1 The Hint System

Flick… flick… flick…

The sound of a book being read is the only noise that can be heard inside the deserted library in Perchard University. The perpetrator, a young man of Asian descent, is standing near a bookshelf with his mind currently occupied with something.

"Hmm… I see… No wonder, it was because of that…"

As he continued on reading the book in his hand, while muttering phrases that seems to correlate with the book's topic, the sun slowly set on the horizon as dusk settled ominously. The last rays of the sun bathed the sky in melancholic orange while the library slowly dimmed in response.

The young man was unfazed by the slowly crouching darkness in the slightest as there was a glass window nearby where he was reading, providing what little sunlight there is in the sky. In reality, he just didn't notice the dimming of the library, nor the fact that he was all alone inside it. He was totally focused on reading the book that he has on his hand, clearly seen with his frowning eye brows.

Finally reaching the last page of the book, he closed the book and put it back in the bookshelf where it originally belongs. He then let out a sigh, as he watched the last part of the crimson sky turning dark.

When darkness wholesomely swallowed the sky, and as the stars started shining brightly in it, he turned around and face the now eerily silent library. While everything looks normal in the outset, he can clearly see an object in the bookshelf in his right side shining brightly like a star amidst the sea of darkness.

It was the book that he previously read, a book titled "Alternative Explanations: On the Pyramids and The Stonehenge". It was a book written by an author of dubious mental health with really outreaching explanations on cases similar to the formation of the pyramids of Egypt or the stonehenge while somehow providing convincing pieces of evidence that can make one want to wear a tinfoil hat.

In short, it was a book of paranormal nonsense.

At least, that's what he would have thought if it was him of last week. Unfortunately, one week is all it took for him to start considering such things.

He began to massage his temples as he reminiscence the start of this situation.

…

Nigel Amarelo is a second-year computer science student at the university. As a child, he was always fascinated with computers and how it internally works. Coupled it up with his gaming competitiveness and introverted nature, it was not shocking for his parents to know what career he decided to pursue when it was time for him to pick one.

His daily routine was to wake up, check any notifications on his computer, and then plan the day ahead of him. It was a strict and rigid structure that he has been doing for so long as he can remember. He was a man of efficiency and he absolutely hate to do activities that might waste his time. Hence, he has always done this very strict routine that he has never broken, ever.

After checking his notifications, looking if there were any changes in the plans that he made for this week, he began to tidy his bedroom. The bed sheet was pulled from the sides to reveal the flat surface of the bed. Not yet satisfied with the outcome, he gently patted some areas in the bed sheet and pause to assess it.

Satisfied with the bed sheet's flatness, he placed his two pillows in the upper side of the bed, touching its upper frame. The pillows were uniformly placed so that the small gap between it is on top of middle line segment of the bed, if one were to draw a line from the upper frame to bottom. With a few more touches, he appreciated his work and went inside the bathroom to take a bath. After a few more minutes, and after eating his breakfast, he started his journey towards the university.

His house is located near the university, which was the reason why he chose that university in the first place. He didn't want to live in a dorm with a chance of sharing a room with another person. In fact, he just doesn't want to move away from his house at all.

The road that leads to the university passes by a shopping district, and it was also another routine of his to quickly visit the convenience store to buy some energy drink just like now. He went inside the store and surveyed his surroundings.

He was having this nagging feeling that something just doesn't seem right since earlier. Now, he finally figured it out upon going inside the convenience store.

"Where are all the people…? Did I miss an announcement?"

Looking closely inside the store, all the items and merchandise were intact. There were no signs of struggle or a fight breaking out. Oddly enough, the counter was also empty. He did not see the usual face of the counter lady greeting him with a smile.

The eerie atmosphere finally began to shake him up a bit. While it is unusual for the counter to be empty, maybe the counter lady went somewhere for a bit? An emergency perhaps? However, it still does not explain the missing people in the road. It was totally impossible for the main road, known for being the busiest road in the district, to be completely empty of people especially when it is a regular work day.

The most disturbing thing about the state of the store is that it felt like there were people in it a few minutes ago. He noticed that the placement of the items in the counter were recently moved in the usual way the counter lady displaces things. There were also slightly opened magazines and torn up candy bars. However, probably the most convincing thing and the one that gave him the chills the most is that in the counter there was an opened cup of instant noodles, still scorching hot.

The entire surreal experience and stillness of the store gave him goose bumps. He decided to quickly turn around and storm out of the convenience store. When he turned around and about to sprint away from the store, suddenly people appeared right in front of him.

His view looked totally normal, just like an average day in the city. The road was full of bustling people going about their merry business. Students were walking in groups as they talked about their homework, or perhaps the games that they played last night. There were working adults who keeps on looking on their watches, hoping that they are not yet late for work.

The disparity from the situation earlier has thoroughly shocked Nigel that he stood there in front of the store for a few good seconds. Abruptly woke up from his stupor by a harsh and repeated slapping on his right shoulder, he blinked again and tried to pinch himself to ascertain that this was indeed reality.

"Yo Nigel, watcha doin' there standing like a flag pole?"

The perpetrator of his awakening began to speak in a familiar way. No, Nigel is intimately familiar with him as he has been his friend since childhood. In Nigel's words, a cockroach that seems to keeps on latching on to him no matter where he went, simply named Ian.

