ExtraSensory Perception (ESPer Series)

Prologue

Prologue

I have failed. As I submerge into liquid black, I only have that single thought. My end is beginning. I watch all my memories blur past me, knowing that everyone is awaiting for my return. I feel it leave; the life fleeing from me, and let the darkness absorb me.

"You don't want it to end here, do you?" an echoing voice says. I faintly see a white speckle in the pitch black. 

No, I can only muster.

"It seems you have a reason for living-" 

I do. 

"If I grant you power," the voice goes on, bouncing off the liquid blocks of black, "could you live? In return, grant me my one only wish."

Yes, I think, louder this time.

"Beware, once one has accepted the contract, they shall live a life like no other. Contractors forever live in solitude, and have a tragic end in solitude. However, you shall gain the thing you desire. Do you accept these terms?" I open my eyes and find my voice in the darkness.

"Yes, I hereby accept the terms of your contract." I couldn't see it, but I can feel a creeping smile from the contractor. Then I fade away into nothing.

     I wake to a faint murmur voice. It sounds distant, yet so close. Clicks and gurgles also blur in my ears. Another voice speaks, though I can't make it out. More muffles. It’s like I'm inside and they're out. My mind feels like slush and I can't think straight. I feel strangely cold, and wet. I peel my heavy eyelids open so a blurry image appears before me.

I am submerged in water. Globs of air bubbles float by me. My breaths are loud and raspy, concealed in a breather pumping oxygen. Long strands of wires connect and pierce my skin. I'm in a tank - an experimental tank. Two white figures stand in front of me.

"She's perfect," one of them says. I strain to hear, but only a few words are audible. "... 6 months and ... need just a bit more... Stryker."

"One more... serum... complete...," the other one says.

I feel myself begin to panic, but my head burns with pain and my body is unresponsive. No, I think. The white figures suddenly run, desperately screaming something. No, I'm not supposed to be here. Voices, louder and alarmed, shout. They're outside, where I must be. Out. My mind continues to race faster. Not here. I'm not supposed to be here. I-

 The glass tank shatters and spills its contents out onto the laboratory floor. All the wires fall limp to my sides. I stand, dazed but focused, as people in white coats race all around me. Someone tries to aim a pistol at me, but I easily disarm him with a flick of my wrist. I can't remember doing such a thing, but it feels reflexive, like my body recognizes the motion. I search my mind for memories of it, and find no recollection. In fact, I can’t seem to remember anything. More people in coats race all in a fury. Suddenly, a man, surprising young, silences the chaos. He steps up onto the platform of where the tank used to be and faces me. Something nudges in my mind, trying to remember something important.

"Who - who are you?" I say, strained. The young man smiles gingerly. His brown eyes seem kind and comforting. Fake, a voice pops into my head. It's fake.

"I'm known as Stryker. I've been watching over you for the past 6 months. I can take care of you. I can help with your amnesia and teach you the true nature of your ability," he hushes. “Your conscious knows me, because I cared for you even before you existed. I promise to tell you everything I know. You can trust me, Sitara.”

He holds out a hand and I stare at it. He knows me, and is probably the only person who knows what happened to me. The longing to know myself surges me forward. I slowly reach to hold it when a single phrase appears within the empty void of lost memories, I have failed. My hand stops midway.

"No," I whisper. "You're too late. I've contracted with someone else." Stryker's hand jerks back and opens his mouth to say something. But before he can, I let my instincts take over. I stretch out my hand and the laboratory explodes in swirling indigo flames. The ground trembles with intensity and electricity zaps everywhere. Stryker raises his right hand and deflects my power's effect easily, dissipating the flames and electricity. Clenching his hand into a fist and twisting it, I unexpectedly smash into the ground. I groan as I try to stand.

I open my palm and reach into space itself. I pull out a katana twice as long as my arm and slash with it at Stryker. He dodges it in time, only just nicking off a dark brown strand of hair. He whistles. Adrenaline rushes through me. I concentrate it and then release it in a burst of energy. The entire building collapses in white-hot flames. Unscratched, I notice I'm on an isolated island. Stryker appears in the distance, twirling a weird-looking knife in his fingers. He slices the air with it and a black gap appears in the middle of the air. A portal.

"I’ll find you next time, Sitara," he says before disappearing into the opening. I sprint towards him with the katana in hand, but the portal closes before I can reach it. I growl and scream into the night sky. I have failed, yet again. Releasing the katana, I watch it dissipate into thin air. Suddenly pure exhaustion seeps in. Tired to the bone, I simply collapse onto the sand. When my vision begins to blur, a boy bends over to look at me. His twinkling eyes look like the sparkling stars above him. For some reason, I am drawn to him.

"I see you've already figured out your power," he says coolly. His voice sounds oddly familiar. "Though you look young, I think you're the one," his voice echoing. I realize he sounds just like the voice in my head.  "The one who can finally grant my wish,” he smiles. 

The contractor, I think before I lose conscious.