Recklessness turns into Bloodshed.|GJ

chapter 3.

Running off of a single Toblerone piece and the will to make characters suffer so here we are.

—————

The next morning was incredibly fearful for Foz.

The strategist was still stunned by the events of the night prior, unable to get a wink of sleep afterwards.

He was kept up by fear and worry that something truly terrible would happen to a dear friend. Whatever was inside that selenite gem was not good news.

It was impossible, however. By all laws of science, there was no way that gem could've glowed on its own, let alone talk.

...Unless it wasn't anything scientific, but supernatural..

No.

There was no way.

It was a mere myth, a child's fable, even, yet it still lingered in the back of his paranoia.

He just had to keep an eye on the others for the next few days.

Especially on Kyan. That orange star had his name on it.

Please don't let it be true.

—

The next day started perfectly fine for the four friends, sat around their table eating and talking. Xuli and Kyan sat side by side like always, the latter poking harmless jokes and banter as usual. The former would simply grin and roll her eyes as she bit into her bagel. Lars would talk back, sometimes telling Kyan off for certain jokes. Foz would attempt to join in to ease his anxiety on the hidden situation.

"That's why the ocean is a huge soup!" Kyan yelled out, slamming his palm onto the table. "Salt, water, meat, ve-"

"That's ridiculous," Lars argued back, narrowing his eyes. "Just because it has those factors–"

"I agree with Kyan," Xuli smirked.

"HUH?!"

The two burst into laughter at Lars' shock, the latter facepalming at their idiocy.

Then, as a bolt out of the blue, the acrobat's smile suddenly faded. He raised a hand to his head and groaned quietly.

"Oww.."

The other three stared in confusion, Xuli speaking up first.

"Kyan? You okay?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, yeah," he forced a light smile. "Just a banging headache, that's it. Ow.."

Foz felt dread seep into his chest.

Oh fuck.

"Maybe I stayed up too late last night..." Kyan mumbled, rubbing his head. "Y'know what, guys? I might just go back to my room–"

"Really?" Lars' voice was laced with worry. "That's... very unlike you, Kyan."

"No no, don't worry!" He grinned. "I'll be okay. Besides, you said I need to take care of myself more, right?"

That was true.

"I'll be back soon, guys," was his final sentence before getting up from the table and leaving for his room. The other three just watched in concern, one of them trying to mask the existential anxiety rapidly flowing through his veins.

—

"Jeez... maybe I did stay up too late..." the acrobat murmured, wincing as his head pounded. Subconsciously grabbing his water bottle, he looked up at himself in the mirror for a brief moment.

He hadn't brushed his hair yet, so it was a wild mess of jet-black strands that swayed against his face. Behind the uneven bangs, he noticed something off.

"... Huh?"

He blinked, trying to get a closer look.

Were his eyes always that dark blue?

He rubbed them and looked twice.

Yup, still dark.

"What in the Hell...-? Agh!"

The bottle slipped from his grasp, raising both hands to grab the sides of his head as the pounding worsened.

.... you are.... my vessel....

"... wha... ?" A voice faintly echoed in his mind, unfamiliar and unfriendly. As he reopened his eyes, he saw them glow slightly brighter in the dim light of his room.

"What's going on...?"

.... my.... vessel....

"Who are you?" he spat accusingly. "What do you want?!"

There was no answer.

Kyan suddenly felt incredibly light-headed.

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Word count: 627

I tried. I'm not very good at slow burns, my apologies.