"Ugh... H, Huh?.."

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was darkness. Right after that, I felt sick almost to the point of throwing up. It was like someone shook me up and down constently like a Cocktail shaker.

"Ah.. What Is going..."

As I tried my best not to throw up, my mind froze a second to comprehend what I'm seeing.

The place I was in was pitch black. Everywhere I look, I couldn't see a single light. There was absolutely no light to be seen. But somehow, I was seeing my hands, legs, and my body clear as day.

"What the he, What the hell?"

The second I moved, the freakiness of the situation just doubled. I clearly jumped back, but I couldn't feel my body moving to the direction that I was supposed to go. And then I realized that I wasn't even standing on anything. I mean, I could feel my feet and legs, and through them I was standing up. But my feet were not touching any kind of solid ground. It was like I was floating in zero gravity.

"Where am I? How did I get here? Where is everyone?!"

I panicked and tried to run. But no matter how I tried, I couldn't feel any movement that I was going somewhere. Everything about this place didn't make any sense whatsoever.

"Ha.. Hah...C, Calm down.. Get a grip, Itou.."

I was hyperventilating so much that I was about to pass out. I placed my right hand on my chest and took a deep breath. If I go crazy right now, things are only going to get worse. As I caught my breath, I felt much better. After my head was clear, I closed my eyes and tried to remember what happened to me.

"Right.. I was in class just a second ago. Then I felt dizzy, and I woke up in... this place.."

That ended quickly. I was remembering things correctly, but it really doesn't help me understand why and how I got to this place. Well, the sliver lining in this shitfest is that I don't have Amnesia. At least I got that going for me.

"Is anybody there? Hello?"

I gathered my hands close to my mouth, and shouted out loud. I don't know who might be out there, or if there's actually someone except me, but I really could use all the help I could get. I shouted multiple times, but I couldn't hear anything except my own voice.

"Well, I can scratch off the 'buried alive' option."

Judging by my voice not echoing, I wasn't inside somewhere like a container/coffin. The whole place is freaky as all hell, but I didn't feel stuck or cramped one bit.

Then again, I still couldn't move a single inch. While I was trying to move, I found out that I was able to turn freely at any angle I wanted. But I was stuck in the same place. And no matter where I turn, I didn't touch a single thing. It's like nothing exists here, except me.

So yeah. This place is big, and small at the same time. Try to wrap your head around that!

"Okay. I guess there's only one explanation for all of this."

I should've realized this sooner. I was in class and then suddenly I'm in god knows where? I mean, come on. This is obviously..

"A dream! And a shitty one at that!"

I've had my fair share of weird and some down right Rea~~~lly we~~~ird dreams. But this one takes the cake! Why couldn't I have a dream of me falling off a cliff? At least that dream means I'm going to get taller. But this? I don't even know what it means, and don't WANT to know!

"All right. I just have to wait for someone to wake me up. It shouldn't take that long. I, guess?..."

They say that time flows differently when you're in a dream. If that's true, I just hope somebody wakes me up before lunch. I'm downright starving right now! I think today's menu was... Udon?

"Wait. I wonder who's going to wake me up? Oh, I wish it's sensei. Being woke up by a beauty like her? I'd welcome that anytime! If Prez is the one.. I'm going to get hit in the head for sure. Still not bad though. If it's the guys, ughhh... I didn't study my ass off, just to wake up to see a guys face. And please for the love of god! Don't let it be 'her'!"

I was talking to myself like a crazy guy more than usual. But I couldn't help it. Being alone in this place was really starting to freak me out. I had to convince myself over and over again that I'm not scared.

I just hope somebody wakes me up quick... Still. It could be worse. At least I'm alone and nothing's out to get me. Yeah. Let's look on the bright sid..

[Heh Heh..]

It was then, a sudden menacing laughter breached my ears. My skin crawled the moment I heard the voice. Dreams are meant to be yourself. Or have someone or something you know. But this. This was something that's... completely wrong.

