Hot Singles in My Area (But he’s a god)

by Nekcato

Summary:

“Alright, Noli..” He muttered, flipping the book open with one hand. “Let’s see what you’re about.”

The first pages were exactly what he expected– archaic writing, passages about emptiness, eternity, stars collapsing into nothing, and how only His Voidly Eminence could grant peace. 

007n7 leaned back, smirking. “Yep. Cult crap.” He read one section aloud in a mocking voice. “‘His embrace is the nothingness beyond the nothing.’ Oh my Telamon, who writes this? Sounds like every edgy kid’s journal on the forums.”

OR

007n7 summons the all-mighty god NOLI..

WARNING:

This fic contains Obsessive and Possessive behavior, Self-Harm, Toxic Relationships, Domestic Violence, Non-Consensual Body Modification, Cultist Behavior, Abduction, Semi-One sided relationship.

I cannot stress this enough, Please heed the warnings and tags. I will not be sugarcoating anything. 

I do not support ANY of these actions, nor am I romanticizing any of them. This is purely fictional and for story telling purposes.

Chapter 1: "I guess I summoned a God?"

Notes:

I RUSHED to write this. When I saw that ao3 was going to shut down for TWENTY FUCKING HOURS........... i speedran this shit......... anyways new fic new me! (just kidding.)

HAVE FUN READING

Tikok: @Nekcato

The library didn’t look like much from the outside. A wedge of stone and brick tucked between two taller campus buildings, its windows were so grimy with age that the sunlight spilling through looked like it had been filtered through smoke. Most students didn’t even notice it existed.

But 007n7 noticed everything that looked weird or out of place. And when he’d heard that there was a “restricted” library on the far edge of campus, he’d dragged his friends along without giving them the chance to say no.

“This is going to be boring.” 226w6 muttered as they stood outside the entrance, brushing their curly hair back and adjusting the wizard hat perched on top. Their freckled nose wrinkled. “I don’t even like normal libraries. What makes you think this one is special?”

 

“It’s weird!” 007n7 said with a grin, pushing his pink glasses higher up the bridge of his nose. “And I like weird.” His brown eyes sparkled, the kind of sparkle that usually meant trouble. He tugged at the hem of his dark blue cat shirt and added. “Besides, maybe they’ve got some hidden magic books in there.. Y’know.. Forbidden knowledge.” 

 

“You’re ridiculous.” 118o8 said, walking past them both to push the heavy door open. Her neopolitan-colored hair, half melted at the tips like dripping ice cream, bounced with every step. The upside-down cone on her head tilted dramatically, threatening to topple. Her cardigan hung loosely off her shoulders, giving her the look of someone who hadn’t planned to study but might still own the room when she walked in. “It’s a library, not some haunted dungeon.”

Still, her tone carried an amused edge. If 007n7 was the chaos, 11808 was the loud commentary that followed it. The door creaked, protesting. Dust drifted down from above as if the building had exhaled after holding its breath for centuries.

Inside, the air was different. Thick, heavy, quiet in a way that made even Seven hesitate before stepping across the threshold. It smelled of old paper, candle wax, and something metallic– like rust. The shelves stretched higher than any of them expected, vanishing into shadows that seemed darker than they should be in the daytime. No one sat at the desks. No librarian looked up from a counter.

“Okay..” 226w6 said flatly, peering around. “This place actually is creepy.”

 

007n7 grinned wider, like that was the best review possible. “Perfect. Let’s look around.” They split almost immediately, because 007n7 had no patience for group exploration.

 

“Don’t break anything!” 118o8 called, already wandering toward a section labeled Alchemy.

 

“Don’t summon anything either!” 226w6 added, half-serious, adjusting their jacket as they trailed toward shelves that seemed more historical, stacked with tomes too heavy for casual reading.

007n7 gave a mock salute before darting off between aisles, running his fingers along the spines of books that looked like they hadn’t been opened in decades. He wasn’t even reading the titles– he just liked the feeling of paper, the thrill of knowing he might stumble on something no one else had touched in years.

For a while, it was just him and the shelves. The quiet stretched so long it began to feel alive. His shoes squeaked on the polished floor. He whistled to himself, a habit when silence felt too close. And then he heard a loud thump.

Something fell from one of the higher shelves. Not the sound of a book slipping lazily and hitting the ground. This was sharper, deliberate– like it had been pushed. 007n7 blinked, stopping mid-step. He glanced around, then craned his neck upward. The shelves loomed over him, casting bars of shadow across his face. Slowly, he looked down.

A book lay at his feet. Its cover was plain, blackened at the corners, no title or author. Only when he bent down and brushed his hand across it did he see the faint inscription on the front.

Noli.

007n7 squinted, lips quirking. “What the hell kind of name is that?” The sound of his voice carried farther than it should have, bouncing back from the shelves as if the library itself had heard him. He straightened, the book heavy in his hands. The leather cover was cold despite the stuffy air.

007n7 wasn’t the type to get spooked by books. He wasn’t the type to get spooked at all. But for some reason, staring at the single name made his chest feel strange– tight, like he’d been holding his breath.

There was a weird urge for 007n7 to take it, though. He scoffed, shaking his head. “It’s just a book.” And yet his fingers curled tighter around it. He glanced around to make sure his friends weren’t watching.

