King Maker System

[Sino]

[A/N: Chapter soundtrack: Destiny's Child - Survivor]

I'm really starting to regret wearing my basketball jersey today.

The girls' fingers slipped, and she fell backward into the vast, empty space.

Seriously, it's not doing much in the way of keeping me warm...

Shaking, she tried to pull the thin cloth tighter around herself.

The last thing she remembered was the sound of sneakers squeaking on the floor.

I was just minding my own business, waiting for my turn to play...

And now, she tumbled through the air, like a toy tossed aside, in a place that made no sense, with no way to understand how she got there.

Getting thrown around like a rag doll isn't how I planned to end my day...

She looked up at the massive pillar she had been clinging to, now growing smaller and smaller above her.

Oh wait, a realization struck her. That rhym-

Nyah-choo!

A tiny high-pitched sneeze escaped the girls' nose, sending goose-bumps running across her arms.

Her cheeks turned pink as she quickly buried her nose into her bruised hands.

Ugh... I'll add one more thing to the list of things for me to hate - sneezing: it doesn't help me make friends! It makes me feel like a dork every time it happens...

As she felt another sneeze coming on, her slender frame jerked forward gently.

Pchoo!

There, that's what I'm talking about. I'm small, sneezing like a kitten doesn't exactly help my image.

Though it's great for making people underestimate me, but not so great when you're suddenly thrust into a freefall wearing nothing but a jersey, shorts, and sneakers!

She sighed. Point is - it's not a great look.

Shivering in the cold air, she hugged her petite self as she fell, her basketball jersey barely stopping the chill.

Dahh... my nose feels so raw~

Choo!

The raven haired girl wiped her nose on her clothes with a small smirk.

That one was a lot less awkward than I expected, actually.

She sniffed to keep from sneezing... then the smell from the space around her forced her to sneeze anyway.

Covering her mouth with her hand she tried to contain the sneeze, but it still made a noise like a tiny series of rapid fire chirps.

Hachu! Pchoo! Nyah-choo!

She cringed after each sneeze.

"Argh! I can't help it, my nose does this every time."

Finally, when it seemed safe, she took a deep breath and let out a little sigh.

The air felt good in her lungs.

Anyway, I should probably figure out how the heck I'm supposed to stay alive now that I fell off.

That's probably a good start.

So... She began, mostly to confirm what she was experiencing was really happening...

I'm falling through space.

The light shining up at me isn't very comforting since it comes from something that wants me for dinner.

And just to make sure my survival odds are as close to zero as possible, I can't control my nose. Great, just great.

Despite the madness, she forced a weak smile. "Oh well, at least I'm doing a good job of staying calm under pressure."

How long can I keep this up, though... She silently wondered.

Just then, her amber eyes widened as a boy in a grey uniform plummeted past her.

His bloodshot eyes, bleeding nose, and cracked lips made her stomach churn.

One of his legs had been bent at an odd angle with a deep gash in his calf.

Their gazes met for a brief second. She shut her eyes trying to block out the image.

But the noise became unbearable instead. She pressed her hands to her ears. The screams still pierced through.

Her breaths grew shallow. Panic had set in. She hugged her knees to her chest, curling into a ball as she fell.

It was hard to stay in control of her own body when it was spinning.

"Urk!" The taste of bile rose in her throat.

Just in time, she swallowed it back down.

N-no, I have to stop. I can't afford to freak out now.

Not after everything that's already happened to me.

And I definitely can't be sick. I can't make things any worse than they are by adding vomit to the mess.

The smell from the blood, though... She shuddered. It made her feel nauseous.

Luckily, she was able to suppress the urge to throw up just long enough for it to pass.

All the while, people around her screamed in pain and confusion.

I wish I could help, she thought. At least, I won't have to feel so useless...

But I need to focus on not dying right n-

She paused mid-thought.

Her skin tingled.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!

From down below, a large crash echoed causing her to jump in surprise.

The very air she fell through vibrated from the impact as her body shook violently.

Eyes wide open, she looked down only to find large clouds of dust billowing up toward her.

Swirling and spreading like a thick fog, it coated her in a blanket of dark particles.

Cough, cough, cough.

"Ugh, this is awful!"

The dust was getting in her eyes, nose, and mouth now.

Cough, cough, cough.

It didn't take long before her face was covered in a thick coat of lint.

"Gah, I can barely see anything with this stuff in my face!"

She held her breath as she rubbed the dust away from her eyes.

Wait... She froze mid-rub, a thought suddenly occuring to her: Was that the thing down there?!

Is it dead now? I really hope it is.

But that isn't exactly a good thing. Is it?

The only light we have is from that thing's eyes, and if it's dead, that could mean we're trapped here in the pitch black.

But at the same time, we wouldn't have to worry about being eaten... by something we can see...

Gah! She smacked her face with both hands causing a puff of dust to rise.

I need an out of here before I go crazy!

With renewed vigor, she rubbed the rest of the dust from her eyes, bit by bit opening them to witness the strange spectacle below her.

"What... the heck are those?"

Like bits of tiny raindrops, shining gold particles were suspended in the air.

"Diamonds or something?" She guessed, narrowing her eyes.

"They're so small and shiny. It's hard to see what they really are."

But as she fell closer, the sight before her soon became apparent as she blinked twice to confirm what she saw.

"Oh... They're just glass."

Floating in midair, with lots of empty space in between them, the glass shards varied in size from tiny splinters to jagged pieces the size of a car window.

The pieces spun slowly, reflecting fractured images of the pillars and the falling bodies around her.

They're kind of... pretty, actually.

Hypnotized, the girl stared down at the beautiful shards of glass.

It almost makes me forget how scary this place is.

Almost...

"Coming through!!!"

A sudden rush of air from behind threw her into turbulence.

"Woah! Watch it, buddy!" She screamed at the person who went flying past her at top speed into the depths below.

***

Hearing someone scream at him, the high schooler knew better than to pay them any attention.

His target was within sight.

Reaching out one hand to the flimsy shard in front of him, he desperately grabbed it.

As it swung him to and fro he silently prayed it would hold his weight.

Ahhh... Shit. Why did I eat that second bowl of ramen? If I die, I swear I'll haunt you kenta!

***

Meanwhile, the raven haired girl watched as he held on for dear life.

I guess I should follow his example and try to do the same. No point in waiting around here like a helpless damsel.

She glanced around at the various shards, trying to find one that looked steady enough for her to rest her weight on.

After a quick survey of the pieces below, she saw one that looked considerably bigger and sturdier than the rest.

It was about the size of the surface of a small bar stool, with both sides smooth and flat.

She stared at the large shard.

It's perfect... And also completely out of my reach.

This kind of irony...

I just want to catch a break for once!

Hm?

A shard nearby caught her eye, it wasn't big, about the size of a tablet screen.

Without thinking, she grabbed it with both hands before it went by her.

It cut her already scarred palms. The pain stung, but she held on tight.

She looked below to see the beast with glowing eyes getting bigger and bigger.

Why is it...

Her muscles went limp at the realization.

At the last second, she squeezed her eyes tight.

SNAP!!!

A resounding echo pierced through her ears.

Slowly opening her eyes, she swallowed hard. One... Two... Three...

To Be Continued...

 

[Sino]

[A/N: Chapter soundtrack: Coheed and Cambria – A Disappearing Act]



Millions of people fell alongside her, they looked in all directions trying to find a handhold so they could halt their fall.

Slowly opening her eyes, the girl swallowed hard, feeling the dryness in her throat.

She hesitated for a moment, then she tightened her grip on the shard. This is probably a terrible idea.

Swinging her legs, she began her countdown.

Three... Two... One... Go!

She propelled herself, reaching out for a shard below, about the size of a broken in half dinner plate.

I remember the first time that I tried monkey bars. I was only five years old and it looked fun, so I decided to give it a shot.

Stretching her full arm length, she grabbed the small shard. It was sharp, a sting shot through her palm. Her teeth clenched as she held on tight.

This!

This is just like monkey bars! She declared inwardly, wincing as she denied the pain.

Looking down, the girl searched and found her next 'bar.' It was long, thin and flat almost like...

A Ruler? Not so bad. You've done this before.

Building up momentum, she swung her legs back and forth once again, aiming for the shard.

Just like lazy summer afternoons, swinging from one playground bar to another.

All around, terrified people were still falling.

Grandpa playing chess, watching from the park bench.

Some people managed to grab onto the shards, other's were not so fortunate...

Then we would eat watermelon and popsicles under a big tree.

Taking a deep breath, she released the shard she was holding.

So yeah, like child's play...

Her fingers scrambled to latch onto the Long shard just in time.

"Ow ow ow ow!" She yelped in pain.

It was like holding a saw, nothing like a ruler at all.

Blood trickled down her fingers, but she pushed the pain aside.

