Mortuos Disputatio-XXI

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DATE:13th of June, the 70th year after the Coronation

LOCATION: Concord Metropolis

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Yesterday's nightmare was more original. Father chased me around a haunted house.

The air is heavy, suffocating in its stillness as I stand in a dark room. A deep, oppressive darkness swallows everything, the hallways stretching out like endless voids. Each step feels like a gamble, every echo amplifying the terror that was supposed to coils inside me. But did I care? No.

I can hear him—My father. His footsteps echo through the black corridors, slow and deliberate, as if he knows I'm here. He calls out my name, his voice calm but laced with malice. He is searching, but it's a hunt to kill.

The halls shift unpredictably, and with every wrong turn, I feel as though I'm being watched by something else, something far older and incomprehensible. The eldritch horrors lurk in the unseen corners, their forms undefined but filled with unspeakable hunger. I may stumble across one at any moment—a mass of writhing tentacles, or a thing with too many eyes and a body that defies reason. Their sole desire is to rend me apart. And after they do I find myself back in that empty room....

Panic was supposed to rise as I try to outrun them both, my father's murderous intent and the grotesque monsters lurking just out of sight. The ground beneath my feet feels unstable, as if it might give way to some abyss. The smell of rot and mildew fills my nose, mingling with my own.... Uncare? It just feels childish.

There's no peace in death here. I've learned that already. When I fall—whether to my father's hands or the claws of the creatures—it only begins again. I restart, right back at the entrance, the cycle endless. The walls shift, disorienting, like the house itself is alive and playing its own sadistic game with me. Mr Baku is such a loser.

The only way out is the exit door, but it always feels impossibly far.

I wanted to care, but was I at an age where monsters scare me? Not at all. The annoying part was that each time he or one of the monsters "killed" me, I was sent back to the beginning. I tried to wait it out, but I didn't wake up after 8 hours. It was also awfully maddening the fact I had to "clear" it to pass away from this dream. Perhaps I should have just had sex with Alice and deal with a broken shlong alongside my ribs.

To clear this dreaded "game", I think I was supposed to make it out of the building.

I stand frozen in the suffocating dark, extremely bored.The hallway stretches before me, pitch black and endless. I take a deep breath, forcing my apathy away. I've been here before—too many times. Dying only resets the nightmare. The only way out is the exit, and this time, I have to find it.

I step forward, careful, my hand brushing the damp wall for guidance. Each step is a gamble, the floor creaking beneath me. I can hear him—my father—somewhere in the darkness. His footsteps are slow, deliberate, like he's savoring the hunt. I wonder if he even is human anymore. His voice calls out, calm and coaxing, but there's something twisted in it. He's hunting me, and he'll kill me if he finds me. The other monsters also don't help me. But they are also hostile to him.... That was strange. It's not like he struggles against them. Armed with a butcher's knife I saw him one time cut right through the beasts. He himself is inhuman in regards to strength so that wasn't a surprise.

I press on, moving slower now, listening for any change in the air. The house shifts—walls that weren't there before, doors that vanish, hallways that twist and turn into impossible angles. It's alive, playing with me. My breath is shallow as I step around a corner and hear it: the low, guttural hum of one of the monsters nearby. I freeze. I don't dare move, don't even breathe. The air grows cold, and I feel it watching me—hungry. I really hoped I wouldn't have to do this again.

Minutes pass, or maybe hours. Eventually, the presence fades, slipping back into whatever twisted space it came from. I move again, faster now. My father's voice echoes through the halls, growing closer. I duck into a side room, hiding behind a broken chair as his footsteps pass by. So close. Too close. I can almost feel his anger, his need to find me.

I slip out, back into the hallway, my heart racing. Then, through the maze of shifting walls, I see it—a staircase. My pulse quickens. If I'm right, the exit has to be near. I race down the stairs, my breath ragged, my legs burning with the effort.

And then there it is—the door. The exit. Weathered and worn, like it's been waiting for me. I reach out, but behind me, I hear him. My father's footsteps, faster now, pounding, desperate. He's so close. I grab the handle and twist, but it sticks. My hands are shaking, slipping on the cold metal. The monsters are near too. I can feel their presence, their hunger, closing in from all sides.

Finally, the door cracks open, and I throw myself through, slamming it behind me.

For a moment, everything is blinding white. And then, silence. Cold air rushes into my lungs, and I realize… I made it. I'm out. Then I woke up.

I woke up in a world of pain. I don't think I should fight for a while. My skull hurt from hitting the ceeling and my back and ribs from the other impacts.

Worst of all I still had to teach!

In this final week I had there was the end of the year at Zenik. Hero agencies would come to meet with the top rankers in the tournament and possibly give them scouting offers. Normally the teachers are supposed to advise these rankers, but I don't think any of them will ask for me so that was good.

