Karim

The clock on the wall chimes, dragging me out of my thoughts.

My mind is more at ease now that I've heard her voice. I just needed to know that she was safe.

Sliding off the bed, I put on my waistcoat and leave the room. It's time for Ace and I to pay our daily visit to the Dungeons.

Outside the dorm building, I spot a familiar blonde guy with head phones over his ears, sitting idly on one of the benches.

His attention is directed at the soccer match in the distance. The game had commenced a while ago.

Furuno might be attending, although I highly doubt it. The girls might attend as well.

Even if I were not burdened with the punishment of visiting the Dungeons every evening, it would never even cross my mind to join the crowd of spectators.

It feels deafening - the cheers and screams - from my room window. How much more would it be when I sit amidst them?

He rises up before I reach him, arranging his perfectly tucked shirt.

Is he nervous?

He doesn't meet my gaze at first, but when he does, his eyes are firm and glassy as usual.

Maybe I had just imagined it.

"Thanks for coming all the way". I say, breaking the silence.

"I didn't want you to come looking for me". His voice is low, but hinting at something oblivious to me.

"Where do you stay?" I ask, wondering who would share a room with him when everyone literally runs away from him.

"I stay alone". Is his vague response.

Deciding not to prod, I walk quietly beside him.

"I noticed how you were staring at the game. Why didn't you join them?"

He doesn't respond. Watching him from the side of my eye, I notice that his mouth firms and his eyes harden.

Something personal?

"Forget I asked". I say.

The last thing I intended was to dig up past wounds.

"It's not about me. I don't want to watch the match. I was just distracting myself".

"You seem pretty distracted nearly all the time". I comment.

His eyes soften as far as I can see.

"Since the field is busy, we have to use another route". He says, his voice dry.

Another route.

All I can do is blindly follow his lead. He turns away from the paved pathway and starts heading down a bushy trail that leads into the dense forest.

I hesitate, unsure of the path. He doesn't look back to see if I'm following, he just keeps walking on - spine straight, strides measured.

Then, he slips deeper into the forest until I can no longer see him. The sun is hanging low on the horizon, bidding farewell as it casts pink and orange hues across the sky.

Sighing, I walk down the trail. The topography of the land in this side of the field is terrible.

I walk into the forest, keeping an eye out for blonde hair.

Then, a hand touches my shoulder. In one smooth movement, I grip the person by the arm and shove him to the ground.

Ace.

I had warned him about startling me.

Surprisingly, he's smiling.

His earphones are hanging around his neck.

"Where did you learn to do that?" He asks.

"That's none of your business".

He smirks.

"Everything is my business".

I extend an arm to help him up. He hesitates, but eventually grabs it and rises to his feet.

"You keep a lot of secrets. I've never met someone more secretive than you. I can't even tell anything about you by looking at you". He says, leaning down to dust himself.

"So do you".

"I'm obvious to the eyes that dare to look long enough".

I raise a brow but say nothing.

We keep walking.

"Were you in the army?" He asks, refusing to give up.

"No". I say in a tone that would naturally warn anybody off.

But, it doesn't even seem to deter him.

"Navy? Police officer?" He prods further.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

I hate guns, why would I ever want to join a profession that leans heavily on it?

"You learned martial arts?"

I decide to answer, hoping that my single response would stop him from asking any more questions.

"Yes". In a bid to change the subject, I ask, "Where does this path lead?"

He casts a sideward glance at me, his eyes knowing.

"This path? It leads directly to the Dungeon tower since we can't cross the bridge". He responds.

"How do you know this path?" I ask, intrigued.

He slips his headphones over his ears.

"I just do".

Another evasive answer.

Yet, he said he isn't secretive.

True to his word, I begin to make out the tower as we journey along the path.

At the end, the trail is blocked by a huge boulder of about seven to eight feet tall.

He looks over his shoulder at me, silently questionning.

He grips the top, using his legs to propel himself forward. He slips a couple of times, his face flushing from exertions.

I should have been the one asking ifhe could tackle the boulder, not the other way round.

I take a few steps backward, putting enough distance between myself and the boulder.

Bracing for the jump, I draw in a deep breath.

I sprint forward, launching into the air and landing at the top of the boulder.

Just as I expected, his eyes are glimmering with curiosity. If he were an average person, I would expect his jaw to drop. But, he is far from being an average person.

I jump down, landing on my feet unsteadily.

"That's not usual for even a Marine". He says from behind.

I turn around, fixing him with a cold stare.

He doesn't flinch.

He is sitting atop the boulder, crossing his legs and watching me with narrowed eyes.

"You won't get any information out of me. Don't bother wasting your time".

"That's exactly why I don't consider it a waste of time. What is your special ability?" He asks.

Speaking of special ability, I am yet to discover my own. Furuno seemed to discover his own easily enough.

I shrug. What would he think when he discovers that I don't even know my special ability?

"It's not like I'd tell anyone."

"Give it up. Let's keep moving". I suggest, my voice hinting a subtle warning.

Seeming to grasp my message, he slides down from the huge rock and falls into step with me.

The Dungeon looms in front of us, no less creepy in the day as it had been at night.

There is no trace of a single soul around its perimeter.

In its place, the silence hums. Not even the song of a distant bird can be heard. It's as if every sign of life has been cut off from it - all connections to life severed.

Ace walks toward the door, betraying no hint of fear or anxiety.

No matter how hard I look, I don't see it - the fear.

I can feel my own hands trembling, my breath quickening.

I can never forget my first experience in the presence of the Presence. It only made me wonder how deep the connection between Ace and it ran.

No normal person, no matter how strong-willed would ever find its company agreeable.

It makes me suspect that there is more to their relationship than meets the eye. Maybe, it holds some sway over Ace. Worst of all, Ace is lonely - so he is easy prey for parasitic beings like the Presence.

We remove the latch from the door and enter the dark building, shutting the door behind ourselves.

He seems less detached compared to last time. He even waits for me while I strike the flint over the torches.

The ride in the lift is anything but hitch-free. With each hiccup, I clutch the railing tighter. The metal keeps scraping along the wall, causing the lift to vibrate.

I had to cling to the railing so tight my hands became numb.

By the time the lift touches the floor, I lift the gate and rush out.

Ace laughs quietly, his face lighting up brightly.

"Get used to it. The lift has its good days as well as its bad ones. Today isn't even bad. There are days when it feels like the overhead cables might cut and the whole thing will drop to the ground".

I look at him.

"Why doesn't anyone do anything about it?" I ask, mostly to myself.

"Who would fix it? No one comes down here". He chooses to answer

"Except you". I complete for him.

He averts his eyes briefly before returning my gaze.

His eyes look black in the glow of the fire.

"Some people don't get to choose their friends". He mutters.

Is that why he spends so much time with the Presence? Because he's lonely?

Lacking what to say, I decide to keep myself busy with pulling down the gate.

"So, it's your best friend?" I can't resist asking.

He shakes his head.

"It goes a lot deeper than that".

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