So as you thought, the world is abhorrent. Equality is free of charge, and yet there's inequality. Why? Because it's life. Because we have to accept it.

- You know... skin cancer spreads really... really slow. - Wyatt disrelishes. - So getting to the final stage is nearly impossible.

Nearly.

- Yeah, nearly impossible.

Then what?

- It should have been impossible.

You keep your mouth shut, since there's a storm in your brain. You don't know, looking at her makes you sad. Then, how should a gentle soul act: Be silent and leave her be, or be by her side till the end?

You hug her and say nothing.

Stella shocks, yet nothing is said.

Until then you comprehend the power of quietness. Sometimes, silent talks more than nonsense; sometimes, security comes from a friend nearby. In a world of nothingness that Stella dwells, you are the first to communicate.

- Ain't I told you not to touch me?

"Did I say yes?"

- Sometimes you kinda annoying not gonna lie.

"Appreciate that."

We stay like that for a whole minute long.

Every so often, you feel like forgetting a weighty matter. Nevertheless, you're already dead; why be so preoccupied with things that's not your duty.

- Welcome! - Aura continues her job.

By Aura, you feel an aura. Feel like a joke? For you, it's not. A dark figure in white eyes, totally converse to you. Long before, even before you met Nolan, it already existed due to you. You anticipate the peril: points its finger toward you, a weapon that is meant to kill.

Roar.

Aura conceals herself down to the desk, her eyes stare at the monster, unable to move. Wyatt stands nearby... as usual, he doesn't care. You cover Stella, at the same time find an escape route: you are the target anyway.

In a sudden, the creature starts, and then plunges to you like a wild hungry predator. Scared, you're paralyzed. Fortunately, Stella pushes you to the right, and herself to the left.

Its sharpened claws tear the stall's rear cloth. It rolls on the ground, then regains its balance to stare at you menacingly. It threatens your life, even though you're dead.

Eventually, you sprint outside, where as few folks as possible. Following you with its four limbs on the ground, the fiend crawls and roars. You're too scared, only know to dash. One minute to get out of school, five minutes on the main street, two minutes to arrive at a dead end alley. It slowly walks, it's smart enough to know you're cooked.

Alas, it's kinda the opposite.

Some liquid pours down from the sky. As a reflex, the monster transforms into fluid, yet being trapped due to the thickness: oil hinders it from escaping. A lighter is dropped, then comes a massive explosion. Fire is everywhere, ignites more thanks to oil.

It hollers in agony, bestirs itself like a mouse in the mousetrap. Impuissant, it retreats to the ground, wriggling through tiny cements.

Wyatt remains on the wall nonchalantly. Abruptly, he holds his chest in miserable pain; he reacts by a smile, yet suffering doesn't pass. Fire is in the front and he nearly falls into the hell pool; fortunately, he manages to stabilize. Back down, he pours a bag of sand on the oil, isolates fire from oxygen.

You were safe...? The creature remains in the ground and will appear anytime from now: you have no idea.

- How did you?

- I inspect you all the time, of course I know you will run to here.

- But how? This random alley?

- The monster is faster. You know that, so you will run in a zigzag, spiraling along the town. Indeed, I have to pull you in this alley via the "shortcut" board placed outside.

You are in disbelief.

- Wyatt, how the fuck did you come up all of that?

- 'Cause I remain calm in emergency.

The fire was extinguished. No way you know when it will arrive, maybe right now when everything is safe.

- I will leave.

- Understood.

- Protect Aura and Stella, you know, keep them safe.

- I will.

No one can achieve both without sacrifices. If its target is you, those related to you will be at risk. You can't afford that.

- Fyi, it may not harmful to regular humans like us if it's the same thing as you.

- Like how?

- You can interact with physical objects, but we can't feel your touch. I don't know the limit yet, and we shouldn't push.

That stirs up knowledge you've long forgotten.

- Stella... reacted to my pat.