My expectations of me being alone shattered instantly, and fear quickly started to seep into the cracks.

"Who's there?!"

[Idiot~ Idiot~]

The voice wasn't something that could come out of a human's vocal cords. Several different voices were mixed into one, and warped into a bizarre way, that it sound more like static noise then a person's voice. It was like listening to high pitched sounds of nails scratching a chalkboard.

[Where are you looking at?~]

"Huh?!"

The sick laughter that was coming from the front, was suddenly heard from my back. I shivered and quickly turned around. But it was meaningless when I can't see anything other than myself.

'What the hell is that thing? I didn't even hear a single footstep!'

[Look at you~ All Pa. the. tic!~]

The voice was toying with me. The fact that I can't see the bastard, but 'it' can clearly see me like an open book, made my heart pound in fear like crazy.

"Show yourself, you son of a bitch!"

[Hmm?~ Don't you know hide and seek?~ You have to f~ind~ me!~]

"Wh, What're you laughing at? You think I'm playing?!"

I couldn't stand it, and cursed the bastard as loud as I can. But no matter how I shout, it's voice just kept getting louder and louder.

"Ugh!.. Augh!.."

I covered both ears with my hands as hard as I can, but it didn't help at all. There was no way someone could be this loud. It was like the sounds were coming from all directi...

No...

'I, Is there more of them? No, It can't be!'

[Why are you muffling your ears?~ You're making me look bad~ HAHAHAHAHAHA!]

"Arghhhh!"

When it burst into laughter, my mind went blank for a second. I couldn't hear myself think. I frowned while grabbed my ears. My eardrums were shaking non stop, I almost wanted to rip them out myself. My consciousness was fading every second I heard the bastard's insane laughter.

"Ugh!... I'll kill you! I'll fucking kill you!"

I opened my mouth screaming. Spiting drool everywhere while gritting my teeth, imagining biting down on his fucking tongue.

When the taste of blood covered my mouth, the sound suddenly stopped for no reason.

"Haa.. Ha... It... stopped?.."

Slit-

A sudden sting was felt on my right arm. It was like a mosquito bite, that I barely felt it at all. But then, I felt some kind of warm liquid rolling down my arm. As I turned my head to see my arm, the stinging feeling grew rapidly. When I squinted my eyes from the pain, I saw it.

A huge cut was carved at my forearm. It was so big, it looked like It was cut by a large knife. The red flesh between my skin pulsated as it was completely exposed. And from it, streams of black red blood rolled down, soaking my shaking arm.

"Arrrgh! Ugh!..."

I grabbed on to my right arm, screaming at the top of my lungs. My arm was hot, like it was on fire. Every time my arm trembled, unspeakable pain rushed through my entire body.

"Hah.. Hah.. Hah..."

I breathed in air like crazy. The pain was like getting my arm chopped off again and again. I had to bit my lower lips just to stop myself from screaming. My brain felt like it was being electrocuted. I couldn't think of anything besides the pain ripping my every thoughts.

"This is a dream.. It's got to be a dream.. It HAS to be a dream!.."

My mind, my whole body felt like it was spinning endlessly. Everything was like a messed up nightmare. I wished I could just wake up and all of this would end. Seeing my classroom again.

[Hahahahahahahaha!]

But my hopes were shattered by the echoing laughter. The cut and the pain was more then enough to tell me, that I am in REAL danger.

"What are you.. What the fuck are you!"

I yelled at it while swinging my left arm at all directions, in case it attacked me again. But all I could hit was the empty shadows that I couldn't see or touch. The bastard snickered, obviously making fun of how helpless I am.

