3 3. Not what you see... But always will be...

"10 hours till next switch".

James read on the watch.

Time seemed to go as a waterfall." I hope to enter the VOID room before time runs out" James thought. It was a boring work for him. To wait. Since school almost finished, he was eager to go back home for 10 hours of absolute laziness. Nick tries to poke James with his pen from his back, but his hands hold it up and stop the pen with two fingers holding up on Nick's face. With a disappointed face, Nick cries," aww... come on Man, at least lemme poke you once.. it's not fun how you always know when I'm going to poke you." James rolls his eyes over Nick's sentence, saying," dude... you make it sound like you're a serial killer... and an idiot one at that...", Jess laughs at the expression. Will seems to connect to the bunch of idiots, as if he's been a part of them for years. Though Nick and Will got in a heated argument about multiple universes existing during the lunch, causing them to lash out on each other with facts and projects developed and worked on till now, soon they got over it like it never happened in the first place.

James felt happy. A smile ran over his face.

As the group was getting ready to leave, James felt something unusual in the air. The school seemed, empty. Everyone left. Jess, Nick and Will laughed while leaving through the front door, but James understood that something was off. The sky was getting dark, as the sun was going down, changing from a hue of orange to shade of darkest blue, moment, by moment. Ravens filled the school ground, leaving a large shrill of cries as they called in pain. The main gate was closed, locked from the inside. James turns around with a dead expression to see his back surrounded by unknown people holding long sticks and bats. Their hoodies and covered faces made them unrecognizable. Jess, Nick and Will stood there, frozen in fear, as they watched guys covered up in hoodies and masks appear and from within the school building and closed school door.

James looked at them with a smile and said, "come on guys, you guys go on to my home... Jess and Nick, take Will with you .. tonight, it's Will's night for joining us idiots... we want to make it a memorable one for him... come on... Leo is there... standing right beyond the gate.. waiting for you guys...you don't wanna be late to my party, do you Will??? promise it's gonna be awesome!!!" As he finished his sentence, he carried on walking with them to the gate, surrounded by more of the covered faces.

James, without flinching , turns back and says to one of the guys behind, " Aye man... Josh and Dan, we're later having a party... so after we're done here, you guys can join me if you want... it's on me... let those 3 leave so they can reach soon..." The two people wearing their masks looked at each other in surprise, and said nothing. James repeated himself, " Josiah Davis and Daniel Lucas, let them go... they'll be getting late..." with an unflinching reaction on his face.

Suddenly the two people wearing their masks ran over hurriedly and opened up the gate for Jess, Nick and Will. Jess and Nick just went about walking and chatting about shenanigans between all the hooded people without a care, while Will slowly walked over beside them, afraid. " Don't be such a wuss, they won't even fucking move a finger. They're just big muscle heads.." said Jess to Will out loud, and as the people near them heard and started moving towards her, Josh and Dan opened their masks and took off their hoods and shouted,

" NOOOOOOOO.... LET.... THEM.... GO....!!!"

The people behind stopped... hearing their screams, as Jess and Nick crossed the school door, Will following them behind in fear. While they crossed the gate,

Leo Romano,

James's personal Butler,

was waiting for them outside the car.

"Please be seated you guys... we have to go and get ready for the party too.. Mr. Nicholas and Ms. Jessica... and I assume you're Mr. William??? I have let your parents known that you will be staying with us for the night. If you can just confirm once with them... that would be very helpful for the both of us.."

Will, surprised, spoke to Leo," ummm.. you can just call me Will, no need of such formalities... and... uhhhh... how to put this... HOW THE HELL DO WE HELP JAMES???"

Leo, with a smile on his face, started speaking in the most happiest tone, "well, Mr William, James isn't what you think he is... and no.. they're the one who'll need help... so... shall we get on with this???"

Soon, Jess, Nick and Will left with Leo in the car as they saw the school door close behind them. Horrified, Will look at Nick and Jess making small chat over what drinks to choose while at the party, and bargaining with Leo to sneak in some alcohol for fun. Seeing them, Will felt his nerves relax a bit as he watched from the car window outside.

It was a beautiful view. the sun setting in front of their eyes as they drive away towards the distance. Jess looked up towards the sky. The changing of the sky, from the warm colors of happiness to cold colors of the dark, reminded Jess of James, how he used to be happy, and cheerful, how much he had a bubbly personality, how he was bullied by others and yet Jess stood up besides to help him in very sense possible. "you grew up in a year, James, and I'm so proud of you..." thought Jess to herself. Leo announced in time," well, we've nearly completed most of the road, and we'll be there in next 5 minutes. I just hope we beat him this time." Nick and Jess chuckled in the back, and Will seem to be confused. Nick said with a sarcastic tone, " yeah... sure.... like you always do... " while Jess added, " don't be so hard on him.... you know it's hard for an ex racer to admit defeat like this..." Will looked confused, thinking to himself, " what the hell are these guys blabbering about???" and gave a confused look at all three of them. Nick smiling, looks over at Will and says," ohh... I forgot... you don't know about this... well... Leo used to be a racer back in his days and never lost a race in his entire career...not even after retiring... but only one person has managed to defeat him... Everytime.. everyday... can you guess who?"

Will got into a chain of thoughts to figure out the person might be James, trying to race against a pro with a bike, or maybe with a car he drives. "By the way, how is he gonna get out from that situation anyways???" Will thought to himself.

Suddenly, there comes a knock over Will's side. He looks out and gasps with surprise as he sees James waving happily back at him. With a look of horror on his face, Will exasperated,

".... James.... you're.... how... seriously??? how's this possible...????"