#evadnesworld

Zayne

Oh, how he wished you could view yourself through his eyes; he knew that if you did, then your breath would be taken away from the sheer adoration, and loyalty he felt for you. In his eyes your beauty could not be described with words, for even the words of poets would fall short. Your eyes, they held the stars, no not even. The stars would shy away, believing their beauty to be inferior to your magnificence. They would dim themselves for your light was too bright for them to handle. He believed that sculptors and artists across the world would make you their muse, your body perfection with every dip and curve, with every blemish and inperfection- in his eyes everything about you was just- you.

Thats how he'd describe it, he just loved you.

Your soul, your personality, your eyes, ears, hair, everything! You truly ensnared him, without knowing it, you had him wrapped tightly around your finger. Honestly, if he didnt build up self control during his academic venture, then he'd definietly look a fool since he would shamelessly listen to your every beck and whim. I mean who wouldn,t look at you!

But a lot of the times (some would say more often than not) he did indeed listen to you. Adoring the nicknames you gave him even under his teasing and brooding guise when you spoke to him. But there was one other thing he adored even more than just your usual chatting session, and that one thing would be- his name.

Okay, that does sound a bit arrogant, I mean- who would admit that they like hearing their name being said? He was very aware of how it would have come off like, so he kept it to himself in fear of you bing a bit put off by it. But, the eyes dont lie. (and the actions dont either.)

To say you loved teasing him was an understatement, youd try to find anything to get him even a bit riled up, even if it was something small like switching his beloved tea flavors with some bitter revolting tastes-it was never too small. You were quite observant too,you wre well versed in the art of Zaynes monotone expression, a master even!

And when you discovered his reaction when you would call his name out instead of those wild or romantic nicknames you decided to bestow him with, you decided that you would not let that chance to tease him slip away.

"Zayne." You whispered out, your voice laced with a sweeter tone than usual. You eyed him from the couch which you currently sat on, seeing him stiffen ever so slightly as he read a few articles right next to you. The two of you enjoying the silence and were more than satisfied to just bask in each others presence. But now you decided that the silence would be filled with various teasing words.

"Zayne." You repeated once again resembling the constant mocks of a bird who just learned how to cuss. He looked at you, his mouth ever so slightly agape, his eyes dilated, and his eyes a bit more open than usual. If anyone saw this, they wouldn't think anything of his expression, but they weren't you- they weren't as close to him as you were.

He sucked in a breath, "Yes my love?" he inquired, his voice steadied from its unusual wavering.

"Zayne," you repeated once again before deciding to bring up some random topic to cover your abnormal repetition of his name. "Why is it that when you're in love with someone and you see them, your pupils dilate?" looking up at him to meet his gaze, you hoped your nonchalant attitude and tone wouldn't arouse any suspicion from him.

clearing his throat, he seemed to not catch on yet. "It's because your brain releases dopamine and oxytocin, which triggers that involuntary response." He elaborated a bit more on it, you made sure to keep your eyes on him.

"Oh, that's interesting, right Zayne?" With the amount of times you had repeated his name, people would question whether you were a living human being or a broken record player, doomed to play the same lyric again and again.

Oh you would truly be the death of him.

But you weren't too careful this time, batting your lashes at him with a teasing smile. He chuckled before he leaned in, trying to match your (freak) teasing. "Yes, [name]?" He asked, mimcking your previous actions and whispering, words sounding like honey. His voice husky, and his breath tickling your ear.

Curse this guy, he was gonna be the death of you.

"Is there anything you need, [name]?" He was definitely worse than a parrot repeating what foul language their owner taught them because they at least copied their tone too, but he decided to take it up a notch by making his tone deep, husky, and just way too hot for you to handle.

He took your hands and intertwined them with his, his smile teasing. Two could play that game, and it was a game he made sure to win. He saw your flushed expression and your faint pout. He chuckled, patting your head once more, "Are you mad at me, [name]?"

He was insufferable- the stoic, patient, loving kind of insufferable.

And he would vaguely bring this up often, not making it obvious but you both knew what he meant every time he decided to draw out your name. Making sure to use it in more than just day to day instances.

Rafayel

"Do you have a sudden obsession with my name? I know its a pretty name, everything about me is pretty, unlike those fat fish from the pond." he crossed his arm, his gaze eyeing you up and down relentlessly. If it weren't for your constant teasing and his slight pout, you'd think he was checking you out.

You laughed, "If you're aware that it's a gorgeous name then why won't you let me say it however many times I want to?" You furrowed your brows in a playful manner, mimicking his pose as you also crossed your arms, forcing that adorable slight pout of his.

He grasped dramatically, "Not only are you repeating my name like some sort of chant, but now you're mocking me? I may be a fish, but i'm no dumb fish." Now, his dramatic gestures worsened as he turned away from you with a loud huff.

Plus, the fact that you were laughing at him like there was no tomorrow was not helping your cause. You smiled as you poked his shoulder from behind, an attempt to get his attention- a failed attempt may I add. His frequent looking back to see if you were there did not go unnoticed.

"Raf, I wasn't mocking you, I just really like saying your name." Grinning, you gave him a kiss on his shoulder. That would surely warrant a reaction from him, and that it did. "Glub, glub, glub. I'm just a fishy, I don't understand these dumb human gestures and weird language." You both rolled your eyes.

"Rafayelllll," you drawled out his name once again, this time he turned to look at you. I mean how could he not? Not when you were saying his name like that, and even if your flirty tone wasn't on purpose he'd still turn around! Your voice was too beautiful for him too handle, he was like your cat, if you told him to sit then he probably wouldn't sit immediately but he would at some point. Or maybe thats a bad analogy, dont cats usually eat fish?

You patted him on his head, a gesture he would not dare lean away from, melting into your warm and loving hold.

If being able to hear your voice, his name falling from your lips, and just being able to see you meant him having to sacrifice something of his then so be it. For he'd give you his heart if he could.

How could a painted handle losing his favorite muse afterall?

Xavier

Now, unlike the other two who would shy away at your gesture, Xavier would do anything but that.

Say his name again and again, I dare you. But be warned, if you do then theres no getting rid of him.

He's a clingy guy, cat form or not, he just always wants to be by you. It's not something that can be helped, I mean who wouldn't want to be next to someone as dazzling as you? He sure wanted to.

