Chapter 1

Usually, I don't study in off periods, but that day I was down trying to do my chemistry lessons when suddenly, something caught my eye, or perhaps, someone.

I live at a rent, alone in Midtown – Manhattan for study purposes. Physics major at the city University of New York. Not to get too excited though, there I was that student in the class who was always looked down upon, ya know, no good at sports, or studies, without any skills, or good looks, to sum up I was an all zero.

Or at least, that's what everyone thought.

That day I had some work, so I had to stay back late at the school. Later, when I stepped out, it was already dusk. I expected to eat dinner after I get to my room, but as I took a step my stomach growled at me, and I was dictating myself. I finally decided to dine at Sushi Yashuda; a stone throw away from there and I do am a fan of Japanese cuisine, so it was a win-win. After a satisfying filled to neck dinner it was already half past 10, and I had to get back to my room, so I hasted down the street. As I scaled the lonely street I suddenly came to a pause, on account of a faint scream, I tried to ignore it, but it was just too attention seeking . I walked at its trail, until I found myself in the middle of a dark ally. The shrill scream came again, only this time, it was much clearer, I could feel it was very close, it sounded like someone was in great, unbearable pain. I moved towards it with tip-toed soundless steps, as I neared it, my heart pounded harder and harder. The sudden sound came again! And my heart nearly jumped out of my chest at my hands. I saw a strange yellow light coming from the direction of the screams. I gathered all the courage in this universe, ballooned my chest and took the turn, when my eyes met an appalling spectacles. For a few seconds, I was too stunned to even move, for what I saw, curdled my blood. My eyes locked down as I saw a boy more or less the same as my age, set a man alight. I saw the ill faithed man standing there dazed, as he went up in flames and down to ashes. The boy passed me a fearsome side glare and before I realized it, I had already dashed out of the ally running down street. I got the sensation of being tailed, so I ran with my eyes back and bumped straight on to an officer at night patrol. I cried a scream of horror as I didn't know who I'd ran into. We both fell, and when I realized he was a police officer, I hastily picked him up and took him into confidence about the events of the past few minutes. We ran back into the ally to catch the culprit red handed. As we approached the turn the officer halted and I resulted the same. He signed me to stay put and with his gun pointed and loaded for any quick action, he jumped out. He took a look around and his hands went down as his face passed a slight expression of disappointment. I too, turned to see what has happened, and my eyes went wide, for there was not a soul to be found down the alley, "bu- bu- but" ;I started to stammer, "th- the fire, the boy, I-"; the officer interrupted me; " I know kid, I know. This time I'm leaving you with a warning, but this should not repeat", and before I could say anything, he left. Then, I was left alone in the dark, with a slight felling of unease and disbelief, wondering, what I saw, was it just my imagination or was it real, was it true or was it just an illusion, until I realized I had stepped on some ash, a chill went down my spine and I dashed towards my apartment

The next day I woke up, my head heavy as hell, my eyes burning and me not even being able to walk straight. Good thing it was weekend so I didn't have to worry about class. And the storm outside made it even more leisure. I took a cup of coffee and tried to watch T.V. to lighten my head. But who knew, even watching T.V. could be such a head hurting experience. I had thought of last night's event as just a stupid dream, but when I turned the T.V. the news reporter read "a man's burnt body was found down Simpson ally with a note that read 'you are next' ". A lightning bolt struck, and the whole room went dark, for a few moments all I could hear was the darting rain outside and the rustling wind, along with a hint of damp light through the window; until a door bell broke the silence. My heart shook upon the sudden sound, "who's there?" I asked, but no one answered. I neared the door with a candle in one hand and as my instincts guided a knife in the other. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in the dark silence of the room. I tried to look who it was, but I couldn't see due to the dark, but I knew it was a boy. I opened the door, and the lightning crackled. The face I saw in the instant made my worst nightmare come true. I raised the candle; with my hands shivering, to make sure. As the face was reviled he said in an underlying tone "well, it's been a while hasn't it". Everything from my hand fell, a burst of emotions and feelings surged through me. I started stepping back, my body barely standing, my vision blurring, it becoming harder to breath by every breathe and finally, I fell unconscious.