[Oakland High, Havok, Piasu, Ryomania, May 6th, Tuesday, 6:42 AM, 2025]
I couldn't understand why the situation suddenly made me feel the way it did. Maybe it was the sheer absurdity of it—a mass of bubbles and soap roses in the middle of a school hallway.
Or maybe it was the way the shimmering bubbles seemed to hover right towards us, as if they knew something we didn't.
Either way, it was enough to throw me off. My heart raced, but not from fear—no, it was something else. Excitement. Curiosity.
I turned to Jack, who was standing beside me, his usual cocky grin plastered across his face.
James Karawei: "Jack... Should we touch it? The bubbles."
Jack shook his head once more, suddenly patting me on the shoulder and confidently stepped forward, smirking like he'd just stumbled upon the world's easiest prank.
Even though he looked like he pooped himself a few seconds ago.
Jack Daniels: "It must be a prank! Roses, huh? Let's see what these little bubbles have in store for us~"
Before I could stop him, Jack reached out and brushed his fingers against a rose on the wall. The moment he made contact, the rose shivered, it's thorns slightly expanding before shooting out a flurry of at least a hundred tiny bubbles—each one the size of a pebble or even smaller.
They shimmered ominously, floating in the air for a split second before darting toward Jack like tiny, homing missiles.
Jack Daniels: "WHAT THE HELL?! AGH!—"
The bubbles burst on contact with his body, each one releasing a mini explosion of air that ripped through his clothes, the first couple hit his right arm, ripping the skin on the area of contact and the next group of bubbles hit his jacket and t-shirt, ripping across his abdomen.
The rest hit his ponytails which luckily shielded his face.
Jack was flung backwards by the surprising force of the bubbles, skidding across the wet floor, his blood mixing with the thin layer of water. His skin and arms were now riddled with tiny, pore-like wounds, like he'd been hit by a shotgun blast of air.
I ducked instinctively as the remaining bubbles flew past me, hitting the wall of the classroom to my left and bursting into tiny holes. The hallway looked like it had been attacked by a swarm of angry bees.
Despite the chaos, I couldn't help but smirk. This was insane. Absolutely insane.
It was the most exciting thing that had happened to me in years. I didn't feel like this back in Taured.
I now felt this surge of excitement from a lack of it for so long, and probably from that strange dream.
This wasn't like Taured.
I ran over to Jack and helped him up. His right arm and abs, much to his dismay, were badly damaged, blood dripping from the pore-like wounds. He winced but forced a laugh, trying to play it off like it was nothing.
James Karawei: "Hey! Jack, are you okay? Talk to me."
He dusted himself off and jumped up, shaking his head, causing his now-wet ponytails to flop around like soggy noodles.
Jack Daniels: "Never felt better! Hah! What the hell was that, though? And why are you smirking? You aren't an adrenaline junkie like me, are you?"
He glanced back toward the sound of running water, his grin faltering for a moment.
Jack Daniels: "At least they're gone... right? No more bubbles? Maybe we should step back from these roses—"
The sound of the classroom door slamming open cut through the tension.
Cathy Ariston stormed into the hallway, Jack's borrowed headphones dangling from her neck like a noose.
Her eyes, now slightly less red from crying, flicked from Jack's wounds to the roses and destruction on the wall next to our classroom, then settled on me with a glare sharp enough to slice steel.
Cathy Ariston: "Fuck... What the bloody hell did you two morons do this time?! James I swear..."
She got up in my face, grabbing me by the collar of my shirt.
James Karawei: "We didn't do anything! The roses— Jack touched it and well... it sort of made bubbles that exploded?"
Her eyes narrowed further, she released me and took a menacing step closer to the wall, arms crossing over her chest like a declaration of war.
Cathy Ariston: "Exploding roses... Are you taking the piss?!"
Jack Daniels: "Oi, Cathy! You're the one who's always 'yammering' about how 'boring' school is! Here's your bloody excitement!"
He gestured grandly at the carnage, wincing as the motion tugged at his wounds. Cathy rolled her eyes so hard I thought they'd get stuck.
Cathy Ariston: "Oh, brilliant, mock my accent! You three-tailed knockoff punk. Next time, maybe ask before redecorating the hallway with your idiot confetti! Jasmine better put you two in detention for three years! ONE FOR EACH PONYTAIL!"
Her voice rose in tone and pitch as she stepped closer to Jack, ready to choke him.
I quickly stepped in front of them.
James Karawei: "Hey, we didn't know... Let's just all calm down, okay?"