226w6 would probably tell him not to touch it, that calm and collected voice of reason ruining the mood. 118o8 would make some sarcastic remark and then try to grab it from him just to see what the fuss was about.

So 007n7 slipped it under his arm, almost hiding it beneath his shirt. “Mine now.” He muttered with a smirk, though his voice didn’t sound as steady as he wanted it to.

They regrouped at the front after a while. 18o8 carried a book so thick it looked like it could double as a weapon, muttering under her breath about potion recipes and whether they’d work in Robloxia. 226w6 had found a smaller journal filled with sketches of constellations, and though they claimed it was “nothing interesting.” they kept turning back to it as if it were.

“Find anything good?” 118o8 asked 007n7, raising a brow.

 

“Nah.” 007n7 lied smoothly, pushing his glasses up and grinning. “Just dust and bad handwriting.”

 

226w6 looked skeptical. “You were gone a long time.”

 

“I was exploring.” 007n7 said defensively, then shot them both a smug look. “Someone’s gotta be the brave one around here.”

 

118o8 rolled her eyes. “Brave? Please. You probably got lost.”

 

“Shut up.” 007n7 said, laughing anyway.

They left together, their footsteps echoing in the empty library hall. None of them noticed that the door closed behind them without anyone touching it. By the time they walked across campus, the sun was dipping lower, throwing orange across the sidewalks. 

Students milled around, chattering, laughing, alive in the way the library hadn’t been. They paused where the paths split. 226w6 had to head in the direction of the science buildings, where their dorms were, while 118o8 and 007n7 lived on the other side near where Computer Science was taught.

“Later.” 226w6 said, tucking their constellation book under one arm. Their calm voice softened just a little. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

 

“Me?” 007n7 grinned innocently. “Never.”

 

118o8 snorted so hard she almost dropped her book. “That’s the biggest lie I’ve heard all week.”

“Traitor.” 007n7 muttered, shoving her lightly as they turned toward their shared path. 226w6 waved them off, disappearing into the crowd.

As they walked, 118o8 kept flipping through her alchemy tome, muttering about how half of it didn’t make sense. 007n7 nodded occasionally, pretending to listen, but his mind wasn’t on her words.

The weight of the hidden book pressed against his side, heavier with every step. Like it knew it wasn’t supposed to leave the library. When they reached the dorm building, 118o8 gave him a distracted goodnight and disappeared inside, already absorbed in her reading.

007n7 stood outside for a moment, staring up at the windows. The twilight was fading fast, shadows stretching across the bricks. He shifted the hidden book under his arm, feeling its edges bite into his skin.

007n7 should’ve left it behind. He knew that. But instead, with a quiet laugh that didn’t reach his eyes, he whispered, “Guess you’re coming with me, Noli.” And then he slipped inside.

The dorm room was as messy as ever– half-empty soda cans on the desk, a pile of tangled wires under the chair, and crumpled fast food wrappers shoved against the wall. 007n7 had never believed in organized living. His room looked like a storm had rolled through, but it was his storm.

007n7 kicked the door shut behind him and dropped his bag onto the floor with a thud. Immediately, his hand darted beneath his shirt and pulled out the book he’d been hiding all day.

The cover gleamed dully in the low lamplight, plain black but somehow heavier than its size should allow. Noli. That single name caught his eye all over again, written in lettering so faint it seemed to waver if you stared too long.

007n7 snorted, tossing himself down into his desk chair and kicking his legs up onto the bed. “Alright, Noli..” He muttered, flipping the book open with one hand. “Let’s see what you’re about.”

The first pages were exactly what he expected– archaic writing, passages about emptiness, eternity, stars collapsing into nothing, and how only His Voidly Eminence could grant peace. 

007n7 leaned back, smirking. “Yep. Cult crap.” He read one section aloud in a mocking voice. “‘His embrace is the nothingness beyond the nothing.’ Oh my Telamon, who writes this? Sounds like every edgy kid’s journal on the forums.”

Still, he kept reading. Something about it was strangely endearing in its sincerity. People had actually believed this– followed it, written down their devotion in trembling handwriting. The margins were littered with sketches of stars, swirling eyes, and a jagged diamond-like symbol repeated again and again.

007n7 traced it with his finger. “That’s supposed to be scary? Looks like a doodle. Someone got obsessed with geometry homework.” He flipped the page, and that’s when he saw it.

The ritual.

The instructions weren’t long, but they were precise. A circle of salt, the void star etched inside it, at least one candle lit at the edge, and the blood of the summoner.

007n7 blinked, then he barked out a laugh. “You have got to be kidding me.” He read the words again just to be sure. No, he hadn’t misunderstood. It was literally a summon ritual.

The reckless part of 007n7– the part that always itched to break the rules, to poke at things just to see if they broke– leaned forward eagerly. “Oh, this is too good.” He grinned, tilting his chair back dangerously. “Bet no one’s done this in centuries! Guess that makes me the idiot who tries.”

007n7 gathered supplies like he was prepping for a prank, not something serious. From the kitchenette shelf, he grabbed a salt shaker and shook it, forming the salt circle. His nightstand drawer had candles leftover from some stupid Halloween decoration binge with 118o8. He shoved the wrappers aside, snatched one, and set it at the center of his desk.

