(Star) I woke up to feel myself lying on something soft and surrounded in warmth. It was so warm and comforting that for once I felt I didn't have to be afraid. I slightly opened my eyes to see someone sitting next to me. I could only see his silhouette, but I could feel his hand on mine. He seemed to be nodding off, judging by his fading mind, and didn't notice I was awake. "Where... where am I?" I managed to whisper, causing him to jerk awake.
As he lifted his head, I was able to see his face in the better lighting. The tall, silver-haired boy looked down at me with a look of relief. Finally awake, his thoughts sighed contentedly, and I suddenly remembered who he was.
"Quinton?" I quietly asked him as soon as I recognized him. He slowly nodded and brushed back my bangs, slowly tracing the scar on my face. I got myself to sit up in my bed as he left the room I was in.
When Quinton came back to my room, he brought his two younger brothers with him. I noticed that Trey was holding a tray of food for me. But I saw someone else's mind coming, and my suspicions were confirmed when Vetrix also came through the door. I tensed up, but after scanning him, I realized that he was lacking the malice I once saw in him. As I ate the food that Trey brought me, I heard the thoughts that came from all four boys.
What's the deal that Shark of all people was the first one she saw around here? It was probably by chance; at least, I hope so. I really hope that he forgives me for what I did to Rio. But with Star, those are some nasty scars that she has, especially the ones on her face and neck.
I just can't get around the fact that someone like her can contain so much magic. She's hardly older than I am, and yet she can control powers even stronger than that of all our combined strength! How is she able to do it? And what is the cost of withholding such power?
I feel so deeply connected to her, and it's so difficult to believe that we've hardly known each other. She feels so familiar, yet so new to me. That mind-meeting we had must have caused that connection. But just how deep can this connection go?
What could make Star so familiar to me? Was she the girl that I remember seeing from the portal exploration? She truly does resembles that little "phantom girl" feature for feature. But it simply can't be her, can it?
I was pretty curious about this "phantom girl," Vetrix kept talking about, mostly because she looks so much like me. As soon as I finished the food, Trey took care of the plate. When he came back, I finally remembered what had happened five years ago. I began to feel a slight buzzing in my head, with Quinton asking worriedly, "Star, what is going on right now?"
Without my command, my powers caused a lavender flash as I heard, Umbral Reveal.
(Flashback) I was standing in a large mansion's living room, hiding in a shady corner. I watched two boys playing with a white greyhound, with another one sitting on the couch off to the side. I was only ten years old at the time when I found out how to phantomize. The two younger brothers looked like they were having so much fun together. I wish I could've said the same for myself, though. My parents' souls have vanished for two years, and they've become nothing short of demonic to me. Now, my knee-length black hair is the only way to cover my scars.
Even though a warm fire crackled in the nearby hearth, I shivered in my light lavender dress that trailed to my knees. I lightly traced the deep scars on my neck and face, wishing that my parents were still the same. I gazed at the boys with longing in my deep eyes as I watched them play. I could feel the joy in their minds and the peace in their hearts. Soon the two younger boys grew tired and went to the couch, falling asleep around their older brother. Afterwards I turned around and disappeared into the shadows, leaving a long, shed strand of my hair behind me.
A wind rushed, and I was suddenly standing on the edge of a chasm, now eleven, with a similar dress, and a lot more scars. My tangled, black hair reached my ankles, and so did my dress. The weirdest difference was my feet weren't touching the ground. There was a helicopter that landed close to the entrance, and four people walked out: three adult men and a fifteen-year-old boy. One of the men told him, "You'd better stay here, Chris. I'll go on with Dr. Faker and Kazuma."
The teenager, who must have been his son, smiled and answered, "Good luck."
I silently followed the three men in their exploration with surprising ease. Nothing and no one could touch me, although some could see me. I would walk just behind their camp, getting a sense of their personal lives and mindsets. Kazuma Tsukumo was adventurous and friendly, and cared deeply for his wife, daughter, and young son. Byron Arclight was gentle, kind, and held great affection for his three sons that I always saw. Dr. Faker, however, withheld deep worry for his two sons, covered in a thick facade of obsession, alongside a dangerous aura that I'd rather avoid. I was worried for Mr. Tsukumo and Mr. Arclight, and carefully watched Dr. Faker's tent, when I heard, ..."Deliver two souls for mysteries untold"... Two souls, huh...
