2: Genesis

Reign Yrven

As people tend to be gossiping about others instead of minding their own business, especially those really loud women, I got scolded. One of our neighbor’s daughter—which is also my classmate— have spoken ill of me while I was not home. And my grandfather who is known for his strict ways came to scold me, smacked my head, and prepared food and said good job.

But he still scolded me and thanked god I had the bracelet or else I will be sleeping inside the friggin’ prison for years.

Sometimes I think gramps has some loosed screws because… well, he can be serious and goofy at the same time. Like me. And I have a whole set of screws loosed so basically I am not even taking anything seriously unless necessary.

“`Yrven, the guardian department asked for my assistance today. I need you to stay here, as I am expected to be home late.” Gramps then handed me a few bills. When I say few, like a hundred bucks few. That’s what few is to him.

“Can I ask my friends to come here then, Gramps?” I asked, hoping that he won’t turn me down.

“Well, being alone can be an escape to the outside world but you having friends and have fun will be always what I wanted to see, son. Have them come over, if their parents let them then ask them to sleep here. So that your sister may see other souls rather than staying locked up in her room.” As he say those words, my sister Caelin got out her room and walked towards me.

“I am hungry, make some food,” she ordered.

“W-what?” I stuttered. “Why don’t you cook for yourself, Cae. It’s not everyday that I am here to spoil you.”

She sat beside me at the sofa and rest her head onto my shoulders as gramps left for work.

“Is Ashton gonna come over? I kinda miss him.” She sighed. What on earth is she saying? Ashton?  That punk?

“Why would you miss that idiot when he has the same face as me?” I rolled my eyes as I flicked my finger to her forehead. I mean we do look alike, but not identical. It’s confusing.

“Ow, that hurts! Why did you do that?” Caelin retaliated with soft punches as she is lazy to actually punch me hard enough that I barely feel her fist. Lucky me.

“I am kinda  jealous that you miss my ‘non-identical’ twin when I am right here like a big brother is, Caelin,” I sarcastically said, air quoting the non-identical.

“Duh, how can I miss you when you are right here with me? Like dude, we live together!” She rolled her eyes and stared at me with utter disappointment.

“Good point.” I face palmed as I realized she was right. I am just a stupid brother who hates his twin brother for being a douch*bag. Well why do I hate him, you ask?

It’s kinda a sad story since our parents had gone separate ways as they found out that our father cheated on mom. And since my brother thought it was my fault—which he always does think it’s me— so he sided with dad. After years of being separated with my twin, we have a mutual hatred towards each other. Dad’s woman had a baby girl, and that girl was innocent and should not be caught in our affairs.

But oh well, mistakes are bound to happen and I just happen to see that happened which shouldn’t be happening but it happened.

“So, is Ashton coming over?” I snapped to reality when she asked me again.

“Go invite him if you want. You do know that we hate each other so much that I won’t say a thing to that guy,” I said. But Caelin just looked at me.

“Fine.” I took out my phone and contacted that idiot’s name. “Hey, Caelin wants to see you. I’m gonna beat your ass if you don’t come here now.”

I hang up the call and saw Caelin smile. That  just makes me happy, even though I hate my twin brother. I also phoned Kev, Jon, and Aya so that we could hang out too.

“Hey, I’m going to the Joyous Bee Resto. I’mma get something to eat, so don’t go anywhere. I know you always gets lost,” I snickered as I took my jacket and keys. “Just wait for me, okay?”

“Yeah, whatever.” She just rolled her eyes at me. What a girl.

I put in my keys at my motorbike and started it up, well not mine technically but my gramps’. It is a motorbike called Yamaha Fz-09 or some sh*t like that, my grandfather gave it to me while still not owning it. Kinda bizarre, right? Maybe because it’s friggin’ expensive.

I went straight to the mall to meet up with Jon and we could fetch Aya and Kev after we buy food. As I got inside the mall, a lot of people were inside that I feel nauseous just by looking at them while wandering around.

“The heavens will bless thy soul for arriving at the time we had agreed upon, traveler.”

Holy sh*t! Here we go again. Why does this guy always do this kind of sh*t? It doesn’t even sound natural! No offense.

“Yo! Jon. What’s up? Ready to ride?” I asked. Yes it’s Jon. The one who uses and phrases his words differently from what it should be. Bringing up fantasy vibes but like… like low quality fantasy vibes.

“I am indeed have prepared for the journey up ahead. But first…” man here he goes again. “… dude, I needed to freaking go to the bathroom!”

I am dumbfounded at what I just witnessed. He just broke character like what the f*ck. I mean he was never been in character since he does this sh*t way back when we were kids. But this was so rare to witness of him wanting to sh*t.

“Welp, that’s surprising,” I murmured to myself. I leaned myself to a nearby railing letting myself  see the escalators going up and down and with people these many, damn, I’m getting nauseous.

I was waiting for a solid 5 minutes and  Jon hasn’t returned yet. Man, he really needed to do stuffs at home before going out. As I sighed, I saw some weird looking people who wears robes that are hooded and some sort of masks. I followed them by eye and strange enough, I felt a lot heavier—it feels surreal. 

