the truth(2)

The cool night air was eerily silent as Dakota stood in front of his friends, the dark energy still swirling around his fingertips. They were all still shaken from the first set of memories he had shown them—Michael's childhood, his bonds with his friends, and the warmth of the past that none of them quite understood.

Henry: (arms crossed, frowning)

"So? You gonna explain, Dakota? Because all I saw was some kid's childhood, and I don't see what that has to do with anything."

Ava: (nodding, voice sharp)

"Yeah. Why show us Michael Renard's memories? And why does his story matter to us?"

Lucas: (staring hard at Dakota, eyes unreadable)

"And why did you show me that name? I feel like I should know it."

Dakota, unbothered by their questioning, simply raised his hand again. The swirling darkness expanded outward, wrapping around them once more, distorting the air like a mirage.

Dakota: (calm, firm)

"Stop asking questions and watch. You'll understand soon."

And with that, the world around them shifted again.

The group found themselves standing in the middle of a bustling schoolyard. The bright sun hung high in the sky, illuminating the sea of students clad in blue and white uniforms. It was the first day of middle school, and excitement buzzed in the air.

At the center of it all stood five students—Michael, Ethan, Emily, Alex, and Marie. They were older now, their features sharper, their expressions more confident.

Michael adjusted his backpack, looking up at the massive school building before him. He wasn't nervous. If anything, he was already thinking about how to dominate this new environment.

Emily: (smirking, arms crossed)

"Three years of middle school. Let's see who gets the best grades, shall we?"

Alex: (grinning, tossing an apple into the air and catching it)

"Tch. You already know it's gonna be me."

Marie: (laughing softly, nudging Alex playfully)

"You mean us? We're all going to be at the top."

Ethan: (grinning, cracking his knuckles)

"I don't care about the grades. All I know is that I'm gonna be the best on the football team."

Michael smiled faintly at his friends' confidence.

Michael: (calm, sure)

"Then let's do it. Let's be the best."

And they did.

The memories fast-forwarded, showing flashes of their first year in middle school. In the classrooms, Michael and his friends quickly rose to the top.

They weren't just good.

They were untouchable.

Test scores were shattered. Assignments were completed flawlessly. Teachers whispered among themselves about how these five were in a league of their own. No one could challenge them academically—no one even came close.

Henry: (watching in disbelief)

"They really… took over the whole damn school's rankings?"

Mia: (eyes wide, whispering)

"They were all at the top. Not just Michael, but every single one of them…"

Lucas stared intensely at Ethan's younger self, something nagging at his mind.

Lucas: (muttering to himself)

"Why does this feel so familiar?"

Dakota stood silently beside them, watching their reactions.

The memory shifted again. Now, they were on the school's football field. A game was in progress, and all eyes were on a single player.

Ethan.

He was an absolute monster on the field. No one could keep up with him. He was too fast, too strong, too skilled. He weaved through the defenders like they weren't even there, outmaneuvering them with an effortless grace that made him look like he was playing against children.

Coach: (shouting from the sidelines, amazed)

"That kid—he's a prodigy! I've never seen a middle schooler with talent like this!"

Ethan scored goal after goal, leading his team to an undefeated season. Scouts began taking notice. His name started circulating in the sports world, even at such a young age.

Lucas: (clutching his head, his heart pounding)

"Why… why does watching him feel like déjà vu?"

Dakota turned his head slightly, glancing at Lucas.

Dakota: (softly, almost knowingly)

"Because it is déjà vu."

Lucas's breath caught in his throat, but before he could say anything, the memory changed again.

The warm glow of success was suddenly shattered as the group found themselves outside the school building, near a row of lockers.

A group of older students—seventh grades—stood in front of Michael and his friends, sneering.

Lead Bully: (mocking, arms crossed)

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the 'genius squad.' Think you're better than everyone else just because you get high grades?"

Ethan: (rolling his eyes, irritated)

"Tch. We are better than you."

The bully's face twitched in anger, but before he could respond, another one of his goons stepped forward.

Second Bully: (grinning maliciously)

"I bet without your books, you guys are nothing. Let's see what happens when we knock you down a peg."

The bullies cracked their knuckles, stepping forward.

Henry: (watching from the present, tense)

"Oh, shit. This is about to turn into a fight, isn't it?"

Mia: (whispering, concerned)

"There's no way they're going to take that lying down…"

Dakota smirked, watching the memory unfold.

Dakota: (muttering to himself, amused)

"This is where things got interesting."

Michael and his friends exchanged glances before turning back to the bullies.

Michael: (calm, unimpressed)

"You really think we're scared of you?"

Emily: (smirking, cracking her knuckles)

"Cute. You think we don't know how to fight?"

Alex: (grinning, stepping forward)

"Alright then. Let's see how this goes for you."

The air grew thick with tension.

The fight was about to begin.

And then—

The illusion suddenly broke apart, dragging Dakota's friends back into the present. The night air felt colder now, the campfire's glow no longer warm but eerie.

Everyone stood frozen, processing what they had just seen.

Jack: (staring at Dakota, completely bewildered)

"What the hell was that?!"

Lucas was breathing heavily, his hands trembling slightly.

Lucas: (whispering, staring at Dakota)

"Tell me the truth… Who was Michael Renard?"

Dakota, standing with his back turned to them, exhaled slowly.

Dakota: (quietly, voice unreadable)

"We're not done yet."

Henry: (gritting his teeth, frustrated)

"Stop dodging, Dakota! We need answers!"

Dakota finally turned to face them, his eyes unreadable in the flickering firelight.

Dakota: (calm, firm)

"You'll get them. But for now, stop asking and watch."

And with that, the dark energy swirled once more.

The next memory was waiting.