The nobody

1: Caught up

'Where am I?'

I thought to myself. I couldn't see or feel my surroundings...yet it felt strangely familiar, almost how I feel being lost in thought. This time though, it was different...more realistic. This time though...I felt...rather I sensed something else around me.

"Hello?..."

No response.

"What are you? ..."

Still no response.

'Oh well, guess it won't answer me.'

"Grwdv rvbhfvfkjv wnfuf ", the 'thing' said.

"Huh"

"Grwdv rvbhfvfkjv wnfuf ", the 'thing' said.

"I don't understand you"

After more words that I couldn't hear, it just chuckled and went silent for a while... then suddenly, I felt a hand...no, a claw, grip my hand. 'It' then spoke once again.

"chvtyvlj bgvhuviy, Max"

"Wait...did you just..."

And as suddenly as I heard my name, everything just vanished and next thing I know, I'm staring straight up at a familiar ceiling.

....................................................................................................................................

"That dream again..."

I mumbled to myself as I continued to stare up at the ceiling of my room. I was sweating. I was cold. I had apparently got out of my covers overnight and it was raining outside. Cars raced along the highway a few blocks away, and as for my neighbours... well, I assumed everyone was still asleep.

Aside my bed, my alarm was beeping, as I had set it to the previous day for 5:00 am. It was my first day at school and apparently, all new students had to report earlier than the rest for paperwork and orientations.

"Xiem, turn on the lights... Set it to dim blue please."

Xiem was an AI(Artificial Intelligence) program that my landlady, Kyla, installed for each of her tenants. Since all her rooms were... tech-inspired, she had a program monitor the status of the apartment rooms as well as cater to the tenant's needs.

By the way, the AI program is named by tenants therefore it varies. Max went for Xiem.

Since I just woke up, the dim setting was just right on my eyes. Unwillingly, I sat up looking over at my room layout and after a while, I slowly made my way to the bathroom. It was a pretty simple apartment room which included a bedroom, kitchen, living room and bathroom.

Directly ahead of my bed was my study area, desktop still on from last night (probably forgot to turn it off) with my chair beside it. Next to it was a sliding door closet where my clothes were and slightly below was a space for my shoes. Opposite my bed on the right, was the balcony with a sliding glass door and curtains on the inside. On the left opposite side of the bed, was the door to the living room, kitchen and bathroom, a mirror and a small glass interface mounted on the wall where I could manually configure Xiem if I didn't want to talk.

Outside, it was still dark with no signs of the rain stopping as the drops splashed on my balcony door. The AC was automatically on, thanks to Xiem, so the room was just warm the way I wanted.

Grabbing my towel from the towel rack, I walked over to the bathroom sink, telling Xiem to warm up the water to my preferred temperature as I brushed my teeth. After I was through with that, I went into the shower and using the mounted waterproof glass interface, I instructed Xiem to start the shower. I then took my shower casually enjoying the sound of water splash the bathroom floor. It was ... relaxing for me. Kind of like how the rain gets one sentimental. Before long I was through and as I dressed up Xiem notified me it was 5:45 am meaning I only had 30 minutes to catch the morning train. Instructing Xiem to pay for my train ticket, I grabbed my keys and bag from the bed and went to the living room to briefly check on the forecast as I warmed up breakfast. The station was 5 minutes away but I had to be there early because of rush hour.

"Rain all day huh. Guess I'll add a hoodie."

I walked back to my room and grabbed my favourite dark hoodie as I preferred not to...stand out among people. As I did so, Xiem told me my ticket was ready and that I'd get it on my phone. At the time, it was 6:00 am so I grabbed the wrapped breakfast, put it in my bag and left the room. On the right side of my room was the elevator therefore I just grabbed one of the disposable umbrellas, called the elevator to my floor and jumped in. Since it was early, I ended up being the only one taking it at this time therefore it was a peaceful ride down...though I will admit just as I left my floor, I almost heard someone call out for the elevator.

'Oh well, I'm already on the ground floor. Sorry, whoever it is.'

Pretty much as soon as it opened, I rushed out, giving Kyla a good morning wave as I left the apartment complex.

'6:05 am. Hope I'll make it'

Running outside made me realize just how warm Xiem kept the room because I was freezing, even with my school sweater on. Pretty much everyone I was with rushed towards the station and at some point, I'm sure I tripped but instead of falling, I just got carried along. In the end, however, we all made it by 6:10 am. I swiped in my digital ticket and went into the train standing area as I preferred to stand.

'Barely made it'

I thought to myself as I unconsciously closed my eyes. I then listened as people eventually stopped entering the train and as it started to move at 6:15 as scheduled, someone tugged at my sleeve.

Turning around, I saw a girl, in uniform like mine, bent over and panting. Still unable to see her face, she said in between wheezes,

"I... finally ...caught up to you..."