Chapter 14: The New Student

"Where… am I?"

Axel came to a place of complete darkness. In every direction he looked he saw nothing but black extending on for forever. In the corner of his eye, he saw a small light flickering in the distance. He began walking towards the light captivated by its soothing aura.

As he approached the light he heard a woman's voice from the source of the flame.

"The light of the father shines brightly within you" She hummed. After saying her chant, she picked up her candle and began walking out of the cave.

" Leaving the cave for once? Where do you think you're going?" A hooded man said

" I'm going to meet a boy " The woman answered

" What boy?"

" A boy born with the light of the father has just awakened, I saw him in a vision"

" I see, you're going to have to put that light out aren't you?"

" Of course that's the only way I'll be able to reach that place again, I have to repent for my sins.I trust you have no issues with this after all it has nothing to do with the organization"

" Yeah that's your own private affair, what you do between missions doesn't impact us. Where are you off to this time? The land of Darkness Zaveid? Or is it a place outside of the major continent?"

" No, it's neither, it's a hidden place for what I sense, it's an island."

"An... an island?? Tell me what this boy look like."

"He has blue hair and I believe his name is…"

"Axel." They said in unison.

" You know the boy?" The woman asked.

"Yes, it turns out we are carrying out a mission on that island, would you care to assist us in carrying it out?"

"It would be my pleasure"

Lars woke up in his bed sweating profusely all over his body. "Another memory? Or was that a dream?"

"Big bro! We're gonna be late for school!" Miriya called him.

After making the trip from D4 to the S.P.A Lars fumbled into his homeroom just in time for roll call. From the corner of his eye he spotted Jeff sitting quietly in a corner.

"Jeff!" He yelled, striding across the room.

"Yo Ax! Slow down" Reggie said as Lars strode past him.

"What's gotten into him?" Lance said, watching from across the room. "It's like Axel has become a completely different person!Ever since he disappeared last week, he's come back different… Is this really… Axel?"

"What do you want Loser" Jeff said, grabbing the tip of his trucker cap.

"The little bear your little brother stole from my sister! I want it back!" Axel yelled.

"Oh? You mean this!" Jeff said taking out the bear.

"You bastard!" Lars said, reaching for it.

"Not so fast!" Jeff said, pulling it back. "If you want it you'll have to fight me!" He said gritting his teeth.

"Fine! At gym class today we'll spar-"

"No spar!" Jeff yelled. He gripped his fist in angst as he recalled a memory.

"Pb is in the hospital because of you! Because you cheated during the spar! I'm not going to make the same mistake!"

"Oh please! He's the one who started it!" Lars yelled.

"Save it! No were going to do this for real! Were gonna go… to the Badlands! Meet me in Nautica Valley at 7 oclock! Or this bear is getting shredded!"

"You coward!" Lars yelled

"Alright alright! Settle down will you!" came a voice from the hallway.

"Damnit!" Lars grunted as Mr. Bene came into the room. Giving Lars an evil grin, Jeff slipped the teddy bear back into his bag.

"Ehem! Good Morning! We have a rare occasion here today!" Mr bene said addressing them. "Today, we have a new student!"

As he spoke a shadow was seen stretching around the corridor into the doorway of the classroom.

"Don't be shy! They don't bite, I promise!" Ms. Bene laughed.

As the student walked forward he rocked slightly from side to side. It was clear that an extreme form of anxiety cloaked him as he approached the classroom.

He had a really skinny body, like it was made of twigs, and a bland skin tone like he had never seen light. Appearing in stark contrast to his bleached skin, a small black bar code appeared on the side of his neck with the numbers 619 appearing beside it.

"Ok class I want you to meet… it says 619 here, is that correct?" Mr. Bene asked.

The class returned equally confused looks as the student with a number for a name nodded his head in agreement.

"Well... 619 is a new student here and although he's late in the semester, he'll be taking the same classes as everyone else."

A silent spell washed over the class as 619 entered the room. The students simply did not know how to receive him. They were unsure on whether to be weirded out by his strange demeanor, or frightened to all hell by his potential.

"That's the kid who was with O'brien!" People in the class murmured.

"Would you like to introduce yourself?" Mr Bene asked.

Nodding his head 619 took a step forward. He stood in front of the class in silence, letting his ghostly demeanor haunt the room.

"What the heck! Is that a barcode on his neck?" Reggie said " How bad do you think that tattoo hurt? This kid gives me the creeps!"

"He is a bit different," Lars said looking at him "But I don't think he's creepy at all!"

"What is this kid doing here?" Lance thought "What kind of abilities does he have? With the way he disappeared yesterday he's got to be some top student from another academy, how will he address us?"

619 smiled and stretching out his arms greeted the class in a loud high pitch voice.

"HELLOOO EVERYONE! LETS BE FRIENDS!!!!" he said gleefully. As he spoke his eyes lit up with a blue flame that burned with his passionate affections for the class.

"WHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!" Lars, Reggie, and Lance all shouted. "HISSS VOICE DOESN'T MATCH HIS LOOK AT ALL!!!!!"