Chapter 2 Voices That Led Me

*Fire crackling in the distant*

Hot air fanned my face and sparks pricked gently on my skin as I saw a shadowy figure from miles away. Looking closer, it seemed that the wind had engulfed the figure, taking it away from my line of sight. Suddenly, my attention was drawn towards the blaze as it multiplied in size, creating a spiral of flames twisting around the once-shadowy figure, as it emerged as a person.

I looked at it from a distance away, quite surprised at what I'm seeing, and yet I felt something sharp struck my heart. It's as if something haunting happened right before my eyes, even though it's just a dream. In the end, I ended up closing my eyes to hopefully end this pain in me.

*Audible alarm clock ringing at a distance*

*Alarm clock starts blaring*

"Hmm, eh?"

I turned off my alarm clock, in a few mins later I stood up and stretched

"yawn"

"That was a weird dream, and yet I can't remember anything from it" as she spoke softly to herself. "Hmm? Although I don't remember, I can faintly remember the feeling that's resonating inside of me, odd..."

"Katsumi! Breakfast is ready, you better eat quickly before you're late for school."

"Okay mom, I'm coming"

I washed my face, combed my hair, wore my school uniform, and I went to head for breakfast.

While I was eating my breakfast I had a thought that came up in my mind.

"Mom, what happened between you and Dad?"

"Well dear, I can't answer that. Now, would you like me to put in more rice for you?"

She looked extremely sad when I said that, I wondered what had happened between them. Well, no time to waste, I do not wish to dishearten her, so I'll try my best to make her happy.

"Yes please, and sorry to ask you that out of nowhere."

"It's fine dear, we get curious sometimes because we are human after all."

*7 mins later*

"Thanks for the breakfast mom, you sure make the best breakfast. I'm off for school now."

"Take care Katsumi and be safe now."

"I sure will mom, have a nice day"

"You too"

I walked outside of the house and greeted the neighbors as I walked down the streets as usual. Oddly enough, I don't see Yuki anywhere. Usually, he would be standing by the roadside I walked to. But instead of seeing Yuki, I saw an unfamiliar alley. It was dark even though the sun is out and no building is making such a dark shadow. I've lived and passed through this road many times, so I could tell if something was out of the ordinary and this surely was one of them.

As I approached it I heard a faint voice calling out to me, with each step the voice got louder.

"Hey, kid. I know this is sudden, but can you trust me?"

"How can I trust someone that I don't know and I can't even see you"

"All I can say is, I know you. Your name is Katsumi and the reason why I'm asking for your help is that I can tell you felt something resonating within you. It may not just be a dream, Katsumi. I too felt the resonation."

"Whatever you're saying seems too good to be true. Fine I'll do whatever you say, lead the way"

"Now, I know it seems weird but I am not capable of meeting you in person at the moment, so I am only able to speak to you through your head. Anyway, go near the end of the alley soon everything you perceive will change in a matter of seconds"

"If you say so"

I am still quite skeptical about this but as I keep going through this alley, the more I feel at ease. As I reached the end of the alley, everything did start to change. This place looks like a massive cavern with dripstones all over the ceiling of this cave and wet puddles all over the ground.

"Now, as you reach further down the cavern, you will see a bright white light. Follow it and it will show you the truth"

I followed his order and went to the bright light, as I got closer I felt the resonation getting stronger by the second. In the end, all I saw was a broken mirror, some parts were cracked and the other parts were in ruins. I tried to fix it because I felt like I was supposed to, but surprisingly it didn't take long due to it being relatively small.

Once the mirror was fixed, I saw an image of myself, different yet similar. Seems that I saw myself with short hair and bright blue eyes and for a split second I saw it with yellow. It seems that I am expressionless in the mirror and that small blue flame in my chest.

"Is that my soul?" as she spoke silently to herself

Out of nowhere, a black mist approached her. After the mist dissipates, there seems to be a gate. It opened but it showed nothing but empty darkness, like an abyss with no end.

Without hesitation, I went in there to see what was on the other side.