This is not a Journal

(4)

Dear Diary,

Okay, let's keep going. Had a rough day, so I'm just gonna jot down everything that's happened in the past seven miserable years of my life... damn it.

7 years ago

Just four short hours after my clash with Xavier, I found myself en route to what they call 'temporary' school. Let's take a moment to discuss our Math/Calculus teacher. Her perseverance is downright impressive, if not a tad intimidating.

She's always the first to punch in at school and the last to clock out, come rain or shine. Whether it's a snow day or the building's ablaze, she's there. I'm convinced she could outlast any illness known to man. Drop her in the midst of World War II, and she'd lead her squad – be it allies or axis – with steely determination.

And on the rare occasion when she's absent (which is almost never), she just pops up on the TV screen and delivers the lecture from there. That's exactly what went down during our first period. I was hoping for a blissful 60 minutes of peace and quiet, but nope, we were stuck dissecting z-scores.

Now, let's shift our focus to the other adults in our lives who have morphed into living nightmares – our beloved 'teachers.'

We've covered our Math teacher, so let's talk about our Language teacher next. She's ancient, teetering on the brink of being summoned by the heavens above at any moment. She's the scourge of every cellphone user in our classroom. Cross the line by using your phone in her class, and before you know it, it's vanished into thin air, only to be returned to you maybe after you've shuffled off this mortal coil.

Moving on to our Essay teacher (yes, we actually have a class dedicated to essays). He's alright, your run-of-the-mill teacher conjured out of thin air. He's chill most of the time, but push him too far, and he can transform into a full-blown demon.

Now onto our Spanish/Phys Ed teacher (because apparently, we all need Spanish in our lives). He's just laid-back, chilling with the cool kids in our school – aka the varsity players.

Now for our Science teachers, we've got two of them – one for biology/physics and the other for earth science/chemistry. The biology teacher is pretty cool too, kind of like the big sister I never had. Recently, she's been dealing with a hilarious issue involving the TV and HDMI cable conspiring to troll her by flipping her presentations upside down. As for the earth science teacher, well, they're a bit like the essay teacher – best not to test their limits.

Now that I've introduced you to the cast of characters, let's move on to lunch. As I grabbed my food and settled in next to my friends, a mysterious note materialized out of nowhere. "He's back, I must get you to prepare. -Xavier."

I pondered over who could be making a comeback. Perhaps it's Mr. Demonically Possessed Classmate, or maybe some distant relatives making a surprise visit. Whoever it is, it looks like I'll be paying a visit to Xavier after school.

Fast forward to midnight, and I find myself at the abandoned playground, standing my ground just in case I'm greeted with another surprise attack. again with another attack.

As I pondered in those moments of waiting, a thought struck me: "God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers." But why on earth did I enlist in this war in the first place?

And then, a few moments later, he arrived. Surprisingly, this time he didn't launch into an attack. Instead, we engaged in a simple conversation, exchanging nothing more than a few casual "hi's" and "hellos."

Then, out of nowhere, he attempted a swift blow to my face, which landed successfully, sending me crashing to the ground in agony. I had expected a casual chat before our training session, but clearly, that wasn't on his agenda. Fuming with anger, I attempted to retaliate, only to fail miserably as he effortlessly pinned me to the ground, uttering, "Let's train again."

As he helped me back to my feet, he revealed that the adversary I had recently faced, Mr. Demonically Possessed Classmate, wields the power of darkness. It's like a video game scenario, he explained, where he serves as my counter, and I must be vigilant and employ strategies to effectively counter his moves.

Skipping over the training session for brevity's sake, let's fast forward to the morning. It's Saturday, and with no classes to attend, my initial plan was to disappear into my bed, escaping into the realms of dreamland. However, my friends had other ideas in store for me.

My friends had completed work on my suit, and I eagerly tried it on. Finally, no more itchiness, and I could move around comfortably. They even threw in some boots, but I decided to stick with my trusty white sneakers for now.

So, let's review the checklist:

- Powers? Check.

- Superhero suit? Check.

- Mysterious Mentor named Xavier? Check.

