Surviving the Demon World

RRIINNNGGGG!!

The final bell of the school day released everyone from their last class. The weekend was here and it would be for the Thanksgiving Break, so that meant a couple of extra days with no school. Everyone rushed to the exits of the modern day oversized torture chamber, all getting out as fast as they could. That is, except for three friends, who hung back near a group of lockers. One of them actually had one opened and was shifting books around from the backpack she carried into the metal container. She glanced at the young man standing with her and their other best friend and asked, “So, is there something you want Ryo? I thought you usually get picked up by your mother.”

Ryo swiveled his head to her away from the other students that he had been watching and looked at one of his two best friends. He knew that the other young woman standing with them looked at the two once again.

“Well, none of my parents are home right now, so I was wondering if you were walking home today.” He replied, shifting his weight from foot to foot ever so slightly.

The two girls exchanged amused glances and the one in her locker said, “Melody was coming home with me today, so of course we’re walking.”

Melody grinned as Ryo gave a relieved smile.

“So, mind if I join you?” he asked.

“Not at all,” the girl grinned as she stuffed the rest of her school stuff into her locker. Now all she carried was her purse and a paperback book. She tossed a lock of her waist length auburn hair back over her shoulder and looked at her two friends. “So, we should go now?”

Melody just looked at her and slightly rolled her eyes, “If it would please you, Lady Viviane.” She smirked then with a sarcastic tone.

Viviane frowned at Melody, but soon it turned into a smile. Her cheerful personality always won through; she could never stay disagreeable for long. “It would please me greatly,” she dipped into a shallow curtsey that caused the other two to chuckle.

With that the three began heading towards the nearest exit. All too soon they were walking away from the building of torture called high school, but only to return the next week. Ryo pulled the two into light conversation, but after awhile when they paused he came out and asked, “What if a hole appeared beneath us and we fell through to the Demon World?”

The other two looked at him, “Is this a serious question? You know that is just a fantasy.” Melody said, with a hint of disproval in her voice and eyes.

“Oh come off it Melody. It’s only a question. Besides, with as much as you read of fantasy and sci-fi, you would think that you have a broader imagination.” Viviane said with a laugh.

“Well?” Ryo said with a touch of impatience as he raised an eyebrow at them.

Viviane giggled and said, “I would probably end up screaming.”

The other two snorted, but they were both nodding their heads. “Oh yeah, I can definitely see you doing that. But I meant what would you do.” Ryo said.

The girl looked thoughtful and then with a broad grin replied, “Well, I can always find myself a Lord’s mansion and flirt and seduce my way to the top…then I could always use that as an influence over him…” she didn’t continue as she was cut off by Melody.

“Yeah, it’s kinda obvious that you would use your skills as a flirt to your advantage in a situation like that.” Melody said. “Especially since you have a slight power of empathy.” She added.

Ryo nodded and then turned his eyes to Melody. “And you?” he asked.

Melody looked thoughtful and then replied, “Well I would steal powers and then train for awhile until I was strong enough to find my own way back home. I think, no, I know my skills with the power of levitation will come in handy.” She finished.

“What about you Ryo? What would you do?” Viviane asked. She switched her book to be held by her other hand and was glad that her purse had a long strap to carry over her shoulder.

Ryo didn’t have to think about that one for very long. “I would obviously use my illusions to trick demons, get their powers and find a way back home. But I would enjoy myself immensely throughout the process.” He said with a smirk.

Melody rolled her eyes and Viviane just giggled. The three friends all had supernatural powers. They didn’t know why they had them, but no one else but them knew about the abilities. It was the biggest secret between them. They even kept it from their parents!

“And if all three of us were to fall through?” Viviane impulsively asked.

The other two glanced at her and then at each other before answering, “Well Vi, I would do as I planned, minus the leaving, and then come and look for you guys. Why wouldn’t I?” Melody asked with a tiny shrug.

Ryo nodded his agreement. “Yes, exactly as planned and use connections that I could get to search for you. When that came to be I would help get us back home.” He said.

Viviane looked relieved, but only nodded in response to their words. Melody, though didn’t take that as she should have and knew that Viviane was worried. “Why the sudden question? We were only speaking in jest about the whole thing.” She said.

Viviane turned her gaze to them and found that both of her best friends were watching her with concerned looks on their faces. She looked ahead once again and answered, “The thought crossed my mind suddenly, there was no real reason why I asked.” She shrugged it off.

But the two didn’t look convinced. “No Vi, there was a real reason. Why did you ask that? You know as well as we, that you can not hide much from us. We’ve known you for too long.” Melody said firmly, yet concerned softened her expression. Ryo nodded his agreement and added, “What prompted that question truly Vi?”

She glanced at the two and then down at her hands where she clutched at the book she was carrying. Softly, her voice so soft that the two had to strain to hear her, she said, “My parents want to send me to a private school. I won’t know more about it till then, but for some reason they don’t want you to know either. But I do know that it’s a very small, all-girls school. And the thing is…they haven’t even told me yet. I heard…by accident one night a couple of weeks ago.” She said.

The two were speechless for a few moments, but then Melody broke the silence that had descended. “Are you sure you heard it right?” she asked.

Even Ryo looked skeptical when Viviane looked up at them again. She nodded, “My sister was with me and my brother was visiting for the night and heard too.” She said. Her sister was two years younger than her and already knew the ways of parents and talking behind their children’s backs. And though the two fought like the sisters they were, they also understood one another in the terms of listening to their parents when they were speaking to each other and they were adept at sneaking around to eavesdrop. Vi’s brother on the other hand was three years older than she was, at twenty years of age and had already moved out of the house and started college.

He had been visiting home at the time when he inadvertly heard the talk his parents were having. When it was finished and when he knew his sisters were back upstairs in their rooms he went to speak with them; it wasn’t only Viviane that was being pulled from her current school, it was also Sharon too. The fifteen-year-old had been shocked when they heard what they did and both the girls were against what their parents were planning as well as their older brother. He had been enraged at the notion of pulling Viviane and Sharon from a school they were already firmly settled into and put into a private school without informing them. He was even more enraged when he heard that their friends weren’t even to know.

So when he spoke with them he calmed down enough to console the two. He was going to confront their parents later about it, claiming only he knew of the plans.

Ryo and Melody lapsed into silence, but paused in their steps to hug their friend. Viviane wiped at her eyes again when they pulled away and tried to give them a smile.

“Come on. I’m sure we could all use a good deal of free time away form school. We can figure something out about your problem when we get to your house.” Melody tried for a light mood.

Ryo nodded and Vianne smiled again, though it wasn’t fully her usual cheer.

“So anyway, like we said, we would still do our own power gathering, become strong and search for the other, and that definitely includes you, Vi.” Ryo said.

Viviane finally gave a true smile, “Thanks guys.” She said.

Before another word could be formed or even uttered, a large black opening appeared before them in the ground just as they were taking another step. Then they were falling into darkness.

But before they truly could not see each other Viviane and Melody both shouted, “Ryo! This is all YOUR fault!!”

Then darkness swallowed them and they knew nothing more.