FAITH

Prologue and Chapter 1

PROLOGUE

TRIGGER WARNING: SUICIDE, DEPRESSION,

California, San Diego

I was alone in my room, standing on a chair with my hands gripping on a noose trying to fit my neck through the gap until I heard a sound like a thump in the next room. I gathered the courage to investigate it – the bathroom, hoping it wasn’t some sort of killer or robber trying to steal from me. Inhaling and exhaling before progressing to the door, my hand raised towards the knob, then, I turned it and looked in the room. Too dark. I averted my gaze to the switch, flicking it on clearing the darkness. To my avail, an amorphous body stood in the centre of the room, with its back turned not emoting a single action, then, it emitted a shockwave knocking me flat against my back and slamming the door. I stood up once again, appearing in a sort of dimension of some kind, it was like my own living room but animated with life.

“You might be wondering, why is this happening?” Instead of the bizarre thing earlier, I saw a magnificent version of myself talking to me. She had thick dark eyebrows, gorgeous round eyes, youthful skin, not a single wrinkle etched on her. She looked like she was in her early teens, not much trace of premature fatty tissues. I held a strong disbelieve this was a dream, I’d close my eyes and face outwards.

“Are you serious right now? I’m here to enlighten you,” Faith sighed deeply. “With what? I was going to be in a better place…” I replied, turning to look at her.

“With my knowledge you can change.” Faith responds to me.

“Let me guess, you’re going to train me, give me superpowers of my own, and then I carry on huge responsibilities?” I folded my arms under my flat chest, going on with the probabilities of what else could happen. 

“No… not like that.” She shook her head, so, what was she going to share with me? Suddenly, a sharp headache forced me backward the sight of myself shrinking in the distance. My realization hits me when I open my eyes, analysing my surroundings quickly before the alarm clock’s ringing occurred. 

I extended a hand towards the alarm clock, turning it south before switching it off. 8:00am. I was in this menial loop of my agenda until bright letters appeared infront of me, rearranging each other and told me what to do. Fill the sink with ice and dunk your head in it for a minute. I scurried towards the fridge and opened it, grabbing a bag of ice before heading to the bathroom to commit to the act. After doing so, I noticed the wrinkles were no longer apparent “Woah!” I say surprised.

Though the acne problem, I hated, looking down to the right. A lemon-scented bar of soap sat, I opened the sink and washed my face beforehand, rubbing my hands against the soap as white foamy substances engulfed my hands. Gently grazing upon my own face and certain spots, then I washed my face without scathing the acne. I outstretched an arm towards my left side, touching something wool-ish, drying my face up in gentle manners. Drink 2 liters of water at 12 pm, no exceptions. I looked at myself in the mirror, the acne has been greatly shrunken. Avoid the sun. Avoid doing facial expressions. 10 hours of sleep. Half portions of food. I’m starting to believe whatever this other version of myself said.

Chapter 1

Two months later; summer’s over.

I minded my own business, walking down the hallway as I noticed the cheerleader squad, something about them – the aging effect is getting to them. The eye bags and visible frown lines. They were two years older than me, explains that.The thick make-up or an attempt to look pretty looked conspicuously filtered, one of them directed their gaze at me and was utterly surprised.

“Faith?” Britney approached me first.

“What?” I gave this soul-piercing gaze to her.

“I… I’m just stunned, you look incredibly young!” Britney was totally impressed. While a group of three girls or the cheerleaders . Elaine and Jordan the gay couple. Gina the leader. All observed the scene.

“Are you using any make up at all?” Jordan walks up to us and raised a question.

"I’m not? Make-up’s overrated.” I shook my head.

“Can you tell us your secret?” Elaine asked me.

“Look up the dictionary for secret.” I dismissed their presence before heading to class. I noticed that I managed to catch the eyes of some highschool jocks, and some nerds. Subject after subject, time grows longer before recess was allowed. I stood up and shuffled away, bumping into Han, the overweight, poor-postured, nerd. His books fell to the ground, I instinctively helped him collect his things and pass it to him. 

“I’m Han.” He introduced himself to me.

“You already know me, Han, it’s me. Faith.” I corrected the male, he was surprised and raised his brows at me.

“Woah! You’re so hot!” He replied. Silently cringing at the other’s statement.

“Okay.” I had to pretend that actually meant something to me. As we left the room to assume our free time, Han starts a conversation for both of us.

