ECHOES OF ESCAPE

Verdin woke with a gasp, the remnants of the otherworldly place clinging to him like cobwebs. Images of shimmering trees and a woman with glowing eyes swirled in his mind. He scrambled out of bed, a sliver of hope battling with the disappointment of waking in his familiar, chipped paint-ridden room.

He checked his phone – no missed calls, no texts. His escape attempt, or rather, the entire night felt like a dream. Yet, a nagging unease settled in his stomach. Something didn't feel right.

He padded downstairs, the silence heavy in the house. His mom, Maviya, was arranging flowers on the kitchen table. She looked up, her eyes widening in surprise. "Verdin? You're awake early. Shouldn't you be resting?"

Verdin felt a stab of guilt. He hadn't meant to worry her. He mumbled something about having a bad dream and wanting some water.

Maviya frowned, concern etched on her face. "Are you sure you're alright, honey? You seem… different."

Verdin brushed it off, muttering about being tired. He felt like a stranger in his own life. His reflection in the glass confirmed his anxieties. The blue skin condition had worsened, spreading further across his arms and neck. He looked like a freak, a walking anomaly.

He trudged to school, the weight of isolation pressing down on him. The whispers and snickers started as soon as he entered the schoolyard. He kept his head down, trying to disappear into the throng of students. His escape attempt, real or imagined, hadn't gone unnoticed. The rumor mill was churning at full speed.

"Blue Boy went crazy and ran away!" a high-pitched voice cackled behind him.

"Yeah, probably hiding in some ditch, licking his wounds," another voice chimed in, followed by a chorus of snickers.

Verdin clenched his fists. He wanted to lash out, to fight back like he used to, but a strange lethargy held him back. He just wanted to get through the day, to escape the constant taunts and jeering.

Lunchtime was the worst. He sat alone at his usual corner table, picking at his food. Moneev, his only remaining friend, hadn't arrived yet.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted near the entrance. A group of older boys, led by the notorious Ranjit, were shoving a smaller boy around.

Verdin's heart pounded. He recognized the smaller boy – it was Akash, a timid kid who was often picked on by Ranjit's gang.

Before Verdin could react, Moneev bolted towards the group. His small frame stood defiant against Ranjit's towering figure.

"Leave him alone, Ranjit!" Moneev shouted, his voice surprisingly firm. "He didn't do anything to you!"

The scene mirrored Verdin's own nightmare from the previous day. A cold dread washed over him. Had he, in his subconscious, willed the fight to happen? Was there some connection between his dream and reality?

The thought was interrupted by a loud crack. A branch from a nearby tree snapped, falling with a crash near Ranjit's feet. The group startled, their taunts dissolving into nervous mumbling.

Verdin stared at the fallen branch, his breath catching in his throat. He hadn't moved a muscle, yet… The possibility hung in the air, both terrifying and exhilarating. Was this a strange side effect of his blue skin condition? Could he control things with his mind?

Ranjit glared at them, a flicker of fear in his eyes. "Let's go," he muttered to his cronies, and they scampered away.

Moneev and Akash were left staring at Verdin, their faces etched with a mixture of surprise and confusion.

Verdin stood up, his legs shaky. He needed answers. He needed Lady Maya. He glanced at the crumpled piece of paper with the strange symbol in his pocket, a beacon of hope in the chaos of his life. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to take a leap of faith.