I am the creator of New Life on the Earth
Chapter 121: Sudden Call

Chapter 121: Sudden Call

Adam sat on the edge of his bed, his phone buzzing in his hand. The name flashing on the screen stopped him in his tracks—Ani.

It had been a while since he had heard from her. His eyes narrowed as a flood of memories rushed back.

The recent chaos with the commissioners—their captured member, the mental injury inflicted on another—all played in his mind like a fragmented reel.

A faint scowl crossed his face as he recalled the moment he had saved Ani from countless horrors, only to forget explaining his situation afterward.

The phone continued to buzz. He hesitated for a second, letting out a frustrated sigh. Should I answer? He couldn’t ignore the call forever. Gathering his thoughts, he swiped the screen and pressed the phone to his ear.

"Hello, Ani," he said, his voice a mix of calm and exhaustion.

The familiar voice on the other end cut through his defenses. "Finally!" Ani exclaimed. "You’ve picked up. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve been trying to reach you? You weren’t answering!"

Adam winced. He’d been avoiding her calls, not intentionally, but because the weight of recent events had consumed him entirely. He opened his mouth to apologize, but Ani didn’t let him speak.

"I need to see you," she continued, her tone firm yet tinged with urgency. "Right now."

The insistence in her voice left no room for negotiation. Adam sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair.

"Okay," he replied, his tone steady despite the chaotic thoughts in his mind. "I’ll come."

The line disconnected with a soft click, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He stared at the phone in his hand for a moment, as if it held answers to questions he hadn’t yet asked.

---

Adam set the phone down, only to feel a soft breeze near his face. He looked up to see Sona and Tayo—two of his tiny companions—hovering before him, their delicate wings shimmering faintly in the dim light.

Tayo fluttered silently, his serious demeanor a stark contrast to Sona’s mischievous grin.

Sona crossed her arms, tilting her head as she scolded him playfully.

"Lord Adam," she began, a teasing lilt in her voice, "even after five whole years, you still haven’t managed to find yourself a girlfriend. How tragic!"

Adam’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. "It hasn’t been five years!" he retorted, flustered. "It’s barely been a few days here!"

Sona burst into laughter, her golden hair catching the light as she twirled mid-air. Tayo, meanwhile, shook his head, clearly unimpressed by her antics.

Moments later, Sona’s laughter faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "But honestly, things around here seem... off. The situation feels tense."

Adam nodded, his face hardening. "It’s not as serious as it was before. We’ve managed to stabilize some of the chaos, but..."

He paused, his gaze drifting to the horizon outside the window. "Other holders are still out there. When they fully awaken, they’ll bring destruction unlike anything we’ve faced."

Sona frowned, her tiny brows furrowing. "And what will you tell Miss Ani?"

"The truth," Adam replied firmly. "She deserves to know everything." His voice softened as he glanced at his companions. "You two are coming with me."

Sona’s face lit up with excitement. "Of course! I’ve always wanted to meet Miss Ani!"

Without another word, the two tiny beings flitted toward Adam’s shoulders, perching themselves comfortably.

Their small but steady presence offered him a peculiar sense of reassurance as he prepared for the confrontation ahead.

Sona’s teleportation skill activated in a shimmer of light, enveloping the trio. In an instant, they were transported to Ani’s room. The shift was seamless but disorienting, and Adam took a moment to steady himself.

The room was dimly lit, its walls lined with soft pastel hues. Ani sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes fixed on her phone, her brows furrowed in concentration.

She hadn’t changed out of her outdoor clothes, and the faint traces of dust on her jacket told him she had only just returned.

To her right, sitting in a chair near a study table, was her elder sister, Yami.

A bandage wrapped around Yami’s head spoke of a recent injury, and she appeared weak but alert. Her gaze shifted between Ani and the room, as if lost in thought.

The sudden arrival of Adam, Sona, and Tayo startled them both.

Ani and Yami jumped in unison, their eyes widening in surprise. Ani quickly recovered, standing to her feet as recognition dawned.

"Adam," she breathed, her voice soft but steady. She approached him cautiously, her gaze scanning his face and posture.

She could see the exhaustion etched into his features, the faint lines of strain that hinted at battles fought and wounds endured.

Yami, meanwhile, stayed seated, watching the scene unfold with quiet curiosity. She seemed to sense the gravity of the situation but chose to remain silent for now.

Ani stepped closer, her expression shifting from surprise to concern. "You’ve... been through a lot, haven’t you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Adam didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he glanced at the room around him.

The soft teddies stacked on the bed, the faint scent of lavender lingering in the air, and the faint hum of a ceiling fan—it all felt so mundane compared to the chaos he had just left behind.

Yami stood from her chair, moving toward the bed to clear some space.

She picked up the soft toys and set them aside, motioning for Adam to sit. "You look like you need to rest," she said simply, her tone matter-of-fact.

