"You're him, aren't you? You're NightShade."
As those words reverberated behind Klaus, he found himself immobilized, gripped by a sense of shock and uncertainty. The voice, utterly unfamiliar, left him in a state of bewilderment. However, he was not too surprised since he was far from home, after all.
At this moment, Klaus froze, unsure of his next move. He had a vague inkling of who might have spoken, or rather, the status of the person. He was busted.
Due to the time of day, escape was a feasible option, but Klaus recognized the hindrances. Employing his unfamiliar ability in front of an officer or law enforcer would only invite unwelcome attention, potentially escalating the situation into a full-blown issue.
For Klaus, staying under the radar was paramount, whether as NightShade or in his everyday life. There was only one course of action he deemed suitable in the moment: compliance.
Dropping the spray can and raising his hands in plain sight, Klaus heard the approach of multiple sets of footsteps. The situation had escalated beyond his expectations. It seemed escape was a near-impossible task without the use of his abilities. His mind raced, concocting plans as he feigned his surrender temporarily. He knew his execution had to be impeccable.
As he slowly lowered himself to the ground, maintaining the illusion of compliance, he seized a fleeting opportunity to turn and catch the officer off guard. But this was no ordinary individual.
In his attempt to overcome the officer, Klaus was met with an unexpected countermove. Suddenly, in a swift and precise motion, his left arm was deftly maneuvered over his shoulder while his right was firmly controlled. Before he could react, he found himself tackled to the ground, immobilized in a manner that defied his resistance. He had been utterly overpowered within seconds.
These maneuvers were far from ordinary; it was clear this individual had dedicated some time to mastering them. Stunned by the rapid turn of events, Klaus lay helpless, his face plastered onto the ground. In the face of such overwhelming force, his once-confident demeanor had entirely vanished.
At this point, two distinct possibilities lay before him. Either he would be apprehended and taken in for questioning, where he would undergo unmasking and rigorous interrogation by higher authorities who yearn to understand the secrets behind his uncanny reputation. Or, he would risk local headlines of a deluded officer claiming to have witnessed a being moving at the speed of thought after detaining them.
Klaus was well aware of the stakes he was gambling with by utilizing his extraordinary abilities. However, the implications of being arrested reached beyond his personal fate; his brother and mother's well-being were also in jeopardy.
Just as Klaus was steeling himself to make a desperate move, despite his immobilization and the inevitable strain it would exert on his captor's arms, a new voice resonated in the scene, injecting an unexpected note of reassurance.
"Ease up, man. I think he's got it."
In that instant, Klaus's tension softened. These were not law enforcement officers. While his face was still pressed against the ground, he could not visually identify the strangers.
"Oh, I'm sorry," the individual restraining him muttered swiftly, loosening his hold and releasing Klaus from his restrictive grip.
Slowly, Klaus lifted his head as he gazed at the strangers who had intervened. He quickly recognized that these were fellow graffiti artists, evident by the masks adorning their mouths, much like his own. However, what set them apart was the emblematic "W" logo etched on their hoodies with spray paint.
As he shifted his gaze, he took note of three individuals, his initial sense of vulnerability now giving way to a slight feeling of relief. The immediate pressure to confront his plight head-on had dissipated, although he still harbored a sense of unease, particularly due to the causal demeanor of the person who had so expertly restrained him.
"I'm so sorry, man," the individual closest to him began. "I kinda instinctively reacted when you lunged at me before I had a chance to realize."
Klaus was in awe. "How could someone move with such grace and precision purely on instinct?" he mused to himself in confusion.
One of the two crewmates at the back soon approached with concern etched on their features. "Hey, really sorry about that. Is your arm okay?" the stranger, distinctly feminine from her voice, inquired with a compassionate undertone.
The realization dawned on Klaus at this point that these were simply a collective of street artists and not adversaries. "I'm fine," he responded, offering a nonchalant shrug that gently pushed the girl's hand away from his shoulder.
"I still want to make sure you aren't hurt," the girl persisted, unyielding in her concern as she inspected the affected area.
In surrender, Klaus allowed her to examine the discomfort he was experiencing. After a brief interval, the graffiti crew initiated introductions.
"I'm Karma," the individual who had apprehended Klaus earlier spoke up, breaking the silence and turning to the other two members. "This is Ghost, and the lady is Aura."
