In Noctem (NaNoWriMo2020)

1. The Fool

Jason

Buckle up boys and girls. I am going to tell you a story that happened some time ago which seems like it's impossible but actually not. See, the thing is, I don't really believe in the supernatural and crap like that. I mean, I am engrossed to learn about mythologies, folktales, religions, and other what not because I thought that they were only stories. And I love stories. And that stories were fun. You can twist it up and change things. What I soon learned is that there is always a reality hidden within these tales.

Funny thing is, what is called cliché in these stories are actually goddamn terrifying when you experience it in real life. Who would've thought that falling into a hole like my girl Alice can transport you into another world? Just kidding. I didn't fall in a hole... but you get the idea. I hope.

All these stories that seem to be so formulaic, all these stories that might seem impossible and repetitive, and all these tales of wonders that you didn't expect to actually happen in our world are the ones that have the highest probability of occurring. Narnia in your wardrobe? Possible. A school of magic? Possible. A sparkling vampire at school? Hell yeah, I would be thrilled if that came true.

So this story happened during the fall. What do you think is the month? Yeah right, October. When? You got it right again, during the semestral break! Sometimes I wonder why all stories involving the unknown always have to fall during the month of Halloween. It's becoming boring and look, a bloody hell of a mystery is better in the winter – when all the people are celebrating Christmas and are rejoicing the said birth of a savior.

Living in the Philippines, it is no secret that people are scared of witches. People will always warn that you must protect yourself from these beings. They often separate them with the usual mortals when in fact, witches are very much like every other person you can see.

Meet Kacy. My enemy from school which liked to torment me. Keyword: liked. Past tense. We basically share nothing in common. Add the fact that she is a mean girl, who I am to be socializing with her? Bubbly personality, cute doe eyes, round glasses, crap I hate all of those. She even claims to be a witch as if magic was real. You would see her holding a bunch of cards for fortune telling at lunch. These are only guides¸ she would often say to us. I was wrong for judging her. The realm of magic is very real and this story will only narrate my experience from being a non-believer to being a practitioner myself.

It was the last day of the first semester and our class was hanging out under the shades of a nearby tree. I am not exactly sure what it was but I guess it was a mango tree.

"Jason, do you want to get your cards read?" Kacy jumped at me.

"Yeah sure. As if those are real," I replied mocking her.

"Oh come on, don't be such a killjoy. Everyone in our class have already experienced being read," she persuaded me further.

"You know I don't believe in those. What's the point then?"

"Do it because it's fun! You don't need to always put meaning on things. Sometimes you just need to enjoy and be one with the natural flow of life," Kacy tugged my elbow.

"Leave Jason alone," Riana came near me and sat down. "He can do things if he wants to. You don't have to force him."

Riana. Another mean girl. But unlike Kacy, she was known for being dark and mysterious. Above all, she was my friend. We vibe together a lot because she was interested on the things that I liked. Her curly black hair matched perfectly with her brown skin tone which is the total opposite of the girl in front of us. Kacy flipped her bubblegum pink hair and rolled her eyes.

"Sure, Riana," she smirked.

Rinna flipped her the bird. Kacy's eyes widened, stomping her feet in response and flew back to her flock.