~You can never really trust your friends wholeheartedly, but some already can be trusted on first try.~

Saved From Disaster

Elise

One month has passed. The school seems to be hard on me, but suddenly, I have a boy I guess decided to be my friend, besides the girls. He's named Ash. Ash Reynolds.

Yeah, yeah I know. Relationships, don't jump in, all that. I just don't see that it's happening. I reserve the right to decide that for myself, I'm eighteen, for God's sake. We share common interests and many other things.

My parents think otherwise. Well... it is my FIRST 'relationship' if you really persist in calling it one. Maybe it's because we talk too much sometimes. However, I have tried to make way to chat with him or video call him on many occasions now, and it's becoming pretty much a habit. I don't know why I'd do all these for a boy, but he just seems to be there whenever I need him.

"Class stand!" My class chairperson, Elrond, gave the cue for us to greet our English Teacher, Miss Bailey. Discreetly greeting her with enunciation because she emphasised on it many times, she allowed us to sit. I took out my English Notebook and my homework, opening up my MacBook to do some random things on Wattpad... write, or read. I prefer reading on the app to the website, however. I hate scrolling when reading. I prefer to have the paging option, it's like reading a real book, just electronically.

Somehow, whatever is happening in this class is just giving me more inspiration to write. Another Michael Jackson Fanfiction...

"Miss Bailey! Elise is not paying attention and doing some I don't know what is that on her computer!" Zayn stood up and announced, as I slammed my laptop screen down in frustration.

"You can start scolding me if you want, but I was just waiting. No harm done." Miss Bailey understood, but she gave me a stern warning, "I hope there won't be a next time for this. Please be more focused."

I acknowledged her with a curt nod. Lying back on my chair, I let my head rest on my hands of which were holding on to it. I felt so tired, of which I could not really focus. I just felt like moving around and not stay in one place. Such is the typical life of a kinesthetic learner...

Suddenly, my eyes met with Ash's. He winked at me, and I was taken aback. Why am I reacting to him so much?

Well, at least I had some form of entertainment from time to time.

***

"Ash!" I called. Ash stopped in his tracks, not moving. He turned around and saw me. He was about to walk away, but I was then pulled back from walking to him.

"Looks like the girl has found a boyfriend!" Shane and Joshua Otis... brothers to be reckoned.

"Someone help me!" I cried as I was beaten up relentlessly. Another target for the bullies. How weak can I be?

"Who cares about your Michael Jackson talk, who cares about your 'inspiring' speeches, who cares about you?" Why are they doing this to me? What happened to the student's minds?

"Hey, stop it, will you?" Ash?

"The boyfriend decided to save his damsel in distress, amazing!" Ash never said a word. He did a double sweep and left Joshua and Shane on the floor. He helped me up, caring for my wounds.

"You okay?" I nodded.

"I'm here for you now, Elise. There's nothing to fear." I held his hand, and we left the school.

On the way home, I found out he was opposed to Michael, but he was fine. He didn't judge me, and he was like the angel of my dreams.

The days after, we hanged out often, playing games together and talking. Like real friends. We even consulted each other on our various problems. Such a life felt like a fantasy to me, but now it was playing out in real life. What else could I wish for?

***

"Elise, you do know that my love to you, is true and real, yes?" Ash spoke to me in my backyard. I found out he lived a few houses down the street, and I let him into my backyard quite often, hidden in the shroud of trees from my parents.

"I do, Ash." I had no qualms about this. I liked him in every way.

"I want you to not love anyone but me." Of course, I won't, its why I love you.

"Of course." Ash smiled and kissed me on the cheek. We held hands and looked at the beautiful sunset. As night fell, Ash left for home to finish his homework, leaving me to think over my next step.

But it was only a month later that I had been taught that he was using me.

***

"Elise, who's this boy?" Oh no... I intended to tell them when the relationship was more stable...

"This guy has been cheating on you." CHEATING? HOW IS THAT CHEATING?

"Can't you see the way he writes these messages? You have been blinded by love. You think he loves you, but he's just using you. He will dump you after he's got what he wants, and you will be left crying." My father scolded.

He scolded me...

However, I re-read the messages as he said, and realised what I've done.

I had let him cheat on me. I was in the wrong.

"So who's gonna settle, you or me?" Father..... He took my phone and sent a warning message to Ash.

"Be careful tomorrow." He passed me my phone.

Why do I feel so heartbroken?

But Father was right.

***

"Thank you and goodbye Miss Ellen!" Everyone left the school after the bell rang. I was just about to see what Ash was doing. I found a few texts from this early morning from Ash. I read them carefully and realised they were threats in a riddle-like manner.

It was when I saw Ash walking with Mira together.

I'll just return to the way I was... and forget everything...

But why can't I? What is this empty feeling? Is it because I lost him? I kept looking back at him hoping he would still glance back, but he never did.

"I can't hold it back anymore." The two turned to see me, and my fists were already clenched, waiting to strike. I was just wondering...

Why must there be people that I had to do this to?