Looking for the next shard, her golden eyes widened as she saw one below.

Bingo.

It was larger than what she originally aimed for, this one the size of a TV screen.

Like all the other shards, it wasn't a perfect shape; the edges were jagged and uneven, sticking out like sharp teeth.

It floated straight ahead but lower down to her right.

Now, I just need to make it to that shard and I'm home free.

Huh?

Something caught her eye - a flash of light off to the side.

She dared a quick glance without turning her head.

The light bounced off a tiny shard the size of a key, sharp and bright, making her squint against its glare.

She blinked to confirm what she saw.

In that tiny mirror, she saw him...

The fabric of his brown uniform rippled with the speed of his dive.

His short dark hair streamed back, revealing a face with sharp features and a confident grin.

His fingers were spread wide as he aimed for...

That prick!

He's going for the same shard as me!

The voice of reason fought back within her head: Maybe he's just following the same train of thought as me, that this shard looks sturdy enough to support his weight.

Well, I'm not going down without a fight. It's mine! I've... She tilted her head, pausing for a moment... sort of called dibs first.

How...?

Damn it! How do I call dibs on something in this situation?

Tch. I wish I could punch him in the face. Who does he think he is!

Just try and take this from me.

I dare you.

Her eyes darted around frantically.

He's almost here... I need to do something!

No, wait! I've got it! This time, I'll just reach out and grab something from him as he passes by, that'll throw him off.

.

.

.

Or kill him...

Gah!

Deciding against spending another second thinking, in one big swing, she veered her body hard in the direction of the large shard.

Ignoring the risk, the girl stretched her hand as far as she could.

The boy was just a few feet away.

They both reached their arms towards the shard.

She beat him to it.

However, misjudging her distance, the girl missed it by an inch.

No! Please no!

Falling beneath her goal, realizing she undershot, she saw another shard through the reflection on the large glass.

It was directly below her, like a jagged step.

In a split second, she immediately made a bold decision.

With quick reflexes, the girl tucked her knees, catching the shard with her feet.

The soles of her sneakers dug into the edge as she heard a piercing noise.

Nnggghhhh!!!

Her face turned red as she felt the blood pool in both her socks.

It was like stepping on a pile of razor blades.

Grimacing, she used her feet to push off the glass and propel herself upward.

The clever move gave her momentum, allowing her to clamp her fingers around the shard's far edge.

With a strong pull she hoisted herself up, smudging up the glass's surface with blood.

Her feet dangled, and her shoulders slumped. Her armpits hurt from being supported by the edge of the shard.

"Haa... Haa... Haa..." She panted.

Head drooping down, she looked like she was about to pass out. Lifting her head, she let out a tired sigh.

"Okay, I actually did it... now wha-"

WHAM!

Misjudging his own speed, the boy collided with the large shard in a big bear hug.

The shard began to spin in place wildly like a pinwheel caught in a storm.

Argh! What the hell is he doing!

Flattened against the shard's surface like a starfish, he was holding on for dear life.

Instinctively, she followed suit.

Swinging her legs up, she hooked them over the shard's edge.

Her body ached, screamed and protested to let go, but her mind refused.

Don't let go... don't let go...

Gripping the shard even tighter with her feet, she held on not wanting to fall off as it spun out of control, twisting and turning.

Eventually, the shift in weight slowed the spin to a crawl.

With a final spin, the shard stopped its wild dance and came to a halt.

The girl found herself collapsed in a heap on the glass, her chest rose and fell rapidly, gasping for air.

Lying flat on her stomach, she was splayed out across the shard.

Beside her, the boy mirrored her position down to the tee.

Like two human suction cups, their fingers clung to the jagged edges for extra security, while their feet dangled off the side, both too exhausted to move.

The boy let out a breathless laugh, more out of relief than amusement. "Hah! Haha... Ha... Ha... whew... finally... can't believe that worked!"

Looking across at the girl, he smiled at her. "That was wild..."

With a deep breath, the girl gathered herself and lifted her head, turning it to the side. Her golden eyes met his.

"You jerk!" She exploded. "What the hell was that! You almost knocked me right off the shard! In case you didn't notice, I was here first!"

Is what she wanted to say, but she was exhausted, he was exhausted. It really didn't matter now. They were both on the same shard for the moment, so who really cared?

Instead... "You have some real upper body strength," were the words that came out of her mouth.

"I'll take that as a compliment, thanks." He gave her a sly smile.

She didn't know how to respond to this.

"So, what's your name?" He asked.

"My name? Uh, my name is... Mai. Mai Wu." Mai looked at him warily. "And you?"

"Mai..." He pronounced the name slowly. "Wu? That means five in Chinese. Wait... Do you speak Japanese?"

Mai looked at him a bit confused.

Why is he asking all these questions? She thought.

"Japanese? No. I can understand a little, but that's it."

"Huh? Mai, where are you from, really?" He narrowed his brown eyes in suspicion. "You're speaking Japanese, right now. At least, I can understand you perfectly."

Her eyes went wide with surprise.

"Really?" She hadn't considered this before. Tilting her head in confusion, her brows furrowed.

I always figured that my understanding of Japanese was just a side effect of consuming so much media, like being able to read manga and watch anime, stuff like that. Even then, I can't actually speak it.

The boy smiled, enjoying her confusion. "Know what? Forget it. We're in a crazy place... I guess I'll accept anything as possible."

"Right, what was that you asked earlier? My name? My name is Hio Bonjin."

"So... what should I call you? Hio?"

Hio nodded, smiling.

"So, Hio it is."

***

"Well, nice to meet you, Mai. I would risk a hand shake but that would just be torture to us both."

Distracted, looking down frantically and not really paying attention, Mai smiled weakly at Hio's joke. "Yeah, our hands are a bit too busy."

Hio could tell that she was still uneasy about him. He didn't mind, though. He was just happy to have a partner in this dangerous place.

He laughed, enjoying the small bit of banter. But then, as she turned to look at him, her next words caught him completely off guard:

"Hey, um where did the monster down there go?"

To Be Continued...

 

[Sino]

[A/N: Chapter soundtrack: Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out]

"What do you mean, 'where did it go?' It's right-"

"No, it's gone!" Mai shook her head, frustrated at Hio. "It's gone! Look down there! Look!"

Hio peered over the edge as Mai risked a pointed finger below. As Hio looked down, his jaw dropped.

His eyes darted from left to right wildly.

The monster was gone.

Its massive maw, its enormous eye sockets staring up at the falling masses, completely gone.

And there was nothing in sight, just an unnerving and unsettling dark, empty space.

Looking across him, he could see Mai was starting to panic. He was too.

Just to make sure, he looked down again, as if expecting the monster to reappear in a blink.

"It was right there a second ago... what the hell? How does something like that just disappear?"

"What do you mean, 'How does something like that just "disappear?"' How do you expect me to answer that question?! It was right there. Now it's not."

Heart pounding in his chest, a bead of cold sweat trickled down Hio's forehead.

"So what now?" Mai's question was blunt.

He laughed nervously, completely dumbfounded. "Well, we're safe for the moment. This is the best scenario I could imagine. As for the future, however, I'll have to get back to you on that."

Feeling frustrated, Mai's shoulders slumped. "This is the best scenario you can imagine?"

"Yes."

"How so?"

"Isn't it obvious? The monster is gone. Now we can... do... whatever we want. We don't have to be eaten. We can find a way out of here. Hell," he shrugged.

"We could just let go and you know, see what happens. There's nothing but air below us. It really doesn't matter now."

"See what happens? Let go and see what happens?!" Pinching her brows together in frustration, Mai looked at Hio.

I can't believe he's actually considering jumping and returning to that hell!

Hio came to his own defense. "Well we can't find a way out of here hanging around forever!"

"Nothing is off the table to you, is it?"

"And it should be the same for you."

With a sharp exhale, she thought about Hio's words. It sounded pretty crazy.

No, it is crazy. 'There's nothing but air below us.' How does he know? How can we possibly know that?

"Look. We can't stay here." Hio began. "The shard is bound to come apart at some point, we'll be falling on our asses anyway."

Mai sighed. "I'll be honest. I'm getting tired of all this recklessness. I mean, it's like you have a death wish or something. You just want to jump out into the air with no plan whatsoever. It's stupid. You're stupid."

She turned her head toward Hio, her eyes narrowed. "And it's also a bit suspicious too. Why 'we?' Don't get me involved with you. I'm not going anywhere with you at this point. I'm staying right here."

Eyes wide, Hio took offense. "What do you mean, suspicious?"

"You think I planned this?" He raised a questioning brow and let out an incredulous laugh.

"Seriously, do you think I've trapped you with me on a glass shard, high up above an apocalyptic void, just so I could what?" He scoffed. "Make a move on you?"

