Chapter Three:The End Is Near

" Breaking News, overnight murders and sudden deaths are happening and the number keeps rising. Before the clock reached six am there were more than a hundred missing reports of all ages. We have no clue what's happening however, religious cults are stopping traffic saying 'The end is near' Be careful of your whereabouts." the news woman ends her sediment.

"I'm assuming the other candidates are maliciously using the Death Note rather than fighting the other Candidates." 

"It's getting hectic outside. While you were in the land of dreams, I constantly heard police vehicles and ambulances. How are you proceeding to take action, Yugin?"

How would I? They are murdering citizens, I am nothing but chopped livered if they know I'm one of the candidates. The best action is to leave Edel here in the apartment but what if I need his guidance? What if the other candidates already jumped the gun to have the eyes and they can see him with me? Every move is like I am playing a game of chess and any move can give my enemies checkmate.

" If we go out, is it possible that you can travel five feet or more away from me so others won't know we are together?" Instead of having a full-blown conversation inside my head, Edel will be the best source to answer these questions. 

"That is possible and certainly smart. Especially in crowded areas. The other God candidates might be confused about whom I belong to. I also forgot to mention something rather important to you."

There's more to this stuff? I was already getting a grasp of the other information about the death note etc. I hope it's not too complex for me to digest because it's still early in the morning and I haven't consumed my first cup of coffee yet.

"Oh god. What did you forget to tell me?"

Edel stood tall, his chest puffed out and arms crossed over bulging biceps. With each small gesture, the taut muscles in his hands flexed. As I watched, I couldn't help but feel envious of his strength and athleticism. It would take me years to even come close to his level of physical prowess." Each candidate is blessed with arrows to use. The red arrow is to compel anyone to your liking and you have the white arrow." 

My eyes slowly drop to my pair of hands. Is this for real? I have arrows like Cupid? The baby that wears pampers that shoot arrows at people? I don't even have a bow and it will look like I'm cosplaying by carrying a bow with me everywhere. 

" Before you think too deeply, Yugin. Let me further explain."

I'm starting to think he can read minds.

"No, Again, I can't read minds. I read body language."

Touche

" As I was saying before the overthinking started to consume your mind, Yugin. Every one of you has the red arrow. That arrow you can compel anyone. However, the white arrow is to eliminate anyone you see fit. But you can only get the white arrow if you kill another god candidate."

" If that is the case, why don't I have a bow to launch these arrows?" I'm edger to this so it can help me later down the line.

Edel's head tilted back as laughter exploded from his mouth, loud and uncontrollable. I shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what was causing this reaction. Adjusting my glasses to hide my confusion, I stared at his skull, trying to understand the joke that had seemingly gone over my head.

"Yugin, there are no bows to use. It comes out naturally from your palms." Edel put out his left hand in front of me and suddenly a red diamond-shaped arrow came out of his palms. My body subconsciously leaned forward to take a closer look at the phenomenal." All you have to do is believe and it shall come out." Edel proceeded to finish his explanation. 

I stick my hand out, straining every muscle in my palms wanting to get the red arrow to appear. I feel a camp coming soon in my hand. I'm training my brain to believe but somehow it's not registering. 

"Yugin, stop stop." I felt Edel brawny hands gracing mine. "You're going to pop a blood vessel. Maybe we will try later."

I embarrassed my face the other way because I made a fool out of myself in front of the company. But something suddenly snapped in my head, a crucial detail that I must know about. " About the red arrow, you informed me that I can compel anyone I would like, right?

"That's correct."

" So that means the other candidates?"

"Indeed. You catch on fast, Yugin."

This is excellent but also rather bothersome. I have two more wishes out of the three and I could prevent this obstacle in the future. " Can I wish-"

"I already had a feeling you were thinking about that. Yes, that wish is possible to wish for."

" Well, that's what I want." I only have one more wish and I will use it when I really need it.