 “How are you?” The question sounded simple, but my life’s sort of changed ever since I met that identical version of myself.

“Guess I’m good.” I’ve learned how to defend myself and utilize the brain’s abilities.

“I’ve been doing lotsa things, recently I proposed my AI programming to Welsh Tech Industry and they accepted it!” Han pulled out his phone frrom his pocket showing me his work. An impressive AI it seems.

“Who is she?” The AI raised a question.

“Self-aware too? Not bad. Not bad.” I wasn’t expecting the AI to do the talking without external influence.

“I’m aware.” It replied to me. On their way to the canteen, there were some stink-eyes at his direction, because he was with the prettiest girl in campus. The jocks. Han pushed the heavy door for me. I walked right by him -- fart. His eyes turned crimson, feeling watery, he inhales deeply. 

“Dude, who does that?” I told him, holding an expression of disbelief.

“It’s not so bad.” He said tightly. I looked at him, silently before forgetting what awkwardness happened between us. As we moved along to the canteen line it already shrunken as we got there. Some others offered to cut in line, raising my hand up humbly to decline the offer. The jocks held cream-pies in hand, waiting for the right time, but with me in the way they hesitated. Typical horny jocks. The Cougars or the cheerleader squad approached the jocks, whispering something to them, it’s definitely something horrible. The jocks were approximately seven people. Chad, a rude teen but with the build of a body builder. Iko. Asian. Gina's boyfriend. Joseph an endomorph bodybuilder approxmately 5'8 in a half. Hefty is a spanish decent his build is lean muscle. Will was about 5'9 but had the biggest muscled body unlike the other jocks. Nelson was like a nerd and jock merged in one. These jocks and cheerleaders combined were called the Cougars.

“Hey, Faith, you ever get worried about them?” Han felt uncomfortable after looking at that group.

“Hmm… I don’t know if I should?” As of right now, I don’t really give a f**k.

“A penny!” I bend on my knees picking up the item of interest before witnessing Han’s face get slapped with pie. The canteen was filled with overjoyed laughter, except me, I was bullied by the same people. I turned my gaze towards them, sharply glaring at their direction. My friend ran out, humiliated, most likely the bathroom. The cougars approached me as they smirked pompously at me.

“Well, well, looks like your loser friend’s out of the way. You can join us cool people, then?” Gina extended her hand towards me.

“My hand’s too tired.” I casually went off after my friend, ignoring the incredible amounts of laughter still going on. As I stopped at the bathroom for males, I waited right next to it. “Han.” I break the silence.

“What do you want?” Han’s voice sounded frail like broken glass left in shards.

“To support you. I’ve been bullied by the same people too.” I responded to him. “Really?” He didn’t know, honestly. I checked the time, it’s five minutes away from 12 oclock. “Be right back.” I rushed off to my locker, the code being a six-digit number. I grabbed two liters of water from my locker and rushed back to the male’s bathroom, the door swung open by Han. He seemed a little happier, that’s good news.

“What’s with the water?” He pointed at the rather large water bottle. “It’s a habit.” Something I’ll always keep doing.

“Hey, Faith, how about we cut class instead?” Han asked courteously.

“What if I screw up on a quiz and perfect attendance is the only way to make up for it?” I replied to him. “I’ll let you copy me.” He reassured me. “

Listen, having a certificate of perfect attendance increases my self-esteem.” I responded to him. “Okay…” He lets out a sigh. 

“Good.” I whipped to the opposite side, heading to my locker and spotted some jocks there.

“Hey there, hot stuff.” A cocky guy approached me, Joseph, his hand extended towards me. I kick him to the groin, then pulled his frontside wrist, then place my hand onto his underside wrist , pushing his underside wrist downwards dropping him to the ground.

“You wretch!” Chad rushed towards me like a football player, I get in the same position but I grabbed his inner leg joints pulling them upwards dropping him to the floor, then, stomping his mug. The next guy, Nelson, pulled out a knife, charging towards me with it raised upwards then I front kicked him, then, grabbed his underside wrist then kept it upwards whilst my freehand grabbed his opposite shoulder my right leg swept his heel flooring him. I pulled his arm into an armbar – snap! I get up disarming him, throwing it towards one of the remainder jocks’ shoulder, pinning him to a locker. Only two remain active to fight, Will and Iko, Will charged towards me, then I grabbed both of his shoulders and swivel him throwing his momentum to the wall behind.

