Chapter 50: Whispers in the Dark

"Dad?" A young boy with a soft and distant look in his eyes approached his father.

The dad, tirelessly focusing on filing documents for his future, diverted his full attention away to his little boy.

"Are you ok?"

He presented himself as a sturdy man, but his eyes always looked sad and frail when looking at him. Like he was hiding something tragic from his flesh and blood.

The boy pointed to the back door and frowned, "I think there's a dead bird outside…"

The concept of death never really fazed the boy. Blood and decay was a facet of life he readily accepted.

But when an animal died, he felt pain in his chest tightening like a three-tiered knot.

The father stumbled out of the chair and then patted his boy on the shoulder, guiding him along outside so they could bury the bird together.

His dad let him pat the dirt down and lay the bird to rest for good.

"Dad? Why do birds stop flying?" The boy deployed this rather mature inquiry in a sincere manner, "Isn't it safer for them in the sky?"

"Hmmm…probably. Humans like to walk. But if we did it all the time, we'd hate it. For birds, it's the same deal." His dad was kind-hearted, if a little awkward about it.

He struggled to maintain eye contact, his smile tended to waver. His pale-ish skin often blushed.

He was warm though, and never stopped expressing how he felt. He was someone who wanted to live life optimally without regrets.

The boy could recognize his best qualities even at a young age. It made it possible to ask any question he wanted without fear.

Such as…

"Dad…?" He swallowed a little, waiting for his dad to make eye contact, "Uncle Mew once said my name is very important to you…?"

"Ah, he did huh?" Mentioning his brother tended to put a little edge in his voice, "...Yeah, Alex was…well, he was someone who didn't know when to stop flying."

"Is he dead too?" The boy murmured innocently.

"..." His father nodded, "Naming you after him was my way of honoring his memory and also…to make a point."

"What?" The boy asked.

His father reached out and hugged him partially around the neck, whispering into his ear, "That the name Alex…can represent someone who endures hardship to find happiness, not be cursed to a life of anger and loneliness."

Yet the boy grew to live a life of little hardship. Now a young man, he peacefully sits in the back of a school bus for his morning ride.

With little to do but stretch his legs and get a quick nap in, he was awoken from his rest by the vehicle jerking to a stop and the hiss of the door opening.

He let out a light yawn and gathered his things, slowly making his way out while wondering, "What was that about…?"

He didn't like to reminisce about the past. Things were better off that way. The memory wasn't even relevant to anything…

…Not that it was unpleasant.

He rarely takes the bus to school, but he volunteered this time because he felt he needed a change of pace…and a break from his sister.

Honestly? Bad move.

The seats are killer on his back afterwards, and the air is stiff.

And at least with his sister, he could hold on to her…just in case an accident were to happen.

Once he confirmed her bike in the parking lot he took his time getting into the building, planning what his next move would be.

"Hmmm…" He looked into his bag and realized he still had to fill out a couple questions for yesterday's homework assignment.

"Oh…" The scribbled line trailing off the paper's edge told him he had fallen asleep in the middle of work again. And his mom must have carried him to bed and tucked him in.

He blushed and rubbed the back of his head, "Sheesh, mom, I'm not a baby anymore…"

He looked around and wondered if someone heard him. Thankfully, the halls were quiet.

He headed straight for the library to ensure that the atmosphere was kept intact.

An empty table, a small lamp, and pen and paper was all he needed to pick up where he left off.

But once he dangled the tip over the first line, he popped his lips and let out a slow yawn.

"Didn't get enough sleep…again." Alex closed his eyes and tried to lean back and twirl his pen as a means to keep his mind active, but that clearly wasn't going to cut it.

He needed to get a rush going.

He ventured over to the nearby couch and laid back with his phone in hand and headphones clamped over his ears.

"Let's see…" He browsed through his playlists until he found "Mom's Remixes" which were created by fans of her songs online.

He targeted the 'Eurobeat' genre specifically, as the faster pace and techno-like beats helped get his blood pumping faster.

Uncle Mew had accidentally introduced him to the genre years back during a car ride, and it stuck ever since.

Mew had good taste in music, even if he tended to lean towards archaic bands.

"I should pay him a visit. Maybe he could recommend a band I haven't heard of before."

After setting his song of choice he tucked the phone into his pocket, his hands along with it.

It didn't take long for his mind to start waking up a little and remember what exactly it was he planned to write down for the assignment.

"Oh, that's all I had left? Go figure…" He said with disappointment towards himself.

