[Chapter 3]

The Darkness Within Me

I grin as my persona appear above me and comforting me with the darkness around me. I glance at the black messy hair persona as he silencing watch the area with his orange eyes for a bit before sighing. I notice two horn pointing up and a black scarf surround his neck which leave two trails. He wears a short sleeved black shirt which reveal strange symbols behind his hands and I notice him that he seems the silent type person. Black pants with robe like thing behind him and dark boots with white highlights. I also notice a dark tail behind him and dark wings as he spread them with pride or so I can say as he seems to show little to no interest in the boy.

"I am your judgment and an ally against those that may cause harm to our greater cause." Agnostos Theos spoke, softly.

I felt new power around me developing and my persona quickly left the scene as I finally calm down.

"Wow, what in the world are y-"

The boy words are interrupt by the appearance of two white ghost with a blue mask carrying a lantern and they seem eager to fight us. I couldn't feel the bone chilling sensation from the other one and I know they are but grunt compare to the big one. I felt confident as I stand between the boy and those weakling ghost.

"You don't belong here outsider, didn't your friend warn you about coming here again?" The ghost spoke, angrily.

"What the! They can talk!?" The boy shockingly responds.

Warn?

I became puzzle at the thought of someone other than us coming to such dangerous and bizarre place, but I didn't have time to think as the enemy began to attack. They began to change form as they dissolve into black ooze and later remerge from that same ooze into different form. Two little fairy with brown hair and wearing clothing appear to battle me. They boy behind me felt relief at the sight of a not scary foe and let an exhale of air.

"Thank goodness, I was worry for a second there about another scary monster appearing." The boy smile, relief.

The two little fairy didn't enjoy the boy's comment and being underestimate so they respond with a sudden lighting attack close to us. The boy felt danger yet again but this time, I will stop them from hurting us and I approach to battle. My Persona suddenly appear as I approach them and I began to prepare for battle.

"Defeat any enemy that stand in our way and push them aside with my power alone." Agnostos Theos command.

"Persona!" I scream.

I gently put my weapon on my forehead as it glows and my persona began to charge up an attack. The enemy became cautious at me after witnessing my persona watching them with unimpressed eyes and powerful aura surrounding him.

"Out of my way!" I spoke, fiercely.

I raise my weapon as it shines brightly and Agnostos snap his finger to summon a small tornado to push one of the fairy away. I became excite at this new power of mine and now I understand my role as a protagonist. The fairy slowly got up as she still had the energy to retaliate and both of them shoot the same lighting at me. I felt electricity running down my body but strangely, I manage to withstand such dangerous attack like nothing.

"Nothing, such weak creature shouldn't stand near us if that is all they got. Now, fight with your blade and claw, you are well capable to fight with them on equal ground." Theos explain.

Equal ground?

I watch the dark combat knife and raise my right hand as I see my fingers having small sharp nails. I clench my right fist with a smile and charge at the weak fairy from earlier without hesitation. I throw a good right hook which cause the fairy's body to fall back by my attack but I didn't finish my attack as I quickly grab her body to slam it down on the floor. The fairy disintegrates into black smoke and I turn to face the last fairy standing in my way.

"Don't get cocky human! She will punish you for entering her domain!" She angrily spoke.

"Agnostos Theos!" I command.

I watch the fairy as I held my weapon high in the air, ready attack at my command and so I finish this battle.

"Let's finish this! Come, Agnostos Theos!" I spoke.

Theos appear above me as he snaps his finger to summon a dark hole beneath it and dark energy surround the fairy which cause it to explode as the familiar black smoke appear after the attack has finish. I let a sigh of relief at my victory and how the monster from earlier ran away so I felt relief at that the most.

"Hey!"

I turn around to see the boy approaching me with disbelief at what happen and confuse by something as he stares at me from behind me.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"What's wrong? What do you mean what's wrong!? You can't just ignore what happen here as it was just another normal day! It was unnatural and those monster! I mean, what the hell!" He spoke, angrily.

I became embarrass at my power and most import, on how his feeing suddenly change from taking control to suddenly becoming angry. They boy took notice of my reaction and he clear his throat as he walks next to me.

"I mean; this is a dream." He spoke, thinking and nodding at his idea. "Yup, I can feel I will wake up any second now. Starting now!" He said.

There is a long silence after he finish speaking and I wait for him to calm down from this situation because no normal human will be able to completely take it all in.

