[Chapter 4]
Abnormality
We gaze at the abnormal Luck acting very strange and the Shadow slowly approach him from behind. I became confuse as to why Jane didn't help him out and act really nervous around him. The whole horde of Shadow made an attempt to use the same tactic as before but he just rotates his body as he made a leap into the air to slash them all into piece. He lands into the floor like nothing and turn to face us with a grin. Jane respond with her sword aim toward him and Luck became puzzle at her reaction.
"Stay back Shadow! I don't want to hurt you but if I must, I will do so." Jane spoke, threating.
"What are you talking about? I just manage to escape from that and save Luke." Luck? spoke, confuse.
Jane became puzzle at Luck respond but her anger still remains intact and I became confuse at Luck strange behavior.
"Why are you acting so strange? You seem to be enjoying killing those thing." I spoke, pausing for a bit. "And what with your voice?" I ask, holding my composure.
Luck turn to me with an embarrass smile as he scratches his head and he didn't seem to disagree to my previous statement which worry me.
"Well it doesn't matter now, let's just leave from here and get back to class, alright?" Luck? said.
Luck approach the door so we may follow him but Jane put his large sword between him and the exit. Luck turn to face Jane with his eyes lid lowering as to focus on her and I felt like a battle is going to start any second now. Strangely, Luck chuckle at Jane's action and smile as he points to himself.
"Why are you so mistrust of other Jane? I am the protagonist, so you can trust me and let me help you with your trouble." Luck? ask.
I felt relief to hear him saying his old stuff and I touch Jane's shoulder to give her some comfort. She turns to face me as I nod at her and she finally lower her weapon down.
"Fine then, but if you do anything suspicious I will cut you down, you hear?" Jane spoke.
"Got it." Luck? nods.
We all decide to step out the door to find ourselves outside of the school's entrance and the light suddenly appear as the sun became visible in the blue sky. I felt happy knowing we escape such dangerous place and I turn back to see them both back here as well.
[Luck POV]
August 22
Monday
Lunchtime
I could feel the tension from earlier leaving the atmosphere which made me feel at ease and I notice Luke turn to face with a smile.
"What a terrible place.." Luke spoke, smiling weakly.
"Oh, you mean the Hotspot?" Jane reply.
"Hotspot?" I ask, curious.
Jane glance at me as she became cautious at me from my sudden change of behavior and I also became curios is to why I change as well.
"For starter, that's the name I give to that place since it reminds me of a haunt place where paranormal activity resides. Henceforth, a Hotspot." Jane nod, approvingly.
I stare at the prideful girl as she became impress at her own word and Luke began to think on the matter.
"If what you are saying is true, doesn't this Hotspot relate to the strange abnormality occurring in our school?" Luke ask, seriously.
"Abnormality? What kind of abnormality occur here? Beside the Hotspot we just went in." I spoke, curious.
"Oh right, you haven't been here for this three years, huh?" Luke reply, thinking. "Well, it all start when I became a Sophomore, people mysterious began to go missing and this school made a huge name for them self…" Luke sigh, depress.
I notice Luke depress face as he endures such hardship as a student council president but she shook his head to give his best smile he can give to us.
"At any rate, the trauma didn't end there." Luke spoke, holding his anger. "After a countless search for the culprit, corpse suddenly began to show at random and cause many students to become afraid at this person, whoever this was." Luke explain.
"But it wasn't a person who was killing them, but rather a ghost kills any person who traverse to the other side and body pop from there into our reality." Jane suddenly, spoke
Luke became surprise at Jane's shocking respond to his past and he wanted to know more about her theory relating that Hotspot to the missing people.
"What do you mean by that!" Luke ask.
Jane sigh. "What I am saying is that the people who enter, like you two for example, could go missing for a while and the Shadow from that place would of kill you. In other words, you two would of die and go missing like the others who once enter the Hotspot if Luck didn't awaken to his Persona or if I didn't intervene." Jane explain.
Luke became shock at Jane's theory and became angry as he grabs her arm very tightly and Jane became silence as she remains calm.
