"NO, NO, NO — STOP!"
"PLEASE STOP! I BEG YOU!"
The young man cried and bellowed for the calamity beasts to stop, but his screams fell on deaf ears. Of course they did. How would mindless creatures driven by nothing but hunger listen to his pleas?
No one came to help him.
Thunder rolled outside, illuminating the room in a flash of bright white. The boy closed his eyes involuntarily and suddenly felt a pang of pain in his stomach... actually it didn't feel like anything at all.
He threw up, but instead of water or bile... what he saw was blood. A lot of blood.
The world grew distant with each passing second, like he was sinking underwater. He forced himself to look down — and saw it. The Calamity Beast's hand was passing clean through his stomach.
Tears fell from his eyes as if a dam had shattered.
M… Mom. Mom! He… lp me!
But she was dead.
The beast opened its jaw — wide, wider, wider still, until it yawned as large as the boy's entire head and slowly lowered it toward him.
"ARGHHHHHHHH—"
"STOP, STOPPPP—!"
Hide's eyes flew open.
He was sitting upright at his desk, chest heaving and shirt soaked through with sweat. For a moment he didn't know where he was... the beast's jaw still floated at the edge of his vision until the fluorescent lights of the classroom dragged him back.
Thirty-something faces had turned to stare at him.
"Haha! That loser fell asleep again."
Laughter broke across the room like a wave.
"Did you hear that scream?" another voice called out from somewhere near the back. "Sounded like he wet his pants."
The laughter doubled. Someone near the window was wiping tears from their eyes. A girl two rows ahead turned away, more out of discomfort than cruelty — but she didn't say anything.
Nobody ever did.
Hide's whole body burned from anger and shame. He had once again fell asleep in the class and that persistent nightmare had once again haunted him.
He gulped hard and gathered the courage. "Shut up, you buck teethed bastard."
The whole class once again burst into laughter, now directed at the slightly large and fat buy with front crooked teeth who had earlier insulted Hide.
The boy's ears turned red like tomatoes and he shot up from his seat. "You—! You worthless piece of—"
"What in the world is going on here!"
The teacher's voice cut through the room like a blade. Mr. Doren had hurled his textbook onto the lecture stand. The class stiffened in their seats. His gaze swept the room and landed on Fuu, who was still standing with fury all over his face.
Then the teacher noticed the watch on Fuu's left wrist.
The tension in his expression eased.
"Fuu." His voice was calm now. "Sit down."
Fuu blinked, surprised at the gentleness, then dropped back into his seat with a sullen huff.
Mr. Doren turned to Hide and said flatly. "You. Out."
Hide's mouth opened. "He was the one who—"
"I don't care." The teacher picked up his book without looking at him again. "You're disrupting my class. Step outside until you can conduct yourself properly."
The room had gone very quiet. Fuu leaned back in his chair with a small smirk. The girl who had turned away earlier was looking at her notebook.
Hide stood slowly and didn't look at anyone. He picked up his bag, walked to the door, and stepped out into the empty corridor without another word.
The door clicked shut behind him.
He stood there for a moment, back against the wall, staring at the ceiling. From inside, he could already hear Mr. Doren's lecture resuming, the class settling back into routine, the whole thing had been forgotten in under thirty seconds.
'Of course.'
He closed his eyes. Pressed the back of his head against the wall and breathed.
He was already at the loosing end when it all started. Fuu was an awakened, how could the teacher favor Hide, who was an un-awakened human.
That was the reality of this world, and it was only right. Of course the Awakened human's were the one's who risked their lives for everyone to stay safe.
Hide stood there silently for the rest of the lecture.
The final bell rang at three, and Hide was at the school gates before most students had even packed their bags.
He leaned against the iron post, bag slung over one shoulder, staring at the road. The sky was overcast, filled with gray clouds, dust and smoke. it was always like this.
"Hide." The word came from behind.
He turned and saw Risa was jogging toward him from the direction of the east block, ponytail swinging and slightly out of breath. She always looked like she'd been worried about him the whole time.
Behind her, hands buried in his jacket pockets and walking at a completely unhurried pace, came Kai.
"What happened?" Risa asked, stopping in front of him. Her eyes searched his face quietly, then she added. "Was it the nightmare?"
Hide looked at her for a moment. Then nodded once.
She exhaled softly. "Same one?"
"Same one."
Kai came to a stop beside her, glancing sideways at Hide and asked after a slight beat. "You eat anything today?"
"I am not hungry." Hide said flatly, removing the silver hair that had come across his face.
"That's not what I asked."
"I'll eat later."
Kai studied him for a second, gave a small nod, and let it go. That was what Hide had always liked about him — he knew when to push and when to step back.
Risa was quiet for a moment, fidgeting slightly with her bag strap, her eyes drifting away from his face and then back. "Hey, um—" She paused. "Today is your birthday, did you want to maybe grab something to eat? Just us." She added a beat too late. "The three of us, I mean."
Hide was already looking past her, down the road which led to the Awakening Station.
"I will see later," he said simply. "I have the awakening test."
He started walking.
Risa watched him go silently. Kai glanced at her from the corner of his eye but said nothing. She adjusted her bag strap and fell into step.
The three of them walked. The streets near the school were loud with students spilling out. Someone kicking a can down the sidewalk, a pair of boys arguing over something on a phone screen.
It all felt distant to Hide today, like he did not belong here.
Today was his 18th birthday and the last chance he would get to awaken. Every human is given a chance at awakening after the age of 16.
There are thee outcomes, either you failed completely. You awaken or in very rare cases nothing happens.
The last case are given three chances at awakening by the government. One at 16, then at 17 and the last one when you turn 18.
Hide was one of those rare cases, but stretched to the extreme. Usually most awaken in their second test, but nothing had happened in Hide's second test as well.
Ten minutes later they reached the corner of the road, where the grey concrete face of the Awakening Station rose over the surrounding buildings like a monument.
It was the Awakening Station responsible for the Area 17... where Hide lived. A blue circular emblem adorned the entrance and read: Awakening Assessment Authority — Public Division.
Kai stopped at the corner. He was also one of the rare cases, but he had awakened last year when he turned 17. And a mage class at that, with a three star talent. That put him in the category of above average Awakeners.
Now he was training for joining an Extermination Agency.
"I have to be at the training." Kai said with a slight smile. "Though I will be sure to come back by Eight. So, Find us... okay."
Hide looked at him and nodded. "I will if I can."
A half-second pause. Then Kai clapped him once on the shoulder and walked away without making a thing of it.
Risa stayed there for a moment... thinking what to say. She had failed to awaken on her first try so she didn't know much. But she did know that it was all really important to Hide.
She opened her mouth, closed it, then simply said, "Good luck, Hide."
He nodded and saw as she turned and followed Kai.
Hide looked at the building in front of him, his heart beating frantically. He was feeling really nervous and Anxious... but it was nothing compared to the hatred and anger he had always felt for Calamity beasts.
He exhaled to calm himself down and then walked Into the building.
This was his last chance, and his first step towards his goal.