Madoka held his breath as he sat stunned as the girl's gaze met his. Her head tilted ever so slightly to the left, as her emotionless eyes obviously studied him. Digging deep beyond the surface searching to see just what made Madoka tick. It was such a hypnotizing gaze, that it felt like he was being dragged in by her gaze.. While at the same time feeling like something was warning him to stay away.
He wanted to say something. But the words never found purchase, catching in his throat. Moreover when she looked away, it felt like the air left his lungs. Feeling whatever hold she had on him momentarily. Vanished.
Upon finally being freed from whatever captivated him. Madoka noticed that the classroom had grown silent. Frowning, he looked around. Seeing that just about everyone had been frozen in place.
It was an eerie sight. Seeing everyone in the room frozen, frozen in the middle of whatever they had been doing. Like Yuichi who sat there mid-yawn.
Finally Madoka noticed that Nema was the only one who wasn't frozen. As she also looked around the room, seemingly confused by what was currently going on. Until her gaze soon returned back to Madoka.
Where her gaze seemed to also grow more concerned. At least, that was how it had seemed to Madoka. Who was trying his best to read the girl's empty eyes.
"Do you know what's going on right now?" Madoka found himself asking. Earning a gasp from Nema. Who quickly pulled something that looked like a notebook out from her desk. Taking a quick note.
"You can. See me? Talk to. Me? Can move?" She said in that flat even tone. Showing no hint of what actual emotion she must be feeling.
"Yeah. I can do all of that. But, why did everyone else suddenly stop doing any of that?" Madoka asked, wanting to figure out exactly what was going on. Even though he felt like he wasn't going to like what she was going to say.
"I don't. Know." Nema said. Putting the notebook back inside her desk. Trying to not pay any attention to his questions. "I've never. Seen anything. Like this."
"I don't think any normal person would've seen anything like this." Madoka said. Waving his hand in front of Yuichi, just to see if his friend would react. And when he didn't. It added a deeper level of fear in his chest.
It was then that he noticed the sensation of something pulling on his body. Similar to that of the pull of an ocean current, flowing against him to the point that it was moving him.
"Hey do you fe-" Madoka started. His voice trailing off when he looked at Nema, noticing that she was looking away from him. The only thing that showed how she felt about whatever she was looking at. Was the whites of her knuckles as she gripped her desk tightly. Almost like she was fighting the current as well.
It was only when he looked behind him. The direction he was being pulled. Did he see something that shook him to his core.
Right outside of the classroom window a greyish white figure stood on its hands which were covered in a black cloth. Which held itself against the skin loosely. Yet the fabric seemed to have a mind of its own as it defied gravity. Holding itself up.
Madoka could feel it staring right at him. Even though the slots where its eyes were, were covered with skin. Its sardonic yellow smile marred by black spittle.
The sight of the creature alone had been enough to freeze Madoka in place. Something about it made his heart hammer in anticipation.
Yet, his instincts kicked in. Keeping him in place, keeping him from running away from the creature behind the window. Because it wanted him to move. It wanted him to react.
He didn't know why that thought entered his mind. But that was what he could tell from the fact it seemed to study him. Paying no attention to Nema, who he was sure had seen this creature first.
Then the possibility dawned on him. It wanted him.
Or at least. That's what he could tell.
"Don't move." Nema's soft voice sang out from behind Madoka. Sending a strange wave of relief through his body. "It wants. You to. React. Don't react. Because if. You do. You will. Die."
Those words were not the words he wanted to hear. He wanted an explanation as to why it was staring right at him. To know why any of this was going on.
Madoka went to respond. Only to feel something hit the back of his head. Most likely an eraser.
"Idiot. Don't speak." She said louder. Loud enough that Madoka noticed the weird way she spoke. With minute pauses every couple of words. "Wait it out. Soon it will. Lose interest."
Gulping. Madoka didn't know what else to do besides listening to her words. So he stood as still as he could muster. Trying his hardest not to let his vision wander. To limit the amount of times he'd even blink.
Over what felt like a torturous eternity. Madoka felt his legs beginning to shake. The muscles burning from the strain of supporting his body in such an awkward position. He felt like his legs were on the verge of giving out.
The creature however seemed to take a lot of pleasure from watching Madoka attempting to keep himself from falling. Creepily giggling to itself.
Right as his knees were about to give out. A deep bellowing hum assaulted Madoka's ears. Shaking the world around him violently. Causing him to stumble.
Expecting something to happen. Madoka held his breath as his heart beat hammered in his chest. Only for nothing to happen. Slowly he looked up, and saw the creature that had been watching him. Was nowhere to be seen.
Letting out a relieved breath. Mainly since he could move again. Patting his sore knees. Madoka didn't notice that Nema had left her desk. Standing right over him. Her cold eyes took in the sight of him.
He had survived. This encounter.
Reaching out. She wanted to place a hand on his shoulder. But hesitated when her hand suddenly felt like it was being consumed by static.
Not yet it seemed.
"Come with. Me before. The world. Catches up." Nema said in a low tone. Grateful that at least her voice worked in this situation.
Madoka all but jumped out of his skin. Hearing Nema's voice suddenly apparate behind him. Turning around, Madoka was surprised to see that she had even left her desk. Much less walk up to him.
Once his brain had finally understood the words she had spoken. Madoka looked around, he realized that the world around him continued to stand still. It felt like there was almost some kind of lag.
"Come with you where?" Madoka questioned.
"Just follow. Me." Nema said, abruptly turning and walking out of the classroom.
Cursing under his breath. Madoka begrudgingly followed behind her. After all, It seemed like the only choice he really had in this scenario.
Madoka started to grow more concerned as each step he took drew him closer to the school roof. Which had been closed off because two upper-classmen had been caught smoking.
"We're not supposed to be up here…?" Madoka said, his words trailing off as Nema turned to look right at him. This time, her gaze pierced him.
"You are. Going to. Forget what. You saw." Nema said pointedly. Her voice still somehow remaining empty. While feeling full of authority.
"What…what would happen if I didn't?" Madoka questioned feeling a cold sensation crawl along his back. As the wind picked up with a chilling bite.
"You don't. Want to. Find out." She said simply. Pointing into the distance towards the nearby mountain. Where a light could be seen flashing. Where the light moved as a giant wave that washed over the buildings. Moving through the two.
For each wave of light that moved through Madoka's body. It felt almost like his entire body was falling asleep, with the static feeling starting at his feet. Then slowly rising through his body. It was in a way both painful and soothing. A combination he didn't expect to feel.
"What's..what's going on?!" Madoka yelled out in panic. Losing control of his own body, falling to his knees as he no longer felt them. But then he realized he wasn't in control of his own body. With each wave of light that passed through him. The more he felt his body rebel against him. Almost like it was shutting down. Which ended when he realized he could no longer breathe.
"Your *****. Is resetting." Nema said, turning to face Madoka. With a small smile twinging the corner of her mouth. As a brighter and stronger wave of light washed everything in white.
Jolting up. Madoka blinked, looking around wildly. Feeling a firm hand on his shoulder. Looking up he saw Yuichi staring down at him with a worried look written on his face.
"You okay man?" He gestured to the ceiling as the bell rang. "You slept through the entire class."
"I did what…?" Madoka questioned feeling like something was missing. It was only when he looked back behind him at the rows of empty desks that he realized. Something was missing.