*******

The chaos of Manhattan streets was overwhelming, filled with a sea of aggressive religious protesters. Everywhere I turned, I was bombarded with screams to repent for my sins, their signs smacking me in the face like a slap from God himself. The newswoman's expression was grim as she reported on the chaos unfolding before us. The citizens of New York felt like a looming threat as if the end of the world was right around the corner. Traffic crawled at a snail's pace, blocked by the throngs of fanatics thrusting their messages of damnation and salvation into every car window. Fear and tension hung thick in the air, suffocating any sense of peace or normalcy.

" Humans are interesting creatures, I must say," Edel spoke from behind me.

A huge part of me is glad for the heavy crowd of people other candidates can detect me. Thank you cults. Also, I will be very late for school and I have a math exam in ten minutes. Jeez. I tried to brush past people but it was impossible, New Yorkers are the most stuck-up people ever known to man and I can talk since I'm a native to this forsaken state.

"Watch where you are going, man!" The man towered over me, his thick arms crossed over his chest. His voice boomed with an aggressive tone as he barked at me to move out of his way. I could feel the weight of his gaze bearing down on me, and I knew there was no chance of winning this confrontation. Reluctantly, I stepped aside and watched as he strode away, feeling small and powerless in his presence.

As I made my way through the bustling city streets, the towering Manhattan High loomed ahead of me. The sounds of honking cars and chatter from pedestrians filled the air. My heart raced as I spotted a small gap in the crowd and quickly darted towards it, eager to reach the safety of the school building before the sidewalks became too crowded. My backpack hung heavily on my shoulders, the straps digging into my skin. I could feel sweat forming on my brow as I weaved through the sea of people, determined to make it inside before the rush hour hit. Edel took his spot on the roof as I entered the building for safety precautions. The loud chatter of students filled the hallway as I made my way to my locker. Suddenly, I noticed curious glances and whispers directed towards me. I couldn't help but wonder why everyone was staring at me today. I frantically shrug my shoulders and break into a sprint, desperate to gather my math equipment for the looming exam. But as I reach for my graphing calculator, my locker is suddenly slammed shut with a resounding bang. The force of it sends a gust of wind that violently splits my bangs in two, leaving me momentarily stunned and disoriented.

"I heard about your four eyes trying to kiss Hana." His sneer curls up his lips as his dreadlocks thrash violently with each jerky movement of his head. His skin ripples with visible veins, pulsing and throbbing in anger towards me, a physical manifestation of the hatred burning within him.

This is where it hits me that I understood why the stares and whispering were for me today. I absolutely forgot about that prank Hana did on me yesterday. I'm used to Anthony's remarks to me and him shoving me around but this? It seems like he wants to rip me in half. 

" I . . . I don't know what-"

" You know exactly what I fucking mean!" His rage-filled scream echoes in my ears as he shoves me violently against the locker. I hear a sickening crunch as my camera smashes against my back, sending sharp shards of glass piercing into my skin. The pain is excruciating, but the realization kicked in that my cherished camera is ruined hurts even more - a loss that cost me a fortune and can never be replaced.

He raised his fist at me, ready to strike me dead. "Stop it, now."  a feminine but strong voice halted his actions. " What the hell is wrong with you?!" Hana yanked Anthony's arms off of me as she snapped at him. " You were going to hurt him! For what?!"

The realization kicked into Anthony and he turned his head in shame, " Is just . . . I was mad-"

" So you were going to beat him up 'cause you can't control your fucking emotions? Grow the fuck up. This is why I will never like you. Not even as a decent person!"

Every pair of eyes in the room seemed to be fixated on me, their heavy gazes weighing down on my shoulders. I suppressed the urge to shrink away into a dark corner and disappear. Determined to distract myself, I spun around on my heels, trying to focus on mental calculations instead of fumbling for my calculator in the cluttered depths of my locker. Suddenly, I felt a soft touch on my arm, halting me in my tracks. But beneath that gentleness, I recognized the same hands that had betrayed me before. My trust in them had shattered, and now I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease whenever they were near me.  " Gin, can we talk?" Her voice trembled like a delicate glass sculpture on the verge of shattering, but I couldn't help but still find it alluring. It was a reminder that even the most beautiful things can have a dark side, just like how the devil was once an angel.

"I have an exam." I removed her hand from me and kept walking.