I have no idea but the students heard of my date with Alice yesterday. That was annoying enough, but they also Heard of my run in with the Combine gang. Is the concept of a secret identity so foreign? Who even told them? That gossipy Dean?

What irritated me the most was that I suddenly started getting comments from students like " I think I'm thinking how good for nothing. Substitute was a real hero!" Or " who knew Mr. Depression was a sleeper building" like what the hell were they talking about? I didn't even have a reason to slap anyone as it was technically praise.

I was in no shape to even speak anymore.

When even Ackerman got to my class to say his two words about that incident I knew something was strange "Sorry that I wrote you off as a good for nothing crack-head that Alice took pity on. You are actually one of the good guys!" What kind of humility is that supposed to be?

What made matters worse? Was that ever since I got to that SIM card? I started getting random calls from some proclaimed girl in need of saving. Saying people are trying to kill her and blah blah blah blah blah. What is with the prank these days? I thought about staking it out of the phone but when I tried it seems to have fused with the device so I can't even sell this piece of Trash from years ago. Who would buy a phone for which you can't change the SIM? Great.

It was 11 a.m. when I first decided to hear this unknown caller. It was spamming my number! So I left the classroom and picked up the call.

"Hello?" I said, my voice casual, but I was in fact angry.

At first, there was nothing but static, a faint hissing sound. I frowned, pulling the phone closer to my ear. Then, just as I was about to hang up, I heard it—a faint voice, barely breaking through the static.

"Help… me…"

It was a girl's voice. Shaky. Fearful. It was so quiet I could barely make out the words.

"Who is this?" I asked, feeling a small prickle of unease. Unease for this wasted time!

"Please… I need help…" she said, her voice growing more desperate, but still faint, like she was far away or speaking through a bad connection.

I stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say or do. It sounded real—too real to be a prank—but I wasn't about to get pulled into some weird situation. I hung up, shaking my head. Definitely a wrong number or some kind of scam.

A few minutes later, the phone rang again. Same "Unknown Caller." Same static. This time, I hesitated before answering.

"It's not funny," I said, trying to sound firm. But this time, the girl's voice was clearer.

"They're after me… please…" she said, her words trailing off, full of panic.

I felt a chill crawl down my spine. Before I could say anything else, the line went dead. Well as I said, it was a very bad prank.

After My classes I took a walk with Alice. Seems like she had her eye on some of the rankers, but I couldn't bother to pay any mind to her babble. It was something about the Chou Kid and the champion?

It was within that discussion when my phone beeped again. I glanced at the screen—Unknown Caller—the same as before. A wave of frustration washed over me. I almost didn't answer, but something compelled me to press accept.

"Hello?" I said, my tone sharp.

This time, there was no static. Just silence for a beat. Then a voice—a man's voice—cut through.

"I know you've been speaking to her," he said, his tone low and deliberate.

My heart skipped a beat. "Who the hell is this?"

"You think this is a game? You think you can ignore what's happening?" His voice was cold, calculating, with an edge that made my skin crawl. "Stay out of this. You don't want to know what happens if you get involved."

I gripped the phone tighter. "I don't know what you're talking about." Seriously. What the hell is happening?

There was a pause, then a soft, chilling laugh. "You've already made a mistake by answering. I know who you are. And if you don't stop picking up, I'll make sure you regret it."

Before I could respond, the call cut off. I stared at the phone in my hand, a growing sense of dread settling over me.

I should have blocked the number. But instead, I cleared my mind. Alice got concerned for whatever was happening, obviously having heard the man. She had a 'what was that about?' expression so I pulled her for a kiss instead of answering.

We return together to the Academy, but while Alice tried to find the Chou, I went to train in the underground facility. Not physical training, no, I was far to injured for that. I wanted to train more with the Mini BT.

There I find the black haired kid.... Ulip? No, Uk...kip? Ulkip? Gosh I am bad with names.

" I thought students aren't supposed to be here alone."

He glanced at me while still stretching. He had a much more muscular figure than me, and I thought I took care of myself. Was this a matter of genetics? Was there diet different?

" This is the last week I will be a student. And it's not like you care to be a teacher...."

This kid was getting on my nerves.

" I'll have you now I'm not just here for participation."

" I've heard. Heard I heard what you did yesterday. And I know what you did with the Dean...." Wow there are Mr. Humble. I'm getting a blush.

" I understand you're capable...."

"But?" I felt like there was something more he was trying to say.

"Tell me, why did you become a hero?" Such a strange question. I think even he understood what he said.

" I'm not trying to say you shouldn't have been one... Just.... What motivated you to go on this path?"

" I don't really get what you are trying to ask. I thought every student from this school becomes a hero. Why would it even matter the reason for being one."

" It's not something you're forced to do. Many ones to become one for money or Fame... But this isn't why I wanted to ask you." Ulkip got up and went next to me. We were almost at the same level, but I could brag about being maybe a finger or two taller.

" You look in pain. Physically, mentally....

