CHAPTER I: The Cult Chase

[GATE'S BILL CITY, VILLAREAL INTERNATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL]

 Dev considered himself as a pretty ordinary guy.

 Just a simple senior in his high school trying to breeze the last few months of hellish school demands until he can finally relax and prepare for another war in the long dream college.

 He really is a pretty ordinary, he swears. Black hair, fair enough face, grey eyes… if you just don't think about the rarity part of it. He could be friendly but his circle just consists of 2 people. He likes photography, enjoys dessert and think the sky is beautiful. See? Just a decent guy with a decent view in life.

 "Devveruex Villareal?" A man's voice called him out. His train of thought was suddenly interrupted, focus disrupted and enjoying the window privilege for now is taken. He moved his gaze from the sky outside and turn to the teacher calling him out by the door. It was Mr. Johnson, they're classroom adviser. "The principal was calling you in her office."

 Dev really swear he's a pretty ordinary guy. Being the student council president and apparently the son of the founder of the high school your attending is not that of a big deal right? It shouldn't be.

 "Thank you for informing me sir, I'll go now." He stood up and bowed to Mr. Johnson before heading out of the classroom and finally being freed off the suffocating paradox he'd been plunge in because of one damn song. That one song of that idol that recently become such a sensation was giving Dev the creeps, he doesn't know why but it's triggering his…

 Dev swears he's not abnormal. He couldn't be when he excels in class and pretty much to himself have a decent personality but even though how much he convinces himself, the wrongness in his being just kept on reminding him. He doesn't want to acknowledge there's something wrong with him and above all, he doesn't want his parents to see something wrong with him when he's been doing just fine and perfect.

 It's outrageous and pathetic, really. Why not tell your parents that you've been having hallucinations, experiencing some schizophrenic theatrics this whole time? Dev thinks it's because he is insecure. See, Dev's parents—a power couple, two big people, powerful and almighty, he loves them and doesn't ask for more but he's not their biological child. This fact had always been one of his weak points, especially because he's an only child and everything they have will be a legacy for him to continue. He feared that they'd see less in him, even if it is in a positive way, he doesn't want to feel worthless in the good life and title he'd been so graciously gifted with.

 So that's why, Dev monologues, he's a pretty ordinary guy. He's totally not gas lighting himself.

 He walked through the hallway with confident steps. Occasionally, there were some students that greeted him on the way. A minute-long journey and he arrived at the principal's office. He went in and greeted Mrs. Lee politely. There wasn't much to talk with, she just asked about more details regarding the council proposal project he submitted and listened to her suggestions. He exited the office with the documents approved.

 Dev craned his neck, relieving the stress from his muscles and sighed. He can already feel the bell that's about to ring and as if on cue, the bell really did rang and feet shuffling from rooms can be heard.

 He made another journey through the hallways, now occasionally telling off students that's running and scolding those who were escaping from their cleaning duties. Dev chuckled to himself, he doesn't know why but after class moments always amused him. He continued on to finish the minute-long walk back to his room when he heard it once again. The damn song everyone's been obsessed about.

 Now, Dev is not a Zaiel hater, he listens to his songs from time to time too but when 'Shadows' came up, he really wished he was a hater. Ever since he listened to the song this morning while having breakfast, he's hallucination ticks that usually surfaced once or twice a month and only for some brief moments, now suddenly slammed at him at full force.

 He should've see the warnings when he felt his temple softly pulsing the moment the song started because once he was finally enjoying the song and immersed himself with the lyrics, he came down with a massive slap in the face the moment he opened his eyes. It was his usual hallucinations but more intense. The what was a seemingly vast black space he had grown accustomed to evolved with its darkness pretending to dance. It was weird, intimidating and unsettling, it felt like shadows and abyss has something alive in it. When Dev finally pulled out from that dissociative moment, he's suddenly in his classroom already. He was too conscious to ask other people what he was doing in that minutes or hour he can't remember but seeing from other people being just their normal selves around him, he decided to forget about it.

 At the first period, he figured out the song was triggering him and at lunch, he found out he can keep himself out of the loop if he focused enough on distracting himself. So generally, Dev believes he can just get by the day. However, he didn't expect that he'd be passing by the Music Club room and that they'd be banging up the speakers with the damn song.

 Speakers are loud, of course, but due to the overall weirdness the day has been through mixed up with his constant negative thoughts, the sounds felt like it was right next to his ears and bombing his eardrums.

