12 – The Charmed.

Bart had no words to describe what was happening.

Mallory Nelson, Eldridge College's Ice Maiden and prodigious role model of the student body, walked up to him with an impish smile on her lips. The reason for her actions was because there was an individual that her fancy was piqued on: the hulking, twistedly-shaped creature standing right next to Bart.

The entity that as far as Bart was aware, is visible only to him.

Mallory stopped in front of the creature and Bart, her feet lined together as she looked up. She stared at the beastly thing as though she was laying her eyes on an abandoned puppy. The creature craned its head down and gazed back at Mallory even though there were no eyes on its crudely-formed face.

Mallory removed the white gloves on her slender hands. She reached out to the creature  -

And to Bart's wide-eyed bewilderment, she touched its hands. Her fingers pressed upon its menacing claws and ran along its scaly skin. The entity growled but didn't react in the slightest.

"Ah.."

In his wildered state, Bart was entranced. He couldn't take his eyes off the girl acquainting herself with the monster beside him. Mallory's lips glistened in the afternoon light as she spoke flirtatiously.

"Such pretty, glistening scales... they look like small swords all clumped together.."

Mallory gazed at the being from every direction.

"A body riddled in blades... giant claws that could rip and tear at fragile human flesh.. a hulking shape so humanesque.. a face that shows no windows to the soul..."

Mallory snickered. "What a mockery of humanity, this demon is."

"... y...you can see it?"

Mallory turned to Bart - the boy, paled by his own shock and body trembling. Her smile crept up in an inhuman light.

"... of course." Mallory gently tilted her head. "I'm special, after all."

The being slowly shifted its head to Bart. Its soundless appearance didn't clear the unease in the air.

Neither did the chill that told Bart it'd be pointless to discuss it out in the open.

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Mallory Nelson asked him to come with her. She didn't even have to think twice about that request.

"Don't you worry. I'll tell you what you need to know. It will be my treat," said the girl after she wore her gloves again. She smiled and walked ahead of him.

"W..wait.... " Bart felt the urge to check his phone. His eyes fell on the digital clock past the lockscreen.

As he thought, it wasn't even dismissal time yet.

"S ... shouldn't you still be in class right now?" asked Bart. Mallory shifted towards Bart with one heel in turn, holding her handbag from the back.

"I'll skip today. Not as if they'll miss me that much when I'm gone."

Mallory winked - and she was soon moving so far ahead, Bart doubted she'd listen to his protests at this rate.

This girl must be used to doing what she wants.

She's definitely not going to listen to anyone but herself.

<..I have a bad feeling about this...>

Despite the growing unease that Bart felt, he followed. He didn't really have a much of a choice.

He needed answers.

Mallory Nelson eventually led Bart to a secluded cafe south-west of Eldridge. It was a place with a faded, hanging sign post that read "SoulStride Savories' in fancy ancient lettering and the symbol of a steaming coffee cup above it. Upon entering, only two or three of the many tables inside the warm-lighted cafe were occupied - the occupants being lone drinkers or reviewing students from other universities in the area. Mallory quickly darted to a table for two on the far end of the cafe..

... and sure enough, outside their window, the entity stood there. Watching them as they found their seats.

Bart ignored the creature and glanced at the barista by the cafe counter - a blonde-haired guy in a modest apron that hosted the cafe's emblem, cleaning cups with a small towel. He had the looks that women would undeniably flock to. Coincidentally, the barista and him met glances. The barista smiled at him and nodded.

"He's gay by the way."

Bart jolted his head away at the comment from Mallory. "You know him, Miss Nelson?"

"For a while now, yes. I've been looking for a place that won't cause a fuss when I'm around. Luckily for me, only a handful of students from our school are aware that this place exists. Although, I can't say the same thing for teachers or faculty members."

Mallory suddenly turned to Bart. "Are you worried someone might recognize me here and call me out for not being at school?"

Bart slightly ducked his head. "... obviously. I don't wan't people thinking I'm coercing someone like you to cut classes."

...

"The rumours really do you injustice, Bart Owens."

Mallory smiled at him. Not in the eerie way as before.. but in the same warmth as the smile she gave him that morning.

Bart fell quiet as menus were handed to him and Mallory by a passing waitress. Ordering for a capuccino, he looked over to Mallory. "... I can pay for myself, really," he said in a low voice. Since the bullying earlier was foiled, he had his money back.

Mallory wagged a finger at him.

"I insist. I'll order that for you." She points at a part of the menu for the waitress to see. "I'll have the cafe au lait. And get me some strawberry shortcake for me and him, please."

Blushing, the waitress left with the menu boards, Mallory waving at her.

