The Man in Black

Chapter 1: An Outcast

The ground beneath him felt coarse and rigid, the tiny rock particles scratching his face as he stirred awake. His limbs were heavy and drained of energy, making it difficult for him to rise. He wiped away the sleep in his eyes and looked around, trying to remember where he was.

He was enveloped by darkness, and he couldn't see anything but himself. He shouted out, "Hello! Is anyone there?" Nothing answered back. Suddenly, he heard the loud rumble of a large vehicle coming towards him and before he could move, it hit him with such force that he was thrown into the air and then landed on the ground. His hand touched another hand that felt cold and lifeless.

Then, his eyes adjusted to the darkness, allowing him to make out his surroundings which were filled with pools of blood. He heard footsteps coming towards him slowly... the man in black looking down at him. "It's your fault... it should have been you..."

Aayush Mehra, nineteen-year-old, brown-skinned boy wakes up from his nightmare with a start, his hands on his chest as he struggles to breathe. He runs to the washbasin to respond to the sensations of nausea before they become any worse. Although this is not the first time it has happened, the pain still feels as intense as ever.

He sits down of the floor supporting his back on the wall waiting to be in condition to do anything. His eyes were heavy as he slept late. Against his will, he manages to get up and pick up his brush laying under his bed. While brushing he searches for his college shirt that he found stuffed in corner. He leaves for the college eating the remaining biscuits he had left from yesterday.

As he entered the lecture hall, his mind drifted to the all sights and sounds of guns from last night. He walked towards his usual seat and, in his preoccupied state, bumped into a girl just as she started to stand up. Without looking back, he continued on as if nothing had happened.

"What a creep!", Suhani exclaimed to her friend Ishwari. "He didn't even apologize for bumping into me," Suhani huffed. It was her first day at college and the atmosphere was quite different from what she had expected.

Ishwari leaned in closer and whispered near Suhani's ear, "He's always like that apparently. From the start of today I noticed him sitting at the corner with a weird expression on his face." Ishwari mockingly mimicked his face before bursting into laughter. Suhani couldn't help but join in on the joke before sighing, "This college is full of crazy people. I guess I'll just have to get used to it."

Aayush glanced around the crowded room, his eyes scanning for a place to rest. He spotted a single chair in the corner, tucked away from all the noise and chatter. He shuffled over, quietly mumbling under his breath, yet no one seemed to hear him. Taking a seat by himself, Aayush embraced his newfound solitude.

Hearing conversations around him. If he focused, he could hear conversations from several meters away, although distinguishing voices at a distance was challenging. With his eyes closed, he could sense the number of mosquitoes flapping their wings, people grinding their teeth and even heartbeats. This was his way of having friends and being part of a conversions without actually being there.

He used to hear their thoughts, opinions, suggestions for movies they like which he would watch by himself, their opinions on people there, sometimes bad...about him, people chatting about all those weird experiences happened with them with him that actually didn't. He always imagined to actually be part of their conversions. Joining in their laughs with them, sharing his thoughts, listening to them but from closer. He even forgot to respond when called by his name, because no one did.

A boy, short face, leaned body, brown haired boy comes towards him, as all the seats in classroom were filled. Raises his hand expecting a handshake, "Sujal Devendra Shukla", he introduces himself, with his middle name in flow which he regretted immediately. Aayush slides himself to the other side or bench to make the space without responding to handshake. Sujal raises his hand again, Aayush responds this time. "Damn! That is a strong grip". Aayush forces a little smile in response.