Prelude

It's was an early morning. A calm morning, just like every other one...preferably. The pale orange light from street lanterns shone through the windows of the train carriage at regular intervals. With it came the low sound of iron wheels running smoothly on iron tracks, a sound ebbing and flowing like a barely audible hypnotizing chant. Outside, the first few rays of light started appearing from behind the horizon. It would be morning soon... But for now it was still night for all he cared. And night is not a pleasant time to wake up. Ah well... Just grin and bear it.
The first high corporate buildings started appearing just when the train started slowing down. Groaning slowly and blinking several times Ryu started to wake up. A hatefull feeling really. "Are we there already?" he muttered to himself, then took his brown school backpack and stood up, slinging it over his right shoulder. The few other passengers who were in the same carriage copied Ryu's behaviour, resentfully waking up from their shallow slumber with longstretched yawns and half closed eyes then gathering their belongings and heading for the train's doors. Ryu blinked a few times again to get the sleep out of his eyes, then fumbled with his sleeve to look at his watch. 7:30 . With tired steps he headed behind the other passengers, waiting for the train to arrive at the final stop, ready for whatever life was going to throw at him today...but not really.
With a screeching sound the train came to a full stop. As he stepped outside the frustrating noise from heavy construction met him head on. Along with it came the simply irritating sound of morning people going from and to work, with too much to tell eachother at this time. Why, oh why does everything sound so *loud* and *annoying* in the morning? putting both straps over his shoulder now Ryu shrugged once to realign his backpack well on his shoulders, then set of on his usual path: through the morning masses on his way to school. Above him the train station's roof was supported by old and ugly dark red metal girders and not so sturdy looking but equally old glass window walls. Beneath the roof, the new platforms radiated a wholly different aura. One of a modern, newly designed style, with smooth light gray marble blocks and "high-tech" announcement signs, complete with esotherically placed garbage cans. Construction of this new part was still going on but the contrast was already quite painfull. It didn't interest Ryu. It was a sight he had to watch on a daily level. Everyday on and off...
He didn't really like this current life style, getting up early, listening to some old fart in his midlife crisis quoting from some boring book, getting bitched at for not paying attention, and after that different class, same ritual. Then when all that was over packing your books and heading the opposite direction again, back to home.
Muttering, still, to himself about the cold weather Ryu just strode on, knowing very well that escape from life is impossible. Not that he didn't dream of it. Looking at that aspect of himself he knew he was a full fledged romantic dreamer. Someone with a hate for common day boring life with a taste for sci-fi or fantasy adventure. Pathetic really... But he didn't care. At least he wasn't weird, it all checked out according to the clichés. Hehh...
Arriving at his class fifteen minutes of walking later he sat down and got poked by his best friend Kaz. "What's with the grumpy face?". Arching an eyebrow at his classmate Ryu grumbled softly "You tell me why I should be smiling when I got out of my bed for another day of nonsense." Kaz chuckled lightly and leaned back on his chair, running a hand through his short, blond curly hair "You didn't have to... You know classes aren't obligatory here in college". With a sigh Ryu placed his head on the bench and closed his eyes "Really now... I'd like to graduate in the end yknow. I don't want to spend any more time here then absolutely neccesary." Kaz simply nodded and patted his friend on the shoulder getting a grin for anwser. As Ryu almost drifted back into a sweet peaceful slumber again a staff member entered the room and addressed everyone present. "Prof Cole is absent today, that means your current class is cancelled. Good day all". Suddenly wide awake and with a seething fury directed at all the universe Ryu violently grabbed his bag to sling it over his back, nearly knocking Kaz over in the process and headed for the door with wide strides. "For freaking bloody fuck's SAKE! THIS is why I got out of bed!? I cannot be-fucking-lieve this horseSHIT!!" Kaz quickly caught up to Ryu laughing heartedly with the whole situation. "This is hilarious...3 hours of free time for nothing. No, 4! with recess!" Shooting a angry look at his amused friend Ryu hit the elevator door with his fist, having to hold back not to do it several times, just to work off his morning mood and frustration. When the elevator arrived, Ryu and Kaz got inside and pushed the ground floor button. "So what do you want to do now?" Kaz inquired. Shrugging slightly Ryu grunted an anwser. "I guess we can't do anything but hang out in the city I guess. We have to get back for the afternoon classes still... dammit". "Yeah" Kaz nodded and both stepped outside when the elevator doors opened on the ground floor. "How about we go to the pub and get ourselves a drink? My treat." A smile appeared on Ryu's face and his foul mood got a bit brighter because of his friend's suggestion. Maybe this day wasn't going to be bad after all?
Stepping outside, they headed along the street, taking turns here and there towards their favourite place. The city was already bustling with pedestrians and traffic, cars zigzagging between the big container trucks, bikers pedalling onward towards their destination, trying to stay clear of the other dangerous motorised traffic, and occasionally the odd motor cycle zooming in between the slower cars. Ryu and Kaz nearly reached the pub when suddenly some screeching came from behing the street's corner as several people started screaming and came running in the opposite direction. "What the hell?"Kaz barely had the time to utter a curse before a small truck came speeding on the wrong lane towards the sidewalk where he and Ryu were walking. Ryu's eyes widened as he saw the oncoming vehicle and yelled "It's out of control!", but all effort for warning and escape came too late. Desperately trying to brake, the truck hopped on the edge of the sidewalk, taking Kaz down sidewards with a sickening crunch and hitting Ryu frontally tumbling him over the hood. The last thing Ryu was aware of was the sound his friend's breaking body... Then everything went dark. So dark... so... very.................. dar...-