Adam hesitated but eventually sat down. Ani joined him, sitting close enough that he could feel the warmth of her presence.

For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily between them.

Ani’s concern for Adam was evident in her eyes, but she didn’t know where to start. All she knew was that Adam had come, not just at her call but to protect them, and that realization filled her with a mixture of gratitude and guilt.

The room was steeped in a tense, yet oddly warm atmosphere. Ani sat right next to Adam, her gaze fixed intently on him.

Her delicate features betrayed an undercurrent of worry, her eyes scanning every inch of his face and form.

Adam, slouched slightly in his seat, looked utterly drained. His disheveled hair and the faint shadows under his eyes painted a picture of a man who had been through hell.

Ani’s fingers trembled slightly as she reached out, gently placing her hand over Adam’s. Her touch was warm, hesitant, yet full of concern.

The simple act startled Adam, his eyes widening in surprise. Across from them, Ani’s elder sister, Yami, watched the exchange with equal astonishment.

Looking directly into Adam’s eyes, Ani spoke in a soft, almost trembling voice. "Are you okay?"

For a moment, Adam hesitated, caught off guard by the sincerity in her voice. Then, with a shy, reassuring smile, he replied, "Yes, I’m fine."

But Ani wasn’t done. Her grip on his hand tightened slightly as she said, "I need to tell you something."

Adam’s expression shifted. He straightened up, sensing the weight of her words. "I need to tell you something too," he said, his voice low but firm.

Before either could continue, Yami let out a small laugh, breaking the tension. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned forward, resting a hand on Adam’s shoulder.

"I think you should hear Ani out first," she teased, her tone light but tinged with meaning. "It’s rare for her to open up to anyone. You must hold a special place in her heart for her to do this."

Adam blinked, stunned by Yami’s blunt words, but a faint smile tugged at his lips. Warmth spread through his chest, a feeling he hadn’t allowed himself to dwell on in years.

He nodded towards Yami, then turned his attention back to Ani. "Alright," he said softly. "You first."

---

Ani took a deep breath, her gaze flickering nervously between Adam’s face and their intertwined hands. She swallowed hard, her throat dry, before finally beginning.

"A few years ago," she started, her voice trembling slightly, "I was studying at a different school. Back then, I wasn’t as reserved as I am now. I had friends... a lot of them. Life felt... normal."

Her words carried a nostalgic ache, but Adam could sense the storm brewing beneath them. His brow furrowed as he listened, his hand tightening around hers in silent support.

"One day, a friend of mine told me that a boy in our class, Zora, had feelings for me. I thought it was silly—just one of those harmless crushes teenagers have. I didn’t take it seriously and brushed it off."

Ani paused, her shoulders trembling as she relived the memory. Adam’s heart ached at the sight of her vulnerability. He wanted to speak, to reassure her, but he knew she needed to let it out.

"At first, it was just... odd glances in class. Then he started following me around, always appearing wherever I went. I didn’t think much of it, but soon, it became impossible to ignore."

Her voice broke slightly, and Yami, who had been quiet until now, clenched her fists. Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t interrupt, allowing Ani to continue.

"One day, he followed me all the way to my house." Ani’s voice dropped to a whisper, and Adam felt a jolt of anger flare within him. His mind raced back to his earlier encounter with Zora, the searing hatred he’d felt, the satisfaction of using his Nightmare ability to torment the man.

"He didn’t stop there. He began isolating me. One by one, my friends stopped talking to me. They avoided me altogether. And finally..." Her voice cracked, and tears welled up in her eyes. "One day, when I was alone at school, he cornered me."

Adam’s fists clenched. His teeth ground together as rage surged through him. The vivid image of Zora’s face flashed in his mind, fueling his anger further.

"I don’t know how, but I managed to escape. I ran straight home and locked myself in my room. I didn’t tell anyone for days. I stopped going to school altogether."

---

Yami, unable to contain herself any longer, cut in. Her voice was sharp, dripping with fury. "She wouldn’t leave the house after that. I noticed her withdrawal and tried to get her to talk. Eventually, after much persistence, she broke down and told me everything."

Adam’s head whipped towards Yami, his expression darkening. Her voice wavered as she continued, "Our parents wanted to file a police report, but the school convinced them otherwise. They said it would only harm Ani’s mental health further."

Adam’s rage boiled over, his hands trembling with the effort to keep himself calm. He looked at Ani, her tear-streaked face filled with lingering fear and sadness, and then back at Yami, who shared the same fiery anger he felt.

A suffocating silence fell over the room, broken only by the faint hum of the ceiling fan. Adam took a deep, steadying breath, his mind racing with thoughts of vengeance.

For the first time in years, he felt something more than just anger—he felt protective.

And in that moment, he silently vowed that Zora would pay.

---

To be continued...