Years Go By

Chapter One

(Warning: Don't read this part if you're super uncomfortable with transphobic people.)
The day started out pretty normal. We had a substitute in History.
She was taking attendance, and I wasn't really paying attention to the names- well, that is, until...
"Lauren?"
I froze, hesitating. "...I-It's Leon." My friend glanced at me, her eyes laced with worry. The substitute sighed. "You're listed as Lauren Craig and as a female. That's what you are in this class," she said, glaring at me.
I looked down, biting my lip. Amazing. So this substitute must be transphobic or something.
She continued with attendance as I stared at my desk, tears forming in my eyes. Great job Leon.
-
The day finally ended, and as soon as I got home I raced to my room, collapsing on my bed and pulling out my phone to text Lyric and Ryan in the group chat Lyric had made.
Anyone here?
Despite both of them being two hours behind me, they responded pretty quickly: Lyric first, then Ryan.
What's up Lee?
Hello.
I smiled slightly, though I hadn't noticed at the time.
Hey guys! So, uh, my day was kinda crappy.
Lyric had always been super concerned about my well-being, so she responded almost immediately.
What do you mean?
I sighed, a knot in my stomach as I began to type.
Had a substitute in History and...I think she might've been transphobic. She didn't seem to like me just from the first five minutes in class.
Then Ryan responded.
Did she not call you by your current name?
I didn't even have to say no. It was obvious she didn't. Lyric was quick to help.
Lee, it's okay. We support you, and I'm sure your other friends and your family do, too!
I smiled.
Thanks Lyric. Thanks Ryan. Oh, I gotta go. Mom's calling me.
Then I turned my phone off, immediately feeling guilty for lying. My mom wasn't calling me. I just...didn't want to talk anymore.
The day had been horrible enough as it is. Why make it even more horrible for telling the truth?
-
The next day, Saturday, I just...laid there. I didn't get on the group chat. I didn't get up to eat breakfast or lunch. I only left my room when I had to go to the bathroom, which wasn't often.
What was I going to do?
I would've spent my day thinking if it hadn't been for Lyric's text.
Hey, you okay? Ryan's worried.
I laughed, deciding to text her back.
Is he now? If he's so worried, he can say it to my face.
Well, not exactly to my face, but you know.
I'm kidding. Well, not really. He's worried, but I am too, so don't worry!
I smiled.
Alright. I guess I'll jump on for a little.
I switched over to the group chat.
Hey.
Ryan didn't answer. Maybe he was busy?
Ayyy you actually did it!
I fake scoffed, snorting.
What, you think I'm so lazy I wouldn't say something here?
Lyric must've rolled her eyes at that.
Puh-lease. Oh, I was telling Ryan about an urban legend I heard at school. Wanna hear?
I sighed. Urban legends weren't really my thing, but...I didn't want to disappoint Lyric.
Sure, why not?
I wasn't prepared for what I thought was the stupidest urban legend ever.
Okay, so apparently if you look at your TV at exactly midnight when it's raining, you'll see your soulmate! I know it sounds stupid, but I tried it last night, and I think it might've worked, cuz I saw my crush on there! You should try it, Lee!
I raised an eyebrow. Was it really true?
I dunno, sounds kinda stupid. But I guess I'll try it.
Lyric replied with a quick "Yay!", then went offline, as Ryan had during our conversation. Then I was alone.
"I'm sure it's not gonna work...right?"
I've never been so wrong in my entire life.
-
The day had finally come. I was at the Dallas Airport, waiting to fly to hecking Tokyo, Japan. Apparently Ryan's brother and Lyric's crush (as well as her friend Jazmine) were coming along.
I couldn't sit still the entire time. Ryan's brother and Jazmine (they had flown to Dallas before the flight to Tokyo to come along) had to hold me down since I was bouncing up and down.
Eventually we got to Tokyo, grabbing a taxi to the hotel we'd be staying at.
-
Around midnight, it started raining. I was just staring at the TV, being the only one awake, and saw...Michael, Lyric's crush. "What the fuck?" I whispered, my eyes wide. Again?
-
The next day, I had completely forgotten about it. When I woke up, Lyric explained that Michael had gone downstairs to get some ice since the ice machine on our floor wasn't working.
But he never did come back. Eventually we decided to go to the convention without him in hopes he was already there.
Once we neared the room where the convention was being held, we heard screams. Glancing inside, I saw..
Michael's body hanging upside down from a wall light.
Lyric screamed, covering her mouth with her hands. Jazmine put a hand on her friend's shoulder, her eyes wide.
I turned to Ryan and his brother, a sick feeling in my stomach.
"He..was on the Midnight Channel," I whispered to Ryan. "But what would the Midnight Channel have to do with Michael's death?" Ryan whispered back.
Before I could answer, everyone was escorted out of the room. So we went back to our hotel room in silence, not wanting to speak about the incident.
-
Later that day, we went downtown to a cafe.
"So...about what happened yesterday...it's an awful lot like Persona 4," Ryan said.
I bit my lip. "It is...I don't like this. It's...weird."
Ryan's brother, who we referred to as Bolt, sighed. "We could try helping whoever ends up on the Midnight Channel."
"But how?" Jazmine asked. "What if we end up being too late?"
I sat up straight, a determined look on my face. "No. We won't let the same thing happen to anyone else."
-
If I had only known how wrong I was...we could've saved someone.
I had fallen asleep before midnight the next two nights, and no one checked the Midnight Channel. Which we found was stupid when we woke up one day to see Bolt nowhere in the room.
"Bolt? Bolt!" We didn't care if we disrupted any guests. We had to find Bolt.
And find him we did.
If, by finding him, you count...
Finding his body hanging from a balcony.
The thing is, Ryan hadn't caught up yet. He was looking in every room he could get into. I turned to see him jogging towards us, his eyes wide. "Have you se-"
He trailed off, covering his mouth with his hands. "...Bolt...?"
My legs felt like jelly. In a span of about four days, Lyric had lost her crush and Ryan had lost his brother. Fan-fucking-tastic.
-
We went back to our room, not sure what we could do.
Ryan was quiet the whole time. I'm not surprised, since his brother...
Eventually I fell asleep, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression on my face.
One thought was in my head before I closed my eyes: We had to stop this before anyone else got hurt.