Cathy opened her mouth to retort, but froze when her gaze landed on the waterlogged floor and blood droplets. Her voice dropped to a hiss.
Cathy Ariston: "...Is that blood? Did you two get into a fight with a cheese grater?!"
She took a step back, her arms dropping to her sides.
Jack Daniels: "Nah, we told you just a bubble bath gone wrong. You should try it—great for the skin!"
Cathy looked ready to throttle him, but a new sound cut through the tension—a man's voice humming a tune from the shadows. The the hallway lights flickered.
Cathy Ariston: "Oh, for the Lamb's sake. What now?"
The three of us turned to look at the dimly lit hallway as the new sound echoed from the darkness—a man's voice, humming a tune. A wedding song.
Not one I recognized.
It was eerie, almost hypnotic, and it sent a shiver down my spine.
Despite all of this, I kept smirking. I felt like there was a way for me to regain my memories. I couldn't help it.
James Karawei: "Um... should we check out who's singing? I think we just found our culprit."
Cathy scoffed and stepped forward, grabbing me by the right shoulder. Her grip was surprisingly strong.
Cathy Ariston: "Oh sure, go into the dark, creepy hallway like it's not a horror movie cliché! Bloody moron..."
She started walking ahead of us, and we obviously followed through the now-wetter soap-rose infested hallway. The sound of running water grew louder, and the air felt heavier, like we were walking into a storm.
We turned the corner to find a black man in a pristine white wedding suit standing in the middle of the hallway.
The man had dreads which were snaking down his head from under his white top-hat. Red glowing eyes. He had a seemingly fake white-rose sticking out from the chest pocket of his wedding suit, above his heart. On the other side of his chest was a golden badge with a 'S' on it, the 'S' having a red glowing eye in the middle.
The same soap-roses were growing on him and yet he was seemingly unbothered. His glowing red eyes locked onto us, and he grinned—a predator's smile.
The man tipped his white top hat with his left hand, his red eyes glowing like embers in the dim light.
The Man In White: "Ah, the three fledglings. Tell me, little ones—do you enjoy my art? The roses are beautiful aren't they?"
He gestured to the hallway around us, smelling the soapy rose in his right hand, a tiny bubble coming out of it. He chuckled as it tickled his nose.
James Karawei: "Art? So you did this... Why? What are these bubbles? Look how hurt Jack is!"
The smirk on my face started slowly fading as the three of us were confronted with the mad-man ahead.
The Man In White: "A small price for transcendence, my dear boy! This mundane world will crumble, there will be nothing left, and in its place... A Savage Garden will emerge."
He flicked a bubble toward Cathy. It burst inches from her face, spraying her with mist. She flinched but held her ground, fists clenched.
Cathy Ariston: "You're a right nutter, you know that?"
The Man In White: "Mad? Perhaps. But even madness has its method. I'm here for a purpose, a very special purpose. Just like you three."
He glanced around the hallway, his voice dropping to a whisper.
The Man In White: "The Syndicate sees all, little ones. Your school... your lives... are but specks in the grand design. And I?"
He spread his arms wide, bubbles cascading from the roses growing on him.
The Man In White: "I am the brush that paints their masterpiece!"
Jack laughed and waved a hand dismissively, cutting the stranger off.
Jack Daniels: "Yeah, yeah—spare us the monologue, Picasso. Who is The Syndicate? What do they want with this school? With us? Weirdos aren't allowed in here. Beat it, or we're calling the cops!"
The stranger's grin widened. His head tilting down to face us.
The Man In White: "Why, behold, the lamb of love."
He had pointed at me while stepping closer. Glancing around as if looking for somebody.
The Man In White: "Or 'The Holy Weapon'. Either of you is fine. I'll carve the truth from your bones if you resist me, my roses aren't as gentle as I am."
Cathy pointed at the man while looking pissed, a scowl on her face.
Cathy Ariston: "Jack's right. If you don't leave, we'll call the authorities! And what's with the getup? You look like a damn Pixney villain!"
She put a hand on her hip and bent slightly, pointing toward the stranger.
Cathy Ariston: "We do NOT care if you play with bubbles, just do it somewhere else!"
The Man In White: "Oh how flawed that thinking is... It's imperfect, savage almost. Like my garden, the garden you so unceremoniously entered."
He grinned and tipped his hat to us. Suddenly a couple of students wandered into the hallway and unfortunately the man spotted them.
The Man In White: "Little lambs... You're not meant to be here!"
He stretched out his hands as bubbles flew from the roses on him, but the students ran away around the corner, the bubbles slamming into a door and exploding with air pressure, the glass shattering and the wood splintering.
