During the late hours of a misty night, a black robo-dragon in the form of a motorcycle blazes through the empty campus roads.
The rain, which is more of a drizzle, does nothing to deter the driver from completing his job as requested by his client.
That client, riding on the back seat, couldn't care less about the rain and didn't bother to defend himself from it–it phased through him. In fact, there was nothing around him that could phase him.
Nothing besides the one thing that plagues his mind, leaving no space for anything else.
"Damn it! Damn me! I just had to forget about–aaaa!"
"Just a friendly reminder, making a ruckus–even while intoxicated–is strictly prohibited, human. You may be the only one on board, but it's still late at night so–"
"Thanks, I'm getting off here! You can stop!"
"Huh? There?! No way! Don't you see all of that commotion–!!!"
White noise, all I hear is white noise! This guy wants a tip or something? I don't care, I need to go!
I threw coins, admittedly haphazardly, at the driver's seat–whether he managed to collect them or not, I'll never know because I immediately leapt out the vehicle at full speed.
My landing was…well, it could have been much worse. The sharp pain coming from my ankle is a bad sign, but I will abuse my high adrenaline and keep running.
At this time of night, most of the streetlights are completely off or dim, so the only reliable source of light that's guiding me is from the stars that gleam over me–the few that managed to peep through the scattered clouds.
At the end of my path, just a short distance away, the looming dorm. The dorm that housed my most unforgettable memories at this university.
Kay's dorm.
At this moment, I can't even utter a sound or think about anything else–I must get to Kay, even if it kills me!
"I want to kill him!"
"?"
As I get closer, I can hear the voices coming from the people on the scene. There's a small crowd of female demi-humans standing outside the dorm lobby. Not only them, but campus security seems to be asking the girls questions. In particular, there is a familiar face in the center who captures all of my attention.
She is hardly wearing any clothes…her eyes red with tears.
In that instant, I just felt my heart sink. Kay's in despair and I still am not by her side; how vexing!
I apologize in advance, future me, but I'm going to push my body even further. I am ignoring this body's plea for air, I will push out the little I have left until I die!
…
…
…!
I don't care about the sour looks coming from the other girls–their faces are nothing more than a blur. The only one I can distinguish is Kay's, who meets eyes with me at last.
I'm right where I should have been.
"Kay! What happened here?! Are you okay–"
SLASH!
For the first time in my life, I witnessed an emotion on Kay's face that I never knew existed; an emotion that I was never supposed to see. There was no mistaking it–her eyes, protruding claws and all…were aimed solely at the human in front of her. That human, that human who just so happened to be considered her friend, is Zateon.
–me.
Not even the red stain pouring over my left eye could obscure that from my vision.
"You have the nerve to act innocent after everything you've done?! Even hell would be too good for you!"
Kay's voice resonates with anger…no, betrayal. Every word she speaks sounds like it is holding back tears.
She is far stronger than me.
"Excuse me, is he the human you were describing? The criminal?"
One of the officers wedged the gap between us, even further than we already were metaphorically. Not wasting the opportunity, Kay harshly turns her back towards my direction, silently nodding at the officer as she runs.
Not to my embrace, not to seek my comfort, but to her peers who shelter her with their arms. All the while, scowling me with eyes of murderous intent.
Even from this distance, the sound of released tears came to my ears louder than anything else I could hear near me.
Yet here I am, remaining dumbfounded, frozen in place as blood trickles down my face.
"You are under arrest! Keep your hands where we can see them and don't move a muscle or we will execute you right where you stand!"
Moving was the last thing on my mind. To be more accurate, nothing was on my mind at all; not the rough manhandling that followed, not the swears, not the looks of disgust, the snarls, nor the sleeping drug that was forced upon me, shutting down my body for good.
As my eyes were being forced shut, the last thing that rippled in my mind–the only thing.
…
…
…
…the replay of her claws slashing my face repeatedly.