Chapter - 3 : Maya

"....hmmm?"

My hands, my feet, my whole body feels so cold… My vision is blurred. My breath is fading. I only remember talking to my new friends, but suddenly I felt an intense stare on me, and without knowing how, I was already drowning in a deep ocean.

I haven't lost consciousness yet, but as my mind begins to fade, I hear a voice—either a girl or a child's. "You… are… al…" I can't make out the rest.

And then… I lose consciousness.

When I wake up, I'm already at the bottom of the ocean. I think I've lost my breath, but I'm still alive. I can't move at all. It feels like there's nothing I can do.

Suddenly, I hear the voice again, no it is another voice "Hey, in case no one asked you today… are you okay?" The voice is clearer now, definitely a girl's, but who? I don't know. Her words echo in my mind, resonating deep inside me.

That simple question touches something in my heart. I feel like crying, though I'm not sure why.

I try to speak, but I can't. "Thanks, but... I'm okay," I want to say.

"Good, but don't give up just yet." The voice responds, and it shocks me. How is she replying to me?

"Oh, don't be surprised. I'm speaking in your mind," she continues. "I'm Maya, your other half. You're submerged in an ocean of your own making—created from fear, pain, and the ignorance of others. All your struggles have taken the form of this deep sea."

"M-my other half?! What? How many versions of me are there? And I'm submerged in my own ocean?!" Confusion floods my mind. What does all of this mean?

"You created all of this," she says calmly. "You were once a happy, joyful boy loved by everyone. But as you grew older, you realised it wasn't love. It was exploitation—they were only taking advantage of your family's kindness." Her voice turns softer. "I represent your kindness and happiness. Max 2.0 represents your pain and loneliness."

"W-wait! I don't understand! I created all of this? How?! What does it even mean?!" My mind is spinning with too many questions.

"I know. It's hard to understand. Let me show you something," Maya says.

The ocean around me starts to shift, forming strange, glowing patterns. Shapes appear, as if memories, emotions, and fragments of other realities are coming alive around me.

Maya's voice becomes clearer, and I see her form appear in front of me. She looks almost like me, but with yellow eyes and longer hair. I've never been very masculine, and with just a few small changes, I'd look exactly like her.

"This is a place of your own making," Maya explains. "Your fears, desires, and hidden powers all converge here. This ocean represents your psyche—a space where your subconscious projections materialise."

I'm starting to understand, but I still don't have all the answers. "But why? Why is all of this happening to me?!" I ask, desperate for clarity.

Maya pauses, thinking for a moment. "From birth, you had a latent ability that only a few people know about. The school accepted you despite your grades because they know about your power. But even they didn't expect you to encounter the black figure so soon."

"The black figure…" I whisper, recalling that terrifying moment.

"Yes, and it's just the beginning. You'll face more challenges—both internal and external. You're not the only one with latent abilities. Around eight or nine students in your school possess them. But yours is special. You'll have to figure it out on your own. I can't gather information like you can, but I'll help you when I can. One last thing… don't trust Max 2.0 too much," she warns.

Suddenly, the scene changes. I find myself emerging from the ocean, gasping for air. The surroundings shift, and I'm standing in front of the school gate.

"What?! How did I get here?" I mutter, still dazed.

"Yo, Max! What are you talking about? School just ended, and we're heading home. Have you lost your mind?" Aditya is standing next to me, looking at me strangely.

I quickly come to my senses. It's 2:00 pm, and school has just finished. I'm heading home with Aditya.

"Oh! I was… umm… just kidding," I try to play it off, but my mind is racing. How am I at the gate? If I had passed out, wouldn't I be in the nurse's office? I have too many questions, but I'll need to figure them out later, in a quiet place.

After a 10-minute ride on public transport, we reached my house. Aditya says goodbye, and I head inside.

"M-mom, I'm back," I call out as usual, but it's my sister Mari who answers.

"Mom's not here. She left for work," Mari says from the couch, still engrossed in her phone.

"Max, can you get me some ice cream?" she asks casually.

"I just got home. Can't you get it yourself?" I reply, exhausted.

"I'm busy. Plus, if you don't, I'm not buying you the stuff you asked for," she threatens, as usual.

"Fine, fine, I'll go," I sigh. I don't have much choice. My sister is the only one earning in our family since Dad passed away when I was 10. And I have expensive hobbies that need funding, so I do what she says.

"Oh, and my boyfriend's coming over tonight. Grab some snacks and drinks too," she adds.

"Ugh, of course," I mutter under my breath as I head to my room to change.

While changing, I glance at the mirror. The scratch I got from the black figure is gone. Did Max 2.0 heal it? I feel different somehow, but I can't put my finger on it. "Today was a mess," I sigh. "Meeting the black figure, Max 2.0, Maya… What's next?"

I grab my phone and check the time. "2:25 pm already?" I shake my head and head downstairs.

Mari is still on the couch, probably texting her boyfriend. "So, are you going to buy the stuff or just stand there?" she teases.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm going. But I don't want to see your boyfriend. He's annoying," I groan.

Mari chuckles. "Come on, Max. I work hard, and I just want to enjoy life a little."

"And hurry back, he'll be here soon," she adds.

I grab my wallet and head to the door, only to find Diamond—Mari's boyfriend—standing there.

"Hey, Max! Good to see you, buddy! You grow taller? Got a girlfriend yet? No? Well, not surprising for a cute boy like you, hahaha!" Diamond laughs.

"Great, he's already here," I think to myself. Diamond is a good-looking guy from a rich family, but he annoys me to no end. He's always trying to make me dress up like his favourite anime characters.

"No interest in girls right now. I'm just heading out to buy ice cream and snacks for you two," I mutter, leaving quickly.

"Thanks, Max! See you later!" Diamond calls after me.

As I walk through the neighbourhood, my mind is racing. "Who is Maya, really? Why did she warn me about Max 2.0? Is he dangerous? What about my powers?" No one would believe me if I told them—it all sounds like a child's fantasy.

I reach the corner store, buy everything, and head back home. Handing the snacks and drinks to Mari, I hear her say, "Thanks, Max! You're a lifesaver. Movies aren't fun without snacks!"

I just smile and head to my room, too exhausted to argue. "Why does she always send me out when she knows I hate going out?" I think to myself. "But I guess I don't have a choice."

I lie down on my bed, ready to rest when my phone buzzes. A message from Aditya:

"Yo! Max, today I heard something interesting from my new classmates. They were talking about the school's legend. Wanna check it out tomorrow during recess?"

I pause, considering. After everything that happened today, it might be a good distraction. I reply, "Sure. Sounds fun for a school over a century old."

Aditya replies quickly. "Cool! Meet me at the canteen tomorrow. We'll talk more then."

"Alright," I text back.

I set my phone down and stare at the ceiling. "Today was overwhelming—meeting the black figure, Maya, Max 2.0… What's next? I guess I'll find out. For now, I just need to rest."

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-to be continued…