So when you decided to repeat his name like some sort of mantra, to say he instantly stuck to your side would be an understatement- and also a lie. But thats because he was already by your side. His hands would snake around your waist, his head laying on your shoulder as his warm breath tickled your shoulder. There was never gonna be a different outcome than this, he loved you too much.

He loved your voice, your hands, your eyes, your everything.

So haring his name being said time and time again was truly a treat, "Xavier,", "Xavier!", "Xavier?" Oh, it sounded like a lullaby, if that was what he wok up to everyday, then wiping his smile off of his face would prove arduous.

"Xavier, I'm gonna die here!" You patted his back, his body was currently draped over yours after you decided to say his name like there was no tomorrow. I mean, you usually gave him a cute nickname, reserving his name for a more intimate moment. And whenever his name was said during said moment, it would just make something click.

So tonight, was no obviously not gonna be different, your hands were clasped with his. You were under him, his hair draping over you, tickling your everything. Your face was hot, and you could feel his smirk against your skin. His touch was prickly, it sparked warmth all across your body, it was too intoxicating. it was something you wouldnever get tired of.

"Would you care to repeat that once more for me? It sounded really nice being said by you." He was surpisingly straightforward, as he usually beat around the bush or just never said anything. You really just had that effect on him at the moment, so you repeated it once more.

Maybe you shouldn't have, but thats what made you wind up in this spot.

Your hands pinned to the bed, his legs between yours, the room felt hot, fuzzy. The air felt prickly against your bare skin as you heard the words spew out of his mouth once more,

"Can you say it once more for me, please?"

rafayel who is down to study with you (or work) with you so you can get your things done.

but, he's not that helpful. in between staring at your constantly with a pout on his face since you try to ignore him when he gets insufferable, and also being engaged in his artwork (hes drawing you btw). you get some things done, but definitely not everything- he helps with productivity, but hes the cause for a good chunk of your distractions.

id rate him an 7.9/10

xavier who is the worst study partner to graze this universe. hes very much down to study with you, although all your attention will be away from him- hed rather make sure youre happy with yourself and your progress.

however, he sucks at studying when he has such a beautiful sight in front of him! it just lulls him to sleep. and youre typing or writing- its like a lullaby. his presence does indeed aid with the alleviation of procrastination, but he wont be getting much work done; maybe in his dreams but right now hes sleeping. no studying or working. sleeping. at least hes making sure hes well rested?

also he might drag you to bed too.

i rate him a 7.1/10

sylus? (take this with a grain of salt i havent unlocked him cuz i wanna finish the chapters in order) does indeed help you with studying. like all the other boys he wants you to not be stressed with deadlines and studying for that upcoming 12 page math exam you have. (projecting)

but, be careful what you wish for. because when you get to studying, he'll make sure youre studying. so that means no breaks to oogle at him, and tease him. nope! not right now, lock in!!!

then, if he sees you get distracted he'll tease you until you start working again, or he'll tease you so much that you decide to call it a day so you can get back at him. he wont let you live it down though, if you stop studying because of him.

id rather him an insufferable/10

(jk) id rate him a 8.7/10

dividers by @/kthice, @/strangergraphics-archive, and @/anitalenia

Fate has a peculiar way of writing its stories. One moment you're turning a page in your life, and the next, you're being written into an entirely different book.  

I wish someone had warned me about the weight of choices. About how a single decision-like picking up an old book from a dusty shelf-could rewrite your entire existence.  

The day I died started like any other, until it didn't. Now the details slip through my fingers like water, leaving only the most crucial moments crystallized in my memory: the screech of tires, the flash of metal, and the strange way the world seemed to ripple, like ink bleeding through paper.  

The realization hit harder than the truck ever could. Dying was one thing. Waking up alive…? That was a whole new level of messed up. I'd assumed I'd just been patched up after the accident. I was wrong.  

Fluorescent lights glared, turning the sterile room the color of bone. Tubes snaked from my arms, connected to machines chirping like frantic birds. The room was empty except for me, and expensive. This wasn’t just a hospital room; it was a freaking suite. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the city sprawling below, like an urban novel bound in twinkling lights. Silk sheets whispered against my skin, the gown embroidered with some random name. Did someone change my birth certificate while I was knocked out? Wealth screamed from every corner, a mocking contrast to the life Mom and I knew, where we counted every penny.  

Thinking about hospitals brought the pain roaring back. It seared through my side. I fumbled for the call button - another ridiculously fancy thing - praying it would actually summon help.  

The truth crept in like frost on a window. "Where are my parents?" I asked the nurse during one of her hourly checks. She paused mid-note, her pen hovering above the chart. Something in her hesitation made my stomach drop. Without a word, she slipped from the room, whispers trailing behind her like shadows as she consulted with the doctor in the hallway.  

I was bothered by how they treated this minor, and relatively normal question, so I asked once more.  

The nurse who seemed to be such a splendid person, with a rather bubbly personality, befitting her goldilocks-like hair, with ever so genteel eyes, had looked away. Condoling eyes avoiding mine at every given moment.  

“I’m so sorry, but they passed away some time ago. I know that must be hard to hear.”  

The words hung in the sterile air of the room, refusing to take root. Passed away...a phrase meant to soften the blow, but it cut deeper than any directness could have. My hands trembled, a frantic, involuntary dance of denial. No. Not Mom. The very thought was a physical blow, not a metaphorical ripping out of my heart, but a bone-deep ache in my chest that stole my breath. My throat tightened, a lump forming that threatened to suffocate me. This can't be real. A stubborn defiance, a trait inherited from the very woman they claimed was gone, surged through me.   

"How long ago?" I managed to choke out, my voice a mere whisper.  

“ How long?” The word scratched its way out of my raw throat. My fingers clenched the silk sheets, bunching the luxurious fabric into tight, white-knuckled fists. Each ragged breath felt like a betrayal. I was on the verge of screaming. The nurse flinched, her hand hovering over a call button.  

“It happened a long time ago, when you were very little. I know this might feel confusing-do you want to talk about it?”  

Time halted, like those sound effects of a record player screeching.

I paused, looked at her with an incredulous expression... Is this girl on something? Is she serious? Unless I had somehow conjured a mother who paid the rent, cooked my meals, and comforted me through every meltdown, that just couldn’t be true. I knew I wasn’t crazy enough to hallucinate ten or more years of my life.  

There was no way this was like one of those manhwas I read right? Maybe it was coming to bite me in the butt because I had decided to stay up reading villainess-reincarnation-isekai manhwas instead of sleeping.  

