"I can't do this..." Alex muttered, lying on his stomach on the floor after his fifteenth push-up since starting to exercise four days ago. His arms aching and his lungs burning as he stared out his window, watching a bird flying in a tree in the yard.
"You became lazy since returning," said Max, sitting on Alex's bed, playing a game on Alex's phone while squeezing one of his toys in his free hand.
"I was always lazy before going to Cain's world."
"Uh-huh..... So, are you really going to the cemetery?"
"Yeah."
"Are your other friends going there too?"
"Only Jude, Lydia and Mia. I'm not sure if Cecilia is coming or not."
With a grunt, he slowly got up and stretched his limbs, then went to the bathroom while Max began chewing on the toy, listening to the sound of rushing water as he remained focused on the phone.
Moments later, after he emerged from the bathroom and got dressed in a navy blue shirt and jeans, then dried his damp hair as he sat on the bed, tying the shoelaces of his red sneakers.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you, bro?"
"Max, we talked about this yesterday. You're not going with me in human form."
"But I can be going as your cousin or neighbor or whatever."
"You still can't come."
"Why?"
"I don't have any excuses to tell my friends or my parents," he took his phone, placing it in his pocket on his way out of his room, feeling Max's glare on the back of his head.
"Max! Let's go on a walk," Jeremiah called from the living room, followed by Max, in dog form, running down the stairs, bypassing Alex as he approached the older man, his tail wagging.
Alex opened the door, finding his friends waiting for him outside, walking to Mia's side, listening to Lydia and Jude's conversation as the albino girl tugging the tanned boy's black hoodie.
"Why are you wearing a hoodie in this weather? Aren't you feeling hot?" asked Lydia, her light brown eyes drifting between the cloudless sky and the boy.
Jude shrugged, "I feel cold."
"You feel cold? In summer? Do you feel hot in winter?"
"Yes."
"....." Lydia stared into his dark grey eyes then sighed, letting go of the thick fabric and she smiled once her gaze landed on Alex, wrapping her arms tightly around him, "Alexander! It's been days!"
"It's Alex, Lydia."
"But I like calling you Alexander."
"You're suffocating him," said Jude, placing a hand on Lydia's shoulder until she let go of Alex.
"You look better than last time. Everything worked out with Max?" asked Mia, feeling Lydia take some money for her pocket before she dragged Jude to the flower shop as they both began walking ahead.
"Yeah. We're cool now."
"That's good. You owe me for that day. My advice isn't free."
"Aww, really? I thought you helped me from the goodness of your kind heart."
She rolled her eyes then walked behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck, getting on his back, "Carry me to the cemetery and I'll happily forget your debt."
"Yes, ma'am," he wrapped his arms under her knees and carried her on his back as they went to the cemetery.
'I seriously need to work out.'
The walk was silent, feeling the rays of sunlight on his skin and Mia's heartbeat on his back as she leaned against him, her head on his shoulder, watching the vehicles zoom by and the people going about their lives— adults walking for work or waiting for a taxi, kids running to the park and some taking a stroll.
The air filled with the smell of exhaust fumes, perfumes and coffee from the cafe they passed by as they approached the black metal gate of the graveyard.
"Mimi! Alexander!" Lydia ran towards them on their left, with Jude walking slowly behind her, carrying white and peace lilies in separate bouquets.
Mia slowly climbed off Alex's back, Lydia rushing to her side as he stretched his upper body.
"Here's the change, my love," said Lydia, wrapping her arm around her shoulders, placing the money in Mia's hands as they through the open gate.
"Thank you, dearest," Mia placed it in her pocket and wrapped her arms around Lydia's waist, walking towards Fredrick's tombstone.
"You good?" Jude watched Alex stretch his back.
"Yep."
"Good," he shoved the white lilies in his arms, "Let's go."
As they followed behind the girls, Alex's eyes drifted around the area, from the dark leaves of the three trees to the tombstones— both old and new, some with fresh or withered flowers, some well maintained and some abandoned and cracked with time.
The air was cool and the sunlight was dimmer the closer they went to their friend's grave, at least it seemed that way to Alex.
"How has your summer been so far?"
"Interesting."
"So the usual with your dog."
"Yep. How's your project?"
"Started a quarter of it, but got distracted and stopped for a while. I'll continue tonight..... or at least try to continue."