"Are you saying, you had this power from the very beginning and you did nothing to rescue the student from such dangerous place!" Luke angrily state.
I became awkward at the situation from both of them and I notice a couple of student passing by noticing the whole ordeal.
"Ummm, guys?" I spoke.
Jane became silence at Luke sudden answer and Luke wasn't so eager to let this question go unanswered but Jane smack Luke's hand away from her.
"I did try that! I was alone all this time and I can only do so much with myself so stop putting your stupid trouble on me!" Jane spoke, fiercely.
Luke became silence as he looks down with shame and Jane did the same thing as she grabs her shoulder. I, in the other hand became more focus on the student whispering about us and I immediately grab both of them so we can talk more in a private place. We reach the outside side of the school and I turn to see them very confuse and angry at their powerless self. I need to do something about their problem before they can hurt each other even more.
"Listen you two, you two have responsibility to do and that's fine what you think but!" I spoke, raising my hand. "You two can rely on others and we can accomplish even more together than alone, rely on me if you can since I am involve on this matter too." I explain, smiling.
They look at me and listen to my speech as they remain silence for a brief second until they burst in laughter.
"Hey, I really meant that, you two have the potential to be main character." I chuckle.
"I don't know why I became angry, but you are right Luck, and I am sorry Jane." Luke sigh. "I should of seeing your side of the story before saying my opinion and give false judgment." Luck said.
"It's okay, it is my bad as well since I don't trust other so I thought I could do it by myself and I paid the price for it, I am truly sorry." Jane spoke.
I became happy at those two making up and letting their past stay in the past and so I became excite to meet such individual as those two that I could hold my excitement.
"Excellent! Seeing such friendship! Such personality as the like of you really make me feel alive and more excite to be the protagonist." I spoke, excitedly as I began to breath heavily.
"Wow, easy there, you should slow down and you are freaking me out with your drooling and stuff." Jane spoke, blushing.
Luke laugh. "I think it suit him." Luke smile.
I slowly calm down my excitement as I took some deep breath and focus on them to cheer them on.
"My bad, but I do really mean by you two having such potential unlike the others. So, don't go saying you aren't anything special, I know when someone is unique." I explain.
Both of them seem really happy about themselves due to my speech and I felt like my beauty has increase to some degree. Luke pull out his phone to become scare as he glances at his clock and put it back on his pocket.
"Guys, lunchtime is almost over so we need to go back to our homeroom." Luke said.
"Then let's resume our previous conversation for tomorrow and focus on class, is this idea look reasonable enough?" Jane ask.
"No problem." Luke nod.
"I can agree to it." I reply.
We all nod at the plan and Jane quickly left the area as Luke approach me with something on his mind.
"Hey Luck, I need you to come with me to the main office so we can have an excuse for that time gap." Luke spoke.
"Oh? What kind of excuse are you going to say?" I ask.
"Like you help me with my paperwork, move some boxes, and speak with teacher about their paperwork and such. Don't worry, you can count me on this." Luke explain, confidently.
"All right." I nod.
I follow Luke's plan as we march on into the main hallways and look turn to face the three door from our right. He turns a sharp right to the closest door close to us and we enter to a room with people waiting for people in there. I could see a woman on her counter behind the long counter and Luke speak to that woman.
"Hello miss, I want to report myself and the transfer student, Luck. We were very busy with minor chores from the student council and I came here to report such detail in case people were wondering for us." Luke explain.
"Ah Luke, the student council were getting pretty worry for your sudden absence. I am glad you were doing your job after all." The woman spoke, relief.
Wow, Luke sure is something else if she became worry for him and his other peers.
"I understand, I will let the principle and the teachers know about your doings." The woman smile.
"Thank!" Luke smile.
Luke walk out the office and I follow him to the main hallways, he became happy about something but the sound of the bell rang across the hallways which cause me not to ask him about it.
"Oh, I forgot to say this to you but ever since those case of missing people. We, teacher, and principle decide to keep all of the student in one class for the time being." Luke explain.
