Things That Follow The Light

Chapter 1--AWAKENING

My body tensed up as I approached my new school. I adjusted in my seat and pulled my backpack tightly to my side.

Will I finally fit in here?

Do I get to just move on after what happened?

Will I be able to make any friends this time around?

As we got closer to the school gates, my pulse quickened.

“Breathe,” I muttered to myself and took deep breaths.

The sharp pain I felt on my head distracted me from my breathing exercises. I immediately placed my hand on the sore spot on top of my head as I looked down and found a book by my feet.

“Sorry, can I have that back?” a girl asked politely, stretching out her hand.

I rubbed the top of my head, wincing, and bent over to pick it up.

“Thanks,” she replied and turned around after taking the book.

Oh well. Back to my breathing exercises.

Although the pain in my head had momentarily made me forget about my anxiety, it came back the second the bus came to an abrupt stop.

I breathed through my mouth and mustered up the courage to finally get up after all the students had gotten off the bus. Once I stepped off, I wore my backpack properly and stood for a while to take in my surroundings, although I didn't know how to blend in among the other students.

The morning breeze whistled gently as I slowly made my way towards the school's entrance. The students were mostly in pairs and small groups. They laughed, made jokes, playfully chased one another around, and I wondered if this could be me someday as well.

Looking forward, I decided to strive to attain that kind of school life.

Attend classes, make friends, have lunch, study hard, go back home, and repeat.

The hair on my skin rose as the cold made me shiver. I gripped my sweater and dragged it around my body to cover myself more.

Huh. Goosebumps. Again.

I had been getting them from the moment I stepped out of my house, and it had been really... eerie.

I had a really bad feeling about this, but here goes nothing.

Finding my class, I stopped by the entrance and mentally prepared myself before stepping in.

No one, absolutely no one, paid me any attention.

I sighed inwardly in relief and located an empty seat at the back of the class.

Hardly had I sat down when the girl from the bus came towards my seat and approached me.

“Hey. I'm Sara. I heard you transferred from Westbridge Academy. My friend goes there. Welcome to New Future School,” she said, stretching out her hand for a handshake.

I turned my face towards her and shook her hand lightly before pulling back.

“I'm Iris. Nice to meet you,” I replied and hoped the conversation would end there so my history at my previous school wouldn't be brought up when the corner of my eye caught Aries, my twin sister, entering the class.

She had beautiful black hair and sparkling brown eyes. She strode into the class while chatting with a bunch of girls as they walked beside one another.

As usual, she had already started making friends.

It was never an issue for her, so I wasn't too surprised.

This time around, I was determined to make friends as well and leave my past behind, so I turned back to look at Sara and smiled warmly.

“Wanna sit beside me?”

She nodded immediately and jogged back to her seat to pack her belongings.

I was shocked to see how quickly she agreed. I almost chuckled out loud when I realized how jovial and cute she actually was.

She returned almost immediately and sat beside me, smiling so brightly, like she had been waiting for me to suggest the idea of sitting together.

This is nice, I thought to myself.

“So, how you liking our school? Do you know anyone here? Do you have any friends here? If you don't, worry no more. I've got you!” Sara kept throwing questions at me without letting me reply, so I just waited for her to finish.

“Thanks. I... what was your question again?” I said, laughing, not knowing where to start from.

She was about to talk when the bell rang and the teacher came in.

The students rushed back to their seats and organized themselves as the first period began.

“Let's have lunch at the cafeteria later,” Sara whispered to me as she brought out her books from her backpack.

I nodded in agreement and did the same.

Three periods went by, and it was finally lunchtime. But Sara and I had already been separated since she was taking other subjects that I wasn't taking yet.

The noise in the classroom wouldn't let me concentrate on the novel I was reading, so I decided to locate the library to find some peace and quiet.

“Where're you going?” Aries asked from behind me, and I turned to face her.

“The library. Why?” I asked coldly, waiting for her response.

“Are you doing okay?” she asked, prying into my affairs again.

“And why do you care?” I replied and turned around, not waiting to hear her response.

She was always in my business. Treating me like I were some fragile egg that couldn't take care of herself.

Annoying.

Or perhaps she was just worried?

My conscience tugged at me, but I waved it off and entered the library.