I tried to follow them until they got out of the building, although I feel like I will be in so much trouble if I keep on and yep, I don’t care. I don’t want to let this opportunity slide as I saw the same kinds of people in my dreams beheading civilians and starting a war. If that were to be true, I want myself to witness their downfall before anything happens.

“Oi, Reign Yrven. The Black Wolf of the Lightning’s wrath.”

I turned around to face someone who has an uncanny resemblance to me, only that he has scars at the right side of his face.

“Who the f*ck are you?” I blurted out. “And what the f*ck are you talking about?”

“I am you, but cooler.” He smirked.

“I don’t joke around, motherf*cker.”

“To be clear I didn’t f*ck mom, that’s kinda gross.” I was at loss for words for the stupid remarks he says.

“Tell me who you are, where you’re from, what you did you little piece of gordang sh*t!”

“Relax, past me. I am here to help you. Because you may know by now what happens in the near future. You may know by now what you will face, those military cats! Those absolute bastards who want world domination. We must crush them once and for all before everything is too late.”

“I don’t know man, you might be just deceiving me. I won’t fall for that.”

“What should I do to convince you? They are literally here! In this great city, inside these walls which you thought protected you but it ain’t the case. If you don’t act now, you will suffer great losses. I will keep in touch, past me.” He then walked away and then these robed men appeared again but they are all facing me.

“Wait-” I was about to run towards that guy but the air got tighter.

“Hey, let us now press on to our journey. Onwards brother!”

I gasped for air when someone tapped my shoulder, it was Jon. I turned around and those people on robes are nowhere to be found. F*ck! F*ck this, they just disappeared in thin air! Also the heavy atmosphere disappeared.

“Yeah, sure. Let’s go.” I said as we head towards the Joyous Bee Resto. We bought food good for all of us and we went to the parking lot and get on our motorbikes. But it still bugs me, what the f*ck are those people? Who is that guy, like really? Are they some sort of a cult or something?

Nope, I think they are from somewhere dangerous. It’s in my dreams, but I kinda forget what they are. Maybe it’s not important if I have forgotten it again. Those robed men, and then the military cats! Two factions, what are their purpose here?

Jon put the food inside the side box container at his Ducati Multistrada DVT. Man, both of us uses the these expensive kinds of motorbikes and we are truly blessed to experience riding these! I don’t wanna even scratch mine or else I am a dead meat when I get home.

“Oi, what thou art doing?” Jon snapped me back to reality. “Let us continue.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I tried to breathe normally before I press on. I gestured him to go first and he drove away. I followed him until we got to Kev’s place. We saw Kev standing outside looking cocky as always and he hopped in Jon’s motorbike and we headed to Aya’s place.

“Hey men, I think I’m in love again,” Kev blurted out of nowhere. Our intercoms are so good I forgot we had them as we just talked inside our helmets, instead of shouting to each other.

“Yeah, then after two to three days y’all break up,” I teased him.

“Dude, I appreciate the support, really.” I can hear sarcasm in Kev’s voice.

“I was just telling the truth, so am I wrong?”

“Man, I hate your guts.”

We arrived at Aya’s place and boy, why does she look like she had a bad day? She hopped in my motorbike and she seemed upset. I asked her what’s up but she straight up ignored me while putting on her helmet.

Uhm, okay?

Man, what the f*ck is these days? It’s been weird sh*ts and I am f*cking seeing things. I really need to cut some coffee outta my body if I want to reduce the sh*ts I see. These days are really bizarre for me. 

We continued to drive until I got home with them and surprisingly enough, there is a motorbike parked just inside the gates. It is a Kawasaki Ninja h2r.

It was a black and bright orange combination of colors and at the side of the tank spelt Fernandes, similar to mine. It was my brother’s motorbike. And as we park our motorbikes beside it, we heard laughter inside the house. Cae and Ashton must be enjoying their chatters, well if Cae is happy then I am more than okay with that.

As we took our helmets off and our driving gears, Jon got the food and we entered the house. And as I expected, Ashton is here. Although I am a little surprised when I saw a cute little girl beside him and Caelin. Who the f*ck is that?

“Ey!” I called out. “What’s up?”

“Nothing much, just visiting my sister who missed me so much,” Ashton answered. Smirking as if he had said something very very clever. What an idiot.

“Oh yeah? Glad you can make it.” I tried to be calm as much as possible. I don’t want to paint a violent big brother in the mind of my sister, also, there’s a kid. I don’t want her to see us fight. “How’s your— never mind.”

I was gonna ask how’s dad, but it might spark something so I hold it. I shifted my attention with the little girl beside them. Which I know, it’s his sister.

“Hey, pretty girl. What’s your name?” I asked while leveling myself to be in the same height as her as I slightly pinch her cheek. She seems to be shy.

“M-my name is F-Frances,” she replied as she covers her face. What a cute little girl.

I looked at Ashton and he seemed to not mind it.