 Dev clutched his head at the pain that exploded inside his skull and stumbled. The world momentarily shattered like glasses in a blink, it came back as if in reverse and then it was black. There was a sinister whisper inside his brain, it was low and almost inaudible but it felt like it was screaming right at his ears. Shouting "Wake up! Come back!" like a mantra. He blinked the fourth time and everything became normal again but sweat stings his shaky pale eyes and he blinked once more. The world was upside down, Dev was nauseous. 

 Suddenly, he felt hands on his shoulders. He blinks in surprise and realized everything was fine. The world wasn't upside down and his friend, Matteo who was coincidentally a member of the music club was hovering at his pitiful state. He was kneeling on the ground, hands still on his ears and his body was vibrating in a very bad way.

 "Dev! Bro, Dev!" Matteo was whisper shouting at him.

 He looked up and took a moment to calm himself. As best as he could without closing his eyes, he dared not to. Miraculously, the heavens seemed to favor him and he finally felt his body ease.

 "I'm fine, just some severe headache." Dev dismissed.

 Matteo looked like he was contemplating on something before he sighed and helped Dev to stand up. Just then he realized that the speaker was turned off. Thankfully.

 "Let's go to the school clinic." Matteo offered.

 Dev shook his head and offered a smile. "I'm fine, Teo. I'll just sleep at home."

 The other gave him another worried look before sighing and glancing at the music room where a couple of students was trying to be not obvious on their eavesdropping.

 "Fine. You're lucky we're busy for the upcoming event you planned. I'll be nagging you tomorrow, that's a promise." Matteo threatened.

 Dev chuckled before pushing Matteo to go back to their club activity. After saying brief farewells, Dev sighed in both relief and exhaustion. He really does want to sleep. He quickly retrieved his belongings from his classroom and swiftly left the school building while shooting a text to his mom that he'll be walking home today.

 A few minute after the message was sent, his phone rang. He picked up immediately.

 "Hello, mom. I'm fine, there's no problem. Just thought I could enjoy some exercise today." Dev supplied as he continues his walk.

 The person on the other line, his mother, didn't reply right away. There was an intimidating pause before a sweet cold voice resonated in his phone's speakers. "That sounded so scripted, Devveruex." Her tone was apprehensive but gentle.

 Dev smiled behind his phone. "I promise there's nothing wrong, when have I been in trouble, mom? I really just want to walk."

 "Are you sure you're not actually just walking a girlfriend home?"

 "Mom!"

 There was a chuckle in the other line. "Alright. Be safe."

 "I will."

 The call ended and Dev found himself that he's actually halfway his route. His eyebrow twitched in a sudden uneasy feeling that creeps up on his skin. After the call was hanged up, he started feeling like he's being watched.

 Now, Dev have dealt with stalker situations before since he's a son of some big people and this is actually what he's mom was worried about in the call. However, there was something specifically creepy today, it's not sinister but the feeling all throughout the day had been unsettling, as if there's something inside his skin that's keep in scratching his insides.

 4:45PM

 The numbers were glaring at his wristwatch, it's not that late yet but the world seems to be quickly dimming. He paced up his walk and rummaged through his pocket for a pen. What if it's a pen? It can still stab!

 But, there's something weird going on, he can feel it. No matter how much he walks fast, his limbs felt heavy and he can't seem to find the end of the alley he was passing in. He paused and looked behind him, brandishing his pen. No one was there. He gripped the pen in his right hand, clenching it too hard while trying his hard not to grit his teeth in frustration. Is he starting to hallucinates again? He can't afford a black out right now.

 He turned around and decided to skid off. Shuck this crap!

 He ran as fast as he could, he could feel something was about to go down and he better be off with it. But as if fate hates him, he already he figured out he actually couldn't run off from this. He's certain now, he's already hallucinating!

 He gasped and stumbled back as he stared at the massive wall of shadows in front of him that suddenly materialize. It was buzzing, it was loud with its guttural animalistic hiss. It seems like human whispers but distorted as if the voice from the voice box was cut off from the throat. It almost feels like there were hands beckoning him. His hallucinations look dangerous, Dev isn't dumb. He knows there's something wrong with what he's imagining right now. It feels so real and at the same time delirious.

 The path was completely blocked off and he doesn't want to experiment on jumping on that abomination of a thing in front of him. He turned around at the sounds of footsteps behind him and saw three distinct individual.

 Dev would like to describe it as distinct rather than funny because, seriously? They look kinda amazing rocking on their twinning beige ancient cloak and gothic looking circlet in their foreheads.