But I wouldn’t dwell on this-after all, the mere thought was preposterous. I would fall asleep, wake up, and find myself in a hospital, though certainly not one this fancy. Given our lack of financial resources, the hospital I’d end up in would likely be far less impressive, perhaps even a little rundown. Yet, despite its flaws, it would offer me a sense of comfort-something this sterile, lifeless room utterly lacked.  

Maybe I was wealthy in this dream, but I did not have anything familiar, not my friends not my family, nor my favorite library.  

...  

My eyes opened once again.  

A lot of eye-opening right?  

Medical equipment surrounded me like mechanical guardians, some familiar as old friends, others as alien as artifacts from another world. The Holter monitor counted out my survival in steady beeps-a rhythm that should have been reassuring but instead felt like a mocking reminder: alive, alive, alive. But in which version of my story?  

The hospital air tasted of antiseptic and artificial lavender, a combination that seemed designed to mask the underlying scent of fear. Every surface gleamed with an unnatural shine, as if this reality had been polished too bright, too perfect. Even the silence between the monitor's beeps felt wrong-too thick, too intentional, like the pause before a plot twist in a well-crafted story.  

The tears came without warning, hot and relentless. Reality crashed through my defenses like waves breaking against a shore, each surge bringing fresh pain that felt too sharp, too real to be a dream. The world around me dissolved into chaos-nurses and doctors rushed in, their voices a distant hum beneath the sound of my own heartbreak. Something catastrophic was happening, but it wasn't just in this hospital room. It was happening inside me, where the story I thought I knew was being violently rewritten.  

I believed I would wake up in my world, but I was stuck in this alien world. The realization dawned on me, I was trapped here. There was no other explanation for this, after all.

I couldn’t calm my body down. I glanced outside-big mistake. Possibly the worst mistake of my life. Why? Because instead of reassuring me, it shoved me straight into an even deeper pit of despair.  

See, my very private hospital room had a massive window with a prime view of the city-first-class seats, apparently, to witness absolute chaos. And by chaos, I mean a colossal spider draped over the entire skyline like it owned the place. That thing was not there yesterday. To make things worse, a raging storm swirled above, painting the sky with violent streaks of purple lightning and sending pieces of the city into freefall-one of which, fun fact, was currently hurling straight toward me.  

Time slowed. The steady beeping of the machine beside me cut out, replaced by eerie silence. The once- slightly -soothing scent of lavender evaporated, making way for the much less pleasant aroma of wet concrete and dirt. The bright, sterile hospital lights-the same ones that made me feel like the ash baby every time I opened my eyes-began flickering violently before screeching their last breath and exploding in a shower of sparks.  

Well. At least I didn’t have to deal with those awful cool-toned lights anymore.  

Unfortunately, time only felt like it was slowing down-it wasn’t actually doing me any favors. So yeah, no time to sprint downstairs and avoid my inevitable doom. It’s like the universe had a personal vendetta against me. First, the acceptance letter. Then, the truck . And now? A freaking chunk of rock.  

But whatever, no time to dwell on my tragic luck-especially when I spotted some red figure casually hopping onto the incoming boulder like it was a stepping stone. This thing-who I will now officially refer to as an alien -proceeded to slice the entire boulder to bits, effectively canceling my immediate death sentence. Yay, right?  

Wrong.  

Because instead of being crushed, I now had a shattered window pelting me with glass shards, slicing up my cheek, hands, and everywhere else. Great. Just great. Now I looked like a budget version of Bloody Mary.  

My survival instincts-aka pure panic -kicked in, and I whipped my head to the side. No way was I letting glass blind me too. Without thinking (which, let’s be honest, is my default setting), I shot up so fast that even The Flash would’ve been jealous. Destination? The now broken glass door-because escaping was the obvious move if I didn’t want to be turned into a pile of rubble.  

But alas, the universe was really determined to get rid of me.  

The door? Gone. Poof. Disappeared. I know-confused me too. Turns out, the giant freaking spider that had been keeping a respectable distance was now not keeping a respectable distance at all . In one glorious swoop, it yeeted itself right into my hospital room, absolutely demolishing the wall where the door used to be.  

Oh, and for extra spice? The other exit was obliterated too.  

So now, here I stood-stranded on the highest floor of this hospital, surrounded by two whole walls , no roof, and zero exits. Fantastic.  

My luck is just fantastic , right? Oh, absolutely. (That was sarcasm, by the way.) Because guess what?  

The spider started growling at me .  

Oh, what a lovely sound for sore ears. As if my day couldn’t get any worse, this thing -which, mind you, had just been launched 500 feet like a volleyball-was somehow completely fine. Not paralyzed, not stunned, just chilling. And, because the universe hates me, it decided to peer over to its left.

...Guess where left was?  

That’s right- exactly where I stood , trembling like a wet dog fresh out of a bath. The spider locked eyes with me, and I swear, my soul left my body for a second. Then, because of course it did, it started sprinting right at me.  

But hey, maybe karma exists after all, because the brittle foundation of the hospital -or, you know, what little remained of it -decided it had had enough . The floor collapsed beneath the spider, forcing it to leap backward to avoid getting squashed like a normal spider under a farmer’s boot.  

Which, unfortunately, meant I was now the one falling to my doom.  

I gave up, honestly. Like, what was I even supposed to do ? Scream? Yeah, sure, like that was gonna magically grant me wings and turn me into a discount Tinkerbell. So, I just let gravity do its thing.  

As I plummeted faster and faster, I closed my eyes and thought about all the cute dogs I had been looking to adopt from various shelters and Craigslist -because hey, if I was gonna die, at least I’d go out thinking about something wholesome.  

But no. The world wasn’t done messing with me.  

It was like fate itself was playing a game of "You’re gonna die-sike ! You’re gonna live-sike! Just kidding, you’re actually gonna die-sike again !"   

And right before I could become a pancake, boom -another alien.  

This time, a green one , swooping in at the last second to rudely interrupt my dramatic, rubble-covered end.  

As though he were my knight in shining armor and I, an obviouslyyy gorgeous damsel in distress, he swooped in and caught me. His arm wrapped securely around my waist as he barked out orders-either through an intercom or, who knows, maybe just to the voices in his head.  

I took a moment to process my surroundings. My mom always said I had a keen eye, and now, more than ever, I wished I didn’t.  

