Cyrus Solaris
"Is there a reason you were in the girls' bathroom?"
I turned slowly toward the voice, sparks of electricity illuminating the face of someone clearly fed up with me.
Sora.
"There was, but I'm finished," I said, trying to walk toward the bridge. A shot of electricity went through my back. My resolve dwindled, and my thoughts became cloudy.
"I don't get you," she said, creating a net of electricity around my feet, daring me to take a step.
"There is nothing to get. Let me go, before we have a repeat of our spar."
"No," she said, as the net raised around me, trapping me in a cage of electricity.
"My grandfather talked you up big time during the summer. Calling you one of the most talented starbounds he's ever seen. But when I met you this summer, I didn't see that."
"And what exactly did you see from our very brief encounters?"
"A sad boy."
"I'm not sad, I'm focused. You wouldn't understand."
"But I do. Tell me, Cyrus, have you heard of the Sango Mata Constellation?"
"No."
"That's what the Brontarion clan is connected to, and my brother and I obtained special edicts of that constellation. Mine allows me to feel the emotions of those around me through the electrical currents their bodies emit. So you can lie all you want. I know what you really feel."
"You're full of it."
"No, I'm not. I know your actions during the totem game went against how you actually felt. That's why I approached you in the cafeteria, I knew the answer, I wanted you to admit it."
"Admit what? My actions already said everything. I did what was necessary."
I met her gaze.
"And that ability of yours… It's invasive."
"You're struggling with something."
"I'm not! Why do you even care? We don't know each other!"
"You're right, we don't. Whose fault is that?" she said, her arms crossed as a storm raged in her eyes.
"Have you ever considered that you're overbearing?"
"What's overbearing is feeling things I don't want to. It's a lot to handle… and what I feel from you is worse. So excuse me for wanting that to stop."
"So you're selfish."
Her hair frizzed as she stomped her foot; the electric cage that surrounded me closed in on me more.
One slight movement in the wrong way and I would be electrocuted.
"Years ago, I felt the same thing from someone I loved. I didn't understand it. I didn't help… and I lost them. I don't know you. I don't even like you. But that feeling… It's the same. So I'm not making that mistake again."
"That's nice. I don't need saving. Now let me go." I said, as I released some of my cosmic energy.
"Those emotions of yours shroud you in darkness, just like that core of yours. Ironic, really." She said, turning her back towards me.
"Let me go!!" I yelled, causing the nocturnal animals to scatter in the brush.
"No, I deem you guilty of vandalization." She said, walking off into the wooded area.
"Also, it's against the rules to be out after curfew, have fun with that."
My teeth ground together as I watched the image of her vanish.
For someone who was trying to help, she knows how to agitate me. At this point, she was no different from the other nobles and heirs.
They all pushed for their way, making it impossible to see divergent paths. I felt like a target, weaving through a crowd of archers. I just wanted to be left alone.
In the cage, lightning arced, shocking me and making me seethe. I had to escape; I couldn't be caught out here.
Wrapping cosmic energy around my body, I braced myself and stepped through the cage. As my arm went through the cage, lightning attacked it, eating away at the layer of cosmic energy fast. In a short moment, my arm was burned.
Pulling back, I writhed in pain, doing everything I could to subdue the blister. Looking up, I saw that the moon had changed colors.
From white to blood orange. It felt like the universe was telling me I wasn't going to leave here without spilling blood.
Each moment I procrastinated, it felt like the moon inched closer to the surface. To the point where I questioned the reality of the situation.
Staring at my blister, I swallowed and shut my eyes, picturing a shield of cosmic energy thick enough to keep me safe.
The shield wasn't enough. I became overwhelmed by the sound of lightning popping, the smell of skin being fried, and the searing pain in my shoulders, forearms, and shins.
It was like being cooked alive, but I wasn't going to let her win.
I needed the last laugh.
My eyes open, and I see my damaged uniform, singed at the ends, static still brimming at the touch.
The moon was closer, and then I heard a guttural wail, terrifying enough to make the strongest of starbounds flee.
I looked at my watch; it was an hour past curfew. I heard the rumors and had no intentions of staying here.
Dashing across the bridge, only two things could be heard.
My frantic footsteps and the wail of a beast coming out to hunt.