SELENA
Selena went straight to the toilet and barricaded herself in. She slid down on the marbled floor, her hands on her face. The memory of the incoming vehicle flashed in her mind. She was sure that it was heading her way. The trajectory guaranteed so. But something… Something blocked its path and she knew she witnessed the hood of the vehicle hit something and skid inches away from them like it hit something circular in form.
And she knew. She knew from the inner depths of her consciousness that she caused it. She conjured the invisible barrier out of thin air.
What the bloody hell is going on?
She grabbed her hair, lost, and frowned at the unfamiliar texture. Since when did her hair start to be this soft? She put his hands under her bangs and touched her cheeks. Her pimples are gone. She didn't know that the day will come that the absence of her pimples won’t be a happy memory but rather be a dreadful one.
Admit it. You almost didn't recognize, Cynthia. And it’s only been four days since you last saw her.
Was the castle real? Did the castle do this to me? To us?
Am I still dreaming?
Her eyes were starting to water. She hates being clueless. Being helpless. And she knew Cynthia saw the same thing she saw. What would her friend think of her now?
And if she’s changing the same way she’s changing: can she conjure something like that too?
She doesn’t know how long she stayed cooped up inside their toilet. She knew she fell asleep inside there because when she opened her eyes, she saw her mom’s anxious face.
“Your Gran’s worried sick about you,” she said. “Mother! She’s here!”
She stood up and stepped out of the toilet. Her grandmother’s face looked relieved. Then she said.
“What happened?” she asked. “Cynthia came over speaking of an accident and was asking for you.”
It wasn’t a dream.
“It was nothing,” she heard herself saying. “I went straight home and just a little shocked that’s all.”
The two elderly ladies watched her for a while and Gran told her to change her clothes.
“Then get to the kitchen and eat,” she said. She was about to protest when her Gran said. “Whatever happens, a murder, a massacre, a holocaust, or anything worse. You eat.”
Selena took a deep breath and nodded. She clenched her jaws together stopping her whines from escaping. Her Gran’s not just a great cook. She’s also a retired police officer with a will of steel. Selena may be lazy but the last thing she wants her Gran to see her is a weak pathetic adolescent who can’t even will herself to be tough.
She ate first before checking her phone. She received twenty miss calls and a dozen messages containing RSVPs. She stared at it for a while and shut her phone off. She needed time-- time to recuperate and time to figure things out.
---
Selena went to school early the next day. She was attentive enough to go to school an hour earlier than normal to avoid unwanted attention. She got to her classroom quite certain that no one’s inside yet. But the moment she stepped inside; someone grabbed her arm. She turned to look at her abductor and she wasn’t particularly surprised to see Evil Spawn’s smirking face. She tried to free herself but his hold was with a vise.
She wanted to scream but she knew no one will hear her. She barely saw any maintenance crew on her way up there. And thinking back the room was supposed to be locked. She should’ve known that she was about to step into a trap. How could she have been this stupid?
He spun her around and pinned her to the wall. “What happened yesterday?”
She didn't answer. He was there. He saw everything that had transpired. How stupid of him to ask her something he already knows the answer to?
“Why did you run?”
Maybe because I was in shock?
“Answer me,” he hissed.
She clamped her mouth shut. She refused to give in. If he wants a conversation their going to have it, like how civilized people have it. Not like this.
“I know you can talk,” he whispered in her ear. “I saw you talk to that guy wearing a BSU uniform yesterday.”
Still, she didn't speak. She’s stubborn but she despises defeat. She walked inside this well-thought trap. The least she could do is give her abductor a hard time cracking her.
It’s not wise to agitate thy abductor.
She struggled. She jumped, she tried to turn around. She ignored the pain that comes with it. What did I do to him anyway? Where is this anger coming from?
After some time, she felt his grip loosen. He spun her around and as if on cue she head butt him. She heard a hollow crack and she looked at him. His nose was bleeding. He let out a painful groan.
I broke his nose.
Evil Spawn took a step back and now she’s free. She ran out of the room and head straight to the faculty room. She’s safe now. She put a hand on her forehead and frowned. She doesn’t even feel any sign of collision.
She cleared her throat and flashed the memory of the head butt in her head. She leaned her head against the wall. There it was again.
The shield.
She felt an ounce of pride swell from inside her. The shield is hers. It was like some kind of force granted her deepest desire. To stay safe and to keep everything she treasures safe.
But how do I control it? Is there a possibility that I can control it?
Students started to poor inside the building. She took it as her cue to go back to the classroom. Evil Spawn’s probably away by now mending his broken nose. He bled. She hurt him. Even if she doesn’t want to, she felt guilty.
“Hi.”
She walked past the source of the greeting certain that she wasn’t talking to her. “Hey, uh. Hello?”