When it came to the symbol, he tore a piece of paper from his desk and sketched the jagged star shape with a black marker. It looked sloppy, uneven. He taped it down inside the ring of salt he poured onto the floor, snickering at his handiwork. It looked like the setup for a middle school dare, not an ancient ritual.

“Okay. Circle? Check. Candle? Check.” 007n7 flicked his cheap lighter, the flame shivering before catching the candle wick. “Spooky vibes? Check.”

And then came the last requirement. His blood. 007n7 hesitated, staring down at the words in the book. His grin faltered– that part wasn’t so funny anymore. He rubbed his palm with his thumb, considering. It’s not like I’m gonna bleed out. Just a little cut.

Still, it felt different. This wasn’t like joking around with some weird chant. This was his body– his blood. 007n7 picked up a small pocket knife from his desk drawer– something he used to cut wires or open packages, nothing fancy. The blade caught the candlelight, gleaming faintly.

For a long moment, 007n7 held it above his hand. The dorm room was silent except for the low hum of his computer fan and the faint buzz of electricity in the walls. “Don’t be a baby..” He muttered to himself. “Just a scratch.” He pressed the knife against his palm and pulled it lightly across the skin.

The sting came immediately– sharp, hot, but not unbearable. He hissed through his teeth, watching as a thin line of red welled up, then a trickle slid down toward his wrist. “Ugh. Gross.” He shook his hand, letting a drop of blood fall onto the salt circle, staining the paper void star.

Then he felt the air shift. It wasn’t dramatic, not at first. Just different. The silence deepened, pressing against 007n7’s ears like he’d stepped underwater. The candle flame stretched taller, flickering blue for a second before returning to orange.

007n7 licked his lips, forcing a shaky laugh. “Okay, okay, creepy points achieved. Nice touch, Noli.” Then he glanced back at the text. There was still one last step– the chant.

The words weren’t in any language he recognized– twisting consonants, too many vowels, a string of syllables that looked like someone had mashed their keyboard. 007n7 cleared his throat. “This is gonna sound so stupid.” And then he began to read.

“Noli, deus antiquus stellarum.” 007n7’s pronunciation was terrible, and he knew that. “Exaudi preces meas, audi dolorem meum. Exaudi vocem meam, nam in praesentia tua esse volo.” He stumbled over every other word, muttered corrections, laughed at himself mid-chant. But with each line he said, the air grew heavier.

The shadows in the corners of the room stretched longer, darker. The flame bent low, as if bowing. 007n7’s computer monitor flickered once, then died, the hum of the fan vanishing into silence.

“Ausculta cor meum, Eminentia mea Inanis.” 007n7’s voice cracked on the last syllable. He winced, rubbed his throat, and muttered. “Yeah, that was definitely wrong–”

The floor shook all of the sudden. The salt circle flashed with a blinding white light before erupting into smoke. 007n7 staggered back, throwing an arm over his eyes. His heart slammed in his chest, panic cutting through the reckless thrill. When the smoke cleared, someone was standing in the circle.

They were tall, luminous– draped in robes that shimmered with shifting colors– black, violet, silver– like the surface of a starless void. Their presence bent the space around him, as if the room itself struggled to contain him. 007n7’s eyes burned faintly, endless and ancient, and when he spoke, his voice rolled like distant thunder.

“Greetings, mortal. It has been a while since I–” It suddenly stopped mid-sentence as it saw that 007n7 wasn’t bowing in reverence, or fleeing in terror. He was standing there with his mouth open, his brown eyes wide behind his pink glasses, his face frozen between shock, awe, and utter giddy excitement.

007n7’s hand was still bleeding, crimson dripping onto the carpet, but he didn’t even notice. His lips trembled, caught between a grin and disbelief. “…Holy shit.” He whispered.

Noli blinked. For a god who had waited in silence for millennia, his composure cracked in the face of this ridiculous mortal who looked like he’d just won the lottery.

007n7 let out a half-strangled laugh, shaking his head violently. “No way. No freaking way. That actually worked?” He pressed both hands to his face, smearing blood across his cheek, then peeked through his fingers like a kid seeing fireworks for the first time. “I just– I literally just read the words and– and you–”

 

Noli tilted his head, robe shifting like liquid shadow. “…You are distraught. Shocked. And… excited?”

 

007n7 dropped his hands, grinning like a maniac. “Hell yeah, I’m excited! Do you know how boring college is? And I just summoned a god out of a book! Dude, this is insane!”

The god of the Void Cult stood in silence, studying him with an unreadable gaze. The candle flame sputtered weakly, casting both of their shadows onto the wall– one human, messy, small; One vast and impossibly stretched, reaching far beyond the room.

For the first time in centuries, Noli had been summoned. And instead of loyal cultists or trembling worshipers, it was this reckless, arrogant boy in a burger hat, still bleeding from his palm, laughing breathlessly like this was the best prank he’d ever pulled.

“…Interesting.” Noli murmured at last.

Notes:

new lore change? No fucking problem. watch me work my magic guys!!! anywasy hope u enjoyed....

ogs will know...

LICK AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE CHAPTERS!!

Tiktok: @Nekcato

Chapter 2: "Guess I fucked up."

