LUCA
I woke up with a gasp, my hand clutching onto my chest as though my heart might escape. Breathes came in shallow and my skin tingled with a strange, unfamiliar heat. "The dream..." my voice was barely in a whisper as I frowned closing my eyes as if to recapture the remnants. It had been so vivid, too real.
I sat up and rubbed my face grumbling under my breath with a pout "of all times to wake up..." I glanced down at my hand, the silver ring glinted under the morning light, looking far too innocent while my fingers brushed over its smooth surface.
A shiver ran down my spine, it wasn't just a cold metal that I picked in an odd place, it's like I could feel it hum alive. "Of course who throws away a ring like that something fishy...." before I could dwell more on it, the sound of the clock pulled me back to reality, time to head to school.
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Today the day carried it's usual mundanity, but... "I feel so... different" I smirked to myself looking around myself it was my usual baggy clothes and my specs nothing different from me but inside am bustling, like confidence running through me "wow" it feels too good if I admit, my mood is excitement and happy if I add that. I just feel refreshed from morning and the day is going well....until it didn't.
"Sam" I groaned rolling my eyes when I passed through the hallway, him and his 'minions' had cornered another victim. The jeering, the mocking laughter a very familiar scene one I had often been a star of.
Looking at the scene something in me surged. I could feel it, something new, something dangerous. "Enough!" I heard myself say as the word sliced through air like a blade 'what the hell am getting myself in much deep trouble' my inner conflicts rose but glad didn't show on my face. Silence fell and heads turned. The bullies stared at me dumbfounded and Sam smirking stepping closer to me 'save me' I internally shouted.
"What did you say?" "I said enough!" I repeated, my voice steady, hands tightening into a fist 'where is this coming from?'. A laugh rose from him "look who's growing a spine".
The energy from the dream, no from the ring coursed through me, my heart thundered but I didn't look away. For once...fear didn't hold me in place "pick on someone else" it was over in a flash, no fists, no real fight, just my voice and their confusion. After the staring competition they walked away with Sam giving me looks that said 'it was not over' but I remained standing, pulse loud in my ears and my hands trembled 'what was happening to me' before my knees could give up Hope was immediately beside me with amusement in his brown orbs "hold me, am about to fall" I mumbled weakly and without questions he supported me "fucking hell, what was that?" he asked with this proud smile on him making him shine brighter than the sun "I almost got a heart attack" I admit finally able to stand up "I know, must have took you so much courage that it drained all your energy, bro you ate that up" Hope couldn't stop with the praises, what he didn't know am just as surprised as him.
As I was getting back my composure the boy from earlier walked to us with a smile on him "thank you so much, you saved me. They wouldn't stop pestering me I owe you" he says almost jumping up and down making me smile "I understand your situation am glad I could help" "thank you again" with that he walks away and we take the route to our morning class as Hope wont stop praising me, I guess this isn't bad after all...
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The rest of the day was different, it was pleasant and peaceful no more Sam in my way, I felt lighter and more alive. I spent the afternoon with Hope our banter full of laughter "why don't you come over to my place on the weekend, that way we get the assignment done faster?" never would I have thought so comfortable to bring someone over it felt so...not bad.
"Finally letting me in the lair huh?" Hope teased though his eyes shone with guinea excitement "of course I will" I wrote down my address and he assured he would be there which made me smile "speaking of which, I don't have your phone number" he says taking his phone out and waiting for me to read the number "uh...." this is so awkward, he catches on quickly "wait....don't tell me you don't have a phone?" he asks jokingly as he laughs but I only look down and he realized I was not joking "oh my God" he was so surprised "ok ok, no worries good thing I wrote the address will catch up later so bye" we hug something that we just naturally do and he disappears off to the other side of the school as I take my route.
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The sun had dipped low on the horizon as I walked- no skipped home like a little excited kid as the breeze tugged on my clothes. I kicked stray pebbles as my mind drifted off to the ring and the strength that I had felt making me smile. I hadn't even realized how the streets grew quieter and darker and suddenly a figure emerged from the gloom standing perfectly still beneath the crooked street lamp, I was surprised that I let out an embarrassed yelp almost falling face flat on the ground.
He was cloaked in the shadows face hidden, I stood where I was heartbeat quickening and then the figure spoke after looking over me mostly my hand.
"when the moon reflects, The ripple shall follow"
The voice was neither male nor female, it seemed to echo from nowhere and everywhere at once. Before I could respond to my confusion, a breeze stirred and the figure was gone...
"What the....."