Author's Note:
Yeah, so I'm still looking back at this and cringing. I can't believe that I really thought I was doing some good story telling.
But hey, at least it shows that my mental writing has improved. Let's see how it looks like in physical form.
And yes, I'm still very bored.
On with the Story!
Flashback:
Most of them passed out in Odd and Ulrich's dorm, except for Odd ironically. He should've fell asleep first, considering the lack of sleep he had gotten.
'They would never leave me. They're my best friends.' Odd's final thought was, before passing out with the others.
Since then, Odd has be feeling more needed than ever. His reunited friends want to do actual normal stuff, like homework or choosing things in certain situations.
Tuesday, 8pm, in Odd and Ulrich's Dorm
A particular rough day has Odd feeling like he has lost even more brain cells than usual. He goes to his small cabinet and picks out a random pair of pants and a tank top, on his way to the shower. It seems as though he was very lucky, as the shower room is nearly empty.
A few minutes later Odd walks back into the dorm to see Ulrich writing something on a small piece of paper.
"Nice Ulrich! You've gotten enough courage to finally ask Yumi out! Bravo!" Odd smiles cheekily, getting the twentieth groan from Ulrich.
"I'm actually writing some stuff for my test tomorrow, there's no way I'll pass without this." He gestures to the small piece of paper and slides it neatly inside his jacket sleeve. "Fool proof plan."
"Yeah yeah-" Odd fixes his pillow, picking up Kiwi and placing him next to him. "-And then you can tell me all about how you got caught again and need me to tutor you so that you'll get half of your points back."
Another groan was the last thing Odd heard before passing out on his bed.
In Odd's Dreams…
Odd fell face flat in his dream.
It was caused by a time machine, which seemed to take him all the way back to 4th grade. He sees himself, with bits of purple and blue, tuffs of hair on the top and a boat load of gel... Odd knows know. This was when he took his picture for class. One of his best, personally.
In fact, he thought he looked pretty damn cute.
Present-day Odd hides behind a thick fence that was surrounding a tree, seeing Odd Jr. strolling across, heading away from the public school, where he meets four kids about fourteen, looking as tall as a highschooler, looking into the young one's eyes with such determination in them. The 4th grader noticed their look from the side of his eye, but thinks it's just the stuff he was wearing.
Big Mistake.
Odd knew that he didn't really catch on much as a kid, but he should've seen this one from a mile away.
The four started sprinting, almost bolting towards Odd, as he runs his little legs down the block, but it was too late. The future Odd couldn't do anything, couldn't act upon anything. He was just another person looking into the past.
He could only watch this horrible memorie unfold from the outskirts of the block.
The fourth grader tripped on a ledge, causing him to fall and skinning his knee. This gave the teenagers the opportunity to grab Odd by his arms and legs. He could barely move out, tried all his might to run. As a result, it just seemed to hurt more so he didn't try anymore as the teens dragged him along, his pants ripping as they went against the concrete.
"Damn, this day looks even worse as a memory." Odd couldn't help but think that every kid goes through this. That it was normal.
They took his backpack and put it on top of a tree, then one of the four held a thick layer of rope, and tied Odd into a pole. Gasping for breath of how tight the rope was, he wheezed:
"Why are you doing this to me?" He tried not to cry, not to give up, which for all he knew, was going to nonetheless.
"Hmmm…" One of them pondered, taking actual seriousness in the question. "For the hell of it..?" He answered at the kid. "What's your name?" He questioned with a stern look in his eyes. The boy wanted to spit at him, but he knew it can get a lot worse, so he didn't answer. "Well?"
"Why should you know?" He weakly shot back.
"What is your name?!", another shouted. "You purple-haired freak!"
"My name is Odd. Happy?" He finally let a tear down.
"Well that's Odd." The four boys said in unison.
"Like I haven't heard that before." Both the past and present Odd muttered under their breath.
Have fun getting out!" the boys said, walking off, leaving Odd to try to get out of the borderline chokehold the rope was for him.
He eventually ripped the rope and shaked the tree, which dropped his backpack, and nearly limped all the way home.
Present day Odd entered back in the time machine, hoping that it would take him out and wake him up, but the life of a fourth grade Odd continued.
Every day they would do the same thing. The same rope. The same route. The same injuries. This went on for years, until he went and moved to Kadic.
His parents knew, and helped him by moving on purpose, since that was all they can do. Ever since, Odd has been living in a dorm with a stranger, which was Ulrich, and became friends with him. After, he started to meet the others.
He lived peacefully since then. Odd doesn't see his younger self anymore, he just sees a teenager waking up to his dog.