Summary:

“Hey, it’s an art.” 007n7 said defensively, jabbing a finger toward him. “Takes skill to make chaos look this good. Ask anyone! I’ve got a reputation.” He brushed off lint from his shirt.

The god’s lips curved, not quite a smile, but something that lingered between amusement and faint disdain. “Indeed. A reputation among mortals who will die before you do.”

007n7’s smirk faltered for half a heartbeat, but he quickly masked it with another laugh. “Wow. You really know how to kill a vibe, don’t you?”

Noli did not respond immediately. He studied the boy again, letting his silence press heavy. His folllowers would have dropped to their knees under such a gaze, begging forgiveness. But 007n7 only raised his brows, unbothered, and took another sip of soda.

“You are far too casual,” Noli finally said, his words carrying weight– heavy enough to make the air feel thicker. “I should be met with awe– with devotion. Instead, you sit here as though I am nothing.”

Notes:

hi guys uh well um yes thats me im nekcato certified noli7n7 lover yay anyways have fun reading

Tiktok: @Nekcato

007n7 flopped onto his sagging couch like it was any other night. He sprawled his legs wide, his burger hat tilted askew, his pink glasses catching the dim light. He grabbed the half-empty soda can from the armrest and took a casual sip, ignoring the blood still drying on his palm.

“So.. Noli, right?” 007n7 said, as though introducing himself at a party instead of addressing a deity. His tone was light, cocky, and lazy. “So what kinda god are you anyway?” He leaned back deeper into the couch cushions, head tilted, one eyebrow raised. His lips curled into a smirk, his voice much too casual for the weight of the room.

Noli’s eyes narrowed faintly. The silence that followed could have crushed stone. His robes whispered like distant storms when he moved, tilting his head as though observing a peculiar insect.

No fear, no reverence– not even confusion. This boy had summoned him with blood and ritual, and now treated him as if he were an oddly dressed professor or a stranger on the bus. It was unexpected.

Noli let the silence hang for long enough that most mortals would have broken into nervous apologies. 007n7, however, simply leaned forward, elbows on his knees, grinning as if he were waiting for a punchline.

Finally, Noli’s deep voice rolled through the room. “You are unlike my followers.” The god’s eyes gleamed faintly, ancient light burning in their depths. “My followers greet me as His Voidly Eminence. They whispered prayers in reverence, trembling with devotion. While you.. address me as if I were your neighbor.”

 

“Should I be scared or something?” 007n7 asked, grinning wider, reckless. He kicked his legs up onto the coffee table, his sneakers leaving a smear of dirt across the surface. “Sorry, Voidly– whatever you said– but that’s not really my style.”

 

For the first time in centuries, Noli laughed. It wasn’t loud– it wasn’t cruel– it was soft, low, a sound more like an echo than a human chuckle. But it was unmistakably a laugh. “You are either incredibly brave..” Noli paused for a moment “..Or terribly foolish.”

 

“Can’t I be both?” 007n7 shot back immediately with a playful grin.

 

The god tilted his head, studying him. His robes shifted like a living shadow, the edges curling as if they resisted the mortal world. “You scoff at reverence. You sit sprawled before me– a mortal– as if nothing about this encounter stirs you. Why?” 

 

007n7 shrugged. “Because I’m cool. I’m a renowned hacker, griefer, exploiter– whatever you wanna call me– and I don’t really bow down to anyone.”

 

Noli’s eyes narrowed slightly. His amusement remained, but a flicker of disdain edged his words. “Renowned.. hacker?” He spoke the term slowly, as if tasting a foreign fruit. “You compare your fleeting reputation in this city to divinity?”

 

“Damn right I do!” 007n7 said, smirking. “Bet you never had a follower who could cause massive collateral damage!” He leaned backwards, his pride ever so high.

 

Noli blinked, faintly unimpressed. “You speak as though vandalism is a crown of glory.”

 

“Hey, it’s an art.” 007n7 said defensively, jabbing a finger toward him. “Takes skill to make chaos look this good. Ask anyone! I’ve got a reputation.” He brushed off lint from his shirt.

 

The god’s lips curved, not quite a smile, but something that lingered between amusement and faint disdain. “Indeed. A reputation among mortals who will die before you do.”

 

007n7’s smirk faltered for half a heartbeat, but he quickly masked it with another laugh. “Wow. You really know how to kill a vibe, don’t you?”

Noli did not respond immediately. He studied the boy again, letting his silence press heavy. His folllowers would have dropped to their knees under such a gaze, begging forgiveness. But 007n7 only raised his brows, unbothered, and took another sip of soda.

“You are far too casual,” Noli finally said, his words carrying weight– heavy enough to make the air feel thicker. “I should be met with awe– with devotion. Instead, you sit here as though I am nothing.”

The shadows from his robes stretched unnaturally along the floor, spilling into corners like spilled ink, but 007n7 only leaned further back into the couch cushions. “Well, duh. I don’t worship you, dude.” The grin returned to his face, lopsided and shameless.

Noli’s hum followed, low and resonant, the sound vibrating faintly through the walls and into 007n7’s chest. It wasn’t anger– not yet. It was thoughtfulness, like a blade being tested before its use.