No big deal. He had a few hours to jot the notes down and turn the papers in.

"...I say that now, but…" He remembered how he tended to get distracted and forget to fill out certain answers.

Nobody really recognizes that in terms of this school, Alex is actually the smartest.

He doesn't seek that validation, or even puts in the effort to get that smart. All the knowledge he comes across just winds up banked in his mind and easily available anytime if he focuses.

He really didn't want to forget the answers this time though, because eventually his cousin will get on his case wondering why he keeps doing this.

"And I don't need her on my ass when she's bugging sis too…" Alex sighed and pulled himself up from his comfort zone to get back to the table.

Only to find that they've all become occupied by other students.

"Aww man…" He sighed, took off his headphones, and pulled out his notebook as a hard surface.

He lacked back support here, but it'd have to do…

It only took a few minutes to write his answers down and get this out of his way for good.

…Though then again, that scribble really bugged him.

It was like the ink was bleeding off the paper.

Bleeding off the paper like a vein of blood…

If there was anymore ink, it'd be like the vein popped.

Blood, blood, everywhere…

"..." Alex blinked, shook his head, and then stuffed everything back into his backpack.

"White out. There's got to be some somewhere…" Either the library had it, or the art room.

He bothered the front desk people first, and while usually they did have some they had run out yesterday and were waiting for a shipment.

Since he had plenty of time to burn, he decided to hang around in the library, maybe find a book to read.

He thumbed through the cooking section first, and was surprised they had options for South American meals.

"Huh, never done that before." He took the book out and started reading it cradled in front of his chest.

He was fine with people seeing him like to cook. Though at times, he wondered if he's being viewed as wife material because of that.

A stray thought popped into his head of him wearing an apron, and he chuckled. It didn't look bad on him.

But then he saw his sister come up and kiss him on the cheek as thanks for a nice enchilada dinner and started blushing.

"Hrmmm…" With a perturbed hum he sank his gaze back towards the book and hyperfocused on it.

"That looks tasty. Hmm, but that one might not be easier to find ingredients for. No…" He started to yawn and in the process, bumped into another student and stumbled back.

"S-Sorry about th-" He glanced up and saw that it was the new student, Nero.

He glared and turned the other way, "Never mind."

"Well excuse me. That's pretty rude." Nero remarked, almost like he was goading him.

Alex paused and turned to look over his shoulder, "My 'stay away from her' applies to me too."

Nero clicked his tongue and shook his head, "Alex, Alex, Alex…of course you would give me the cold shoulder."

Alex froze with a chill down his neck, the boy's slick tongue wiggling into his ear with a vibe that brought to mind knowledge of things he shouldn't know about.

He turned back and Nero had closed the distance in a single step, patting him on the back as a far too familiar acting gesture.

"We hardly know each other. Can't you give me a chance?"

Alex shoved him off and walked away, "Not interested in making friends with weirdos."

"You only associate with your sister, a book, or will the clouds in your head. What's one friend going to hurt?" Nero kept trying to wiggle his way in, and Alex wasn't happy about it.

He looked at his backpack and the pen sticking out the top, "Maybe he needs to be poked…really, REALLY hard."

He didn't think that. No.

He shook his head and after using his thumb as a bookmark, looked the boy in the eyes and said, "Fine, give me one good reason why I should trust you."

"Trust isn't earned with one gesture." Nero remarked.

"Exactly," Alex replied coldly, "So why are you pushing so hard for it?"

Nero held a hand out and then after wiggling his fingers, retracted it and sighed, "I don't think your sister is the only one with potential."

"Alex Dark, son of our current President, third smartest in his class…or so he'd want you to believe-"

"Hang on…" Alex murmured, "How do you know who my dad is?"

Nero sneered and lowered his head, "Because you just told me."

Alex clicked his tongue, "Damn…fell for a basic ploy."

"Ha ha, I'm kidding anyways. It isn't hard to piece that together."

Alex had his doubts, "Wait but…is our last name public information? …I never really bothered to check that bulletin board, so maybe?"

Not like logic could beat the red flags Nero was erecting, "Alright, here's my first guess…You want to butter me and my sister up to get into the popular crowd early."

Nero shook his head, "You just admitted you're not here to make friends."

"With weirdos, don't try to misdirect me." Alex mumbled.

Nero gestured, "I would never. I'm NOT interested in having notoriety. That's the truth."

"..." Alex locked eyes with him for a moment and then rubbed his head, "Then you're wanting to exploit us for something else."

