Today was supposed to be funeral of my classmate, Zero, or that's what everyone calls him.... used to call him. He died in an accident which never was an accident. He died while being bullied. I saw it all happening right in front of my own eyes when one of the boys hit his head on the asphalt road and dragged it forming a circle with his blood, picked a rod and stabbed it right through his chest and then doing again and again. To prevent him from making any sounds they already slit his tongue and damaged his voice box. His whole body was covered in blood and all he could do was cry for his death. But the bullies took their sweet time ripping apart his each and every organ, making his suffer. It was horrible but for some reason I didn't feel pain for him... on the contrary, I was enjoying it. Him suffering in pain, tears falling down from his cheeks, blood dripping from his wounds, his eyes crying for death, I enjoyed it all. While it was happening, I was just watching there, not even flinching.
When I snapped out of it, everything had ended. Only me and Zero lied there. I took out my phone and captured a shot of his body lying there. I left that place as soon as I took the shot, rushing my way back to home while giggling in pleasure and recalling all the scenes. I took a glimpse of time, it was 1900HRS, I started walking faster. I reached home in 10 minutes, following my normal routine I went by my day as I normally did.
The next day, when I went back to the school, I didn't even hear anything about Zero at all. His presence was wiped off as if he never existed. Everything was passing by as it normally did, even the bullies acted as if nothing happened. When I reached my class and looked inside from the door, I realized a desk had been removed. Teacher started the class and took the roll call but Zero's name was never called, classes went by but no one mentioned his name even once.
Every classes ended and soon the school for the day ended. I took my bag and headed to leave the school. While moving out of class teacher called out my name, "Sia!" I turned back and saw my teacher calling me.
"Yes sir, something wrong?"
He took out an envelope and handing it to, and said "This belongs to you. Open it at your home. Ah and also, you forgot your bicycle at the parking lot yesterday, don't forget to take it back today."
"Thank you sir, I'll remember to take my cycle back. Sir but what is this envelope for?"
"This", pointing at envelope, "was something which was sent to you. Take a look at it when you're home."
"Ok sir, thank you for the package. I'll be leaving then." I bowed to him and left the class. While going to the parking lot, I passed by the alley way where Zero died. I was curious as to what had happened about everything there. I saw nothing related to Zero, not even a single strand of his hair. Proof was wiped out thoroughly, it was as if nothing ever happened here. After satisfying my curiosity I started heading to the parking lot. I took my bicycle and left for the home.
After reaching home, I washed up and had some snacks. When I came back to my room from the kitchen, I saw the envelope given to me by the teacher. I opened it up and a letter fall from it.
It read, "Hello Sia, I hope you're doing well. I am writing this to you to tell you that everything regarding Zero has been taken care of. No one named Zero ever existed. His existence has been cleared.
You don't have to worry about him anymore, his parents took care of everything. Starting now, no one named Zero will exist, all his belongings have been burnt, everything which could be considered as his mark of existence has been taken care of. No one will use his name again.
Yours truly
Bling"
I read through that letter again and again as if searching for something that would suggest me how he got news of this so quickly. I started recalling every incident that occurred yesterday and the only conclusion I reached was, it was because of him that Zero died. It all became clear when I noticed that the letter mentioned Zero's parents but the only thing which was still a secret was, Who was Bling?
While I was scanning the letter again and again, I noticed a black colored card with something inscribed on it with golden ink. It was looking suspicious, I left the letter on my table and picked the card immediately. Card had a strange vibe about it, I inspected it and checked it from all angles. I saw a little inscription on the bottom left corner on the back, [ Recall ].
The card had my name and age inscribed on it but the thing that looked strange to me was the [Task]. I couldn't even understand what was going on when I realized timer was ticking and was about to turn 0, I started freaking out and threw the card on the floor. I picked letter again and started analyzing it again, I started reading it again, sweat falling from my cheeks, hands trembling, letter shaking. I noticed card had started blinking and 5 seconds were left.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Panicking, I started shouting unconsciously, "Is it a bomb!? No, I don't wanna die, someone help please save me, help, someone out there!?" Nothing happened, I was standing near my desk like a fool, my hands still trembling. I heaved a sigh of relief when I noticed card was still blinking. Letter still in the hand, I bent over to pick up the card when another thing fallen on my head. It was a notebook but strange enough, I didn't had any notebooks near me. I opened it up and started flipping through pages. It was a black hardcover notebook with strange symbol on the cover. Something was inscribed just below the symbol, [Recall]. I became more confused with these strange things happening.
I squatted down and picked up card while having both, letter and notebook, still in left hand. The moment I picked up the card, a sudden flash occurred. I couldn't understand what was happening. My body started getting chilly, feeling scared, I started shouting, I was panicking and crying on the spot. I fell on the spot and lost my consciousness.
