The Zero Curse

Prologue

Prequel

"Papa, are there really other realms besides ours?" I asked my father while he was looking up the night sky.

The corners of his lips lifted while the moonlight beamed on his eyes, "Of course, Zero. Up there, you will see the heavens created by Lucifer. Below is the hell created by Sinclair. In the moon, there is also a realm for werewolves, who are created by Alpha. In the sun, there lies the people of magic, who are created by Red. And humankind is created by us."

"Us? Kasama po ako?" maliit kong tanong.

Nilingon ako ni Papa, at ginulo ang buhok ko, "Yes, of course, my child."

"Kung ganoon... bakit walang kapangyarihan ang mga tao? Bakit po tayo, at ang mga iba pa ay mayroon?" Pinakita ko pa sa kaniya ang mists ng ice sa palibot ng kamay ko.

Hinawakan naman niya 'yon bago lumuhod para mapantayan ako. Papa carressed my cheeks, and smiled.

"They have abilities, Zero, but only a few can unlock it," tugon ni Papa. Napataas-kilay ako, at napanguso pa.

Unlock?

Papa chuckled, and opened my palm. Then, he drew something in my hand using his water powers. I realized that it was a door!

"Think of this door as the mind of mortals, Zero."

"Okay." I nodded.

Sunod namang nangyari ay nabuksan ang pinto. Napangiwi nalang ako, dahil... malamang magbubukas 'yon! Pinto ih!

"Only a few mortals can open this door. Only those who can be on with their subconscious thoughts can do this."

"Ano po, Pa? Sub con sus?"

"S-u-b-c-o-n-s-c-i-o-u-s. Subconscious is where your beliefs, memories, and skills are stored. Ito rin ang nagpapagana sa mga panaginip natin, at sa mga naiisip natin. Kunwari bigla kang napa-utot, subconscious 'yon."

"Ano ba 'yan, Papa! Pati ba naman utot!" I scrunched my nose, and glared at him. Tumawa naman siya, at halos magpalamon na sa lupa.

"Hindi ko alam kung paano ko pa i-eexplain sa'yo, Anak."

"Psh," singhal ko. Binalewala ko nalang 'yong utot na example ni Papa kasi feeling ko nauutot din ako. Napaisip ako kung paano kapag may naka-unlock ng abilities, at gamitin ito laban sa mga mortal na hindi nakakagamit ng abilities?

"Pa, why don't we make a new world for those who have unlocked abilities?" I wondered.

Napatigil naman sa kakatawa si Papa, kaya't napatingin ako. His eyes looked so confused, and then he asked me why.

"I don't think those who have no abilities can blend with those who have."

Papa scoffed, "You're just six, Zero. Bakit mo naman naiisip 'yan?"

"Papa, if people think like a child, they would be envy of those with abilities. They may cause something that could endanger those with abilities. Isa pa, those with abilities might take advantage of their abilities. Hindi po ba, pa?"

"Besides ano naman po kung six palang ako? Psh," dagdag ko.

He looked at me worriedly, and put his hands on my shoulders. "Zero, you're too young to think of things like that."

"Kaysa naman po it's too late, Papa."

"Hm, okay, Zero," he muttered. "Elaborate me that plan of yours. And what if I can't create a new world anymore?"

Napangisi ako. "Then make someone who can create the world!"

Napataas-kilay si Papa, at napaisip. "If I can't make a new world, siya pa kaya?"

"Ba't ba kasi hindi mo kaya, Papa?!"

"Eh, naubos na nga kapangyarihan ko sa pagbuo ng mortal realm!" singhal niya sa'kin.

Hindi naman ako nagpatalo, at tinaasan ko ang boses ko, "E'di gumawa ka ng maraming tao na gagawa ng bagong mundo! Kung hindi kaya ng isa. Ang dali lang naman po gawan ng paraan."

"Huwag mo nga akong tinataasan ng boses!"

"Ok," maliit kong wika, ngunit masama pa rin ang tingin ko sa kaniya. "I just want mortals to live peacefully and fairly. If they live with people with abilities-"

"Peculiars. Peculiars ang itawag mo sa kanila."

"Ha-este, po?"

"P-E-C-U-L-I-A-R-S. Peculiars," pag-uulit ni Papa.

"Peculiars...," I said with a hint of amuse in my lips. "So if mortals live with peculiars, sa tingin ko magiging unfair ang mundo. Hindi po ba, Papa?"

Hindi nagtagal ay ngumiti siya, at ginulo ang buhok ko. "Kahit nakakainis ka, manang-mana ka talaga sa'kin! Napakatalino."

Muntik ko na siyang irapan, ngunit tumango nalang din ako. We continued talking with each other until we finally came up with the concepts, plans, process, and the name of the world.

The Orphic Dimension.

The ten peculiars who will be tasked to create it... I'll see you soon when Papa is done creating all of you, then we'll all be living happily in our dimension!

The Zero Curse
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!