AGGELOI, Book 2: "Alliance"

Daniel

No matter how hard I tried to sleep in my bed, I couldn’t. I felt a discomfort in my heart! An inexplicable tightness, an unease! It was futile to to lie in bed anymore and toss and turn. I got up and went to the living room.

Unconsciously, before going downstairs, my gaze fell on Rachel’s door! As if hypnotized, my steps led me outside her door. My heart then awoke and began to flutter. After wrestling with myself over and over, whether or not should I go in, I finally rested my forehead and clenched my fists on her door. I tried to fight what I was feeling. I remembered when she walked away from me, and I felt like I was dying. Was I feeling this anxious and restless again because I was away from her? Why did I feel so weak? I finally made the decision to move away. Maybe I wanted to prove to myself that I was fine, that I didn’t need to be around her and that it could all be in my head!

I bit my lips and stepped back. I immediately noticed the change in my heartbeat.

Still, I deliberately ignored it. I moved further away, feeling increasingly discomforted. I was running out of oxygen. As long as I still had my senses, I managed to get back to her door. Yes.

Whatever was happening to me was not normal! I had to find out what it was! The only person I can think of who might know what’s going on is that double-faced traitor, Raz!

As much as I don’t like it, I think he’s the only one who might have answers to my questions.

There’s also Demian, of course, but no matter how much I thought about him, he didn’t reappear. I don’t know how to summon him. He probably comes at will. And since he achieved what he wanted, why would he come back?

Since I wouldn’t find peace in my room, nor did I want to wake Rachel, I ended up sitting outside her door in the hall. At least there, I felt better than anywhere else!

I hugged my legs and tried to rest a little. In the morning, I would look for him. If I were lucky, he might still be wandering around the city.

The other day, he had found an acquaintance of his. I usually don’t focus on people and don’t remember details, but I couldn’t forget her. She looked like a ghost! Pale as if dead, with big green eyes, flaming hair.

Rarely do you meet such rare and memorable features!...

Scarlet

He thinks he’ll change my mind?

No.

The truth is, I expected he’d think I’m crazy too, like everyone else did. But at first, he seemed interested.

He wanted to know what was wrong with me. He seemed at least willing to listen! Turned out to be an Asshole with a capital “A”!

People can’t believe what they can’t see. I get that. I didn’t believe either, until I saw them for the first time with their teeth, horns, and all their “accessories”! Seeing them again after years means they’ll reappear sooner or later. So, I’ll have to wear glasses again to not draw attention!

Next time I see them, I’ll be ready!

Fortunately, my studies proved useful. Ever since I graduated as a physicist, I set a goal to learn everything about the reflection and diffusion of light!

I even did a PhD and graduated with honors, but my goal was different! I wanted to create a machine that could capture matter invisible to the human eye.

Yes, I knew very well that matter was visible, but I now knew that there was also a quality to matter, according to my research. To trap beings in special paper that did not belong to the material world, I had to change my thinking and adapt new data with materials that could potentially penetrate beyond the boundaries of matter!

My mind was spinning at a thousand revolutions per second. I wasn’t just thinking about what I had to do at first, but also the next ten steps! I rubbed my hands with satisfaction, as the machine I had reconstructed alone, in my lab in the basement of the house, was on the right track.

The patent designs, with all the details of my research, the dimensions, and the materials I would need, were very well thought out and written in my handwriting, which only I understood!

The only difficult part was that some of the materials I needed didn’t exist; I had to make them with absolute precision.

The slightest mistake would be enough to ruin everything! I finally lifted the huge protective goggles I was wearing as I turned off the cutting machine. I took the cut crystal and examined it in the light, blowing off the dust that had remained on it. The first piece is ready!

Fortunately, it had no marks. The way I cut it, it should fit exactly where I want... No, it needs a little more...

I said, putting my goggles back on and taking a generous sip of the coffee I had next to me. Unfortunately, I saw that I had run out!

I sighed, frustrated. When I didn’t get my caffeine fix at the moment I needed it, I became jittery, exhibiting severe withdrawal symptoms!

It was the fuel for my brain! That’s what I told myself to justify the six cups of coffee I’d had so far. Before the withdrawal symptoms kicked in due to the lack of coffee, I wheeled my chair over to the coffee maker on the counter.

Ready to grab the pot and refill my cup, I saw it was empty!

- No, no!!!

The truth is, after drinking six cups, it was natural for the pot to be empty! It just ran out at the wrong moment!

- Not now! Not now when I’m at the finish line!

With the coffee prep distracting me, I’d forget what I was thinking! I better write it down first.

I wheeled my chair back to the desk, grabbed a pen, and began writing furiously on paper like a maniac!

Automatically, I reached for an invisible cup next to me to drink coffee.

The force of habit, I thought.

Annoyed, I continued writing so I could quickly make my much-needed coffee! But the pen’s ink ran out!

Everything was conspiring against me! That was certain!

- Aaaaaaagh! Damn it!

Out of frustration, I tore the paper I was writing on! I was breathing heavily! I felt it. The symptoms were starting. And at that wrong moment, the doorbell rang!

When I heard it, I was sure I looked like a demon dressed as a mad scientist for Halloween! I shot up in my anger to open the door, with the white lab coat I was wearing fluttering as I went.

I pitied the unfortunate soul who chose the wrong moment to visit me! Even if it was an old lady, she would get it!