The atmosphere of the library was peaceful and serene. Everyone stayed in their seats and quietly flipped through the pages of the books they were reading.

I walked in slowly, trying not to be a distraction, and located the shelves.

As I looked around for a book that might interest me, I saw a brown hardcover book peeking out from the shelf, almost as if it were calling to me.

I moved towards it.

Just as I placed my hand on it to pull the book out, another hand reached for it, and our hands collided.

“Oh.” I jolted and stepped away from the book.

To my left was a boy, about my age. He seemed taller than I was, with long, curly black hair and a pair of deep black eyes.

“Oh, you can have it. It's fine,” he told me, gesturing for me to take the book.

“Really?” I asked.

“Yeah, sure. I've read it before. It's really good. You'll enjoy it,” he assured me.

“Thanks,” I replied and grabbed the book from the shelf.

THE HOLLOW BETWEEN WORLDS.

I read the title of the book and was quite intrigued.

Then, for the fourth time that day, the hair on my skin rose again, and I felt a cold sweat break out over my forehead all in a split second.

Goosebumps. Again.

“Why does this keep happening?” I muttered to myself.

I looked up to face the boy, who had already turned back towards the shelf to look at more books.

My heart jumped.

A ghastly image stood before me.

My hands tightened around the book, and I froze where I was. My heart pounded rapidly.

What is that?

I stared at the shadow-like image that seemed almost... alive.

Does that even make any sense?

“Hey!”

The sudden sharp sound of the boy calling out to me jolted me back to reality.

I immediately looked back at the spot where I had been staring, but the image I had seen earlier was gone.

Am I hallucinating?

“Is everything alright?” the boy asked me curiously. He seemed concerned.

“I'm... I'm fine. Thanks,” I replied and walked out of the library abruptly, hoping he didn't think I was crazy.

Rushing to the bathroom, I slammed the door and dropped my bag to the ground.

Then I instinctively looked around to make sure I was the only one in the bathroom.

Luckily, it seemed like I was.

My body began to feel hot and light.

Unusually light.

Even before I had a chance to process what was happening, I felt the goosebumps again.

This time, they felt more intense than they had in the library. There was a tingling sensation at the back of my head, like I was being watched.

I spun around quickly to check what was behind me, and I nearly passed out from the sheer aura the shadow-like figure was emitting.

I let out a small scream, not wanting to alert other people, before my knees gave out and I fell to the ground.

But I knew I had to run or hide.

I stood up immediately and tried to open the bathroom door, but it wouldn't budge.

Really? That was the worst timing!

I turned back to face the figure.

It now had an almost human-like form as it floated in the air and continued moving closer to me.

I panicked and shut my eyes.

I didn't know what to do anymore. I couldn't even run or hide.

I froze in place, stiffening my whole body in fear of what would happen to me when a strange warmth crawled up my arms.

Then, a sharp burst of energy was released from my entire body.

It felt like a bowl of warm water had just been poured over me.

I opened my eyes.

A shimmering light was fading around me, and the shadow-like figure was recoiling from me.

The air vibrated slightly as I fell to my knees in utter shock and confusion.

Am I really going crazy?

That was the first thought that ran through my mind.

I managed to steady my breathing after taking a few deep breaths and stood up to face the mirror in the bathroom.

Looking up, I paused.

I closed my eyes, then opened them again.

My eyes weren't just their normal green color anymore.

They were glowing.

Really brightly.

Like someone had just switched on a bulb.

“What?” I scoffed, almost mockingly at myself.

I truly began to believe I was losing my mind.

Just when I had decided to have a normal and peaceful school life.

I ignored the glimmering green eyes staring back at me in the mirror and picked up my bag before leaving the bathroom in sheer exasperation.

I had had enough for one day.

Walking through the hallway, I felt dizzy and faint.

“Hmph!” I grunted as I bumped into someone, and some books fell to the ground.

Looking up at the person, I realized it was the boy I had met earlier in the library.

“Oh, I'm sorry.”

I bent down to pick up the books and handed them over to him, still feeling slightly faint.

“Your eyes...” the boy started before freezing in his spot.

“What about my eyes?” I asked, hoping they weren't actually glowing.

“I... are they actually glowing?” he asked, with an almost absurd but serious expression on his face.

I blinked and thought for a moment.

Could my eyes be glowing for real?