CONVERSATION
Karma: Again, really sorry we got off on the wrong foot.
Aura: You've got to relax once in a while, K. He's actually hurt.
Klaus: I said I'm fine.
Ghost: She's tryna help you, dude. Relax.
A moment passed before Karma spoke up again.
Karma: Anyway, we just revealed who we are. So tell me... are you really NightShade?
Klaus sighed.
Klaus: I don't remember ever claiming that name.
Karma: Makes sense. But I'm guessing that's what the public addresses you as?
Klaus sighed even deeper in frustration.
Klaus: I guess.
Aura: Wow. Who knew your intuition would actually be correct?
Klaus: Wait, what intuition? You sound like you knew I was here.
Karma: Well, it's kind of a funny story...
Ghost: He claimed that something informed him that you, specifically, were here. Like it was calling him to you.
Klaus, at this point, was baffled.
Karma: I guess you can call it a hunch.
Klaus: But how were you certain it was me specifically?
Karma took a moment.
Karma: I can't really explain it in detail. But it was like something was leading me directly to you, even though we hadn't met before.
Karma's silent glance made such a ridiculous story sound believable to everyone.
Ghost: I hope you realize you sound like a crazy person.
Karma returned his gaze in realization.
Karma: I guess that's fair, haha.
Klaus was feeling bewildered at this point. He had been unexpectedly confronted by a group of people who acted like their meeting was somehow predestined. Everything seemed puzzling, and he was curious.
"So, what's your plan now that you've found me?" Klaus inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Given that he had little information about them, Klaus was unsure about their intentions. But Karma's statements had already intrigued him.
"To be honest, I'm not entirely certain," Karma admitted. "I was just going with the flow, so I'm currently at a loss as to what comes next."
At this point, Klaus was beginning to lose interest in continuing his artwork and simply wanted to return home. "Well, if that's the case, I'll be heading out," he declared, indicating his intention to leave as he turned away.
After a brief moment of contemplative silence, Karma came up with an idea. "Wait," he called out to Klaus. "Given the way things unfolded, maybe you should consider joining us."
Ghost, the final member of the crew, shot Karma a look. "Woah, join us?" he questioned.
Klaus raised an eyebrow as well. "Why would I do that?" he asked.
Karma took a moment to collect his words. "I'm not exactly big on prophecies or destiny," he began, "but I can't shake this strange urge to get to know you."
Klaus remained silent, unsure of what to say. "Well, I'm flattered," he began softly, his eyes showing his disinterest, "but I'm not doing this for clout. I'm not like you guys."
After this statement, the others turned to Klaus, the silence hanging in the air for a few seconds.
"We never claimed we do this for clout," Aura stated. "You might not believe it, but I personally do this because it helps me clear my head. I've faced challenges in my life, and this is the most effective way for me to release some stress and express my passion for art."
Klaus could hear the sincerity in Aura's tone.
"That's why we're a team," Karma added. "Because we all share the same passions and reasons for doing this."
Klaus was left without words. After learning that they shared the same motivations for their street art, he found himself at a loss for words.
Karma quickly picked up on it. "How about this," he offered, eyes on the piece Klaus had only just started, "if we help you finish what you're working on now, and you end up liking how we work together… then you'll think about it?"
Klaus's silence lingered. It was obvious he disliked situations that pushed him to interact with others. But something about this moment felt different; he could sense that they shared a similar perspective on why they did what they did.
"I guess," Klaus finally replied after an exhaustive sigh.
Karma and Aura seemed pleased with his response, while Ghost appeared less enthusiastic. Nevertheless, with Karma's approval, Ghost fell in line.
Working alongside them on the piece he had barely begun, Klaus found a strange sense of peace in their company. Somehow, the collaborative effort between them cleared his mind more effectively than working alone.
Upon completion, the result exceeded his expectations. He marveled at how closely their assistance aligned with his vision, and he could not remove his eyes from the piece.
"So, what's your answer?" Karma soon inquired.
"Fine," Klaus conceded. "I'll join you guys."
Klaus's response elicited concealed smiles from everyone, even from Ghost, whose usual demeanor seemed to soften ever so slightly after their shared effort. With a grin, Karma announced, "Congratulations, you're now officially part of Wallpaper."
