CHAPTER 14: TEST RUN (1)

As I remembered a time from my past, it wasn't vague, but I remember it clearly.

***

*Chatter*

Raising my head from the gaze of the abyss, there I noticed over a group of people talking.

"Hey, hey wanna go see the new café".

"You mean the one over at the train station?"

"Yeah, yeah I heard they started a new menu".

"Let's go after club".

'Argh... I hate normies grouping up and getting all giggly up with their favorite stuffs'.

I thought as I gazed upon the sight of them talking.

*Ding-dong*

"It clubs now, let's go".

"OK, am coming".

At high school, I always didn't standout —I was a MOB character.

I had the feeling of alienation every time I was at school.

Though I hate groups and crowds, it appeared like I was put up against an invisible wall between me and them.

After a while, people-watching was like a hobby I got used to.

Being a MOB character I never knew, the meaning of a friend, even though I could make some, things like long talks were never my fort, so I instantly gave up on the idea of making friends.

Until one day.

There I sat at the rooftop of the school, painting in the bright hue of the evening sun.

*Whirl*

The breeze brought forth a breath of fresh air caressing my body.

"It's cold".

I whispered as the breeze brought on a cold sensation shivering my body.

"Hey, what are you doing there?"

Then came a voice,

"Huh!"

As I turned to glance who it was, there stood a boy with his arms folded, wearing a black leather jacket.

*Thud*

He then came forth towards Blu. As Blu identified the clothes he wore, he said to himself.

'Waahh... Seems like he's one of those Delinquents, this is going to be a problem'.

'Maybe he would leave if I just answered'.

He pondered as the strange boy stopped to glance at what Blu was doing.

"Ehmm... I'm just painting".

"Heh... Painting. So what are you painting?"

"A tree".

"Ok".

*Thud*

The strange boy then strolled out of the place.

*Creek*

After a while, Blu then heard the sound of the door opening. He glanced to see who it was? But to his surprise, it was the strange boy.

*Scree*

On sighting the strange boy, Blu saw him take out a chair from behind him.

*Thud*

He then sat behind Blu, gazing upon the painting.

After a while, Blu felt an intense gaze from the strange boy.

*Klunk*

He then drops the paintbrush as he stops painting for a second and asks,

"Ehmm... Why are you still here?"

The strange boy then replied bluntly.

"Am just checking out your drawing",

"Why?"

"Because I think it looks cool".

'Cool, it's the first time someone said that to me'.

"Are you in the art club?"

"No".

"Ehh... Why?"

"Because drawing for me is just a hobby".

"A hobby... hmm".

"By the way, why are you asking questions?"

"Because you looked like you loved drawing".

"Huh...".

"By the way, I am... Shhh..., nice to meet you".

"Am Cory".

*Ding-dong*

The bell then rang, signaling school end.

"Looks like it's closing time".

"Wanna head home together?"

"Why would I want to head home along with you?"

"Haha... you sound like you don't even have friends".

Geh..

"Ok, why don't I be your friend",

"Why would you want to be friends with a gloomy guy like me? "

"Huh, do I need a reason to be friends with someone?"

— At that instant, I knew he wasn't like others that avoided me,

That was the day I got my first friend,

Thereafter, we started to hang out a lot, it was all fun.

Till one day.

While on the rooftop,

"Done!"

Blu shouted out in joy as he finished his painting.

Afterwards, he wondered.

"Hey, am done with the... paint-ing".

He said as he glanced behind him to inform his friend of the paint, but to his surprise he was nowhere.

From that day, I never saw him again. Every day I wonder 'where did he go?'

That was when it hit me that he was just an imaginary friend I made.

Afterwards, it became like a curse eating me out everyday.

I finally thought I had broken free now that I had been reincarnated, but after frantically piling up the pieces.

Back then, even now, everything would fall in vain

Why?

I wondered as I was awoken by the bright rays of the sun shining through the window.

... Ugh... What was that about?

As I arose from the sight of the morning sun, I contemplated from the dream I saw.

After a while, the dream seemed like a fleeting imagination.

{Cafeteria}

*Chatter*

Our usual mornings of chatter filled the cafeteria.

*Slide*

"Everyone, morning... And get up... you're all going to be taking a test".

Our trainer shouted out after strolling into the cafeteria.

"Test".

We all shouted, perplexed by the sudden test we were to take after having a death match the other day.

"Yeah, so all of you should get ready, in five minutes",

In response to his words, we were all rushing to get ready, as we all knew the consequences of delays.

After a while, we then walked to the out of the cafeteria.

"What do you think? Is going to be our test for today".

Leo said as he glanced at me.

"I don't know, but whatever it is, as long as we are together, going to pass right".

The rest then said.

"Don't worry about it, as long as we got our leader here, everything would be alright".

"Yeah".

Blu smiled on hearing the rest of the test subjects trust him to the point they called him their leader.

Afterwards, they appeared outside the building.

Blu then pondered, as usually they wouldn't be suddenly informed of a test.

— I don't know why they suddenly called us from bed this morning, but no matter what, nothing is going to stop us.

Outside Blu could see a large door placed on the walls of the facility. The door was different from normal doors as it led outside of the facility.

I knew instantly that this test was serious.

*Slide*

The doors then opened.

"Now let the test run commence".

A large sound blared signaling the start of the test run.

The test subjects held on to their weapons as they rushed forth in an attempt of crossing the large door.

"See you at the end".

Noire shouted out as he dashed forth, increasing his speed.

Blu also rushed forth.

*Blop*

Blu felt a weird sensation on passing through the door—like passing through a viscous liquid.

*Grhh*

He then heard a familiar sound—the sound of a klaur. He then turned his gaze as to what beheld him was a menacing sight

On cite, was a large beast that was just as extensively tall as a tree, in the form of an orc with two horns of blue color, with a body black and hoofs purple in color.

Blu then said to himself,

'No... No... No... No... Why are we fighting that?'

Blu could only shiver in fear with the ominous aura it gave, as the monster moved onto face him, in sight of Blu, who had given up on fighting as his legs gave up falling to the ground.

*Shrud*

As the monster closed in range of Blu, it shook its hoofs in the snow to gather momentum to charge in facing its horns in Blu's direction.

Blu guessed,

'Ha! Am going to die'.

*Thud*

The monster continued, picking its pace charging in, with the snow flying off on impact with its hooves.

*Gush*

It then stoke its horn as it pierces through Blu's stomach.

*Kuek*

Blu felt the sharp pain of the monster's horn gurging out his stomach.

*Bleugh*

He instantly coughed out a mouthful of blood on impact with its horn. As he felt his organs coming out of his body

He then heard a voice,

*Ba-thump*