The voice again and this time a girl blocked her path. She can see her shy smile behind the cover of her bangs. She halted at the foot of the stairs and looked up at her who was standing on the stairs’ first step. She’s a girl with bob-cut hair and extremely red lips. Her lipstick is… really red.
“Hi again,” she said and stuck her arm out. “I’m uh, my name is Katherine but everyone calls me, Kei.”
“Okay?”
She doesn’t have any idea why this girl is talking to her. But she has a feeling she’s about to find out.
“Uhm, you see, I saw your name on our student register and you were also the same girl who got involved in the accident, right?”
No connection at all. Selena thought.
“I’m the vice president of the Academic Club and Professor Garcia is our club adviser,” she continued and trotted a piece of paper. It was the pretest from the other day’s class.
It clearly states fifty-five out of one hundred. She raised a brow but she doubts she saw it behind her bangs.
“Perhaps you failed to notice that I failed the exam,” she said as quietly as she can.
“Uh-huh but we did not fail to notice that you answered only the problem-solving questions and all of them are correct,” she said, ecstatic. Selena wanted to wince at the sight of her eager eyes. She flipped her test paper and almost shoved it to her face. “You wrote all your solutions at the back.”
“I can see,” she answered and stepped back away from the paper.
“And all of them are accurately done, Professor Garcia told us you were not allowed to use calculators in this exam but there was no sign of you computing the variables in here.”
Selena still didn't know what the conversation was for.
“You solved them all in your head,” she said, enthralled. “Join our club. We need you there.”
“I already joined POLAR,” she answered simply and ascended the stairs. She passed left her there. She’s a threat to her peace.
“Everyone knows POLAR is the default club,” the girl followed her up. “Please, please?”
“I don't see any merit in joining you.”
That’s when Katherine aka Kei blocked her path again. “Professor Garcia wouldn't mind if you don't attend her class once you’re a member of the Academic Club.”
Silence.
The bell rang and she exhaled. The first subject is Professor Garcia’s Physics class. Katherine’s offering something hard to decline. She sighed.
“Okay.”
The girl squirmed in glee. She grabbed her hands and spoke. “See you tomorrow at Club Hour!”
Kei ran away, skipping. Selena sighed. She decided to go to class anyway. She entered the classroom looking for the threat.
The Evil Spawn is nowhere. She felt relieved. It’ll take him time to mend his broken nose. Her attention went back to her barrier and the possible ways to control it.
--
CYNTHIA
The moment Cynthia stepped foot inside the campus she was greeted with applause. She smiled at them in confusion.
“Cat rescuer,” someone called. She beamed proud.
“Cynthia, the Intrepid!” said someone, and the familiar title made her chuckle. She continued to walk down the path to their building saying hi to everyone who threw a greeting at her.
She saw Opal sitting on a bench under a mahogany tree with a book in hand. She sat down next to her. “Good morning.”
“So, did you talk to Selena?” Opal asked, eyes on the book.
“Her Gran said she hasn’t returned home when I stopped by, yesterday,” she said and leaned in to take a peek at her book. Opal looked at her and Cynthia saw her wince.
“What’s wrong?!” she asked alarmed.
Opal looked down at her book, brows creased. You’re… you’re so bright.”
Huh?
“Hey, guys,” Dylan approached. Cynthia looked at him and saw the same reaction. Her chest tightened.
“Holy…” Dylan muttered. Opal rose and stood next to him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Tell me.”
There was a flash of panic in their eyes then it’s gone. Dylan spoke in a dreamy voice, Cynthia never heard him speak.
“You’re so radiant today, Cynthia. Your beauty is kinda blinding.”
She turned to Opal.
“It’s overwhelming,” she added. Then, their eyes widened in shock.
“W-what just happened?” Dylan asked and turned to Opal, eyes reflecting terror. “You… Cynthia. You did something.”
Cynthia stood up and she watched Opal step back. Cynthia gasped at the gesture. “I didn't do anything.” she took another step forward and Opal took another step back. “Why are you doing that?!”
“Don't come near me!” Opal yelled back, eyes starting to shimmer with tears.
“What did I do?!” she whispered.
“Stop! The both of you! Relax!” Dylan stood in
between them. “Opal, calm the fuck down. Damn it.” He yanked Opal near him. She
hid behind him.
“Dylan, tell me what I did,” she said, and Dylan’s eyes flickered with the familiar panic and said.
“You compelled us to follow your orders,” his voice dreamlike. Then, it’s gone.
Opal yanked Dylan away from her. “You did it
again!”
She shook her head trying to deny what she saw, what she heard. “I… I didn't … I’m sorry.”
