It was just a day after the mini explosion, and how normal everything seemed made the weirdness fade out,just a bit. But to some people, the questions never stopped. Especially… Maya.
But anyway, let's see what the others had in mind.
The break-time bell rang, and students filed out of their classrooms.
Celestine walked to her locker 57,opened it, and placed her books inside. A black spider with red legs, glowing eyes, and antennae materialized instantly on the locker wall. Celestine screamed, then quickly covered her mouth in realization.
"Raho! What the heck—?" she whispered.
Before Raho could respond, she heard a boy's voice behind her.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It was just a big spider," she said, turning around.
Her eyes landed on someone she was least expecting that morning. Mike. Their eyes met and held as the world around them seemed to freeze.
Celestine didn't know how to react but to stare at him for as long as fate and the universe allowed the moment to last. Imagine meeting someone you had been craving to see for weeks.
Mike, on the other hand, stared into Celestine's eyes, and all his mind confirmed was this: This was the girl who had been messing with his dreams.
The girl who had saved him. But how could that be true? How could she be real?
"Are you guys done with the spider?" Maya asked out of nowhere, walking toward them.
The two quickly looked away, faint blushes spreading across their faces.
"Oh… yeah," Celestine replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Sorry. I should get going," Mike said before walking away.
Celestine couldn't help but watch him disappear into the crowd.
"You know," Maya said casually, "twenty other girls are staring at him right now just like you were."
Celestine shifted her gaze to her.
"I'm sorry… what was that?"
"Never mind," Maya said with a shrug. "Can I borrow your Arts book again?"
"Yeah, sure."
***********************
On the other side of the city, at the beach, there stood a wedge-like cliff facing the ocean.
A dark cave lay hidden within it—one that not even the most curious explorers dared to venture into.
A manly figure with red eyes stepped out.
When the sunlight hit him, he appeared to be a man with long brown hair, a brown tattered shirt, and black shorts.
He yawned and touched his stomach as it rumbled in response.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
A stray dog barked a few meters away.
He turned, looked at it, and smiled.
"This will do just great for my empty aquatic tummy."
His eyes turned red. The earth beneath the dog sank, and the ground sealed itself. Whimpering echoed briefly—followed by the sound of bones snapping.
He then walked toward the shoreline and watched the waves crash and break. Not a single human soul was around.
A seagull landed on the sand, pecking at a small fish. It grabbed the fish and took off.
The caveman stretched his right hand toward the seagull and it froze midair. I mean,ts wings were flapping, but it didn't move forward.
He clenched his fist. The bird dropped lifelessly onto the sand. He walked over and picked it up, standing there for a while, gazing at it.
A breaking wave rushed forward and touched him.
At that instant, visible blue electric currents surged from the water and struck him backward. He fell hard into the sand.
"Haha Poseidon. You got me off guard today."
He laughed at himself and turned back toward the cave.
The earth where the poor animal had been buried opened up, and the carcass floated upward, following him inside. After he entered, a pile of rocks rose and sealed the entrance.
********************
Far out in the ocean, two orange-tailed mermaids and a purple-tailed one between them spiraled and twirled in joy as they headed toward the shore.
These were Dianne, Kristina and Bella racing toward the land.
Little did they know of the danger awaiting them there.
TO BE CONTINUED…