Ji oh Joey saga

Under the crisp morning breeze, with the damp air accompanying each inhale and exhale, Joey stood in an unfamiliar place after waking from a heavy slumber.

Beneath a vast blue sky and atop a damp, green carpet, he found himself alone in a wide field filled with tall grass swaying gently in the dawn's light breeze. Everything seemed serene, yet he felt a deep sense of unease. How did he get here?

He looked around. To his right, the horizon stretched endlessly, a sea of green grass fading into the unknown. When he turned to his left, the same view greeted him. The place appeared boundless, offering no escape.

He had no choice but to walk. He started moving toward a small hill that loomed in the distance, hoping it might reveal something. The climb was exhausting, and the wet grass beneath his feet made every step feel heavier.

When he reached the summit, he paused to catch his breath. Below him, the landscape extended as it had before: endless green fields glistening under the soft rays of the morning sun.

He stood in silence, observing the scene, and then whispered to himself, fearfully:

"This is a dream... no, a nightmare."

But the stillness was abruptly shattered. A cold breeze carried a faint voice from behind him:

"Soon... you will walk in the shadow of the path."

He turned quickly, but there was no one there. He spun around again, his breaths quick and shallow with unease, but all he saw were strange footprints blazing with violet flames, starting from where he had been standing. When he looked down at his feet, he saw the same fire engulfing them.

Before he could comprehend what was happening, the fire consumed his entire body. It devoured him swiftly, leaving behind fragile ashes. As everything turned to darkness, the voice returned once more:

"Your question is near... but my answer is far."

Joey woke up with a jolt.

He was breathing heavily, his hands trembling. Staring at the ceiling of his room, he turned to his phone. A message from Chris read:

"Meet you at the bus stop at 7:30!"

He looked at the clock. He had only thirty minutes to get ready, but his mind was still trapped in that strange dream.

He headed to the bathroom, where he took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and changed his clothes. Standing in front of the mirror, he smiled while drying his face. A small mole beneath his left eye gave his light coffee-colored complexion a unique charm.

Leaving the bathroom, he walked to the end of the hallway where his mother's room was located. He quietly opened the door to check on her, only to find her deeply asleep. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to let her rest undisturbed.

He moved to the kitchen and began preparing breakfast. Soon, the apartment was filled with the warm aroma of honey-glazed toast. He made two plates of pancakes and added a dish of eggs and warm bread. Sitting alone at the table, he ate quickly, eager to meet Chris and the others.

As he was about to finish, his mother entered the kitchen, still half-asleep, her face a mix of surprise and drowsiness. She mumbled lazily:

"Sorry I didn't wake up earlier to make you breakfast."

Joey smiled and handed her the plate of pancakes as she sat across from him, saying with his mouth full of food:

"It's fine. You came home late last night from Aunt Mary's place."

His mother smiled faintly as she picked up a book that was lying on the table. Looking up at him, she said:

"You know your Aunt Mary. Talking to her never ends. We spent the whole day going from one visit to another. I tried to slip away, but it was impossible."

She was wearing thin-rimmed glasses with rectangular frames. She took a bite of bread, then nibbled on the scrambled eggs, their bronze hue resembling a sunset. One hand held a book titled Man and His Symbols, while the other guided her through her meal. Surrounding her were other books, all seemingly tied to the same theme.

After a large bite, she suddenly stopped, speaking mid-chew:

"I saw him again—the man from the dream."

Joey gave her a curious look, rising from his chair. "Really? Did he speak to you this time?"

She responded quickly, disappointment evident on her face:

"Unfortunately, no. He just stood there, in the middle of a grove filled with gray roses, under a black sky studded with stars. Each dream is a little different from the last, but I always sense something changing. This time, I was closer to him—the distance between us was like this table but multiplied by seven. I saw his hair... it was ash-gray with hints of blue, like the color of dawn mingling with the night.

Around him were tiny lights, moving swiftly, like fireflies. One played gently between his hands while the other three hung idly. Just as I felt I might get closer, I heard my name being called: 'Sarah Rose.' And then, I woke up drenched in sweat, with the smell of fresh pancakes filling the room."

Joey laughed lightly and said with mock regret:

"Ah, I always ruin it with the pancakes. But look—this time, their color is like the sunrise, right?"

His mother smiled as she savored the crispy pancakes, while he hurriedly slung his bag over his shoulder. Glancing at the clock, he said:

"I need to leave now. I can't miss the bus. Look how late it's getting!"

"Good luck with your job interview. Love you!"

He called out as he dashed down the stairs, slamming the old door shut behind him. Reaching the ground floor, he exhaled deeply and prepared to sprint. The nearest bus stop was three long blocks away, and he needed to hurry.

When he arrived at the bus stop, he found Chris and Alex waiting under the shelter of the old station. Panting, he said while catching his breath:

"Finally made it. What did I miss?"

Noticing something odd, he looked around and asked, "Why isn't Dave here today?"

Chris stepped toward the edge of the curb and answered:

"Dave left early. He said he had some personal errands. Don't ask me how... I couldn't even understand what he meant."

Alex added, turning to Joey:

"He said he was going to buy a spare part."

Joey leaned in slightly, puzzled. "A spare part? For what? Dave doesn't even own a car or a bike!"

Before either of them could respond, the bus arrived. The doors opened with a metallic hiss, releasing a warm breath of air from the engine.

Chris took a small step back from the cold curb before the three climbed aboard. The seats were almost entirely occupied, but they managed to find two spots at the back. Navigating through the crowded aisle proved tricky, with Joey nearly tripping a few times over students' scattered bags.

When they finally sat down, Joey was the first to speak. His serious tone caught Chris's attention, though the atmosphere, filled with the scent of old and new schoolbags, felt oddly mocking.

"Did you guys figure out anything about Perry Corp? Or are we still stuck running in circles?"

Chris sighed, leaning his head back against the seat with frustration.

"We're worse than stuck, Joey. That company is a master at hiding everything. Even the strange guy who attacked us in Jerry's shop vanished like he never existed. No evidence, no trace."

Joey completed with a faint smile:

"Maybe he's a robot? Or an alien sent by a group of mad scientists trying to take over the world."

Alex interjected, confirming in a serious tone:

"As Chris said, there's something those people are hiding. Ever since their company was founded, they've been acquiring an enormous number of buildings, properties, and residential complexes. Can you imagine a company created only three years ago owning more than thirty-five properties? Isn't that suspicious?"

Alex adjusted his glasses, which were about to slide off his face, firmly placing them back while refocusing on the conversation.

Joey fell silent for a moment, lost in thought as he stared at the rusty bus ceiling. There was a spiderweb hanging precariously. He sighed slightly before saying:

"What if we go and check out this company ourselves? You know, sneak in... maybe we'll find something interesting."

Alex's voice unintentionally rose, drawing the attention of a few students who turned to look at them with suspicious glances. Realizing this quickly, he lowered his voice and whispered cautiously:

"Are you saying we should sneak into Perry's company?!"

Chris responded sharply, trying to contain the tension:

"What Alex is trying to say is: are you insane? Do you want the police to catch you? Or worse... for the company itself to grab hold of you?"

Joey smiled confidently, as if the idea was just a fun game:

"Don't worry. The plan is simple. Two of us sneak in, and the third stays outside to keep watch. This way, we'll be safe."

A few seats away, perhaps three to six on the left, amidst scattered laughter and side conversations, a girl sat silently, observing them. Her gaze betrayed no apparent interest, yet she listened to their conversation with full focus. Despite her attentiveness, none of them noticed her presence or her watchful eyes. Her hair was dark brown, almost black, and her complexion was the rich brown