Cathy Ariston: "Screw this, I'm putting his ass to sleep." Cathy said and walked forwards toward him.
James Karawei: "No wait!—" I reached out to her.
Before I could grab her shoulder Jack stopped me with his left hand.
Jack Daniels: "Nah, let's see what she does. She's strong. At least when we fight!"
He grinned at me and I sighed, Cathy glanced back at us and then at the stranger.
She got close to the stranger, about to touch him.
He turned around and smiled, and with a wave of his hand, a large bubble flew out of the rose in his right hand, it exploded right in her torso, sending Cathy flying back at least a couple meters into some lockers on the right side of the wall, facing the bathroom from where the water was coming from. He was flooding it on purpose.
The impact was brutal, and she slumped to the ground, blood trickling from her head.
James Karawei: "Cathy! Are you okay?!" I ran over to her.
Jack Daniels: "Welp, now we know... No touchy, touchy is very very bad." Jack followed, shaking his head.
My heart suddenly began pounding.
Her body was limp, and her breathing was shallow. I prodded at her injuries, trying to help somehow, but failing miserably.
Jack helped her stand up, she was barely conscious.
James Karawei: "What the hell?! This is crazy... this has to be a dream—right? No..."
I glanced between her and the man frantically, he just smiled and strutted toward us calmly. Hands behind his back.
The rose he held now forgotten on the floor, it's vines stretching outward towards the ceiling meeting with other roses and forming a barrier of sorts to block off the exit to the outside.
And he was now laughing like a damn psycho.
The Man In White: "Ah... poor little girl. Didn't you know my suit is more expensive than your entire school? How dare you try to touch me? I am here for a reason, you know. I don't particularly want to hurt you, I don't particularly not want to not want to hurt you either."
He waved his hand dismissively before bowing and striking a pose, tipping his hat toward.
Keito Nakamura: "I am Keito Nakamura, the first special ranked member of The Syndicate, also known as... The White Rose!"
He then straightened up, hands behind his back again, and grinned like he'd just won the lottery.
Jack Daniels: "'The Syndicate'? Oh... wait... OH! Wait I know about these guys!"
Jack patted my shoulder and stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly despite his attempt to sound confident.
Jack Daniels: "My sister works for them... They're a secret organization working under the name Ariston Industries! They're everywhere... I thought they were just some crappy law firm, but I guess not. This is bad news. These guys are like super-mafia."
He pointed at Keito Nakamura, his finger shaking.
Jack Daniels: "What're you doing here? And what makes you so special? Huh? And what's with the bubbles?"
Keito chuckled and took two steps closer, twirling another rose around his finger.
Keito Nakamura: "I'm here because The Boss ordered it. I'm here to fetch either 'The Love' or 'The Holy Weapon.' But you don't need to worry about that, my dears~"
A sharp whistle suddenly pierced the air. We turned to see Jasmine sauntering down the hallway we just came from, a gun gleaming in her hand.
Jack Daniels: "Jasmine. Our very own student council president, graces us with her presence! Since when does she carry a gun— Actually, scratch that. She did mention something about gun licenses or whatever last week."
Jack smirked as he gestured to her.
Jack Daniels: "She's late. Usually she sat on my right in class, even though she's the council president, she's really carefree. Tends to usually be late. And do crazy things like this."
At least carefree enough to bring a gun to school.
Jasmine twirled the gun with practiced ease, winking at Jack.
Jasmine Olson: "Miss me, guys?~ I was out buying... 'groceries', hey where's Sakura by the way? She was supposed to call me an hour ago. Or was I supposed to call her? Whatever, what's the situation?"
She stopped in front of us and glanced between the three of us and Keito, who was now pacing around the hallway, looking at the trophy case, examining paintings, waiting.
Jack Daniels: "Jazzie! Where'd you get the heat? That's glorious! Uh... We don't know where Sakura is—Listen, this guy... Is really bad and he attacked us basically. Now shoot his ass!"
Jack punched the air forwards, triumphantly.
Jasmine Olson: "Mhm... Sound's about right, oh and the gun? It's a perk of being a badass council president~ Now—"
She leveled the gun at Keito, her playful tone hardening, only slightly.
Jasmine Olson: "Who are you exactly? And how are you going to pay for all this property damage, and Jackie's and Cathy's injuries?"
Keito chuckled, unfazed.
Keito Nakamura: "I'm not. I don't care. That's not my purpose, dear. But a gun? I guess that makes sense, you're the weapon after all. How quaint. But bullets won't be enough here... No no no, not at all..." He turned and started walking towards us.
