Chapter Forty-Eight

48

Somehow, the building seemed far more ominous when she last visited, as though it was hungrily awaiting her return. She stepped inside and immediately she felt the chilling wind of the presence she was seeking.

"Come on, Connar..." said Norika, who had followed Connar back to the dreaded place that still left a trauma in her heart, "Forget this...let's just turn back!"

"Please, milady..." said Kaibaman, "Heed her concerns and warnings!"

"I can't." she said softly,"I can't explain why but I feel... I need to do this." she sighed shakily,"Besides I feel some things may be solved if I push forward..." she blinked and looked to Norika, "...You should go back." she stated, "For your own safety." she stated, "You've done more than enough, Norika...I can't ask you to do this, with me."

"But, Connar-"

It became impossible for Norika to reach her once Connar crossed the threshold. Her connection to the normal world her snapped like an electrical cut off through a thread that bound them together. Norika could feel a sudden pound in her chest and a constriction as tears streamed down her cheeks

"...Connar?"

But the pinkette's presence...was gone.

XXXXX

"Kaibaman?" Connar blinked as she called out to him,"Kaibaman Where are you...!?"

"I am here!" spoke a familiar husk who now took a physical form beside her.

"Kaibaman!" she smiled in relief and clunf tightly to his clothes. Everything about him was real now...while this confused her, she was glad that she wasn't alone.

"What happened to Norika?"

"She was left behind." he said, "We have successfully crossed through the boarder...Norika can not come here." he blinked, "Because she is not a Spirit Caller...like you."

"Me?" Connar blinked, "A spirit Caller?"

"Man that guy is really annoying isn't he~?" a familiar voice spoke tauntingly followed by some ominous giggling that commanded Connar's attention while the taller physical form pulled her back behind him. She turned and found exactly she was seeking, sitting one leg crossed over the other and his hands folded as he sat pompously. "Duel Spirits are such troublesome things." his sharp eyes lingered on her and seemed to have a hot majenta glow.

"It's you..."

"Tis I~" he smirked and stood up. He stood out in his design with his clothing being skin tight and form-fitting. His face was Identical to Connar's, she would think it was an inverted mirror. She couldn't explain why, but his presence gave her a nauseating swirling pain in the pit of her stomach. His smirk worsened that sensation as he approached her and cupped her cheeks and leaned in close and for a brief moment, as her skin made contact to his hands, she felt...whole.

What...is...this?

She asked herself.

"I knew you'd seek me out sooner or later~" he giggled,"but it seems you're not quite ready yet..." he said with a click of his tongue,"Too bad...I do so hope being part of you~" he sighed as he pulled back and crossed his arms in a stubborn huff.

Part of me?

She asked herself.

What does he mean...?

"So... what do you want?" he huffed as he folded his pale skinned arms once again and leered upon her with a hot pink glow in his eyes.

"A-Answers." she said firmly as she clenched her fists," Tell me...are you...a shadow rider?"

He gave her a blank expression and cracked an amused grin.

"Well Connar...tell me something?" he blinked,"Are YOU a Shadow Rider?"

"Of course not!" she snipped and he gave an amused chuckle.

"Then obviously I'm not~" he smirked,"But then, you knew that already, didn't you? So it was a wasted question."

Connar let out a low growl and gritted her teeth.

He was right...

She wasn't sure how she knew, but she just knew this guy wasn't one of them. But then...just who was he?

How is it...that I know you?

"So then...are you one of the missing students who disappeared here?"

"So~ many~ questions~" he giggled teasingly, "But it would seem you're not ready for the answers, even though I've given them to you plenty of times already."

"You are me..." she said softly, which he replied with a scoff and mischevous hum as he clapped his hands sarcasticly.

"But what does that even mean!?"

"Look inside yourself, Connar...and you will know the answer."

She gulped as she felt her heartbeat pound against her chest. She had a feeling he was right. But Something also told her that if she did this...she wouldn't like what she found the answer to be...

He could read this expression on her face and he smirked in his own amusement.

"All in due time~" he snickered,"It's already starting to show within you. No matter what you do, you can't stop this change." he said,"All you can do is keep it within until the day comes when you won't even be able to do THAT anymore!" he said as he approached her and cupped her face, forcing it up to his provocatively. Their noses touched, and their lips just barely apart as he spoke in a harsh whisper,"You will be forced to face it...and accept it...and when that day comes...I will be waiting for you once again~"

"NO!" she cried out and shoved him back.

"Ms. Connar!" Kaibaman cried out and quickly caught her, trying to steady her and her breathing in the midst of this mysterious blue haired boy's laughter.

"N-No...I won't..." she didn't even know what it was that she was refusing. But whatever she was blocking out, she fought her hardest to keep blocking it. She shook her head violently and turned to run once again.

Coming here was a bad idea!

I should have listened!

I should have-

She stopped herself.

No...

She thought.

I have to...

She took in a deep breath and turned to face him one more time. He hadn't moved or changed his position. Watching. Waiting with eager anticipation.

"I have...one more question." she stated.

"What is it?"

"Your name..." she said, "...What is it?"

It seemed this was the right question. He smiled and the atmosphere of the whole room started to right question...

But the wrong time to ask it.

Too soon...

He thought to himself.

Not yet...it's not the time.

"Who I am will become apparent soon enough." he said,"You are needed elsewhere at the moment."

"What do you mean?"

He chuckled and looked out a broken window. His Majenta colored eyes shined with a heated glow, resting on Norika through the other side of the veil as he spoke,"It seems the first Shadow Rider has already struck." he stated,"Your fiery friend...has a target on her back..."

"My...fiery friend?" Connar blinked before letting out a sudden gasp,"Norika!" without pressing further out she turned on her heel and ran. Leaving him alone in his glow of shadows and dust.

The time will come soon, but not yet.

He thought to himself.

She's just not ready yet...but she will be.

He smirked and looked up into the cieling.

Until the day comes when she will be mine once again...Let the pieces fall where they land and come what may...!
"Heh...HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

To be Continued