"A move on me?" Rolling her eyes, Mai tilted her head to the side. "Wow. What a weirdo."

"I'm... I'm a weirdo?" Hio blinked in surprise as her gaze shifted sideways to meet his. "Yeah, you're pretty weird. You don't even know me and yet you keep following me."

"Following you?" Hio scoffed again. "Are you that full of yourself!?"

"Gah!" Mai scrunched up her face like she'd just tasted something sour. "You're just everywhere!"

"We're on the same glass! Where else am I supposed to go!?" Hio shot back.

Releasing a long and drawn out sigh, she glanced sideways at him again.

"You're supposed to think rationally and stay up here with me not try to make me let go of this glass with you. So yeah, you're a weirdo that I don't trust."

Eyes lowered, Mai spoke with more seriousness: "This isn't a game. You could die. I've... I've seen things... things that I didn't particularly want to see."

"Okay, fine." Letting out a resigned sigh, Hio looked up, eyes locked on a boy in a spotless white uniform, flailing around as he desperately tried to stay balanced on his shard.

"I see how it is. You don't trust me. That's cool. I'm not offended." He turned his head slightly, casting a quick glance at Mai before looking back up.

"We're in a pretty rough situation." Hio continued.

"It's natural to feel nervous, especially when there's so much uncertainty, and we really do have every reason not to trust one another. So," he lowered his head facing Mai.

"Let's just put it all out there and get this whole thing over with."

Mai blinked.

She was surprised.

I didn't expect him to be so... direct.

She was even more surprised at how honest he seemed, not to mention his straightforward way of speaking. And for some reason, her cheeks puffed slightly...

"Bwahahaha~ Put it all out there? What does that even mean?"

"It means what I said." Hio shrugged, his expression serious, looking directly at Mai.

"I'm not gonna sugar-coat it. I'm a bit of a mess." Sparing one hand, he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"And you're probably one too." He gestured his head at her. "We have a lot in common and we should just get all of our cards out on the table."

"Cards on the table?... Like, cards as in poker? Or do you mean like cards as in tarot cards?"

"I'm talking about cards as in... wait a minute, did you just ask me if I meant cards as in cards?"

Mai stared blankly into his face. "Yeah, I guess I did."

"Are you serious right now? No!" Hio shouted, "I don't mean literal cards like poker, or cards like tarot cards!"

Mai was still staring at Hio, unable to tear her eyes away from him. "Just tell me what you mean by cards then."

Eyes narrowing, he shot Mai an irritated look. "Stop messing with me! Does it even matter!? Wait, actually..." Pausing, a thoughtful look crossed his face.

"Cards as in poker, yeah."

"See?" This was just another case of her brain working faster than he could react to it.

"Yeah, yeah." Hio rolled his eyes. "I have no clue where you got the idea that I would refer to the tarot, though."

Closing her eyes, Mai took a slow breath as she opened them. She looked at her reflection in the glass.

Her ponytail had come undone making her dark hair a mess, falling into her eyes.

Skin not fairing any better, she looked pale and bruised from all the strain of hanging on so tightly.

Her golden eyes stared back at her, reflecting the light of the glowing shards around.

Now that I think about it. The light of the shards...

Biting her lower lip, her mind raced.

It's the only reason I didn't notice that thing was gone earlier. So...

Absentmindedly, her finger began to tap against the glass.

"Where did the shards come from then?"
Hio looked at Mai blankly. "Um, what?" He asked, a bit thrown off.

He was just ranting about getting to know each other and now, out of nowhere, she was asking about something else.

"I mean think about it, the shards don't look or feel natural."

Hio looked to his side at the shards.

"Well, I guess... I dunno, the sky?" He shrugged. "They don't have to have some kind of backstory. They just happened, right?"

"No." Mai shook her head.

"It can't be that simple. And they don't look like they grew here somehow, either. They just look like... shards, like fragments of something bigger. That loud crash from earlier..." Mai placed her hand on her chin in deep thought.

"As if someone just..."

"Smashed up a huge glass art installation?" A strangers voice offered.

To Be Continued...

 

[Sino]

[A/N: Chapter soundtrack: Refused - New Noise]
Mai placed her hand on her chin in deep thought.

"It can't be that simple. And they don't look like they grew here somehow, either. They just look like... shards, like fragments of something bigger. That loud crash from earlier..."

"As if someone just..."

"Smashed up a huge glass art installation?" A stranger's voice offered.

In an instant, Mai's calm exterior shattered.

Eyes widened to the size of saucers, she gripped the edges of the shard tightly, her spine instinctively straightening as if a bolt of electricity had gone through it.

Mouth agape, she looked much like a startled cat.

The stranger's words had clearly turned her usual composure upside down.

She whipped her head around to see who it was.

On her side of the glass, atop a shard much smaller than theirs, there was an average looking guy sat cross-legged at the ankles.

The young man casually swung his feet back and forth. It was as if he were sitting on a park bench, rather than on a precarious piece of glass high in the sky.

A little older than Hio and Mai, he looked like a model with his plain white shirt, open collar and blue jeans - the type Mai would see straight out of a foreign college catalog.

But with his back perfectly straight and his hands resting lightly on his knees, he reminded Mai more of a prince carved from stone.

Beyond the young man, she found it hard to see anything. The wind whipped through the stranger's short brown hair as his amused, deep green eyes met theirs.

Hio and Mai both stared back at the guy with wide but equally un-amused eyes.

Mai, on the other hand, looked a bit more taken aback than Hio.

"What- What are you?" She asked the stranger.
He looked mildly confused at her question.

Who could blame him?

His puzzled expression said it all, as if he had no idea how to answer it.

Leaning out over the edge of the shard slightly, he stared down into the void below.

"What am I?" The words echoed through his lips slowly. A moment later, he looked back at the pair with a dazzling grin on his face. "Just a man," he said.

Mai's eyes widened as she suddenly looked a little sheepish.

That was really stupid.
Realizing her blunder, she put a hand over her face.
"Wh-Who are you?" She finally whispered, her ears pink with embarrassment.

Peeking at the stranger, she hoped he didn't seem too weirded out by her awkwardness.

But he only laughed a bit, entertained, yet seemingly understanding.

"Nice to meet you Mai, my name is Peter Inch," he said.

***
Hio scrutinized Peter, eyeing him carefully. "How do you even know her name?" He asked. "And aren't you a bit too quick to jump in on our conversation?"

Peter's eyes shifted to look at Hio.

Hio swallowed, suddenly wishing he hadn't spoke.
He froze, feeling as if the newcomer had turned him to stone, just with his eyes alone.

"Oh, is that a bad thing to know?" Peter asked as he smiled a bit more, "to know one's name?"

What's his deal? Hio couldn't seem to get a good read on this Peter guy.

He just keeps staring at me. Is he looking for a fight, or what?
Oblivious to Hio's turmoil, Peter simply shrugged. "But you're right, I did know that already, didn't I."

"And to answer your question... Hio." Peter continued, a sly grin spreading across his lips.

"Tch." A vein throbbed in Hio's temple.

"You and your little girlfriend are quite the loud couple. It's a bit off-putting." The newcomer finished.

Girlfriend? Hio opened his mouth to protest, but Mai spoke first.

"Little? Girlfriend?"

Mai looked Peter in the eyes and if looks could kill, he would be dead ten times over. Such was the nature of the death stare aimed in his direction.

Unbeknownst to her, she squeezed a shard in her hand, oblivious to the small cuts forming on her palm.

Meanwhile, Hio grinded his teeth together. Why is everyone pissing me off today?
His eyes darted away from Peter to look at Mai. "Oi, I know I'm not the best-looking guy around, but that's going too far!"

Peter looked at Mai's closed fist.

Blinking for a moment, he burst out into laughter. "You have a bit more spunk in you than I thought. My apologies."

Laughter subsiding, a laid-back smile took over. "I just can't help it. I can't resist getting people together." He said with a shrug.

Spreading his hands wide, he brought them together with a playful clap. "Guess I'm a bit of a matchmaker that way."

But Mai was more concerned at how Peter seemed very laid back.

She lowered her clenched fist, a crease forming on her brows. "Why are you so relaxed in this situation? What is that attitude? Don't you care?"

"Me? Why should I care?" He waved a hand dismissively. "It's not my problem."

Mai stared at him in silence. "You're just weird," she decided.

"That's fair." He shrugged.

"But it is very mysterious." Peter's eyes shifted to the dark void.

The wind blew, pulling out his brown hair in the air a bit. He quickly ran his hands through his hair, letting it settle down as he looked back to the pair.

"Anyway, I was here before you both came along. Sorry for interrupting your conversation. I didn't mean it like that."

"You asked a question: Where did all those shards come from, and I felt compelled to give you an answer."

"So?" Hio looked at Peter from the side.

"Hrm?"

"He means, are you the reason why the shards appeared?" Mai added, staring at Peter.

