Despite earlier incident, the joyous conversation returned to the three girls. Truly, the innocence of youth. It didn't take long before we arrived at the entrance of the towering skyscraper. The glass double doors slid open, revealing the building interior that resembled an Arthur C. Clarke novel.
Polished chrome wide hallways mirrored the ceiling lights. Students milled around with handheld tablets or toolbox. A much more advanced version of the cleaning 'Roombas' glided silently to clean the floor while wheeled sentry bots armed with machinegun rolled across the hallways. It felt like a futuristic military lab out of a science fiction movie rather than an academy.
The girls led me towards the elevator at the end of the hallway that require us to pass by several classrooms. The students gave me curious looks along the way.
Midori pressed the button to call the elevator. The elevator chimed, and we stepped inside. My mind wandered.
I knew I wouldn't be able to come up with a detailed world like this on my own. My bestselling Alex Casey series were nothing but a lucky fluke. I couldn't even come up with another original story after I ended the series. It was the main reason I was pushed into this bizarre situation in the first place.
It made me think.
Were the girls real or they were characters that I had written? The line between reality and my creation were blurry even to me. These girls held genuine emotions, ambitions, and motivations. Would it be worth it? To sacrifice their innocence, or even their life to stop the Dark Presence and help me escape?
Was it right for me to play God?
I'd spared the people of Bright Falls from traumas by making them forget.
Forgetting. A blessing, and also a curse.
I remember about the Dark Place shifting that put me here but I couldn't recall the plot of this world, the supposed escape I'd penned. Was this world the first attempt, or the hundredth? The Dark Place twisted memories into doubts and turning my mind into a battleground. My thoughts, once a writer's ally, became my fiercest enemy, manipulating me to write a story that would set the Dark Presence free.
My thoughts were cut short as the elevator doors opened. The girls led me to only door and slammed it open.
"Yuuka! We need your help!" Momoi shouted
"Knock the door first before entering, Momoi!" A feminine voice shouted behind the counter. "So, what do you need? Did your department finally started writing a game proposal I told you to do?" chirped a black-haired girl with twin tails armed with dual submachineguns. She was the age of a high schooler.
'Yuuka' was looking out the window that have a bird-eye view of the city of Kivotos. The circles symbol in the sky seems to originate from the center of the city. 'Yuuka' spun her chair to face us. Her eyes landed on me.
"Who did you bring with you?" 'Yuuka' asked.
Before I could answer, Alice interjected, taking a step forward.
"This is Mr. Wake. He's lost."
'Yuuka' sighed. "Why didn't you lead him to the Disciplinary Board?" she questioned.
"You are less troublesome to deal with than them." Momoi countered.
Yuuka closed her eyes, massaging her forehead as if to ward off a headache. Then, taking a deep breath, she pushed herself off the chair and approached me. Extending a hand, she introduced herself with a hint of formality.
"My name is Hayase Yuuka. I'm the Treasurer for Millennium High School Seminar."
I grasped her hand firmly and shook it. My face was tight.
"I'm Alan Wake. I'm a writer."
I released her hand.
"A writer? Are you visiting Millennium Academy for inspiration?" Hayase asked.
"No, I blinked and found myself here." I admitted. Playing with lies when I don't know anything about this world can bite me later.
Hayase stared at me. Eyebrows furrowed with crease forming between them. I quickly added.
"Look, I don't mean to cause trouble. I just..." I trailed off, searching for the right words. "I just need to find my manuscripts and then I'll be on my way back."
"Manuscripts?" Hayase questioned.
"For a novel, specifically. they are very important to me. I lost them when I got here." I answered.
"Maybe we can help you find your manuscripts. Right, Yuuka?" Momoi cheerfully suggested to Hayase.
Hayase cupped her chin, her gaze thoughtful. "Right. But that still doesn't explain how you ended up in Millennium Academy. Forgive me, Mr. Wake but blinking and suddenly found yourself on Millennium ground is just unbelievable."
"I know it's hard to believe but it's the truth." I added.
Hayase frown deepened. She knew that I knew more than I let on.
"Do you have your identification card?" Hayase asked.
I patted my pockets. Besides the manuscript page inside my suit, there was nothing else. "No."
"Without any form of identification, it will be difficult to verify your identity or assist you further." Hayase remarked.
"I understand your concerns," I began, my voice gaining strength. "But please, believe me when I say that finding my manuscripts is important. They're not just lost work, they're very, very important to me. I need to find them."
And to this world, I wanted to add.
I can hear desperation creeping into my own voice as I chewed on my lips.
Hayase's gaze bore through me, her expression unreadable. The silence stretched and thick with tension. The other three girls held their breath.
After an eternity, Hayase sighed. There was a hint of resignation in her voice.
"Look, Mr. Wake," she said, "I can't guarantee anything without knowing more. However, I understand the importance of personal belongings. Losing something precious can feel like losing a part of yourself."
I honestly my pleading would work on someone who seemed so skeptical just moments ago.
"Tell you what," Hayase continued, "We can try to help you find your manuscripts. But in exchange, you'll need to agree with a condition."
Was this my way out? I swallowed, waiting for her to continue.
Hayase said, her voice firm, "you'll need to come clean with us about how you arrived here. Not every detail, perhaps, but enough to establish some trust."
My mind raced, "My situation is...unique and I understand why it's hard to believe." I spoke.
Hayase raised an eyebrow. "Please elaborate."
"Imagine," I continued, carefully choosing my words, "being a writer so engrossed in their story that the lines between reality and fiction blur. That's what happened to me, in a way."
