Still in the Past

  Outskirts of the City

  Quarantine Zone

  Inside That Building Again

  The focus shifts to the interior of that floor in the heavily destroyed building located at the center of the city's quarantine zone, which had been severely affected by the Alpha Earthquake three years earlier.

  On one of the top floors, under the darkness of night, the young Teo, ten years old, could be seen staring ahead toward Kalik, his older brother.

  Teo took a deep breath after remembering everything that had happened almost a week and a half before that day, right after leaving the amusement park - the memory returning to his mind with painful clarity.

  [(Kalik - Whispering, Disbelief & Surprise) What is happening? (Breathing Slightly Unsteady & Unresponsive)]

  Kalik, positioned for combat, placed himself in front of the person who was being held with their back against one of the pillars - the same one they had been violently thrown into earlier by Teo's Oculi abilities.

  [(Kalik - Whispering, Disbelief & Surprise) Why is one of the rookie agents from the Inanis faction in this region? And why would this agent be getting tortured by my little brother? (Breathing Slightly Unsteady & Unresponsive)]

  Kalik didn't know exactly what was going on, but when he looked at Teo - his clothes gently shifting from the waves of Oculi energy radiating from him, creating a subtle ripple effect in the air less than a meter around him - the answer began to take shape.

  [Person - Echoing, Desperate & Regretful Scream] ...I SWEAR I WAS ONLY ORDERED TO KIDNAP YOUR HUMAN FRIEND! [Broken & Tearful Breathing] -

  This gave Kalik enough context to understand that Teo had a very clear reason to want to kill the person pinned behind him.

  It was unmistakable to Kalik's eyes: there was his younger brother, a few meters ahead, displaying his natural Oculi Albi eyes - completely opaque white, without iris or pupils.

  [Person - Echoing, Desperate & Regretful Scream] PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU, LISTEN TO ME, YOUNG BOY!! [Broken & Tearful Breathing] -

  [(Kalik - Whispering, Disbelief & Surprise) Shit! Out of all the humans around here, they just had to choose Teo's closest human friend! (Slightly Faltering Sigh)]

  [Person - Echoing, Desperate & Regretful Scream] I DIDN'T WANT TO HURT YOUR HUMAN FRIEND'S ARM THAT NIGHT!! [Shaky, Rapid Breathing] -

  [Teo - Deeply Hollow Voice] ...But even so... even if you didn't want to. You still hurt her, and you did it right in front of me. [Deep, Heavy Breathing] -

  Upon hearing those words spoken by the person behind him, Kalik immediately lost his stance, overcome by shock.

  At the same time, an overwhelming sense of disbelief washed over him at the situation unfolding around him.

  [Person - Echoing, Desperate & Regretful Scream] I'M SORRY!!! I JUST WANTED TO TAKE HER TO THE HUMAN HARVEST POINT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!! [Shaky, Rapid Breathing] -

  Hearing that last desperate explanation directed at Teo, Kalik felt his world slow down. The mission order...

  It had likely come from Miguel - the one overseeing that entire region, encompassing the whole city they were standing in at that very moment.

  But in truth, the order could have been given to Miguel by someone higher up in the Inanis hierarchy.

  It was highly probable that Miss Lax was behind a new round of human pre-selection for study in that region.

  This possibility made far too much sense after the massive harvest three years earlier, when 500 people were abducted during a music event at Clikerson Farm - an operation deemed successful.

  All the abducted individuals had been replaced by identical clones, even mentally replicated, only to die of natural causes months after the music festival.

  [Person - Desperately Screaming, Regretful] I'M A ROOKIE AGENT OF THE INANIS FACTION, I'M STILL IN TRAINING!! [Harsh, Choking Cough] -

  [Person - Screaming, Desperate & Regretful] AND THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MY FIRST FIELD MISSION!! [Harsh, Choking Cough] -

  [Person - Screaming, Desperate & Regretful] AND TO MAKE THINGS WORSE THAT NIGHT, YOUR FRIEND WAS WAY TOO AGITATED!! [Harsh, Choking Cough] -

  Teo, standing with absolute ruthlessness in his posture, stared at the person trapped against the pillar by his Oculi force.

