Shadow's Twin
1
It all happened so fast...
The shattering of the glass...
The sound of rampaging footsteps...
And everything turning black.
A voice echoes from the shadows...
Skotto (02A)
Wake up .. Han...
I jolt up from my slumber, breathing rapidly.
I see Belle run towards me.
I feel the cold hard floor piercing my palms.
Belle pats my back and brushes it.
Belle, is two years younger than me.
After I transferred universities, she was the first person to initiate a conversation with me.
I guess, it's because our mothers once knew each other.
She smiles back and shakes her head.
Belinda
No, fortunately. But you ... You were closest to the window when the blast happened ..
Hana Kroes
Am I injured? I don't...really feel anything odd ..
Belinda
You got a few scratches from the glass, but nothing too serious, thankfully.
I look around and only noticed we were out in the hallway.
It was still noon. There was a brown-out.
I peek from the windows on this side to the classroom and see that the windows were completely shattered.
Shine
Hana, you're finally awake.
Shine, is Belle's best friend.
Hana Kroes
Are you guys okay?
Shine
Yes, none of us were seriously injured.
Hana Kroes
Yeah, I think so.
Hana Kroes
Thanks for patching up my cuts.
Victoria stands before us, behind her, Yasmin looks terrified.
Johnny, her boyfriend notices and embraces her.
I feel something rising from my gut and it was unpleasant.
2
Belinda
What do you mean they're gone?
Victoria
Everyone... The staff, the faculty, the deans!
Clara Marie
Calm down Vicki...
Clara embraces her as soon as Vicki bursts into tears.
Jannette
Hey, don't cry, maybe they just went out for help...
Victoria
No... That's not... It...
Victoria
They're... Gone...dead...
Fear creeps up on everyone's face.
Shine
H-how ...that's not possible...Wh-a
Yasmin
It's true...guys... We went to the offices and found them on their chairs...lifeless ..
Mervin
But….who...you know...
Yasmin
They weren't breathing, they were just...still...
She cries on Johnny's chest.
Yvonne
How's that even possible?
Yasmin turns to us and sniffs.
Yasmin
There were no signs of injuries, it's like they're sleeping...
Martin
Well...perhaps they really were just sleeping?
Victoria
No, we checked, several times...there were no pulse from any of them.
This...isn't really happening, is it?
I feel their eyes on me and I stand up carefully, Shine and Belle supporting me.
Hana Kroes
What happened to them?
He says looking depleted.
Brandon
There were so many things happening at once, we could only take control of this floor.
Hana Kroes
They must be terrified. If the deans and the teachers are...gone...then no one's managing them.
Silence falls between us.
Yasmin
You're right...we didn't think of that...
Jethra
The children must be so scared.
I feel the tight tension in the air.
Brandon
It's alright, Belle and Shine didn't want to leave you here so I sent Donny and Billy to check the whole building.
I turn to them both, thankful.
Hana Kroes
How long was I out?
Shine
Only for a couple of minutes, maybe 30?
Belinda
The guys and I carried you out of the room.
Hana Kroes
We should get them to the cathedral.
Brandon
That's... A good idea...
This university is run by a catholic organization, and a cathedral sits just right next to it.
Billy and Donny come rushing from the other building.
Donny
Hey, I think you should look outside.
3
We enter the classroom once again and peek out the shattered windows.
We look up and see a black and red striped airship dragging a gigantic banner at its tail.
Mervin
Isn't that Boravia Enterprises's logo?
Mervin
Boravia Enterprises is a pharmaceutical enterprise, they deal with a lot of medical and health stuff.
Mervin
But why is are they–
Hana Kroes
Let's evacuate the campus and lead everyone to the cathedral.
I jump in and they all turn to me.
Brandon
Alright, let's spread out.
We head out of the classroom and went door to door.
Hana Kroes
I'll check the gate downstairs that leads to the cathedral.
Lucile, she must be pretty shaken up.
She's been quiet the whole time.
We hurry downstairs and head for the west wing.
There's a small museum for Mary and a garden that separates the side of the campus building to the cathedral.
I'm not a devout catholic, but I've been inside the cathedral for a specific unit I've been taking and the sanctuary can house atleast hundreds of people....
We reach the gardens and find a smashed helicopter on the side.
The other side of the brick wall was completely torn open and I could see the city cemetery from here.
Elizabeth gasps and covers her mouth.
I see why she had such reaction.
There were two lifeless bodies peeking out from the cockpit.
I grab her gently around the shoulder and swivel her away with Lucile.
Hana Kroes
It's going to be alright.
Hana Kroes
Let's just focus on the children.
We find the cathedral doors open, as usual and check for any more bodies inside.
Lucile
There's quite a few here...
Hana Kroes
Okay, let's shut the front door first.
Hana Kroes
Eli, can you do me a favor?
Elizabeth
There are people here...someone's parents, siblings...children too...
Hana Kroes
I know, but we have to get the children safe, okay?
I feel her head nod against my shoulder.
I turn to her and slowly give her instructions.
Hana Kroes
I need you to go back to the others, and tell them we need some guys to help with the bodies.
Hana Kroes
Eli, we can't let the other kids see them here, okay?
Hana Kroes
Lucile and I will take the bodies to the other side of the garden, but we'll need help from the other guys, okay?
She nods slowly, tears forming in her eyes.
Elizabeth
Okay, okay, alright ...I can do that.
Hana Kroes
Don't look back, don't look anywhere, just keep going.
Elizabeth hurries back to the main campus.
Lucile
What's happening to this city?
Hana Kroes
Let's take the bodies to the other side.
There's another garden on the left and from here, you could see the two way road.
I peek outside and see the streets, the roads in disarray.
Lucile and I start dragging the bodies out from the chairs.
In a matter of seconds, Johnny and Mervin enter together.
They see what we were doing and didn't bother to ask more questions and instead help out.
I was relieved...I didn't know how to explain this phenomenon.
Elizabeth comes in and warns us.
Elizabeth
Everyone's lined up at the gate, are you guys finished here?
Just in time, Mervin and Johnny closes the last door.
Mervin
That's quite the body count ...
Mervin
I hope my...our parents are fine.
I could only pat him on the back.
They pile in an orderly fashion and in a matter of seconds, half of the chairs are already filled.
I help Belle assist the younger ones on the chair. The senior and middle-schoolers are also disciplined enough and were also a big help to the little ones.
Brandon
I should do a double take.
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