Paige Flip

Chapter 2: Mixed Emotions

It had been a week since the incident with Axel. The police couldn't find any leads or clues to who the suspect may have been but they're still investigating. The whole thing honestly slipped my mind and I just went back to pizza delivering for the time being.

My boss has forgotten about my little slip up so that's good, but the guy whose pizza I failed to deliver left a shitty review on yelp because of it. (He flipped me off that day when I tried to give him his pizza too.

Crime has been spreading around the city and it feels like you can't go outside without seeing the Harbingers symbol sprayed on some wall. The zaps have been occurring more and more and it's getting exhausting; I don't know what causes them or how to stop them but Enji's trying to come up with a solution.  He told me that he might know what's causing them but he'll need me to pick up a few materials for him.

I got up on the roof and started zooming when I felt my phone buzz. I stopped and stood on the edge of a chimney. It was chilly out with strong gusts of wind.

I checked the notification. It said it was from an anonymous number. I opened the chat and there was a single message containing an address, "What the-". Before I could continue what I was saying everything started to get blurry and I passed out.

Clear green skies, floors covered with a red reflective liquid, and sounds of distortion is what I was greeted with when I woke up. It was oddly warm, like a wooly blanket during a gloomy winter night. I looked around but it was like looking into an endless abyss, "IS ANYONE HERE?? WHERE AM I?! ANYONE?!?", silence...

Suddenly a figure started appearing in front of me, "WHO ARE YOU?" I shouted. "Calm down dipshit." The figure now clearly visible stood idly. It looked... like me. Average height with fluffy black hair, brown eyes with chubby cheeks, a sharp jawline and eye bags that complimented his features. His skin was much paler than mine though. "What do you want from me? Why do you look like me?".

"Save your questions for later. No matter what happens, do NOT go to the address that was sent to you." The figure said with a sort of dominant convincing tone. "What? How do you kno-" I blacked out again.

I was awoken to a flashlight in my face, 'Could you not?" I said while covering my face from the light. "Oh sorry" The flashlight flicked off revealing an old man, who looks to be in his 70s "How did you get up here boy? The only entrance is the one I guard but I never saw you come through." His voice soothing and sort of welcoming. "My bad sir, I didn't mean to trespass. I can leave right now." "Are you crazy? You're all bruised up I can't just let you go now." He stated with concern in his voice. I realized that I had fallen off the chimney when I fainted.

He led me to an old dusty room, it seemed as if someone lived here at some point but that was probably ages ago, "You can stay here for the night, if you need anything just call for me. Name's Sizro by the way." "Thanks sir." I texted Enji and explained what happened to me and told him I couldn't get the materials for him.

For now, I needed some well-earned rest, though I couldn't stop thinking about my meeting with the figure. Was it just a dream? How did he know about the text? Could I trust him? It was too much to think about so I decided to go to sleep.

I woke up a bit earlier than usual as I didn't want to intrude in the house of a stranger. I took the elevator down to the lobby and saw Sizro again. "Thank you for letting me rest up sir." I said with gratitude. "How did you even get up there in the first place?" "Uh.. I apartment jump as a hobby..?" I said lying through my teeth. "Makes sense, but you should be more careful my boy." "I will sir" I said as I left.

I couldn't wait to get home. When I arrived I was greeted by a pondering Enji. "I'm back. Sorry I couldn't get the materials you needed bro." "Don't worry about it, but I will need this for now." He said before plucking a strand of my hair. "Ow" "Although I usually don't need much research to help you out, I'm a bit stumped here so I'll be needing a bit of your DNA, hope you don't mind." He explained. "Oh yea could you check this address for me? Some anonymous number sent it to me yesterday." I told him. "Yea man but it'll take a bit." "No worries, imma head out. Later.". I was lucky that yesterday was a Sunday or else I'd be fired by now.

2 days had passed since then and not much happened since then. Enji checked the address and it led him to an abandoned shack in the middle of nowhere 11 miles out. Part of me wants to go but I keep remembering the figures warnings. His stern voice with that melancholy ringing won't stop going through my head. The address didn't come with a date so I don't think there's a timeframe meaning I have time to think it through.

I also remembered Liz's hangout message and felt kind of bad so I reached out to her to grab coffee and catch up. I was surprised to find she was still active on that account. She didn't take long to respond and she chose tomorrow at 5 pm at our local Chaos drinks hub. I've always admired Liz , she's pretty and hard-working and is fun to be around, so I was excited to see her again.

I finished up at work and clocked out and arrived at the drinks hub early just in case, and I waited. 15 minutes turned into 30, which then turned into an hour and before I knew it, it was 7 pm. It's unlike Liz to be late to anything, she couldn't have stood me up... right?

I ended up going home after that, really pissed off at the fact Liz never showed. I sent her a text but I didn't know when and if she'd respond. Enji was out for the night so I had the dorm for myself, so I just put on some music and started doodling; ever since I was young I liked scribbling and making little drawings, nothing serious though. I got bored after a while and realized it was already midnight. That text came to my mind once again, although it was late and going there now would be extremely reckless, caught up in my emotions and boredom I decided to check it out.

I grabbed my headphones and a hoodie and got on the roof, I didn't know when I'd faint again so I needed to keep myself safe and watch out. I put on my favorite artist and started jumping around. What's the worst that could happen at a time like this?