"And now! Now! How about now!" He repeats.

"It isn't a dream…ummm.." I began thinking. "What's your name? it was difficult to ask your name with the monster chasing us and all." I spoke.

The boy gave on the idea of dreaming this entire ordeal and turn to face me with exhaust face as he rubs his head from the pain.

"Luke Autumn, the student council president as I previously mentioned and thank you for helping me. I really appreciate what you have done but I do have one important question." Luke explain.

"Oh yeah? What is it?" I ask, curious.

"What's with the getup? And are those horns and wings?" Luke ask, puzzle.

"Getup?" I repeat, confuse.

I look at myself to see new clothing replacing my uniform and a pair of black feathery wings behind me. I check my head to find two black horn as he mentioned and a familiar tail which I can strangely move at will. I notice the same scarf worn by my persona and my round glasses still remain the same as I move them. I notice a rather large white, long sleeved cloak covering my body. The only thing visible are the dark boots and I notice a zipper closing my robes.

"Oh boy, I am no longer a mortal Luke, you must leave from my party and save yourself from this curse." I spoke, dramatically.

I raise my right claw to him and I look back as I cover my eyes with my left hand to show my intention. I glance black to see him not impress by my good acting and I drop such act which was a letdown.

"Seriously? I do hope you can turn back to normal, I mean if the other see you like this…" Luke trail off, thinking. "I can never guess what they will do to you if they find out." Luke spoke.

"I understand, but let's figure out the way out here first and then we can worry about my new looks." I recommend.

"Right, let's go with that then." Luke nod.

We turn to our way left to where we first came from and after taking a good look of this place, we realize how dark this place really is. The only reason we manage to carefully maneuvers these dark hallways is because of the moon coming outside the windows.

Huh? Moon?

I move toward the window to see even more strange stuff than the creepy ghost, it was nighttime already where it should be daytime in the morning. The whole school is strangely cover by thick forest and a full moon is shining above in the dark sky of the night. I see Luke approaching as he notices the change as well but all he did to this change is a sigh.

"I am no longer surprise by anything now and I am already too tire to worry now.." Luke sigh. "In any rate, lets head back to the bathroom in the 2nd floor where we ran. There should be a stair that lead to the 1st floor, remember?" Luke ask.

"I remember, that's where I felt a bit tire and decide to head in the 3rd floor in the nearest bathroom to rest." I reply.

"Yeah, let's start there and hope no gate are blocking there." Luke nod.

We slowly head back to our destination as the dark hallways are a bit difficult to move around with the thick darkness surrounding but it is comfortable to hide from monster around here. We slowly manage to arrive to the men bathroom's door outside and I see the stair from here now. The big monster that was chasing us was blocking the stairs and I felt a bit embarrass for not noticing.

"Well, there it is. Let's hope we can escape this strange place." Luke said.

I nod as we march toward the stare and we didn't hold any hope of not seeing the gate but nothing stood in our path which made us feel happy at our good luck. Luke became excite at our ticket home and we head toward the stair until we could hear step coming up from the bottom stairs.

"Do you think is same monster that chase us? Or the little ones?" Luka whisper, scare.

"None, the big one is carrying chains and the little ones could easily fly up toward us without making any noise." I whisper.

I decide to confront this new threat and slowly head down the stair without making any single noise. I could hear Luke whispering to go back but I need to see for myself to who are making those footsteps. As I see the midway of the stair as the stairs turns and more stairs was leading down the opposite way, I could see a familiar girl that I meet at the main hallways. She looks up to see a shock expression and a smile at her and wave at her. I notice her clothing a bit different as she wears a black cloak with leather black training clothes and a dragon-like rider gear. A shoulder guard on her right shoulder, a pair of gauntlets, hips and shin guards. I also notice her two handed sword behind her back and I understand all I need to know about her.

"You!" She said, sounding a bit angry.

"Indeed." I reply, smiling.

She was preparing to speak once more but she became even more surprise as she notices my new getup and my weapon next to me. I understand now more than ever as to what she meant back there and I know she has the power to summon her persona as well.

"H-Hey, did you by any chance have a…a.." She hesitates to speak.

"Persona? If so then yes, I just acquire this power and I receive a diamond to summon it, see." I spoke.

I pull out my hunter knife to reveal the diamond glowing as I touch it and she became excite at my reveal which was a first expression on her I seeing.