The city was in ruins. Skyscrapers and small buildings alike spewed thick, suffocating smoke, some even engulfed in flames. The air was filled with an overwhelming cacophony-horns blaring, metal crunching, distant sirens, and screams slicing through the chaos. My gaze landed on what was once the proud and pristine hospital. The very place I had been sitting in mere moments ago was now reduced to dust and debris.  

Down below, doctors and nurses scrambled to wheel patients toward the more stable wing of the hospital. And then, I saw her- my nurse .  

She was running. Rushing toward my room.  

Only to find it completely gone .  

Her face twisted in horror, raw and gut-wrenching, as the realization hit her-she thought I had died. That I had been crushed beneath the rubble. That I was now frozen in time, forever young, forever gone.  

But then, her eyes flickered upward-and met mine.  

I could see the terror drain from her body in an instant. My expression, a mixture of shock and gratitude, was enough to tell her that by some miracle, I was alive . Relief overtook her, and she collapsed to her knees, the weight of the moment crashing over her.  

She wasn’t fast enough. That’s what she thought. That she had failed me.  

But she hadn’t.  

She pushed herself up almost immediately, waving frantically, calling out my name, rising on her tiptoes to scan me for injuries from afar.  

And yet, even as I locked eyes with her, my mind drifted elsewhere.  

I looked past her. Past the smoke. Past the devastation. And then I noticed something wrong .  

Some of the buildings in the distance... weren’t supposed to be there.   

The skyline was different. Familiar streets had been replaced by massive skyscrapers I had never seen before-structures that did not belong in my city. Buildings I should have recognized, yet they were foreign, misplaced, impossible.  

If I needed confirmation that I wasn’t in my world anymore, this was it.  

Well, almost .  

I wasn’t ready to say it yet. To truly accept that I had been pulled into something beyond my reality. Maybe there was another explanation-maybe this was some elaborate hallucination.  

Or maybe... maybe I had spent so long refusing to acknowledge my real world- a world where my parents were dead -that I had somehow ended up in a different one entirely. The same way one engrosses themselves in books with drastic differences to their own reality, some resorting to writing another world for the sole purpose of escaping and coping with their own.  

Existential crisis time! Well, not quite yet. First, I had to face the alien who was securely holding me in his arms. His identity remained a mystery, the hood covering his head offering no clues-well, not in normal circumstances. Right now, though, I could make out a tuft of rich blonde hair, the kind you’d expect on princes and kings. But what really caught my attention were his eyes. His eyes were a deep, almost unsettling black. For a fleeting moment, I thought I saw swirls of purple and green within them, like two opposing forces swirling together. Maybe it was just the dust and debris playing tricks on my eyes, because when I blinked, the colors were gone, leaving behind eyes as dark and smooth as obsidian. They reminded me of Minecraft obsidian. Pretty. 

This guy was obviously gorgeous. The part of his mask that had been torn away revealed freckles scattered across his face like stars-no, scratch that, they put the stars to shame. They littered his face like the night sky, though they weren’t too prominent. Only at this close distance could I actually get a good look at them. Still, it was the features I could see now that seemed beautiful, even with only one-third of his mask ripped off.  

I reached out to touch his mask, and that earned me a shocked glance from him. His reaction was so strong, it nearly made him drop me. Honestly, I would've been mad if he wasn’t the reason I wasn’t falling to my doom right now, considering how high up we still were.  

“Hey, don’t mess with my mask right now. I’ve got too much to worry about.” His voice was rushed, a mix of annoyance and confusion.  

I scoffed, wishing I could cross my arms. “I’m not stupid enough to try to unmask my alien savior. I was just trying to fix it. I saw part of your face, and anyone with a brain could piece it together and figure out who you are.” With one quick motion, I kind of... maybe... aggressively adjusted his mask downwards to prevent any chance of him being discovered. (My bad! I was supposed to do it nicely, but he abruptly stopped so it was a tad bit more violent than intend.)  

This was the least I could do for my savior. He was like my own personal Spider-Man. I wasn’t going to be selfish enough to be saved by him and then turn around and expose him to the world.  

“Fix it? Yeah, because adjusting my mask like that is really going to help. I appreciate the ‘concern,’ but next time, maybe just leave the mask alone.” He seemed on edge, but honestly, I understood. My emotions were all over the place after almost dying.  

“You should’ve just said thank you,” I muttered. It was childish, I knew, but still!  

“Well, you could’ve said thank you, too. I haven’t heard that from you after I saved you from your doom.” He raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with a mix of amusement and annoyance. More annoyance than anything...  

“Thanks.” I murmured, where did my manners go...  

As the spider continued wreaking havoc across the city, buildings around us continued collapsing around us- providing no solace. This lack of a safe oasis from this destructive monster forced this green alien to continue running around with me. His tight hold on my waist never eases, if this occurred under any other circumstance then perhaps, I would swoon, but that was the last thing on my mind right now.   

Soon, we found a relatively safe area he could drop me off in, right behind a sign displaying a new refreshment. Toka-Tola, a sign displaying a new refreshment, was in its own sweet aesthetic, though the rocks chucked everywhere lessened the appeal of it by a long shot. Was that this world’s version of Coca-a-Cola? 

He glanced at me taking into account my constant fidgeting as I played with my hands, still trying to figure all of this out. I mean why did this happen to me of all people, and what did this mean for me? I had no one I knew here, monsters weren’t the norm for me back home, and if it wasn’t for the chaos erupting all around me then I would have a freak reaction right now. But there was no time for that.  

“Stay here.” Her ordered, his voice low yet just a smidge above a murmur. If my hearing were worse than it already was, then I wouldn’t be able to hear this guy. His tone bugged me out, it was obviously a tone reserved for speaking to citizens who didn’t know better.  A tone reserved for people who thought they would be able to hunt down these monsters without any skills. For citizens who kept running into danger willingly for an adrenaline rush or for attention. “Try not to attract more attention, I don’t need any more setbacks or trouble.”  

I tried keeping a cool facade, but my incredulous expression gave me away. “Attract attention?” I repeated with a scoff and a roll of my eyes. “What, do you think I’m willingly standing in a collapsed hospital building for attention? ”  

He raised a brow, “Right. You were situated on the tallest floor of the most expensive city where only the most affluent are tended to, and most of the hospitals were destroyed except for your room. Where then, may I add, the monster decided to lunge to and try attacking you despite it focusing its attacks mostly on us?”  

