Rain hammered the streets.
A young boy pushed through the darkness, his breaths ragged and uneven. Water streamed down his face as he ran through the mud
His eyes darted left and right, Searching
.
POV
Looking for someone, looking for something.
"Where are you!!..." The word escaped his lips between heavy breaths, lightning flashed, the world shifted.
Elsewhere....
A bloody fist slammed into a boy's face.
CRACK.
The impact sent blood spraying across the floor of an abandoned warehouse, three men surrounded him, one of them grabbed the boy by the collar and pulled him upright before driving another punch into his face while the remaining two surround the kid.
The boy's body went limp, his eyes rolled back Consciousness fading and then
BANG!
The warehouse door burst open another boy stumbled inside, his chest rose and fell in panic He froze his eyes widened.
"Neyooooo!"
His scream echoed through the warehouse.
The world shattered.
Reality....
Kairo's eyes snapped open, Voices filled the classroom. Students chatted freely as laughter echoed from every corner, his heart raced.
For a moment, he couldn't breathe. Again; That dream again, rubbing his eyes as he sat upright. At the front of the classroom, a chubby boy stood on a desk; Bobo.
The self-proclaimed master of endurance and body awareness, he spun dramatically before nearly falling off the desk. The classroom erupted into laughter, Bobo laughed along with them, Kairo couldn't help but chuckle. The classroom door slid open, Instant silence.
Their tutor stepped inside, His sharp gaze landed immediately on Bobo.
"BOBOOOO!!" Bobo straightened instantly, the tutor sighed.
"The final phase of the program is approaching. I suggest you start taking it seriously." A few students laughed, the tutor ignored them.
"That applies to all of you..." His voice grew firm. "The families supporting you have expectations. The opportunities provided through this program are not gifts. They are earned." The room grew quiet.
"Continue refining your handcrafts. The final examination will determine the paths you'll pursue and what the future holds," With that, the day's session came to an end.
Few minutes later....
Star Sand City never seemed to sleep, one of the three great, documented cities, it stood as a symbol of progress and culture. The residential districts stretched across three sides of the city, Markets, businesses filled another, the other part is filled with locals and their residents, at its center stood advanced modern structures and buildings that defined Star Sand's identity.
Kairo moved through the crowd; Merchants shouted, Children ran through the streets. The smell of food drifted through the air.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
His stomach growled. "Food first." He quickened his pace.
Eventually he reached his resident, an old building with quiet the few tenants, outside sat Mama Tito. Despite being well into her 80s, the tiny midget woman still ran the local drink shop on the ground floor and owns the building above.
"Good afternoon, Mama Tito" the old woman looked up. "Where's that short, big mouth?"
He hesitated. "Ah, you mean Neyo? I left him behind."
"As expected," She folded her arms. "That boy is probably causing trouble somewhere."
"Hahaha, maybe" Kairo replied.
"Now ...Now you stay focused." She pointed at him. "I heard the program is almost over. Rina has put a lot of faith in both of you."
"Right..." Kairo rubbed his stomach. "Sorry, Mama Tito. My stomach is crying."
The old woman waved him away. "Go now before you collapse."
Kairo ran upstairs.
Upstaires....
Knock ...Knock
"Come in." A voice from inside responds, Kairo opened the apartment door. Inside, Rina adjusted her coat. "You're going out?"
"Ah, Kairo. You're back." Her eyes moved behind him. "Where's Neyo?"
"He stayed behind after class."
Rina blinked. "Stayed behind?"
"He was talking about Bobo's dance of endurance and some secret method to unlock inner strength."
Rina stared, then burst out laughing. "That sounds exactly like Neyo."
Kairo grinned. "When are you coming back?"
"I have work in another city." She grabbed her bag. "I should return tomorrow before noon."
Kairo frowned. "So, it's just me and Neyo?"
"Is that a problem?"
"No." His answer came a little too quickly as he sits on the bed. Rina smiled knowingly. "Or maybe you wanted to come with me."
Kairo froze.
"Aha. Caught you." She laughed. Then tossed him a key. "Check the fridge. I left porridge for you and Neyo."
"Thanks, Big Sis."
As Rina headed for the door, she paused. "Humm, or you know what, get yourself ready."
"Oh ready? But why?
"This might be good chance to explore a little and see the beauty outside too" she chuckles, Kairo's face lit up.
Few minutes later.....
Passengers crowded the platform. Among them stood Rina, beside her were three fellow crews. They're missionaries with Rina as the leader in her crew, her division stands as an envoy with her skills in Diplomacy. Missionaries whose work took them across the regions.
Kairo stood beside them close to Rina. The train whistle sounded. The doors opened as they step in and board the train.
The train rattled along the tracks as Kairo rested his head against the window, watching endless fields rush by Rina ask him how's he feeling, Kairo nods She looks at him with smile.
"Hey sis"
Rina glanced up from her notes. "Yes?"
Kairo hesitated. "Back in black capital, sometimes I wonder" he hesitates again "what would have happened that night if..."
Rina asks in concern "Are you still having those dreams?"
Kairo looked away. "Yeah, I feel like part of my emotions are still there"
"Yeah, it maybe but those are your negative emotions right" Kairo looks at her with the question like she understands him.
He nods.
"I know there are a lot of things to expect but whatever the future holds I want you and your brother to hold on tight till the end, I'll always be there for both of you" she says as she smiles at him.
Kairo gave a small nod of understanding.
Suddenly...
BANG!
The entire carriage shook; Passengers jerked from their seats. Another impact followed.
BANG!
People screamed. "What was that?!"
Kairo turned toward the window Something moved outside, A blur, then another gone before he could focus. Rina gripped Kairo's hand and fought her way through the crowd... "Stay close."
At the rear of the carriage sat a man whose face was hidden beneath a hat and scarf... Immediately the train start losing balance causing further panic, everyone seemly trying to get to the front but overcrowded. Rina holding Kairo by the hand as she tries to get to the front but overly crowded.
Her three crew she came with trying to get in front too and immediately the back of the train jams. The back wheels are locked solid, the floorboards under the passengers' feet vibrate violently and glow a terrifying cherry-red.
SCREAMS!
Echo as a stampede of passengers pushes toward the forward carriage door.
MAN: "The floor is burning! Move MOVEEE!
The intense friction of the jammed wheels melts the underside of the rear train. The under-carriage battery and electrical box ignite, just then...
BOOOM!!
A localized explosion rips through the bottom-back of the rear train, the blasts blow the floorboards completely out, leaving a gaping, burning hole.
The rest of the train stays on the tracks, still pulling forward.
Rina holding Kairo's hands tight trying to not let him fall off the hills as the explosion blows a dozen passengers out of the bottom of the moving train, but then the strong wave became uncontrollable causing both Rina and Kairo falling from the hills.
They fall through the flame and smoke, hitting the asphalt and instantly tumbling over the edge of the fields surrounding with rocks.
Because of the steep mountain grade, they slide and roll uncontrollably down to grassy open field, scattered across the hillside. Rina still trying to shield Kairo with her body as they roll from the fields until her back hits a tree with the force causing her to growl in pain.
inside the forward train deck, the passengers feel a massive jolt as the emergency brakes automatically engage from the damage; the train screeches to a violent halt further up the mountain road.
Through the back window, the survivors look down the sight of the smoke coming from the mountain slope, small fires burn on the grass where the explosion debris landed, illuminating the figures of the fallen passengers trying to move as they hope they survived.
To be continue....