It's another ordinary morning in Riving City, the sun peeks over the horizon in the east, casting a warm golden glow that bathes both the towering skyscrapers and quaint, historical buildings in a soft light. The air was filled with a symphony of birdsong, mixing gracefully with the bustling sounds of vendors preparing for the day. Colourful stalls began to emerge along the cobblestone streets, laden with fresh produce, handmade crafts, and fragrant flowers that beckoned passersby. Beneath an ancient stone bridge, connected the two halves of the city, a small, sparkling blue river flowed peacefully, reflecting the azure sky above.
In stark contrast, a small boy named Renn Ashmer, about 14 years old, with black hair and fair skin, was running through a dark, smoky landscape that seemed to stretch infinitely. A silver moon hung above, casting a faint light that barely pierced the surrounding smoke. As Renn ran quickly, his breath became short, his heart pounded with fear, and sweat poured from his entire body. An ominous, shadowy figure of a man lurked just behind him, closing the distance between them with unnatural speed. Just as the shadow reached out with a large hand, fingers like long, black claws poised to strike, Renn jolted awake, his body drenched in sweat, trembling as if he'd been electrified.
Gasping for breath, Renn struggled to regain his composure in bed. "Not again. Why do I keep having these nightmares?" he wondered, his eyes drifting to his right palm, where a small, unique black sun symbol with twelve rays radiated from its centre, imprinted on his skin.
"Huh, you will never go away," he murmured as he rubbed his left fingers across the mark that had accompanied him since birth.
"Renn, are you coming down, or should I come up to teach you a lesson?" came a loud voice from downstairs.
Just hearing that familiar voice brought a smile to Renn's face, making the memories of his nightmares fade away. He quickly got out of bed, brushed his teeth, washed his face, and dressed in his black and white school uniform. Grabbing his school bag, he dashed down the stairs with newfound energy.
As Renn reached the bottom of the stairs, he was greeted by the cosy aroma of breakfast. His father, Reyan Ashmer, a 46-year-old man with a kind face and a sprinkle of white hair, sat on the sofa wearing transparent glasses, sipping tea and reading a newspaper.
"Good morning, Dad," Renn said as he took a seat at the dining table.
Reyan looked up from his newspaper. "Good morning, Renn," he replied.
Renn turned his head toward the kitchen, where his mother, Noha Ashmer, a 48-year-old woman with long, beautiful black hair tied back in a ponytail, was bringing a plate of sandwiches to the dining table.
"Good morning, Mom," Renn said, eagerly anticipating breakfast.
Noha placed the plate in front of him, a playful grin on her face. "So, you finally decided to make it to breakfast, huh?"
Renn took a bite of his sandwich. "Sorry, Mom, I just lost track of time."
Noha leaned slightly forward, concern evident in her expression. "Do you still have those nightmares?"
"No, Mom, not today," Renn replied, avoiding her gaze.
A look of relief washed over Noha. "Okay, Renn, now finish your breakfast. We don't want you to be late for school again."
After finishing breakfast, Renn made his way to the bedroom where his little sister, Amber, was sleeping peacefully on the bed. At five years old, she looked utterly adorable with her curly black hair splayed out on the pillow and her cute face framed by the morning light.
Noha called out, "You better not wake her up, Renn."
"Yeah, Mom, don't worry," Renn said, leaning down to place a gentle kiss on Amber's pink cheeks. She stirred slightly but remained asleep, a small smile forming on her lips. She looks so cute, Renn thought, a warm smile spreading across his face.
Renn came back to the hall. "Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!"
Noha turned toward him. "Did you take every book with you?"
"Yes, Mom," Renn replied while putting on his black school shoes.
Renn opened the door and stepped outside, inhaling the fresh morning air with excitement. He walked through the familiar neighbourhoods, greeting neighbours with cheerful waves and bright smiles.
He paused in front of a charming two-story house. The small garden in front was a burst of colour, alive with vibrant flower plants that swayed gently in the breeze, their sweet fragrances mingling in the air. Surrounding the garden, a quaint boundary wall made of rustic stones, offering a sense of privacy.. A boy, almost the same age as Renn, with brown hair and glasses, stood in front of the door with a school bag on his back.