"Doomscrolling or her?"
"The former and a bit of the latter."
"Did you get in contact with the others yet?"
"No. I'm sure you didn't contact them as well."
"Yeah, kinda forgot and sometimes thought it wouldn't contact or you were busy and I didn't want to disturb you."
"I see. Since we're going to see Cecilia afterwards, going to see if she's feeling better especially since losing her boyfriend last year, let's hangout tomorrow."
"Really?"
Jude nodded with a small smile while Alex beamed as they finally arrived at the four tombstones, with Fredrick's tombstone next to his little sister's grave in between their parents.
"Mimi, are you okay?"
They turned away from the graves, watching Lydia support Mia, the light-haired girl held onto her unsteady friend who appeared unconscious as her eyes were closed.
"Woke up, Miriam!"
The boys rushed to their side, helping her with holding Mia before the girls fell.
"What happened?"
"I-I don't know..... She was just fine a moments ago."
Jude took Mia's wrist and checked her pulse, feeling it grow weak, then he froze when he felt it stop, his hand trembling as the peace lilies fell onto the ground, "Her pulse..... i-it stopped."
Alex froze, his heartbeat erratic as he held onto Mia, his gaze on her face, lifting his finger to her nose, checking if she was breathing, only feeling the cool breeze.
'Mia?'
Lydia took Mia's wrist from Jude, tears streaming down her face and her legs trembling as she desperately checked her pulse then her heart for any signs of her friend being alive.
After what felt like an hour of checking despite being two minutes, she nearly gave up, until she suddenly felt a strong 'thump', then another and another and she smiled when she turned her gaze to Mia's face, watching her eyes flutter open.
"Mimi?"
The boys gazed at their waking friend, their tense shoulders easing slightly as Alex wrapped his arms around her.
Mia's eyes widened at his sudden embrace, then patted his head on her shoulder while holding onto Lydia's hand with a smile, "I'm okay, guys. Did I worry you?"
"You're not okay."
"W-we thought that you died, Mimi."
"You need rest," Jude placed a hand on her shoulder. She nodded in agreement as Alex slowly loosened his embrace.
"Let's put the flowers and take you home— no, we'll go to the clinic nearby. I'll call your mom," Lydia took out her phone and dialled Mia's mother's phone number, while Jude took Mia from Alex's grasp, helping her onto his back.
"I'll help you take her. Alex, could you put the flowers?"
"But I'm fine. Alex, you believe me, right?"
"Let me know how the check up will go," Alex picked up the fallen bouquet.
Mia sighed helplessly and reached for Alex, placing a hand on his cheek when he looked up, "Sorry for scaring you. I'll buy you food next time."
He nodded, his ears burning as he watched the trio leave the cemetery. Then he turned to the four graves.
He removed the wilted flowers and paused as he reached for the dying carnations that appeared to be less than a week old on Fredrick's grave.
'It seems Cecilia was here.'
He then mixed the lilies, placing them both by all four tombstones and the carnations was left on top of the lilies by Fredrick's name.
"I hope your happy wherever you might be."
He blinked and found himself in a dark room, the sound of clocks ticking echoed across the room and the smell of grease..... no, motor oil and ink filled his lungs as he slowly sat up.
His eyes finally adjusted to the light, he looked around the unfamiliar space.
The put out lamp with a bronze base on the drawer by his left. The wooden four-poster bed with metal stands and red curtains. The books and pen on a desk on his right with scattered gears and spilled ink pot.
His gaze drifted to the dismantled metallic toys on the floor and the shoes that seemed discarded across the room in frustration, to the closet where a white dress shirt, black trousers and trenchcoat was neatly hanged with a top hat and silver googles placed on top.
Once his gaze landed on a small mirror on the wall, his eyes widened upon seeing his reflection— the reflection of the body he transmigrated into.
The long messy platinum blonde hair, dark bags under light green eyes, pale skin and thin body.
'Oh no...'
("What's going on?") said a bored, almost indifferent voice in his head, ("Why can't I use my body?")
'No, please... Not now.'
Click
[Holder Candidate Quest Two: Don't get expelled.
—Don't die
—Pass your exams
•Duration: The end of the semester
•Reward: ??? + Skill
•Failure: Losing all intelligence]
"Oh shit..."