Hayase's expression remained unreadable. As quickly as it takes to write a sentence, she replied, "So you're saying you wrote yourself into this...situation?"
I stared at her for a few seconds. I was at loss for words.
"So, am I correct?" Hayase asked. I could almost hear her scoffing.
"Not exactly," I shook my head, "it's more like I'm caught in the middle of my own story. These manuscripts I'm looking for, they hold the key, the story to...well, to getting back to where I belong-Again, I understand this sounds strange, even unbelievable. But I promise you, these manuscripts are very real, and finding them is crucial. They are like notes. Notes on how I got here."
Hayase cupped her chin and gazed at the ground. She muttered under her breath that was barely audible, "…Amnesia?"
Then, she raised her head and looked at me, "There are still parts of your story that don't add up."
My heart pounded in my chest. "I understand. I'm willing to answer any questions you have, to the best of my ability."
There was another silence.
"Alright, Mr. Wake - For now, I'll accept your explanation. But know this: if anything, you've said turns out to be a lie, or if you cause any trouble here, our offer of help will be rescinded immediately. Do we have a deal?"
"We do." I replied.
"Now, can you describe the manuscript pages in more detail? What does a page look like?" Hayase asked.
The girls' eyes were on me.
"It's a single page," I explained, "written in ink on aged paper, typewritten."
Hayase furrowed her brow. "While that description helps, identifying a single page amongst the academy's vast resources is challenging. Many students write stories as their pastime. Is there anything else unique about the page, anything that would distinguish it from others?"
"I might be using...specific styles in my writing."
Hayase's gaze were curious as she asked, "Can you elaborate on your writing style?"
"Unfortunately, I can't describe them in words right now." I replied.
"Maybe showing us the manuscript page, you found earlier can help?" Midori, the quietest one among the girls surprisingly piped up.
Hayase tilted her head. I paused.
If I give her the manuscript, there would be no doubt that Hayase would ask about the content. But my options were limited. I was already relying on Hayase's goodwill. Keeping her in the 'dark' felt dishonest. Not to mention that Hayase may change her mind on helping me.
I took the manuscript from my suit and handed it over to Hayase.
Maybe, telling them about the looming threats would help them prepare.
Intently, she read. She shifted between looking at me and the manuscript page multiple times.
Momoi held her clenched hands close to her chest in excitement. She asked, "Can I read it too Mr. Wake?"
"…Yes." I hesitantly replied.
Hayase handed the manuscript to Momoi.
"Anyway, that manuscript is an excerpt to a larger story, right?" Hayase nodded towards the manuscript Momoi was holding.
"Yes." I answered.
"Then, I'd like to ask you several questions about your manuscript." Hayase asked.
Here it comes. The twenty questions game.
"What is a Taken?" Hayase asked.
"A Taken is a person fully possessed by the Dark Presence." I replied.
"What is Dark Presence?" Hayase asked again.
"It is a malevolent supernatural and sentient force that try to set itself free by possessing people." I replied.
"Okay…What is the Champion of Light and the Herald of Darkness?" Hayase asked.
I paused, my mind blank, "I'm really sorry Miss Hayase, I don't know."
"Midori, I think I could use the metaphors!" I hear Momoi practically shouting at Midori. Midori craned her neck over Momoi's shoulder, straining to read the manuscript.
"Anyway, do you have the exact numbers of manuscript you lost?" Hayase finally continued.
I shook my head.
After another moment of contemplative silence, Hayase asked again, "Do you have a place to stay?" Hayase asked.
I shook my head again.
"Have you eaten, Mr. Wake?" Hayase asked.
It took me a moment to answer with a "No". I wasn't particularly hungry but I haven't tasted food for as long as I was trapped in the Dark Place.
"I also lost my money and my phone when I got here." I have no idea if this place even accepts U.S. dollars even if I still have my wallet.
"In that case…" Hayase looked at Momoi, "Midori, can you show Mr. Wake the cafeteria?"
"Okay." Midori politely replied.
"We'll contact you through them if I manage to secure a lodging." Hayase gestured towards the trio. "As for your identification, we'll issue you one reserved for Kivotos visitors,"
This was too good to be true.
"What do you stand to gain from this, Ms. Hayase? I doubt Millennium Academy is a charity." I remarked.
"Of course, in exchange, you need to help out with some odd jobs around the academy. It'll give us time to process your visitor ID and verify your… story. I can't exactly ask you to leave the academy because of your circumstances. It'll make us look bad to other academies." Hayase explained.
"What do you mean by odd jobs?" I asked.
"Like helping the students with their creative works." Hayase explained.
This was too convenient. Given Dark Presence's ability to weaponize creativity, I couldn't help being worried. Then again, if I'm able to supervise the students' creative process, I can limit the Dark Presence's movement and I couldn't exactly take Hayase's assistance for granted either.
"I understand." I replied.
"That is all, or do you have any questions?"
"Nothing at the moment." I replied back.
"Then, Momoi, Midori and Alice. Can you show Mr. Wake the way to the cafeteria?"
"Okay!" Alice and Momoi excitedly replied.
"Let's go Mr. Wake." The girl led me towards the door where we came in.
When we were halfway through, the door suddenly slammed open.
"Yuuka!"
A girl with pink pigtails shouted as she rushed inside. She noticed me at the last minute. Both of us were taken by surprise to even consider dodging. The girl bumped into me with such a force that I didn't expect from a small frame, I stumbled back and fell on my back. After the initial disorientation subsided, the girl was sitting on my stomach. I could've sworn I've read about this trope somewhere before.