- Questions 2.1 -
o-0-o
The blaring sound of the alarm yanks me out of sleep, and I sluggishly sit up in bed. My surroundings gradually come into focus as I blink away the remnants of slumber. The room remains dimly lit, with only a faint hint of morning light seeping through the blinds.
I reach out, searching groggily for my glasses on the bedside table. The urgency of the alarm spurs me into action, but the mental exhaustion from the previous night weighs heavily on me. I struggle to remember where I left my glasses after stumbling home. The chaotic events from last night replay in my mind, and I realize that even changing out of my clothes had slipped my mind.
Finally, I spot my glasses under a discarded jacket, a reminder of my rushed entrance into the room. Slipping them on, the world sharpens into focus, revealing the mess surrounding me. My bag lies on the floor, its contents strewn across the room.
With a sigh, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and push myself upright. The cold floor beneath my bare feet jolts me awake further. Glancing at the clock, I see that it's just before seven in the morning.
"Is it just me, or do I feel... light?" I ponder aloud. Given my lack of athleticism and exercise routine, I would have expected more sore muscles after last night's events.
Unless...
"Hey, Nexus, do you have any insight on this?" I address my enigmatic companion.
Wait. How exactly should I treat him? Can I even consider him a roommate? How exactly does this whole thing work? Is he like a…parasite attaching himself to me? Referring to him as a parasite seems impolite, but I'm unsure how else to describe him.
I don't mind if that's how you perceive me, Nexus responds calmly, acknowledging my view of our peculiar relationship.
"Okay, spill the beans. You can read my thoughts, right?" I inquire, cutting through the uncertainty with a straightforward question.
Yes, Nexus affirms concisely, leaving little room for ambiguity.
"Can't you, like, turn that off?" I inquire, hoping for a bit of control over the invasion of my privacy.
I cannot, Nexus replies with an air of finality, dashing my hopes of maintaining mental boundaries.
"Why not?" I question, my frustration becoming palpable.
Because we have merged. I would need to leave your body to separate your thoughts from mine, or vice versa.
"Let me take a wild guess... you're unable to do that, too? You know, leaving my body?" I ask with a hint of sarcasm; my skepticism tinged with the frustration of receiving evasive answers.
No, comes Nexus's concise reply, delivering a blow of continued uncertainty.
"Can I, at the very least, know why?" I press, seeking some clarity in the face of persistent ambiguity.
However, there is no response. The ensuing silence intensifies my frustration, leaving me in the dark regarding Nexus' motivations.
"Alright, so you don't want to disclose it. Fine," I concede, a tinge of frustration evident in my tone.
Hastily changing my clothes, I make my way to the bathroom, hoping that a splash of cold water on my face might alleviate some of the mounting anger.
Standing before the mirror, with water cascading over my hands, I feel the anger simmering within me. It's not just about Nexus and his answers—or lack thereof; it's also about the entire predicament I've been thrust into.
The events of the past 24 hours have upended my life, and the one thing I can't stand the most is being kept in the dark when things directly impact me.
What did he mean by "merged," anyway?
Why can't he provide straightforward answers? This is my life, my body, we're talking about.
I am sorry, Nexus' voice echoes apologetically as I dry my face with a towel.
I slowly lower the towel, meeting my own gaze in the mirror. The reflection looks like me, except for one unsettling detail—the eyes. They are glowing red. Yesterday, I was unnerved by this scene, but now I can hazard a guess as to the true identity of this reflection.
"Sorry for what, Nexus?" I question my 'reflection.'
That I cannot divulge the answers to those questions, Nexus responds cryptically.
"I..." I struggle to find the right words. "I don't... look, I don't understand."
When the time is right, I shall give you the answers, Nexus reassures, though his words offer little solace.
"Great. Just... great," I mutter, attempting to keep my emotions in check amidst the mounting uncertainty.
It is for your own good, Nexus asserts.
"For my own good? Who are you to decide that?" I retort, my frustration boiling over like a pot left unattended.
I wait a few minutes for Nexus's response, but he remains silent as a ghost. "You know what? Screw it. I don't have time for this—not when I still have to go to school and deal with all the crap over there."
Retreating to my room, I swiftly gather my belongings, feeling the weight of unresolved thoughts pressing down on me like a heavy blanket.
I need to find a place, somewhere I can vent out my frustration, but where? I feel like screaming and throwing a tantrum, but I can't do it here in my room. I don't want to cause Dad to worry.
I shake my head, deciding it's better to head out first and get some fresh air. Hopefully, that would clear my mind.
Heading downstairs, I pause the second I lock eyes with Dad.