Jasmine Olson: "Yeah? Let's test that you asshat!"
She fired.
Keito waved his right hand, a wall of roses rising up in front of him from the floor. The bullets hit the roses.
Thorns extended from them like soap spikes that were sharp despite being made of soap.
Keito Nakamura: "Tsk tsk... You're too slow dear."
Keito suddenly jumped over the wall of roses in a blur. With a whip made of the soap vines, he grabbed Jasmine, Jack and Cathy and I and threw us to the back of the hallway.
I got up first.
He then turned to me, roses coalescing into a sword made of the same soap-vines which began emitting more bubbles which bumped into walls and kept exploding.
The hallway was now a minefield of bubbles, roses and spiky vines. Slithering across the roof, floor and walls.
Keito Nakamura: "The Boss needs you alive, boy. But that emptiness in your eyes... it sings to the void within us all. Mr. Hakomaru must have gotten to you first... What a pity! I would've loved to see the spark in your eyes for myself. Come now, let us dance my dear boy!"
I glanced at Cathy who mumbled something before she fell unconscious again.
James Karawei: "What the hell is this guy...? LEAVE US ALONE!" I yelled out in frustration and a strange sense of anger that began rising within me, not that I could tell what it was.
Keito chuckled and clicked his tongue, shaking his head as he stepped even closer.
Jasmine and Jack were the first to stand up. Then I stood up.
Jasmine Olson: "We're going to have a long talk later about this, Jamie. Hell of a welcome party, if you ask me... But still I can't ignore it! This little wedding boy better not be your personal clown. I hope you don't mind but I have an itchy trigger finger and I really want to shoot him him! We'll deal with the consequences later, right Jamie?~"
She winked at me as she cocked the gun again, her terrifying words didn't register.
Jack tried to stand up but slipped, muttering something under his breath.
Jack Daniels: "He used the First Step...? Wow... Ah!—"
Jack slipped again, Keito shot him a glance as Jasmine shot thrice at Keito, he swung the rose sword, a bunch of bubbles coming out of it and blocking the three bullets.
Keito Nakamura: "My dear boy, you or that girl are coming with me regardless. The Boss's orders are absolute. First Step..."
He crouched low and suddenly dashed toward us at an alarming speed.
Jasmine tried to shoot him again, but he punched her in the gut with a fist covered in roses, the thorns extending out to stab her.
The shirt burst on contact, and her skin tore, sending her flying back to us as she spat out blood. Some bubbles turned towards her suddenly as he snapped his fingers.
Keito Nakamura: "You cling to your normalcy like a child to a blanket! Let go, James Karawei! Let it consume you!" He yelled out, looking up at the ceiling, not caring that we were behind him.
James Karawei: "What— Screw that!"
I grabbed Jasmine's gun from the floor and fired at his head, a cluster of bubbles came from the sword which blocked the bullets but triggered a chain reaction that blew Keito backwards down the same hallway we came from.
He laughed, blood trickling from his lip.
Keito Nakamura: "Impressive! A masterpiece! That's what I wanted to see..."
Jack nudged me from the right.
Jack Daniels: "We have to call the cops, damn it..."
He shouted down the hallway.
Jack Daniels: "You stupid cocky wedding bastard, you deserved that! Jazzie, hey, are you okay?"
He helped Jasmine stand up, I quickly grabbed Cathy and hoisted her over my shoulder with strength that surprised both me and Jack.
Jack Daniels: "I didn't know you were that strong, you should've just punched him yourself dude! Jazzie, hey, you okay?"
Jasmine Olson: "Shut up... I'm fine, Jackie~ Let's just find a... Quiet spot, the council room should do. You have a lot of explaining to do Jamie~ I can't let you or that maniac destroy this school. Never."
We then turned to walk down the other hallway, leading to the gymnasium and the left-hand side stairwell of the school.
Keito Nakamura: "Not so fast, brats!"
Keito shouted as he began sliding after us, utilizing his strange power to make soap boots that slid on the wet floor.
Jasmine winced in pain, clutching her bleeding stomach as we ran away, but forced a smirk, trying to fool herself and us that this was just a regular school day.
We ran through the left-hand side hallway and down the stairs, a bunch of students were outside the school, the entrances were blocked by Keito's roses and vines.
James Karawei: "No... Damn it. Hey, are you okay?" I tried to rip the vines off, but I touched them and my hand went through them like soap.
A kid thrashed on the ground outside of the main entrance, his hand was bleeding. The work of a stray bubble that flew through the vines.
