Chapter 1
<Jay> <Sunday, March 10, XX19>
It is another cold and solemn night. The sky was pouring once again. Not a single soul to be seen on the streets. Jay sat on the windowsill, watching the raindrops fall on the roofs of the neighboring houses. He gazed over the starless sky, relaxing his mind from all the thinking he had done for the day.
Minutes before midnight, his phone notified him of a text message. 9 AM, Scales Statue. It was from Jamie, his best friend whom he had known for five years now. The message was sent to their group conversation. Jay had been a part of this circle along with Jamie and six others for the rest of his high school life.
Liz: Oh comon u guys live closer there than me n Kris -_-
Kris: Well... Not a problem for me...
Liz: Ye cuz u have those levitating skates.
Jamie: Is your board not fixed yet?
Liz: Nope °^°
Reena: How bout I pick u up tomorrow? I have errands to do anyway before 9
Liz: Really?! Thanks a bunch ^w^
Riley: I might not be able to hang out till the afternoon. Y’know, work.
Jamie: Ooooh the studio, right?
Riley: Yep
Kris: Have you met any popular singers yet? Can you introduce me if it’s not a bother?
Riley: Unfortunately, they haven’t hired any known celebrities as of now. Considering the studio was just recently formed, they only hire aspiring young artists.
Jax: Hey there, everyone :>
Aria: Why are you guys still awake? =_=
Jax: I’m streaming
Riley: Composing
Liz: Uhmmm just finished writing... about to sleep too :3
Reena: Still doing commissions TwT
Jamie: You guys stay up late because of work? Haha, weaklings :P
Liz: Came from the one tutoring kids -_-
Jay: WeAkLiNgS :v Drown in ur paper works mf :P
Jamie: Hehe pls help :>
Jax: Why not let the papers do the work?
Liz: Here we go again...
Jay: Bruh
Jamie: Aye seems like Imma go sleep now.
Kris: Ye same here
Aria: We should all better be. No one should come late tomorrow or u know what.
Jax: Hey, at least laugh :<
Liz: Lmao g’night to all of you then :3
Jay turned his phone off and set it down with his earphones on the small table beside his bed. The sound of the raindrops hitting the iron sheets of their apartment’s roof made him calm and at peace. His eyes shut close by their own will.
Unexpectedly, it wasn’t another dreamless slumber he usually had. Someone was talking to him but he couldn’t understand what the person was saying, as if he was underwater. His visions remained dark. The muffled voices grew louder as a blaze of white light gradually lit before him. It shone between his bluish-green eyes. The images are now getting clearer. However, he couldn’t recognize their faces. Their? The unknown people are talking in unison. Each of them are telling him different things. Then, one voice spoke clearly, overpowering the other voices that are now fading in the background.
"How long are you going to make them wait?" It was his voice.
Wait? Why would I—
"How long?" The other Jay asked louder yet calmly. Their features were very similar because they are one and the same. But this Jay’s eyes are somehow different from his. They look broken — more than he had ever been before.
"How long are you going to make them wait?" The words felt heavier. In such a way, as though it was his own obligation — an unfinished task.
Jay woke up with a start. His heart thumped inside his chest. Cold sweat ran down his forehead. His dream didn’t feel horrible nor terrifying. But there was something about it that stirred something within him. The odd feeling as if he knew the spoken words are important. As though they came from an omniscient being.
His thoughts were brushed off by the knock on the door followed by the voice of his younger sister. “Mom said it’s time to eat.”
“Yeah, I’m going.” He headed to the bathroom and cleaned up. The reflection of a teenage boy stared back at him, looking completely normal. Something feels wrong, he wondered but he couldn’t decipher what seems to be peculiar.
Jay went down the stairs. The TV was open, showing the morning news channel wherein the famous newscaster was reporting about a similar incident happening for the past three weeks.
He grabbed a toast as he sat down and started eating. He noticed the distressed expression on his mother’s face while she watched the news. Jay anticipated the words she’ll say once she started talking.
“How can someone do such a terrible thing? This is why you two shouldn’t stay too late outside.” A serial murder had arisen last month, last Sunday of February. Authorities have yet to discover who was behind the dead bodies floating by the dam in the Water-Bearer District. The victims are usually teenagers around 12 to 18 years old. Their remains were absolutely cleaned so that nothing but the contaminated water was traced.
Jay drank the last of his coffee. He pondered how to tell his mother about their sudden gathering. It wouldn’t be that easy to convince her after that news report. “Mom, we have a project to do in Science today. Can I go? It’s graded based on participation.”
“Can’t you just pay part of their total expenses?” She asked while cleaning the table. Her face remained unreadable as always.