"What do you mean by that?" I ask, curious.
"The homeroom will be your only class for half of the semester or until this problem calm down. So, just read your homeroom from the paper in the main hallways and head there for today." Luke said.
"Got it, I think it was C-5 for my homeroom." I reply, smiling.
"Really! That's my homeroom too!" Luke happily said.
Luke became excite for me being with him in that class and we head toward our classroom as we chat about each other. We made it to the 3rd floor of C-5 and Luke open the door as we enter to see students looking at us which made me feel like a disturb their study.
"Oh? Luke."
I turn to face forward to see a dark haired young man with a suit and a red tie hiding behind the suit. I could see a pair of black pants and brown shoes. He smiles as he sees us with his two brown eyes and he seem to be teacher of the class.
"Hello Mr. Robert." Luke spoke.
"I receive word about your arrival from the main office and the attendant office so you can take your seat right away." Mr. Robert spoke.
Luke nod as he took his seat and the teacher look at me as he coughs to get everyone attention.
"Listen everyone, as of today we have a new student joining this class so I want you to make him feel at home, alright?" The teacher explains. "Is time to take the spotlight Mr. Luck." Mr. Robert smile.
I approach toward the center of the room as I feel everyone gaze toward me and I could hear whisper but I remain confident.
"My name is Luck Arclight, nice to meet you all." I introduce.
"He seem rather normal?"
"I wonder why he came here in the first place?"
I could hear them despite them not hiding their opinion very well but the teacher clap to making stop.
"Okay, enough with the introduction. Take your seat Luck and we can resume our study, but don't worry, I will hand out to you the study we learn from the time you and Luke didn't show up." Mr. Robert explain.
"Right." I nod.
I turn to see Luke sitting to the farthest back and closest to the window as he points toward the chair in front of him. Luke seem very prepare and so I sat in front of him since we share a common knowledge.
"Nice, now we can talk without worry about the Hotspot." Luke happily spoke.
"Yeah, I wonder where Jane gone off to? If we only we can talk about it together a bit more." I ask, smiling.
Suddenly, the class's door shot open to reveal Jane coming from the door and she came into the class. I could hear people whispering again at Jane's arrival and I began to listen to them.
"Ugh, it's miss perfect."
"Why do I share a class with her and homeroom of all.."
"Look at her, she just walks like she owns the place."
I felt angry at the student around here insult their peers like that and Luke notice as he became silence at their comment.
"Ah, welcome back Ms. Jane. You can your seat, we just started with our study so please take your seat anywhere for now." Mr. Robert smile.
Jane nod to the teacher's word and I see slowly taking her seat right next to Luke and we that resume class. I spend my time focus on class since Jane became silence and Luke didn't want to bother us so we stay focus on class.
August 22
Monday
After School
The sound of the bell rang as the student began to leave the class for home and I get up to leave the school. I turn back to see Jane already left the class but Luke remain in class as he was waiting for me.
"Hey, I want to talk about something with you. Do you mind if you listen to my selfish request." Luke asks.
Luke is acting a bit weird and serious about this request of his and I didn't mid to listen to his problem.
"I don't mind, what's this request of yours since you sound serious." I spoke.
"Well…" Luke trail off, sighing. "Listen, this may sound dumb to you but I want us to go back to Hotspot again?" Luke spoke.
I became shock at Luke's bold request since he is the one person that wanted to leave from there in the first place. I notice Luke's eyes as a sign of a boy looking for something or rather, helping those who need protecting. I smile at his courage to help another and I understand that feeling pretty well.
"Sure, I don't mind." I reply.
"Really? Excellent! I do owe you again and we can do it after school tomorrow." Luke explain.
"Sound good." I nod.
"All right! I'll see you tomorrow then, later!" Luke said.
Luke left the classroom to do his own business and I decide to leave the school since I have no other business here until I found something to do. I march down to the 1st floor and I notice all of the student already gone. I check my pocket to call Amy but I notice it was empty and I began to panic.
