CHAPTER FOUR: ECHOES IN THE ASHES

Desperation and Dread echoed throughout Valley Crest. For a fleeting second, every heart stopped beating, dropping the ever taunting halls to dead silence. Johnny and Shoko within arm’s reach apart were frozen, their minds void of thought. The Vanderlin Tree swayed behind them as if grinning at the site of despair. SNAP… a leaf fell from the tree, breaking the silence. As it touched the ground it begun to vibrate as thunderous marching stomps rushed in the direction of the desperate cry. Johnny bit his teeth and followed. Darting passed students with ease. Shoko on the other hand straightened his back. He stood amidst the chaos as people run around him. Like a stone in a river, unmoved, unbothered, untouchable. After a few brief moments his eyes were pulled 2 SHOKO KAOJI BOOK1 CHAPTER FOUR by the magnetic screams of many. As much as he hated to admit, his interest was piqued. His hands slid into his pockets and he effortlessly walked towards the commotion. In the halls, finally approaching the light out of the tunnel. The screams and cries only grew louder. Sirens started to whistle in the air as he finally made his way out. The sheer magnitude of students blocked the path ahead but he’s every step tore them apart. No one dared to rub a shoulder. As he got closer, the sky got darker. The air got colder and voices lowered. The weight of the ambience crushed at his chest, but he cut through it like a knife through butter. The crowd parted way before him as if making way for a prince. At the centre Rin fell to her knees, hands covering her mouth 3 SHOKO KAOJI BOOK1 CHAPTER FOUR as Aria tried to support her, but she couldn’t betray her horror. Johnny’s fists tightened as he visibly shook in despair. “WHA-!....” “THE HELL!....” “THIS CANT!.....” “OWRSLD?!?!” Shoko’s eyes fell on what laid below. It was a student. One Shoko had never met. His body sprawled across the steps. Right arm twisted backward, knee jutting out grotesquely. The metallic stench cut through the air like a blade. That with the horrific site overwhelmed a student and he puked out his lunch. Shoko studied the body, the boy called OWRSLD. His eyes opened wider at the site of black veins on the boy. Not only that but his skin 4 SHOKO KAOJI BOOK1 CHAPTER FOUR was pale and his eyes dark, even for a dead person. This image was oddly reminiscent of the boy who bumped into him earlier. “Look at that… do you see it?” “Of course I see it, dumbass. It’s Owrsld.” “Not that… his eyes” “No way… you think?” “Yep, has to be” Chatter tore the scene apart as the flashes of cameras clicked relentlessly. Shoko eyes lifted to Valley crest’s Towering spire. At the top, his eyes caught a glimpse of a shadow. Human in form. The setting sun glared behind it making the figure barely visible. Shoko starred for a moment as the shadow stepped away, debating whether or not what he saw was real or another illusion. 5 SHOKO KAOJI BOOK1 CHAPTER FOUR “…SHOKO…” A young voice tightened Shoko’s gut. His gaze quickly lowered. But there was no one. His eyes searched left right and centre before turning back to the corpse. It was completely still. But as foolish as it sounds, Shoko fought with the thought of the voice coming from it. Its finger twitched. Shoko’s breath was caught. His pulse heightened not in fear but in odd realization. The air thickened, pressing on his eardrums. “WHA-“ “It’s begun…” A voice crawled out of the corpse mouth. Buts its lips didn’t move. Or maybe they did. He couldn’t tell whether the voice was in his mind or echoing in the air. He took a step back, his 6 SHOKO KAOJI BOOK1 CHAPTER FOUR face drenched with shock. Its head slowly started to turn. “Shoko?” At Rins touch everything vanished and the chaos roared back to life. Teachers and police pushed through students, ordering everyone to step back. Shoko’s eyes however were glued to the corpse. Rin pulled at his arm but Shoko resisted. Pulling his arm back with force. Rin gasped, as shoko just stood like a statue. Fixated on the corpse. Aria came closer to Rin as the teachers and police closed in. “That’s not like him, is it?” Aria placed her hand on Rin’s back. “His parents…” 7 SHOKO KAOJI BOOK1 CHAPTER FOUR Rin choked on her tears. “This must be an awful reminder.” CHAPTER FIVE: THE VALLEY CREST CODE