"Even women are enamored by you, Miss Nelson."

Bart realized too late that he said that out loud. Hearing this, Mallory snickered. "I take that as a compliment. Also... can you please drop the formalities? I prefer being called as an equal."

"..o...okay."

Bart adjusted himself in his seat. "M.. Mallory."

Mallory's eyes zoned in on Bart. She had the exact countenance of interest when she first saw Bart's monster-stalker.

"Yes, Bart?"

Bart had a feeling she was waiting for his question. He didn't want to waste any time on asking them. "How are you able to see? Moreover... how are you able to touch 'it' when normally, people just phase through it like it doesn't even exist?"

Mallory rested her elbows on the table and crossed her fingers. "It's because 'it' exists to us, and us alone."

"..w...what do you mean?"

A grin crept up on Mallory's lips. She rests her back against her chair and pushed her hair aside. "It really does seem like you haven't gone over what your little friend is about. I can't blame you. You're probably still traumatized by what happened yesterday."

"Traumatized? I don't -"

In that same moment, Bart recalled something. A thought he had been pushing back on the depths of his mind.

"!!"

"You mean...."

"Yes. The fainting during the night of the Black Cross Festival," Mallory stated with quaint seriousness in her tone. "As far as I can remember...you were the only case caught live on Chitter feed. Pity they deleted the postings on social media in a matter of hours. Though...they never were able to cover the tracks of the others that followed.

"....others?"

Bart's trembling voice seemed to hint his confusion. Mallory didn't flinch from her seating as she responded. "You weren't the only one who fainted that night, Bart."

Mallory raised a finger, as if to count.

"Let me list it out for you. You ..stared at the lunar eclipse that night. You felt an overwhelming, otherworldy feeling root you to where you were standing. And all of the sudden, without any warning or provocation -"

"...I caught fire."

Bart tensed as he held the wrist of his bandaged left hand. "A part of my body... caught fire."

From the outside, the entity moved its head towards Bart. It growled, but uttered nothing.

Mallory stood. She leaned forward on the table...and reached for Bart's bandaged hand. She stared at it and ran her fingers on his palm - pressing at the center where the gateway mark was. Bart felt a sudden rush of pain.

"So it's this hand, then."

Bart pulled his hand away, red in the face.

"W-W-What are you doing??"

Bart soon noticed the other patrons of the cafe glancing at him. Embarrassed, he shrunk to his seat and dropped his head. Mallory raised both her hands and lowered her head as well.

"Apologies. Curiosity got the better of me."

"I...It's fine." Bart cleared his throat. "...s...so you're saying...I wasn't the only one who experienced that supposed delusion?"

"Well... I wouldn't call it a delusion, myself."

Mallory gazed fondly at Bart. "Those exact things...happened to me, too."

Bart's eyes felt like they would pop from its sockets.

"May I?"

Mallory extended a hand out. She was asking permission for his hand, as far as he can tell. Bart was reluctant to do so...but since they were already telling each other what they knew of the matter.. might as well spill the beans.

Bart placed his hand on the table. "Here."

He expected she would unwrap the bandages. She would've wanted to look at the thing she felt when she pressed his palm : the burn shaped like the sigil of an ancient gateway. Sure enough, Mallory lifted the bandaged hand..

And Bart witnessed the girl unbuttoning the upper portion of her college uniform. A glimpse of her chest came into the boy's line of sight. He tried to look away.

"...W-WAIT, WHAT ARE Y- !!"

Bart's eyes grew as he witnessed his hands led past the unbuttoned clothing and towards a section of Mallory's chest. She forced his fingers to rest there and the feeling sank into his head. The bare warmth of a woman. The soft skin of the opposite sex -

This was wrong, no matter what the circumstance --

"!!"

He stopped.

"Do you feel it, Bart?"

The question Mallory asked... Bart was too caught up in shock to even respond. He realized what she wanted to show him.

Something in that place Mallory made him touch.. was unmistakably similar to his own.

Three swirls on the center. Two vertical lines under a horizontal one, housing the triad of swirling symbols. Several wavey line and lines he could make out as fire.

The same burn in the form of a Gate Sigil...was on Mallory Nelson's chest.

Bart's vision wandered - and he saw, clear as day.

Standing right beside Mallory...was another Mallory

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NOTE: Hi ho! Author here. So, surprise surprise. Bart is not the only victim of the Black Cross Fest incident. Seems like there are others...and like Mallory, they too, have that same mark. Who is that other Mallory that Bary saw? Could it possibly be...? 

I really hope my stories reach you as best as I could. Also, have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know. I'll be sure to read your inputs. Stay tuned! xD