"Hey, Taylor," Dad greets me, his voice tinged with concern. "Where are you off to in such a rush?"
Where indeed? All I want is to find a place where I can untangle the mess of thoughts swirling in my mind without anyone interrupting.
They say home is your sanctuary, but for me, it's far from conducive to peace of mind. Too many painful memories linger here, making it impossible to think clearly.
"Just some things I need to take care of," I reply, hoping to deflect his probing questions.
"Things to do, huh?" Dad presses, his skepticism evident. "Care to fill your old man in? It's been a while since you mentioned having plans of your own."
"Dad, I just need some time to figure things out, okay? It's nothing to worry about," I assure him, mustering a facade of composure despite the turmoil within.
"I got a call from the school yesterday," Dad continues, his worry deepening. "You left your classes in the morning and didn't return. What's going on?"
So, that's what this is about.
"I... I needed a break, Dad. Just some time to clear my head," I lie, avoiding the truth to spare him unnecessary concern.
"Is everything alright, kiddo? You've been through so much, and I just want to make sure you're okay," Dad expresses, his concern touching.
"I appreciate it, Dad. Really. But I can handle it. I just need some space right now," I reassure him, though guilt gnaws at me for hiding the truth.
"Alright, Taylor. Just remember, I'm here if you ever want to talk. You don't have to face everything alone," Dad offers, his words brimming with paternal warmth.
I nod, inwardly sighing. I dislike being interrogated by Dad, but divulging the truth about Nexus and the chaos of the past 24 hours is out of the question. I can't burden him with more worries, especially after he finally started to recover from Mom's death.
As I grasp the doorknob, Nexus interjects.
Are you not going to bid him farewell? Nexus questions.
"Oh, now you decide to speak up. Why should I say anything anyway? We'll see each other again soon," I quietly retort, my frustration with Nexus simmering beneath the surface.
Are you certain of that? Nexus's cryptic response only adds to my unease.
"What are you implying?" I demand, feeling a pang of frustration.
It is unwise to take everything for granted, Nexus warns, his words tinged with a hint of foreboding.
As Nexus speaks, fleeting memories of Mom briefly flit through my mind.
"Nexus, you—" I begin before sighing in resignation. "You're a real busybody, you know that?"
Glancing back at Dad, I realize it's been too long since I've bid him farewell like this with him.
"I'm heading out, Dad. Catch you later," I announce, my tone softer now, tinged with affection.
"Sure thing, Little Owl," Dad responds, his voice gentle but laced with concern. "Take care of yourself, alright? And remember, if you ever need to talk, I'm here."
I nod, allowing a small smile to grace my lips before leaving the house.
o-0-o
Stepping off the bus, a blast of frigid December air greets me, sending a shiver down my spine. I gaze at the looming facade of Winslow High, inhaling deeply to steel myself for what lies ahead.
With no clear destination in mind, my feet instinctively guide me here. I resign myself to the reality that Winslow is the only place I have left to go, aside from my own home.
I thought about heading to the Docks, but I quickly dismissed it. I don't have any connections there, save for a few acquaintances in the Union, and I don't want to intrude on their work. Plus, after the altercation with the ABB, the last thing I need is to attract unwanted attention in that area.
I pray those thugs don't remember my face...
I had entertained the idea that I could venture south towards Arcadia. It's a relatively safe area, especially with the Wards attending Arcadia High. But the thought of the long journey to Arcadia and back to Winslow dissuades me. I can't risk the school contacting Dad again.
With a heavy sigh, I make my way inside. The echoes of my footsteps reverberate through the empty halls. In moments like these, when the school is devoid of students, it's almost possible to imagine that this place isn't as bad as it seems. But as I reach my locker, reality comes crashing down, reminding me of just how much of a dump Winslow High truly is.
Drop dead, loser.
The words, scrawled in spray paint, glare back at me from my locker door. I can feel a spark of anger simmering beneath the surface as I take in the malicious message, but it quickly disappears. Though I can't be certain who's responsible, I have a pretty good idea.
There are a few individuals at Winslow who wouldn't hesitate to pull a stunt like this, even in broad daylight.
By now, I've grown accustomed to this kind of treatment, sadly enough. In the grand scheme of things, this graffiti on my locker is actually on the tamer side. It's become a routine occurrence, a sad reminder of my place in the pecking order at Winslow.
I quickly open my locker and retrieve the books inside. There's nothing else of note in there; while others might have adorned the interior of their lockers with personal touches, I couldn't care less about mine. Putting anything of value in there would only invite theft.
Heading to my classroom, it's eerie how peaceful the hallway feels. Without the usual chaos of students bustling about, it's almost as if the school itself is holding its breath, waiting for the storm of the day to arrive.
