Bloody Toast

In an empty pink expanse, Pai drifted, feeling disoriented and hot. Faint words crept into his ear, and he questioned his surroundings, not even sure of his own identity. The voice persisted, urging him to wake up and save others, to rule over everyone.

"My head hurts so much," Pai murmured, feeling the warmth of red fire surrounding him, yet strangely unaffected by the flames. "Wake up, please. I need you to get up; you must save them. Who else is gonna rule everyone?" As if pulled from a dream, he found himself gradually falling into a fiery abyss.

"My head hurts so much?"

"Get up, useless bastard!"

"It feels so warm; I wanna sleep more. Please let me, Mom." The light was glowing through Pai's chest. Completely consumed inside the molten blood red essence.

Pai awoke, getting up gradually. “Where was that? Who was that?” Pai groaned as he got up, only to realize he was completely naked. A girl with a shirt that covered her soft thighs stood before him, munching on toast. Her head tracks the colorful neon lights, bouncing off the ceiling to the ground, repeatedly. Pai's hover board slides under his bed from the mysterious girl's bare foot. 

"Who the hell are you?" Pai blushed, frantically trying to cover himself, but the girl seemed unfazed. "I'm Sola. It's time for us to go. Nova calls us both," she announced, sounding almost bored with him.

"How did you get in here,” barked Pai, slipping off socks, he tried to cover himself again. Taro kicked Pai’s door wide open with a fond. “You dumbass! Get ready already!” His brother saw the situation, then proceeded to close the door.

"Why was so much spirit energy flowing from him? It  reminds me of someone, but who? Who was that person?"

"That's Taro, my brother,” answered Pai.

"We need to start. It’s our time because Nova calls us both,” she repeated.

"I was wondering why something felt so similar. You know what, you kinda look like my mom. That's pretty odd, right?” A tear fell off his left eye as he smiled.

"Sola, it's lovely to meet you. Let's take some time to get to know each other," Pai said with a friendly smile.

As he squinted into the mirror, Pai noticed his right eye burning pink, and he moaned, "Why's this headache? My head feels so hot."

"Don't freak out; I understand that these abilities can be confusing right now, but—" Sola began.

"Are you kidding me? This is awesome! But seriously, I need to head for school before I end up getting killed. Don't let anyone see you, okay?" Pai interrupted, his excitement mixed with concern.

Quickly grabbing some clothes, Pai rushed out of the room, and from outside, Taro watched the whole conversation.

"Let's go, Pai! Hurry up! I don’t wanna be late anymore!" Taro urged, eager to get moving.

"Shit," Pai sighed and shouted, "In a minute!" Then he turned back to Sola, "this has to wait." Without letting her say anything else, he quickly buttoned up his shirt and ran out of the room.

He caught up with his brother down the leaf covered road. “She looked like mom, don’t tell me, I’m seeing things,” said Taro.

“You’re not, it's all real,” sighs Pai, looking into the morning sky.

CHERRY VOL.1

After yesterday's incident, hundreds of bodies had been recovered. The government had decided to hold a curfew beginning at nine o'clock. Cherry City was on high alert. Officials gained knowledge that multiple bodies were soldiers that served during the disappearing war.

The crosswalk pattern highlights with green essence, guiding the brothers across the street. Sport cars barely hover over the road, gliding silently on their journey. "I was wondering where you were at last night. I knew you were a mama's boy, but not like that. Who was that girl in your room?”

"Shut up, she's a friend; her name is Sola, you damn no brain fool. I'm just helping her out with some things.”

"Naked, looking like a weirdo?”

"Why do you like what you saw?"

"Still can’t get her out of my head. I thought I was seeing a ghost for a second," Taro admitted.

As they continued walking, the sound of shattering glass echoed down the street, and suddenly, they heard screams coming from an alley. Kel, their friend, was being dragged by a group of guys, and one of them was attempting to get physical.

Pai's protective instincts kicked in, and he shouted, "What are you doing, you fucking trash? Stop it! Let go of her!" The guys turned to face Pai, and one of them sneered, "What you say, you little punk? How are you gonna beat all three of us? Damn fool!"

Pai's smile turned into determination as he sprang into action like a bat out of hell, jetting from the back alley where Taro had discreetly positioned himself. The lowlifes were caught off guard by Taro's sudden appearance as he swiftly delivered a powerful kick to the head of one of them, instantly incapacitating him.

"One down!" Taro shouted, his voice echoing in the narrow alley.

Meanwhile, Pai wasted no time and went for the other two assailants. With impressive agility, he kneed one of them in the back, causing him to stumble forward. As the lowlife attempted to retaliate, Pai deftly ducked under the punch and countered with a swift undercut, connecting solidly.

The lowlife staggered backward, trying to shield his face, but Pai's relentless assault continued. He struck the man's liver with a powerful blow, sending him collapsing to the ground in pain.

"Two down!" Pai exclaimed, his adrenaline pumping.

Suddenly, the situation took a dark turn as the desperate lowlife grabbed Kel and held a gun to her head, threatening to end her life. Taro hesitated, realizing the danger of the situation.

"Get the fuck back! I'll blow her goddamn brains all over! You little rats try to make another move, and I swear to god!” Taro froze. Dammit, this guy has a gun. I should’ve checked…

Before Taro could react, a burst of wind pulled him back, and he felt a sudden surge of heat around him. He turned around to see Pai standing there, his eyes glowing pink with newfound power. "Pai, is that you?" Taro asked, astonished by his brother's incredible speed.

Without uttering a word, Pai moved with lightning speed, almost too fast for Taro's eyes to follow. He appeared before the lowlife, gripping the scum's face firmly in his hand, radiating an aura of essence.

The lowlife trembled in fear as Pai's intense gaze bore into him, making him feel helpless and vulnerable. It was clear that Pai was no longer the same person they had encountered just moments ago.

The tension in the alley was palpable as the brothers stood united against the last remaining assailant. The lowlife's bravado began to crumble under the overwhelming force he felt from Pai.

"Who… who are you?" the lowlife stammered.

Pai's voice was cold and resolute as he replied. “Let her go."

A moment of hesitation passed the guy's face but then he pushed Kel forward and darted down the alley. Harsh winds kick the lowlife into the street, bouncing his head off the ground.

"Are you okay, Kel?" Pai kneeled next to her.

"Yeah, I'm alright now... thanks, guys," Kel replied, wiping warm tears from her cheek.

While Pai was reassuring her, Taro spotted Sola walking to the scumbag’s body. He rushed over to confront her. Something felt off. "What are you planning to do with my brother?" Taro questioned.

Sola assured him, "Don't worry, I won't harm him. This is Pai's own will. Nova is calling us both," she made known, biting a piece of toast. 

“Huh, Nova?" Taro looked puzzled.

"I know you must have questions. But I'd like to get to know you more to make this work. I'm Sola. Nice to meet you,” she said, reaching her hand out. The brother’s hand quickly grabbed onto Sola, like he’s known her for a while. "It’s Taro…Tell me more about this Nova.”

"Yes, it's a force that seeks out individuals like us. That's all I can tell you now, I'm sorry," she said and turned back down the street. For a moment Taro considered going after her but Pai and Kel were waiting for him. There were more questions to be answered but those had to wait.

A patrolling robot bumps into the lowlife's unconscious body. "Are you okay, do you need any assistance? Is this where you sleep, if so that's very dangerous. Were you eating this bloody toast?