  The crushing pressure engulfed the agent's entire body, making them writhe in agony as they felt themselves being slowly crushed further and further against the badly damaged concrete behind their back.

  [Person - Screaming, Desperate & Regretful] I JUST WANTED TO DO WHAT I WAS ORDERED TO DO! [Harsh, Choking Cough] -

  [Person - Screaming, Desperate & Regretful] PLEASE! FORGIVE ME FOR HURTING HER, I'M BEGGING YOU!! [Harsh, Choking Cough] -

  After hearing those words directly from the agent's mouth, Teo immediately wrapped the person in an even denser invisible force.

  Something only perceptible to the naked eye for an Oculi - not for a human. This caused a massive visual distortion in the environment across several meters around the person pinned to the pillar, writhing in pain and terror.

  [Teo - Deeply Hollow Voice] You're very bold to beg me for mercy after what you did to Victoria, but... [Deep, Heavy Breathing] -

  [(Person - Faint, Terrified Whisper) Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!!!!!]

  [Teo - Deeply Hollow Voice] ...The moment you made her cry that night, after disappearing from that amusement park parking lot... [Deep, Heavy Breathing] -

  The force around the agent intensified, crushing them harder against the pillar. At the same time, a second internal pressure became palpable - giving the horrifying sensation that their body was about to burst apart from the inside out.

  Gradually, Téo focuses his Oculi strength not on a large area of that person anymore, but instead on a single point that becomes nothing less than the entire surface of that person's body, covering them as if it were a "full-body shroud."

  [Téo - Deeply Hollow Voice] I swore to myself that same night that I would find you no matter what, and when I found you, I would kill you with my own hands, after... [Deep, Heavy Breathing] -

  [(Person - Failed Whisper & Terrified)] This young boy is something horrifying... to give off such a bloodthirsty presence... who the hell is this cursed kid!!! -

  [Téo - Deeply Hollow Voice] ...after you, before all that, made Victoria cling to me in fear, seeking safety in my arms! [Deep, Heavy Breathing] -

  Immediately, after a few moments, he forces that person even harder against the pillar, making them feel their body being gradually pushed backward.

  For that person, it's an even more agonizing sensation - not only being physically crushed, but as if their entire body were being compressed tighter and tighter beneath that force covering their skin.

  It is possible to see Téo calmly looking at his older brother, Kalik, with a gaze so piercing and devoid of any mercy that it instantly leaves Kalik even more horrified by the intense murderous aura radiating from him.

  Kalik is completely terrified by everything he heard - not only from the person, but also from Téo. Téo's penetrating eyes lock onto Kalik's frozen stare just a few meters ahead.

  [Téo - Deeply Hollow Voice] If it weren't for me that night at the amusement park, I feel that Victoria would have been successfully taken somewhere horrendous, and I would possibly never have seen her alive again. [Deep, Heavy Breathing] -

  Kalik's eyes, previously pitch-black with no iris or pupils, gradually return to normal, taking on a human appearance again.

  As he begins to understand the overall situation of what had seemed to him like a random confrontation, he now realizes there is a context that places him in a conflict he can barely act upon.

  It is painfully clear on Téo's face, as he looks at Kalik, the overwhelming and blazing desire for revenge reflected in his eyes.

  [Téo - Deeply Hollow Voice] Kalik, this is the last time I'll say it. Do not try to stop me from making this bastard pay for what he dared to do to the person I care about the most right now. [Exhausted, Deep Sigh] -

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  Kalik realizes that Téo, now at only ten years old, possesses control over his Oculi abilities on a surreal level for someone his age.

  Far more advanced than Kalik himself, who is one year older. Téo, after taking one deeply controlled breath, now looks toward the person trapped against the pillars by his abilities.

  It becomes noticeable as Téo walks forward calmly, closing his hand as if applying more force than before.

