Chapter Text
The ground vibrated as heavy feet slammed against it, throwing leaves out as he tried to dodge a tree blocking his path. The sound of his breathing and heartbeat filled his ears as his weary eyes snuck a glance behind him. He heard a growl from the darkness he left behind, trying to escape whatever was on his trail. A game of cat and mouse wouldn't be the best game to play in a dark forest, he didn't even understand how he got caught up in this mess but now he's trying to get out of it.
He cried out whenever his foot slammed into a tree root poking out from the ground, bracing for impact as his body collided with the forest floor. The leaves and sticks broke his fall, but it still hurt like a bitch as he struggled to climb to his feet. Adrenaline stayed pumping through his veins, wanting to be as far away from the danger after him. He wasn't able to stand up fast enough, still on one knee as something or someone pushed him back down, tackling him. He struggled against the grasp, trying to get away as the thing after him flipped him over.
A quiet scream echoed through his mind as the last thing he saw was glowing red eyes.
Akk's body lurched forward as his eyes searched the room, his body soaked in sweat as his hands clutched the bedsheets, trembling. That would be the fourth time he had the same nightmare, those red eyes haunted his dreams and even though it's the fourth time he's had that nightmare, it still felt so real. His body started to calm down as it processed that it was only a dream, Akk finally throwing the covers off of him to stand up. He quickly grabbed his work clothes and a towel to take a shower, feeling sticky from the sweat.
Once he was done taking a shower and drying off, Akk headed to the kitchen as his stomach grumbled for food. He couldn't brush off the uneasiness he still felt from the dream, feeling even more anxious than yesterday. He searched the fridge for something to eat before he had to head to work, sighing in defeat whenever he realized he hadn't gone grocery shopping yet. Akk stretched after closing the fridge, checking his phone as he walked to the front door.
The boy slipped his shoes on as he closed and locked his door, glancing back down at his phone to read the newest article about another missing person. He sighed as his gut twisted from hunger and anxiety, turning off his phone before walking down the street. Goosebumps prickled his skin as he looked around, feeling someone's stare on him. Akk was unable to find whoever was staring at him, so he shoved his hands in his pocket before continuing his walk to get food for his angry stomach. After about fifteen minutes of walking, Akk found himself in front of the restaurant he worked at.
Akk headed inside to order him food. Wat, one of his co-workers and friends, glanced up. "Aren't you too early? Your shift doesn't start for another hour," Wat smiled before walking over, "Just take a seat anywhere and I'll send Kan over to take your order." Kan was another co-worker and friend, the three had been friends since the start of secondary school, and even stayed friends after they graduated.
Kan made a face at him as he walked over to the table Akk sat at, "You're such an early bird, couldn't be me. What do you want?" The boy teased, holding a notepad as Akk spoke out his order. "-and I'm not an early bird, it's eight thirty," Akk finished his sentence, smiling up at his friend.
"Whatever you say, is that all you want?" Kan glanced over the notepad as Akk nodded, glancing away in hopes that Kan wouldn't notice the bags under his eyes. "Alright, bye nerd," a grin plastered itself across Kan's lips as the boy turned and walked away. They all worked as waiters, Wat was also a photographer on the side while Kan worked in a bar after his shift over here. He didn't work two jobs like his friends since he already was exhausted from working a shift at the restaurant. He couldn't imagine working a different job, the one he has now pays enough. Kan and Wat live together, a five minute walk from his own home, they asked multiple times if Akk would join them since they had a spare bedroom but he refused. Not because he didn't want to live with the two, he likes to be alone and free from social reactions.
Akk already knew he wasn't like his two friends, being around people for hours and having to socialize left him exhausted. Once he left for work, he headed straight home to sleep. Interacting with a lot of people every day made him feel like a black sheep. Akk would always be called an empath since he could easily tell when something was wrong, his friends liked to call him a mind reader because of the way he could read people so easily. There were many times that he's even saved people, whether it was from something falling or his gut telling him something is about to happen. There was a time that he saved Kan from being ran over, he remembered a chill going down his spine as he watched his friend walk out into the road, he didn't think before yanking the boy back to the safety of the sidewalk before a car flew past them.
He shooed his thoughts and flashbacks away as Kan brought him a coffee and his food, placing it on the table. "There, the coffee is on me, you look exhausted and I decided to be a nice friend today," Kan stuck out the tip of his tongue before reaching up and rubbing his thumb under Akk's eye. "Enjoy," He pinched Akk's cheek before walking away, greeting a customer. All Akk could think about was the concern that filled the air whenever Kan had brought his order, the boy acted fine but the scent of concern coming from him gave it away.
He shook his head, clearing the concern away before he started eating.
Akk let out a quiet sigh as he headed to a table with their order, it was a group of teens that were making a ruckus and they come here every Monday after school. They are little punks with bad intentions spelled out across their faces, always starting trouble. He smiled softly whenever he had a flashback to one of the boys picking on Kan, who was very angry but he didn't say anything and whenever Wat had asked what they had said, Kan told him to fuck off.
He stayed quiet as he placed their orders in front of the group, knowing that if he spoke that he would be their next target for their bullying. Something caught the corner of his eye through, a new kid that stayed quiet around his loud peers. At first Akk thought nothing of it until he actually looked at the boy, their eyes meeting. The kid had kept eye contact and it made Akk feel like he was being studied, causing a chill to travel down his spine. He gulped hard before breaking the stare, "If you boys need anything else, just let me know."
Akk spun on his heel, feeling a twist in his stomach as he walked back to Kan and Wat. The feeling of unease refused to leave him, it was just a kid but a very unusual kid and Akk didn't like that he couldn't read him like he could read everyone else.
Something was up with that kid, something different. He felt the concern spilling from Wat without even looking up at him.
"Akk? Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost," Wat grabbed his friend's shoulder, eyeing him. Akk smiled softly, pushing down all the unease, "Yeah, I'm alright, Did you know there's a new kid in that group?"
Kan scoffed, "Those little punks? They said something to you? I'll beat their asses!"
Akk shook his head quickly, "No! They've never said anything to me, I was just curious about the new kid that's all." He brushed Wat's hand off his shoulder, ignoring his concern. "He introduced himself as Namo whenever I led them to their seat, he seems like a good kid, I don't understand why he's hanging out with those boys," Wat shrugged. Their heads perked up whenever they heard the bell on the door, letting them know a customer just walking in, Wat rushing off to go greet them.
It was already getting dark, both Wat and Kan left three hours ago when their shift ended. Akk was trying to wipe down tables, wanting to get out since his shift ended a few minutes ago. Once he finally finished cleaning off the tables he let his co-workers know that he was leaving.
Akk normally enjoyed walking home in the dark, but tonight was different with the dread feeling in his gut. He had a flashback from his dream, the red eyes staring down at him as he walked down the street. His hands stayed in his pockets, glancing around wearily. From the corner of his eye he spotted a shadow in the small alleyway, curiosity filled his mind.
"Curiosity killed the cat," He whispered to himself, about to move on whenever he noticed movement coming from the shadow. Walking closer, fear building up as he got closer to the alley. Akk winced whenever his foot hit against a smashed soda can, it tumbled forward, his eyes following it.
He gulped hard as his eyes trailed away from the can to the darkness in front of him, his heart dropped as the shadow slowly turned around. Feeling frozen to his spot, Akk's gaze never left the scene in front of him, a young unconscious girl laid out on the ground with someone, something hovering above her. But that wasn't what made his heart drop, or the cold chill to pass over his body,
Those red eyes...