This accusation made my blood boil, what a nincompoop! What did he think I used my very nonexistent powers to telepathically command the spider to start attacking me? Perhaps he believed I sent an invite personally telling the spider to come destroy everything around my room and then me? What a twat, a stupid twat-y alien.  

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I drawled out the o for extra emphasis and pettiness, “Next time I’ll make sure to choose a less conspicuous hospital. If the height of it bothers you soooo much, then I’ll make sure to book an underground hospital next time I get into an accident. Will you be happy then?” I shot back, unable to suppress my sarcasm. I mean, what a douchebag!  

Suddenly the ground under us split in half, in one quick motion the alien took my waist once more, his grip tightening as we dodged an endless wave of debris heading our way. His eyes narrowed, “This isn’t a joke, people could die.” He snapped, what ants were up his pants, like jeez.  

“What you think I don’t know that? I just watch my nurse go through the five stages of grief while my hospital room got all but demolished!” I basically screeched, my voice mirroring the incredulity of the situation. Then, he decided to ignore this entire conversation by talking to his ear piece once more.  

I couldn’t hear who was on the other line, but it seemed that they revealed something detrimental because all a sudden, this guy gripped my waist as if there were no tomorrow, tensing up and jerking us to the side. “Hold on,” he commanded, his mind locking in. “Try not to scream, I don’t need to be going deaf any time soon.”   

“Try not to sc-” The words died in my throat as he jumped off a roof, except unlike every other time this building we were on hand what seemed to be twenty floors- and unlike before, we had nothing to jump onto.  

I screamed.  

I shrieked, I squalled-I did everything short of composing an opera on the spot.  

My stomach felt like it had been yanked up into my throat, and my heart was somewhere near my spine.  

We were, quite literally, nosediving to our doom.  

I braced myself, expecting pain to slam into me like a truck. But much to my surprise-nothing happened. And much to my embarrassment, I had my eyes squeezed shut, my eyebrows scrunched up, and what was probably the most ridiculous, wide-mouthed, gaping expression ever.  

The wind still howled past me, so we were definitely moving. Hesitantly, I cracked one eye open. Then both.  

We weren’t dead.  

In fact, we were standing on top of a hovering jet. A hovering jet . With a white alien inside, casually piloting it like this was the most normal thing in the world.  

A voice cut through my racing thoughts.  

"You are safe. However, your posture suggests you believe otherwise."   

I turned to my apparent rescuer-dressed in green, perfectly calm, and definitely not the least bit concerned about the whole falling-from-the-sky situation.  

He tilted his head slightly, studying me with an unreadable expression.  

"Fear is a logical response to free-falling at terminal velocity," he continued. "However, in this case, it was unnecessary."   

I took a breath, still trying to process everything. "Right. Of course. Totally unnecessary." My voice came out weaker than I would’ve liked.  

Below us, the city was in chaos-people running in every direction, screams echoing between buildings, alarms blaring. I barely had time to take it all in before the guy- who had just caught me mid-air, by the way -set me down next to an apartment building that seemed relatively stable.  

Before I could say anything, he turned as if to leave.  

"This structure has a 96.4% probability of remaining intact." He gave a small nod. "I advise you to seek shelter inside. You will likely survive."   

And just like that, he was gone. No are you okay? , no stay here , not even a you're welcome . Just-gone.  

I stood there for a moment, still a little winded, before muttering, "Well. That was...informative."  

But there was no time to sit around questioning the mysterious ninja-robot guy. I had bigger concerns.  

Like not dying.  

I took one last glance at the sky-half-expecting him to still be there-then hurried inside the building. 

reblog divider by @/cafekitsune

youre an attractive person, xavier knows that- i mean who wouldnt want you? you had the most beautiful smile, one that reached your eyes, speaking of eyes- yours were beautiful. to xavier they were like the stars, nebulae would shy away in awe and jealousy because of your sheer beauty. you hands, hands which he could hold, nuzzle against, the same hands that gave him pats whenever and wherever were now being held by anthor.

if you asked anybody what this sight looked like, they would respond by saying it was a confession, one that was being rejected. they would pay no attention to you soft familiar hands, your dazzling eyes, and your sincere smile. but for xavier- it was all he could look like. i mean, how dare this rando think he could hold you hand without permission?

but before that, allow me to paint the picture for you.

xavier had fallen ill shortly after magically evolving into a feline, you two werent sure it was because of the transformation- but one thing was for certain, it was a bad cold. he was sweating, his cheeks red, his voice raspy- if this was a different situation, it wouldnt cause much worry. but seeing how frail he was, you had declared that you would go to the store to buy him some medicine.

and my declare, i literally mean that- not only was he clingy because he was a cat but he was clingy because he was sick. so he turned into the ultimate clingy monster.

so, you decided to venture out of your shared home to the local pharmacy, thats where you saw a fellow coworker- one who did not know you had a boyfriend.

and as you purchased the medicine and began to walk back home as you approached your door, h stoppd you- with red cheeks, and a rapid heartbeat he grabbed your hand. and as though it were only the two of you there, he yelled out "i like you, please go out with me!" and if this was a shojo manga, this wouldve been cute.

but it wasnt.

you promptly rejected him, letting go of his hands after a moment- not knowing that your boyfriend lingered by your door, seeing all of this unfold.

after you had left, he decided to take a nap- but not seeing you, or feeling your presence made him pout. his ears ringing, his hart thumping, making so much noise that most of his thoughts were drowned out. but one lingered, and this thought was about you and your absence.

he decided to get up, and wait by the door, no matter how many weird stares he got from neighbors wondering by this sickly boy was standing by the door for so long.

you stopped when you saw him before smiling, a smile which instantly disappeared as he looked away with a pout.

"have you already decided to abandon me so quickly? youre so quick to hold the hand of others, but ever since i got sick youve kept your distance from me." his ears dropped as he crossed his arms, tilting his chin down for an added effect.

you walked over to him, not without chuckling- which wasnt taken well. his ears seemed to droop even more now.