Student #1: "President Olson— How the hell did you guys get inside? The entrances and exits are blocked by these strange vines... We've tried calling for help but something is wrong with our phones, there's no connection."
A bunch of other students glanced at us through the rose barrier. Jasmine held up her hands placatingly.
Jasmine Olson: "Look, everyone just calm down! We've got everything under control. I'm sure we'll find a way to alert the authorities!"
Jasmine winced again in pain and put a thumbs up, forcing a grin.
Student #2: "President Jasmine? What happened... No this can't be!"
Jack suddenly grabbed my shoulder and smirked.
Jack Daniels: "Well sorry dudes, not much we can do! We're being chased by a maniac— C'mon James."
I turned reluctantly and ran after him through the corridor, Keito soon jumped down the stairs and landed perfectly at the bottom.
He glanced at the students outside and just created more vines at the main entrance, blocking it off completely.
Keito Nakamura: "No more visitors... Now come here."
We kept running and went through the gymnasium as the football team was practicing for a game.
Keito kept sliding on the ground with his strange ability, creating roses beneath him that shot out vines to strangle the nearby students that were unlucky enough to somehow be trapped inside the school.
Keito Nakamura: "You can't keep running! The more you run, the more people get hurt!"
Jack pulled us off to the side into a bathroom where two girls were cowering in the corner. Holding each other close.
Jack Daniels: "Everyone... Quiet..."
He put a finger to his mouth as we stepped into an open stall. He shut the door slowly.
I put Cathy down on the closed toilet seat and stood up on it, my legs between hers, peeking over the stall.
The girls met my eyes for a second before—
Keito entered the bathroom and saw the two girls in the corner.
Keito Nakamura: "Oh? What a surprise, two little rabbits hiding in a corner... You didn't happen to see four kids running through here did you?"
The girls shook their heads and slowly stood up from the corner.
Student #3: "N-no sir... We didn't, please let us go..."
Keito stepped closer and chuckled.
Keito Nakamura: "Now why would I do that? Nobody must know about this. My hardworking agents have already jammed all radio and micro-waves in and out of this place. We set up a brigade around the main road to stop anyone from driving by. You're all alone... And the gates outside? They are very shut."
Student #4: "Screw you, you sick bastard!"
The second braver girl pushed him away, the two of them tried running past him.
A rose that was now growing on the sink stretched out it's vines and wrapped them around their necks.
The girls fell down to the floor and they were getting dragged towards the rose by the sink.
Keito sighed and squatted down to their level, taking off his top hat and ruffling his hair.
Keito Nakamura: "I can't let you live, you already know too much... So why not tell you more?"
The girls' eyes bulged out as the vines wrapped around their bodies and necks, constricting their air supply.
Keito reached out to pet the girl on the left's head.
Keito Nakamura: "I have a special power called Holiness. Mine is called Savage Garden, it's quite special... I can create and manipulate roses made of soap. But they don't always listen to me. And I can't necessarily make too many of them or I'll turn into soap myself."
The girl on the right spat in Keito's face, his smirk turned into scowl as he glared at her, slowly wiping the spit off his face with his thumb.
He then shoved his thumb into the girl's cheek and rubbed it in, the vines around her neck tightened and her face started turning red, then purple, then blue she tried grasping the vine with her hands but thorns shot out. Stabbing her through the palms and held them there.
Her friend began crying quietly.
Student #3: "P-please..."
Keito cleared his throat and grinned, looking back to the girl on the right.
Keito Nakamura: "As I was saying... They don't always listen to me, the bubbles themselves are attracted by heat-signatures and either randomly bump into things and explode or seek out things that produce heat, causing a lot of air pressure on the area of impact. Like air bullets."
He glanced back at the girl on the left as a bubble flew towards her eye, exploding and destroying her eyeball, small splinters of her skull flew onto the cold bathroom floor, she stopped thrashing.
Her friend covered her mouth to stop herself from puking.
Keito grabbed her chin and tilted it towards her.
Keito Nakamura: "But they do listen to me most of the time. It's just because I'm not used to it yet. And as for the roses? They're soft and pliant yet tough, I can use them to make nearly anything I want. But I do prefer the vines, wrapping things up is... elegant. A true masterpiece."
More vines appeared on the girls body, her friend was already dead. She didn't say a single word and shut her eyes, accepting her fate.
Keito Nakamura: "I can't constantly make new roses... Unless I myself want to become soap. That's my fracture and I have to live with it. And in retrospective... That's probably why The Boss gave me the title of White Rose."
Keito sighed dreamily and stood up, still grabbing the girl's chin.