*gulp*

I was terrified. Being alone with something that wants to kill me was making my whole body shake in horror. I couldn't see, I couldn't move. All I can do was hear and pray to god that it doesn't attack me again. I had goosebumps all over my skin and was sweating non stop. It didn't help that all I could see was the grotesque cut on my arm. No matter how I try not to see it, I unintentionally saw it and reminded myself how much it hurt. Sweat rolled off my cheek as I imagined the sharp blade that attacked me cutting through my flesh like it was nothing.

"Ha...Ha..."

[What's the matter? Come on, keep insulting me. You're not scared are you?]

"Sh, Shut up!"

The bastard wasn't laughing like a maniac anymore. The ear bleeding high pitched sounds were gone, and now it was talking in a very quiet and low tone. But somehow it's voice still echoed everywhere like the inside of a cave.

I didn't have to block my ears anymore. But for some reason, I felt more uneasy then before. When the bastard laughed, it was like a kid trying to mess with me. But now it was like a quiet psychopath, who just got tired of it's 'project'.

"Wh, Where the... hell are you?.."

The bastard was silent. The whole place went completely quiet. All I could hear was my own breathing. It was like the bastard disappeared, but I knew he was still here, hiding from me like a coward.

[That's funny. You told me to shut up, but now you want me to talk? Make up your mind will you?]

"Shut up..."

[See? You're just proving my point.]

I gritted my teeth. I was completely being toyed by it.

"Hah... Damn..."

My vision was starting to get blurry. Staying sane in this god forsaken place was harder than I thought. I was so tired of all the tension, that all I wanted to do was to lie down and rest.

But then, I found out there was more than just tension.

[Oh. Your arm's not looking good there.]

"What?.."

I followed the bastard's voice and looked at my bleeding arm.

"Wh.. What the hell?!"

Blood was gushing out like a faucet. It's been only a few minutes, but the cut was already getting worse. The exposed flesh was no longer red. Quickly turning to a corpse like color at every second.

I don't understand. It wasn't like this a second ago. This can't be happening!

"Why the hell is this!.."

I was shocked and immediately grabbed my arm to stop the bleeding. But the moment my hand touched the arm, sudden jolts raced through my entire skin.

"AAARRRGGGHHH!"

My mind went completely black for a second. The pain was nothing like the first time. It felt like my whole body was being shredded to bits. I fell down right after I grabbed my arm. As I kneel down, my clothes were soaked at the puddle of my own blood.

*gasp* *gasp* *gasp*

[Why struggle? There's nothing you can do to get out of this.]

"No... Stop..."

I couldn't even breath properly due to the intense pain. My right arm was shaking uncontrollably, almost like it was telling me to let go. If I did, I was definitely going to bleed out. It took all my might just to grab on to my arm. Every time my arm shook, the pain made my heart pump so hard it was like getting a heart attack.

I tried to stand up or at least do something, but my whole body felt like it weighed tons. It was almost impossible to move a single inch.

'If this isn't a dream, did someone in my class kidnap me? I, I might be remembering things differently... Why. Why is it me? Why am I in this place? Am I... going to die? Or am I already dead? I don't know.. I want to get out. I want to get out! I just want to go back to the life I know. Why did this have to happen? Someone. Please.. Get me out!'

I was sick of this. Sick of this place. Sick of the fucking bastard. Sick of everything. All i want is to get out of here. Get out of...

[Boo.]

My left ear trembled. The bastard's voice was right next to me. The messed up voice echoed in my ear, as my barely left mind finally cracked by a shapeless force.

Called fear.

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"

I screamed as loud as I could. I completely forgot about my arm and immediately wrapped my two hands at my head, as I shook my head sideways like crazy. The fear was unbearable. I couldn't do anything to escape it. I cried and begged for someone to save me. To please end this nightmare..

Shluk-

I froze at the sound of flesh being punctured. A sharp pain was felt on both of my back and stomach. As something was quickly pulled out of me, I could feel warm blood pouring out of my stomach.

I couldn't even let out a scream. I didn't have the will, nor the strength left to keep on going. All I could do was wait until I bleed out and die. As I lied face down trying desperately to breath, the bastard's voice was heard right above me.

