The Menace Within

The place was alive with energy, teeming with people who had gathered for the event. My heart raced with anticipation as I stood at the center of the grounds, my school proudly in view. The crowd's excitement was contagious, their cheers blending into a unified chorus that resonated through my very being.

"Anant! Anant! Anant!" their voices echoed, filling me with a sense of awe and gratitude.

I could hear the admiration in their shouts. "Anant, you're amazing!" they exclaimed, fueling my determination even further.

Others recognized my efforts and said, "Anant, you're our hero!" Their words touched me deeply, reminding me of the responsibility that comes with being looked up to.

My involvement in the game of soccer was the catalyst for the resounding cheers. Throughout my life, I have always been popular and exhibited exceptional talent in various endeavors. Never one to falter or back down, I confidently stood at the forefront, propelling myself forward with unwavering determination.

In a remarkable display of skill, I seized the ball from the clutches of the opposing team, displaying complete mastery over my footwork. With a burst of speed, I raced towards the goal, dribbling the ball with a swiftness that resembled a giant moth's relentless pursuit of its guiding light. The only thing in my line of sight was the goalpost, and I ignited my feet with extraordinary power, channeling my energy into a brilliant shot.

As the ball soared into the net, the crowd erupted in jubilation, recognizing the significance of my goal. My exceptional play propelled my school team one step closer to reclaiming our championship title, reigniting the spark of victory once again.

The crowd went into a frenzy, particularly the girls who couldn't contain their excitement. They swarmed around me, but amidst the chaos, one girl stood out with her flowing beige curly hair, capturing the attention of every boy around. However, it was Leya's hand that she firmly grasped, pulling me away from the commotion.

"Ah! Finally, we're away from those immature teenagers and those silly girls," Leya remarked with a hint of exasperation.

She accompanied me from the playground to the rear entrance of the school, where there were hardly any people around, allowing me a moment to catch my breath and unwind.

Giving her a playful pat on the back, I responded, "As always, you're looking out for me, Leya."

"Yeah, like I have nothing else to do, you dumbo," she said with a tinge of annoyance.

I chuckled at Leya's playful insult, knowing she always had a way of keeping me on my toes. "I know, I'm sorry," I replied sheepishly. "But I have to go and collect my reward."

Leya gave me a quizzical look, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. After a moment of contemplation, she opened up, her eyes lighting up with a mischievous glint. "That's gonna take care of by Jair, right? You come with me to this new bookstore."

Oh, well, let me tell you all about these two people. Leya and I are not just friends but also neighbors. Ever since my father moved from India to Japan and married my mom, we settled into the house that used to belong to Leya's father, Mr. Jaffey. Since then, we've been inseparable. But let me be clear, our relationship is purely platonic. Leya has this unique nature—partly due to her pushiness when it comes to helping me out of trouble. She's a true bibliophile, and now it seems I'm about to be dragged into her latest bookstore adventure.

With no other choice but to oblige, I finally conceded, "Okay! Fine, let's go."

Oh, right, I almost forgot about Jair. Well, there isn't much to say about him. He's a tall guy, the captain of my soccer team, and I've known him since the day I joined the team, that’s all.

We walked away from the back gate of the school, eager to distance myself from any further commotion, Leya caught up to me. She glanced at me with a smile before suggesting, "You know, the bookstore isn't too far from here. We could just walk there."

I sighed, feeling the weight of exhaustion in my limbs, but Leya's idea did have some merit. "You're right, it's not a bad suggestion," I admitted, albeit reluctantly.

With that decision made, we set off on foot. As we strolled along, I couldn't help but boast about my heroic exploits, a topic that probably didn't captivate Leya's interest in the same way it did mine. Nonetheless, I rambled on, oblivious to her waning attention.

Eventually, our conversation was interrupted when our feet came to a sudden halt. Leya's face brightened as she exclaimed, "Ah, we're here!"

Eager to explore the bookstore, Leya grabbed my hand and pulled me inside. However, our entrance was far from graceful. Leya crashed into a girl who stood a bit taller than her, causing the girl's cartoon-filled bag of books to scatter across the floor. I squinted, trying to get a clear view of her face, but it was partially obscured. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but notice her thick, straight hair and the deep brown eyes that caught my attention.

Concerned about the collision, I quickly asked, "Hey, are both of you okay?"

Both Leya and the girl managed to regain their footing and apologized to each other for the mishap. It was a minor incident, really. Seizing the opportunity, the girl took the initiative to introduce herself, saying, "Sorry! We just moved here, so I'm still getting everything sorted."

Leya, always courteous, responded, "Oh, it's fine. I was in a rush too. I'm Leya, and this is Anant," she said, pointing at me.

"Hello," I chimed in, offering a friendly greeting.

Tara, as she introduced herself, momentarily studied me with a discerning look before asking, "Are you also from India?"

I was on the verge of mentioning it when Leya, in her usual foolish manner, interrupted and said, "Anyway, that's not important. Why don't you show me the type of book you have?"

Tara responded, "Of course!"

Right before leaving, Leya glanced over and asked, "Hmm? Is there something you want to say?"

"Ah, no. I just want to take a nap. First, I played a game, and then you made me walk all the way here," I said wearily.

With an exaggerated display of concern, Leya approached me and said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't consider that. If you'd like, I can read you a bedtime story like a grandma, and it might help you sleep better. It'll alleviate your tiredness."

Even Tara burst into laughter, but then she suggested, "Just take a right turn from the third shelf. You might find something to help you rest."

I left, casting an irritated look at Leya and expressing gratitude to Tara. As I reached the sofa and stretched out my legs, I began to drift off to sleep. 

Everything started to darken, and just as I was hoping for a peaceful slumber, I witnessed a nightmarish vision—a gloomy creature sucking something out from within my body. Terrified by this dreadful sight, I woke up abruptly.

After experiencing such a restful sleep, disregarding the disturbing vision, I emerged from my slumber and realized it was already evening. Spotting Tara and Leya engaged in a conversation, I decided to join them.

"Hey, guys, what are you up to?" I asked.

Leya glanced around, while Tara inquired, "What's the matter?"

"Nothing. I just thought I heard someone calling us from here," Leya replied.

Tara burst into laughter and said, "Oh, I think you got too engrossed in that story. There's no one here except you and me."

Initially, I considered this might be a comedic act or prank orchestrated by them, but Leya's statement left me puzzled. "Thanks for showing me your bookstore. Next time, I'll bring my friends along," she said before leaving the store.

"Oh, absolutely! It would be my pleasure," Tara responded just before Leya departed.