Keito Nakamura: "He's a masterpiece, just like his plan! Ah... Truly wonderful. Thank you for listening my dear. May you have peace..."
The vines tightened around her neck and thorns extended out like knives, stabbing her through her neck. She died.
Keito stood there for a moment longer, taking off his top-hat and shaking it, dusted himself off and went towards the bathroom exit, I only saw it for a split second but...
A tear fell from his right eye.
I slowly got off the toilet seat and took a deep breath. It took everything I had not to jump over the stall and try to save those girls, but I couldn't let my friends get hurt even more... Or worse.
Jack was sitting down on the floor, letting Jasmine grab his shoulders to balance herself upright. They obviously both heard.
Jasmine Olson: "What happened? Is he still here?"
She said in a hushed tone as she struggled to stand.
James Karawei: "He killed those two girls... But I saw him cry. What a maniac..."
Jack rubbed his chin and glanced up at me with a thoughtful look.
Jack Daniels: "Y'know I've heard my sister, Erika, talk about this kinda stuff before on the phone... She never really talked openly about her job, but I heard things from time to time. He must have a Holiness. I thought she was high when I first heard but I guess superpowers are real! Glorious, huh?"
He jumped up suddenly grinning, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
I slapped him right across the face.
James Karawei: "What is wrong with you?! Two girls just died because of us! If we didn't run in here he wouldn't have found them! Who cares what he can do? We..."
I looked down at my hands, before I knew it tears were falling from my eyes.
I began caring again.
Jack looked at me in bewilderment as he rubbed his cheek, not even angry at me.
Jasmine wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a hug. She frowned.
Jasmine Olson: "Don't worry James. I'll be sure to let their families know. Those two girls were in 3-B. But at least we know more about his ability now—"
I pushed her away gently, wiping the tears from my face. I didn't feel sad, I was angry, or still excited? I hated that I couldn't make sense of it.
My mind still hasn't caught up yet... With anything really.
James Karawei: "Screw that! Let's go after him."
I opened the stall door and hoisted Cathy over my shoulder again, Jack and Jasmine followed after me.
Jack Daniels: "Dude, slow down! We have to be sneaky... Look I'm sorry, I misread the room and I get what you're saying but we have to think about this. Talk things over?"
We turned right, climbing back up to the second floor and at the second-floor lockers near Room 2-B, stepping over fallen books.
James Karawei: "Alright... Fine. Let's go to the student council room. If there's more students in the school we have to lead them out, somehow."
Jasmine Olson: "That's right. Good. Council room is... Ah— Sorry, bastard really punches hard... It's..." She winced in pain and almost stumbled, Jack steadying her.
Jack Daniels: "On the third floor, c'mon."
I followed the two of them upstairs, we heard humming coming from the gymnasium. Through the vents.
It's safe to say the football team did not make it.
We went up past the second floor, to the third floor, all the classroom doors were open... Even the principal's office was empty.
A bloodstain on classroom 1-C's door caught my eye, he did finish some students off.
James Karawei: "He lied earlier..." I stopped to look at the bloodstain.
Jack Daniels: "What?" Jack and Jasmine also stopped, turning to me.
James Karawei: "When he said he doesn't want to hurt anyone, he lied. He wants just us alive and everyone else inside dead. I guess it's good the teachers didn't get inside."
I looked out of a window in the stairwell at the courtyard below, teachers, students and even the principal were outside. Nobody could get inside of the school due to the vines. Nobody could call the cops, they could only wait and watch.
The front gate of the school was also covered, even the street beyond seemed empty... Jack also stopped walking up the stairs to look.
Jack Daniels: "Damn everyone's down there... That's crazy. Although I must admit it's cool seeing this stuff, powers being a thing and all..."
Me and Jasmine simultaneously shot him a glance.
Jack Daniels: "Sorry... Hey! Look over there, on the rooftops!"
He pointed to some apartment buildings ahead, a group of people in sleek business suits were standing on top of those buildings with strange equipment and laptops. They all wore black glasses...
I turned to Jack and grabbed his shoulder as the humming downstairs grew louder.
James Karawei: "Let's just go, one problem at a time."
We continued heading upstairs, the third floor in comparison with the other two floors was like night and day.
No roses or bubbles or water in sight at all. But still no students either.
At the end of the hallway we saw the student council office.
Jasmine Olson: "There it is! Hah... I wonder if Sakura is still inside. I ran into her an hour ago or so."
James Karawei: "Sakura? Whatever, we have to rescue anyone... Isn't there a way down from this floor other than the stairs?"
Jack Daniels: "Not really... Man it's so quiet."
