Luke Solis: Dawning Star

CHAPTER 2: Unpolluted Sky

I went straight to my demise.

When I reached my classroom, the class was already starting. These professors won’t give us even a small breathing room for the first day of school. They immediately started their class like it’s the middle of the semester.

I sneakily went inside and occupied a sit beside Andras.

“Hey Luke why were you at the hospital? What happened?” asked Andras in a very low voice.

“It’s kind of a long story, so it may take time, and I don’t think ma’am Casey will give us that time.” I replied as I glanced to the professor.

I wanted to tell him everything right off the bat, but I can see that Casey is looking intently at our direction and about to pounce for making these whispering conversations.

“Okay, for our late comer, why not tell us the elements of roadway instead of whispering there.”

As I have thought, she did saw me entered late and now pissed off for talking to my seatmate.

I tried to quickly scan the board for the answer, and quickly came up for most likely elements included.

“Elements, uh, these are camber, curbs, shoulder, margin, and uh, asphalt and cement?” Damn, I’m pretty sure the last two were not part of the answer, but they popped into my eyes as I scanned the board.

“Yes, asphalt and cement. What a try. Now sit down and listen instead of talking Luke.”

I can hear giggles around, but I’m a veteran of not minding other people. I mean, they cannot control my life, they do not even impact mine, so why bother with them.

Casey continued her lecture, while I am slowly drifting into the paradise that I call sleep.

I expected rainbows and games, but what I saw was the same white room as earlier and the annoying old man in front of me holding a bell.

“Hello again, Mr. Solis.” He greeted me with a smile. I wondered what is the use of the bell. It’s moving in his hand but there is no sound.

‘Hey, before you go disappear again like earlier, can you at least tell me what’s happening? Those guys in black were chasing me for reasons I do not know. And do not call me with that name’

“They want to stop me. Or you. Or us. They want to stop what’s been hindering them all this time. I cannot tell you everything, it will destroy the purpose of you learning and discovering the things that you should.” The old man told me. But everything is just so sudden and confusing. I cannot help not knowing what is happening.

‘Then at least give me a head start or something. Like, tell me how to avoid those shady people’ If he told me how, then I’ll be less annoyed by this Mr. White.

“I’m afraid you cannot avoid your fate now. You must face them. But do not fret, because the first two will help you, just as the Architect designed.” Now he is more annoying than earlier. I just really wished that this moment is a dream within a dream, and I badly want to wake up from it.

“Soon Luke, soon. I just want to remind you to Feel the Stars, accept them and open up to them.”

Opening myself up is a no no. I worked hard creating a persona of myself just to forget everything that happened to me in the past. Then now he wants me to open myself up.

‘I know that you are a no-good old man, but please, next time we see each other, explain things clearly and stop that “Wise Man” dialogue of yours. Lastly, do not call me by my-“

I was about to finish my sentence but that soundless bell in his hand started to emit noise. The white room started to shake like someone is tugging on it.

“Luke, Luke, wake up, Class is finished” Andras’ voice shook me from my dream, and bell ringing on the old man’s hand was just the sound of Casey’s bell.

“Okay class, we will have further discussion next time.” The only good thing said by that old lady.

“Let’s go grab some bites” Andras invited as I stood up and fetched my bag to go out.

I told him about what happened with all that explosion, hospitalization, and running from people on shades. Only told him that I just collapsed from the shock so he wouldn’t question how I’m still alive after being comatose. I didn’t tell him about Mr. White though. It may just create more questions and confusions.

“It’s a pretty bad day you have, add the 7 pm class later at the laboratory. Looks like those guys will have to wait until night to catch you.” Andras said trying to scare me off.

I wished that they won’t wait for me though, but I know that they will.

“So, can you escort me later? You’re a big guy, so they might think twice about attacking me.” I told him trying to at least give myself a sense of security.

Andras is a tall and big dude who likes vaping. He’s 6’2” and fit. He also attended martial arts class in his younger days. So, he may be able to provide a bit of protection if they attack, unless they go with guns.

He’s an athletic guy during his earlier days. During the first year of college, we tried to join the basketball team.