I open the door to the classroom and settle into my desk, finding solace in the familiar silence. As expected, no one else is here yet.
Sitting down, I gaze out of the window for a good few minutes, allowing my mind to wander. It's strange how, in these quiet moments, I can almost forget the chaos that typically engulfs my life at Winslow. But today is different; today, I'm left alone with my thoughts.
Seriously, now that I have time to ponder it, I realize I've stumbled into something truly outlandish and unbelievable. If Nexus hadn't spoken to me this morning, I might have convinced myself that everything was just a bizarre dream.
With a sigh, I reach into my bag and pull out my pencil case. The familiar weight of the tools inside provides a comforting anchor. Opening my notebook, I take a deep breath, preparing to put the image seared in my mind into sketches.
As my pencil touches the blank paper, I begin to draw. The image takes shape under my hand, and soon enough, I find myself rendering that horrifying creature that emerged from Rune. It's a disturbing sight, etched into my memory despite my desire to forget.
However, despite my best efforts, my drawing ends up resembling incomprehensible scribbles more than anything else—a far cry from the detailed depiction I had envisioned. Sadly, artistic talent has never been my forte, and it shows. Still, I hold onto a glimmer of hope that if I post it online, someone will recognize the creature and offer insight into the strange world I've stumbled into.
They will not, Nexus states ominously, his words dripping with a foreboding tone that sends a shiver down my spine.
Nexus's sudden interjection slices through the silence like a sharp knife, snapping me out of my reverie. Startled by his unexpected interruption, I turn my attention back to the voice within me, trying to decipher his cryptic message.
"What do you mean?" I inquire, my voice tinged with a mix of confusion and apprehension.
Nexus's reply is cryptic yet chillingly informative. Those entities are parasitic beings that have evolved to conceal their true nature within their hosts, hiding as harmless extensions of their hosts as they slumber, he explains, his words painting a disturbing picture of the creatures we encountered.
A wave of dread washes over me as I struggle to grasp the gravity of his revelation. "Wait, hold on... they? Are you saying there's more of them out there? Rune and Victor weren't the only ones?" I question, my voice trembling with disbelief.
The urgency in my tone is palpable as I press Nexus for further clarification. "And hosts? You mean they attach themselves to... humans?" I continue, the implications of his words sinking in with each passing moment.
Nexus's response is chillingly matter-of-fact, confirming my worst fears. Yes, he confirms simply, his words hanging heavy in the air.
"Alright, stop. Stop. Give me a moment here to process all of this," I plead, feeling overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation.
Take all the time you need, Nexus says gently; his voice was strangely a comforting presence in my mind.
"Right, first things first, you really need to stop intruding on my thoughts," I assert firmly, drawing a boundary between us. "Give me some privacy, if you would."
I will do my best, Nexus says.
"You—screw it," I mutter, my frustration bubbling to the surface once again.
Taking a deep breath, I muster the courage to ask the obvious question. "Alright, let's get this one out first. Nexus, where in the world did these monsters come from? You called them 'Space Beasts,' but you didn't mean that literally... right? Like, it was an exaggeration, right? They aren't actually, you know, 'those,' right?" I inquire, hoping for a straightforward answer amidst the chaos.
I was merely informing you of the fact, Nexus replies.
"What?" I sputter, struggling to comprehend his revelation.
They came from outer space. As such, 'Space' Beasts, Nexus explains matter-of-factly, his words sending a chill down my spine.
"Oh. Right. Of course," I mumble, my mind reeling from the revelation.
"And while we're at it, can I assume that you're an alien, too? Just to dispel any other assumptions on my part?" I blurt out, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.
From your perspective, I am, Nexus confirms, his admission sending shockwaves through my already rattled mind.
"God... I have an alien inside me," I mumble, the reality of my situation sinking in.
"But that's strange. If you're an alien from space, and these monsters are also aliens from space, then why call them 'Space Beasts'? That sounds like something a human would come up with," I point out, struggling to make sense of the terminology.
I was not the one who came up with that terminology, Nexus clarifies, his explanation only adding to my confusion.
"Right... right. You said it was something humans from an alternate Earth came up with," I recall, trying to piece together the puzzle.
No, Nexus corrects me. It was invented by humans, but not humans from an alternate Earth originating from this universe's Earth, but humans on an Earth from a different universe entirely.
"Okay, stop. Stop. You're making my head spin," I interject, feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of his explanation.
Perhaps a topic for another day, then? Nexus suggests, his tone indicates he is sympathetic to my plight.
"Yeah... yeah... Just... let me digest this stuff first," I concede, feeling mentally drained from the onslaught of information.