- Villain who's going to knock the living daylights out of me? Still to come.

Anyway, last night Xavier showed me some sort of mysterious tunnel underground, and he said that's where I'll be practicing next time. I'm kind of concerned about it, so I confided in my friends. You'd think they'd want to help, right? Well, think again. Instead of offering support, they suggested we go out and attack Xavier, which is absolutely nuts if you ask me. Note to self: never trust your friends when it comes to making plans. I mean, they nearly got me killed when they told me to attack Mr. Demonically Possessed Classmate.

After they left, I found myself alone for the entire Saturday, from noon until night. So, I decided to catch up on some much-needed sleep...

I woke up in what felt like a fluffy cloud, utterly disoriented. Where the hell was I? Was this a dream? Or perhaps I'd woken up to a hallucination—I honestly couldn't tell. As I soared through the air on my cloud, a sense of impending doom washed over me. And sure enough, it hit: the clouds turned ominous gray, shrouding the sky. Suddenly, the clouds vanished, and I found myself hurtling into the unknown.

Then, I heard ominous voices whispering, "I'm coming back for you," and suddenly, I was enveloped by a colossal figure of my Demonically Possessed Classmate, performing some inexplicable divine maneuvers. Before I knew it, I found myself sprawled on the ground. The figure turned purple, evidently charging up for something sinister. As his hand glowed with a menacing purple hue, aimed directly at me, I braced myself for the worst. Just when I thought all was lost, I snapped awake.

It was midnight, and I knew I had to visit Xavier. Without bothering to eat, I dashed out of the house. But just as I reached the front door, to my surprise, my parents were there. And let me tell you, they were furious.

"What on earth are you doing sneaking out at this hour?" they demanded, their anger palpable.

"Are you secretly working as a p********e? Running some kind of syndicate company?" The questions grew increasingly bizarre, and I grew weary of constantly denying their wild accusations.

After enduring a 30-minute lecture on child s*****y and how to avoid it, they threatened to call child support on me. Thankfully, they decided against it and retreated to bed, warning me sternly never to sneak out again.

But let's be real, you know I'm going to break that rule, right?

Arriving at the playground, Xavier was already there, teasing me about being late. Thanks a lot, Mom and Dad. Anyways, without further ado, he opened up the mysterious tunnel for me. As I peered into the darkness, I couldn't help but ask what I was supposed to do.

Before I could get a clear answer, I felt a sudden push, and I tumbled into the abyss of darkness, with Xavier's echoing voice haunting me: "Find a way out."

In that moment, fear surged through me like a wildfire, engulfing my entire being. The darkness was so thick that even closing my eyes felt like turning on a flashlight in comparison. Desperately, I attempted to summon my stupid light powers, but much to my dismay, they refused to cooperate. It was as if they had decided to take a vacation without informing me.

Intermission:

The Light powers were living it up in their own little vacation paradise, basking in the warm glow of the beach. Suddenly, amidst the sounds of crashing waves, they heard Star's piercing scream.

"Eh, she can handle it," they nonchalantly remarked, shrugging off any sense of responsibility. "I'll swing by later. Right now, it's all about soaking up the sun and catching some rays." With that, they settled back into their beach chairs, blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding in the darkness below.

*End of intermission*

Alone in the gaping maw of darkness, it felt like a showdown between me and the abyss itself. Every step I took echoed with the ominous sound of water droplets, amplifying the sense of isolation. I gingerly placed my feet, unsure of what lay beneath – was it murky water, a lifeless body, or something far worse?

Note to self:

"Throw out my sneakers in the nearest trashcan after this... Sorry, Converse." They'd served me well, but this adventure was bound to leave them in a state beyond salvation.

Just when I thought things couldn't possibly get any worse or more terrifying, I was greeted by the unsettling sound of growling and barking echoing through the darkness. Were they stray dogs, Master Splinter losing his marbles, or perhaps a mutated Godzilla lurking in the shadows? At that moment, the possibilities seemed endless, and none of them were particularly comforting. But one thing was certain – I had to keep moving forward, or risk succumbing to starvation in this unforgiving abyss.