 "Uh…" Dev backed off in instinct before he remembered the shadow wall behind him in panic. He glanced at it, it was inviting. He looked back to the three strangers. He's not sure if they are still a part of his hallucinations but there is a weird glow within their eyes, it almost looks crazed and Dev doesn't feel good about it.

 "You are not imagining things, dear boy." The one in the middle, with a ring in his nose mumbled with his deep voice.

 "Yesss. It is a calling of yoursss… to the lord." The beautiful lady at the left hissed almost like the shadow wall behind him, it made his spine shivers. Are they… perhaps some member of a cult?

 "Young… oh, our young Devveruex." The oldest of the three, he assumed from the white beard, said loudly as if he was announcing something.

 Dev recoiled at the call of his name, it was weird coming out from weird people. Besides, who are these maniacs?

 "That's a very rude description for us, Young Devveruex." The old one chided, making Dev startle. Did… did he just read his mind? "Fear not, I am not one to grudge. I understand your lack of enlightenment."

 "Who are you?" Bravely, Dev brandished his pen again.

 "No neeeeed to feel thhhhreatened… we're heeeeereee to guide youuu."

 Dev shook his head firmly. "Stay back! What are you guys talking about?"

 The one in the middle stepped forward, approaching him. "It's too complicated to explain, dear boy. Just enter the door." He gestured at the shadow wall behind him.

 There was something intimidating in his steps, Dev can feel that his pen will be of no use. Hallucinations or not, he can feel anxiety ticking like a timer in his temple. Before Dev could even say something in return, the one approaching him continued.

 "Or… well, we'll be forced to make you." He waved his hand in front of him and like magic, a dagger suddenly materialized as if it was ripped off from an unknown space. It was a simple looking dagger but upon looking at it, Dev can feel something more into it. He doesn't want to think about it because he has no time to admire sick looking sharp objects. Every hair in his nape stood up and his heart screams run.

 Hastily, he threw his pen to the man with nose piercing, momentarily startling him and giving him enough opportunity to push and slam him towards the hissy lady, making the both of them tumble to the side. The old man with them, froze with a dumbfounded face.

 'Thank god I started being faithful to sports. My pen though… that was my favorite pen' Dev cried internally as he ran away.

 The man with nose piercing growled in frustration, he pushed the hissing lady to his side and stood up to ran after Dev. His discarded dagger forgotten. Meanwhile, the old man recovered from the comical scenario and chuckled deliriously to himself. He then clasped upside down his hands in front of his stomach before whispering something. When he opened his hands, grey skeletal birds materialized in thin air, spouting out of his hands. The birds screeched like a wailing lady from a cliff.

 Dev looked back at the chilling sound and saw the birds flying at him at full speed. He crouched narrowly missing the terrifying animals as they were about to attack him. Unfortunately, dodging means getting caught up, the man with the nose piercing tackled him to the ground. His rough hands were gripping his forehead and neck, forcefully pushing him down. Dev clawed at his throat, the man was putting force little by little, making him gasp in panic.

 "Argh!"

 "As expected of dear boy. He does have an innate strength." The man glared down at him but it was mixed with something akin to proud. "I'm sure I broke a few ribs from that stunt you did earlier. Your father would be proud."

 Dev's silver eyes widened in confusion, he trashed wildly.

 "Uh-uh. Not your father but your real father. Your parents are waiting for you, dear boy!" The man grinned at him.

 The old man trudge towards them and clicked his tongue. "Stop confusing the young Devveruex, Alejandro. We shall finish our goals for now."

 "Haiiiish." The man, Alejandro, grumbled but proceeded to shut up.

 "Cassandra." The old man called out from the back and the hissy lady walked towards them like a zombie. She was giggling.

 "Lord isssss happyyy… I sssssshall deliver hisss boooooy. Ha-hA!" Hissy lady, Cassandra, danced like a drunkard around Dev's pathetic state before suddenly stopping above Dev's head, hovering at him.

 The lady was looking down at him with unfocused eyes, she has a blank face but her lips were stretched in a creepy smile. She leaned and covered his eyes and mouth before whispering something he couldn't understand.

 Right then, Dev heard the same sound he heard from the shadow wall earlier. It was behind him, the guttural hissing was directly at his ears, scratching his brain in the best and worst way possible. His consciousness melt into a series of glitches, he can only subconsciously feel cold ghastly hands reaching out from his behind pulling him down. He could barely remember having some kind of seizure before his whole existence seemed to be twisted, his head squashed and passed out.

 Slap!

His cheeks stings.

When he opened his eyes, he was in a vast dark place that he used to saw in his dreams and a blue eyed man was staring down at him.