Oh no! I forgot it back at Midnight…
I sigh as I felt really dumb for leaving something so important back at my room as walk toward the entrance I notice a young girl coming out from the office room from before. The girl has dark-brown hair reaching below the ears with bangs swept to her right and held by a few hairpins. Our eyes meet as I see her green-blue color eyes watching me from afar with thick lashes. She wears a black V-neck button shirt with the four-pointed star imprint on it and a paint-stained light blue jeans that are rolled up to her ankles. I glance down to see black angle high boots and felt I know her from somewhere but nothing came to mind. She smiles at me and wave at me which cause me to do the same thing. A couple student began to gather around here and I know she is the popular girl around here. I went outside of the school and figure out a way to go back to Amy's bar. I notice Amy's car from far away and quickly approach it. She lowers her window to me and began to dangle my phone to me as I became embarrass at my mistake.
"It seem someone forgot their phone today? I wonder if he can manage to reach from the school to my place, hmmm?" Amy think, as she glances at me.
"I apologize, I was just really exciting to get here and plus! I meet some friend already." I smile.
I open the door to get in the car and Amy smile after I reveal my result of the day.
"That's good, you making good process for someone that is new to New York. In fact, I am impress, nice job kid." Amy smile.
I felt very pride after getting receive Amy's word of praise and with that, we decide to head home for the day.
August 22
Monday
Evening
It took a while to reach the bar but we manage somehow and we enter my new home. Amy began preparing for her work as she organizes the beverages and I want to help out but I knew she will reject as I have no courage to ask. I decide to ask about the direction I need to take from here to stop so I won't cause problems for her. I took a seat in one the chair near the counter closest to her and began to speak her about it.
"Amy, can you tell me the direction I need to take to reach Morning Start High school?" I ask.
"Sure kid, all you need to do is take the 7th Avenue to reach the 57 Street Subway Station. From there it will take around two stop before reaching the Morning High Station, they really made that station well for new students." Amy explain.
I began to remember all the information I need and I felt confident I could make it there this time so I nod at her.
"Good, and in case I forget to tell you, I will give you the key to this bar in case you want to wander around, which I know you do." Amy smile.
"Yeah, thanks Amy." I reply, happily.
"No problem kid." Amy smile. "Also, your room is already clean from the boxes yesterday so you reorganize your room now." Amy explain.
I immediately head toward my room as I open the door, I could see my spacious room with no boxes in sight. I felt happy to see a spacious room and I felt a bit tire than usual, perhaps it was all that happen at school and the Hotspot. I lay down my bed as my eyes felt heavy to keep them up and so I felt into deep sleep. As time pass, I suddenly feel my myself standing up which is weird and I slowly open my eyes to find myself inside a small blue arcade room with two people sitting down. I notice the games shelf on the right side of the room as the screen face me and to left are the two people. An old man with a long nose, pointing ears and bulging, bloodshot eyes appear to be sitting down and waiting for someone as he taps his finger on the table. He wears a black suit with white gloves and I turn to face the girl sitting on her own chair. The young girl has long platinum blond hair and two golden eyes watching with me. I notice she is wearing strange blue clothing like an attendant and carrying large book saying Le Grimoirewith a blue ribbon page marker with a butterfly imprinted on the marker. The old man chuckle at my appearance as if excite of something coming up.
"It seem you have a very interesting fate and your involvement has stir up a very powerful being to take notice of you." The old man chuckle "Let's start from the beginning, my name is Igor and I am pleased to finally meet you at long last" Igor spoke.
Igor slowly turn to face the quiet young girl and she nod as she turns to face with to give her introduction.
"My name is Martha, and I shall assist you toward your journey and guiding you for your better judgment." Martha explain.
I became puzzle at this two person appearing in my dream and I was wondering if they are relating to that Philemon guy from yesterday.
"Welcome the Velvet Room, this place exists between realm and reality, mind and matter. Only those has form a contract may enter and in the future, we can surely find your true judgment after the long ordeal that await you." Igor explain.
[Chapter 4 End]