CHAPTER 2 - TRUTH AND SACRIFICE
1815 Words
ONE DESTINY, TWO HYBRID OAPHES, A WAR THAT WILL DECIDE THE FATE OF EXISTENCE .
LIGHT BORN TO DEFY DARKNESS, DESTINY BORN TO SAVE TWO REALMS
Chapter 2 – Revealing Identity
“Are you sure Mr. Scott is leaving and some guy named Dave is taking over his subject?” Tesla asked as she walked beside Rachie toward the staff room.
“Yeah, that’s what I heard. Seems he doesn’t want us to know yet,” Rachie replied with a sigh.
“That’s not cool. At least we should get the chance to say goodbye properly. I’m really going to miss him if it’s true.”
“Me too. Super gonna miss him.”
“Let’s hurry before he leaves.”
The two girls rushed through the hallway leading to Mr. Moses’ office. Just as they turned a corner, Betsy and Richard stepped out, blocking their path.
“Well, well, well…” Betsy said with a smirk, her hands tucked into her jacket pockets. “Where exactly are ylou two heading to?”
“That’s none of your business. Get out of our way,” Rachie snapped.
“Oh, we will,” Betsy replied mockingly, “only if you stay away from what we came for. We know you two are Purple Oaphes.”
“You can try whatever you want,” Rachie shot back boldly, “but you’re not laying a finger on him.”
Wow… I really love her confidence, Tesla thought, trying not to smile.
Richard chuckled darkly.
“And I’m sure you two are no match for Wezlerz.”
“f**k you. We aren’t scared of you,” Rachie replied immediately.
“You should be,” Richard said with a grin. “If you value your squeaky little lives.”
Both of them laughed before walking away.
The moment they disappeared around the hallway, Rachie leaned weakly against the wall.
“Oh my gosh… we’re in serious trouble.”
“What trouble?” Tesla asked.
“Didn’t you hear them? They’re Wezlerz!”
“Hey, calm down,” Tesla said, suppressing laughter. “A few seconds ago, you were acting fearless.”
“Huh?! Are you serious right now?” Rachie asked in disbelief.
“Listen, sweetheart,” Tesla continued confidently, “I don’t remember any record in Crimson history where Wezlerz defeated Oaphes. The only advantages they have are their speed and nine lives ability. We’re stronger than—”
“Whatever,” Rachie interrupted. “What about Philip?”
Tesla’s expression changed immediately.
“Let’s go find him.”
Rachie nodded quickly.
“Okay.”
The two girls hurried down the hallway.
¶ ¶ ¶
Today has been weird.
New students. Tesla and Rachie acting suspicious. Juliet missing school.
I just want to get home and sleep.
Those thoughts floated through my mind as I drove home with Pamela seated beside me.
I parked the car inside the garage, and we both stepped out before heading into the house.
The moment I entered the living room, I froze.
Juliet was sitting with my dad, deep in conversation.
“Did you invite her here?” Pamela whispered beside me.
“Nope. I don’t even know how she knows this place,” I whispered back.
“Good afternoon, Dad. Hey, Juli,” I greeted while walking toward the couch.
“Hey. How was school?” Dad asked.
“Stressful,” Pamela answered before I could speak.
“Not fine,” I added.
Pamela headed straight into the kitchen, probably hungry as usual.
I turned toward Dad.
“Can Juliet and I talk outside for a minute?”
Dad nodded silently.
Juliet followed me outside.
The moment we stepped onto the porch, I turned toward her.
“What are you doing here? And why weren’t you in school today?”
“What do you mean what am I doing here?” she asked calmly. “The reason I missed school is the reason I’m here.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s a long story. Let’s go inside. Everyone needs to hear it.”
“Tell me here. We have time.”
“Your dad is waiting inside.”
“I know. But this conversation is between us.”
She sighed softly.
“Your dad has something important to tell you and your sister.”
“Why does this suddenly feel so serious?”
“You just have to trust me.”
She stepped closer to me, gently placing her soft lips against mine.
We kissed quietly for almost a minute before she slowly pulled away.
“We should go back inside.”
We returned to the living room and sat opposite Dad.
Pamela was now sitting on the arm of Dad’s couch, sipping juice from a glass.
Dad held an old dusty book in his hands. The thing looked ancient, like it had survived centuries.
“What’s going on?” I finally asked, breaking the silence.
“A lot, son,” Dad replied quietly.
“What do you mean by ‘a lot’?”
Dad exchanged a glance with Juliet before speaking again.
“It’s time for you to know who you truly are.”
My brows furrowed.
“What am I supposed to be?”
I looked at Juliet.
“Is there another version of me or something?”
“No,” she answered gently. “There’s no other you. You’re simply something beyond human imagination.”