“Is she your sister?” I asked. Yeah, very clever to ask what’s obvious. Way to go, Reign.

“Yeah. Very persistent to come along so I brought her, I presume its not bad? Or do you have problems bringing other people over?” This guy literally want to ask for a fight. F*ck him.

“Nah, it’s cool,” I said as I shift my gaze to my friends. “Wait me outside at the backyard, the air is nice there.”

They followed what I said but before Aya could go, she asked if she can take Frances out. To which my brother said yes, and Frances became bubblier. Caelin also went with them so she and Aya can prepare the food we bought.

When they closed the door, I looked at my brother.

“So, how’s dad?” I asked.

“What do you mean how’s dad? You are the sole reason why he can never be okay so with all due respect, f*ck off.” Now he’s getting aggressive.

“I mean after all these years, he even had another child so yeah, I can see how happy he might be.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that you made him and mom get divorced, brother.”

“Well, it’s not my fault that he cheated ain’t it? Man, you were so far gone that you forgot that he cheated, and now you expect me to not give a f*ck when mom cries all night here?”

“You know what, I am more than happy to be away from you, I can be anyone I want without your identity. I can be a better version of someone you can never be. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get the hell out of here.” He then started to get his things but before he could get his sister, I stopped him.

“Don’t you think you’ll break Cae’s heart if you just go? Come on, man. If you don’t want me as a brother, then you could f*ck off because I too feel the same way. But you came here because of Caelin, don’t f*ck this up just because we hate each other. We can be civil just for one day can’t we?” I tried to calm down so we will meet up halfway.

“You started this you shi—”

“I apologize, I shouldn’t have asked.” I cut him off.

He just went to the backdoor and when he is finally there, he sighed. He just gave me a thumbs up and went to his sister and his face lightened up.

Man, I really need to chill the f*ck out.

I also joined them and to see them all happy can just make me smile, I mean my friends are also friends with my brother as we grew together. Also, Aya became more bubbly right now unlike a while ago. What a strange day.

Before I could even go outside the backyard, I heard loud bangs and it sounded like explosions. I rushed outside and all of them are standing, looking at something somewhere. I looked at where they are looking at and it looks like there’s some UFO rising from the city of Lashville, suddenly our ears rang like crazy and we rushed inside as it feels like my head is blowing.

“What the f*ck was that?” I asked.

“I don’t know, but it’s bad news” my brother replied.

“Thou shall not take thee as nothing serious, thee looked very suspicious of something dangerous.” I looked at Jon as he said those.

“Man, could you f*cking talk normal even for just a second? I don’t even understand you anymore!” I yelled at him.

“I apologize, but the glorious heavens will not allow thy humble request as I am not just a mere human.”

“Now that’s just plain bullsh*t”

We just realised that Caelin and Aya was covering Frances’ ears from my crappy use of language.

“Sorry,” I apologized. I mean I don’t wanna swear in front of a kid, but sh*t happens and now we are here and not knowing what the hell is that thing. We closed the doors, even the garage doors as we took our motorbikes inside.

Was that future me saying the truth? I mean I see things and get detached from reality before and sometimes it had been worse but why now? What the f*ck is really happening? I am losing my head from all of these things!

My phone rang and it was gramps. Now I gotta tell him everything I recall up to this point, maybe he could help us. I mean he could! He is a Master Guardian, like one of the highest ranks in this City on par with the Council.

“Gramps! You won’t believe what we jus-”

“Son, lock the house! Don’t let anyone go out and press the red button underneath my portrait at the living room! Tell them to not go anywhere, we are in big trouble! I called your friends parents and they had evacuated to the Cliffordstones. I repeat, don’t go anywhere and wait for me to return, this is not a joke son! If you hear loud growling outside the house just don’t panic, we will take this under control. Better yet, stay at the basement for now, I can’t afford to let anyone hurt you kids. Now, go!” and he hung up.

The shock in everyone’s face when they heard what gramps explained. They hurriedly gone to the basement as Ashton and I made sure to lock every door, every window, and finally had hit the button at gramps portrait before we head to the basement where the others are. As I gasped for air, I saw pictures of robed men at the walls, pinned. Military with the mark of Kanzeri was also there, pinned. And there was a strange picture of a gem which looked like a dragon head at the center and was also pinned.

So it was not just a dream? What is this?

Frances was crying but the girls have been comforting her, as Jon and Kev were playing rock paper and scissors with a twist of smacking the heads. What the heck.

“I know for sure this wasn’t just a dream,” Ashton blurted out.

“What do you mean?” I responded.

“I can see them briefly and then they’re gone, I can sense something is odd after I saw those robed men earlier. And I dreamed of war fighting these military cats of Kanzeri.” he explained, saying the exact same thing that I am experiencing. So this is not just a dream? It’s a real deal?

Wait does he also have this future version of himself talking to him? But if there is, why don’t he tell me that. After all, if my future self came to tell me whatever he told me then my brother’s future self would as well be alive and may told him the same thing.

But who am I kidding? Future selves of us? No way, I still don’t believe that because that’s what my gut told me to.