“And yet..” Noli’s gaze shifted, the faint glow of his eyes sliding towards the half-assed summoning circle; The faint scent of candle wax and salt from the summoning still lingered in the room. “..You chose to summon me.”

 

007n7 shifted at that, his grin faltering just slightly into a twitch at the corner of his lips. “Yeah, well.” His tone carried a forced levity, as if he could smother the gravity of the moment beneath his own brand of reckless humor. “You looked funny.”

 

The god let silence linger again, though the faintest trace of amusement touched his voice when he replied. “Amusing. You are reckless, ungrateful, arrogant.. and yet you speak to me without fear. I have not seen such insolence in millennia.”

 

“Thanks.” 007n7 said smugly, as if it were a compliment.

 

“It was not praise.” Noli replied flatly, his stance shifting into a more annoyed looking one.

 

“Sure sounded like it.” 007n7 nudged further, not even thinking whether or not the god before him will let any more of his jokes slide.

 

Noli’s eyes narrowed. “You mistake my words. Your arrogance entertains me, yes–” He said, his voice echoing faintly. “–But do not think it makes you worthy.”

 

007n7 leaned back further into the couch, deliberately slouching as if the weight of divinity in his dorm room were no heavier than a lecture he planned to skip.  “Please!” He drawled, brushing his hands together. “Worthy of what? Your spooky god powers? Not interested. I’m already a legend.”

 

For a moment, Noli simply regarded him. Then he shifted, the fabric of his robe folding in on itself like smoke caught in a windless room. “A legend to ants.” The words cut clean and precise, cold enough to frost the air between them.

 

007n7 looked unfazed, leaning forward with a spark of mischief lighting his eyes. “Good thing I’m not an ant, then.” His smirk widened into something reckless, almost daring, as if he were trying to see how far he could push a god before something snapped.

 

The exchange hung heavy in the air, filled with the clash of divinity and reckless mortal pride. Noli’s disdain simmered beneath his calm exterior, but it was not enough to drive him to anger. Instead, his interest deepened.

For the first time in centuries, Noli felt something stir beyond boredom– it was curiosity. “You are strange.” He said finally.

 

007n7 leaned back, folding his arms behind his head, smug grin never faltering. “And you’re welcome.”

Noli regarded him for a long, silent moment, then turned his gaze toward the window. Outside, the night stretched endless and dark, the stars faint compared to the void he knew.

At last, Noli spoke again, his voice softer, edged with something unreadable. “Perhaps your kind has changed since I last walked among mortals. Or perhaps you alone are the anomaly.”

 

“Nah. I’m just cooler than everyone else.” 007n7 yawned, utterly unbothered.

 

Noli almost smiled again. “Very well, hacker.” He murmured, robes shifting like mist. “We shall see if your arrogance holds true.”

 

007n7 shot him finger guns with his unbandaged hand. “Bet it will.”

 

Noli regarded him in silence for a moment longer, then tilted his head, robes whispering against themselves like smoke. “Very well. If you are as unbothered by me as you pretend, then I shall test you.”

 

“Oh?” 007n7’s brows rose, interest sparking. “You gonna strike me with lightning or something? Curse me to, like, fail my next exam?”

 

“Hardly.” Noli’s voice was soft, though layered with authority. “You summoned me, mortal. That act alone demands tribute. Construct a shrine for me.”

 

For a moment, 007n7 thought he misheard. “..A shrine? You mean like, candles and all that?” He blinked, tilting his head slightly; His tone sounded like he was trying to clarify something.

 

Noli’s gaze sharpened. “A shrine. A place of focus. With my symbol, with fire, with the book you used. Do this, or face consequences.” His voice started to get less friendlier as he went on.

 

007n7 barked out a laugh, throwing his head back. “Oh hell no. I’m not wasting my time making some dollar store altar for you. What am I, your interior designer? Forget it.”

The air shifted– it started to feel colder. The kind of cold that sank into your bones and made the hair on your arms rise. Noli straightened, his silhouette expanding as though shadows themselves bent toward him. His eyes glowed faintly, no longer ember-like but burning with unrestrained force.

“You dare defy me, mortal?” The words reverberated, overlapping themselves, echoing as if spoken by dozens of voices at once. The lights in the dorm flickered violently, the single lamp in the corner sputtering in protest.

 

007n7’s laugh faltered. “Uh–” The book on the couch beside him snapped open on its own, pages fluttering wildly before slamming onto the same ritual page he had performed earlier.

007n7 raised his hands in mock surrender, though his smirk was visibly strained now. “Fine, fine, chill! Don’t go all ‘I’m going to destroy the earth’ on me. I’ll.. make your shrine thingy. Happy?” His lips settled into a grim line.

 

The tension in the room loosened. Noli’s presence seemed to contract back into his form, the ominous energy simmering down. “Satisfied.” He said softly, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.

So that was how 007n7 found himself, reluctantly setting up what had to be the lamest shrine in history. He shoved an old metal shelf rack against a corner wall– secluded enough that no casual visitor would notice. On top, he placed another one of the candles he used earlier, the ominous book, and a shaky chalk rendition of the void star symbol.

007n7 stepped back, arms crossed, evaluating his handiwork with narrowed eyes. “There! Very minimalist– you should be honored.”