"Ah, my head hurts. What was that strange flash?" I opened my eyes. Still not being able to process events that occurred in last 15 minutes, I tried getting up. My eyes were still half closed and I felt like my body was a bit smaller. When my eyes were completely open I realized I was not at my house anymore..... or I actually was at my house but from 7 years ago when I was still living with my parents. I looked around my room recalling how my room looked like. While my eyes went from one place to another, I noticed a kid having his head down near my bed sitting on the floor. Not being able to recognize who it was, I tapped on the kid's shoulder.
Lifting his head slowly, kid said "Are you awake Sia?".
"Yes, but who are you?", I replied to him feeling uncomfortable.
"Um, I think that fall was actually pretty dangerous. I'm Zero, your neighbor."
I was still looking around my room when I heard his name, Zero. Didn't Zero die yesterday, how is he still alive and why am I in my room from 7 years ago. What the **** is happening? It was all blurry and I couldn't understand a thing.
"I'll call your mother, you can rest." he said. "Oh yeah, you had these in your hands when I found you." handing out a letter, card and that hardcover notebook.
"Thanks." I said. Zero started leaving when I stopped him, "Zero, wait."
"Yeah?"
"Can you tell me what date it is today? I am still a bit dizzy."
"Oh! It is 12th June 2021. Are you feeling fine, though? Shall I ask your mother to call a doctor? She'll be here in a moment."
"Ah, I am fine. Don't worry, no need for a doctor either. You can leave now."
"Ok, bye. Call me if something goes wrong I'll be here ASAP.", Zero said while moving out of the room.
I heard a sound\, clack and thud of the door. Zero had left. I was still feeling a bit uneasy so I avoided any extra movements and took a look at the stuff Zero had left. Card was still the same\, but the time statement wasn't there anymore. Letter was slightly damaged but words were clear. Lastly\, notebook was still intact\, without even a scratch as if it was bought just now. I opened the notebook again\, turning the cover\, I noticed something written on the inner side of the cover\, [ Owner: Sia | Task: {Recalled} ]. I couldn't understand anything when I noticed something else written on the bottom left corner\, [Recall]. This was my fourth time reading this.
Feeling tired, I placed everything on the table and tried sorting everything in my head.
1. Zero died by the hands of bullies.
2. Everything related to Zero disappeared.
3. I received a strange envelope from my teacher.
4. Envelope had a letter sent by someone called Bling\, a card\, and a hardcover notebook.
5. When I held everything together\, I was sent 7 years back in time with a task\, [Recalled].
"What the **** is going on!? How the hell this all happened!? How did I end up like this!? Who the **** is this Bling!? Who sent me that envelope!?" I started getting more confused. Suddenly I heard another thud of the door. I felt scared and tried hiding when I heard someone call my name, "Sia, are you up? How are you feeling now?"
Hearing that voice, I realized it was my mother. I replied, "Yes mother, I am feeling good."
Mother entered my room, "What were you doing out in the park lying on the floor? Zero called me and asked to rush back, you're fine, right?"
"Yes mother, I am perfectly fine. You don't have to be this alarmed."
"If you say so. Remember if something happens you have to call me that instant. So what do you wanna eat?"
"I want to have some chocolate cake." I still remember, my mother's chocolate cake was the best. She used to make it every time I got sick.
"Chocolate cake, it is then. I'll make it real quick just you wait."
Mother left the room to make the cake. I repicked contents of the envelope. I reopened the notebook and checked the cover. When I looked at it carefully, I saw a small square, something was inscribed above it, [ Put your thumb to refresh the bios. ] I placed my thumb on the square. A blue light appeared and my thumbprint was recorded. Cover started changing. It became white in color with a black logo in the center. Below the logo, it was written, [ Recall ]. I was feeling sick of reading the word again and again. I flipped to the page 1. It was a strange page. Some stuff was written on it, "Recall has been finished. Say, Status to check your status window."
Everything that happened till now seemed as if I was in a fiction novel. It was far too unreal and I even thought it was a dream. I tried pinching myself and I felt pain too, meaning, it was not a dream and everything happening was real. I said, "Status". A black window appeared. It was similar to that card, with black background and gold inscriptions.
I read the [Status]. It all looked like a game. I tried saying [Explain Detect], a new screen popped up. It read, "Detect [Max] : Say detect while looking at someone to know about their thoughts and feelings." It looked as if a skill out of a game. I tried saying [Explain Alter], another screen replaced current once, it read, "Extract [Max] : Say extract while looking at someone and get logs of what they will do on that day in [The Note]. Edit it using [ Alter ]. And lastly, [Explain Alter ], same thing happened and another screen popped, it read, "Alter [Max] : Use the pen available at the end of [ The Note ] to make changes in logs of a person. ( Can be used only once a day. ).
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