"I haven't used my fist in millennia... however, you deserve to be punched." All I could hear was bones cracking as Ash fell to the ground.

"You... you punched Ash! I will report you!" Report?

I wonder... why am I acting this way? And Mira, why would you want to get in the way of justice?

* * *

"Elise, you and Ash are receiving detention. You get an hour, he gets a day." I and Ash were sitting together in the detention room - I felt irritated by his presence.

"I can't be bothered. Bring me to another room." The teacher shook his head, and I moved my seat to the back. I took out my phone and texted my mother saying I would be late today. I received a reply, and I knew she was ok.

"You know, it was fun to see you so disheartened. It fuels my heart. Next, I will cheat on Mira." Ash spoke when the teacher left.

"Aren't you meticulous. I was good to expose you, thanks to my parent's help." Ash only laughed, and the teacher came back to see me holding my phone.

"Extra hour of detention, Elise." Damn it. Another hour with that freak.

"Ain't it great, to make the person I cheated on suffer along with me." You punk...

"Shut up." I took out my book and read. I didn't want to bother myself with him. Somehow, he emitted a weird feeling and I just hated it.

Like some dark power.

"You feel like a monster to me. Really, Ash, what are you?" I was always delving into the paranormal, but to have such stinging cold feelings from Ash alone, I can't help but ask.

"So you can feel it?" Ash growled lowly, as I rose from reading my book to see the teacher assassinated. Instead of seeing another murderer, I saw Ash hovering above me, his red eyes visible.

"So you are really the chosen one. Lord Xandor was right. Being human, yet you can sense my presence. I must bring you to him... he is waiting." He covered my mouth and then started exposing me to some unknown vapour, which was intoxicating. I fell to the ground as he scooped me up in his arms ready to leave, but a blinding light suddenly lit up the whole detention room, causing Ash to fall back, and cover his face, while I stared at the figure enveloped in that light...

Elise? Are you okay? 

WHO?! NOW WHAT? SOME GUY WHO CAN SPEAK IN SOMEONE'S MIND?

"Ash Reynolds, we have waited long for you to reveal your powers. We just didn't know where you were." Who was he? He knew a lot of things...

"Oh really? Michael Jackson, Seventh Captain of Heaven. It's unimaginable you would come down all the way just to face me, wouldn't you? Who's this girl to you, huh? She's important to my Master, not you. " Michael... Jackson?

Michael turned to see me, and I saw his face clearly now, the vapour didn't take any other effect. It... was Michael...

How did he get younger?

"I will answer everything when I finish this Fallen. For now, stay back, and don't move." Holding a sword, he sliced off the arms from Ash, and then his legs, leaving Ash defenceless.

"You can't regenerate now..." Michael confidently says, but Ash's expression turned even more sinister.

"You will never be able to stop us if you're so weak." Ash taunts Michael, miraculously standing back up. His limbs grew back, and before Michael could do anything, he vanished.

It was just me and Michael left in the detention room, the corpse of the assassinated teacher still as grotesque as it is.

"Speak to me, Elise. It's okay." Michael... Michael...

"MICHAEL!!!" I ran over to him and felt his warmth once I embraced him. His armour was no more, neither was his sword.

"I missed you! No... not just me, every fan does! What brought you here? How are you still alive?" I cried, holding him tightly to just make sure he was not an illusion.

"I can't answer that... but I saw you in danger and came down to save you. What I do want you to know, though... is that I'm now immortal, incapable of dying. You can't speak a word of my new eternal life, or else time and space will change forever." He speaks ever so softly, so gently, yet his words bring a tone of seriousness.

"I understand about you trying not to let them know you're still alive... But what about me? There are so many people out there who are starving, who are dying from unnecessary wars and illnesses! Why am I, an unworthy person, being saved?" I protest, for I do know people out there are more worthy than me to save.

"Elise, you do realise how Ash just became a real monster in front of you, or do you think that a nightmare, that disappeared in seconds?" He reminds me of the incident that just took place, an incident that no one would ever believe, except those involved.

"He... Ash, he really was a monster. You called him... a Fallen, didn't you?"

"Yes, Ash is a Fallen. A race of supernatural beings, of dark and evil origin. You've seen him at such a young age, so terribly young. This will complicate your life now, Elise, and I'm sent to protect you against future threats like these."

"I... I don't understand a thing! This new alternate world... overlooking our Earth... I don't know a thing about it, yet I am suddenly exposed to it, all because of a coincidental incident! Michael, taken aback, regained his composure quickly.

"I guess some things need more time to digest, but before we do anything..." Michael lowers his body to the dead teacher and closes his eyes. The body disappears into small fragments of light and disappears. The atmosphere of the room felt less gloomy, less scary. In fact, it just felt like the normal room it was.

Now, let's find a place for me to explain things to you, shall we?" Michael held his hand out, and I held it, as we set out to find a place in school, away from everyone.

~Author's Note~

I apologize for the late update! Many things have been going on lately and I needed a desperate plot change, didn't want the book to be boring for you guys! So well, let's wait for the next chapter, shall we?