Threads of Deceit

Jahanox sat beside Zazm on the rooftop, the sun nearly reaching its zenith, casting a warm glow over them.

The air was thick with anticipation, earlier the clouds covered the sky and it felt like it will rain but now they sky was becoming clear again.

Zazm and Jahanox sat with their backs leaned against a wall. A comfortable silence enveloped them, but it was soon broken by Jahanox's thoughtful voice.

"What do you think? Why is it that our threads are unstable?" he asked, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the clouds had begun to part, revealing patches of blue sky.

Zazm stayed quiet for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. The question hung in the air, heavy with uncertainty. Finally, he sighed, resting his chin on his hand. "That's the worst part… I have no idea about it."

"Come on, you could at least think of something," Jahanox urged, hitting him on the back of his head.

Zazm tapped his hand on his chin, pretending to think deeply, his carefree demeanor slipping back into place.

"The only thing I can think of is that it's something related to these marks," he said, glancing at the tight shirt that covered the intricate design on his hand.

Jahanox raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Are you dumb? I know that it has something to do with it. Otherwise, you would be schizophrenic."

Zazm let out a laugh, the sound bright and infectious. "Yeah, you're right…" He paused, his expression shifting to one of contemplation.

"Then the only thing that comes to mind is that the reason our threads are like this is because of our abilities."

Jahanox nodded, his expression serious. "I think so too. As you said, my threads keep disappearing and reappearing. But does that happen to yours?"

Zazm shook his head, a hint of confusion crossing his features. "No, it doesn't."

Jahanox caught onto the implication, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Then that's our cue. Maybe yours doesn't do that because you've somewhat discovered what your mark can do.

And maybe the reason mine are like this is because I still don't know what mine can do."

Zazm jumped up suddenly, excitement coursing through him. "You're right! I think that makes sense! Our threads are extremely unstable, but if one were to look closely, it feels like mine are slightly more stable."

He began to pace back and forth, his mind racing. "So if we find out more about these powers, we can understand it!"

Jahanox stood up as well, his expression shifting from contemplation to determination. "Exactly! We need to experiment more"

Zazm's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Let's start right now! We can test our abilities and see how they affect our threads. Maybe we can even find a way to communicate with them!"

Jahanox nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Yeah! Let's do it. We'll meet up after school and start working on this. I have a feeling we will find something out now."

******

Zazm walked with his hands in his pockets, his bag carefreely hanging on edge of his shoulder, beside him walked a boy with nearly combed hair, he held a book in his hand.

"Hey Nox, Whatcha reading?" Zazm glanced at Jahanox who was immersed in some type of book. Jahanox closed the book and put it back in his bag.

"Nothing, I was just preparing for exams." Zazm let out a mocking laught, "Heh~ There are still like 3 months. Why are you preparing so early?"

"I just have a feeling... We are going to get real busy." Jahanox replied Zazm in a thoughtful tone. Zazm understood what he meant, they won't be able to focus much on studies because of their research on these marks.

Zazm was lost in thought before he suddenly stopped, and started to turn towards a wall on his left.

"Why did you stop?" Jahanox stop and followed beside Zazm, he looked at where Zazm was looking and he saw a white cat sitting on top of the wall, licking it's paw.

"That cat" Zazm spoke in a light tone, his demeanor which was extremely carefree up until a moment ago. For some reason now felt slightly sad.

"What about it? Don't tell me you fell for a cat or something." Jahanox started making fun of him but Zazm didn't say anything, he silently stared at the seemingly beautiful cat before he continued.

"It's going to die soon... It's threads they are fluctuating." Jahanox froze for a second trying to comprehend what he had just heard.

"What? Wait wait ... What makes you say that?" Zazm didn't move his gaze from the cat, "you remember, I told you sometimes the threads randomly disappears?"

At his words Jahanox nodded. "That's because the person from whom those threads were flowing left this world. It isn't different to understand that." Zazm's tone can easily be seen filled with concern.

Jahanox was surprised at his words, "So you mean the fluctuating of threads mean, the being they were flowing out of is going to die? And how do you kn--" Jahanox was still speaking before he was interrupted.

"I just know. It's one of those things you know, when you see them." Zazm looked back at Jahanox, who momentarily froze upon hearing his words.

Zazm put his hands back in his pockets and started walking away, he turned back to find his friend still standing there, "Nox, let's go."

"Zazm... If we know it's gonna die.. shouldn't we try to save it?" Jahanox voice was filled with concern and at his words Zazm simply smiled.

"No! We can't. I don't know anything about this weird power of whatever but one thing that I'm sure of is my knowledge, that I gained from several books always told me never to try and change the future."

"But we don't even understand time ourselves and those are just hypothesis. We can t--" Jahanox was slowly loosing his calm demeanor before Zazm raised a hand Infront him.

"Ok say we try to save this cat and while trying to catch it, it starts running and gets hit by a car and dies. Would you take the responsibility?"

Jahanox clenched his fists at his words, he knew Zazm was right this was also a possibility and he didn't have anything to say, he was simply speechless.

Jahanox started moving again following behind Zazm. The two continued to move through the streets, a solemn silence filled the air between them. Jahanox spoke breaking the silence

"You know... You've taken a big responsibility upon yourself." His tone was filled with concern and worry.

He knew a kind hearted person like Zazm must be feeling hurt right now but if he saw the threads of a human fluctuating, he will be more worried at the thought of not being able to do anything.

"You are worried that, how will I react when I'll see the threads of a human, right?" Jahanox looked at Zazm in total surprise. Zazm gave him a slight smirk.

"2.... This morning, I saw 2 people whose threads were also fluctuating." Jahanox face turned pale, it wasn't an easy thing to be able to know when someone will die and to live with that burden.

"But it doesn't affect me, you think I'm a nice person but truth be told, I couldn't care less what happens to others. I've been like this, since, I was a kid." Zazm spoke in a serious tone and he wasn't lying about it.

To him only those people mattered that were close to him that rest of the people can die for all he cares. "I'm just a guy who pretends to be nice, unlike you I couldn't care less about what happens to others..."

Zazm smiled slightly but it felt like his smile was directed towards non other than himself, "I'm just a hypocrite."

Zazm words contained a deep sorrow and a long story. Jahanox put his hand on Zazm's shoulder which caught him off guard, "But aren't we all pretending? Aren't we all hypocrites trying to fit in between others?"

Zazm looked at him with a surprised look, "Yeah! I know you good enough to know you don't care about others and I think that is exactly why you are fit to control a power such as this.

I don't think, I could keep my cool if I knew someone was going to die and couldn't do anything. Be it whatever it can be, but you are strong enough to carry this burden."

Zazm was shocked by the words of his friend, who was now slightly smiling. He looked at the sky pulling his hands out of his pockets and then...

Slapp

He slapped Jahanox's hand away from his shoulder, "Don't touch me with the same hands you touch kids with." He spoke in a mocking tone.

Jahanox got pissed at his words, "The fuck you mean touch kids? Here I'm trying to be nice and you are making me a pedo?"

"Making you one? You act like one" Zazm said in a frustrated tone.

"Oh! I think I understand, just because you got a little supery dupery power you think you are some big shot, you wanna go?" Jahanox said in an amused tone.

"You bet but I'll Kick you ass"

The two friends continued to walk while arguing the atmosphere between them returned to the casual chill air. The mysteries around them waiting to be uncovered and the story waiting to be heard.

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