  [Téo - Deeply Hollow Voice] I am going to make you feel the pain Victoria felt... and the pain you're about to experience from now on... [Subtly Pleasurable Breath] -

  [(Kalik - Whispering, Unreactive & Trembling) Please... little brother. (Failed, Fearful Breathing)]

  [Téo - Deeply Hollow Voice] ...will be nothing less than a billion times worse than what she felt that night! [Soft, Extremely Pleasure-Filled & Vengeful Laugh] -

  This makes it clear that Téo, with one hand lowered so casually and calmly, is gradually crushing that person more and more.

  The person attempts to scream for help - even calling out to Kalik - crying in complete despair, begging for forgiveness in every way imaginable.

  [Téo - Deeply Hollow Voice] Since your filthy neck is right now practically in the "palm of my hand." [Soft, Extremely Pleasure-Filled & Vengeful Laugh] -

  [(Kalik - Whispering, Unreactive & Trembling) Stop... please, Téo... (Failed, Fearful Breathing)]

  But that person feels their screams being blocked from leaving their throat, as it squeezes tighter and tighter while being crushed at the same time.

  As a consequence, the person begins to bleed more and more from their eyes - their black tears flowing heavily. Before this scene, the world seems to slow down from Kalik's perspective.

  He remains frozen, unable to react to what is happening right before his eyes.

  [Distant, Echoing Sound of the Person Suffocating & Desperately Struggling]

  He stands paralyzed before that terrifying sight: Téo, his small, innocent, na?ve little brother, now displaying a personality completely opposite to the one Kalik remembers from happy moments.

  This current version of Téo, only ten years old, radiates a personality both vengeful and utterly merciless.

  Kalik, then, before his eyes, watches Téo walking toward him - yet not to confront him, but rather moving toward the person bound in agony against the pillar a few meters behind his back.

  [Distant Echoing Sound of Someone Choking & Thrashing in Extreme Despair]

  For a few moments, Kalik could see, right in front of him, Téo at seven years old, also walking toward him, with his once completely brown hair, in a cheerful and playful posture, smiling at him.

  But that beautiful vision for Kalik simply fades away with the gentle brush of a breeze sweeping across that entire place, causing the image of Téo to wash out, giving way to his current, present-day self.

  This current version of Téo - now ten years old, with short white hair - carried himself with absolute confidence, along with a heavy gaze that made the distance between him and the younger seven-year-old version unmistakably clear.

  His posture at that moment also made it evident that he did not possess even a single drop of pity or mercy for anyone who dared to touch someone he cared about.

  In this case, his best friend, Victoria, who was also ten years old at that time.

  [Louder Echoing Sound of the Person Choking & Thrashing in Extreme Horror]

  Kalik feels himself intensely compelled to break through the fears that keep him from moving, desperate to stop his brother, Téo.

  He uses every happy memory he has of him from the past, ever since his birth.

  [Echoing Voice of Past Téo (6 years old)] Little brother, I will stay by your side forever! [Awkward Yet Genuinely Happy Laughter] -

  Kalik, baring his teeth in determination, lunges forward, trying to stop Téo from carrying out what he is moments away from completing - his long-desired vengeance.

  Téo was slowly closing his hand, seemingly taking pleasure in the expressions of the person bound to the pillar, who writhed in agony while losing their breath, crying even more black tears from their eyes.

  [Kalik - Gasping, Broken Shout] TéO!!! [Fearful & Trembling Breathing] -

  Even with Kalik using his Oculi abilities at full strength, driven by his emotions and feelings. He is taken by surprise before he can take a single step forward toward Téo.

  The world before his eyes inverts for a single second. And simultaneously, a faint snap of fingers seems to be heard by Kalik coming from one of Téo's hands.

  [Kalik - Incredulous, Fractured Whisper] Don't do this, please, little brother!! [A sharp, dry cough] -

  Téo causes his older brother Kalik's body to be thrown abruptly to the side, after an invisible force distorts the environment around him a few centimeters from every part of Kalik's body.

  Thus one can see that striking image: Kalik screaming, tears streaming as the world before him appears negative in color and slowed in its temporal flow, his hand outstretched toward Téo.

  Téo, over the span of microseconds, continues walking forward toward his single goal in that place, having removed Kalik from his path in such a violent and unexpected manner.

