The Girl of No Words

Demonium

Akane and I headed for the gates of Okusame High School. They were put up around it to prevent break-ins, vandalism, and other things of the same caliber. However, Akane and I were about to break that barrier. We're going to have to sneak in, as the school's track is the scene of Akane's visions.

"... Kenji," Akane says suddenly.

"Yeah?", I answer.

"Why're you helping me so much? You barely even know me."

"I'm... honestly not sure. I just feel like I should help you, no matter the consequences. It just seems like the right thing to do."

"... W-well, either way, I don't want you to put yourself in harm's way for my sake."

"Whatever you say..."

We reach the tall iron fence surrounding the school. I roll up my sleeves, preparing to climb. There were small dulled spikes at the top, and I didn't want my clothes to get ripped.

"Okay, Akane," I say. "Now, I'll go first, just to be--"

"Hold tight."

"What?"

Akane picks me up bridal-style, and jumps high into the air -- almost 13 feet, I would say, though it's hard to tell when you're the one above the ground -- then lands gently inside the school's fence. She sets me down.

"What... What was... that!?", I say. I had to sit on the ground, to try and catch my breath. "I didn't know you... you could do that...!"

"I have no mouth, yet me being able to jump to such heights surprises you?", Akane says, looking ahead. It almost seemed like she was talking to herself. She then turns to look at me. "Are you alright?"

I take a deep breath in and out, then stand up. "... Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go."

Akane and I walk next to the left side of the school, the shade of it blocking the sun from reaching that side. We looked around, just to make sure no janitors, teachers, or anyone else who might be at the school around this time would be here. I've never gone against school rules, much less the law, before, so I wasn't used to this. No way did I want to get in trouble for it. My parents definitely wouldn't approve of that. They sent me here to go to a nice high school with Ryou, so they wouldn't have any sympathy for me if I got in trouble or got bad grades. I've tried so hard to please them, but they act as if they were never proud of me in the first place.

Now that I think about it, why have I tried so hard to get their approval? They don't care about me, anyway. Maybe I should just live a little. Without getting in trouble, of course.

"Kenji?", Akane says.

"Yeah?", I say back. "... Damn it, was I spacing out again?"

"Um... It looked like it."

Man, I really wish I could quit doing this... I guess it's just a habit I can't get rid of, or something.

Akane and I finally reach the back of the school, where the track was. It was a pretty large track; it was on the outer rim of the basketball court, with a faded, dark grey tartan track as the ground. Just like the rest of the school, there was a large iron fence with dulled spikes on the far side of the track.

"So, is there anything else you can remember, Akane?", I ask. There isn't anything or anyone there. It all seems perfectly normal. I'm not sure exactly what else Akane might've seen in her vision, but whatever it is, I don't think it's here.

"I... I could've sworn I saw a shadow, or something...", she says. "And it was sitting--"

She suddenly stops. I look at her for clarification, to see if she was going to finish her sentence, but her face has a hint of fear in it. She's looking ahead of me. I turn to see what she's looking at, and I see a figure on top of the fence.