As I trudged onward, the realization struck me like a ton of bricks: I had a damn cellphone in my pocket all along, equipped with a handy flashlight. But when I reached for it, my heart sank as I discovered it was nowhere to be found. In that moment, it felt as though my very soul had abandoned me, leaving me utterly defenseless in the depths of the unknown.

Panic surged through me once more, and I frantically attempted to summon my light powers again, but...

"What if we stay here a little longer?"

"Yeah on the beach playing some pokers while Muttens over there is swimming like a maniac."

"Yeah... Let's just never leave."

Frustration boiled within me as I continued to concentrate, desperately willing my light powers to manifest.

"Seriously? It's still not there. Concentrate. Concentrate. Concentrate come on damn it!"

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of "concentrate", they flickered to life like that guy in the movie "The Croods" where he is stuck in a cave then he suddenly sparked an idea. But my relief was short-lived as horror materialized before my eyes in the form of a gigantic crocodile-like creature, hungry for its next meal.

With lightning speed, the creature lunged forward, its massive jaws aiming for the kill shot. Instinct kicked in, and I dodged just in time, retaliating with a swift snap that sent the beast hurtling backwards. But there was no time to celebrate victory – it was time to run, and run fast.

RUN!

RUN!!

RUNNNNN!!!

Then I saw light, and when someone sees light, they run towards it. As I sprinted towards the beckoning light, the rumblings grew louder, indicating that the monstrous creature was hot on my heels. But with every step, the light drew nearer, until finally, I reached it – a way out of the darkness. Without hesitation, I scrambled up the passage and emerged back into the familiar world of daylight.

Blinking in the sunlight, I found myself back at the playground, with Xavier nowhere to be seen. Lucky bastard, I thought bitterly, as I caught my breath and tried to shake off the lingering terror of the underworld I had just escaped.

As I trudged home barefoot, my ruined shoes tossed aside, filled with the remnants of the sewer stuff I had encountered in the darkness, I couldn't help but feel utterly defeated. The need for a shower consumed me, driving me to pick up the pace as I hurried back home.

However, my hopes of a quick escape were dashed as soon as I walked through the door, only to be greeted by my parents. I braced myself for the inevitable confrontation, knowing all too well what the outcome would be. And sure enough, before I knew it, I found myself confined to my room, grounded. Yes, you heard that right – grounded. It was just the cherry on top of an already disastrous day.

As I sat in my room, confined by the confines of my punishment, I turned to my laptop for solace, losing myself in its comforting glow for a few fleeting hours.

But just as I was about to drift off into a much-needed nap, a chilling voice pierced through the silence, sending shivers down my spine. "Face me, or you will visit your friends in a grave," it intoned, accompanied by a pounding headache.

Panic engulfed me once more as I grappled with the terrifying ultimatum. What was I supposed to do? Every possible outcome played out in my mind, each one ending with a dire consequence – either facing a grave fate at the hands of Mr. Demonically Possessed Classmate, or enduring the wrath of my parents for violating my punishment. Either way, it seemed like I was trapped in a lose-lose situation.

Reflecting on the situation, I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. Fourteen-year-old me was undeniably naive and foolish, making decisions without fully grasping the consequences. Now, at 21, having experienced pain in every conceivable form, I wished I could go back and shake some sense into my younger self. (or just kill her but that will trigger some sort of a time thingy majingy so yes)

But back then, in the heat of the moment, I was convinced that I could be a hero. Ignoring the warnings and restrictions, I grabbed the superhero suit my friends had crafted for me, along with my mask and sneakers, and stealthily slipped out of the house, determined to confront whatever challenges lay ahead.

Arriving at Francine's house just in the nick of time, I was immediately met with a perplexing sight. Francine, or someone who looked like her, sat motionless in her room, her eyes a haunting shade of purple. Unable to speak or stand, she seemed to be in distress.

As I pondered whether she was truly possessed or simply playing a prank, Francine's urgent plea to save her sent chills down my spine. Before I could react, a powerful blow struck me, sending shockwaves coursing through my body and propelling me through the window. (Apologies to whoever had to foot the bill for the damage.)