“There’s really nothing to buy. Our teacher requires us to use recyclable materials.” He lied after considering whether his reasons were believable enough.
His mother paused to think before continuing what she was doing. “When will you be back?”
“Before 3?”
“Very well. If you’re not home past 3, do not expect anyone to open the front door.” She carried the dishes to the sink and started washing them.
“Got it, Mom.”
Jay prepared his backpack and driftboard. He brought some money from his savings in case they decide to eat at GrillBurgs again. Finally, when he’s ready, he calls out to his mother before leaving. “Mom, I’m going.”
“Okay, be home before 3,” she shouted from the kitchen.
The streets of the Piautos sub district were still damp from the rain last night. The earthy scent of the downpour still lingered in the air. He had left quite earlier than the estimated time to travel to the Scales district by his driftboard. He decided to go on a little detour. With his earphones in his ears, his favorite track started playing. He threw his board in front of him. It floated inches above the ground. He hopped on the deck, feeling the locks attaching themselves under his feet. Then, it started moving.
Jay increased and decreased his speed depending on what’s in front of him. He flew over large pipes, dodged several obstacles, turning on alleys, parkouring on the roofs of their neighborhood. The air in their country had never been fresh. Even so, he always enjoyed the rush of the wind on his face. His troubles were forgotten within the rush of adrenaline. He felt free like a bird in flight.
He arrived at their meeting place fifteen minutes earlier than the said time. The statue of a beautiful lady holding a weighing scale sat on its pedestal. The golden paint had almost worn off. Nevertheless, it still looked pleasant.
In the next minutes, his friends started arriving. Riley was the first one. They started chatting about school work, whether they had done it or not yet. The topic soon leads to Riley’s application in the recording studio. Apparently, one of his compositions will be released to the public soon. Liz and Reena came next. They were riding on Reena’s yellow sidecar. The conversations split into two.
Liz purposely snatched Jay’s attention, gesturing to let Reena and Riley talk on their own. “It’s been obvious since the previous weeks.”
“But doesn’t Riley like Keira?” Jay asked as he played on his phone.
“Keira has a boyfriend now. And they seem loyal to each other so... I don’t think Riley has a chance.” She shrugged.
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“You know... about Grant.” He awkwardly said the name. He knew the risk of mentioning it. She had been upset for the past weeks because of the issue. But she rarely showed them how it affected her. And he admired her for that.
Liz sighed. Her head tilted upwards as she gazed at the clear blue sky. As much as she wanted to hide it, Jay can see the pain in her eyes. “I don’t know.”
“At least you figured out what kind of guy he is.” He touched her shoulder, hoping that would comfort her. It relieved him when he saw her grin again.
“Yeah. I guess you’re right.”
“Hey, Jax, Jamie, are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Aria suddenly spoke in front of them. Her arms were crossed while she studied the two pairs.
“I didn’t know the Scales statue is now a dating spot,” Jamie added, teasing the other four.
“Shh. Let the flowers bloom, guys.” Jax snickered with them.
Liz rolled her eyes while Reena protested. “We’re just having different topics!”
“Look how flustered she is.” Jamie pretended to whisper in Jax’s ear, but he said it loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Oh shut up!” Reena frowned.
And as usual, Kris arrived later than any of them.
The group spent the morning at the nearby shopping center. Some of them bought stuff fewer than all the stores they had visited. Next, they went to the arcade. Jamie proposed that whoever places last in air hockey will have to pay for drinks at GrillBurgs. The game ended with Kris being the victor and Riley losing against Aria.
They spend their lunch at GrillBurgs, a fast-food chain that sells tasty burgers at affordable prices. It is the perfect place to hang out for a group of students. They sat on their usual spot beside the window. The parlor fitted exactly all eight of them. When the waitress finally got their order, they started chatting.
Jamie was giving Jay the smug look, raising his eyebrows up and down. He whispered teasingly, “Aren’t you and Liz getting pretty chummy these past few days?”
“First, Keira and now, Liz? You’re suspecting me too much.” Jay denied, looking at his best bud weirdly. He considered teasing him about Aria too, but it feels like it would ruin Jamie’s cheerful mood today.
“Well, you didn’t reject Keira when she was clearly showing you she likes you. I figured you just probably don’t wanna hurt her feelings or ruin her friendship with Liz. Although, Liz has been avoiding her recently, no? I wonder why.” This is what he liked about Jamie. He notices every little detail about their friends behavior and when to approach them when needed. It’s just that sometimes he is too quick to hypothesize when it comes to observing whether someone likes the other person.