She ran away from them and head straight to the gates. She was lost and utterly confused. She had no idea what she was doing until she found herself riding a jeepney. At times like this, there’s only one person she runs to. She walked inside BCC ignoring the probing stares. A guard tried to block her path. One ’Get out of the way’ and the man stepped back. She opened every door looking for her. Some students tried to stop her but everyone steps back when they see her face. She searched for the classroom she mentioned the other day. Finally, she found her.
“Selena!” she entered the classroom and run towards her. Selena rose and caught her in her arms. Cynthia knew if there’s someone who could make things right, it’s her best friend.
SELENA"Miss Comia, what is this young outsider doing inside my classroom?" asked Professor Garcia. Selena was about to excuse herself but, then Evil Spawn entered the room with a patched nose. "I'd be escorting them out, Professor." He grabbed them both by the arm and yanked them out of the room. They were welcomed with nosy onlookers. Cynthia was too out of it that she couldn't even raise her gaze. Selena's attention was focused on the changes that had occurred in her friend's façade overnight. She's not a brunette, but her hair color has changed. The scar on her arm, which Selena knew when she had acquired, has been erased. She seemed taller and more…radiant. &nbs
DYLAN Dylan was tapping his foot impatiently on the marble floor, waiting for Selena to adequately explain things. Still, the girl practically shut down on them. She refused to speak about the matter and just flat out said he should be friends with Cynthia again. "Look at her!" Dylan snapped. "She's practically a danger tomyhealth! My eyes hurt every time I catch so much as those flicker things oozing from her skin like some… some kind of pheromone," he tried to glance a Cynthia. Still, the moment he laid eyes on her, his eyes watered. "See! She's too striking! My eyes water every time I look at her. She's basically a humanonion! If you want me to help her, enlighten
SELENA Her Gran was displeased. Her mom was considerate. Her siblings were ecstatic. Out there was sleek, silver Porsche parked haughtily in the middle of a one-way road. She took a deep breath and started whisperingpito rein down the bubbling anger inside her.3141592653589793…Her siblings heard her chanting the numbers like some kind of demonic magic. They ignored her mutterings, probably used to her eccentricities by now."Do you know that boy, Selena?" asked her Gran. Selena did not speak. The effort would be moot, seeing as the imbecile spawn of Satan had started his march towards her."Hi there, uh,
They were listening to the radio when some breaking news Dylan was visibly interested in coming up. The rest weren't that interested in the horrid issues of the world. "Three dead bodies were found at the Batangas coast. According to the autopsy reports, they all died from man-inflicted wounds. One of the bodies has its head nearly chopped off. Such a wound can only be imposed by an animal. Some think that a shark had them before they were washed on the beach. "Two more bodies were found dumped at the side of the road with the same kind of injuries as the first three. One of the two has a deep thorn throat that resembles one of the first three bodies found at the coast.
SELENA Selena didn't dare take a step away from the monsters in front of them. The big one who seemed seven feet tall landed like a hawk before them. She raised her gaze to his and decided to hold her ground. She made a mental note to cover both herself and Cynthia thoroughly. The big guy spoke, and they didn't understand a thing. Damn. This is more troublesome than I thought. "We can't understand you!" Cynthia yelled, crossing her hands in the air, telling them they couldn't comprehend. Her shouting only aggravated the
DYLAN "WHAT IS THIS CAGE?!" her voice was frenzied, and she's visibly having a moment. She's thrashing in her seat. Her gaze looked around the place like, just by doing so, she could actually flee. "What cage?" Zack asked and stopped her from leaving the bed. "Let go of me!" she screamed. Dylan cursed when he started hearing the nurses' anxious footsteps. "Hey, calm down," Dylan said and pushed her back on the bed. "We're here to help you!" She continued muttering, eyes wide with panic. "This cage… This cage…" Her rage was really disturbing.And what cage?
ZACHZach had made a few visits to Selena's house ever since that Saturday night when the two girls fell out. He searched for her at school first thing that Monday. They basically share the same classes, but Selena was nowhere. Tuesday came, and again his search was for naught. When he asked her mother if she went to school that day, she said that she did. He's not much when it comes to patience, so he knew he was running out of it.He had been finding it hard to sleep ever since he left Zach and Cynthia at the hospital. He hadn't even seen Selena since then either. He's been feeling extraordinarily wobbly and irritated. His thought went to his classmate, who had the weird power to conjure some force field. She doesn't even have a face.&
ZACH The next day, Wednesday, he woke up late. He got to school feeling morose. He parked on the basketball court and scoffed at the sound of women swooning at him. He basked in their unwavering affection and scanned the crowd for the familiar-looking hairstyle, and still, he found nothing like it. Where the fuck are you? The school isn't that big either. Why was he finding it hard to find Selena? He checked with the teachers and learned that she'd taken the quizzes like a typical in attendance student does. He went to the library dozens of times, and there was still no sign of her. He decided that today, he was going to mingle with the other students for a change. He walked to the building only to be thwarted by a puny girl w