From The Ashes We Rise

Chp 43: The Hybrid

The year trickled by slowly. Our end year exams came and went, and we were all content with the results we got. When I look back, I could say the year was especially eventful, probably more than when I was in New Orleans. I found new friends I could spend time with in this new country, and one of them is not as normal as me.

The kidnapping incident had now become a fading memory for me. I wasn't sure if I could say the same for Ariff, but I've heard from him that he's stepping up his responsibilities as an older brother for Ariana. She was his only sibling after all. He even tried to teach her a few boxing moves as a form of self-defence just in case her life was in jeopardy again. She gave up after a while though, so he left it at that. She never seemed like the active type like her brother.

At that point of time, we were having holidays, but we still had co-curricular activities (CCAs) to attend to. Ariff and I were in the school band. I joined at Ariff's behest, and decided to take up the clarinet. I couldn't remember what Delta's was, but he told me it's one of those smaller, less known CCAs.

"Hey, Ebony," Ariff said, twirling his drumsticks as we left the school for the day, "you wanna hang out tomorrow night? Since it's a weekend and all. There's a close friend who really wants to meet you."

"Who?" I asked. "Is it Ray?"

He nodded.

"You've always talked about him but never told me what he looks like. Are you sure he's not an online friend?"

Ariff scowled. "Of course lah! I met him online then in person."

Delta, who had also finished his CCA and was walking with us, looked at Ariff. "Did Ray actually say he wants to meet Ebony in person?"

"Yeah. He almost never does that to my other friends," Ariff exclaimed. Then, he turned to me. "You can consider it an honour."

So Ray would like to meet me in person? Considering how Ariff mentioned Ray was a secretive person before, it really was an honour. I just don't know why he was that way, but it'd be best if I saved the questions for later. From what Ariff told me, Ray was in a different secondary school, but his schedule was more or less the same as ours.

As we separated to go back to our respective homes, Ariff said we could meet up in Yishun in the evening to meet Ray. We planned to just hang out, maybe wander around the parks at night. I knew that Ariff especially liked to wander around at night since he would get to be in his panther form for his runs. Delta usually doesn't mind, but he had a curfew. As for Ray, I wasn't sure.

I greeted Mdm Li as I entered the orphanage. I hugged some of the kids who also greeted me at the door before walking up to my room. I dropped my bag off before taking a shower.

•••••••••••

~The following evening~

I arrived at Yishun MRT just before our scheduled time. I stood near the top-up stations, looking at my phone for the time. It was a Saturday, so the station was bustling with activity. I had to move around constantly so I didn't block anyone's way. I thought I heard footsteps behind me but ignored it. I rested my hand on a random fence and observed my surroundings. People walked in and out of the station, some tapping their cards at the gantry to take the train. There were other groups of people hanging around too. No sign of Ariff or Delta yet.

I stood there for another 15 minutes until I could see Ariff walking towards me, with Delta right behind him. He waved as he approached then leaned against a wall.

"Where's your friend?" I asked.

"Behind you," he replied.

"Hey," a voice said. I jumped as I spun around. A boy was standing right behind me.