The Mark (2)

Zazm stepped into the classroom, the familiar hum of chatter and laughter washing over him like a wave.

He felt the weight of the letter still pressing on his mind, but he pushed it aside, focusing instead on the mundane reality of school life.

The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting a sterile glow on the rows of desks filled with his classmates.

"Yo, Zazm!" a voice called out, breaking through his thoughts. It was Rina, her bright smile infectious as she waved him over.

"Why are you wearing such a tight shirt underneath? It's May, man!"

Zazm's heart raced. He instinctively tugged at the hem of his uniform, trying to hide the tightness of the fabric that concealed the mark on his hand.

"Uh, you know me... Just trying something new." He spoke in his carefree demeanor dismissing his hand in the air.

"Yeah well guess that's the classic Zazm. He had to something out of pocket every once in a while" Emilia commented with a smirk.

His friends laughed, but Zazm could see the glint of curiosity in their eyes. "New style, huh? You should've told us!" Ruok teased, nudging him playfully.

"Yeah, man, you look like you're ready for a fashion show!" chimed in Leo, his laughter booming across the room.

Zazm felt a sudden urge to commit some heinous crimes... But he kept his intrusive thoughts to himself.

He was just talking with his friends, trying to somehow get out of the laughing stock they had just made him. When he glanced at the figure who entered the door.

It was Jahanox with the same serious look tugged on his face, his hair nearly commed and his posture stern. But his face looked a little pale.

"Huh!? What happened to him dude?" Leo who was also looking at the figure said in a curious tone.

Ruok shrugged,"He must have just fallen or something.." Rina looked at Ruok with a confused expression, "Who gets their armed covered in bandages just because they fell down?"

Zazm also noticed the bandages wrapped around Jahanox Nova's arm as he entered the classroom. Zazm's thoughts rushed back to his own mark... 'Wha...If?' But he quickly dismissed that.

"Come on, Zazm! Show us the new look!" Leo insisted, pulling at his shirt. The topic that had just changed, once again shifted back to Zazm.

He let out a huge sigh knowing they won't let him off. Just as he was thinking that the teacher entered the classroom and Zazm took the opportunity.

In a moment of inspiration, Zazm feigned a cough, "I think I'm coming down with something. Better not get too close!" The sudden shift in his tone caught his friends off guard, and they exchanged confused glances.

"Uh, okay? Just don't die on us, man!" Rina laughed, stepping back. They all went back to their seats. 'Thank you... Teacher. I won't forget your kindness'

The day continued and it was almost the lunch time, he had somehow passed the time. It was the history period right now, his self proclaimed Arch-nemesis.

He glanced at his arm again, throughout the entire day he couldn't get rid of thoughts swirling across his mind. He was pulled out of his thoughts when a voice called him.

"Zazm, would you mind paying a little attention? Or is there something outside?" The teacher glared at Zazm, who was unconsciously looking outside the window.

"I'm sorry" Zazm apologized and sat back down. "Too busy thinking about your new fit?" Leo looked at Zazm with a sly grin.

"Yeah that's what I'm thinking, for now. If you don't shut up, I'll start thinking about something to you." Zazm shot him back with a small smile.

Leo felt a shiver down his spine, "Haha.. chill chill, I'm just kidding."

Leo looked forward and they both looked at the teacher who was teaching....'What even is that?' Zazm sighed trying to pay attention.

Dringggg

The bell finally rung, "I thought the time forgot to move or something." Zazm got up from his seat he wanted to ask Jahanox what happened to him.

He glanced at his seat and went to him, "Yoo! You alive? I remember leaving you in one piece, yesterday." Zazm carefree attitude was same and his smile as annoying as it gets.

Jahanox looked at Zazm with a serious expression that caught Zazm off guard. Usually, whenever he joked with him, he would playfully reply him.

Or.... would straight up threaten him but it was different this time. He realized something was wrong and decided to push the limit.

"I think, I understand now." He placed a hand on Jahanox's shoulder, "It's no wonder you don't have a girlfriend. If you look at them like that, they would pass out."

Zazm let out of small laugh before his black eyes went hollow and his expression that was carefree up until turner dead serious.

"So, you are going to tell yourself or I make you speak?" It wasn't the first time usually Zazm had to act like this.

Jahanox was the type to hide things but eventually he would tell him everything.

Jahanox got up from his seat, "Let's go somewhere else." Zazm followed him behind and they eventually reached the rooftop.

Jahanox leaned against the realing and glanced at Zazm, "I can tell you, right?"

Zazm looked at him in a dumbfounded way, he wiped an imaginary tears off his eyes. "I'm sorry, I suppose you don't trust me now."

"Shut your stupidass up" Jahanox shot Zazm with a straight answer and started unwrapping his bandages.

Zazm eyes shot up and the sight he saw. A mark, it was clearly a mark.

The mark was a mesmerizing tapestry of intricate designs, with swirling patterns that resembled chains falling from a hand, each link shimmering with an ethereal glow.

Interspersed among the chains were complex geometric shapes that twisted and turned, creating an illusion of depth and movement.

At the center of it all lay a symbol that seemed to pulse with a dark allure, hinting at a power that felt both captivating and ominous--something that signified an otherworldly energy, though Jahanox himself had no idea of its true nature.

"What is that?" Zazm whispered, captivated and terrified all at once.

"I don't know," Jahanox admitted, his voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of concern.

"It just appeared this morning. I've been trying to figure it out, but i don't understand anything. I wrapped it in bandages in a hurry and get out of the house avoiding my parents."

Jahanox touched the mark on his and gently caressed it with his fingers, "It feels like it had this energy... It feels like it's alive and is connected to me."

Zazm nodded, his own secret weighing heavily on his mind. "I have something too." He hesitated, then revealed his own mark, hidden beneath the tight shirt.

Jahanox's eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of the symbol. "What does this mean?"

Zazm symbol was different than his but at the same time it wasn't. The hourglass in the centre of his mark seemed to reflect sunlight and the stars and complex circles made it more mysterious.

"I don't know," Zazm replied, his voice trembling. "But I think it has something to do with….. A letter I found it said, 'The clock strikes twelve, everything shifts.'"

Jahanox's brow furrowed in thought. "What letter and where did you find it?"

"It was in my bag, yesterday. I ignored it since it looked weird and when, I woke up this was it. We need to figure this out. We can't keep this hidden."

Zazm looked at Jahanox and then started to look at the far end of horizon. Jahanox slightly nodded before he also stared at the blank space.

As they stood on the rooftop, the world below them faded away, leaving only the weight of their newfound powers and the mystery that lay ahead. The sun dipped lower in the sky, and soon enough the bell rang.

________________________