[Poor, Poor Itou. Aren't you tired of hiding who you really are? No matter how hard you want to change. You just can't do it. Just give up. Stop trying to go back. Make it easier for the both of us.]

Give up... The word was like candy to my ears. I would trade anything just to make this whole thing go away. The bastard quietly chuckled, as if he knew what I wanted.

[It was fun while it lasted. Well then. Good bye, Itou.]

The end. This is the end...

It's really weird that the end isn't that scary. They say you can't die in a dream, but I guess this is not the case. I'm sure I'm going to die from whatever's going to happen next. To tell the truth, I'm kind of glad that I'll be gone. I could forget everything horrible that's happened to me. I could say goodbye to my fucking curse once and for all. My parents won't have to take care of a burden like me anymore. Yeah.. Everything's going to be all right..

Let's just give u...

'Itou, you're not a monster, and don't even think about listening to people who says you are. No matter what, you're my precious son.'

'If you ever want to cry, or have something in your mind, feel free to tell us. We'll always be on Itou's side.'

Two warming voices were heard in my head. My cold body from all the blood loss, became slightly warm just by listening to the two voices.

I remember... Mom and dad...

But the voices didn't end there. Right after the two, another one came along.

'Given up? Come on, where's the fun in that? You can't give up and end empty handed right? If you feel like giving up, look at me! Cause I'll be there walking besides you!'

The almost annoyingly cheerful voice was so loud, I was having a hard time listening to anything else. I chuckled at how this one was louder than the bastard's voice. Still, it made sense because it was 'her's'.

I almost forgot. That I wasn't always alone.

They knew about who I am, and yet they accepted me. Spending their precious time, and being there for me when things were hard. The voices that were always with me... My parents, and 'her'... If it were not for them, I wouldn't even thought about changing. They taught me that life was more than suffering.

Thanks to them, I got to be who I am. Not a monster, but a human. But here I am, trying to give up when I had people that I cared more than the world.

Well. Not a chance.

"Hah... Giving up.. huh..."

"Hm?"

The bastard sounded confused at my mumbling. I took a deep breath, rolled up my left fist and immediately swung upwards.

"Like hell I would!"

[Gah!..]

The bastard screamed in agony. For the first time, I finally felt something. The back of my hand slightly turned red, and it certainly wasn't blood. It was for a brief second, but it definitely hit the bastard. I couldn't see it, but it had form.

And that means, I could kick the bastard's well deserving ass.

"Wow, that hurts!.."

My whole body hurt like hell. I really wasn't in the condition for hitting things. Thanks to that, my right arm and stomach was gushing blood like a flood. But I really didn't care. The fact that I got to finally hit the bastard, was so exciting that I completely forgot about it.

"Ugh!... Whew..."

I flipped my body backwards and immediately stood up. Thank god there was no ground, because it would've been impossible to stand up. Of course, I almost passed out when I flipped, but now's not the time to focus on small things.

[Why.. you little..]

The bastard's voice was now quite far away. I was surprised that he went that far in mere seconds. I guess my punch hurt a lot, because It sounds pissed.

"Hey, pussy! Yeah, I'm talking to you!"

[What did you call me?..]

"You know, it really gets old when you constantly mock me. Now it's almost funny even. And what's with the give up shtick? Well seeing how you roll, I bet you disappointed people wa~~~y more than me. No offense."

[Shut up! Don't think you know me!]

The quiet, taunting bastard roared in anger. Just a few seconds ago, it was so disturbingly creepy, but now it was like a small fussy kid.

Huh. It's not taking it well, is it. Oh boy, I think I just hit a gold mine. It's time do some 'fishing'.

"Think about you? Now why would I waste my precious brain cells on that? You know what I think? Aren't YOU the one who gave up on something? Seeing that you don't shut up about telling me to give up."