“It’s the former. How did you even think I’d ruin their friendship— Oooohhh. Hey! I told you I don’t have time for crushes and romantic stuff.”
The latter sighed, giving up on teasing him. “Fine, fine. You’re a tough nut to crack.”
“Whoa. That kinda sounds weird.” Jax reacted after overhearing the last part of their conversation.
Liz butted in once she was done separating the ice, she sipped on her now iceless iced tea. “Anyway, have you heard about the bodies floating by the Water-Bearer’s canal? How did no one ever see anyone dumping them there?” Liz diverted the conversation to a less controversial topic. She held her orb, showing her friends a hologram of the crime scene.
“Where did you get that?” Jax asked, referring to the image.
It shows the embalmed corpse of the fifteen-year-old victim. The girl was found floating by the eleventh district’s dam wearing the same dress she was seen on before being reported ‘missing’. The victims’ causes of death were yet to be discovered as the bodies were embalmed and their internal organs were removed.
“I went there this morning. I figured another one will appear today. The culprit seems to have a schedule,” Liz proudly said.
“Sunday, every beginning of the week,” Jamie muttered to himself.
“Are they really dumping the bodies there? What if the stream carried them from another place?”
“Hmmm. It could be possible too.”
“Can we talk about less serious topics?” Riley suggested. He wasn’t one of those who are fond of thinking about complicated things. A similarity he, Reena, and Jay had.
“Their detective minds are at work again.” Jay sipped on his ice tea.
Aria’s eyes widened in realization and excitement. “Oh, I know. How about we explore that old subway station? My brother and I found it when we were strolling around our neighborhood.”
“I need to get home before three.” He felt like he should inform them.
“Yep, same here,” Jax agreed.
“Me too.” Liz raised her hand.
Riley frowned. “I told you guys I have work.”
“Oh come on. Please? Just this one time. It wouldn’t take that long. We still have three hours left.” She begged.
They all ended up coming with her anyway. Aria rarely asks them a favor. It wouldn’t hurt to give in on her plans once in a while. Jay would need to think of an excuse later when he gets home.
After lunch, they headed to the said abandoned station immediately. At first, they couldn’t figure out where it was until Aria told the boys to move the broken vending machine. There in the wall appeared a flight of stairs going downwards. They descended it and stopped when the sunlight cannot reach the next steps. They would need their own artificial lighting from this point onwards. All phones were brought out. They turned the flashlights on, showing more steps ahead. Soon they turned left, finally reaching the platform. Mosses and grimes started sticking on the tiles. Vines grew from the cracks on the ceiling and the walls.
Jay thought it looked like something brought out from a horror movie. He felt Liz scooting closer behind him. Riley looked alert too. He remembered these two were not quite fond of those kinds of movies. They get scared too easily.
They walked closer to the rails. Water had somehow entered the underground tunnel, probably from broken pipes. The flood in the railway reached their ankles. They didn’t mind walking down there since their shoes are waterproof. They wouldn’t bother drying them afterward. The tunnel to their left was blocked by rubbles. There wasn’t any point in exploring there. They walked towards the right tunnel. The walls were full of fading neon graffiti and other vandalisms. They soon reached the end of the tunnel, which was a surprise to them. Because what they found weren’t rubbles or fallen debris. But a pair of huge steel doors with a hole big enough for one human to fit in.
“We are not going inside there, are we?” Liz hesitantly asked. She looked worried about what may happen behind those doors.
“You can wait here if you want.” Jax tried to bait her. “Alone.”
“Geez. I hate you.” She grimaced.
Jax and Kris went in first. Nothing seems to be strange. They all decided to investigate further beyond the doors. The tunnel didn’t look like it’ll end soon. Then, something unusual caught their curiosity. Something shone several meters away from them.
“Look! The water,” Reena exclaimed.
The liquid covering their feet also glimmered like the illumination ahead of them. Strangely enough, as they advanced nearer to it, slivers of golden and white light started floating around them. Soon, they reached the source of the luminescence.
A large glowing rock stood in the middle of the circular room. There were wires, monitors, broken glassware, rusty metal racks, and several broken objects scattered everywhere. It was a mess, but no one seemed to notice them. Not even the wires submerged in the water. Their attention was only directed towards the glowing object.
Suddenly, flashes of the blank faces from his dream struck his mind. Jay woke up from the trance he was in. That’s when he noticed the danger that shrouds them. Red lights flickered around the room. It was too late when he realized what was happening. He had no time to panic nor think of an action. The countdown had already started.
“Holy sh-”
How long are you going to make them wait?
“...3 ...2 ...1.”
That afternoon, a disastrous explosion terrorized the peaceful atmosphere of the surrounding districts.