He’s body is hairy and he have scars on he’s knees. It has an odd shape like a letter ‘n’ of some sort. But he shrugs it off and tells me it’s just a scar from all those playing during his childhood.

“Sure, of course. But if things go wrong, we should just call the police.” I was relieved that he’s willing to help, but I feel bad for dragging him into this mess.

The day went on until the end of the laboratory class. I am anxious of what might happen as we exit the gates.

When we were already out, I can feel that something is wrong. We walked the same street I used earlier since I am even more scared to the café owner than those shades people.

I could really feel that something will go down at any moment. The street is quiet, no motorcycles passing by, and pedestrians that should be walking at this hour are gone. It is like a magic was used to veil this street or separate it from other people.

As we approached the halfway point of the street, I knew s**t is about to get down. Things that I thought would go out at any minute, did came out.

Six people in suit and tie with shades materialized from the shadows of the street. Now, I can confidently say that they are weird. Who would wear shades at night!?

They approached us. I have observed that there are no guns in their hands, and no other weapons that are visible.

“Surrender now, and we will do it painlessly” Said the guy right in front of us. He has a rough voice, feral-like one. I can see fangs or something under that mouth of his.

Are we dealing with vampires now? That old man didn’t gave a hint about vampires. I am ready to run if s**t will go bad, but to my disappointment, there is no way out in their encirclement.

I remembered what Mr. White said, “Feel the Stars” but I cannot feel anything except for the sweat dripping down my neck. I am not scared, that is surprising. Maybe because I have played this kind of situation in my head for multiple times.

I tried to look at the stars, but I know that light pollution obscured the view of the stars. However, I was astounded to see that the night sky was very clear. Not like clear like a normal clear, but clear like one of those 4K pictures in the internet. Maybe tonight is just a night with a very clear sky.

I can clearly see the stars, and with no apparent reasons, I could tell which constellations are which. Now that is peculiar. Is this what Mr. White referring to? But he said “Feel” and not “Look” dammit, even if the night sky is clear, the only thing clearer right now is our impending doom.

I can see that Andras is readying a fighting stance, but I’m well aware that we can’t handle them. I want to at least let Andras run by smashing through one direction and make him pass through. I didn’t want him to be in this mess because of me.

“I guess it’s clear that we can’t beat them. I’ll run back at the school’s direction, breaking apart their encirclement, then run as fast as you can and get help. You have to at least escape this.”

I can see frustration and hesitation in his face. Like choosing which decision to make.

“If things will really go ugly, I cannot just leave you though. I have my ways but it’s just too risky.” I do not know what he meant with that, but I know that we are running out of time.

“It would have been a great night if not for these assholes. Like how the night sky is so clear, you can almost see all stars and tell which constellations are which, even though I didn’t know any of them.” I tried to sound upbeat at least.

He then looked at me bewildered. “What did you say?”

I wondered which one. “I said, it would have been a great night if not for these assholes”

“No, the other one. You’re saying you can see the sky and stars clearly? And you can identify all the constellations accurately even if you did not know them ever since?” I agreed and thought if seeing the night is important right now.

I know that it was amazing and unusual that the sky is very clear, since most of the time when I look up, I can only see specs of twinkling dots. And how I can identify the constellations without prior knowledge, it is indeed kind of odd.

“Then I guess everything was true. It seems that there were no risks after all!” Andras smirked and hell if I know what he was thinking.

He breathed in a very deep breathe. He focused on something and suddenly, growing lights are slowly showing on his knees part, but the pants are blocking it. However, I could tell that the symbol ♑︎ is the one that is shining on his knees.

Then something happened to Andras. His already large frame grew larger. He grew more hair than what he already has on his body. His squared face shape became triangular and beard is growing out. The braided long hair started to unfurled and grew longer. His eyes grew darker and his nose grew wider. Along with his ear that have also expanded, his mouth also grew bigger. Below his now furry body, his legs also grew fur and his feet? Those are not feet; those are goat hooves. And underneath all those furs, glinting scales can be seen. His skin darkened and became much more muscular. Sea breeze can be felt with a scent of goats like the farm. My friend Andras just become one of those creatures they call kapre!

I do not know what to make up with this, I was just standing there staring at the monstrosity and absurdity of things.

“Step aside Luke, things will really get ugly now”