Nero nodded, "You have every reason to suspect that. But no."

Alex wasn't going to take his ease of answering lying down, "Let me make this clear. If it was just me, I wouldn't care so long as you had a good idea brewing. But my sister?"

He glared intensely, "Take advantage of her, and I-"

"Cut it out. You've never thrown a punch in your life." Nero cut his bravado down like a lightning flash, but Alex had enough spark to fight back.

"Neither have you."

Nero revealed his knuckles, pristine and smooth, and chuckled, "I'm careful not to handle affairs directly. Last time I tried, it felt like I had a hole punched through my chest."

"Good observation though."

"Uh huh…" Alex closed his eyes and sighed, "He's going to be a threat to you sister. Just bloody his nose and back off."

"..." He stood there and stared out at the ceiling, then shook his head.

"...Potential, you say," He murmured, "Maybe I don't want to reach it. What I've got is good enough."

Nero commented, "You just want a simple life?"

Alex shrugged, "I'm not sure. But I know I'm not unhappy. Just tired all the time."

"Not unhappy…" What began as an echo, twisted and became a remark hitting right to the core, "Even though your father left you behind?"

"It's not like it doesn't bother me at times, but I get his reasons…I think." Alex shook his head.

Nero paused, then with a smile poked at him with a twist, "Even though he left your sister behind?"

"That…is a little more unforgivable!"

Alex widened his eyes and shook, before rubbing the back of his head and sighing, "That's…none of your business."

"Fine, I understand well enough now. Alex Dark just wants a quiet life." Nero said calmly.

"Hmph." Clearly this was a waste of time, so Alex decided to leave.

Then the bookshelf started to rumble, causing the topmost row of books to fall towards him.

Alex flinched from the suddenness of the moment and that let Nero tackle him out of the way.

Alex's heart skipped a beat as Nero smiled at him and whispered, "Remember to keep yourself alive."

He then patted the dust off his coat and walked away, with the faculty running past like he wasn't even there.

Alex explained what happened and they got someone over to start putting the books back up.

He helped out for a while and then headed out of the library after renting out the recipe book.

He looked around for any lingering signs of Nero. He didn't know why, but that last moment made his chest feel cold like a dead body.

"Come to think about it…" He tensely narrowed his eyes, then felt embarrassed, "...Wasn't there something I needed to do?"

"...Oh yeah, white out."

Luckily, one quick trip to the art room and he found what he was looking for. His paper was fixed up to his standards, and he could safely spend the rest of his morning relaxing.

During which, he got a message from mom saying, "Going to be home late tonight. Plz save me a bite to eat :winkyface: "

He smiled and typed back, "Ok. Love you mom."

She was a really hard worker, and though none of that rubbed off on him she never tried to push him to be more active.

At worst, she made sure he could fend for himself in dire situations.

Which…yeah, is nothing to complain about.

And thinking of family, he wondered why he hadn't seen his sister since coming here. Was she…avoiding him?

"...She hasn't been very happy with me lately. But she never looked irritated back at home. Or maybe she thinks we need space?"

He sighed and thought back to what he said a little bit ago, "'At least we have each other'...Did that come off too strongly? Maybe she took that the wrong way…"

He leaned his smile one way with a hopeful air around him, "Or the right way?"

"..." He frowned and rubbed the back of his head, "This has to stop…"

With his mouth partially agape to breathe, he considered his options, settling on trying to whistle a certain tune.

But his tone was as crappy as any other beginner, and made him feel like an idiot.

"Nothing beats the original…" He would have to tolerate the problem for another hour until Leo got out of class. Then he'd try to hit him up at his usual meeting spot.

"...! Oh, can't forget lunch."

Which was a bold statement to make when he forgot to pack one at home.

Between that and the homework flub, his usual ability to remember stuff was starting to be called into question.

"...Maybe the lack of sleep is starting to get to me." But he'd worry about that later, when he could focus better.

He picked up something at the cafeteria and after eating it up, he headed straight for where Leo tended to hang out.

Upon entering that secluded space, he paused at the sight of him hanging out with his new pals, Bang and Lyra.

But he entered through the wrong side and wound up in Leo's sights, forcing a bit of an awkward moment where Leo waved his hand and said, "Hey, how are you doing, Alex?"

While all Alex wanted to do was slink out of the room now and not disrupt his time. Though a bit of selfishness slipped into his thoughts, enough to keep him holding his feet down.