 

Noli materialized in the corner like a shadow thickening, watching silently. His gaze swept the shelf. “Acceptable.” He nodded once.

 

“Acceptable?” 007n7 muttered. “I nearly broke my back dragging that stupid shelf here.” He furrowed his eyebrow, grumbling complaints.

 

Noli ignored the complaint, instead going forward with what he was about to say. “You will bring me offerings.” He started, which caught 007n7’s attention. “Once each week. In exchange, I shall grant you a small wish.” Though his face didn’t show it, there was a kind of smile emanating from his voice.

 

007n7’s brows shot up, his posture straightening. “Wait, wait, wait– offerings? Like.. what? Fruit baskets? Sacrificial goats? My leftover pizza?” He rambled, his confusion both clear with his tone of voice and body language.

 

“Objects of value.” Noli replied simply as if this was common knowledge. “Symbols of devotion. What you bring, I shall weigh.” He gestured to nothing in particular.

 

007n7 let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. “Bro, this is starting to sound like I’m selling my soul to the devil or something.” He joked around as if this was just an awkward moment.

 

Noli’s eyes flickered dangerously, his voice dropping low. “You have already bound yourself to me. Did you not read my book thoroughly? The act of summoning seals a tether. You called my name, drew my sigil, spilled your blood. You are mine, hacker.” There was a hint of smugness hidden in his voice, but 007n7 was not able to catch it.

 

Instead, 007n7’s earlier grin slid off of his face. “..Oh. Fuck.” He dragged a hand down his face, groaning into his palm. “So I really just roped myself into some cult contract by accident, huh?” He looked up, miserably smiling as if it could reverse his actions. “Fine. I’ll do your dumb offerings. Once a week. But don’t expect me to grovel or anything.” He grumbled, not sounding too happy.

 

Noli’s lips curved the faintest amount, like the ghost of a smile. “That will suffice. For now.” The god turned, robes dissolving into shadow, his form beginning to fade into the unseen plane he came from. Before he vanished entirely, his voice lingered, deep and resonant “We shall see, hacker, what you make of this bond.”

 

The dorm was silent again, the candle flickering faintly on the shelf. 007n7 stood there, staring at it, hands on his hips. “..What the actual fuck did I get myself into.”

He plopped back down on his couch, staring at the flame with narrowed eyes. “Great. Now I’ve got homework, exams, and a god who expects a gift every week. Fantastic.” He smiled, though there was no real joy behind it.

“Well..” 007n7 muttered. “..At least I’ve got one wish granted! Don’t know what that’ll be! But.. whatever.” He said with strained excitement, trying to convince himself that whatever stupid, impulsive shit he did had a positive side to it. He quickly stood up from the couch, biting his bottom lip.

“What would even make a good offering?” 007n7 muttered to himself, pacing the length of his dorm room like a caged animal. He ran both hands through his messy brown hair. “Not like I can just ask help from Eight… or even Six! I can’t just tell them.. ‘Oh hey, I summoned some ancient god and accidentally joined his cult, and now he owns my ass.’” He threw his hands up in mock dramatics before groaning loudly into his palms. “They’d fucking kill me!”

The thought alone made 007n7’s stomach twist. 226w6 would probably sigh and tell him how stupid he was, while 118o8 would laugh herself hoarse before deciding if she wanted to roast him or join in the chaos. No, this was his mess– and his mess alone.

007n7 dragged open drawers, rummaged through his cluttered desk, even pulled open the mini-fridge like some divine clue might be hiding next to leftover takeout. “What the hell do you even give a god?” He grumbled. 

Eventually, 007n7 grabbed his black red-linned jacket, pulling it on with jerky movements, and shoved his pink glasses higher on his nose. “Fine. Fine! I’ll figure it out. He wants something? I’ll get something. A legend like me doesn’t get stumped by shit like this.”

But for all his bravado, his chest felt tight. He knew this wasn’t some dumb prank anymore. He could still hear the way Noli’s voice had wrapped around his ears, cold and heavy, making his casual jokes feel like they barely covered the shiver running down his spine. The bond was real. The shrine was real. And now, apparently, his responsibility was real too.

 

–+⟡+–

 

007n7 shoved his hands into his pockets, shoulders hunched, scanning the rows without much of a clue where to even start. “Offerings for a god..” he muttered under his breath. “Yeah, sure. Totally normal errand. Nothing weird about this at all.” He gave a passerby a lopsided grin when they glanced at him suspiciously, then turned his eyes back toward the stalls.

007n7 passed by a jewelry booth, the glass cases glinting with gold chains and silver rings. He stopped for a second, considering. Jewelry seemed godlike, right? Gleaming treasures, the kind of thing cultists might pile at the feet of a shrine. 

007n7 then shook his head. “Nah.. Too flashy. Six would notice for sure– and I’m not wasting all my hacking money on some shiny rock.”

The next booth sold incense and candles, rows of sticks and jars in every color imaginable. He picked one up, sniffed, and wrinkled his nose. Lavende? Too floral. Vanilla? Too boring. A black candle caught his eye, its wax studded with glittering specks like constellations. He rolled it between his fingers, humming. It was tempting, but something in his gut said Noli wouldn’t be moved by pretty smells. 