"xav, it was just a guy from work, i rejected him- he was nowhere near as good as you." you teased as you brought your hand to pat his head, this was also not well recieved. he turned his head away, rejecting the pats even though thats what he desperately craved for at the moment.

you ushered him inside the house and turned to him once more as the door closed, "dont worry xav, my hearts only with you. but if you insist that it isnt then ill hav no choice but to leave." you let out a fake somber sigh,

to say this alarmed xavier was an understatement, because that pout soon turned into a frown. if it was any other day, hed insist- but with this horrible cold that decided to attack him, he leaned into your touch with defeat.

and it was there when you felt the familiar softness of his hair as he allowed you to stroke his ears once more. he sounded as though he was purring- your touch made him melt. his body slumping against yours as you two made your way to your shared bed. and after giving him medicine, he clung onto your like there was no tomorrow.

and you too had to accept defeat as you laid with him, his breaths slowing as he surrender to his drowsiness- peaceful now that you were by his side and not somebody elses. content with your warmth, and more than content that hed spend the rest of his life with you.

at least he hoped he would.

dividers from @/nicodefresas and @/konatasoup

zayne who chuckles for a moment, finding your scrunched brows endearing. finding your pout something that he could etch into his memory. just you, anything involving you would grant a smile on his face. he was truly whipped for you.

zayne who softly calls out your name, the syllables in your name coming out naturally from his soft lips- as though it was meant to be said by him- and you wouldnt disagree, i mean who wouldnt like hearing their name being said with a voice like zaynes?

zayne who tells you to focus, opting to sit down next to you as you two gaze out the window of your guys' office. he passes you a cup of tea, trying to help alleviate that bad case of procrastination.

zayne who gives you a kiss on your forehead before stating that he'll be studying right next to you. insisting that medical reports show how studying, or actively doing an activity with somebody can help with productivity.

zayne who makes sure youre on task.

zayne who doesnt belittle you, or tell you off in a negative way if you do get distracted as you decide that gazing at him like he was a statue made by the most famous sculpters was of more importance.

zayne who will always be by your side, making sure to help you in any sort of way- he was called a genius by many for a reason. and that didnt apply to only the medical field.

zayne who rewards you with kisses, a fun break, sweets and snacks, among various other things.

zayne who truly does increase your productivity, in any and every way- as long as hes next to you, he'll give you to motivation to go through with your assignments.

dividers by @/konatasoup

"stay with me, please- just for one second more." to say he was embarrassed was an understatement. he was quite literally begging you not to stay, he was still groggy from the deep sleep he fell into. unfortunately, his dreams were plagued by sadness, he kept on dreaming about you leaving him. he didnt want you leaving him, hed give you his soul if it meant that you'd stick by his side.

it was night, the moonlights embrace peaking softly through the curtains, bathing him in the tranquil light. tranquil was the night, but his heart contradicted it, beating quickly with fright. his body felt warm, sweat dripping down his forehead- anxiety overtaking him after he was awoken from that dreadful slumber.

however, it was thanks to the moons light that he saw you- your features seemed to glow. making you look ethereal as-you looked at him with worried eyes. you slowly brought your hand to his cheek, where he quickly nuzzled against it out of pure instinct, "don't worry raf, im here. i wont leave you." those purple eyes of his which seemed to be carefully painted by the gods, were full of worry- worry that slowly extinguished.

something seemed to snap back into place now that he realized you were there, he straightened up. "well of course you wont, this fishy is much to good to leave behind." he let out a hmph as he crossed his arms- his chin being held high and eyes closing.

you immediately deadpanned, "of course not, although this.. fishy, might be unbearable, bratty, and a lot of other things, the pros outweight the cons." you rested your head on your hand as you saw him whip his head to you.

his mouth hung open, "you say the pros outweigh the cons, but you only mentioned the cons. i cant believe this." he ploppd back on the sofa, sinking into to emphasize how 'upset' he was.

you chuckled, "mhm, well all i can say is that i wont be leaving you anytime soon, youve seen too many sides of me- you know too much." you teased as you eyed him shamelessly, he did purposefully choose the lower v cut shirt to wear.

"insulting me, staring at me shamelessly, i cannot spend another second here- who knows what you might do to me." hes so dramatic, you thought. but you enjoyed it.

you traced shapes on his cheeks as you sat next to him, and as though it were muscle memory- he melted into your hand. all his previous qualms now dissipated. his pout was evident, however. you chuckled before giving him a peck on his cheek.

although his fear of you leaving him would sometimes prevail, and the end of the day it would leave. because at the end of the day, he still had you.

he could still see your smile, your eyes, he had you.

and he would do anything to make sure it stayed like that, because you had his heart. like how a sailor effortlessly catches fish, you effortlessly caught his attention- and he wouldnt have it any other way.

dividers by @/bloodibambiidoll

Delilah struggled far more than her mere years should’ve allowed. It sounds like pure, unaltered absurdity, doesn’t it? A child, barely having the chance to even start their story- bearing the cruel weight of worry. Is it not heartless to force someone so young to wrestle a demon as relentless as fear, a demon bringing only demise and gray hairs far too soon? This battle wasn’t theirs to fight, not yet- it was far too unforgiving. The world’s rhythms had only recently been learned by them, and despite that- the universe demanded they make sacrifices.   

Sacrifices they were never meant to make.     

A child’s life should be boundless, like the flight of owls in an endless sky. Wings softly kissed by the wind, feathers alight with the freedom that is innocence. No burden cast upon them, pulling them earthward, no weights handicapping them to the cold, unyielding ground. They rise and fall with the currents, untethered by the storms of the cold below. Yes, they would meet trials one day- but not now. Not when the world's responsibility was to cradle them softly.     

Yet not all owls are given the same sky.     

Some are ensnared too soon by Pandora’s unyielding hold, a storm of cruelty loosed upon their delicate wings. They are forced to carry burdens they never chose, challenges that bind them like chains.     

Even in their youth, the world utters its harsh truth:     

Not all freedom is yours to hold. This road you call life will begin to branch out, when you encounter a fork in the road- which path will you the? The right one, or the left?   

...  

I snapped out of my daze, far too engrossed in this novel. It was like opening a story based on my life. The acknowledgements even had my name in it. Suddenly, I heard my name being called. Someone kept calling for me, repeating my name like a mantra. I glanced around the library but saw nobody.  Maybe this is why people don’t do consecutive all nighters, because tell me why I’m hallucinating things now...  

Thank goodness mind readers didn’t exist, otherwise they’d think I’m crazy.   

