Phantom's Path

Chapter 2

Most people do awaken, but some don't. I hope I'm not one of them. I stare into the bright and beautiful stars above, feeling this burning urge to achieve my goal, as if today might be my last. The night sky feels vast, and yet, I'm reminded how small I am in this world. A world where power can change everything in an instant, where a single moment can shape the rest of your life.

"Rearden!"

I hear my name shouted, pulling me out of my thoughts. I turn to see Amelia, her purple eyes gleaming in the moonlight, and her long blonde hair shining like the sun itself. She looks like she belongs to another world—one that's bright, where nothing goes wrong.

I've known Amelia since we were six, and standing next to her now is my best friend, Tim. He's always been a bit of a mystery—quiet, calculating, but with a sharp mind that I've always admired. His black hair contrasts with his piercing blue eyes, as deep and endless as the ocean. If anyone could be considered a genius in this town, it would be Tim.

"Yeah?" I replied, my voice still carrying the weight of my thoughts.

"Come here and sit so we can talk," Tim said, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of seriousness.

I walked over to them, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. "I am honored to be able to sit near you two," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Amelia raised an eyebrow, her purple eyes narrowing playfully. "You better be," she replied, her lips curling into a smile.

We both chuckled, the tension in the air easing for a brief moment. But then, just as quickly, the laughter faded. The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable, but it spoke volumes. We all knew what tomorrow meant, and the weight of that unspoken truth hung between us.

Tim, ever the thinker, broke the silence first. "Guys, if we awaken... let's go to the same school. Stick together. Stay together till the end."

I looked at him, considering his words. It was something we'd all dreamed of, but never really said out loud. Now, with the reality of tomorrow staring us in the face, it felt more important than ever.

"Sure, why not," I replied, my tone lighter, but the seriousness behind it was there. It felt right, like a promise we were making, not just to each other, but to ourselves.

Amelia nodded, her usual confident smile replaced with something softer, more sincere. "Yeah, I want that too."

We spent the next few minutes talking about what tomorrow might bring—how we all felt about the awakening, our hopes and fears. There was a mix of excitement and anxiety in the air. None of us knew for sure what would happen. But the idea of going through it together, of facing whatever was coming as a team, made it feel a little less daunting.

As the night wore on, our words grew quieter, and soon the conversation faded into murmurs. One by one, we leaned against each other, the comfort of old friends wrapping around us like a blanket.

Before I knew it, I felt the weight of exhaustion hit me. My head drooped slightly, and without even meaning to, I leaned against Amelia's shoulder. I felt Tim do the same on the other side. The soft, rhythmic sound of our breathing filled the air as we drifted off to sleep, the weight of tomorrow hanging over us, but for now, we were safe in each other's presence.

Tomorrow would come, but tonight, we were just three kids from the slums, holding on to each other, hoping that whatever power awaited us would be enough to make our dreams come true.