight of the realities around you. That is the key. I'm certain that many of you have your own visions of the future... For us to reap the full benefits of our education, your participation, ideas, and enthusiasm are essential. Thank you."
Students clapped once she finished and she stepped down from the stage. "Dude... That was freaking amazing. So, you have any idea what she just said, Chance?"
"I wasn't listening."
"Dude... You're such a rebel." Jake chuckled.
After the assembly let out, Chance went outside to get ready for his day. He pulled out his schedule seeing that his first class wasn't until noon, and had time to kill. Steele walked right passed him who seemed to be heading toward the dorm also. It wasn't long before Callie caught up to the tom, both talking calmly. It was then that Chance noticed that Steele was more relaxed around her than Jake.
"You think he's sweet talking to her?" Jake came up from behind him. "I don't get how she can talk to that prick. He's too difficult to get along with and he's a total snob."
"Jealous?"
"Jealous!? Of him!? O-of course not!" Jake looked annoyed. "Anyway, have you heard the rumors around here? Apparently the school is haunted. I'm thinking about checking it out later at the right night. This Wednesday seems like a good night. Wanna join?"
"I'd rather focus on school like Callie said."
"I thought you said you weren't listening?" Jake smiled. "Come on, it'll be the first full moon of the month and I want to prove how much bullshit that rumor is." Both Chance and Jake continued on to the dorm talking about their plans and classes.
Later that evening, Chance had returned from both his classes. The walk around campus seemed a lot more trouble than he thought and he didn't realize how heavy his book-bag could get by just a few classes. Steel was sitting in the lobby, mind on his phone but he looked up, "Hey, welcome back."
"Um... Thanks." The tabby made his way to the kitchen, seeing that there were baked cookies on the table in a neat silver tray. "Did you make these?"
"No. Now leave me alone." Steele bit back, but his tone wasn't malicious. "But they're for everyone, at least that's what I was told."
"By who?"
"Does it matter? Just get a damn cookie." That time there was a tone. Chance didn't have to be told twice and thanked Steele anyway. He did hear the annoyed huff, but Chance must have guessed that Steele was embarrassed.
Chance walked up the stairs, opened his room, and set his bag down by the door. He felt extremely tired and went straight to his bed.
Chance's Tuesday morning held a class and was up and ready. After making the walk to the campus, he noticed Callie standing by the gates. "Oh, good morning, Chance." She said delightfully. "How was my speech yesterday? I was really nervous."
"You did great up there."
"Thanks. Um... Can we walk together? I would feel more relaxed if I was with someone I knew." Chance didn't object and both walked, having small talk before splitting up.
"...Also, we'll be working on your grammar skills. I know it's basic but for the first month, I want to see some improvement before we tackle the big essays." The professor, a slim bobcat, said as he stood at his podium. "Oh, and I forgot to mention this to the class yesterday, but please, nobody is to be on campus after midnight for your safety. From the recent years it has happened, I'd take it seriously. Now, on to a brighter note..."
The next class was very similar. "College students are to return to their dorms before midnight. For your safety, please take curfew strongly and you will be safe. I assure you all." The strict looking wolf said. As the class went on, Chance heard the conversation behind him from what they were warned about.
"I heard that several students went missing before any of it happened."
"Hey, if there's a creep going around traumatizing students or killing them, I'd have a safe bet it's a staff members."
"If not, some of them. Like this guy."
The group behind Chance kept on talking about rumors toward the warnings. He recalled that Jake mentioned a rumor and thought about seeing him after school.
"'Sup, dude?" Jake smiled at him from the lobby. Steele wasn't around but his cookies were. Seemed they both can't be in the same room. "Get this, professors started warning us about not being on campus. Did any of yours do the same?"
"Yeah."
Jake chuckled, "Guess this rumor is becoming more sinister every day. But that won't stop me. I'm all ready for tomorrow night. I hope you're not planning to do anything tomorrow evening, cuz you're coming with me. And so is Steele. I got him to agree by calling him a coward."
"Was that really necessary?" Callie came in from up stairs. "You know I don't like you bullying Steele."
"I wasn't bullying. I was trying to get him out of his shell, is all."
"Do it some different way, please. I'll be going too tomorrow night."
"What, why?" Jake was shocked.
"I don't want anything stupid to happen with you around him, Clutzon."
"Will you ever call me by my first name?"
"Maybe when you start to be a little more mature."
"But you call him by his first name? What's up with that?" Jake flared up from the insult. He looked at Chance and than back at Callie. "Oh, I get it now. No wonder Steele doesn't like Chance."
