Spark in Darkness: Unworldy encounter/Prototype

Spark 2: Light

"Many had witnessed a beam of light in Minano City. It was said to have struck very near to Minano High, but nothing out of the ordinary was found at that area. Nor were there any burn marks.

Still, some people have came forward claiming that they saw the beam telelporting a person. What was left was a student's bag, and he attends Minano High school. Is it a chanced encounter with a UFO? We will have some of the eye witnesses to talk to us about it."

The news reporter was standing at the area believed to be where Haruki was last seen, and as she turned to interview an elderly man, the television was switched off.

"Haruki..." A faint whisper, and a sob.

Haruki's mother looked at the soggy bag on the floor, its content drying but crumpled. She could not find the strength left to move. Her son had most likely been abducted by aliens, and who knows when he would return? For all she knew, she might not see him again. It had been such an ordinary morning. Who knew something like this would happen?

"Haruki...please...be safe." Muttering a final prayer, the worried mother collapsed onto the sofa, her face streaked with tears.

********

Meiyu Suzuki grabbed onto her pillow as she took in the news. Her crush...just when she finally took the courage to confess, just when they might be together at last...

"Why must fate be so cruel?" She asked, her lips trembling.

His kind face when he helped out others, his serious posture as he put in his best effort when it comes to archery, his bright smile, his unruly hair...all these images flashed in Meiyu Suzuki's mind almost instantaneously. Now, she might not see them again...

Switching off the television, thinking she had enough news for the day, she crawled up to her room lifelessly before throwing herself onto her futon, the muffled cries betrayed by the stain forming on her pillow.

********

It took a few moments to realise his bag was gone from his hands.

And that he was free-falling.

Panic had seized Haruki when he found out he was covered in pitch black darkness. Then he felt the sensation of falling. Trying desperately to slow his fall, or to protect himself against the impact if he were to land, he grabbed empty air only to realise his school bag was not in his grasp.

As he fell, Haruki made out a distinct line of separation. His eyes were adjusting to the darkness, and he could see that he was falling from a dark sky with stars twinkling in clusters. Coupled with the red and yellow moons hanging in the sky, it was a breathtaking scene.

He could have enjoyed it, if he was not falling from the sky.

Quick-witted as he was, Haruki Yamata knew, this was not his homeland. Or Earth, for that matter. He knew Earth did not have two moons, and it was not red or yellow either.

Below, he could make out a forest, with small light sources at a distance, lighting up infrastructures, presumably houses. With luck, if Haruki could survive this fall, he could get to that village or town and get some help. He could only hope they understood him.

Some fantasy stories he had read flashed through his mind, but they were quickly put to the back of his brain as he saw he imminent danger he was about to face.

Haruki braced himself as he finally tore through the canopy. Leaves rustled around him and branches tore at his clothes, but other than a few scratches here and there, and a painful butt which he landed on heavily, he was pretty much unharmed. Surprised that he was alive, Haruki stood up.