She paused briefly.
“Everyone in this room… is not from this realm.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Pamela asked, dropping her glass onto the nearby table.
Juliet inhaled deeply.
“Okay. Let me explain properly.”
She leaned forward slightly.
“We are supernatural beings from a hidden realm called Crimson. It exists within this city, but it can only be accessed by those connected to its bloodline.”
She looked directly at us.
“And both of you are Oaphes.”
“You’re making my brain hurt,” Pamela muttered. “What exactly is an Oaph?”
“I know this sounds insane,” Juliet continued, “but think about the supernatural movies you watch—vampires, werewolves, witches. Crimson has creatures like those, but far more dangerous.”
She continued explaining.
“There are beings with extraordinary powers. Super speed. Strength. Immortality. Enhanced hearing. Shape-shifting. Magic.”
I sat there completely stunned.
“So… we’re these Oaph things?” Pamela asked slowly.
Juliet nodded.
“Yes. And there are many races in Crimson. The Wezlerz, Chets, Alephs, Whimpos, and many others.”
She unlocked her phone and showed us a picture.
The image displayed a terrifying creature lying lifeless on the ground beside her.
The thing looked horrifying.
And real.
“Jesus Christ…” Pamela whispered. “That thing is actually in this city?”
“Yes,” Juliet replied. “That’s why I missed school today. I killed them.”
“You killed those things?” I asked in disbelief. “How? And why are they after us?”
“They want to eliminate you,” Juliet answered seriously. “You and your sister are Crimson’s only hope.”
Silence filled the room.
I looked at Dad.
He nodded quietly.
Everything suddenly felt unreal.
“f**k… this is crazy.”
Juliet lowered her head.
“I’m sorry I tried to kill you before.”
I turned sharply toward her.
“What?”
“I was sent to kill your family,” she admitted softly, tears forming in her eyes. “Hunters are trained assassins. When they discovered you were still alive, they hired me.”
My breathing became uneven.
“They thought you died years ago,” she continued. “They believed they killed you when you were five and your sister from birth when they attacked your mother.”
Pamela gasped softly.
“But they killed the wrong children,” Juliet finished.
I looked toward Dad again.
He remained silent.
“Your father escaped from Crimson after learning the truth,” Juliet continued. “He risked everything to obtain a spell that would hide your identities and powers.”
She looked directly into my eyes.
“When I finally tracked you down… I couldn’t do it.”
“Why?”
“Because your father once saved my family.”
Her tears rolled freely now.
“I was only three years old when Chets attacked us. Your father protected us. I couldn’t repay kindness with betrayal.”
She smiled sadly.
“And somewhere along the line… I fell in love with you.”
The room became silent again.
“My love,” she whispered, “I promise to protect you with my life.”
Suddenly Dad’s body trembled violently.
“It’s time…” he muttered fearfully.
Pamela and I rushed toward him immediately.
“Time for what?!” I asked.
Juliet’s face turned pale.
“Your father paid a terrible price for the spell that protected you,” she said quietly. “The moment you learned the truth… the spell’s payment became due.”
“No…” I whispered.
Dad grabbed my hand tightly.
“Yo… you must protect humanity…” he struggled to say. “Don’t let them destroy this world…”
Tears rolled down his face.
“Promise me… you and your sister will work together…”
“Dad, no!” Pamela cried, hugging him tightly. “You can’t leave us!”
“Please, Daddy!” I shouted desperately.
Dad suddenly stopped shaking.
For a brief second, relief filled my chest.
Then he smiled weakly.
“I love you both.”
He pointed toward the ancient book.
“Protect it… never let them have it…”
His body suddenly began glowing brightly.
The light became unbearable.
We shut our eyes instinctively.
A few moments later, the light disappeared.
I slowly opened my eyes.
Dad was gone.
Completely gone.
Pamela screamed in agony.
“You b***h!” she yelled at Juliet before charging toward her. “Bring my father back!”
She tried attacking Juliet, but Juliet quickly held her wrist.
“Leaver ytilaer ot reh,” Juliet whispered.
Pamela’s body instantly went limp as she collapsed unconscious.
“What did you do to her?!” I shouted.
“I only made her sleep,” Juliet answered softly. “She’ll be okay.”
“How am I supposed to trust you?!”
She lowered her head again.
“I’m sorry… I never wanted any of this.”
Tears filled her eyes once more.
“I promise I mean no harm.”
I stared at her silently before pulling her gently into my arms.
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “I trust you.”
I held her tightly.
“And I promise nothing will happen to us.”
Then I kissed her softly as the ancient book rested silently on the couch beside us… holding secrets powerful enough to destroy worlds.
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- Writer