The young man put his finger up to his lips in thought. "You know," he said.

However, whatever he planned to say next was interrupted by a monstrous shriek.

To Be Continued.

 

[Sino]

[A/N: Chapter soundtrack: The Cue From Hell - Marco Beltrami]

As it came Mai felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

The shriek was alive.

As if the abyss itself had found a voice.

A monstrous sound that should not exist, coming from the very depths of hell.

A banshee's wail couldn't even compare.

Like a sword, the sound sliced the air into pieces.

Mai gripped the glass hard, her fingers trembling from the effort.

The sound was not just heard; it was felt.

Long strands of her dark hair were whipped across her face by the powerful gust of wind, blowing it back and revealing her face.

Her eyes were shut and her teeth pressed together as the noise rang painfully in her ears.

Then, a sudden wave of nausea hit her.

The shriek carried with it the scent of decay.

A putrid stench, like rotting flesh left to fester in the sun, filled her nostrils.

The world around vibrated, the shards quivering in resonance with the noise.

Despite the shrill cry surrounding her, Mai forced her eyes open, squinting them to protect her vision from the sharp blasts of wind.

From the students who dangled above the dark abyss, to the ones who fell recklessly.

From those who wore the pristine uniforms of prestigious academies, to others who donned the blazers of local high schools.

Though her vision still somewhat blurred, it was clear to Mai; none were spared.

She watched as some students lost their grip... no, it was more like they chose to cover both their ears over holding on.

And for a terrifying moment, just as a passing thought of relief... Mai was tempted to follow their lead.

One at a time they dropped into the darkness below.

It was like watching some kind of silent film; their mouths were open yet no sound could be heard.

Casting a quick glance to Hio, she could see him wincing as the wind from the shrieking hit his face, his jaw clenched tightly as if trying to ignore the pain.

Then, Mai turned her gaze to Peter. Unlike the duo, he had the pleasure most didn't have.

His index fingers were pressed into his ears, trying to block out the noise.

However, that didn't seem to help much as his face was twisted into a nasty scowl, a vein popping in his temple as the shrieking continued on and on.

Peter glanced over to the pair, his lips moved as if he were speaking but Mai was deaf to the sound.

The shrieking seemed to be growing louder and louder.

So much so that Mai felt the wind ripping the hair off her scalp, strand by strand.

W-What is this? How are we supposed to deal with this?!

Unable to withstand the sound anymore, she began to cry.

Like the child she was her eyes closed as a stream of tears flowed down her cheeks.

She was ready to let go.

This was simply far too much.

As if in agreement, the shards of glass flickered with a strange glow. Webs of cracks began to form across each and every one.

And just when Mai was sure her ears were wet with blood, as suddenly as it began, the shriek ceased.

Silence took over.

A silence that felt alive. Oppressive.

In that silence, chests rose and fell.

No one screamed in fear.

Nor did they dare to sigh in relief.

It was as if the abyss itself was holding its breath.

Then it came.

This time it was not just a sound.

It was a force demanding their surrender.

A new wet sensation appeared across Mai's face. Tiny droplets of it dribbling from her chin.

She forced her eyes wide open. In that darkness, she realized what had happened.

Before the sound even hit, she had felt the impact.

The shards hadn't shattered with a bang.

All at once they just simply ceased to exist.

They withered into fine splinters that burst out like a million needles, slicing skin, too fast for the eyes to follow.

Barely aware she had lost all sense of up and down, Mai dropped through the air.

"Ma..." A voice called her name out. But it was far off, too faint and impossible to reach her ears.

Her body felt so weak, her mind foggy. She had trouble registering her surroundings.

The only sensation she felt was in her closed fists. Using the last bit of strength she could muster, Mai lifted her hands.

With half awake eyes she stared at them.

In her palms, she saw a clump of tiny shards sparkling like dust motes.

The golden glow bathed her face as she tried to focus her eyes on the silhouette falling alongside her.

But it was difficult for her to keep them open. The world around began to melt into shapes and colors.

And yet, by some miracle, she managed to make out a form.

Even in the darkness, her pale yellow hair stood out sharply, the light falling on it glowing like a halo.

Blown around by the wind, her cardigan was torn in places, and bloodstains soaked through the white uniform she wore underneath.

As Mai's consciousness slipped, the golden light from the shards in her hands dimmed, but not before casting a final glow on the girl's face.

Though her face was hard to see, the expression she held seemed oddly serene.

With how peaceful she looked, there was something else about her - something that sent a shiver down Mai's spine.

This girl... she shouldn't be here.

And then everything went black.

To Be Continued...

 

[Sino]

[A/N: Chapter Soundtrack, [Ellie Goulding - Still Falling For You]

It's another Saturday afternoon, and I'm still wondering about our living situation...

Yes, my little sister, and I both, live together in a small apartment in Meguro Ward. It's not the nicest area, but it's where we call home.

Having only two people living in one house... It can be a little lonely at times, but I do enjoy the quiet life we have.

After mom's departure, Aria cried for days. She wanted to call the police, but why go looking for someone who didn't want to be found? At least, that's what I told her.

Eventually, she came to terms with it and we were forced to find a way to survive on our own.

I must admit, at first, we had to use some... less-than-honest methods to get by, but I don't like to go into too much detail about those.

One night, Aria came to me with a plan. She suggested we find a wealthy benefactor to take us in.

She figured if the person laid eyes on her, they would be blown away by her stunning looks and adopt us immediately, as if we were in some kind of drama.

That was a laughable thought. On television, merely looking at a person's beauty was enough to immediately win their heart.

Unfortunately... real life is not a drama, and that notion is a pipedream.

As I'm not a fool, and I know the implications if such a thing were to really happen. I quickly shut down her delusions.

Luckily, now, we get a check from the government every month, which isn't much but it's enough to live with.

Then, we were offered a scholarship to one of the best schools in the country.

The school was able to pay for our tuition through a scholarship program, which made it easier to pay for our daily expenses.

And I work part-time as a tutor for younger students in the morning, every weekend. They're a pain in the neck, but I suppose the money is decent...

I don't really talk much to people, especially at school, but whenever they do ask, I make up a story about how I have some super rich uncle who takes care of us.

It's not true, but it seems to work.

Our facade seems strong enough, so I guess people just assume we're being well taken care of too.

Despite the scholarship and monthly stipends, it did not cover all of our expenses...

I often find myself thinking of ways to make Aria's life more comfortable... He exhaled deeply.

But it's difficult since I don't have much money saved up.

He paused his musings as a rodent scuttled by the poorly lit corridor, dragging a little pack of chips...

Where in the hell did it get that? I swear, the rats in this place are living in more luxury than we are. Hmm... somethings missing... where's my faithful stray...?

He turned, looking around the kitchen for any sign of the feline.

...Well, I suppose it's gone now, probably sunbathing somewhere else.

Sighing, he poured the hot water into the cups and waited for the noodles to cook.

After a few minutes, he retrieved both cups and made his way to the living room.

The living room was fairly simple. Aside from the couch there was a coffee table, a television on top of it, a bookshelf and a few potted plants in the corner.

The floor was also carpeted in a deep blue rug, and the only adornment was a single family photo on the wall.

No windows could be seen in the apartment, but natural light did enter through a sliding glass door that opened up to a small balcony.

He felt everything in there looked like second-hand goods, but somehow, it still had a homey feel to it.

Dressed in her everyday house wear - an oversized blue hoodie, and shorts, Aria was sat on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, scrolling endlessly past channels.

"The bodies discovered at the murder scene..."

"Unsolved mysteries of Science: What is the mysterious force preventing attempts to travel beyond the strato..."

"As the war enters its third year, it remains to be seen whether the proposed marriage will be..."

"...A huge influx of people have claimed to have witnessed what appears to be a large..."

Noticing his footsteps as he approached, Aria greedily grabbed a cup from his hand.

"Took you long enough."

He sat down next to her, while she took a moment to adjust herself, then started slurping up her noodles with gusto.

Watching her for a moment, Aybel took in her expressions and movements, observing her like a scientist would to a new specimen.

Suddenly, as if self conscious of his gaze, she looked up at him with wide, hungry eyes.

"Mwhatt?"

"Nothing..."

She's a fascinating girl, that's for sure.

After downing the noodles, she looked back at her brother with a satisfied expression.

"Ah, I needed that. Thanks, I was starving."

"Yeah, I could tell..."

Aria suddenly shifted her position on the couch, curling up next to him and pressing against his side.

Staring blankly at the television, she started: "Hey, bro... can I ask you something?"

Looking down at her cautiously, Aybel asked: "What is it?"

"Got a girl yet?"

"..."

Staring at her with a blank expression, all the gears turned in his mind.

In all honesty, he didn't really expect her question to be something like this.

