Beyblade Burst Adventures

You Are Awake, You Can't Escape

In which it's been almost a year since Shu was freed from the hellscape of his mind by his friends and Theodore Glass was arrested. Now things are finally starting to go back to normal... But what happens when the darkness in his mind begins to leak into reality? (Set after the events of Try to Wake, Try to Escape, but it's not canon to the story. Inspired by Fran Bow.)

-----

Entry 243, September 30th.

There are only 48 more days until the first anniversary of my release from the 'Requiem Sector' in my mind, not counting today. I forgot to write my entries for a while, so a have a bit to fill in. Last week, my friends and I celebrated my 12th birthday with cake, ice cream and a fun little party. We all laughed and smiled so much that- for a little while- I forgot what even happened to us.

But I remembered when night fell, everyone had to go home, and the time for bed came. It's a bit humiliating at the age of twelve, but I still have to use a nightlight so I can sleep. The darkness scares me now more than it ever did in the Sector. Maybe that's because I can't fight back now. When I go through the halls, I either have to turn on all the lights or press my back to the wall, growling and glaring at the darkness to let it know I'm 'the one in charge'.

I don't tell my friends about the nightlight or the growling. It's not that I think they'll laugh (Wakiya might), but I just don't think it's worth mentioning. If they really wanted to know, they could always ask.

But despite all that, I actually feel like things are going back to normal! The party reminded me that I'm home, and that I'm still loved by (at least) my friends and (probably not by) my parents. I'm safe in the real world, and there are no monsters lurking in the shadows. I'm still afraid of the dark, of course, but I just need time to readjust. Forcing myself to sleep in the dark (like everyone else did) isn't going to help (even though it helped them), it's just going to make me lose sleep and miss a school day!

I just need time. But that's all that I've missed- I'll try to report back tomorrow.

"I had fun today, Shu!" Valt said, standing at his front door with Shu. The cool night air crept in from outside, which would become a problem if they stood there too long. It wasn't going to, since Shu and Valt were only exchanging goodbyes.

"I did, too." The red-eyed Blader replied, smiling a little. "Want to hang out again tomorrow?"

"Sure thing!"

"Great. We can walk home from school together... Anyway, see you tomorrow."

"See you, Shu." The two hugged, then Shu began walking away with a farewell wave. Valt waved back until he was gone from sight, then shut the front door.

Shu's apartment wasn't too far from the Aoi residence, and with all the streetlights lined along the way he wasn't overly nervous about walking home. There was no sound as Shu walked, or even sounds from his surroundings. It was still early enough for cars to be driving by, but there were none.

I guess they're all home already. Must have been a short work day... Shu reasoned as he stood at a stop light, waiting for the pedestrian light to turn green. Or it's later than I thought... Curious, he pulled his phone out to check the time... But found that it wasn't turning on.

It shouldn't be out of battery, it had thirty percent the last time I checked it... Oh well, I'll figure out when I get home.

He put his phone away and lifted his head. The lights had gone from pale yellow to red, draping the sidewalks and streets in eerie emergency-lighting. The sight made the beast Blader's blood run cold, leaving him frozen in place.