[Watch your mouth... I can kill you in a snap like it was nothing!]

"Oh wow. You're really, Pathetic."

The moment I finished my words, the air surrounding me felt like needles. My skin crawled up so much, that it actually hurts. I could feel the bastard wanting to kill me as hard as it could.

Perfect. It bit the bait.

[I'll kill you!]

The murderous sound echoed everywhere. I couldn't hear any footsteps, but I knew he was running towards me. And seeing It's pissed off it's ass, it was likely It was running

Directly towards me.

"Pfh.. Sucker.."

When I was going to use my left arm, I suddenly changed my mind. My whole body jumped when I tried to move my right arm. Even a slight move, ridiculous amounts of pain surged through my body.

But if I'm going to do this. And I AM going to do this. I'm going to do this right. And I'm damn sure I'll regret it for the rest of my life, if I don't use my punching arm to knock this son of a bitch.

Splat!

Blood went flying as I rolled my right fist. I felt like I was paralyzed by the surging pain. I gritted my teeth as hard as I can to ignore the pain. When I finished clutching my fist, I grabbed the wrist with my left hand and immediately punched forward.

If I'm going down, it'll be after I give the bastard a knuckle sandwich.

"Suck on this!"

Pow!

With the sound of impact, something heavy bumped into my fist. The bastard's painful groaning echoed through the shadows.

But there's no way I'll end this here.

"U..ryaaa!"

The moment I punched the bastard, I put all my strength into my right shoulder. While my fist punched through wherever I hit. I pushed with all my might. My fist digging deeper and finally, blowing him away.

"How's..that?.."

It was painful, but also satisfying as hell. I definitely gave him a good punch. But there was no sound of him rolling or groaning. I didn't know if he died or was still here. Of course, nobody can die in a single punch. Ok, it's possible but I'm not THAT strong.

I wasn't sure, but it was so quiet and I didn't have the same feeling when It was clearly here. It was like the bastard completely vanished.

And then,

Crack!

I couldn't believe my own eyes. The whole shadows that surrounded this place broke into pieces like glass. And what replaced the shadows, was golden light.

"Ah!.. What's going on now?"

The light was so bright that I wasn't able to even see properly. I squinted my eyes and placed my hand on my forehead to make a little shade. It helped but I could barely see my own body. The light was everywhere, from top to bottom. I couldn't understand what's happening. It sure looked better than before, but I was so confused that I wasn't sure if this was a good thing.

More importantly. How do I go back?

[It's you..]

"Huh?..."

A certain woman's voice was heard inside the lights. It wasn't anything like the bastard's voice. It was so calm, warm and soothing, that I wasn't even startled at it.

The light. The voice... It was all warm like the sun.

[I've finally found you.. The true pioneer who will lead the 'Oracle think tank'..]

"The what?.."

Suddenly, I saw something moving inside the light. I couldn't tell what It was, but it was slowly moving towards me. At first, I felt suspicious and didn't dare to touch it. But for some reason, part of me was knew that it wasn't going to hurt me. And before I knew it. I was already reaching my hand to the light.

The moment my hand was touched, the light surrounding me grew even brighter. The strong light consumed my body whole. And there, my mind turned blank.

"Ahhhh!"

I woke up screaming at the top of my lungs. The first thing I noticed was the light. It wasn't too dark, or was too bright. I was able to see exactly where I was, with no trouble.

"What's up with him?"

"Bad dream, I guess?"

Whispering came from everywhere. I quickly moved my head back and forth, to see who was talking.

It was... my classmates.. And this was my classroom.. That means...

"I'm back..."

"Uh, Itou?.. You just stood up for no reason.. Do you have something to say?"

Oh god, It's Saya sensei. I can't believe I got to see her beautiful face one more time. This is almost like a dream. Wait, IS it a dream?

"Ow..."

I pinched my own thigh to check. It hurt a lot, and not a single thing was cracking or turning into lights. Oh yeah. I'm back for real.