"...You know... for a second there, I thought you were really going to ask me a serious question."

"Wha? But it is serious. I don't want you to die a virgin."

"..."

"I'm sorry, was that a joke?"

Ignoring his confusion she added: "Besides, I want to be a godfather."

"Don't you mean aunt?"

"I know what I said. So answer already."

She looked up at him expectantly.

He blinked a few times, then let out a slow breath as he reflected:

In hindsight, though, maybe I should have expected this. She's a bit... odd, after all.

"Very well. No, I don't."

"Hmm..." Aria sat up, cocking her head to the side as if sizing him up.

"I guess your height would deduct points with most girls. Meh, I still think it's alright. Aside from that you'd make a great boyfriend."

"I'm not interested in that."

Staring at him for a second, Aria was blank in how to respond to his suddenness. "That's - that's pretty direct." She managed.

Then she laughed a little, reaching over to mess with Aybel's hair.

"Fine, fine, I get it." She grinned and rested her head back on his shoulder once more. "On the other hand... it's okay if you like guys though, I won't judge."

"You're really trying your hardest to piss me off, aren't you?"

"No?" Aria sat upright in defense. "You said you didn't have a girlfriend yet right? And it's hard to tell what you like. So, I dunno..." She shrugged a little.

"I'm guessing you swing the other way... what with all your effeminate features and all."

"I mean, have you seen the thickness of your lashes? You look like a freaking doll." She bursted into a fit of giggles, letting herself lean against his shoulder yet again.

But suddenly her laughter was interrupted as her attention, and his, were both drawn to the woman relaying the news on the television.

"There are reports a 13 year old girl was abducted by a man in his 30s. He was last seen walking into the woods and hasn't been heard from since. No clues as to his whereabouts have been found."

The news anchor quickly cut to a picture of the missing blonde girl.

"Yes that is the photo of the girl that was abducted. The local police are-"

"Stranger danger huh..." Aria interrupted, eyes expressionlessly glued to the TV.

Aybel glanced at her as she continued: "I hate people... I don't know how someone can just be taken without anyone noticing. I don't even think anyone cares."

She's right...

Perhaps people do notice. However, what reason would a person have to care for someone they don't know?

In fact, many people don't care if you live or die... and as someone who doesn't care much about others, doesn't that make me one of them?

Even so, while it's understandable and I do agree, Aria thinking this way seems... a little too negative to my liking...

"...I don't think that's entirely true. I'm sure many people are out there looking for the girl. I'm sure her family must be worried sick too..."

"Breaking News! Police are still on the lookout at the moment for the suspect responsible for the abduction of a young child. The identity of the suspect has been revealed as someone close to the child - her own blood father. Details of the incident are still being investigated. More updates will come as the case continues to unfold, stay tuned."

"Hmm... well, I suppose I take that back. It seems people can't help but do horrible things to others..."

Sometimes even to those they claim to love. Aybel thought, painfully aware of his own past.

"Yeah..." Aria spoke up in agreement, her eyes darting to the floor. "I guess it doesn't really matter who you are. We can never really 100% trust anyone. After all, mom never cared about us..."

Squeezing on the blanket tightly, she began: "Sometimes, I'm afraid-"

"You don't have to worry about that with me, though..."

Aria looked up at her brother, her expression becoming more cheerful.

"Pfft. Are you kidding?" She nudged his side with a sharp elbow.

"You're as reliable as a dead battery." Aria burst into laughter at her own comment.

"You can be pretty darn dense sometimes, you know? What happened to the brother who was always paying attention to me?" She asked, still laughing.

"Now, if there was something wrong with me, I bet you'd be too busy to notice anything. You're always in your own little bubble. Eh," she shrugged, nuzzling into his shoulder. "We can always rely on ourselves, anyway..."

Aybel sat there in silence, feeling stunned by Aria's cruelty.

Wow...

Wow...

I wasn't expecting that response. Why would she say something like that? I don't believe she feels that way, though. She's probably baiting me into some kind of trap... but I'll bite.

"I don't think you can rely on yourself all the time. Besides... you don't think we have that level of trust...?"

Adjusting herself from his side, with her big doe-like eyes, she stared at him seriously this time.

"You do...?"

"Well, if you think of me as unreliable, I assure you that I would never fail to notice something was wrong with you. I may prefer my own space, but I am not that oblivious."

"R-really?" She teased.

"How sure are you? What if I didn't say anything and just kept it hidden? Would you notice? What would you do if suddenly I wasn't there?"

"I am quite sure... if you simply 'disappeared', I guarantee that I would notice that something was wrong. And I would go searching for you, of course. I may not know where all this is coming from but, I will always have your best interests at heart."

"Aha!" She smiled triumphantly.

"So you do think we have that level of trust. Well, I'll test that theory then..."

Suddenly, she dove off the couch scampering up the bookshelf, clumsily knocking out its contents.

CRASHHH! TINKLE-TINKLE-TINK!

A priceless, glass earth globe shattered on the floor.

Aybel sighed.

Now at the top, arms spread wide, Aria exclaimed: "Catch me!"

Figures... Knowing that she was going to ask him to catch her, Aybel didn't hesitate to act.

She dove into his arms in a hug, silently wrapping her arms around his neck.

"...I knew you'd catch me..." She smiled.

Letting her down, he gently tapped her forehead.

"Ow!"

"Don't try that again, or I might not be as forgiving next time."

"Tch." Rubbing her forehead, Aria frowned.

"It was just a small prank."

Then she pouted, crossing her arms as she looked away. "I want you to catch me again..."

Before he knew it, she leaped over the furniture, running straight for the front door, flung it open, and sprinted out of the apartment.

"..."

For a moment, he stood there, unsure what to do, knowing that it's impossible to catch up with her, until:

"I've got plenty of room on the roof to jump off!"

To Be Continued...

 

[Sino]

[A/N: Chapter soundtrack: Naughty Boy - No One's Here To Sleep ft Dan Smith, Bastille.]

At the sound of her taunting voice, feeling a sense of dread, Aybel immediately sprinted after her.

What a troublemaker... despite the fact that she's an absolute headache and a nuisance. I can't let her endanger herself.

He understood the challenge before him - he had to stop Aria or at the very least reach the rooftop before her.

As they dashed down the hallway, he observed the walls and immediately spotted a portrait of a monocle wearing aristocrat he always loved - signed by the artist E.M. Herscher, held up by one loose nail.

How unfortunate...

Quickly, he yanked it out of the wall, and flung it onto Aria's path.

An ideal obstacle for her, who was running full speed ahead.

***​

Caught off guard Aria stumbled in surprise, but her surprise soon faded, eyes suddenly lit up, she grinned cheekily.

"It's a race?! You should've said so before!"

Setting off once more at full speed, after getting a few meters away, she looked back to make sure her brother was catching up.

He was right on her heels...

Desperate to keep her lead, her eyes landed on a loose floorboard, sticking up only an inch or so in the air.

With a mischievous grin, she stomped hard on it.

***​

Her evil smile brightened his day.

Despite that, taking one look at the floorboard, Aybel dashed over the obstacle effortlessly.

Using his intimate knowledge of the building's layout, he dove into an unlocked janitor's closet nearby.

Normally, this room isn't unlocked. But I've noticed in the past few days that the cleaning lady has being extremely lax about her job.

Maybe she just forgot to lock it. She does have access to every place.

I guess she'll deep clean before the building inspection in july. But I won't lie, this is quite the assist from her.

Scanning the room, he saw brooms, mops, vacuums, buckets, dusters, sponges, a scrub brush, bleach, disinfectant spray, and a bunch of other cleaning products.

All of them were neatly organized and placed on a series of shelves.

But what held his interest was...

Found it.

Flipping a single switch he plunged the entire hallway into a temporary darkness.

The lights should stay off for around three to five minutes, enough to make her slow down.

He quickly exited the closet and dashed forward once more, this time in darkness, to catch up with her.

A brilliant idea which could help turn the tables.

Naturally, Aria's much faster than me and could outrun me anytime she wanted to - alas, the unfair abilites of a former middle school track champ...

So, this dark environment may be the only way for me to keep up with her.

***​

Surprised by the sudden lack of light, Aria's senses dulled, all except one. She picked up on the aroma of garlic from one of the apartments.

But she never expected the smell to have such an effect on her. Her face went from glee to one of horror and confusion in less than a second.

Suddenly inspired, Aria began to kick doors open ignoring the surprised faces of residents, all the while flooding the hallways with light and the acrid scent of garlic, sending her older brother... reeling.

A particular resident had a habit of cooking this horrid stew around this hour, and she had taken advantage of that, coupled with the fact that Aybel absolutely hated the smell.

All the while, Aria held her nose, her facial expression one of pure disgust.

Sending a delighted grin his way, she made her escape turning a sharp corner up a flight of well lit stairs.