A final word of advice for you, Taylor, Nexus interrupts, his voice serious.
"What is it?" I ask, bracing myself for whatever revelation he has in store.
You should try to avoid those empowered humans—or, as you may refer to them, parahumans, Nexus advises, his words sending a chill down my spine.
"What? Why?" I question, feeling a sense of unease creeping over me.
The fact of the matter is their powers come from Space Beasts that have awakened from their slumbers, Nexus explains, his words casting a shadow over my understanding of the world.
"Hold on. Are you saying that capes are direct products of alien parasites?" I ask, struggling to wrap my mind around the implications of his revelation.
Yes, Nexus confirms simply, his admission leaving me reeling with disbelief.
"Alright, I have to know: just how do you know all of this?" I press, desperate for answers.
I encountered one of their kins before I arrived here, Nexus reveals, his admission sending a chill down my spine.
"You did?" I exclaim, stunned by the revelation.
You should have seen it—the memory of my fight with it, Nexus adds, his words triggering a flicker of recognition in my mind.
"...I think I did, but, sorry, I couldn't remember clearly. It all happened too fast and... you know..." I trail off, my thoughts swirling with fragments of memories that refuse to merge into a coherent whole.
I understand, Nexus replies, his voice tinged with understanding.
I'm perplexed. How hasn't anyone discovered this before? If Nexus' words hold true, then... this is too much for me to process right now. I need a moment to collect my thoughts.
"Hmm? Wait a second," I ponder out loud, trying to make sense of the overwhelming information.
"Nexus, you mentioned they could mask themselves to avoid scrutiny and all those things, but how was I able to see those... Space Beasts coming out of Rune and Victor?" I question, seeking clarification.
Because you saw the world through my eyes, Nexus replies, leaving me more puzzled than before.
"What does that mean?" I press for an explanation, but Nexus remains silent, leaving my question hanging in the air.
Just as I'm about to insist on an answer, the classroom door swings open.
"Shitface really gets on my nerve this early in the morning," a familiar voice grumbles, breaking the tense silence.
Sophia Hess enters the room, her gaze landing on me. "Oh. Huh? What the heck? Why's Hebert here this early?" she mutters, more to herself than to me.
Suddenly, her eyes narrow, adopting a predatory gleam. It's as if she's found her morning prey.
Oh, no.
"Hebert," Hess menacingly advances toward me, sending a chill down my spine.
Oh my God.
"You know, I used to dislike waking up in the morning, can't deal with the headache and those shits... but today... I can't say I'm not grateful for it," Hess remarks as she stands before me.
Jesus Fucking Christ.
"Hey," she calls out, grabbing me by the collar, "you listening to me?" she demands.
No. Right now, I couldn't care less about what comes out of your mouth. Not when shadowy, wispy, marble-like eyes are staring at me from behind you.
Motherfucker.
My mind replays the haunting images of the monsters that emerged from Rune and Victor — a Space Beast.
You have got to be kidding me! I inwardly exclaim as the realization hits me.
Hess... is a fucking cape?!
Taylor, move your head, Nexus' voice snaps me out of my shock just in time for me to evade Hess' incoming fist. Reacting instinctively, I deliver a swift body blow in response.
Hess crumples to the ground, retching. "Bleerrghh!"
Wait, I didn't hit her that hard, did I?
I empowered your fist, Nexus admits, shedding light on the unexpected strength behind my punch.
That explains it.
"What the fuck?!" Hess exclaims, clearly taken aback. I can't blame her; I'd be equally shocked if our positions were reversed. After all, I've never managed to dodge her assaults before, let alone deliver a counterattack.
A chill courses down my spine as Hess struggles to rise; a chill that intensifies as the Space Beast behind her thrashes wildly, enveloping Hess with a shadowy substance. Panic creeps in as I grapple with the question: fight or flee? I defeated Rune's Space Beast, so handling this one shouldn't be an issue, right?
Taylor, run, Nexus urgently urges, his voice cutting through my internal debate.
"What?" I stammer, thrown off by the abrupt command.
Run, Nexus repeats, the urgency in his tone heightening. We have yet to recover enough to confront a Space Beast.
But what about Hess?
She will be fine. The Space Beast will not harm her, Nexus reassures me. Run. Now. Before it pulls us into its domain.
Uncertain of my options, I follow Nexus's advice. Casting a quick glance at the disoriented Hess on the ground, I sprint out of the classroom, out of Winslow.
I don't know where I am going, but right now, I just want to get as far away from Winslow, from Hess, as possible.
o-0-o
A/N: End of Chapter.
I need a better name for this part. 'Questions' just sounds so…generic.