  And as that dramatic moment becomes painfully clear to Kalik's eyes, the temporal flow returns to normal after a few seconds.

  After that unexpected attack from Téo, Kalik's back smashes through at least three walls as his body spins violently through the air before slamming into the floor and rolling several times.

  After a few moments, Kalik is on the ground, superficially bruised across his body, badly hurt internally but with no chance of a mortal wound.

  For Téo's intention at that moment was not to kill his older brother Kalik, but to force him to retreat so he would not stand in the way of Téo avenging the acts done to Victoria a week earlier.

  Moments later, more desperate screams echo, a nearly primal panic from that Oculi agent.

  They reverberate with all their force through the corridor and even outside the building, Kalik begging Téo for forgiveness with the last drops of his sanity.

  Realizing this, Kalik tries at all costs to advance again, even though his whole body aches and is almost numb. But he is taken by surprise by a voice that is suddenly and mysteriously cut off.

  [Kalik - Echoing, Horrified Whisper] No, please... [Labored, terrified breath] -

  That place falls into a complete, terrifying silence for Kalik, who hears only the wind's faint rush entering the building and passing calmly toward the horizon.

  Even with his body still trembling and his senses scattered, Kalik knew that if that person who works for Miguel were to be killed by Téo-

  [Kalik - Gasping, Broken Shout] ...TéO!!! [A sharp, dry cough] -

  None other than Miguel himself would come after the one responsible for doing this to one of his subordinates, even if that subordinate were only a pathetic rookie.

  This could result in a major confrontation between Téo and Miguel in the near future in that region, driven by Miguel's overwhelming pride and his refusal to show weakness before Miss Lax or her brother.

  Mr. Astaroth currently stands only below the Begeneri twins in the hierarchy within the Inanis faction.

  Before Kalik could gather momentum again, feeling his nerves and muscles burn from forcing them beyond what was bearable as he tried to push his abilities to their limit.

  Kalik is taken by surprise by the sound of what seems to be the calm footsteps of someone walking through the holes opened by Kalik's own body after being thrown backward by Téo.

  As the dust rises from the broken walls, it becomes clear that the person walking toward Kalik is Téo himself.

  [Téo - Deeply Serene & Satisfyingly Echoing Breath]

  [(Kalik - Disbelieving Whisper, Slightly Emotional) No, no, no, no... (Trembling & Frightened Breathing)]

  In that moment, Téo's clothes are stained with many splatters of the black liquid that came from the body of the man who had been Agent Oculi.

  After revealing himself to Kalik, Téo keeps walking with a distant, completely empty gaze. His face is now even more covered by droplets of that black liquid.

  [Téo - Serene & Merciless Voice] Hey, Kalik. The next time you try to stop me again, I... [Deep & Sincere Breath] -

  [(Kalik - Disbelieving Whisper, Slightly Emotional) Little brother... (Trembling & Frightened Breathing)]

  [Téo - Serene & Merciless Voice] ...I won't be as gentle with your injuries as I was today. Understood?" [Deep Breath] -

  Those same drops of black liquid - understood to be the blood of an Oculi - are also staining Téo's white hair.

  His hair no longer appears to flow as if submerged underwater, now moving naturally in the air after Téo has completely deactivated his Oculi abilities.

  [Téo - Serene & Merciless Voice] And let one thing be perfectly clear to you, big brother. [Deep & Extremely Sincere Breath] -

  [Kalik - Whispering, Disbelieving & Slightly Horrified] Téo... [Broken & Slightly Trembling Breath] -

  [Téo - Serene & Merciless Voice] If you stand beside anyone who dares to hurt Victoria again at any moment, you will be... the first life I take without thinking twice. [Deep & Extremely Sincere Breath] -

  Without looking at his brother lying on the ground, motionless, Téo calmly walks past him and then stops a few meters ahead.

  In front of him is the tall building's large window, completely shattered. Téo stands there, his clothes and hair swaying with the breeze blowing back into the building once more.

  With his back turned to Kalik, Téo observes the silent night and the glowing city on the horizon. That illuminated area lies outside the zone affected by the blackout.

  The quarantine area where he and Kalik now stand is entirely devoid of power, swallowed by the darkness of night.

