Chapter 2: The cursed unleashed
James woke up the next morning feeling… different. He slowly sat up and touched his head, trying to remember something, but nothing came to his mind. Still, there was a strange heaviness inside him, as if something had changed. He got out of bed and followed his usual routine. He brushed his teeth, had breakfast, then took a bath and got ready for school. Yumi also got ready quickly. She had her breakfast, took a bath, and prepared to drop James at school before going to work. Both of them left the house together.
Everything felt normal, but James couldn't shake off that strange feeling inside him. As they were walking halfway, James noticed a young woman ahead of them. She looked around 22 years old and was wearing high heels. Suddenly, her foot twisted and she lost her balance, falling onto the road. At the same time, a car was speeding toward her. The driver was busy talking on the phone and didn't notice her at all. People around started shouting in panic, telling someone to save her before the car crushed her. But no one moved.
James was standing about seventy meters away from her. For a moment, everything seemed to slow down. The car was getting closer and closer. The girl closed her eyes, thinking it was her last moment. But suddenly, without even understanding what he was doing, James moved. In the next instant, he had already reached her and pulled her away just in time. The car rushed past them at high speed. Everyone around stood frozen in shock.
Even Yumi stared at James in disbelief. James himself looked confused. He helped the girl sit down and asked if she was okay. She said she had twisted her leg badly and was in a lot of pain. James immediately told Yumi that they should help her. Yumi agreed and said there was a clinic nearby. Without hesitation, James lifted the girl onto his back and carried her to the clinic. The doctor treated her injury.
After the treatment was done, Yumi paid the fees. The girl thanked them, and after saying goodbye, James and Yumi left. Soon, they reached the school gate. As they stood there, James noticed a few older boys nearby staring at Yumi in a strange way. One of them even brushed against her as if it were intentional. Seeing this made James angry, and he was about to step forward, but Yumi stopped him.
She said it might have been an accident and told him not to worry. She smiled, said goodbye, and left for work. James went to his class and sat on his seat, but his mind was not calm. He kept thinking about everything that had happened. Before he could think more, the teacher entered the classroom. The teacher announced that a new student had joined. A girl walked in and introduced herself as Maya.
She said she was 17 years old and would now study in their class. Some students welcomed her warmly, while a few boys looked at her with bad intentions. James felt something unusual about her but couldn't understand what it was. During lunch break, all the students went out to eat. After finishing his lunch, James was returning to class. At that moment, those same boys stopped him.
They started talking about his sister in a disrespectful way. They made fun of her and said inappropriate things. James's expression changed instantly. He grabbed one of them by the collar and warned him not to speak like that again. The boy grabbed James back and raised his fist, ready to punch him. At that moment, something strange happened inside James.
He felt his anger rising uncontrollably. His heartbeat increased, and his body felt different. Without him realizing it, his hair started turning white. A red aura began to form around him. His voice became deeper and rougher. The boy holding him suddenly felt fear and loosened his grip. James looked at him coldly.
He said that he had made a mistake. Then James grabbed the boy's arm and twisted it with immense force. A loud cracking sound echoed as the bones in his arm started breaking. The boy screamed in pain, and the others stepped back in fear. James didn't stop immediately, as if he had lost control for a moment. Then suddenly, he realized what he was doing.
He looked at the broken arm in shock. The red aura disappeared, and his hair returned to normal. The boys quickly apologized and ran away. James stood there, confused and disturbed by his own actions. From a distance, Maya watched everything silently. Her expression was serious and unreadable.
After school ended, James stood near the gate. Kenta asked him to come along, but James refused. He said he would go home alone. As he walked, he kept thinking about everything. First his speed, then his strength—it all felt unreal. He couldn't understand what was happening to him.
What he didn't know was that Maya was following him quietly from a distance. James reached home, unlocked the door, and went inside. Maya watched from afar before leaving. James went to his room, placed his bag on the table, and lay down on the bed. His mind was filled with confusion and worry.
Slowly, his eyes closed, and he fell asleep. When he opened them again, he found himself in a completely different world. It was a ruined place with broken buildings and a destroyed temple. Skeletons were scattered everywhere. The atmosphere felt dead and silent. In front of him, there were strange mirrors.
Inside those mirrors, he could see real people living their normal lives. He could see them, but they couldn't see him. As he looked around, he noticed his neighbor, Mrs. Roy, appearing in one of the mirrors. He thought that if she were here, he could ask her what was happening. But suddenly, something impossible happened.
Mrs. Roy appeared through the mirror into that world. She looked shocked and fainted immediately. James was confused and said that she wasn't supposed to be there. The next moment, she disappeared back into her world. James started to panic and wondered how he would get out of this place.
Suddenly, everything faded, and he woke up. He saw Yumi standing in front of him. She asked if he was okay since he had fallen asleep right after coming home. James said he was fine. Yumi then told him that she had received an invitation. She explained that her boss and the investor were very happy.
They had decided to throw a party. She told James to get ready quickly because they were going together. James got ready, and Yumi wore a beautiful dress. Both of them left for the party. Unknowingly, Maya followed them again. At the party, there was a lot of food and people.
They ate, met the boss, congratulated him, and then decided to leave. As they were walking back home, James suddenly felt something strange. It felt like someone was watching them from above. He looked toward the trees, but there was nothing visible. Both of them ignored it, thinking it was just their imagination.
But in reality, someone was there. It was Leo. He was watching them from above. Suddenly, Leo attacked. James pushed Yumi away and took the hit himself. He crashed into a tree with force. Yumi screamed and ran toward him.
Before she could reach him, Leo struck her and knocked her unconscious. At that moment, Maya appeared with a sword in her hand. Four other people were with her. They attacked Leo together, but Leo used his powers and trapped them inside a sphere. None of them could move.
He then walked toward Yumi to take her life force. James watched everything helplessly. He was filled with anger and frustration. He blamed himself for not being able to do anything. Just as Leo was about to take Yumi's life force, he suddenly felt a powerful presence behind him.
Before he could react, a strong knee hit his face. Leo was sent flying into a tree. He looked up and saw James standing there. His hair had turned completely white. A red aura surrounded his body. His presence felt overwhelming. He was no longer the same person as before.
To be continued…