"Shut it, Ian. I was just thinking about stuff"

"Right, sure. Don't need to hide it, ya know? I'm pretty sure you were just thinking about a hot chick you met on one of your classes in the university, right?"

"Ian, I'm not like you. A person who keeps on changing who his crush is on a weekly basis."

"Sheesh man! I already told you that God created me to stare unto girls and appreciate their beauty. If I don't appreciate the hard work that those girls did just to apply their makeup prettily or when choosing cloths that amplify their endowed beauty, who will?"

"Pretty sure that's just your low-key excuse for being a creep. Makes me wonder why you're still not caught by the police. Should I hand you over?"

As they continue to banter, Nigel has put the entire experience in the back of his head as they went to the university. While Ian has dispelled the tension that he was feeling earlier, Nigel was still wary about the whole ordeal, still wondering if it was all just a dream.

Upon reaching the university, both of them separated as they went to their respective classes. Nigel passed by the university's central area that enshrines the statue of the founder of the university, Dr. James Perchard. He was a well-known archaeologist who mainly deals with ancient civilizations and their religious practices.

Below his statue, a stone carving can be seen. It depicted a creature with a horrifying image that can definitely be seen in horror films. The creature is a mixture of a moth, a snake, and a bull. It is a well-known stone carving as it is the main topic of the last research that occupied the twilight years of Dr. Perchard, the "First One".

He discovered this monstrosity upon stumbling the dwelling of an ancient society of people who worship this creature. What made him very interested in this particular society is that their story of Genesis is entirely different from any other mythologies in the world.

When passing by the statue and the stone carving, for some reason Nigel turned his head and laid his gaze upon the stone carving. Somehow, he was attracted by it and feels a bit of familiarity with it.

Suddenly, he felt a crawling sensation of warm and fluid substance pouring over his head giving him an intense headache. Feeling like his head is being cracked open, he was sweating profusely that his shirt is being soaked wet. Blood began to drip from his nose and his eyes dilated. His consciousness fell into darkness as his body drop like a log in the ground.

…

He woke up staring on an unfamiliar ceiling. With his memory still hazy, he stood up from the medical bed and glanced on the people surrounding his bed. Right now, he was just feeling discontent as the entirety of his morning has turned into something that he has not planned at all, ruining his well-thought-out day.

"Thank god you're finally awake! I was so scared when I receive a call from the university that you were found unconscious in the ground, with your shirt full of blood! Are you feeling alright now?"

"Mhhm…Mom? Where am I?"

A middle-aged woman suddenly spoke when he suddenly jerked up from his bed. Giving Nigel a very concerned look mix with gentleness, she placed her hand on his head, caressing it gently while checking out if he is still feverish.

"Mom, where is this? How did I end up here?"

"Did you not remember what happened? You fell unconscious in the university grounds because of blood loss from a nosebleed."

Contemplating, Nigel started remembering the sequence of events that has happened to him this morning.

"I woke up…started preparing for today…went to the convenience store…met Ian... Urgh!!"

"NIGEL! NIGEL! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!?"

However, when he reached the part when he gazed on the stone carving below the university founder's statue, another painful headache attacked him. However, this time he can feel something appearing in the middle of his consciousness.

Splot!

Suddenly, a chunk of information started to appear inside his memory. There were unusual images, foreign symbols, and otherworldly hymns and chants. He was not able to comprehend what those passing visuals are, however he was able to get something. No, he felt that it was already in his mind for a very long time but he was just not able to connect with it, until now.

Now, he felt intimate with it and he felt that it is in his arms reach. He realized what it was, which caused a huge shock on his psyche, but confusion is still clearly displayed on his face.

"…Uncover hints and tips? Hint System?"

Amused by what he himself has muttered, he closed his eyes like performing a sort of meditation. A strand of thought suddenly appeared in his memory.

'Total hint points: 3. Use one now?'

Startled by the sudden appearance of this sort of text balloon thought, he replied yes in his mind. He saw the total points being reduced to two and felt that something went out of his body.

Opening his eyes again, he can see an arrow just below his line of sight pointing outside his door. Startled by the appearance of this arrow, he checked if his mom and the rest of the people standing by his bed can see the arrow.

His mom is still wearing a distraught face from his earlier outburst. The people nearby, the medical personnel and a couple of his friends, were also wary that something might happen to him again.

'As I thought, only I can see it.'

He realized this as he can clearly see that a huge arrow appearing out of thin air did not cause any commotion.

"I'm okay mom. I just need some time to rest. Guys, thanks for visiting me. Can you help me tell my professors that I won't be able to attend any class today?"

"No problem, man! We already asked permission in your stead ahead of time. Just rest well, and recover faster. You don't know how scared we were when we heard that you suddenly fell unconscious while wearing a bloodied shirt." Said Ming, one of Nigel's college friend.

"Thanks, dude."

Still conversing with his friends and his mom, Nigel began to wonder just where this arrow is leading him to. Thinking of all the events that have happened to him today, he had a feeling that he might not be able to go back to his normal everyday life.

'Once I feel energetic, I'll try following this arrow. It might provide me the answers to all of my questions.'

Modifying the plans that he had for today, Nigel began to wonder just were will this rabbit hole lead him.