As I strolled down the street, each step seemed to send jolts of sensation through the soles of my feet, making me feel strangely hyperaware of the ground beneath me. The air against my skin felt off, like it was prickling with discomfort.
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"At least my hearing's back to normal," I muttered to myself, sliding both hands into my pockets as I continued towards school.
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With every ounce of hope I could muster, I prayed that all the bizarre events were finally behind me. No more encounters with weirdos carrying mysterious vials, no more cuts on my hand from random collisions.
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And please, no more encounters with creepy doppelgängers threatening my life. But deep down, I knew it was probably wishful thinking.
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"Hey, boss," came the familiar call, and I reluctantly turned to see my boys hustling toward me.
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"Morning, boys," I greeted, forcing a smile. "Late as usual, I see. Good to know some things never change."
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"Boss!" Benny exclaimed, enveloping me in a tight hug.
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"What the hell?" I grumbled inwardly, fighting the urge to deck him in the face.
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"We heard you were in the hospital, boss," Benny said, his eyes glistening with tears. "We were so worried. Never leave us again, boss."
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I wished I could say I was touched by Benny's heartfelt words, or Jim's and the rest of the gang's concern. But honestly, it just creeped me out.
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"Alright, alright," I grumbled, pushing Benny away to catch my breath. "I'm fine, so don't get all clingy on me."
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"Leyton," Charlie spoke up, his arms folded across his chest. "We were genuinely concerned."
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"Since when are you my mother?" I shot back, turning to resume my walk.
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As the world seemed to drain of color and freeze, my heart pounded with dread, and I halted in my tracks at the chilling voice echoing in my mind.
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Slowly turning, I faced the source of the disturbance, and there he stood, grinning like a nightmare come to life, his arm slung casually around Charlie's shoulder.
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"You..." I uttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
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The doppelgänger's sharp, yellow eyes flicked towards Charlie as it spoke, disdain dripping from every word. "Pathetic, isn't it? These feeble creatures dare to worry about us, their superiors."
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"Get your hands off him!" I shouted, trying to mask the quiver in my voice.
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With a smirk that sent shivers down my spine, the doppelgänger turned its attention back to me. "How can I resist?" it taunted, inching closer to Charlie, its mouth grotesquely widening until it seemed capable of swallowing a human whole.
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In a sickening display, its jaw dislocated and its skin tore apart, revealing a gaping maw ready to consume Charlie's head. My mind raced, adrenaline surging through my veins as I braced myself for something I really didn't want to see. 175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMBT0ZA9RL
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"Stop!" I bellowed, charging forward with every intention of decking my doppelgänger in its grotesque face.
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But as I closed the distance, reality began to shift back into place. Colors returned to the landscape, and my evil twin dissolved before my eyes, leaving behind the bewildered face of my friend Charlie, now returned to normal.
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"Boss?" Charlie exclaimed, confusion etched on his features.
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"Uh-oh," I muttered, realizing I couldn't halt my momentum.
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With a crash, I collided with Charlie, and we both tumbled to the ground, limbs entangled.
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Groaning, I pushed myself upright, my hands inadvertently landing on something soft and yielding. Opening my eyes, I found myself pressing down on Charlie's stomach, his expression dazed and barely coherent.
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"Uh, sorry," I muttered, scrambling to my feet. "You alright, buddy?" I asked, receiving no response. "Guess not."
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***
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"Are you sure you're okay, Boss?" Charlie trailed behind me, his tone laced with concern.
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"For the hundredth time, I'm fine," I snapped, rolling my eyes. "Ask me again, and you'll get a punch with your name on it."
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"No thanks," Charlie muttered, his irritation palpable. "You tackling me to the ground is enough for one day. And can you tell me again why you decided to give me the biggest bruise?"
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I hesitated, scratching my head as I searched for a plausible explanation. "I was just testing your reflexes," I declared, straightening up and pointing a finger at the boys. "And let me tell you, you all failed."
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"Failed?" they echoed in unison.
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"Yep, failed," I reiterated, adopting a know-it-all demeanor. "You've gotta keep your guard up at all times, never let it down. To do otherwise is just asking for trouble, got it?" I barked.
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"Yes, sir!" they chorused obediently.
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"Good," I thought, relieved that my little ruse seemed to have worked. But a glance at Charlie told me he wasn't buying it. Stubborn bastard.
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It took only a few moments to get to class, and just like always, the teacher scolded us before allowing us to take our seats.
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I sat down at my desk, hoping for a moment of peace, but that hope was quickly shattered by the most annoying voice.
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"You smell," came the taunt from beside me, and I turned to see Hazel glaring at me as if she held some kind of grudge.
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"Excuse me?" I said, feeling my anger rising.
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"You stink," she repeated, her eyes twitching with anger.
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I couldn't fathom why she was trying to start something with me. Usually, I was the instigator, but today, it seemed, she had taken the lead.
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"You want to start something, Hunt?" I whispered, the tension crackling between us.
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Hazel said nothing, her gaze sharp as if she were truly ready to throw down..
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"Excuse me, am I interrupting your little discussion?" Ms. Gamble's voice cut through the tension, pulling my attention away from Hazel.
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I shifted my gaze to the left, where Ms. Gamble stood, her stern expression bearing down on us. "First you're late, Mr. Norton, and now you're disrupting my class?" she scolded, her eyes flicking to Hazel. "And you, Hunt. Do you really think it's wise to cause trouble this early into your transfer?"
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"Sorry, ma'am," Hunt muttered sheepishly.
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"Detention for both of you," Ms. Gamble declared before returning to her lesson.
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"Dammit," I cursed under my breath, shooting a glance at Hazel, who was still glaring at me. But something about her seemed off. Maybe it was the glare from the sun shining through the window, but her eyes appeared to be glowing yellow.
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I blinked, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling creeping over me. Surely, my mind was just playing tricks on me. Hazel's eyes couldn't actually be glowing yellow, could they?
***
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Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
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