007n7 walked on, muttering to himself, weighing each possibility and shooting them down just as quickly. A box of rare teas? “He’s a void god, not a grandma.” A stack of preserved meats? “Gross.” A crystal orb? “Suspiciously cult-like. Too on the nose.”

By the time 007n7 reached the far end of the market, frustration had knotted in his chest. He kicked at a stray pebble, scowling. “What am I even supposed to give him? What do gods even want? Sacrifices? My grades? My sanity?” He snorted. “Too late on that last one.” And then his eyes landed on a stall that was not that far from him.

A small pottery stall sat tucked between a weapons vendor and a candy cart, almost invisible if you weren’t looking closely. Its shelves were lined with handmade pots and jars, painted with swirling patterns in blues, purples, and blacks. One in particular caught his eye; A modest little pot with stars scattered across its surface, as if someone had tried to capture the night sky in clay.

007n7 stopped in his tracks. The moment he laid eyes on it, something in his chest tugged– like a quiet pull, subtle but insistent. He walked closer, leaning down to inspect it. The stars weren’t perfectly drawn, some crooked and uneven, but that only made it feel alive. 

“Looking for something special?” The shopkeeper asked, a tired-looking older woman with paint smudges on her hands.

 

“Maybe.” 007n7 said, trying to sound casual. He picked up the pot, weighing it in his hands. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was steady, simple, with its little universe painted across the surface. For reasons he couldn’t explain, it felt right. “How much?”

 

She named a price. 007n7 grumbled, haggled halfheartedly, then paid and tucked the pot under his arm. As he walked back toward his dorm, he couldn’t help the odd satisfaction settling in his chest. He didn’t know why, but the pot felt like the right choice. Something about the stars on it whispered of the void without screaming ‘cult offering’ to anyone who stumbled into his room.

 

–+⟡+–

 

Back in 007n7’s dorm, the quiet hit him immediately. He set the pot down carefully on the metal shelf, sliding it next to the book and the stub of a candle. The void star symbol he had drawn in salt remained faintly visible on the wood, though he had tried to brush it away.

007n7 stepped back, hands on his hips, and hummed. “Not bad.” He muttered. The little pot glowed faintly under the lamplight, the painted stars winking like secrets only he knew. “Yeah. Not bad at all. If gods get picky, then… well, screw him.”

Still, as he stood there staring at it, a knot twisted in his stomach. For all his jokes and bravado, there was something unnerving about the whole thing. He had just willingly placed an offering on a shrine to a deity who had already claimed him. A deity who could appear in his room again at any moment, with cold eyes and that terrible, amused calm.

007n7 swallowed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s fine.” He said out loud, as if to reassure himself. “It’s just a pot. Totally normal. People put pots on shelves all the time.” He laughed once, hollow and sharp.

007n7 flicked off the light, the room sinking into shadow. He flopped onto his bed without ceremony, dragging the blanket up over his head like it could shield him from responsibility itself. As his eyes grew heavy, an unease coiled tight in his chest. The silence pressed in around him, thicker than it should have been, almost deliberate. 

Every creak of the dorm seemed to hush itself, leaving only the sound of his own uneven breathing. It felt– just for a second– like the air itself was aware. Like someone was still here, standing just beyond the edge of sight, watching.

007n7 groaned softly and buried his face deeper into the pillow. “Stupid god.” He mumbled, half-asleep, brushing off the chill that lingered at the back of his neck. Within minutes, he was snoring.

Notes:

finish my multiple art wips? HELL THE FUCK NO!! post a chapter instead 😎😎😎 im so pro so minecraft pro!!! anwyasy hope oyu guys enhjoyed, i wrote this in a cafe oguhegh............

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Tiktok: @Nekcato

Chapter 3: "This god's fucking insane."

Summary:

007n7 smiled at this while following closely behind. That was until 226w6 brushed their hand slightly against 007n7’s arm. 007n7 turned to look at 226w6– who had a worried look on their face. “You still worried about me? Or are you worried if Eight’s gonna go through with her treat.” He joked around.

226w6 shook their head, softly dismissing the question. “Nothing man, just that.. You do know you can trust me and Eight with anything, right?” Their voice sounded reassuring. Hearing that, 007n7 almost let out what happened yesterday. But he knew that shit like that had to be kept under wraps.

007n7 cleared his throat, making it seem like he wasn’t hesitating to answer. “Thanks, Six– but you know me! My skin’s so thick, nothing is ever gonna get through me.” He puffed his chest out.

“Fine.” 226w6 said, though their gaze lingered on him a little longer than usual. “But if you keep being weird, I’m calling for an exorcism.”

007n7 let out another laugh– softer this time, almost real– before muttering under his breath. “Too late for that.” He looked away, his voice barely audible beneath the hum of passing cars.

Notes:

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Tiktok: @Nekcato

College life usually came easily for 007n7. He’d sometimes be late to class but never unconfident. He’d be loud enough to fill the silence but never so loud it got annoying. He had a rhythm– but today, he couldn’t find it. His stride dragged half a second behind everyone else’s, his mind not quite synced to the world. 

The courtyard buzzed with chatter after lectures, but all 007n7 could hear was the hum in his ears, the echo of that yesterday’s stillness– that thick, unblinking quiet that had followed him even as he went to sleep.

