Chapter Text
I dream of a sprawling city, littered with friendly faces and kind people. A place so familiar, yet entirely new. I walk along the streets, watching the scenery pass by, and I wake from this pleasant dream.
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I get home and search my pockets for my keys, finding them after fumbling for a minute. I unlock and open the door, take the key out and close it behind me, taking off my shoes and looking at the entryway mirror. What I wouldn't give to have a normal teenager’s life. Not having to worry about work or rent, on top of school.
I take a good look at myself in the mirror, and see a tired and sad face looking back at me, plain brown eyes with a hint of red in the pupils, noticeable bags beneath them. I smile to hide the sadness inside them, a saddening smile, my anime villain teeth in full display, part of the reason I don't smile much, lest I get teased or made fun of, especially when I was a kid. My brown hair is a mess, deep red undertones visible, more so than usual.
I turn away and head to one of the one of the few things I look forward to in a day, a nice, warm shower awaiting me.
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I put on some baggy sweatpants and one of my comfort shirts after my shower, planning to just chill for the night as I grab the leftover pasta from the fridge and start heating it up.
I eat as I turn on the TV and start playing some documentaries on sharks. I've always loved sharks, especially when people record them doing silly things. I've always found them a little cute.
As I continue to watch the documentary, I suddenly get a migraine, it feels like my skull is about to split in half, I feel like I'm actually going to die, and then, it just vanishes like it was never there. Only to come back worse. I fall to the ground and manage to catch myself with my arms, before they collapse, my face hitting the floor. But I don't feel anything from it. I hurt too much to feel more pain. The world swims around me, literally. Before it feels like someone put a spike to my skull and cracked it in half.
Apparently I was still on my arms, because I fall to the floor again, I think, I can't really tell, the pain clouds my vision, and my perception of time as well, as if it feels like I'm falling forever. Until I black out.
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Walking through the streets of New Eridu with Ellen was always nice. Wise enjoyed walking around all the little stores and hanging out together. Despite the teasing Belle gave him when he hung out with any of the female agents they knew, especially so with Ellen.
Getting a text, Wise pulls out his phone and checks it. It's from Belle, probably teasing him about being on a date with Ellen or something. Before another text pops up. Deciding to see what she's saying he opens the messages.
Belle: hey bro
Come to the store ASAP
And bring Ellen too
Wise: what for?
A little more detail would be nice
Belle: You'll see.
Just hurry up and get here, both of you.
Be Quick!
sigh“Ellen, Belle wants us to heat back to the store, not sure what it is but she wants us to hurry”
“Fine, we're not far from 6th Street anyways” she says, a little annoyed at her date being cut off short. Not that Wise would have called it a date anyways “why does she need us now of all times” she says under her breath.
“What?”
“Nothing, don't worry about it”
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It only took them five minutes of jogging to get back to the store, and for Wise to be out of breath
“Did we really have to run?”
“No, but she said she wants us to hurry right? And we weren't even running”
“Maybe you weren’t. Whatever, let's go see what she wants”
As Ellen speaks she opens the door to the store and looks around. As soon as 18 sees Wise and Ellen, he hurries over and starts tugging on Ellen's dress, trying to bring them to the employee door.
Upon entering the employee area, they see Belle looking over the couch at something, or rather someone, as, when they walk closer they see a tail sticking out a bit from the couch, a shark's tail. It comes into full view as it sways around for a moment. Deciding to get a better look, Wise heads to where Belle is standing so he can get a proper view of their new guest.
Moving around the couch, Wise notices more about their guest. His dark black hair, a roundish face, though still somewhat mean, a large shark's tail extending from his tailbone, similar in colouration to Ellen's, although without the graffiti and scars. Though the most noticeable thing is that it's clearly larger than Ellen's, and with a similar bite mark on the end. And Wise doesn't fail to notice that someone had pulled up his shirt a little, giving a glance over to Belle who turns away slightly, not meeting his gaze.
“So, I take it he's why you told us to hurry back?”
“Yeah, I'd just returned to the store after grabbing a bite of ramen, and when one of our usuals left after checking out a movie, they saw him just laying in the street in front of the store. So I decided to bring him inside until he wakes up.”
“And not because you thought he was hot?” Wise asked, giving his sister another look.
“No” Belle states as she again averts her gaze from Wise. “Atleast, not until I got closer to him.” she says under her breath.
“Okay, but why'd you ask for me as well?” Ellen said, putting a hand on her hip. Staring at their guest intently.
“Well, because you guys look so similar, and since you’re both shark thirens I thought you might know him?”
“Can’t say I’ve seen him before. Although he does seem familiar oddly enough. The last time I saw another shark thiren was before hollow zero…“ Ellen trails off, a pensive look on her face.
“Oh” Belle replies, the mood becoming sombre. “I see” nothing really needed to be said, everyone knew the toll the hollow zero disaster had caused.
“Well, let's see what his story is then,” Ellen says, dismissing the subject as she walks towards their guest.
“Wakey wakey” Ellen says as she starts to shake him a little bit, trying to wake him gently. Surprisingly, it works, and rouses their guest enough to get him to open his eyes, and reveal a set of sleepy, deep crimson eyes. struggling to stay open.
“Ah, you're finally awake” Belle says, gaining a face palm from Wise.
“Really, that's the first thing you say to them?”
“Hey, I've been waiting forever to use that one!”
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I can faintly hear someone talking around me, more than one person actually. The noise rather quickly stops, only for something to grab my shoulder and shake it gently. I open my eyes and see what's happening around me, or at least I try to, my eyes feel like lead as I struggle to slowly open them.
Upon opening my eyes I see a girl standing over me, face close, examining me. I try to get a good look at her but my eyes aren’t focussing, so I look at my surroundings, which reveals two more people standing behind her. I get a vague feeling that I know them, but I can't remember from where.
I hear muted words from the girl as she looks at me, a grin on her face. The man standing behind her replies back with a slightly annoyed expression, my hearing is slowly returning but I'm still unable to actually understand what anyone is saying. The girl replies to his remark before looking back at me. I know I've seen them before, especially the girl in front of me. But from where?
“Hey, you good?” I hear the girl next to the tall dude ask me, staring intently at me. I nod in confirmation, my throat too sore to speak right now. I move to sit myself up but my arms fail me and I fall back down on the couch. I try again and someone grabs my arm and helps me up. I look up to see the girl, Belle, with a worried expression on her face as she helps me sit up.
Then something I'm my mind clicks, I've seen this place a hundred times before, I know who these people are. The only thing I don't know is how I've gotten here, just how is this game real? And more importantly, why do I feel so at home here?
But answers will have to wait, my stomach insists, and I hear a loud growl from my stomach. I hear Belle stifle a chuckle beside me and cover my hands in embarrassment.