He takes impact to a wall, the last one or Iko charges at me throwing a sidekick but I raised both forearms to the side countering the attack. He does the same attack again, then grabbed his ankle with an arm, his shoulder then I kicked his other ankle throwing him off balance. I threw as many punches as I wanted to. Hefty was quivering in fear as he leaned against a row of lockers peed his pants begging for mercy. I approached him attempting to unnerve him but the male fainted from fear. I would resume the habit of drinking two liters of water within this hour. The cougar squad flitted in the scene a startling discovery of the jocks beaten by a single girl. This was quite a sight for other students as well, the jocks carried on, bruised and jacked up off to the clinic they go. 

“You’re a monster!” Gina shrieked in fear.

“Reeeeeeeeaaaaaaallllyyyyy?” I gave an expression of disbelief, . The Cougar squad flinches back at the aura I give off. “Do you know how many times you’ve bullied me?” I threw daggers at Gina, the lass rattled in fear of me.

“Y-yes.” Gina says weakly, hanging her head.

“Don’t bully anybody else. That clear?” I didn’t want a damn apology from them, but if they want to get a beating – given reason will be ought to. 

“Woah.” Han saw the whole thing from a distance.

--

“Faith! Get your sorry butt in here this instant!” Mother's anger boils.

Of course. I’d never get out scot-free from my parents, the jocks must’ve told the nurse about it. I descended the stairs straight to where my parents were, its one of the jocks and their parents. I came to the living room and sat down next to my extremely muscular mother, and my slender father.

“Listen here, young lady, you antagonized my son!” She means Chad.

I know evil intent when I see it, i***t. 

“They’re friends with the people that bullied me for a long time, lady.” I explained on my side, looking down my fingernails.

 “Look at what you did to him!” My mother pointed with her beefy arm towards the male. I looked at the male silently. 

“You think you’re funny, don’t you?” The jock’s mother stood up, holding up a taser as electricitiy spewed from the tips.

“Calm your damn titties!” My mother stood up, defending me.

“Okay.” The jock’s mother sat back down on the couch. 

“My daughter did what she could in any situation, defend herself. Considering your actions mean one thing – you twisted the story up.” My mother continued on as my dad agreed with her.

My parents have names. My mom's name is Nara. My dad is Howie.

“Either you leave our house or my daughter and I can watch a new WWE episode.” Howie twists his threat to the woman, the two left the zone right after the threat.

“Sorry, dear, we thought you attacked the fella but it turns out they’re slick as egg sucking snakes!” My mom patted my shoulder.

 “But considering what I heard from the principle, you don’t mind joining your mom in a wrestling event?” Nara whispered to me, but it would seem that father’s gaze meets mine. He shook his head, because his wife really loved the idea of Faith becoming a pro-wrestler like herself. Nara faced her lover, chest and muscles tightened to show off. Howie’s cheeks turned to a deep shade of red, then Nara looked downwards at me smirking. A knock on the door alerts the three of them, Howie sinks a hand into the couch pulling out a 9mm handgun whilst Nara went to the kitchen taking out a remarkably long and elegant axe behind the fridge. I sashayed towards the door, putting a hand on the knob and turned it. I stand at the edge of the doorway keeping an eye on Han.

“INTRUDER!” Nara appeared behind me, scaring the crap out of the unluckiest person infront of me. Han.

“Don’t kill me!” Han pleaded for mercy under Ma’s heel.

“State your business for being here!” Of course, I didn’t want to be boring so I let this continue while I lean on the edge of the doorway watching.

“I just wanted to visit a friend, Faith, that’s all!” Han’s voice cracked as his body rattled helplessly. 

“Waitaminnit. You’re friends? Why didn’t you say so?” Nara turned to me, her expression softens.

“I’m not that lame, mom.” I shrugged my shoulders establishing a firm gaze at her. “What’s your name, son?” Nara raised a brow at his direction, curious to know.

“My name’s Han White, ma’am.” Han answered confidently. 

“Well, you can call me Nara. Come on in.” Nara’s tone changed, gesturing the male to come in the premises.

“I thought I was going to die!” Han conjures the strength to come in. I let Han through the doorway, waiting for him to pass by me, completely locking the front door afterwards. The interior of our home surprised Han, it looked rather normal but the thing in Nara’s hands made him think where she got it from.