My stomach dropped at the final thought: Dr. Faker plans to use his "comrades" to open the portal! I turned back to the campfire, but I saw it was out, with Mr. Arclight climbing into his tent. Now I wouldn't even be able to tell him about this. So, I disappeared into the night, and went searching for the location.
I was able to go on ahead of the men, reaching the location first. I found it was a sacred Shadow Roamer location that kept out all Roamers other than the Great Mother. Regular mortals weren't affected by this seal, and apparently neither was I. Within the two days it took for the men to catch up, I figured out every trap in the area, and was ready to face Dr. Faker.
From the moment they walked in, Dr. Faker's malicious thoughts flared even more than ever. "Gentlemen," Mr. Arclight told his companions, "I think we found what we're seeking."
Meanwhile, Faker studied the ancient ruins, confirming that they found the inter-dimensional portal. But I used my power to trigger a trap from an engraved stone tile under his foot. The runes glowed crimson, but Mr. Tsukumo threw himself and Dr. Faker out from under a stone block. Darn, I missed!
I kept following the explorers down a staircase.
"Whoever built this place didn't want trespassers," Mr. Tsukumo commented. Soon enough, Mr. Tsukumo and Mr. Arclight were at the top of a large pedestal.
"Looks like we reached a dead end," Mr. Arclight figured, "Should we go back?" Just when he stepped back, unfamiliar runes beneath their feet glowed blood red, and shot electricity at them.
"Gentlemen," Dr. Faker smirked, "The time has finally come. Believe me, I regret that there is no other way." He began to explain everything that he found out, the other two men realizing his plans of betrayal. The staircase to the top of the pedestal crumbled, and Mr. Arclight began to fall into the deadly glow beneath him!
Mr. Arclight; Mr. Tsukumo! My mind shouted as they barely held themselves up. Mr. Arclight wanted him to let go and save himself, but Mr. Tsukumo considered him a friend, and so did I. I tried to use my power to bring them to safety, but only got a red zap as I heard a cackling voice in my head. You aren't getting these two, you little brat!
All I could do was helplessly call out to them as they fell into the vortex.
The moment after they fell in, I turned and sped out of the cave, using a Shadow Gateway to teleport back to the Arclight mansion. Chris was sitting inside the helicopter, waiting, and I quickly rushed up to him, much to his surprise. "What is it, little one?" he asked, looking rather scared.
Your father and Mr. Tsukumo were betrayed by Dr. Faker and fell into a vortex. I told him with my telepathy. You cannot trust him anymore, Chris; I see danger in that man's mind. I saw his upset and shocked expression, and the whole thing faded away...
(Star) Yet another flash came up and I was back in the room like it never happened. I turned to look at the boys, finding each of them having a similar thought, but different expression. They looked either freaked out, overwhelmed, shocked, or even ashamed. But all four of them shared the same exact thought: I can't believe it was her.
"All that time," Trey told, "And none of us figured out what or who left those black strands." I saw it in all of them: none of them knew that I'd visit them every night since I figured out how. Vetrix only caught a few glimpses of me during the portal expedition five years ago. But what I showed of my mind-reading and telepathy slightly confused them, but it didn't take long for them to figure it out.
"Hang on!" Quattro blurted out suddenly, "You can read minds?!" I lightly winced at his shouting and panic stream.
"Yes, and I can see spirits, and the future."
The moment after I said it, all four of them gasped in shock and fright. Quattro was about to panic, but luckily Trey clamped a hand over his mouth before he could go crazy.
"Actually," Trey considered, "That does seem to explain a few things." Quattro stopped himself to consider. That pipsqueak has a point, his head grumbled.
