Describe you experience

A girl looks out the bus window. She wears the modest uniform issued by Redriver City High #1, and a pair of soft shoes that are easy to run in. Her name is Cinna.

The city shines in the sunset. It remains a wonder that the great dragon in the sky doesn't cast a great shadow in this world.

"You shouldn't stare, young miss."

Cinna slowly turned to the voice. She did not notice anyone sitting next to her, but there is a feeling somewhere inside her that the old lady has always been there. That must be why the voice didn't surprise her.

"My mahjong buddy went blind staring at that... that. I don't really get it but his doctor said the sun will burn your eyes even if you don't feel it. It's a bothersome thing. You wouldn't think it would do that, no?"

"Yea... that makes sense."

Cinna did not feel like responding, but she thought that it would be impolite not to.

She thought about the matter, it does make sense. The consensus, according the discussions in school and online, is that the dragon is not a real object in the sky. It doesn't block the sunlight, even if it hides the sun and makes people not feel its glare.

Cinna hasn't really sat down and thought about it, but it's not like she was staring at the dragon. It is an unsettling thing.

Cinna turns away from the window and started scrolling through her phone. There is a sliver of hope in her that the old lady stops talking to her.

The pictures from all around the globe -- if they show the sky, the dragon appears in them. The people are still talking about it.

The Turtlesand Federation, from the other side of the world, passed the second round of approval to launch a nuclear warhead at the dragon... even though it doesn't really exist.

Meanwhile, the Redstar Republic claims to be investigating this strange phenomenon but nothing substantive has been publicized. They are simply advising people not to panic no matter what happens.

Thousands of people are showing signs losing a certain sense of reality. And here and there, people would be discussing the predictions publicized by a variety of prophets and doomsayers.

Cinna thought about her friend Luka -- kinda her ex-boyfriend -- who has stopped going to school for two weeks now. He collapsed during physics class after a panic attack. This was after he asked Cinna for some space to focus on his studies. Cinna found out soon after that Luka is one of the people who claims to have seen the future.

Cinna gasped, as if she just remembered that she has to breath. In her mind, she saw the sky grow dimmer and dimmer as the dusk turns to night, but she didn't realize how late it is now. The seasons are changing.

The old lady wasn't there anymore. There is still a few more stops before Cinna's but she remains focused on the road.

The dragon's thousand eyes glow yellow and white in the night sky, looking like bizarre planets that are too close to earth to be real.

Is it safe to stare at the dragon at night, when there is no risk of the sun burning one's eyes?

This creeping sensation suggests not. It's not something that can be explained through medical science, or perhaps any branch of science.

Cinna gets off her stop. The street lamps don't exude a good sense of security. The animals in the nearby households seem agitated. They cry in the dark of evening.

This is not the first time Cinna changes her mind about visiting Luka's place on her way home. What felt like a chore turns into a source of comfort. More than the last time, she feels an unfounded sense of hostility. It is darker today than it was last week, yes, but she cannot accept that is the only reason.

Cinna walks down the street at a quick pace, the dark of the night encroaching on the space she just left. She reaches her destination in good time.

Cinna simply opens the unlocked gate by herself, without calling out for the residents to do it for her. She's always been allowed to do this, although she only doesn't do it often.

Cinna closes the gate behind her. She now feels like she can calm down in the white outdoor light of the house. She hears someone walking towards the door from inside the house. She didn't have to knock because this person apparently heard the gate open.

"Cinna?"

A voice comes from the shyly open door. Then, half a face peeks out from behind.

Cinna sees the man's expression soften at the sight of her face.

"Come in. I made iced tea."

The door opens more widely, enough for the girl to squeeze herself through.

Cinna enters the house and saw the back of the man who has just returned his small gun to its holster, his head still turned to her.

The place is how Cinna remembers it. A couch cuts through middle of the large room, a small dining table behind it, an entertainment system in front. On the television, an pink-haired anime girl stands frozen as the video is on pause.

"I'm gonna go ahead and tell you that Luka will not be seeing you again today. Sorry about that."

Cinna had forgotten about the purpose of her visit. She opened her bag and quickly took out a folder, a compilation of copies of notes Cinna made for Luka.

"Thanks. I'll pass it to Luka."

This man with a shaved head and an ungroomed beard took the folder and placed it on the table. He is Luka's brother, twelve years older. His name is Labrose, legally Enzo, and would happily answer to Brother Rose by Luka and Cinna.

Rose took his turn to pass a paper to Cinna, and a pen to write with. This is a questionnaire for an independent research project Cinna is helping Rose with, marked with today's date -- 30/10/14. Cinna doesn't yet know the significance of this study, but taking part in it is no trouble to her.

"Like before. You can finish your drink first."

Cinna took the time to calm herself. Rose resumes watching his show, leaving Cinna to her task.

What does the dragon look like?

This is the third time Cinna is answering this very question.

[The dragon has a very long snake-like body, with size apparently large enough for it to wind around the world. It has tens of small limbs coming out of its body. It has thousands of eyes dotted across the length of its body, forming two parallel dotted lines, most visible when they glow white and yellow at night...]

Besides the dragon, have you perceived anything else that probably doesn't exist? Describe your experience.

Cinna didn't have an answer last time.

[I've seen a dog, wolfish medium-sized black ones. Twice in the past week. The first time, when I returned to the dorms at the start of the week. Then, this morning, at the same place. No one was talking about it, even though such sight typically end up as the subject of gossip. I never told anyone else...
[An old lady talked to me, seeming to appear out of nowhere. This was on my way home today. She told me not to stare at the sky, because I might damage my eyes. She might be a real person, but I have a feeling that she isn't. I've never seen her before.]

Have you felt unsettled when interacting with a person you used to have a normal interaction with, as if they have changed? Describe your experience.

Cinna didn't have an answer last time, and she still doesn't now. Although, she starts to feel that the question has a specific answer it's looking for.

Have you felt an intense urge to do something you wouldn't want to do, because it goes against your sense of right and wrong, or because it's illegal? Describe your experience.

Cinna doesn't remember seeing this question last time. An answer comes to mind. She thinks about whether or not she would share it.

[I wanted to see Luka bleed. Then, I feel like the time I wasted on him would return to me...]

Cinna thought she was over this feeling, but she can feel it overwhelming her. She's shaking and lost her finer control of her body. The feeling of wanting her hurt Luka has transformed into something else she cannot describe.

It is not malice. It is not hatred. But there is something that wants to escape from the depths of her heart.

The sound of laughter interrupts Cinna's thoughts. The pink-haired girl in the television was laughing with ther friends. Rose has his arm over his head scratching his other shoulder.

Cinna can feel herself returning to her body. She helped herself to another glass of iced tea.

"Brother Rose, I'm done."

"Thanks, Cinna. I'll send you the usual."

Rose received the paper and placed it somewhere it wasn't before, taking care not to catch a glimpse of the answers. He tapped on his phone and Cinna received a notification of a completed transaction. She felt awkward receiving payment the first time, but he insisted on it.

"Brother Rose, I don't remember seeing the final question last week. Did something happen?"

Rose paused but did not seem to think or ponder.

"You're right. It's a new question... say, what have you heard about what's been happening? Anything about the prophecies??"