Intertwined Outlanders (first draft - v.1.0)

17

[Kaden]

"Those idiots.." I thought to myself while using my 'Phenomena' to smash a large, monstrous entity's body to pieces. The monster was relentlessly echoing voices that once belonged to my stupid bros from high school, like it was expecting me to fall for the bait that easily. At least I wasn't like the brat, who would be fooled by a monster that seemed overpowered to her, but in reality she was just too emotionally weak. I breathed deeply and waited for the hologram screen to appear in front of me, and to watch the number of threats eliminated increase by one. But it never happened; was I tripping - was the monster I just killed a fake?

Despite that error, I still miss her. I even missed my stupid friends who I used to fight over the basketballs with. Everyone was alive and well in my memories, but the opposite in reality.

Everyone perished because of that brat.

I telepathically lifted myself into the air, and my limbs relaxed like I was a leaf floating in the breeze. I closed my eyes and a vision of her appeared, washing a pleasant warmth through my body. I was lying down on a couch amidst the school library and there was a slight but soft weight on my chest. There she was, the love of my life, the most beautiful girl I had ever laid eyes on, and someone I fought strenuously for, snuggled against my chest while she slept soundly. The dyed pink strands of her luscious long black hair seemed to shine brightly as golden specks of sunset light trailing from the library window illuminated them. I couldn't help but ruffle her hair, which woke her up immediately. She rubbed her eyes and looked up at me in confusion, before her brown eyes sparkled with love and she smiled joyfully at me.
I pressed a kiss gently to her forehead.
She sat up against my chest, prompting me to sit up against the couch too. We gazed into each other's eyes for such a long time that I forgot to blink, until she whispered something sweet in my ear. I couldn't remember those words that urged me to kiss her passionately until the entire library went dim and sunset turned into dusk.

That was the last time we kissed affectionately, because after that moment she began to distance herself from me like I was a stalker each time our eyes met at school, and I swear I did nothing wrong.

When the end of year program commenced for our school, that was when I became a stalker for real. My entire year group got split into multiple small groups that all of us would explore the city square with. I faked a high-temperature fever to evade this program, not only because it was insanely uninteresting according to past students, but my intuition persuaded me nonstop that something would go wrong this time. Oh boy, they were so accurate, except it went worse than I thought. I followed her group closely using the 'Phenomena' I recently acquired that week, and watched her interact with one of the guys I had a love-hate friendship with. Knots would form in my stomach every time I saw them together, because he was the one who I fought with my entire life with just for her.

But there was nothing worse than seeing her getting knocked through multiple buildings because of a violent, lethal and colossal energy explosion that claimed nearly all the lives in the city square out of the blue. One of my fists clenched automatically as I thought about this.

"I'm sorry, Ka..den..." Her voice echoed in my mind.

I regret spending so much time trying to stop her from falling asleep for eternity, rather than calling the ambulance to save her from death.

"You have a lot of time, so please just do things that you enjoy in life." I still remember her dying wish.

A tear carrying the grief I still had for her, and the hate I had for Layla, rolled from my cheek and dripped onto the concrete. What was my purpose in life ever since Layla murdered my girl, the only person I truly loved? I was solely existing although I already did everything I enjoyed doing.

"You have a lot of time, so please just do things that you enjoy in life." 

That sounded right for once. Ever since Layla came to the Investigation Centre, the only home I had now, I didn't feel so tired and numb anymore. There was always exhilaration surging through my mind whenever I was near her presence. The fact that since I'd finally have an opportunity to strike upon the person I hated the most gave me something to do again, something to look forward to, in this mundane life. Motivation to become stronger to eventually bypass Hazuki's guard on Layla, and finally eliminate the monster who ruined my life.

"Kaden. Kaden!" A slightly robotic voice urged loudly in my ear, and someone was shaking my shoulders frantically.
"WHAT." I jolted open my eyes and glared at XVI who released his hands from my shoulders.
"The underground city is being raided by the OAR!" He crossed his arms, "Valentina and I need your help."

XVI was the only other male member apart from me, in the Investigation Centre. With his extensive knowledge, he seemed to be the only person other than Hazuki to have a comprehensive understanding of my past with my lover, but he never bothered to try and console me in any way. Although XVI was simply asking for my assistance and nothing else, my animosity towards him started boiling inside of me.

"Why should I help? You clearly know how I feel every day." I blurted indignantly at him. "I help the Investigation Centre so much, but nobody ever tries to help me!"

XVI raised his eyebrows before his expression neutralised. "Of course I know how you feel. There just isn't enough time right now. Please help, I'll bribe Hazuki to make you the victor of the tournament if that makes you happy."

I sighed, "sure."