  [Téo (6 years old) - Joyful, Playful Echo from the Past] ...Kalik! I... I want to have fun by your side forever, big brother! [Soft, Echoing Happy Laughter] -

  While Kalik kneels on the ground, lightly injured and with cuts along his arms, he looks ahead, watching the smoke dissipate completely.

  Reflected in Kalik's eyes is the cruel fate imposed by Téo himself - a vengeance carried out against Miguel's inexperienced Oculi-affiliated ally.

  The one who had dared to lightly injure Victoria after failing to kidnap her right before Téo's eyes nearly a week earlier.

  [Kalik - Disbelieving Whisper, Slightly Horrified] What have you done, Téo...? [Broken & Slightly Trembling Breath] -

  Téo had not only broken his neck after hanging himself - he had gone even further, using his abilities in a way that, in a sense, not even Kalik could imagine someone as young as Téo being capable of.

  [Téo (7 years old) - Echoing, Confident & Motivated Voice from the Past] "...When I grow up, big brother! I will be strong like you!" [A Simple, Confident & Cheerful Laugh] -

  For the person who had been floating before, pressed with their back against the wall and suffocating in agony, their mind was completely filled by the "Void".

  It drove him, within seconds, into a mental collapse that shattered not only his mind into many pieces but his entire body as well - slamming him into the wall behind him and creating that horrific "painting" that Kalik now viewed with a stunned, horrified gaze.

  Kalik felt a gigantic constriction around his heart, and for the first time a fear seemed to begin to well up inside him regarding the present personality of his little brother, Téo.

  [(Kalik - Whispering, Emotional & Incredulous) "...This isn't you! This isn't my dear little brother!!!" (Tremulous & Painful Breathing)]

  Before Kalik could say anything about what Téo had done moments earlier, Téo - after walking to the edge of the building's broken glass window - simply threw himself into a calm, tranquil free fall.

  Téo fell in free fall toward the ground, but then he employed his Oculi abilities in a nearly imperceptible way around his body.

  This allowed him to glide and steer in a certain direction after taking a running leap from part of the building, launching himself forward at high speed.

  Back to the Present

  A Few Moments Later

  Location: Salie Fradik School

  Still in that Corridor

  Kalik, after closing his eyes and breathing deeply, formed a faintly nostalgic smile on his lips as he answered Infinity, who was thoughtful and smiling.

  Trying to understand how Téo could be alive again in the physical world after what he had done to save Victoria three years ago.

  [Infinity - Serene & Slightly Amused Voice] ...This is not normal, Kalik. And I have reasons to suspect that one cause of this is that, instead of meeting the 'Void' and dying, he for some reason went to the non-physical world while remaining alive. -

  After saying that, Miss Infinity was taken aback when she felt Kalik's essence shift into something denser.

  It was visible that Kalik - even with his back turned - was shedding silent tears as he stared up at the ceiling of the corridor, his breathing subtly more emotional and tremulous.

  He tried to remain strong even though that was the most difficult thing in the moment.

  [(Kalik - Confused & Emotional Thought) When you're beside Victoria, you return to being my little brother, but when you are away from her you seem to hold a gaze that is far too distant to reach, Téo...]

  [(Kalik - Confused & Emotional Thought) ...I don't want to lose you again, like three years ago when you disappeared after giving everything to save her, even though Victoria is merely human compared to us, the Oculi.]

  Kalik recalled that, on several occasions, he had seen Téo with Victoria at school. Téo seemed to revert to the seven-year-old Téo.

  In such a tender way to Kalik's eyes that he could not understand how Victoria did it so naturally - how she stood by him, smiling and speaking with him every day at school.

  [Infinity - Serene & Thoughtful Voice] Victoria is one of the greatest keys to discovering the truth about this 'anomaly' in Téo's current essence after his mysterious return from the non-physical world. -

  [Infinity - Serene & Thoughtful Voice] But... Victoria is also one of the reasons this 'anomaly' is gradually taking shape into the biggest nightmare of your life, Kalik." -

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  - (Act 5 - Unknown Feeling) -