"F-Fine…" He muttered, rubbing the back of his head.

The quarterback spoke up, "Hey, aren't you Erin's brother? Odd to see you not glued to her hip, heh heh."

Leo gave him a quick look of disapproval and then softly remarked, "Actually, he's also my cousin."

"O-Oh, my bad." Bang replied.

"At least he's honest about his stupidity…" Alex groaned a little, and then waved at Lyra, "S-Sorry for interrupting your time. I-I'll just…head out."

He started to walk towards the door when Lyra spoke up with a hint of bluntness, "You don't HAVE to go. You're Leo's relative, hang out with us for a bit!"

She seemed sweet and tart at the same time, the kind of qualities he liked in a girl. But no matter how kind she was, his attitude remained the same, "Nah, it's fine."

But a bit of clarity in his thoughts caused him to realize, "Oh, but…real quick uhhh, Lyra, right?"

"Yep!" Lyra proclaimed.

"Have you heard of the new transfer student named Nero?"

Lyra shook her head, "Not in my class, why?"

Bang snapped his fingers and forced himself into the conversation, "Is he that little guy with the funky hair color and the snobby voice?"

Alex breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh thank you, I wasn't hallucinating him…"

Leo locked eyes with him and showed a mite of concern. Alex swallowed and then gave him a nod in return.

Leo faced Lyra and patted her on the shoulder, "I'll be just a few moments."

As he got up she said, "I'll hold you to that, Leo!"

He smiled back at her, and it made Alex feel happy…and a tad jealous.

The two exited the relaxation zone and took a few steps off to the side to find a less crowded zone to talk in.

After which Leo reached out and whispered, "Now. Be honest with me. How ARE you doing, Alex?"

Alex looked the other way and hid his expression behind his bangs as he rubbed his head, "Tired…a little frustrated."

"...Are you hearing voices again?" Leo asked directly.

"...Maybe. Dunno if it's the same one as usual, or just my lack of sleep getting to me."

Leo closed his eyes and murmured, "I get this nagging feeling that you've never mentioned any of this to your mom."

"S-She's already got enough on her plate with…her job…having to take care of us herself…"

"Alex…" Leo was only pushing out of concern, but Alex bit his teeth in defiance.

"S-Shut up Leo, I just need to hear your music and they'll settle down."

"...Shit, that makes me sound like an addict." Alex rubbed the back of his head and looked Leo in the eyes, even he was surprised to hear that reaction.

"...M-Maybe you're right." He admitted.

"...You're family. No. Even if you were just a friend, I'd be concerned."

Alex popped a tiny smile, "Heh. You're too pure sometimes, Leo."

He then looked at him seriously and whispered, "If that Nero person tries to approach you, don't listen to him. Something's…off."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Leo reached into his pockets to pull out his harmonica with a smile. And Alex breathed a sigh of relief, closing his eyes as his cousin played the most divine serenade ever conceived for the next few seconds.

During which, Alex felt a little more light and warm across his body.

"Haaaaa, you really need to invest in making ASMR," Alex then tucked his hands into his pockets and spoke aloud, "Thanks a lot. I think…I'm going to try and find Erin now before class begins."

"Good luck. And please, take care of your mental state." Leo then patted him on the shoulder and went back to be with his friends.

Alex left to wander the halls alone, able to think in peace for the first time all day, "Ok, when I get home tonight, I'm going to make a really good dinner from that book I borrowed."

He had a little optimism, and maybe a smile too.

"Knock knock…!" He heard metal banging close by as he walked. Seemed like it was coming from the lockers.

A quick turn sent a chill down his spine, as he felt like he was being enclosed within a tight space.

Like standing in front of a mirror covered in fog, he saw something shaped like him on the other side, beating at the locker door like he wanted out.

Alex took one step closer, and the figure jumped at the door with his hands planted against it.

Screaming "Stop ignoring yourself!" in his voice, with his tone, only more impulsive and liberated, his tongue salivating, his eye a deep dark, bloody red.

Alex grit his teeth and closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, the scene had returned to normal. And all he wanted to do was stare at the locker door, give it a light kick, and tell it off bluntly, "Shut up…! I'm already who I need to be…"

As he turned and walked away, caring not for the viewing eyes of the public, there was one last whisper in the fading darkness…

"And it'll never be good enough for her…!"

It struck him in the heart, and refused to leave.

Forget everything he thought before…

This day was simply the worst.

Next Time: The Struggles of Music