Crashing to the ground below, I experienced the first type of pain – the wind knocked clean out of me, leaving me gasping for air and reeling from the impact.

As I lay on the ground, struggling to process the whirlwind of events that had just unfolded, he appeared – the Demonically Possessed Classmate. With a menacing grip, he hoisted me up, and before I knew it, we were soaring into the sky.

Despite the gravity of the situation, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as I'm writing on this diary. Here I was, in my first real showdown with a villain. The earlier encounter had been nothing more than a random skirmish, but now, I was facing him head-on, and failing miserably at that.

Next type of pain, a blow to the face. As I tried to do my light stuff, he threw a brick of a hand to my face causing me to grunt and feel dizzy for a few moments. Then he followed that up with a blow in the stomach and when I'm about to do my thing to him, he grabbed my hand which cue 3rd type of pain, getting your hands crushed.

I really tried so hard in getting those light powers to work but now he grabbed my neck which made it 10 times harder to concentrate as I'm now gasping for air up in the sky.

Despite my less-than-stellar handiness, I attempted a dramatic touch, only to have it rebuffed with a dismissive flick. Oddly enough, it triggered something. Suddenly, my dormant powers surged back, and now, light patterns are back at my fingertips. I used these newfound skills to fend off my adversary and escaped the chokehold.

As luck would have it, a free-fall ensued from dizzying heights, a mere inconvenience for someone with flight capabilities like mine. Meanwhile, my erstwhile foe plummeted earthward, leaving a rather impressive impression upon impact (kudos to the government for the swift repairs).

Amidst the chaos, I found myself in a moment of unparalleled glory, orchestrating a real-life symphony of video game-esque maneuvers to vanquish—or at least, greatly inconvenience—the demon plaguing my unfortunate classmate.

Let me break it down for you guys. He went back up like nothing happened then quickly rushed in towards me like a drunk man wanting a fist fight. His eyes turned purple bending time and space around it as his entire aura sooned followed on the color scheme.

I was about to become 1 hit deleted by my classmate until I pressed square in my real life joystick and dodged his attack. He fell down hard to the ground or should I say he skidded like a grown man skidding thru snow.

It left him "vulnerable" so I did the snap on him and sure enough he went flying. I was about to just let the guy go into his death but I realized...

"s**t it's my classmate."

It's Matthew. The weird and quiet kid in my class.

And so I flew up and followed the demon infused classmate free falling into the air and just as before he hits the ground that guarantees him a trip to the sky above, I placed down some soft (well not exactly but he's still alive) light barriers and...

Look at that he made the ground safely, however he became unconscious and I don't know what will happen if I try checking on him. I might get some sort of a suprise attack from the demon and grab my neck and try to choke me 😫 😫.

*grabs my neck and chokes me*

"You think that you can stop me?" he said as he tightens his grip.

*me gasping for air*

"I now own this body" *laughs and tighten his grip even further*

(Nope she's fine... It's me Xavier and I kinda sneaked this one in without her looking but when she checked in on him, he's alive and well and the demons are gone whooo)

Yep I noticed that and so I'm adjusting. Ah, the stuff of legends indeed! (man I'm back in a good mood)

Like a scene straight out of an action flick, the cavalry arrived just in time—police, ambulances, and fire trucks descending upon the chaos. Ever the responsible citizen, I directed their attention to the injured party. However, instead of gratitude, I was greeted with the unmistakable sight of police officers brandishing their shiny gadgets, barking the classic command: 'Hands in the air.' Oh, the joys of being a misunderstood superhero!

In a panic, I opted for the classic 'fly away and hope for the best' strategy. As luck would have it, my childhood home provided a conveniently inconspicuous hiding spot. Thankfully, my folks remained blissfully unaware of my impromptu demon-dodging escapades.

With the dust settled, our unfortunate classmate now finds themselves in the capable hands of authority figures and medical professionals. Meanwhile, I've assumed the role of resident recluse, expertly concealing my newfound superhero status from my unsuspecting parents.

In a heartening turn of events, Francine and the gang reached out, assuring me of their well-being and lack of battle scars.

As for me, I'm out I have work to do