"Huh?" both Callie and Chance said at the same time.
"It's cool. I'll keep it a secret. Besides, everyone who saw you two together know the truth. I can't believe you fell for this big guy. He is quite a catch."
"What are you talking about? What do you mean everyone?" Callie panicked.
"Oh, it's just some rumors I heard, but didn't believe. I see that they're true. Nice going, Chance. I didn't know you moved fast." Jake smiled teasingly.
"It's not like that. I was just nervous of the other guys coming on to me." Callie blushed embarrassed with her telling the truth. "Steele wasn't around so I asked him."
"Right, right, whatever you say, Callie." Jake continued to keep his smile, liking the way he teased Callie. The two kept spatting at each other trying to get the last word. Chance didn't want to stay here anymore, so he just let them be.
"Hello." Chance lazily opened his eyes to make out the kitten sitting at the edge of his bed. The tabby sat up, getting ready to ask why he was there but the kitten shushed him. "I'm here to warn you about tomorrow. It will be very different from what you're used to since the darkness has tried to eat you while you sleep."
"Eat me?"
"Not really eat, but devour your very conscience. Sometimes that leads to death." The kitten said calmly and collected. "The reason others don't get harmed is because they're not interacting with the world. This world, I mean."
"This world? What are you talking about?"
"Look around you. Nothing is at it seems for a typical night."
The tabby did so reluctantly and saw nothing out of the ordinary. When he looked back at the kitten, he was gone. Chance looked at the clock on his phone and saw the time read 12:01 A.M. He's only slept for two hours, but he felt like it was longer than that. His head hurt and he lied down again passing out instantly. Without the dream happening again.
On his way to the campus, he saw Steele standing by the gate, arms crossed and pensive. Chance tried to pass by without Steele noticing him but it failed quickly. "Morning, Chance." Steele said calmly, "I don't know what you do to get used to Jake, but I'm gonna do my best tonight. As much as I hate being near him, I'm glad Callie will be there. I want you tell me something. Do you think I'm rude?"
"Yes."
"Tch! At least you're honest." Steele's tail swished around but he didn't retort back. Both walked into the campus together, talking but not making eye contact.
That morning, the Student Council judged the projects made by the dorm students to incorporate their knowledge of the school. Callie was amongst the judges, going around and asking questions about their unique creations.
As the judges drew closer, Jake couldn't keep still. "Oh man, I'm so nervous."
"Really? You get nervous?" Steele seemed surprised for once. "I thought you just do whatever you want without worry."
"Hey, I recent that!" Jake bit back. "I'm nervous because everyone's project looks amazing. All mine looks like a...um..."
"Pile of pipes sculptured together." Steele said his part. Chance had to admit that the project Jake made was impressive. It was a sculpture of the college's founder since the very block, in Jake's words, was where the tom lived before he was drafted into the Megakat War.
"Whoa!" A muscular dark and white striped tom came up gawking at their project. Two others gathered around him and judged the sculpture with their opinions. Jake really blushed at their comments, and they were soon moving on.
"Don't take their comments as appreciation. I'm sure they were mocking you." Steele said coyly.
"Bite me." Jake said back, but they didn't argue much. Both seemed relaxed and Steele did seem to be trying to stay calm. "By the way, the buffer feline is also from our dorm. He hasn't been around much since he's always busy practicing for the season coming in the fall."
"That's right, I forgot he staying there. But he looks a little like Chance. Must be a lost brother or something." Jake joked. "Hey, you think he'd want to come with us tonight?"
"I doubt you'd see him after this. But if you're interested Chance, they are holding up the Sports Club sign-ups this year. Maybe you could join them if you want."
"But sadly not all clubs aren't accepting new members yet until next week. There are a few clubs around here accepting though. Not all of them. It would have been nice to have you join the Marksman Society." Jake said.
The three talked for a while until the judges came around and asked them questions. Jake answered them all, his nerves gone before they arrived.
Later that evening, Chance waited in the lobby with Steele. The tom was fidgeting and checked his phone too frequently muttering the time every three to five minutes. "Damn that jerk... Why do I have to so stubborn?"
After the passed few days, he saw Steele more relaxed and less harsh toward him. The two didn't talk much but at least Steele didn't walk out the room when he was there. Chance checked his time, knowing full well it was around eleven thirty.
"Alright, who's ready to go investigating?" Jake came down with a flashlight in his hand and camcorder. "Gotta have some fun while we're at it."
"You're having too much fun already. Can we just go?" Callie sighed. She wore a pink jacket and light brown scarf. It was spring and the chill air was not yet gone from the nights.
