Internecion cube | Magnetic Attraction

📖|Prologue|📖

{October 20th, 2023}

{11:32 PM}

It was a cold day. As was any other day in Fairbanks.

Snow fell lightly from the clouds, smothering everything in it's purity. 

As the sun dropped the moon took it's place, it's 'Crescence' (Crescent Presence for you non-humorous folks) illuminating the city. A pale shade of grey gleams from the rivers. A bronze statue overlooked the river.

A young teen was leaning on the guard rail, soaking up the beautiful night. He was alone at the memorial, sporting a black suit and classy shoes. Unusual? Sure. But he has quite the sense of style.

City buildings reach for the stars, the occasional light flickering. No cars drove by, no crickets chirped. The only sound you could hear was the wind.

A vibration went off in the teen's pocket. He regarded it, who'd call anyone at this hour? He then reached for his phone and answered. "Andrew speaking"

A familiar voice spoke from the other side. "Heya An', Uhh. . could you maybe lend me a hand here? Kinda need some help right now I need a small favor. ."

"Oh! Arnold?" Andrew said, his attention sharpening. "Uhh, I thought you weren't a 'Stay-Up-All-Night' person? It's pretty late" a small chuckle was heard "Well, I'm full of surprises, you should know that about me by now." Andrew just rolled his eyes, scoffing.

"Uh-huh, sure. Anyways you better not drag me into something weird, what do you need why are you calling me this late for? What is it? 11?" He asked, still gazing across the river, multiple swans gracefully slip across the water. Arnold let out another dry laugh "Yeah, heh. ."

A few more awkward moments passed before Arnold spoke again. "You know how I moved to Slumbertown?" Andrew nodded. Arnold had moved to Slumbertown due to Fairbanks being too cold and 'Way to boring'. Ironically enough multiple disappearances have been reported, not to mention the fact EVERYONE there has a 'true' paranormal experience. 

"I brought along my dog, first day here and his gone." The sound of crunching leaves and twigs can be heard. "I'm trying to find him but I can't do it alone." A multitude 'Tsk-tsk-tsk's and 'Here buddy. .' sounds were heard. "Well, can't you contact the neighbors?" Andrew asked, beginning to look away from the river and around at his surroundings. "I do live like. . I dunno, an hour away? You know I hate these long drives"

"Yeah, well the neighbors have they're doors and windows locked and aren't answering their knocks and doorbells. I'm not leaving Charlie behind." Arnold added firmly. After Andrew's hesitant silence Arnold answered with "C'mon An', you owe me one." Andrew sighed, annoyed because he did quite indeed owe him one.

a few months back they were walking down a street and a guy tried to mug him. Andrew (Who has NO self-defense) was pushed to the ground effortlessly as the guy ran away with his wallet. Arnold however ran after him and within seconds, tackled him into the concrete, tearing the wallet off his hands and putting the thief's arm in a Armbar position. (Where he can break and or dislocate his arm)

Andrew begrudgingly answered "Where? Exactly? Near that old house? You know that place scares me."

The swans below nestled into the seagrass growing out of the water, huddling together, one of their young accidentally being shoved out from the center. "Come on Andrew pleease." Arnold pleaded. "I never ask things, It's not a want. I need this." He emphasized on the 'Want' and 'Need'.

Very silently, very slowly, barely but still yet noticeable, a darkened barbed tentacle reached out, slithering between the blades of seagrass. Heading for the cygnet (Baby swan). It then swiftly wraps around the young's throat, muting it.

"Ah, I dunno Arnold. I have things to do. I just. . . okay fine I'll do it." Andrew turns away from the river and begins walking home to get some food and money for an Uber. "I'm on my way. But just to be clear this settles the 'owing' thing, got it?" An affirmative 'Mhm' was heard on Arnold's end.

"Alright, I'm going to go back home, call me when your almost here" Arnold said, more crunching noises heard from the other side. "Oh, and Andrew? Thanks. It . . . means a lot." he then hung up on the call.

After a high pitch squeak was heard, the attention of the Swan parents was caught, but all they saw were an empty husk of their cygnet. The inverted chick now splayed across the river, her dangling organs dipping below the gentle waves.

A humanoid figure rose from the water, not particularly caring about stealth anymore. 

Now, I'm not one to do this cliché schtick. But let's just say. . .

Two gleaming red eyes were the last things those poor swans saw that night. . . 

Andrew grumbled, his gaze focused onto the pathway. As if his gaze would melt the snow layering the path. It had stopped snowing but it was still freezing. He was so focused in fact, that he ran into someone, they both fall into the snow. (It was mercifully thin so it wasn't freezing) It was a woman. Not like in her 80-90s. But more in her 50s.

Andrew blurted apologies, helping her up. "I am SO sorry! I uhm- Are you hurt? I-" the lady made a 'calm down' motion with her hands. "It's okay, this old lady can take more then a midget!" (In case you aren't aware, Andrew was around 15. And so SHORT.) The lady cackled in a cruel manner and walked away, not giving Andrew a second glance.

Andrew sighed. I mean, he never had good luck. Always ending up with the short end of the stick, having the worse people.

He got up, dusted his suit off and proceeded back to his apartment. This time keeping an eye on the footpath.

A door was opened as a boy walked out of a building, kissing his girlfriend goodbye. "Goodnight sweetie~" He then got on his bike and rode downhill to where he lived probably. Andrew looked somberly down the road as the bike drifted away into the snowy landscape.

A few other people walked by Andrew, nodding at him politely or just disregarding him entirely. He eventually got home and walked into the apartment complex. As he approached the elevator the lady at the front desk stopped him "Euhm, excuse me? Sir? Could you please stop for a minute?"

Andrew froze, oh son of a bitc- "Tell your mother that her bill is overdue. By a week. Please?" she pleaded. She had barely passed the interview and was afraid she would be fired at a moments notice. (Andrew had been her shoulder to cry on, just so you know how he knew that)

"Yeah. . yeah sure." Andrew then proceeded into the elevator, he pushed the number 2 on the keypad before the door is halted. A man, perhaps in his 30s. . maybe mid-40s quickly hasted into the elevator before the door closed.

He also pressed floor 2.

The 2 waited patiently as the elevator ascends a the first floor. The door opens and the man bolts down into the opposite end of the hallway. "Weirdo much. ." Andrew heads to his room, and opens the door gently, carefully tiptoeing to his room to avoid waking his mother up. He reaches into the fridge and packs some ham and cheese sandwiches.

Andrew then left a note on the kitchen counter. 'Out for a day, the lady at the front said the rent's overdue.'

He then slipped out of the door, he then got and Uber and curled up in his seat, a book in hand. And began reading.

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