chp 6 : From bad to worse

You know how even when the sun is shining brightly in the sky the moon may still be present ever so closely yet farther away from the sun as a background image.

The moon hung up in the sky as it slowly turned red and then it blinked, red embers appeared on Owen's right hand as if something was burning before Owen slowly calmed down which was quicker than usual.

He stared at his hand, bewildered by the sudden warmth coursing through him. The glow from the embers danced playfully against the fading light of day, creating an otherworldly spectacle that seemed to tug at the very edges of his reality. Was this just a trick of the mind, or was there something more profound happening?

Around him, the world continued as if nothing was amiss. Birds flitted between the trees, their songs mingling with the whisper of the wind. Yet, in this moment of stillness, Owen felt a connection to something. It wasn't fear that gripped him now but a curious kind of anticipation, as if the universe had decided to help him.

Owen took deep breath, focusing on the warmth that radiated from his fingers. The red light flickered gently, and he felt a pulse, almost like a heartbeat, resonating within him. He closed his eyes and images flashed in his eyes the red ball in the sky and then followed by a hurricane that engulfed him in eternal pain and darkness.

"Maybe today is different, these embers remind of my unusual dream ...as if i wasn't weird enough " he whispered to himself, the words carrying a weight that felt both thrilling and annoying he opened his eyes, the moon's crimson hue shimmered above him.

With a steadiness he didn't know he possessed, Owen took a slowly got up and looked directly at the red moon, which blinked once more.

His mind went blank in an instant before he looked towards the alley where he saw mia standing there she had a smile spreading on her face which quickly disappeared and turned into worry.

He didn't notice that his eyes were unfocused as if his brain was rebooting before coming online he realized mia was infront him with a fave full of worry.

"Owen, are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. The red hue from the moon slowly disappeared followed by the sunlight casting elongated shadows that danced along the walls of the narrow alley.

He shook his head slightly, trying to shake off the fog that had momentarily clouded his mind. "I… I think so," he replied…" what happened?"

The question wasn't directed at Mia but at himself but mia took it as if it was the former.

"You froze for a awhile and i saw that gang coming out of here while laughing..i-i came over and saw you like this.What were you thinking about?"

Owen swallowed hard, he couldn't tell her what happened. He glanced back down the alley, morw specifically where he was roughed up ..the trash pile and his gaze lingered there "I just felt this overwhelming sense of—"

"Fear?" Mia interrupted gently, her features softening. "It's okay to feel that way. We're in this together." she didn't even look where he had directed his gaze acting as if she didn't see ...the smell that clung to him nauseated her.

He nodded, taking comfort in her presence. "Yeah, it's just… everything feels so uncertain right now." The tension in his shoulders eased slightly as he spoke.

Mia stepped even closer, her expression resolute. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together. Just promise me you won't shut me out."

Owen thought about alex said beforeleavingthe alley 'light huh'. "I promise," he said firmly. "I won't let fear take over. Not again."

Feeling Mia's steady presence beside him. He looked up at the sky subconsciously and he saw the moon which remained there in the sky as if it was meant to be there during the day.

Mia was his sole comfort in this hell hole ...his ligh-.. his only best friend.

"Um can we go I need to bath I don't want to dirty you since I fell into that pile of trash "

He said while slowly moving away a bit from mia as he looked at her affectionately.

Mia looked away slightly but took a step closer and held Owen's palm and pulled him.

"Let's go then " mia said that as her hand shuddered slightly before going back to normal..

Owen felt like like heaven has blessed him today he didn't even notice the shadow in the corner of the alley staring him with a knife that gleamed slightly.

It had waited for the right moment but it was messed up , how this person wasn't noticed was only because they stood behind a dumpster which hid them perfectly as it was in a dark corner.

People even with a dumpster nearby still chose to dump their trash in one pile in any random spot. That's where Owen fell .

As Owen and mia walked away the person sighed deeply, the pungent smell of garbage mixed with the hot afternoon air was really annoying. They had emotions—fear, adrenaline, and a strange sense of excitement. This person had always preferred the quiet corners of the world, places where they could observe rather than be seen. But today was different a opportunity was wasted due to that bitch.

With the sounds of distant laughter and hurried footsteps, oblivious to the tension building behind him. Just moments ago, he had stumbled upon something he shouldn't have, something that made the stakes much higher than he could have ever anticipated.

Mia shifted beside him, her presence calming him slightly..his heart was beating at a certain rhythm while skipping a few beats.. ah love... as mia leaned closer to whisper, "lets hurry up " Her voice was barely above a murmur, but it carried an urgency that pierced through the calm surrounding them.

Her eyes were tearing up and she was sniffing quite painfully.

Owen thought she saw what happened to him and only sighed internally 'one step at a time'

They quickly reached near Mia's house and she gave him the most beautiful smile then went towards her door and got in then closed it gently.

Owen staggered towards his house which was just 9 houses away and the sun had already set by then when he reached home.

The door was locked so he could only sigh as he peered into the hole in the door and saw lucy swinging the keys in her index finger as she whistled triumphantly.

Before Owen could even break down red embers appeared on his right hand once more but this they were slowly forming a flame the size of a thumb on his index finger

He didn't notice it he just calmed down and went towards the backyard and went in through the back door which wasn't locked luckily but he had to pass by the kitchen thi which was problematic.

'I really hate this' he slowly opened the door and poked his head and before he could even see what was happening he passed out then fell backwards and hit his head hard onto the ground.

<------->

Sofia looked at Owen knocked out cold then slowly closed the door gently and returned to cooking.