We walked through the halls of the third floor, most of the doors to the classrooms were locked by the school janitor.
Who was also nowhere in sight.
Suddenly a pink haired girl peeked out from the student council room ahead. She had short pink hair that came up to her neck, wearing a black suit blazer with a white shirt underneath, a pink checkered skirt with black squares and a fancy pink handbag with golden markings on it.
She stepped out of the room upon recognizing us.
The Pink Haired Girl: "OML, you guys are SO messed up! What even happened?! I heard screams and whatnot earlier but like... I decided not to call or anything? Jazzie you little munchkin! You promised to buy me chips! I'm hungry and... Oooh~ Hiya... You must be James, you're taller than I expected..."
The girl rambled as she ran up to us, gesturing wildly with her hands
Jack chuckled and grabbed her hand, putting it in mine. I shook her hand gently and she giggled.
Jack Daniels: "Meet Sakura Azuki, the council treasurer and our friend. Ever since you left for Taured and we entered middle-school, she's been with us. Not trying to replace you or anything! But y'know..."
Jasmine Olson: "She's fun. Too fun."
Sakura's eyes darted 'excitedly' all across my body.
Sakura Azuki: "It's SO nice to finally meet you James, I've heard a LOT about you... I've been known to do 'favors' to people I find intriguing from time to time... In case you ever need anything."
She winked at me and bit her lip. Jasmine pushed me back from her.
Jasmine Olson: "Oh shut up, and just so you know they did have barbecue chips, but I ate them on the way and didn't leave any for you! And I bought a gun!"
Jasmine pointed to the gun that I took earlier in my hand.
She stuck her tongue out at Sakura to which the pink haired girl covered her mouth while mocking a gasp.
James Karawei: "It's nice to meet you Sakura. What are you doing up here? And where is everyone?"
I asked calmly, unphased by the shenanigans.
Sakura Azuki: "Nice to SEE ya James, I have heard a LOT about you from Jasmine... And liiiike everyone totally freaked out or whatever when that weird soap guy killed the security guards at the gate and went into our school and they ran, it's just me. I managed to hide up here, I barricaded the door to the council room with the lame ass table Jasmine bought for her lame ass excuse of a break room."
Jasmine Olson: "Hey! I'll have you know it took me three hours to decorate it! I-it's a cool room..."
She suddenly walked over to an open window, throwing up as she clutched her injured stomach.
Jack Daniels: "Oh damn, that's rough..."
Jack patted her back as she stopped vomiting.
Sakura suddenly hooked her right hand through mine and smiled at me, almost innocently, almost.
Sakura Azuki: "So what's the plan handsome?~ I've been couped up in that stupid room since five, and the paperwork isn't that much fun either... You look like fun however."
She leaned in to whisper into my ear.
Sakura Azuki: "Tell me how you got your muscles, I won't tattle~"
I brushed her arm off of mine.
James Karawei: "Look, this is a serious situation—"
She scoffed, suddenly crossing her arms and grabbing a pack of cigarettes from her backpack and lighting one, taking a drag and blowing the smoke right in front of my face.
Sakura Azuki: "Fine, be that way."
She said bitterly as she began walking back to the student council room.
James Karawei: "What the heck is her problem?"
Jack patted my shoulder and smirked, walking ahead with Jasmine.
Jack Daniels: "Don't worry about it, now c'mon before that bastard finds us."
I followed after them, suddenly hearing the humming coming up the stairs.
Jasmine Olson: "Quick, into the council room, block the door!"
We ran into the student council room and shut the door, Sakura quickly pushed a table in front of it.
Sakura Azuki: "That should hold but damn... He's goofier than I thought. What is he liiiike thirty? Humming to himself in a school? Ew. What. A. Creep."
I went over to the long table in the center of the room and laid Cathy down on it, she was still unconscious but breathing.
Jack helped Jasmine sit down at the head of the table.
Jasmine Olson: "Phew... Okay, everything is fine... James, where's the gun?"
I slid it to her across the table.
James Karawei: "Should have a bullet left. I don't think we should use it anyway."
Jasmine Olson: "Right... What matters is making it out of here alive... Someone will gut that guy either way. He's a hazard."
Jasmine chuckled and rested her head on the desk.
Jasmine Olson: "I hope Cathy's okay..."
Sakura scoffed and went over to an open window to smoke.
I went over to Jasmine and sat down.
Jack prodded at his right arm which was still bleeding and his stomach.
James Karawei: "You okay?"
Jack glanced over at me, suddenly grinning.
Jack Daniels: "Couldn't be better!"