Klaus found the name creatively fitting, so he raised no objections. He questioned whether he needed to etch their logo on his hoodie, but Karma assured him it was not necessary.
As Wallpaper sprayed both their logo and Klaus's onto the artwork, cementing the collaboration, they reclined on the rooftop together, engaging in conversation.
Despite Klaus's aversion to attention, he found a certain comfort when conversing with them, even though he barely contributed to the engagement. Soon after, they exchanged contact information, ensuring a means of staying in touch for potential future meet-ups. And eventually, they bid each other farewell, dispersing to their respective homes. However, Klaus remained behind.
Sitting in silence and glancing at the artwork, Klaus drowned in thought. "Why did conversing with them feel so different?" he wondered. "And how was Karma directed to me?"
Numerous questions swirled in his mind, yet, as usual, he opted against pursuing them, deeming it too burdensome. But as he snapped back to reality, a voice suddenly called out to him from below.
"Hey, who's that up there!"
This time, Klaus was certain it was the police. He realized he had been lost in thought for so long that the sun was already beginning to rise. He was in trouble.
Klaus swiftly rose to his feet, recognizing the officer who had quickly called for backup. Panic surged within him as he ran hastily while seeking a secluded spot where he could activate his ability without being observed. He dashed past a gathering crowd, with the officer in pursuit, and scanned his surroundings for a suitable location. However, no such spot presented itself.
The time Klaus had left to utilize his power was fleeting, and the officer's relentless footsteps were now accompanied by the wails of sirens that closed in on his location. He sprinted desperately, almost reaching the city's edge. People stared as he darted past, his focus on outpacing his pursuers and deploying his ability before sunrise.
Finally, luck seemed to favor him, and an empty alleyway showed itself ahead. He dashed into it just as the sun's first rays broke over the horizon. Fortunately, he managed to reach a suitable location just in time: his school's vicinity.
Although the school was situated close to the city, he understood that he could not freely roam the area yet, given the faint echoes of sirens that still reached his ears. Because of that, he slipped into the school premises, driven by desperation to conceal himself. However, he realized he could not loiter there for long without risking being found, especially with the impending school day. Then an idea struck him: the school's lost and found section.
Though it was far from an ideal solution, Klaus recognized the necessity of changing out of his NightShade attire to avoid suspicion. He hastily selected a set of clothes from the lost and found bin, swallowing his pride as he slipped them on. With his graffiti outfit stashed inside his locker, he emerged in his new attire.
Though the clothes were ill-fitting and uncomfortable, he knew he had no choice. The alternative was walking back home as NightShade, with the authorities still potentially in pursuit.
Deciding against using his skateboard, which could draw more attention, Klaus embarked on the journey home, hoping his makeshift disguise and the morning's chaos would suffice to obscure his identity.
Upon finally arriving home, he immediately discarded the borrowed clothes and indulged in a lengthy, refreshing shower. This time, he had the foresight to leave a note for his mom by her door beforehand, informing her of his absence to prevent unnecessary worry and her having to sleep on the couch.
With school about to commence shortly, he managed to catch a brief hour of sleep before being woken by Shade.
Once at school, he gathered the borrowed clothes into a bag and efficiently returned them to the lost and found, ensuring no trace of his earlier disguise remained. Double-checking that his NightShade attire was secure in his locker, he breathed a sigh of relief.
The school day seemed interminable, each passing second feeling like a small eternity. Klaus impatiently awaited the end of his class, eager to return the clothes home and alleviate his exhaustion from the previous night's encounter with law enforcement. Finally, the bell signaling the end of school rang.
Rising from his seat with urgency, Klaus hastened to his locker to retrieve the graffiti attire, aiming to do so discreetly before the crowd would pour out into the hallways. Yet, to his astonishment, the clothes were nowhere to be found.
Frozen in disbelief, Klaus's mind raced to process the situation. "How?" he questioned aloud, his voice betraying his incredulity.
Klaus wrestled with the reality before him, hoping that he had misremembered and misplaced the clothes in his fatigued state, perhaps inadvertently leaving them in the lost and found. But as he prepared to shut his locker and validate his theory, his eyes caught something unexpected within it: a note.
"I know your secret. Meet me in the chemistry lab after school."