Project Pegasus

V 1.1 Chapter 1: That Girl with a Scarlet Hair.

What does it mean to be human? Aristotle once said that the ability to speak and reason separates us from other living beings such as animals and plants. It's what constitutes our humanity. It's what makes us human. However, what if there exists another being capable of rational thought? What, then, is the difference between that and a human?

***

---Hiiro---

Listening through the silence of the night, I was standing on the rooftop of our school. We had just finished our student council work so I was taking a break.

"Haruka..."

Today is already your 3rd year death anniversary yet I still can't forget you.

"Even though I've already transferred to a different country, I still couldn't escape our sad memory."

I miss you so much.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you at that time."

I'm sorry, I'm so weak.

Looking up, I saw an object burning while flying. I had mistaken it as a wishing star.

"PLEASE, LET ME SEE HER AGAIN!!!"

Suddenly, a loud sound exploded almost deafening my ear. It came from the burning object which also produced a blinding light. As my vision slowly returned, I saw...

A freaking airplane falling towards me.

***

"Aaahhh!"

Waking up, I was suddenly in a different place.

It was dark, as trees nearly covered all the rays coming from the sun. A foul smell, like that of a dead creature, filled the air, irritating my nose to no end. Eerie sounds of wild animals nearby drowned the area with a spine-chilling ambiance.

"Where the hell am I? Where is the plane? Agh..." The surroundings looked oddly familiar. It felt like deja vu. Yet, my head twinged each time I tried to remember it.

"What is this place? This is so creepy."

Shit. Is this the afterlife?

Standing up, I got a glimpse of my right hand touching the earth. It was cold. But, I noticed... something.

"AHHHHHHHHH---"

There was no flesh.

"Fuck!!" I repeatedly shouted. "What is this? What the fuck is happening?! What the hell is this?!"

Somehow I could, feel my heart beating faster like always. However, as my fleshless hand made contact with my chest, I felt something was wrong. My fingers slid through the intervals of my ribs; even my heart is gone.

"H-hya!"

My screams filled the area, frightening the birds nested on top of the trees.

Suddenly, I felt a slight touch on my right shoulder. "Uhm..."

My body froze. I slowly moved my gaze and saw a hand wrapped in white bandages. "Ahhh!" Immediately, I smacked the hand and moved away.

"Sorry," an apology repeatedly came from a mysterious, bowing person.

"Haru...ka??? No, it can't be you. Who the hell are you!?"

Standing in front was a girl with long, unkempt hair with a scarlet color, with a lengthy fringe lightly covering her eyes. She was wearing a black robe enveloping her entire body from shoulder to below her knee. Her fairly pale skinned body was trembling while looking at me hesitantly with her eyes, blue as the sky. Slowly, she walked towards me, her right arm holding a staff with a crystal on top, while the other hand clasped her right wrist.