Opting to run a few steps ahead of her brother, she swiftly turned around, hoping to catch his foot on her outstretched leg as he followed her lead.

However, quickly reacting, he stepped over her leg in a small hop.

Landing, he then tried to grab her, but she ducked and ran up the stairs quicker than he expected, managing to maintain her lead in their dangerous game of tag...

***​

Realizing that he couldn't simply grab her as she ran away, Aybel's eyes flicked to the old worn rug on the creaky stairs.

Thinking: How convenient. He stepped to the side, and tugged on the rug just violently enough to make it into a tripping hazard for Aria.

His sister's eyes widened as she felt her balance slip away.

Desperate to stay upright, she wildly flapped both her arms in the air, like a bird trying to take off.

It was a close call, but she managed to plant one foot solidly on the next step.

Looking back at her brother she saw that he hadn't given up yet, only a few steps below her.

"Hey! Are you even trying? Come on, I thought you were going to be faster than me!"

Then she turned, running up the remainder of the stairs, leaving Aybel... impressed.



Aria... she's tricky and creative, which is making this 'game' of ours a lot more challenging than I expected...

He was starting to realize how much of a tough and fun opponent his sister was turning out to be... and he loved it.

Giving chase once more, Aybel sprinted up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

***​

Understanding that he was catching up, Aria had to think fast, but she always loved a good challenge.

The filing cabinet looked promising, so she took a deep breath and ran forward, pushing it across the hallway with all her might.

Creeeaaak-KABOOM!

The cabinet landed with a loud crash, blocking Aybel's path up the stairs.

Gasping for breath, Aria glanced back, praying the obstacle would hold him off.

But on another look at her creative tactic, the younger girl couldn't help but feel some guilt...

However, that soon faded.

With a rare blatant finesse that only she ever got to see from time to time, Aybel kicked off the wall, grabbing the light fixture above and swung down to the hallway through the narrow gap, taking advantage of his small frame.

"What?!?"

"No fair! No fair! Why can't you just give up already!?" Her words were not one of annoyance but amazement.

"Hahaha! I guess I can't complain..."

She grinned as she ran ahead, feeling proud of her brother for outsmarting her once again.

In a way, she expected it because he never made things easy. But she still felt impressed by his ingenuity.

Even though his face didn't show it, this was one of those few times she could read his emotions.

It was clear that he enjoyed the chase.

Taking a quick look around, Aria searched for anything else that she could use as a trap to slow Aybel down.

Noticing a laundry cart in the middle of the hallway, she grinned a wicked smile as she got an idea.

Quickly, she spun around.

"C'mon slowpoke, aren't you gonna catch me?" With all her might, she pushed the laundry cart towards her brother with her leg.

A sure fire way to slow him down.

However, he remained unperturbed as he stared dead ahead.

Eyes locked onto the incoming laundry cart.

With lightning quick dexterity, he snatched a wet shirt from the pile nestled inside and twirled to the side, dodging her cart.

Simultaneously, he counterattacked.

He flung the damp cloth with laser-guided precision, aiming it directly for her grinning face.

"Gah!"

The wetness engulfed Aria's senses, forcing her to halt.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, she discarded the cloth, recovering from the momentary shock.

"Hehehehehe, good one Aybel~"

His eyes were always darting, quick and sharp, which made him difficult to surprise.

Using the opportunity, he closed down the gap rapidly.

Still laughing Aria dashed forward continuing their game of cat and mouse.

Aria's joy went through the moon.

Her laughter bounced off the walls the hallway.

The sheer nostalgia of it all had her reminisce of the time when they were little, playing tag, and pulling silly pranks on each other - pranks that would give any regular parent a heart attack...

The way the pair moved could only be described as a perfect dance only they knew the steps to.

A natural affinity for one another.

A unique connection that no one else could possibly understand.

Their race continued but would turn serious rather quickly, should only one of them take it to heart...

To Be Continued...

[A/N: Fun Trivia, you absolutely didn't need to know! Ernest-Marie Herscher (1870-1939) was an actual talented well rounded artist, printmaker, and architect, who served as a lieutenant for France in the First World War. Now you know! You're welcome! ;] ]

 

[Sino]

[A/N: Chapter soundtrack: The Chainsmokers - Don't Let Me Down ft. Daya.]

***

As their little race continued, they neared a corridor piled with clutter.

Using the messy environment to his advantage, Aybel deliberately nudged a precarious stack of books with a brief kick.

He caused a chain reaction that led to a line of glass jars being knocked over.

Chrrrrrssssshhh! Plink-plink-plink!

With Aria's path now filled to the brim with shattered glass, he gained steam.

The sudden chain of events caught Aria off guard, but the smile never left her face.

"C'mon! Catch me already!!"

Quick witted, she took a sharp left turn into another passageway.

Hmm... Was there a corridor there? I was sure that would work. Suppressing a sigh, Aybel obliged to her command.

This game of tag was far from a race at this point, it was more like a game of chess.

***

Dashing through the hallway, Aria noticed a conveniently timed opening of the elevator doors nearby.

The apartment building they lived in was a popular residence for artists, with many photographers using the rooftop for their shoots.

For a week now, around this time, a group of young models would leave the roof, done with their photo session.

Aware of this, Aria scuttled through the glamour of perfume and skimpy outfits.

Heading to the roof, she swiftly pressed the button, causing the doors to close just as Aybel approached.

Seeing his wry smile, brought a smile of her own to her face.

"Hahahaha, way too slow~"

***

Ah, this brings back so many memories.

Thinking on his feet, Aybel had to admire her quick mind and how much she had grown up.

With that being said. Don't be so smug, Aria...

He still had a trick up his sleeve to take away her cocky smirk.

The building had a total of ten floors, and the elevator was located on the fourth floor.

With this in mind, Aybel raced to the seventh floor.

It was back in my second year of middle school that I first discovered the building had a maintenance closet on the seventh floor.

I was looking for somewhere to hide away when I played hide and seek with Aria.

The room seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

It's nice and quiet, has plenty of equipment for repairing pipes, plumbing, and yes; a ton of electrical wiring to mess around with.

Bursting in, Aybel quickly searched for the location of the switch for the elevator.

Just as the elevator reached the correct floor, he flipped the switch off, causing an electric outage that made sure the doors stayed shut, giving him a valuable window of opportunity.

Five minutes to be exact.

The power switch for the elevator was controlled by an automated system and would turn back on if it's ever switched off.

Let's see how you react to being outsmarted yet again.

Even with their safety measures, the elevator still has a weakness. And just like when we were little, Aria, I can always beat you in a game of wits...

All right, let's hurry to the roof.

He raced the remainder of the floors to the roof to meet her and catch her by surprise.

***

When Aria realized the elevator stopped and the doors wouldn't open, she bounced on her toes, clapping her hands together.

"So he really did one up me! Tch, I thought I had him..."

Then she sighed admitting her defeat. "I guess you win this round. It seems like you truly are smarter than me, brother."

"But then..." Slowly, Aria tilted her head to the side, placing a finger on her lips. "What if I'm really trapped in here now? What am i supposed to do?"

Unsure, she chewed on her bottom lip, pacing around in circles. "I-I know it's unreasonable but just what... what if I don't see him again?"

Aria's eyes widened at the thought.

The young girl had not considered the possibility that her brother had a trump card like this up his sleeve.

Feeling a rush of panic, she clenched her fists, banging on her reflection in the metal doors. "I can't stay here...! I can't..."

Taking a step back, her eyes darted all around the small enclosed space, searching for any way to get out.

"Hah..."

But she found none.

"Haaah..."

With a look of fright, she trembled, sinking to the floor in the corner of the elevator with knees drawn to her chest.

"A-Aybel... the power is out... please help me..."

But her pleas fell on deaf ears. Aria was terrified of being alone...

***

Now waiting on the roof, leaning on a wall, Aybel glanced down at his watch to check the time.

Any second now...

While the group of models had recently finished their photo session moments before, the scene on the roof was rather quiet...

A light wind ruffled his hair as he wiped the last bit of sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his white shirt.

He could feel the cool breeze against his sweat-dampened body.

In the distance, he spotted the occasional bird fluttering by.

The sky was painted a beautiful shade of red and purple as the sun set.

And for a moment, he allowed himself to be lost in the peacefulness of the evening.

Ping!

The elevator doors creaked open...

***

After a few seconds Aria worked up the courage to peek her head out.

"So you've decided to grace me with your presence."

A look of absolute relief crossed her face when she saw a familiar set of black and blonde hair.

She tackled him in a tight hug.

"Ahh...?" Startled, Aybel questioned: "What's all this about?"

"Be quiet."

A faint blush spread across her face as she buried her head in his chest.

The warm glow of the setting sun lit up her face in a beautiful way, as she breathed in his scent deeply. At last, she looked up.