"Hey, Jack!" Renn called out with a cheerful smile.
Jack looked up at Renn. "What's up, man? Late for school again? You're truly impossible!"
"Sorry, sorry! Let's go!" Renn replied, smiling.
Both boys walked together toward school. As they arrived at the entrance, they saw many students—some arriving by bus, some with their parents, and others walking in groups—all heading toward the school.
As they stepped into the playground stretched out before them, featuring two well-maintained basketball courts and a vibrant volleyball court. On one side, the football and cricket nets stood ready for action. Walking along a beautifully paved path that wound beside the lively playground, they made their way toward the main school building. It loomed impressively above them, a grand structure consisting of four spacious floors filled with countless classrooms. The building's entrance was marked by striking glass gates that sparkled in the sunlight. Surrounding the entrance, greenery flourished, with trees and blooming flowers.
Renn and Jack stepped into the cool, marble-floored entrance of the building.. They began their ascent up the staircase, the soft hum of conversations and laughter drifting from classrooms around them. As they climbed to the second floor, Renn paused for a moment to peer out one of the large windows. He took in a breathtaking view of a sparkling school swimming pool, its clear blue water shimmering under the sunlight.
Reaching the second floor, they arrived at their classroom, labelled 2-B. The room was alive with the energy of their classmates—some were engaged in lively discussions, while others were rummaging through their backpacks for books and supplies. With a sense of urgency, Renn and Jack made their way to their desks, finding their usual spots amidst the cheerful chaos of their peers.
"Hey, did you finish the homework?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow behind his glasses as he stood near Renn's desk.
"Yeah, I had to. Mom made sure I did," Renn replied.
Jack chuckled, "Yeah, there's no way you could have gotten away with it."
Just then, their class teacher arrived, and everyone settled down, ready for class. One after another, the subject lessons came and went, with each teacher delivering their material.
Finally, the bell rang. "Finally, it's time to go home!" Renn exclaimed, his face changing from exhaustion to joy.
He turned to Jack. "Let's go, Jack!"
"Yeah, yeah, always so excited," Jack replied as he stood up.
They both left the school, walking toward home.
As they walked side by side, Jack said, "You really always get sleepy between classes. Try to focus more on your studies."
"Okay, sir! Can we please not talk about studies now? We just finished school!" Renn playfully responded.
Jack sighed, "Yeah, yeah, you never change."
They reached Jack's house, and Jack said, "So, it's my stop. Bye, Renn! Remember, no more being late tomorrow!"
"Yeah, Jack, bye! See you tomorrow!" Renn waved goodbye and continued walking ahead..
Renn continued walking ahead after a short while, feeling an odd presence from the narrow alleyway between two towering buildings. Intrigued, he sensed an inexplicable pull towards the space shrouded in darkness from the shadows cast overhead.
As he ventured deeper into the alley, he heard cracking noises that made his heart race with a mix of curiosity and fear. In the dim light, he spotted a dark figure standing motionless.
Renn's instincts told him to turn back, but his curiosity overwhelmed him. As he moved deeper into the alley, the dark figure suddenly shifted and stepped forward into a faint glow.
Renn froze at the sight of the figure. His mind raced with countless thoughts. No way, this can't be happening. He looked exactly like the shadow man who came in my nightmares. This can't be real. I must be dreaming. Renn, you are dreaming. No, this is not real.
He rubbed his eyes repeatedly, but the man in front of him still had jet-black eyes, and his skin was marked with numerous small cuts. Blood trickled down his face, accentuating the sharp, menacing teeth that protruded from his mouth. The man had large hands with sharp black claws. A dark aura began to surround him as he took another step closer.
Renn stood frozen, his legs growing numb and his heart pounding rapidly. Suddenly, he felt a strange warmth radiating from his right hand. He glanced down, his eyes widening as the sun symbol on his right palm began to glow with a vibrant golden light, diminishing the dark aura emanating from the man.
Before Renn could comprehend the situation, the man lunged forward with terrifying speed, claws extended and ready to attack.
Fear gripped Renn, leaving him with only a split second to react as the claws approached just an inch away from his neck.