"I see, congratulation on acquiring your Persona. I do apologize yet again for my mistrust and you must understand I was doing it to protect any from coming here." She explains.

"Oh, don't worry about it, I finally understand and…" I trail off, looking back. "You can come out now Luke." I spoke.

"Luke?" She asks, confuse.

There was a brief silence before we could hear footstep coming down and we could see Luke coming down with an embarrass expression as he listens to our conversation. The girl wasn't so happy now as she felt I brought him here and never a person to listen first.

"You brought a civilian here!? You know how dangerous this place is!" She asks, seriously.

"Yeah, I know now but it isn't my fault. It just happens to be as I watch the mirror from the 3rd floor and then I was here." I explain.

The girl began thinking on my explanation and she seem confuse by my statement which I didn't understand as she keeps all information to herself.

"That's impossible, even I couldn't enter this place on any floor above the 1st floor.." She mutters.

"Its fine Luck, but we should find the exit to such dangerous place and I am worry about school since we being out so long." Luke spoke.

"Oh that? It is already lunchtime." She replies.

"What!? But my lateness is inexcusable if I became tardy for two of my classes." Luck sigh. "What would I do now?." Luck spoke.

"Well, you can worry about that later, for now we must head toward the exit." The girl spoke.

"You know the way out? I ask."

"Of course, I being here practicing my Persona so I know my way around here in some floors. Follow me." She commands.

The girl head back down the stair toward the 1st floor and we look at each other with a confuse look at her. We decide to follow her lead to reach the first floor and into the main hallways from before. I notice the main door already open and our exit is clearly visible to us now.

"Excellent, that must be our exit home, correct?" Luke ask.

"Yes, once we head outside, we will find ourselves outside of the school in the real world." She nods.

"Let's go." I spoke.

The two of the nod at my command and we walk toward the exit until a horde of ghost surround us and we became trap.

"What the! Why there is so many ghost here and why now!?" Luke ask, surprise.

"I don't know; this is my first time seeing this Shadow acting like this." She spoke.

"Shadow?" I ask.

"Well, well, we do we have here."

The voice of a girl suddenly got our interest as we desperately look for the source of the voice and we see her behind us. The humanoid ghost has light- brown hair reaching her back with a red bow on top of her. She looks at us down with her dark, soulless eyes as the other monster but she didn't wear any mask like the other here. She wears a yellow night gown with the school's star which caught me off guard to the reveal. She seems to be glowing light-green all-round her body, in fact, she seems to be emitting that color as if that is the original color of her body.

"Students here again, huh? You don't ever learn to stay away from here and yet you come back to be tear apart by them. Is death what you wish for then?" The ghost girl asks.

"Who are you! Are you a student at Morning Star High?" The girl asks.

The ghost girl sigh at her question and seem not very interest to answer her question as she glares at her.

"I am the one asking the question, know your place." The ghost girl angrily spoke.

We notice the Shadow screaming in pain as the ghost girl became agitate and more are popping out from around us.

"Hey, stop making the ghost girl mad, do you have a death wish or something?" Luke ask.

Luke approach the girl ghost as he apologizes to her about our friend's rudeness and how we mistakenly arrive her. I notice the ghost girl becoming angry after Luke step in which was odd, as if he has a connection to this place or her.

"You!" The ghost interrupt.

"M-Me?" Luke spoke, nervously.

She became angry just by looking at him alone and she point at us which cause us to become cautious at her next move. I slowly pull out my weapon and I notice the girl about to grab her necklace holding a gem.

"Kill all intruders and don't let them go alive from here." The ghost girl command.

She floats in the air to disappear in the ceiling and the shadow began their assault on us as they began to change form like before.

"Let me show you guys my Persona and my potential to never steer from my own judgment ever again." The girl spoke.

She slowly clenches her necklace as it illuminates brightly and she glance toward the shadow with a confident look in her eyes.

"Come, Bahamut!" She yells.

A burst of light appears as she summons her Persona which cause the shadow to back away from the power light coming from her. I could see her Persona emerging from her and spreading his wings as he appears. We could see a dark-blue dragon with fangs jutting from his upper lips like a saber-tooth tiger would. Short studded spike travel from her back and her silver horns are long, and curving inward. This persona's wing are large compare to her body and I notice small shining black spike at the end of the wings. The persona watches us with his slitted purple eyes and she seem to be calm about the situation.

