This would be my second kiss.My first kiss was surprisingly with Leila.Yes, it was a mistake and she scolded me immediately after for taking advantage of her lips when she pecked my cheek but who am I to ignore the callings of nature?Ahem, in any case, no-one was able to speak for almost a minute with silence establishing a firm hold on our surrounding.Just as I was about to speak up, I heard footsteps causing me to glance in a certain direction.Isabella seemed to hear it as well as she turned with me, her eyes fixated on a spot not too far away.As I held my breath, wondering if it was the tar monster, the origin of the footsteps revealed itself or should I say… herself.It was Leah, her white hair making for quite a spectacle in the fading night.She had a surprised look on her face as she stared at I and Isabella, a suspicious tint in her eyes.As I met her gaze, the feeling that I had done something wrong came up again and I was left, confused.Leah and I are definitely not a
Today was a new day.It was also the day we’d be challenging the crevice for the first time.I won’t lie.I’m beyond terrified.Dad always said that fear is the worst enemy of man and the most powerful, is the fear of the unknown.I have no idea what’s in that crevice but what I do know is that it’s residual traces is enough to cause goosebumps to break all over my skin.That’s already a bad signs but I can’t give up.The fact that the Dreamer tried to hide the crevice is enough evidence to prove that that’s a weakpoint in this nightmare.That’s our ticket to getting out of here so unless it’s completely impossible, we have to try no matter how scary it is.As I took a deep breath to calm my nerves, I heard a voice outside my tent.“Jerry, it’s time. The others are ready to move.”I opened my eyes and got to my feet before making my way out of the tent.Out there, Richard was already waiting. “I didn’t think you’d be able to rally the others the way you did but I’m glad. I wondered ho
“If we head back, we could fight against the tar monster if it came back… actually this is me being optimistic. For all we know, a more terrifying creature might show up to pick up the next meals for the Dreamer.“What days you that our meager imaginative attempts at fighting back would be able to survive the onslaught of a new monster or maybe of a new and improved tar monster?“Then it kills more of us and then the Dreamer keeps on harvesting energy until it’s strong enough to erase our memories and turn us into real animals that would even consider sacrificing our own in a bid to serve some crazy deity.” I ensured my voice conveyed my true emotions.It sounded like I was talking shit but it definitely wasn’t. These are possible ways the Dreamer could manipulate us into becoming docile creatures waiting for death.I and Isabella had spoken about something like that during our time last night.This wasn’t the time to cover up the truth.No.Lies would only cause them to believe false
After a few more people left, we were left with a round number of 120.Yeah, a total of 50 people had returned to the valley.The looks of despair was something I couldn’t miss.Even with the fear they felt, they still knew that what they were doing was basically the same as suicide.A few days would pass at most before the Dreamer would come for them.Even though I wanted to leave them to their fate, I didn’t think Dad would have done so if he was in my shoes.As long as we can complete this Nightmare on time and destroy the Dreamer… maybe we can save them.Hopefully.“Now that the cowards are gone.” Richard spoke without filter, something I expected from someone that only dealt with people based on the benefits they could give him.“I guess we should begin planning to go?” He turned to me as he asked.With a heavy heart, I nodded gently. “We need to know what’s in there so… we’ll organize a scouting party.”A few cadets crawled away from their positions after hearing the word, scout
The moment the thing’s eye opened, it sent a shiver down my spine.The sight was enough to make my vomit but the best I could do was wretch with discomfort and the others were barely any better in their reactions.It's single eye was the whole portion of the thing’s bulbous body.Red veins lined it and a red pupil stares at us, slowly observing us.My heart palpitated at the sight.What was it?It was clearly an Otherworldly but I still had to ask what it was.Just then it moved.First it looked at me, then moved to Reginald and then to Lincoln and then to Leah and finally rested on Isabella.While it’s gaze was on me, it felt like it was looking through my everything, assessing me.It was enough to send shivers down my spine.Just like that, the silent staring contest continued with no-one daring to move.Well, if we don’t add the tentacles wiggling about like disgusting worms.After almost an eternity passed, obviously an exaggeration, it attacked.It’s tentacles shot towards us, mo
The cadets looked nervous as they walked through the wall of fog.However their clever use of a formation was good enough, if at least to ensure that those that were more likely to be attacked first would be spared a few minutes of respite.As they surveyed their surroundings, they soon laid eyes on the empty husk of the Otherworldly that Reginald, Leah and Isabella had worked together to kill.They were stunned for a brief moment before they realized just what it was.A few gasped in admiration while others couldn’t help but turn to us, awed that we could kill an Otherworldly.Richard obviously noticed their reactions and didn’t miss the opportunity to make a statement. “As you can see, even though we are just cadets, we can still take care of the severely weakened Otherworldly that the Dreamer in it’s post-sealed state could summon.“So there’s no need to fear. We can win.”His speech ended on a high note and even I was moved slightly.Whether it was because of his overflowing chari
(Daryl’s POV)It wasn’t too long ago that I left them.The terror I felt after experiencing the crevice and the wall of fog was too much for me to bare.I could have collapsed mentally if I hadn’t left that place.Yeah, they might call me a coward.A betrayer for not going ahead but who could blame me?Unlike those talented ones, I have nothing.That fog clearly held death for us so why would I leave the comfort of the valley to attempt that crevice?Isn’t that the same as suicide?I might die here but… at least it won’t be painful.I won’t have to scream and shout out in agony.I could just close my eyes and die.Yeah, that’s better than going into that crevice.I hate it.I hate that I have to make such a decision.They might say that as a cadet, I was bound to face Otherworldly but who said I wanted to face them?The only reason I entered the academy was because of my mother.She had made a deal with a certain high ranking member of one of the 12 Great families.After ravishing her
(Daryl’s POV)The fire gutted everything in sight, reducing it to ashes.But strangely enough, it didn’t burn down completely.It was like a visual illusion but it seemed so real.The burning tents and bodies remained in a state where even though it looked like there was nothing more to burn, there was still so much more to burn.A perpetual state of burning.I gripped my shoulders as I shuddered while at the same time taking yet another step back.“Ah!” there was a scream not too far away from me.Based on the high pitch, it was obviously a girl.I expected the terror, after all, not only her but even the others had began to break down at the horrifying sight.However, her next words were what took me out and shook me to my very core.I’ll say this now… I never expected her words and yet even though I didn’t expect it, it felt vaguely familiar to me.“We… they are our fellow cadets!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.I stared in disbelief as I realized that she was right.Why?Be