"Itou?.."

"Ah, It's nothing. Just saw... a really big bug."

Saya sensei started to look worried, and I quickly waved my hands telling her it was nothing. Of course, what I really wanted to do was hug every single one in my class, and shout 'Life is great!' for ten minutes, but I also don't want to celebrate my amazing return, by being a punching bag to everyone.

I sat back on my desk and wondered how much time was left till lunchtime.

Thankfully, the school bell rang at perfect timing. Sensei hurried to the chalkboard and hastily erased the equations with the chalk eraser. At the same time, Prez stood up from her seat, gently dusting off eraser dust from her skirt.

"All rise... Bow."

"""Thank you for your effort."""

"Ahaha.. You all did very well today. I hope you all have a good lunch time!"

"""Yes, ma'am!"""

When Saya sensei left the classroom smiling, the guys rushed out like horses, to get to the cafeteria as fast as they can. In the blink of an eye, they were all gone. Leaving only clouds of dust. Meanwhile, the girls sighed at the childishness and headed outside at their own pace.

I too, was starving and really wanted to eat something right now. But I had other things to finish first.

I had hundreds of questions that needed to be answered. I sighed heavily while wrapping my hands to my head.

'Was the thing all a dream? What was that place? And who was that in the light?'

The cuts that I had was all gone. That meant it was a dream. But never in my life, I had a dream that was realistic as this one. And the voice from the light.. I have no idea what that meant.

*sigh...*

"First, let's eat..."

If I think like this with an empty stomach, I'm gonna lose my mind. My stomach was growling like crazy. I have to feed it if I don't want my stomach to eat 'me'.

[Ahem.. Master. If you have a headache, I could help you with that.]

"Huh? No, it's nothing. Just really hungry, that's all.. Huh?"

I was the only one in the classroom. I even saw everyone heading outside. But I'm sure someone was talking to me just now...

"Wait. Is this a ghost? If you're looking for someone to punish, I know some guys you might be interested in?"

I knew it. Night and day doesn't mean crap on ghosts. I mean, seriously. Why do people think sunlight will stop beings who are already dead? Do they think they're vampires or something? Speaking of vampires, the garlic thing is bullshit too!

"Who..said that?"

[Oh, of course... I'm on the desk, master.]

I immediately looked at my desk, but all I could see was my own stuff. This was starting to smell like someone's prank.

Wait. If this a ghost that hanged itself, it does make sense... Oh, just thinking about it's making me chilly..

"Huh?"

But then I noticed something odd stuck to my textbook. It was a certain card.

"Wait. This is a vanguard card."

Oh, I knew about this. Back in the day, I used to play this game 24/7. It was easy to learn, and it was really fun to play. Of course I stopped playing, with all things that happened to me. Recently, I was FORCED to start playing again due to a certain... 'someone'.

"Ah, good memories... And the bad stuff... If my memories are correct, I used Oracle think..."

For a moment, my thoughts completely froze. Oracle think tank.. It was exactly the same as the voice from the light. But what does this have to do with anythin..thi... thi...thin...

[Oh. I'm glad you already know about this. Well then. As my first duty for my master. Let me introduce myself. My name is...]

"Wha..Wha...Wha..."

The card was talking. A card that's printed and sold for 200 yen a pop, is talking to me. The body. The lips. They were all moving like a real human. Oh, look. She's looking at me all confused, because I'm frozen solid right now.

Ahahahahaha. Ahahahahaha...

Haha.. Ha...

"What the hell?!"

[...CEO.. Amateratsu?...]

I barely. BARELY got out of that hellhole, and somehow brought something else...

Whew! Finally all done! It took long, but it sure is worth it! BTW, sorry for all the swearing. I'm just glad that this is the 'censored' version. Korean swears are quite rough!

Anyway.. Yup! Units that could talk! But that's not all they could do.

Oh no. They could do much. MUCH more.