"That is correct, Trey," Quinton commented, "That would explain her deep gaze. Also the fact that she faced off against Number 69 without causing a ruckus. Not to mention her vision of what would've happened if our father attempted stealing Star's powers."
I managed to get all of my strength back after a few more days... More like a week or two?... All right, fine! I was there for two months while I was recovering.
"I should probably try to find Shark," I told all of them. They all nodded in understanding, as they knew he was the first person I saw. There were also some other people that I was hoping to meet, like this Yuma and Astral from Trey's memory. Same with Kite and his little brother Hart that Quinton used to take care of. They left me be so I could change into my new clothes: a blue long-sleeved shirt, a purple vest, and black leggings.
I packed up a few sets of clothes for when I find a place to stay. I got my duel belt with all of my gear, and before I left, I gave them something. I held out my hand focusing my power, causing three small, different colored gems to appear in my palm.
"They're called moon shards," I explained, "miniature moon globes that royal Shadow Roamers can create. Use them wisely." After that, I placed them into Quinton's hand, told them goodbye, and headed off.
To avoid any trouble on the ground, I traveled on the rooftops and kept a close watch down below. I was scanning for a familiar face or familiar mind, and I soon found Shark's mind. He was walking with a group of people around his age. Alongside him was someone who looked like whatever I could grasp about Yuma and Astral. Leading the pack were Shark's younger twin sister Rio and Yuma's old friend, Tori. In the middle row was Yuma's buddy Bronk, along with "Ray Shadows." I found Ray is masquerading as Yuma's fanboy, and he's actually a seriously bad dude named Vector. Just great, another facade, I thought to myself, I'll have to be careful around him.
I climbed down a ladder on the building I was watching from, slipping into a shadowed alley. I took a deep breath, and slid out from the alley, getting their attention.
"Hey, it's you," Shark said, "The girl I found on the road before the WDC finals." But she looks a heck of a lot better than when I first found her when she collapsed. I know that Quattro's older brother's taken a shine to her. But I just hope he hasn't talked any trash about me or Rio.
"Don't worry, Shark," I told him softly, "If anything, Quattro's quite relieved that Rio's back on her feet."
"Yuma," I heard the ghost behind Yuma ask, "I sense strong power from this girl. Yet she doesn't appear to be from Astral or Barian, but something much older and stronger than both. Where do her origins lie, I wonder."
Yuma just glared at him saying back, "Astral, how am I supposed to know anything about magic?"
I looked full at Astral, "The powers of Shadow Roamers like me originate in the Shadow Realm. And," I added, "A word of advice: don't think aloud." Everyone was staring at me, and Astral looked rather shocked. "What?" I asked everyone, "Am I not supposed to be able to see him or something?"
"Of course you shouldn't be able to see him!" Yuma exclaimed in my face. I pushed him away by his head, signifying personal space. Astral sighed Yuma's name before turning to me to ask, "What is your name?"
I calmly replied, "My name is Star, and I'm the last of my kind."
Just then, Rio froze in her tracks when I saw a small kitten that got into her line of sight. She hurriedly rushed behind Shark's back, calling, "Cat, cat, cat!" I laughed a little at the fact that she was scared of a kitten. Rio explained, "I know it's weird, but they give me the heebie-jeebies. Reginald, I need you to get rid of it now!"
"I thought you said you don't need my help, Rio." He replied snidely.
"She's cute when she's terrified," Bronk commented with a love-struck sigh, causing me and Tori to sweatdrop. All Rio did afterward was scream until the cat took off, but then another girl followed by a "teenage" cat walked out of an alley. The girl had teal eyes and gray hair fashioned into cat ears, introducing herself as Cathy Katherine.
"This one I found on the streets not too long ago," she told us, gesturing to the cat. The young, slender female had midnight-black fur with green eyes. She walked with a slight limp, and her eyes were dull.
"Star," Tori commented, "She looks a lot like you."
I nodded in reply, and quietly approached the feline. The cat didn't hiss, slit its eyes, or try to fight at all even when I was right in front of it. I reached down and gently picked it up, and it didn't struggle.
"I think I'll call her... Shadow," I said, stroking her head.