"I am Bahamut, I won't let anyone dare touch our judgment or else they will meet death if they do." Bahamut spoke.

The girl glance back at the exit and she approach me as she turns to face the exit and tug my sleeves to get my attention.

"Luck was it? I know you have a Persona so I need your help on making a path for us through the exit." She whispers.

"Got it, I will do what I can." I spoke, smiling.

She smiles at my respond and we face the crowd of shadow in front of us as I raise my weapon in the air and summoning my Persona.

"Agnostos Theos!" I summon.

My Persona emerge once more to help me get rid of the Shadow before me and we continue our assault. The girl looks at my Persona with a bit of disbelief in her eyes and became happy at my persona ability.

"I see, not a bad Persona." She smiles, as turn to face in front. "My name is Jane Hanamura, I hope we can get along from now on." Jane spoke, with a slight joy in her voice.

I nod as the Shadow became cautious at our Persona focusing to attack them all and we start to make our moves as we shout.

"Let's go!" Me and Jane spoke.

My persona snaps his finger as a force push shadow away from that specific spot and the dragon open her mouth to release a small ball of fire which burn the group of shadow. The Shadow became disorganize by our attack and became distress at our attempt to retaliate so we took our chance to pass them by.

"Okay, the Shadow are distracted, now let's move it people!" Jane command.

"Right!" Luke spoke.

We ran thought the hallways as the Shadow attempt to attack us from the side but our Persona interfere to such attempt with ease. While we slash, cut, or push them away at our end while keeping Luke safe. Jane path was clear as she pushes the shadow away with ease with her giant sword and we became shock at this girl strength.

"Wow, what a girl, huh?" Luke ask, shock.

I chuckle. "Yeah, good thing she is in our team." I spoke.

Luke nod as my reply and we continue moving forward toward out exit and when we reach the exit, One the shadow manage to sneak by and lunge at Lunge which cause me to stop and turn to face him.

"Luke!" I said.

I could see the wave of shadow we push by coming down the hallways and I hesitate to just run away from him. The sight of shadow made me cautious at my next move and I could hear Jane shouting at me. The pressure suddenly weights upon my shoulder and I knew someone is going to live and the other die. I am breathing heavily at the result and my body react as I stab the shadow to make it disappear and Luke became shock at my answer to that question.

"L-Luck…Wow, Hey what are yo-Ahhh!"

I quickly grab his arm to throw him toward Jane and he manage to land next to the door which I felt relief.

"You idiot! Are you throwing your life like that!?" Jane ask, angrily.

I sigh as I felt happy at my answer despite Jane's word and I felt a shadow attach to my back and I forcibly grab him to throw him away from me. Later, I felt more and more of them putting me down as I could only see darkness slowly surrounding me and I became unable to stand up. I could their shout of worry as I fell down into the floor and they began to trap me with their weight.

Is this the end for me…

Are you going to give up already? Then you truly aren't her protagonist if you are acting like this. Yo….WE could do better, just shatter you gem and let me be free.

I felt a shock as I could hear my voice resonate in my mind and I body instinctively bring my weapon up. I pull the gem from my weapon and look at the gem as if hesitating to shatter the diamond.

Do it! Let's me protect our cause and prove them wrong! Government, people, anyone are wrong about our judgement, just let me go wild!

I shatter the diamond as I froze from something and I felt new emotions overwhelming my entire mind.

[Luke POV]

I watch as a student risk my life for me and I felt disappointed at myself since the only reason I reach the rank of president was to protect student like him. I see those monster piling up and there is a silence with no struggle coming from Luck.

"I can't believe it!" Jane shook her head.

Suddenly, we felt something dangerous coming from that pile and we could hear soft laughter. This laughter was hard to describe as it holds no emotions of pity, mercy, or kindness but the thrill of something bad. The laugher became more clear as the shadow pile jump a bit and they became confuse just as us about what just happen to them. Soon, the pile is easily push away and I could see Luck coming from the pile with his right arm in the air.

"Luck!" I smile.

I start to approach him but Jane suddenly grab my arm and I turn to see her becoming nervous about something.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I ask.

"Impossible, his Shadow here and now?" Jane spoke, confuse and nervous.

His Shadow?

I turn to face a chuckling Luck as he covers his right eyes with his right hand and I could see from his round glasses a change. I could see the eyes of a killer looking for a thrill and those yellow eyes are really confident at their ability to make it happen.