Closing the book, I rested my head against the arm of the plush wool loveseat, thoughtfully placed near the window to create a cinematic ambiance. It felt like a scene straight from a movie- reading and studying endlessly, only to look up and be greeted by the ethereal sight of blossoming camellia trees. Their blooms fell delicately to the ground, their petals scattering across the streets in a quiet display of unmatched natural beauty. It seemed as though the book was coming to life for an owl was perched curiously on one of the oddly placed camellia trees. It was looking directly at me.    

"Honestly, if I were Delilah, I'd choose to go left. People say right is always the right way but clearly it's a lie, I've gone down too many wrong roads choosing right." I muttered to myself, observing the scenery.  If someone saw this, they’d think I escaped the asylum, I mean- a girl muttering to herself about roads to an owl?   

 Thank goodness the librarian knew better than to think that, given the fact that I do this more often than I’d ever like to admit. It helped distract me from the rather harsh reality that was my life.   

Usually, such a view could distract me from the relentless grip of doubt and overthinking. But not today.   

Today would go down in history.    

It was, without question, the most significant day of my life.     

Today, I would find out if I had been accepted into the prestigious academy I had applied to- a place where I dreamed of becoming the best student I could be, the steppingstone to a successful career. But it wasn’t just the academic accolades that called to me; it was the opportunities that came with them- the chance for financial security.    

I know it seems a little vain and downright greedy, but I have my reasons for it.    

This chance would be granted to me by Fata Novum. A school with centuries of rich history, an institution which opened its doors to a few, regardless of background. Although I was hesitant to apply, given that it was abroad on the other side of the world. My mom insisted i go though, knowing how badly I wanted to go to this school- although she didn’t know my reasons behind it.   

This academy practically guaranteed wealth and fame. I only craved the former, I had my reasons of course.   

The possibility of riches was something I had long craved ever since discovering my mom’s secretly struggling with the bills. She had tried to shield me from it, hoping I’d never uncover the truth. But I think she underestimated the unyielding curiosity that seemed to be a part of who I was. (Basically, I’m chismosa(1), but it doesn’t sound as poetic when I put ti that way.)   

I had appreciated the sentiment, but part of me wished that I seemed mature enough to be confided in. But my age chained me, forcing me to let my mom carry all these burdens herself.   

But I had to get my mind out of this spiral. I had things of more value that required attention, I would be a fool to waste my time entertaining these inherently useless thoughts.  Sure, they fueled me to persevere and do my best in school, but I couldn’t let it consumer me.   

My friend, Alvera, had recently reached out to me, asking me to hang out with her the day the letters went out to calm some nerves. Honestly, I needed it this, for the anxiety was driving me crazy, so of course I said yes- and plus, it granted me the opportunity of spending time with my beloved other platonic half. (Honestly though I didn’t have a choice since she started spamming my name over and over again in every group chat, I was in, and privately since she thought I had forgotten.)   

I looked once more at these camellia trees, there were these seven of them that were much grander than the rest. They branched out the opposite way the others did and bloomed with much more fervor.  Although some would scoff at the trees insistence to defy the way they were originally supposed to grow- I liked it. I mean, it just made it look all the more ethereal.    

I placed my book down, the one that hit too close to home, and began packing my bag. I didn’t carry that much with me- just a paper star my friend had given me and a super cute lip tint that was on clearance. It was honestly such a steal; I bought a few different shades and types for just eight dollars!    

Well actually, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t bring anything in my bag. Those who knew me always pointed out how I practically never left my house because I had everything in my bag. Band-Aids, markers, colored and regular pencils, wipes, miniature games, a petite figurine, a lamp, and so much more.   

I remembered how my close friend Olberic had once tried finding some moisturizer there and ended up decluttering my bag because I stuffed everything in there- afraid I’d for some reason need an extra sock.   

 (Which fun fact I did, we went to an amusement park once, got drenched, my dogs (2) were shivering in the cold wind, but thankfully I covered them with my hand dandy graphic sock.)   

Something about Delilah inspired me to be a little bit different today, so, I decided to take a shortcut today, instead of going right- I'd go left. Unlike what she supposedly did in the later part of the book, given the fact that my friend spoiled the book for me. I remembered how she kept on cackling at me when she found out I had been spoiled...    

As I walked to my destination my mind forced me to take a trip down memory lane. It seemed like the ghost of Christmas past really had it out for me, it made me reminisce every other second!   

It wasn’t long ago that I had applied for this school, I had actually applied one day before they closed. Putting these things off for the last minute had me stressed, especially since I had already paid a non-refundable payment of a hundred bucks to fill it out.     

Expensive right? You’d think I’d be applying for a college.    

Not to mention that it was just for the application, and not also the financial aid form.   

I had remembered how my mom started laughing at me, telling me that I looked so stressed and that she wouldn’t have been surprised had gray hair begun to sprout from my head. I had been sitting in the dining room, with her taxes on the table as I tried filing everything, who knew applying for financial aid would prove so difficult sometimes? I mean I didn’t know what W2 was until a mere moment before.   

Or maybe it was because I was running on zero hours of sleep- but that’s not the point.    

The point was that I was able to complete the forms before the 11:59PM deadline had attacked onto me.     

Instead of haunting Scrooge, it decided to haunt me. I thought of various things, how I met my friends, how I reconnected with family, how nervous I was to open my letter. Honestly, I was surprised my mom had yet to call me to ask if she could open it in my steed- which I would of course let her do, I ‘d be too nervous to do it. Even more nervous sitting down with her to do it, I mean what if I didn’t pass?    

What if I was too mediocre to attend? I mean it's the most prestigious school in the world.    

The letter that had probably already been delivered to my mailbox, waiting to be opened- ready to dump life-changing news onto me.    

But as my mind dwelled on those thoughts, my phone began to vibrate. I opened my bag, peering inside- checking to see who had so graciously disturbed my thoughts.    

Pulling out the device, I saw my mom's icon buzzing in front of me (Speak of the devil...)- my slight frown vanished almost instantly. Instead, a smile replaced it. “Hey mom, what’s up? How was work?” But before I could finish, my mom shouted my name before ambushing me with a series of million questions.    

“Your letter arrived; can I open it?” She sounded joyous, excited, so I said yes.    

She placed me on facetime, and there I could see her hands trembling. I looked up carefully to make sure I didn’t die anytime soon, dying because of a car accident was not something I’d look forward to. Practice bystander safety! The buildings towered over me, providing me with a very familiar sight of the city. One I had visited so many times during my life, one I’d never get bored of.   

It was a sight I saw everyday as I travelled to my favorite library, it had so many resources- it was always worth the trip.    