The two held their gaze for a moment...

"You really like giving me a heart attack, don't you, brother~?" She laughed letting go, her mood seemingly back its normal self.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, someone seems to be quite embarrassed." He jested with a faint and tired smile, gently brushing her hair back out of her face.

"Haha..." She laughed dryly. "You're right, I wasn't expecting that..."

"That aside." He added.

"You're one to talk... giving me a heart attack with all of these dangerous antics. But alas, your plan has been foiled."

"Now, let's head back inside, shall we?"

He turned, but she didn't follow.

Looking back he saw she was suddenly standing on the edge of the roof...

The realization that this was not a game sunk in at that moment.

"...You... were really planning on jumping off the roof, weren't you?"

She stared into his eyes with a slightly crazed look in her's.

"I've put a lot of trust in you, Aybel, but sometimes I don't know... so I want to know for sure if I can rely on you."

"Aria."

"You said that you'll always have my best interests at heart. So now I'll test your words."

"Get off the ledge, right now."

"I'm willing to risk everything to find out if you're just a regular person who only cares about himself... or if I can genuinely trust you..."

"..."

"I'm going to fall off this roof... a-and I don't know what's going to happen next... can you catch me?"

With a reckless smile on her face, Aria spread her arms, closed her eyes and fell backwards.

Her figure disappeared from Aybel's vision.

However, ignoring her words centuries ago, Aybel had already hit the pavement, wondering how she got that far out.

Rushing to the edge of the roof, without blinking he dived after her.

Time held it's breath.

Beneath her, he saw a three story building.

As she fell towards the roof, she opened her eyes and looked up at Aybel, with hope...

'Where there's a will, there's a way.' He was a firm believer of this proverb.

In the air, his eyes darted around like a madman, looking for a way...

Then he sighted one - a maintenance ladder within arm's reach, fixed to the side of the building.

And a plan was formed in an instant:

1. Hold Aria.

2. Grab the ladder.

3. Don't fall.

4. Make sure Aria is safe.

5. Scold Aria.

For what seemed like an eternity in seconds, time suddenly resumed.

Like a lightning bolt, Aybel dived down...

Reaching out, his fingertips brushed against hers...

Pushing his limits, he grabbed her wrist, simultaneously wrapping his other arm around the ladder...

CLANG!

But it happened so fast...

The full impact of his sudden halt was too great for Aria's body.

And her hand slipped from his grasp...

NO.

He froze in absolute disbelief, speechless, unable to do anything...

She didn't say a word, but he could see it written on her face.

"Y-You liar... I trusted you..."

Her face turned white as the fear of death finally hit her.

Only as chills of shock ran down Aria's spine did the reality of the situation crash down on Aybel.

As he looked down, a coldness washed over him; he could hear the sound of her bones breaking under his feet.

Trembling like a child, eyes widened to it's fullest capacity, he took in every detail.

Her limbs were contorted in unnatural angles, surrounded by a pool of her own blood, as her gaze permanently fixed on him...

An image that Aybel had only ever witnessed in the most frightening of nightmares...

Yes. The silence that followed was deafening.

"..."

In a fit of mad panic, he let himself fall after her... to his own demise.

.

.

.

...Unthinkable...

Suddenly, as if ripped from this nightmarish reality, Aybel's finger twitched violently...

A ripple of awakening coursed through his veins...

To Be Continued...

 

[Sino]

[A/N: Chapter soundtrack: Skillet - Awake and Alive]

***

Unthinkable... I failed...

That was Aybel's first thought as his eyes fluttered open, and then his second thought... was confusion.

Vision blurred, squinting through round lenses, his icy blue eyes tried to make sense of what he saw as they adjusted to a blinding light...

It was as if he was staring at the sun, it's scorching heat radiating upon him...

Why... am I... lying face flat, on a chandelier? And more importantly, he wriggled his toes inside his shoes, how am I in one piece?

"Ah, Aybel, you're finally awake."

That voice...

Blinking slowly, he turned his head, now greeted with the sight of a figure laying casually next to him.

"Right... Caine..." Aybel's mind was completely blank as he stared at the grinning amnesiac.

"Took you long enough. Mr. Stubby." Caine chuckled to himself, propped up on his elbow.

"So," he stood then stretched as he casually looked around. "Do you remember everything? It would be quite a shame if you suddenly got amnesia..."

"You're really lucky to have survived that fall."

"Heh... lucky? Ha~! Look who's talking! I could say the same to you..."

"You knew the chandelier was going to crash, didn't you?"

"Of course, nothing escapes the eyes of a genius." Caine said with a cocky grin.

"But really... how is it that we are here?"

"Fate works in mysterious ways, my dear brother. There's always a reason behind these things, whether we understand it or not..."

Aybel sighed, realizing he wouldn't receive any immediate or straightforward answers.

Slowly pushing himself up, he winced as a sudden jolt of pain shot through his ribs.

But before he could fully process the pain, he felt another jolt to his side, even sharper this time.

"Ngh!"

Turning to face the source of the attack, he saw a familiar face standing there, a vengeful glint in her eyes.

"Fair... I deserved that." He admitted.

Without reacting, her foot connected with his side once more, eliciting another wince of pain from the boy as he struggled to get up.

Meanwhile, Caine laughed hysterically: "What's the matter!? Getting up so early, brother? Why the rush? Hahahaha~!"

Grinning devilishly, like a showman, Caine held his arms out wide in an introduction-like gesture: "Aybel, meet, Calla~"

Ignoring Caine, Calla delivered another merciless kick to Aybel's side.

He doubled over, clutching his ribs, now ever closer to the edge of the swaying chandelier.

Suddenly, he became aware of the photo frame inside his jacket, now broken, digging into his sides.

Her favorite picture, shattered... just like that...

Coughing up blood, Aybel choked out:

"Calla... you know, that's quite cruel of you. I kicked you only once. So couldn't you only have kicked me once?"

She stared down at him with cold indifference. "That's not how things work. You hurt me once, so this is what you deserve a few times over."

Aybel sighed and closed his eyes. "That's true. But I can't say I regret it."

She smirked and Aybel could tell his words stung her ego.

"You're really something, aren't you?" Calla crossed her arms. "Remember when I said you had common sense? Yeah...? I was being sarcastic."

She raised an ominous foot over him. "Consider this as me returning your favor."

Body aching, yet feeling no sense of danger whatsoever, unaware, Aybel mused aloud:

"Umm... should I point out the fact that I can see her underwear?"

"You saw what?"

"Hm? Well, 'saw' would be incorrect here, as I can... still see them..."

"I think you're looking a little too closely, perv."

Aybel shifted his gaze to the side: "Trust me, this is as uncomfortable for me as it is for you."

"Are you trying to die?"

"That's a trick question, but I'd very much prefer to live."

"Then I suggest you stay quiet. Like I care if you can see my... intimate parts under my skirt."

"I'm afraid you only have yourself to blame for this, in fact, this entire situation."

She kicked Aybel hard in the chest causing him to writhe on the chandelier coughing his lungs out.

"Oh, god knows how I'm tempted to kick you right in the groin too, but honestly, considering your questionable anatomy, I'm not sure what you even have down there."

"Cough, COUGH..." Catching his breath, Aybel looked up at her.

"I appreciate that. I'd rather keep what's between my legs free of bruises, if possible."

A darkness fell upon Calla's face. "I have nothing else to say to you. Goodbye."

Her leg swung violently in one fluid movement, as if to kick Aybel once more, this time off the chandelier, permanently.

But before she got the chance to do so, Caine blocked her leg with his own.

"Calla... calm down now. I think that's enough."

Calmly and very slowly, he brought her leg back down to the glowing platform.

"That was quite an impressive round of kicks you had going there. I'm genuinely moved~" He clutched at his chest.

"But... As much as it's been highly amusing watching the two of you bicker like an old couple..."

"If you choose to keep up this tantrum then I'll have no choice but to restrain you myself, and we wouldn't want that, now would we?" He smiled smugly at her.

Then he turned his head to look at Aybel, chuckling to himself.

"Well done there, brother. Truly, there's no one like you when it comes to the art of treachery. You're quite quick to take advantage of situations and people... But alas, you won't be dying today."

Calla scoffed. "Why? Who made you the judge of that? Why are you even protecting him? I was only going to kick him until he cries, anyway."

"Fufufufufu..." Caine covered his face as he broke down into obnoxious laughter, much to Calla's confusion.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA~!!! This one!?" He exclaimed, pointing at Aybel.

"That's never going to happen! Besides." He shrugged. "I choose my own allegiance."

"..."

Calla sighed heavily, as she looked down, her face now expressionless.

"This... all this is ridiculous."

Her eyes darted to meet Aybel's.

"Aybel, that's your name right?"

"Indeed."