Until the men show back up serving a wheelchair with a side order of blood.
That's when he woke up.
Wednesday, 6am, Odd and Ulrich's Dorm
Odd almost jumped out of his bed, followed by deep breaths and a quiet shriek. Now the dream was in his head, haunting him for that day. Something was weird in that dream. The men looked recent, memorable.
Familiar.
'Maybe it's nothing... yeah it just has to be nothing...' Odd thought.
As Odd made his way out and about the little dorm, locating his clothes and gel for his hair, soon after jogging to the showers. Taking a couple of minutes to do the usual, Odd walks out to see Ulrich still groggy from his little sleep.
"Hey Ulrich, sleep well?"
"Yeah, doing alright, you?"
"Eh, don't want to talk about it. I'm going to breakfast a bit early, see you there?"
"Sure thing, walking stomach." Ulrich gave him a grin and got up from his bed as Odd closed the door behind him.
All of this thinking about the stupid nightmare made Odd hit the door to Jeremie's dorm. He opened it only to see him and Aelita sleeping. Together. Again.
"Hey lovebirds! Enjoying your views?!", shouted Odd, with immediate blushes when they woke up, arm and arm. He smiled at the impact his words have over others.
"Odd!" They both said at the same time, looking at each other quickly before looking back at him.
"Sorry! But I need to talk to Aelita, if I can Jeremie."
"Sure, fine." Aelita got up, drank some water from the water bottle that was on the desk, and put her hair back to usual
"Thanks Jer."
"You better not do anything." Jeremie warned groggily.
"Oh please." Odd smirked. "We're 'cousins'."
Odd and Aelita walked out of the building, sitting at one of their usual spots.
"So what is it, Odd?" Aelita began to say.
"My nightmares, Aelita. They are coming back, and I don't know what to do." Odd tried to shake his head from the repeating memories. "I thought since you have dreams like this sometimes…"
"Wait- the ones when you were in fourth grade right? I never heard in detail about it though.."
"Yeah, but worse now. It's vivid, and it keeps freaking me out." Odd rubbed his chin. "I almost woke up Ulrich from it."
"Do you want me to tell Yumi and Sam about it?" She asked, understanding his problem with a few slow nods.
"Please, but only them, I don't feel like talking to the guys about this one."
After that came a vision of Odd being in a room with a note that said three words:
"Well, that's Odd."
It hit him way too hard for his own good and his head was spinning.
He began to pass out, as Aelita ran to Sam, who was walking to the cafeteria, to get Odd to the nurse. They came back and saw him. There he was, by the tree, with a bump on his bottom lip, a reopened scar from his shoulder, and a new tear. Something's up with him.
At the Infirmary, 7:39am
They both carried Odd to the nurse. That's when Yolinda spoke up to the two girls.
"It's not that serious. Just a bruise and a cut. Just make sure that you check on him every once in a while, His head seems really...well...he just needs more rest than usual." She smiled.
"Thanks. We will." said Aelita, leading him out the room.
"I hope he's okay. I want to check up on him." Sam said just after leaving the room.
"Sure."
"Thank you. Might as well go to his dorm before curfew. I want to see what's going on."
At the Dorms, 7:56pm
As they slowly opened the door to the cramped dorm, Sam settled Odd on the his bed, while Aelita got ice.
"Odd? Please tell me what's going on." Sam implored.
"Remember those night terrors I told you about?"
"What about it?"
"I'm having those again."
"Well, I will stay with you until curfew. Maybe the sleepless night really are getting to you."
"You're too sweet."
This earned Odd a soft kiss on the cheek.
Aelita came in minutes later, on the phone, talking to Yumi about Odd's night terrors.
"Yeah. Sure. Bye Yumi." Those were the last words before she hung up.
"I have the ice. I'll leave you two be." Aelita says, tossing the ice to Sam and quietly closing the door.
"Hey, Odd?"
"Hmm?"
"I know about Lyoko, Aelita told me and I-"
"That's amazing!" Odd tried to smile but it sent waves of pain to his lip.
"Just don't tell anyone, got it Odd?"
"I'd do anything for my love." He couldn't really smile, so he hugged her.
Odd started to change, kissed her goodbye, then slid under his sheets, yet again drifting into a deep sleep, with no thoughts except Sam and him.
Only to haunt him once more by the memory.
(FIN)
I wish I could tell you how much I freaking cringed at this whole "before" and "after" thing. Time gets to you. (Insert suicidal Kermit meme here.)
I'll post this soon, pretty quick if you saw my most previous post.
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Until the next one~