Phoenix (Disconnected)

VIII-XXVI

Nhinx

It's odd, very odd...I can't feel anymore splashing, or the strong current that pins me to the log, nor the feeling of floating.

I shift, touching my head with my left hand, keeping my eyes close like I woke up from a good sleep, and refuses to go to school.

I slowly sit down. "Ah!" I winced when a jolt of pain on my back and made me open my eyes abruptly. I touched my back and hissed.

I remembered to be floatin–that's right! Sir Elliot and Nicole!

I looked ahead to see that I'm in an unfamiliar place, with cricket-like sound and the stream. The water is clear and glistening, basking in the moonlight, unusually bright in my point of view.

Maybe it's the water so I rubbed my eyes to get rid of it, but when I looked again, it's still the same! I tried to look around, and it is still bright! Not bright as day but bright as the moon...I can't explain further but I can say that it became more vivid and beautiful.

I mentally slapped myself. Now is not the time to be amazed! I must find Sir Elliot and Nicole! There's got to be a civilization somewhere.

I tried to stand up, ignoring the pain in my back. Successfully stand up, what now?

I heard a rustling somewhere around me. I reached a pebble from the stream, ignoring the pain seeped through my back, throw it, as hard as I can, to the bush not far from me.

The pebble hit the bush with a loud thud. I walk towards the bush to check what is it, and what made it sound like that.

I parted the leaves to see nothing, just the pebble I threw buried in the soil like a meteor in a crater.

"D-Did I do that?" I asked myself. I heard a rustling noise again and this time it is accompanied by a glow of light.

People! I got to go see them! But what if they're the robed people? Might as well be prepared.

I scoot behind the bushes as I wait for them to get close. Two hooded strangers dressed in cloaks, one carrying a light emitter that looks like...a scroll!

A scroll is what we call our identity inside Phoenix, it looks like two separate rounded edge squares, thin, and when you pull them apart, it releases a holographic screen that shows icons of your handbook, identification, maps, and many more, including the currency which is converted to digital for less carrying.

But enough about that knowledge, why does that person have a scroll?

I flinched when both of them stopped and direct the light at my place. I quickly slide behind the tree and put my hands on my mouth because of the pain I felt in my back.

It was a painful minute and a half when the light vanished and so is the footsteps. I exhaled in relief and to lessen my pain.

I peeked once again before standing up. Something grabbed my arms and I turn my head to see the hooded person. I was about to punch one of the hooded strangers when he holds out his free hand end remove the hood.

"It's me!" He exclaimed. "Trevor!" I'm very much happy to see him! "Yes, now put down your fist, you wouldn't want to punch yourself do you?" He lets me go and pushes my hand down gently.

"Sorry, I-I thought you were–" Trevor shook his head and looked at the other hooded stranger. "I told  you she's here."

The person in the hood shakes their head and also pulled their hood off, to my surprise, the stranger, a man who looks like in his twenties, has undeniable purple hair and unmistakeable warm brown eyes.