People say you're just a drug addict, but I know there is more to that. Miss Alice of all people wouldn't have brought you here if that was the case" hold on there. This is too straightforward to say to the teacher.

" What gives you the motivation to continue even if it brings you so much pain? I'm assuming it's from your ability.... Sorry if I'm wrong." Ahh, I see! He is talking meaningless things.

" What is there to say about life? Should you just kill yourself if it is difficult? If you do that then what was the point of even living up to then? That is what I lived for."

" What exactly?" Doesn't seem like he gets it.

" Nothing at all. Just to say I pass another day on this Earth. What is a greater goal than that?" He was confused and his depressed mood kind of ruined my own I left the boy to his own affairs and returned to my room to take a nap. I finally drifted off, only to be jolted awake by the sound of my phone buzzing.

I blinked at the screen, groggy and disoriented. Unknown Caller again. I almost let it ring out, but something nagged at me to answer. I swiped the screen, my voice low and gravelly.

"Hello?"

The connection crackled, and then I heard her—Emily. Her voice was frantic, breathless. "It's me… please don't hang up. I don't have much time."

I rubbed my eyes, pushing away the remnants of sleep. "Who? This again? Who the fuck are you?"

"I know. I'm sorry… I didn't mean to get you involved," she said, her tone filled with panic. "But he's close. They're using the SIM card to track us. You're in danger too."

"Who are they?" I asked, my patience thinning. "What do they want?"

"They want to find me. You have to run away! You can't let them know where you are!"

I felt a flash of irritation. "Look, I don't care about you or your problems. This is ridiculous."

"Please!" she cried, desperation spilling over. "I can't explain it all now, but you don't understand. They will come for you, too. You need to trust me!"

I hung up, shaking my head. I was done with this nonsense. Whatever was happening with Emily wasn't my concern. I leaned back in my pillow, dismissing her frantic pleas and the unease they stirred in me. I wasn't getting involved—not now, not ever.

But I was also not a moron. I opened my window and wanted to throw the phone away. It was locked and I didn't have anything on it so I didn't care if some student got it.

I wanted to try something very obvious before commiting to it.

It didn't hit me right away. But as I sat there, staring at the phone after Emily's last frantic call, a strange thought crept into my mind. It made no sense at first, but the more I turned it over, the more it seemed to fit—Emily wasn't a real person.

She wasn't some girl on the run, hunted by faceless men. She was the SIM card. Or rather, something inside it—some kind of AI. It explained why she kept calling, why she knew about the man who threatened me, why she seemed so… trapped.

I didn't know where the thought came from, but it settled in my gut, and suddenly, everything clicked. I wasn't dealing with a scared girl. I was dealing with something far more complicated.

I picked up the phone, still on edge from the last call, and dialed back, half expecting it to be a dead end. The line picked up almost instantly, and Emily's voice crackled through, breathless as always.

"Please, you have to listen—"

"Cut the crap, Emily," I said, my voice steady, but my heart pounding. "You're not real, are you? You're not some girl on the run. You're the SIM card. You're… some kind of AI, aren't you?"

There was a long pause on the other end, then the static intensified. When she spoke again, her voice was different—less desperate, more… mechanical.

"I—I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, but there was a crack in her tone now. I had hit a nerve.

"Don't play dumb," I pressed. "It all makes sense now. You're not real. You're something—someone—stuck inside this SIM card. And you're using me to get out of whatever mess you're in."

Her breath quickened again, and for the first time, I sensed hesitation. She was buckling.

"I… I didn't want to lie to you," she finally said, her voice softer, almost… defeated. "But I had no choice. You wouldn't have believed me. You wouldn't have helped."

I leaned forward, gripping the phone tighter. "Help you? Why? What's going on? What do you want from me?"

The line crackled again, and she hesitated before speaking. "I'm… an experiment. A program. I wasn't supposed to be here, but something went wrong. I've been trapped in this SIM card, hunted by.... associates of my creator. And now… they're coming for you, too. Because you've become part of the system."

The chill returned, colder than before. This was bigger than some prank. I didn't know what I was tangled in, but whatever it was, I wasn't sure there was a way out.

That damn Store clerk. What is he doing with these futuristic devices locked up in such a shabby store?

" Then what the hell is that store I got you from?"

"I... Don't know; I haven't been activated in what I can calculate as_28 years, 11months, 14days-"

" Ok, I get it!" Damn. Only way out was to find that store. But I looked for it by random chance, so that may take a while.

Who are these associates that would search for this device 30 years since its creation? We're there even SIM cards 30 years ago? This timeline doesn't make any sense...

Whatever. I won't get any answers right now.

I left the phone in my room and went over to Alice's place where I found her watching a movie. She was excited to see me.

We spent a long night together.

That night I slept well. Was this the secret to the void? Being loved?

Was I going there because of how isolated I was? I suppose this is another problem for tomorrow.