"I'm tired of you... it really pisses me off how you're so calm about all of this. You're going to be indifferent to everything I say and do, won't you? So there's no point, no satisfaction..."

"Correct. You catch on very quick." Aybel jabbed.

"But don't you think you deserved it too, for complaining." He added.

She sighed looking away from him, as if dismissing his existence entirely, turning to face Caine.

"And then there's you, I really don't know what you're trying to accomplish, you think you did me a favor. But you just made me more annoyed, and for what? The opportunity to play hero and win my undying respect?"

"Well, you've failed."

"You don't need to think about helping me anymore... I'll do that myself. To be blunt, I don't want either you or that guy touching me or speaking to me again."

"Ah? And why is that, exactly? As I recall, you were doing a horrendous job of 'helping' yourself."

Caine flipped an object into the air, catching it effortlessly with a soft clink as he looked at her.

A coin? He didn't have that before. Aybel thought.

"Anyway, since we're being blunt and all," Caine continued. "I don't care if you hate me or not, but wouldn't that just make things a bit... inconvenient? We're all chandelier buddies anyway. So!"

With a sudden grace and elegance, he spread out his arms.

"Why not just get along and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us?!"

A dazzling smile found it's way across his face, but a contrasting empty gaze was in Calla's emerald eyes as she stared right at him.

"...You have a very sick mind."

Despite Calla's repulsion, Caine's words had aroused Aybel's interest, his attempt to calm down after the painful experience of Calla's kicks now interrupted.

Beauty that surrounds us...?

Sitting on the chandelier, legs crossed, hands clung to his aching ribs, Aybel swivelled his head to the side as he registered his surroundings for the first time since waking up.

Eyes widened in a mix of incredulity and... bitterness, Aybel had to agree, it was truly a beautiful sight...

To Be Continued...

 

[Sino]

[A/N: Chapter soundtrack: Kanye West - All Of The Lights]

An endless void of space...

That didn't seem so endless now.

Staring outward, as if the view hit the nail on the coffin, Aybel was sure now more than ever - the world he knew... was no more.

A grand atrium bathed in soft moonlight, greeted him.

The moonlight came in through impossibly tall arched windows.

Surrounding the room, there were countless rows of ornate balconies, one above the other, giving Aybel a panoramic view of it all.

Plants with bright flowers in red, blue, and yellow spilled over the balcony edges.

Green vines snaked their way up the massive pillars that dotted the room, forming it's magnificent foundation.

It was only then that Aybel noticed the pillars were adorned with fine carvings and gargoyle like sculptures.

To Aybel, it felt like he was on one of his father's creepy trips to Paris where all those gargoyles stared down at him. But this? This was worse. Way worse.

They weren't decorative, and they weren't there to look pleasing to the eye.

What they were was grotesque.

Like their only purpose was to make anyone unfortunate enough to lock eyes with the stone uncomfortable.

One creature had wrapped itself around a pillar. Its head was a screaming man, while the body was like a lizard, but wrong somehow.

Human limbs stuck out at places where there shouldn't have been any limbs at all.

Even for Aybel this was reaching new heights of unsettling.

So he turned his eyes to the thick velvet and black curtains draped across the walls. And it reminded him of a glorious ancient, gothic roman castle.

This view was certainly not unpleasant, but it wasn't particularly exciting either.

...It's simply something else I've never seen before. All of it.

Despite that it still felt new to him, as if he'd just woken up from a long and uneventful nap. Which, in truth, he had.

Though what really got his attention was the only light source filling the entire atrium—millions of stars shining in the night sky.

At least, that's what they looked like at first glance.

Then he blinked and realized they weren't stars at all—they were chandeliers.

Above, below and around him, as far as his eyes could reach the ornaments were there, like someone decided that "too many" wasn't in their vocabulary.

The sight before him was truly a surreal one. And it jogged a particular painful memory:

Aybel remembered a different night filled with lights just like this.

A festival where he, his mother and little sister, stood by a river.

The Tōrō Nagashi, where they lit lanterns and set them floating off into the dark water.

He could still feel the warmth of his mother's hand as they watched.

And could still remember his sister's tear-stained face being lit up by the glow from the lanterns.

Aybel had made a wish back then, for their family to be happy, for them to stay together...

But now, staring at all the chandeliers lighting up the never ending atrium...

A dark look crossed his face. Memories he didn't ask for flooded his mind instead.

He remembered the drop—that awful, stomach hurling feeling of falling from the sky.

He also remembered the monstrousity's gaping maw snapping shut with a definite finality.

And how could he forget the pain, sharp and burning as it bit into his flesh.

Feeling a throbbing headache in his skull, Aybel palmed his eye.

Pathetic.

I guess I'm still here... It really is pathetic. This 'realm' continues to mock me.

I wonder if the monster was simply a trick of the light coming from the chandeliers?

Yet, as he palmed his eye, something felt… off. No, rather the hand he used felt strangely... lighter?

So, yes, Aybel lowered it and looked down, because why wouldn't he? And then, he kind of wished he hadn't.

There were parts missing that really, really should not be missing on a hand.

Two entire digits? My left hand is missing two entire digits.

He'd said the last sentence just so it could sink in.

Still, he couldn't stop his heart from doing this awful, panicked flip, that he supposed would be called—freaking out.

With his ring and pinky finger gone, the space where they should've been felt weird.

Tilting his head, Aybel took in the sight.The smooth, pale skin was now interrupted by rough edges, as if someone had scorched it.

Reflexively, his eyes flicked to the direction of Caine and back to his hand, settling on his three remaining fingers.

Each finger had once played a role in shaping my life, and now they're gone.

Apparently, my ring finger is important for "romantic relationships." Or so I've noticed. Guess that means no wedding rings in my future. Tragic, really.

Oh well.

As for my pinky? That's the one I'm really hurt about. My "fancy glass-holding" finger...

Ever tried to look sophisticated without one? Neither have I, but now I'll never get the chance. So much for elegance at formal events.

At least I didn't lose my middle finger. That one is important for... let's call it "expressing my opinions" if I'm ever so inclined to do so.

All things being considered, my grip strength is undoubtedly weaker now.

Also, something as the simple symmetry of my hand is forever lost too.

Aybel sighed.

I've lived with a broken a finger before, but I can't say I particularly enjoyed that experience.

I still have my right, though not my dominant hand.

This isn't ideal, but I'm not going to let it ruin my night either. He flexed the three remaining fingers.

So, I suppose this confirms it then, since I have the missing fingers to prove it and all.

Aybel sighed, returning his palm back to his eye. Now he was sure. Whatever had been lurking down below wasn't normal. It was gone... for now.

Refocusing on the chandeliers, he noticed each one was like its own little lifeboat in a sea of lights, housing passengers just like him.

Most of them looked pretty shaken, huddled together in groups of three or four. They whispered as if they thought the wrong word might bring the creature back.

Some people had their heads between their knees, practically hyperventilating, looking scared out of their minds.

Their friends? Aybel didn't know what to make of their relationship.

Just whoever happened to be stuck with them were patting their backs, muttering things that were probably as empty as the promises his parents used to make.

Liars. He could always see it in their faces.

And then there were the ones searching for cell service, like a single bar would somehow call in the cavalry.

Their naivety earned a weak smile from him. Looking at them go is kind of funny though. But I guess it keeps them busy.

After all, one small push and they would most likely fall off the sanity cliff.

As for those with a bit more backbone, they tore up shirts and scarves, trying to patch up cuts or set broken bones as they came to terms with recent events.

I wonder if any one of them figured out what was causing people to fall. Or are we all in the dark? Aybel mused, still looking around.

That was when he noticed something right away—everyone here looked older than him or about his age. Mostly adults and teenagers, but no little kids.

Hmm... Maybe the Fourth Wave was the last. But, as for how long I've been passed out for... Now that I think of it, no one seems to be falling anymore.

Just then, he heard a blood-curdling scream from above...

Well, I stand to be corrected.

He looked up, squinting at the sky full of lights to see some guy, a high schooler, falling.

The guy flailed his arms like he'd just realized gravity sucks.

I know the feeling. Aybel sympathized.

But before he could consider the odds of the guys survival, like a lighthouse on a mission, one of the chandeliers below flashed and started pulsing.

Just like a knight in shining... glass? It sped skyward, rushing to the guys aid.

Too stunned to react, Aybel looked on with just one thought in mind:

It moves?

To Be Continued...

[A/N: Fun Trivia you absolutely didn't need to know! In Japan, Tōrō Nagashi is a traditional festival where paper lanterns are floated on rivers or lakes in honor of deceased loved ones.

Participants write messages on the lanterns and watch as they gracefully drift away, symbolizing the peaceful journey of the spirits.

Another Fun Trivia! Aybel lost the finger he used in his pinky swear with Aria! Now you know. Thank you for reading! :] ]