I led him to the living room to introduce him to my parents. “I was expecting your dad to be buff.” Han whispered to me. “He is, it’s just, he’s vegan.” I corrected Han, well, the more you know.

“What about you?” Han whispered to me.

“The same.” I replied and walked towards the couch, sitting next to my dad as Han took a seat on the sofa. “Han’s a friend of Faith, Howie.” Nara explained for the male.

“It’s a pleasure to meet a friend of my daughter.” Howie extended his hand towards the male, exuding nonchalance.

“Howie.”

“Han.” 

Men can easily get along with each other. “How do you guys do it?” Nara raised a brow at him. 

“It’s just natural.”

As the trio held a long conversation with one another, I stood up and went to the kitchen, stomach urging for some peanut butter. I scoured the pantry for a loaf of sliced bread and a peanut butter jar, soon as I untie the loaf of sliced bread I grabbed three slices of bread and turned the lid of peanut butter jar. I spun on a heel, eyes fixed on the toaster only a few inches away. I extended two loaves of bread to it, gently dropping it into the gaps, then, pushed the toaster’s button downwards – toasting the bread. The third bread already placed on a small round plate, peanut butter covering its front side. I folded the slice of bread and brought it to my mouth, masticating the substances into mush. Three minutes of waiting for the bread to pop out of the toaster – so it does! I’d wait for an extra two minutes to let it cool down, it’s kinda too hot to touch right now. After doing so, I noticed on two sides blackened sides, casually I rubbed the same sides on each other whittling the darkened sides of the bread before making two more peanut butter sandwiches. I avert my gaze from my food, eyeing something as I’d expect, Han and ma are arm wrestling each other. The thumbs next to each other, fingers prodding against each other’s hands, not that I was too interested because mom had decked heavy duty trucks before, it’s just the outcome seems too obvious for me to take interest. I almost wonder, whatever happened to that supernatural version of me? Bah, I shouldn’t worry about something like that. I’ve got my own life to take care of. I walked into the living roomwhilst holding my plate of peanut butter to chest-level, examining behind the sofa.

“Your friend’s a real chatterbox.” Howie says to me. 

“He told us about his work, AI programming, his work is pretty damn impressive, hun!” My dad went on about it.

“He seems pretty impassioned about joining an organization, I’ve seen it too. It has a mind of its own. Though, you ever think of the world being overrun by machines?” I replied after swallowing a chunk of bread.

“Nah, I imagine the world being swallowed by the ocean.” Clever point. Clever point Han.

“Come on!” Nara shouted at Han.

“Can’t move it. What do you bench?!” Han used all of his body weight but nothing worked. “Honey, I’ve decked heavy-duty trucks.”

“That’s terrifying!” He discontinued the arm-wrestling, messaging his own arm, he was thankful she didn’t finish it off. “Thank god, thank god, thank god, thank god,” Han uttered lowly.

Lame. He didn’t want to overstay his welcome, he bade us farewell before leaving through the doorway.

I went upstairs to mind my own business, my parents doing their thing such as watching Netflix together. I entered my room, stopping in the doorway and looked directly at my personal desk. I’ve drawn pictures of my duplicate, theorizing about her, been pretty busy since that day. I shut the door behind me, looking underneath my bed for anything new, nothing, but something hiding in camouflage hides in the room.

Four of these hostiles communicated telepathically to each other. She’s still alive? Whatever. We must finish the job. Could be an innocent bystander?

I will not let her live any longer!

These assassins they seem but rather rational about this approach but one of them thought otherwise. The footsteps slow and methodical, the weapon inconceivable to the eye. Rethink, brother! The other assassins didn’t want to make a mistake but one of their brothers were being ignorant. I continued towards my desk, unaware of the assassin stalking me. Dual Dragon Chef knives in hand, he buried both of the knives deep into my backside. He expected his victim to fall dead right away, but he was shocked.

“I was right!” He exclaimed.

I threw a sideways elbow strike to his mug, instinctively targeting that voice.

“The hell.”