I glanced back down and was met with my mom's shaking hands as she tried ripping the envelope open- one would think she was the one applying to the school given the fact that she was trembling like a recently bathed dog.    

I stifled a laugh; I too was going insane with anxiety.    

 She opened the letter.    

 She stopped reading out loud.    

What a way to make my stomach do flips. Her silence was louder than I’d have liked it to be- could it be that I was rejected? There was no way, right? I had studied so much; I built my application so thoughtfully.    

My essay wasn’t that bad either. But then again, I didn’t get a grade I was happy with last year in my math class, could that have caused my rejection? Or maybe I hadn’t helped enough people with my non-profit? Too mediocre?   

This was a result of my arrogance, maybe my name was well known in my school, but I shouldn’t have gotten too ahead of myself. It was just my school, not worldwide.   

My names status wasn’t enough right now, I knew I should've worked more; this was a result of my lazin-    

“ Accepted . You were accepted, full scholarship.” That was all my mom said, but the tears that welled up in her eyes spoke volumes, she was proud of me- happy that I had the opportunity to turn my life around. To have a better life than she did, unlike the owl in the story, I would no longer be faced with challenges.     

My heart stopped, my mouth agape. I can’t believe it; my change has finally been given to me. Perhaps now, I could challenge this cruel world and challenge the trials it burdened my mom with.    

Ugh, but why’d she have to jumpscare me like that? I genuinely thought I failed.   

Maybe the ghost of Christmas past cursed me by making me preoccupied with my thoughts, I paid no heed to what was going on around me.   

Remember, always watch where you’re going.     

A warning you never thought would genuinely be so life changing.   

I smiled at my phone, imagining my mom’s tear-filled eyes. I wanted to run home, to see her, to hug her and tell her we made it. I stepped forward-a honk.  

Too close. Too fast.  

I turned my head, but the lights swallowed me before I could even breathe.  

But it was too late.     

One second was all it took.    

In a mere second the malfunctioning truck came hurtling towards you, its brakes failing, its roar growing louder until it drowned out every other sound. The world, like some cruel, twisted gift, had granted you unbearable pain in this moment.     

One second, I was daydreaming. Dreaming of a life where my mom no longer cried at night, where she could finally breathe, free from the suffocating weight of bills and endless work.     

Dreaming that one day she wouldn’t have to face the cruelty of coworker who tormented her, draining every ounce of hope from her.     

Dreaming of treating her- finally, after all her sacrifices- taking her to that one steakhouse she loved, buying her all the jewelry she’d ever wanted, and giving her the choices . Something she never had before.   

But it was only a dream. A fragile, fleeting dream.    

This world is cruel.    

In a mere second, your life could turn upside down.   

As I felt the impact of car the hit me, forcing me to the ground I thought about a lot- but there were a few thoughts that stood out from the rest.   

What had my mother done to deserve this? To have her entire world collapse like this? First, drowning in the unrelenting tide of bills, and now, hearing that her daughter- her baby- was dying in the street, and there was nothing she could do to save me.     

She probably heard the incident over the phone.    

Maybe that’s why I heard my name accompanied with a guttural scream, or maybe I was imagining it?   

The world around me began to spin, faces blurred in the chaos. People swarmed. Angry fathers, crying siblings, worried strangers. The scene was unbearable to witness, too ugly to even describe. The drunk driver who had caused it all was being arrested, his words a blur, “I knew my brakes were short, but I drove anyways... I didn’t think... accident...”   

But none of that mattered.    

I didn’t care about the pain. I didn't care about the blood soaking into the pavement.    

I wanted to see my mom again.    

I could already imagine her face, the tears flooring her eyes, her heart breaking all over again, this time because of me. My death wouldn’t just be another burden on her- no, it would be heaviest weight she had ever carried. Knowing how often she blamed herself for situations even if she played the smallest role in it. There was no doubt she’d blame herself for calling me while on the street and being patient enough to wait for me to get back home. Now, I would be the reason she was left to face this cruel world all alone.    

Couldn’t she just have one moment of peace? Just on day where she didn’t have to worry about me? About bills? About whether my future would be secure, whether I’d b safe. Whether I’d get the help I needed? I wish I could give her that pace- just a little freedom from the weight of all her fears. But that wish would never be granted, in fact the opposite would occur.     

But maybe, just maybe, now that I was gone, I wouldn’t be there to worry her anymore.    

I was her baby. The one she continued to live for. The one she sacrificed everything for.    

And now I was leaving her.    

I could feel her heart breaking as if it were my own. The weight of it was suffocating, unbearable.    

We had a bond that nothing in this world could ever take or control.  Her heart will now be torn, constantly breaking and shattering. Beating only for the child she lost.     

I wish I could stay, tell my mom that she was sorry, that I didn’t want to leave her all alone. Alone with all these burdens, without the person she cared so dearly for. I didn’t want to succumb to this darkness, it was scary.    

I couldn’t let my warmth dissipate; I started crying. It hurt so much; it wasn’t as easy as i thought death was.     

I started calling for my mom, spit, tears, and blood shedding from my person. In my last moments as my warmth escaped me, no one would be there to offer me a bit of solace.   

My memories flew by, they slipped through my fingers.    

Just one more day ,   

 that’s all I wished for. At least a proper goodbye, to my friend who was waiting for my arrival, to my mother who fought for me.    

It wasn’t fair , I finally had a chance, but it was ripped away from me. I was unsure if it was my actual mother, as she cradled my face softly cooing out my name, or if it was my mind attempting to offer me comfort.    

“I hope you learn to smile again, Mom. Even if it takes forever. Even if I’m... not physically here.”    

I already imagined what she’d tell me, “I will always love you. I will always be with you.” but, I’d never heard those words from her again.   

My words trembled in the silence. I really couldn’t tell if it was really my mom who began to sob, or if it was some innocent bystander sobbing at this wretched scene.    

And then, with one last, quiet sigh, I let go.     

I let go because I couldn’t fight anymore.    

But it wasn’t peaceful. I wasn’t easy.    

Selfishly, I succumbed to my wounds, leaving her behind in a world that would never be the same, and for the last time, I heard my name called.     

Who called out my name with such ardor at a time like this?   

...  

chismosa (1) spanish for basically saying someones nosy  

dogs (2) slang for your toes (let them loose guys.)  

reblog divider by @cafekitsune