Chapter 13 – Collide

Chapter 13 – Collide

John walked back to his classroom. No one paid attention or seemed surprised when he walked in. Apparently, his vanishing had gone unnoticed. ‘Is this also a part of Gaia’s powers or is my Charisma just so low that nobody cares?’ John wondered as he sat down. Seconds later, the teacher entered.

The subject was biology. One of the more interesting classes on most days. Today, he uncaringly went through the pages of the book that was handed out. His mind was elsewhere. Obviously, it was elsewhere. Not ten minutes ago, he had been in a life or death situation.

Just outside the door, in the hallway, in the Illusion Barrier covering this place, laid the broken corpse of a man. It was so close, yet so far, an entire border between reality and fantasy away. The image was still vivid in John’s mind. It was sober, clear, gruesome, and when John thought about it too much he felt like puking.

Before it became overwhelming, he turned away from the memory. ‘Seems like it is me,’ he thought. He had sometimes wondered what it would be like to be in such a situation. To bear witness to a terrible situation, to be the hero in one, even. Adolescent fantasies, of dragging women out of fires, even if it cost him an arm. Things like that. The sober expectation had been that he would have been stuck to the floor in reality. ‘Maybe I have a bit more willpower than I give myself credit for,’ he thought.

He didn’t feel untouched by the events.

He felt unbroken by them.

He had gazed into the Abyss and the Abyss had shown him its surface. Blood and broken bodies had been the membrane. The contact left him a little stronger, literally and figuratively. When he compared the danger there to the lonely life he had led so far... yeah, he actually preferred the danger. At least he wasn’t wasting away in his own skin, spending eight hours a day in a facility that taught him little and offered him up on a silver platter to the local bullies.

Because at least in the combat he had agency.

‘Agency... I have the choice.’ John’s thought turned to the two options he had at the moment. Which side should he join? He knew next to nothing about either but yet he had to make the decision. To risk going forwards without allies was too dangerous. He was too weak and knew too little not to bind himself to someone. Once he was stronger, he could revisit any agreements he made... unless there were any blood voodoo curses involved. ‘Let’s start with gathering what I know.’

Moira and her Golden Rose were apparently the local strait-laced good guys faction. She had not hesitated to inform him about the Abyss, had not tried to take advantage of his weakness, and even protected him during the attack. Plus, she was an exceptionally sexy redhead in paladin armour. That was sexy as hell. Everything he had seen indicated that the Order of the Golden Rose was the stronger of the two factions. Now he didn’t know what rank Moira specifically had, but she wasn’t much weaker than Travolta, who was the leader of his guild.

Collide itself was also interesting, however. ‘Collide is all about finding interesting uses for their powers’ was what Observe had told him. That sounded more up his alley. They seemed to be a small group of individuals who just wanted to have fun. Also Rave was just hot. Nice legs, big butt, slender top, and an attitude. The only negatives John could find was that he wasn’t big into the piercing.nÊw stories at no/vel/b/i/n(.)com

“I would have been.” John said and pointed upwards. “You, uhm, still can’t see that?”

“Nope. Thought the group would fix that, but nope. Whatevs. Let’s go, I wanna get out of here before Moira checks this place.”

As John followed her back down the stairs. He did his best to stare respectfully at her skirt. He wanted the yoga pants back. The entire time, he had been so preoccupied with other things he still hadn’t gotten a proper view of her butt. “So, how are you doing this whole Illusion thing?”

“Dad bought me an enchanted piercing when I asked for it.” Rave turned to him and stuck out her tongue, once more revealing the metal bit at the tip. “It’s more minor shapeshifting for the hair. Face is all illusions though. And I still gotta change my clothes.” She tapped her school bag twice.

“Doesn’t Gaia punish people for using their powers in public?” John asked.

“Only if ya get caught by the mundanes. I always look like this in school, so,” she shrugged and cleared her throat. “Normally I do speak a little clearer too, if I speak at all. You have to keep up the persona and all that. Stupid Moi-Moi.”

Alright, he got that confirmed two times now, so he could take it as gospel. “Where are we going?” John asked. They weren’t heading for the main gate.

“We are going out the back, dummy.” Rave answered. “Can’t have the princess see me with ya, she isn’t that dense. Especially after your scrawny ass almost gave my first name away.” She suddenly stopped and pushed her finger in front of his face like it was a pistol. “If I get caught because of you, Gamer. Tchk-tchk.” She made a loading noise. “Then I take ya with me.” She pulled the imaginary trigger and a small flash of light blinded John for a moment.

He blinked away the shapes that had been burned into his retina. “J-John,” he stammered.

“Huh?”

“My name... it’s John.”

“Yeah, I can read, the party menu is still open,” Rave dismissed him. “I just prefer Gamer. The Gamer – nerd prime – brainiac supreme. Pick any of those. Birth names are for friends and... family,” she sounded a little bitter at the end there. She went back to walking and her voice went right back to upbeat. “Lemme show ya to Collide headquarters. Ten bucks that you’ll love it!”