"Don't have to get all pushy. Let's go to the school."
The moon shined brightly in the sky but the streetlights held most of it's glow on its own. When they reached the gates, they were shut and locked. That was strange for them since students have been known for studying late.
"We'll climb over the gate. Steele, don't go running off." Jake quickly climbed the gate while the other growled to himself. Chance was oddly made to follow to the small tom and trouble getting over but made it in one peace. "Okay, Chance you see that box there, try ripping it open."
"You really want to do this?"
"Just do it, please." Chance sighed and did so. When he went to lift the lid, the lights around them went off. And not just the campus, but the whole city as they could tell. "Damn it... The flashlight went dead."
"That can't be right." Callie said pushing the gate slightly. "I placed new batteries on that thing."
"My phone wont turn on. I had this thing charged." Steele said. He sighed too and put his phone away. "What about you guys?" Everyone took out their phones and, just like Steele's, theirs have been turned off too.
"This is too strange. Can't be just a normal black out." Jake pondered on the possibilities but he quickly put that aside. "Hey, we're here to prove a lame rumor wrong. So let's get going while the getting is good."
As they walked around, they tried to see where they were going. With the power out and no flashlight, they could hardly make out what was in front of them. The air was beginning to feel damp and cool, and there was a strong metallic scent hitting their noses. As the clouds moved away from the moon, the light from the moon made their vision more visible.
"What the hell?"
The whole courtyard was covered in puddles of blood. The fountain in the center even had a crimson tint but the water never ran. The sky was an ominous green and the moon a bright sinister yellow. The trees were also stained with blood and the walls of the campus buildings. As they made their way deeper into the courtyard, they wondered what happened.
"We really shouldn't have come here." Steele tried his best to stomach the smell and sight.
"Jake, you got what you wanted. Let's get out of there." Callie pulled on his arm, but Jake jerked himself free.
"I don't believe this. This has to be some kind of prank." Jake pulled out his camcorder but failed to turn it on. "Shit! There goes my proof..."
"What was that?" Chance heard something from behind them. It sounded like steps, but it wasn't normal steps. His ears perked again and he knew that there was something coming for them.
"Agh!" Jake screamed when something splashed out of the fountain. The thing landed in their way, preventing them from escaping. It held a mask in one of its arms and scissors in the other. The rest of its body seemed to be made of shadow like arms. More gathered around it and crawled closer.
"Everyone, run!" Chance told them as he dragged Jake, totally stunned by what was happening.
Steele was ahead, protecting Callie from anything that could be in front of them. Chance was right behind and not so far the monsters after them. Jake held him back and tried to snap him out from whatever the small tom was in.
"Jake! Come on! You got to start picking up those feet!"
"Damn!" Steele yelled when he led them to a dead end. Callie tried to pry the door open from the building but it was locked or wouldn't budge. "Callie!" Steele pulled her away from one of the monsters that attacked them. All four were trapped and the three things crawled closer, all three snipping the scissors. The middle lunged toward them and they all embraced for the impact.
It's time.
Chance stepped forward, fists balled up, and punched the monster in the air, sending it back on the ground. It convulsed on the ground before getting back up on its many arms again. Chance took his stance and taunted the monsters to come at him. As one of them went for him, the tabby dodged, grabbed its arms and slammed it to ground. Chance growled blasting fire from his hand and burning the monster to nothing. The other two monsters hissed and backed away, but Chance didn't let them escape as he singed them before he gave them the chance.
The tabby breathed heavily, a sinister smile spread across his face from the rush of finally letting go. He felt free and unbound from the chains that held him before. Chance calmed himself and breathed slowly as he turned to his friends, all three shocked at him. He smiled softly before blacking out from the heavy headache.
He could hear them calling out to him, but all Chance wanted to do was sleep.
Like a song of spring
Loud and clear
Ringing in my ears
The beating of my heart
But whatever it said
I'd always joke that this winter's made
For a lifetime
Heard another heart
Sing of spring
Ringing loud and pure
And joked at what it said
But it felt so strong
And then I couldn't resist the joy of having
Two hearts
Ring in my
Little chest
It's spring
The winter is gone
There's a sense of promise in the air
It's spring all around
Listen if you dare
It's spring
(And)I'm sure that it sounds
Quite improbable, but it's true, there
Is more than one heart
Beating in my chest
Music used in this story:
Persona 3 - Burn my Dread/ Want to be Close/ Joy/ Iwatodai Dorm/ The Voice Someone Calls/ Trouble/ Shadow/ More Than One Heart