I locked eyes with Jasmine as I turned to look at her.
James Karawei: "Didn't you tell me yesterday that you watched over my house for five years because your parents hated you or something...? Or did I hear wrong?"
She chuckled and lifted her head, propping it on her hand as she clutched her stomach with the other.
Jasmine Olson: "Not really... I made a promise to your mom to take care of the house while you stayed in Taured. I'm thankful nobody showed up to ask questions after the incident. My parents..."
Her gaze dropped to her lap and her smile became wistful.
Jasmine Olson: "Aren't around, I live with my older brother. I obviously told him about the promise we made and he let me stay. But he did visit every other weekend."
I rubbed my forehead and glanced over at Cathy then back at Jasmine.
James Karawei: "And what about Cathy, does she have any family?"
Her smile turned into a frown as she straightened her posture.
Jasmine Olson: "It's complicated... She lives alone in a small apartment here in Havok, somewhere on 26th Elm St."
I then turn back to look at Jasmine.
James Karawei: "I see..."
Jasmine Olson: "Not the building, but the people. Yeah. I want everyone to make it out of this mess. I'm glad you're here." She smiled at me genuinely and held my hand.
I felt a smile creep up on my face that didn't register with me.
James Karawei: "Uh... thanks? I'll go check on Cathy."
I stood up and went over to Cathy to check her pulse.
Sakura suddenly turned and threw her cigarette out the window.
Sakura Azuki: "The Ariston chick? She's annoying, honestly. But I also REALLY like her gusto, she's spicy like that. She really got messed up though huh? Disliking all my insta posts counts as karma I guess, and she totally should get a new haircut, liiiike that's is so SO 2012."
I shot Sakura a glance to which she smirked at me.
Sakura Azuki: "I'm only joking, I like her. We're cool."
I sigh and perch up on the council table.
James Karawei: "Well since there's nobody else to save is there any way for us to get down to the ground without using the stairs?"
Jack suddenly stood up from his chair.
Jack Daniels: "Yeah. I saw some pipes on the side of the school wall, we could slide down on them and reach the schoolyard. I think they're connected."
He pointed out the window, I walked over to take a look.
James Karawei: "You're not suggesting we all slide down on those, do you?"
Jack Daniels: "Nah, I'll just carry you all one by one down them into the schoolyard."
He smirked, but the look in his eyes told me he was serious.
Sakura Azuki: "Jackie is right, the pipes connect to the yard. Plus I don't mind being carried—"
The door suddenly burst off it's hinges with the force of Keito's bubbles, the table flew right for Sakura but I stood in front of her and caught it with surprising strength.
Maybe I did get stronger... The thought flew by in a split second. He must've been listening in on us.
Keito Nakamura: "Oh you kids are hilarious, you actually thought you could run... From me?"
I threw the table back at him as bubbles blew it up into splinters, I turned my back to him to shield Sakura from the attack.
Jack Daniels: "Okay, new plan. Everyone down the pipes!"
Jack said as he grabbed Jasmine and Jumped out of the window, he began sliding down the pipes... They did connect to the inner schoolyard.
I grabbed Cathy and Sakura and hoisted them over my shoulders, jumping out of the window and grabbing a pipe with both legs and sliding down it as I looked up at Keito.
Sakura Azuki: "AHHH WE'RE GOING TO DIEEE! HELP! TOO MUCH BRUTE FORCEEE!"
The mad bastard was also sliding down the wall after us.
Keito Nakamura: "Hold that thought girl! You're not getting away!"
We slid right into the schoolyard which was filled with other students... this wasn't ideal.
Jasmine Olson: "Ah... Quick, we have to go to a police station—or find someone... anyone!"
Keito landed aggressively, cracking the ground with the force of his fall. Roses and vines exploding from the crater.
The bubbles from them burst beneath him, boosting him upward as he jumped into the air, vines extending and forming a platform beneath him as he stretched his hands out and created even more roses.
In no time, the schoolyard was filled with thousands of bubbles, and he sat on the platform above us. Students started filming the scene already. This was bad.
Keito Nakamura: "Now, now! Don't run away... I ain't finished."
He stood atop his platform, stretching out his hands, and a bunch of soap vines connected all of the thousands of bubbles as he prepared his attack.
James Karawei: "RUN! EVERYBODY! RUN—" I shouted, glancing around frantically.
It was too late anyway.
Keito Nakamura: "Savage Garden: Thousand Thorn Burst!"
All the bubbles in the courtyard burst, sending students screaming and running. The air pressure from the bubbles caused a massive explosion. The rubble fell and before I knew it...
I blacked out.