I wasn’t expecting to get attacked, but I can manage this. I’m fine. I pulled out one of the knives in my back, my blood coated it, if I couldn’t see where my attackers are, I’d have to paint them with my own blood. I identified the attackers, their hands trailing to their weapons but I quickly threw both of the knives at their wrists. Disarmed. Only two weakened. The two unarmed assassins charged at me, the first thrust his knife at me, I slapped his wrist while turning my weight right. Then the next swung his knife from the left, then, the other one thrusted again. I bring my palm downwards on his arm close to the wrist, then, swerving his hand slightly to the side and transitioned places with him, pulling him forward and ducking as I raised my forearm hitting his thigh as he was thrown over my backside. He hits the floor hard, that knock alerted my parents.

The next assassin threw a front kick but I raised my knee countering the attack, then front kicked him to his abdomen sending him backwards. One of the injured assassins decided to help his brothers, he rushed towards me and threw a psycho kick tagging me. I skidded back, taking the blow without bending on my knees. Another charges at her, deciding to go unarmed, he threw a right hook, I evaded and threw a short jab to his stomach, then, a right hook across his jaw. The other injured one comes towards my direction, throwing a helicopter kick across my jaw. Damn. I shuffled backward keeping my stamina at its peak to avert weakness. I noticed a sort of sigil placed on my window and front door. Magic? I don’t have time to think about that now.

And a second assassin comes at me, throwing a straight jab, snapped me out of that trance. I react to the second attack, putting my hand on his forearm lowering the fist, then I straight jabbed him to the mug, then, I pirouetted in on him and used my unoccupied hand to the frontside of his wrist and raised it upwards, then, slid my foot to his heel, pulling my foot to drop the male to the ground. The two kickers from earlier, throw a turning spinning roundhouse in unison, I spun back putting a gap in that reach. I threw a front kick to the assassin on my right, targeting his thigh to prevent him from kicking but the one on my left threw a guyver kick. And let me tell ya. It’s exactly like Scott Adkin’s guyver kick.

I stood stunned for a moment then threw a knee strike to whoever would come close to me, knocking down another assassin to his back. Only two remain, the two injured ones. The two remaining assassins, the kickers, again. The one at my left threw a flying drop kick sending me flat on my backside, I backroll gathering my strength again. I get up but one of them put me in a judo choke hold from behind, the other assassin stood infront of me, iron brass knuckles on both hands. I took four blows to the mug, then quickly punching the thigh of the person behind me, then shifted my head to the side to evade the next blow. I then, dropkicked the assassin infront of me, dropping him forward on his back. Then a hand fell on my shoulder, I react and place both hands on the frontside and underside of their wrist, pirouetting around them then sideways elbow striking them to the mug. Then, pirouetted in on them again keeping hands on it, but both of us placed our hands on each others’ shoulders. Exchanging curving knee strikes to each others’ hips, then I attempted to sweep kick him but he switches places with me by jumping over the sweep kick. Then I headbutted him, and pulled him by his collar and dropped on my backside, placing a foot against his chest then threw him over to the side.

Soon as my parents entered the room, I was already in the bathroom mending my own wounds.

The obscenities were taken care of swiftly. All I had to do was look at the mirror for a second before doing it without its reflection. There was no trace of the mysterious attackers, nor the sigils. “Hey, hon, you all right?” Nara approached the bathroom door but it was locked even though she could easily break through it, she didn’t try to break it.

“A bunch of my books fell so I had to fix it.” My parents taught me vocabulary to reduce the cussing behaviour. Right. They don’t know what actually happened, I didn’t want them to worry, plus I had taken care of the situation. Later that evening, a few knocks on my dorm, my mom tried to ask me if I was hungry at all.

“I’m not feeling hungry, mom,” I informed her then I turned my gaze to what was infront of me. The image of my duplicate, what did I have to do with her life? Does somebody else know about this? Because I certainly deserve the truth.

I turned on the tv, the news in particular, maybe something news related could enlighten my situation. Nothing in particular, other than the Coronavirus, but I’ll watch anyway. I sat on the edge of my bed, memorizing every word uttered by the speaker, including the number of coronavirus victims. In nearby Milan the cathedral that’s withstood 500 years has been closed off. Schools and Universities have been shutoff, and supermarkets -- panic is spreading faster than the virus. Mark Lowe in BBC news northern Italy. I stood up and walked backward to my desk, knowing its exact location, then, I swiftly took a picture of my duplicate. Then resumed to the television, right exactly after the news was done with its information sharing, the channel switches to a cartoon channel. I looked to west at my clock, counting down how many hours I have to sleep. I better hit the hay. I need 10 hours of sleep.