“Hey, you good?” 226w6’s voice cut through the hum of the campus walkway, pulling 007n7 out of whatever daze he’d slipped into. He blinked, realizing he’d been staring at the concrete for far too long, watching his own shadow instead of listening.

 

“Huh?” 007n7 said dumbfoundedly, lifting his head.

 

226w6 slowed their pace until they were walking side by side, brows furrowed beneath the rim of their wizard hat. “You’ve been weird today.”

 

“Yeah.” 118o8 chimed in from his other side, swinging her bag casually over her shoulder. “You didn’t even mock any of our batch mates today. You feeling okay?”

 

007n7 shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets like that might hide how off-balance he felt. “Just tired.”

 

“Just tired?” 226w6 repeated, giving him a pointed look. “You don’t do ‘just tired.’ You treat caffeine like a blood type.”

 

“Maybe I’m finally human.” 007n7 said with a lopsided grin, trying to sound like his usual self.

 

118o8 chuckled, the sound light and teasing. “No, if that ever happened, the universe would implode.”

 

118o8’s teasing drew a laugh out of 007n7– short, too loud, the kind that bounced off the pavement and disappeared before it ever reached his eyes. He thought he’d played it off well enough, but 226w6 noticed. They always did. Their gaze lingered on him, steady and sharp in that quiet, knowing way.

 

“Seriously.” 226w6 said, voice low but edged with concern. “You look like you’ve been thinking about something heavy.”

 

“Just personal stuff..” 007n7 muttered before he could stop himself.

 

That made both of 118o8 and 226w6 pause mid-step. 226w6 frowned, head tilting slightly beneath their wizard hat, while 118o8’s brows knit together. “Personal stuff?” She echoed.

 

Realizing how that sounded, 007n7 waved a hand, a little too fast. “Not like that! Just– you know, when life decides to punch you in the face for sport?”

 

118o8’s lips curved into a grin. “All the time.”

 

“Yeah, that.”

 

226w6 didn’t look convinced. They narrowed their eyes, suspicion cutting through their calm tone. “You’re hiding something stupid again, aren’t you?”

 

“Excuse me?” 007n7 said, pointing at himself with mock offense. “This is my natural handsome– maybe even tragic– face!”

 

226w6 rolled their eyes. “You’re tragic all right. Tragic in the brain.”

 

118o8 laughed, her amusement warm and bright as she looped her arm through his. “C’mon, legend. Let’s get milkshakes before your mysterious tragedy infects us.”

 

“I don’t know..” 007n7 said as they started walking, his usual swagger returning just enough to look convincing. “You think milkshakes can fix existential dread?”

 

“Only one way to find out!” 118o8 replied with a grin. “Come on, guys, gals, and nonbinary pals! Today’s my treat.” She boastfully pointed to herself as she began smugly walking towards the Cafe.

 

007n7 smiled at this while following closely behind. That was until 226w6 brushed their hand slightly against 007n7’s arm. 007n7 turned to look at 226w6– who had a worried look on their face. “You still worried about me? Or are you worried if Eight’s gonna go through with her treat.” He joked around.

 

226w6 shook their head, softly dismissing the question. “Nothing man, just that.. You do know you can trust me and Eight with anything, right?” Their voice sounded reassuring. Hearing that, 007n7 almost let out what happened yesterday. But he knew that shit like that had to be kept under wraps.

 

007n7 cleared his throat, making it seem like he wasn’t hesitating to answer. “Thanks, Six– but you know me! My skin’s so thick, nothing is ever gonna get through me.” He puffed his chest out.

 

“Fine.” 226w6 said, though their gaze lingered on him a little longer than usual. “But if you keep being weird, I’m calling for an exorcism.”

 

007n7 let out another laugh– softer this time, almost real– before muttering under his breath. “Too late for that.” He looked away, his voice barely audible beneath the hum of passing cars.

They walked the rest of the way in a comfortable sort of quiet. The streetlights flickered on one by one as the sun began to dip, painting everything in that in-between glow of gold and grey. 007n7’s footsteps fell in rhythm with 226w6’s and 118o8’s chatter, but his mind was elsewhere– lost somewhere behind his own grin.

The cafe was a small, cozy one tucked beside the main road– strings of yellow lights hanging across the windows, the air rich with sugar and espresso. It smelled like sweetness and warmth, things that should’ve grounded him. 

007n7 followed his friends to a corner booth. The hum of chatter, the hiss of milk frothers, the clinking of spoons– all of it felt distant, like he was underwater. 226w6 left them to order their usual order. 

“Alright.” 118o8 said, sliding into her seat. “Spill it.”

 

007n7 raised a brow, leaning back against the booth with practiced ease. “Spill what?”

 

“That face!” 118o8 said, gesturing at him with a spare straw that she got from the dispenser. “You’ve got the thousand-yard stare again.. Are you high again? Without us?” She said in this fake, disappointed tone.

 

007n7 huffed out a small laugh. “Maybe I’m just achieving inner peace.”

 

“Hah! As if!” 118o8 chuckled as her teasing faded into quiet worry. “Seriously though.. You good?” She frowned slightly.

 

007n7 held her gaze for a moment– long enough for something unsaid to pass between them– then looked away, tapping the table with a finger. “Yeah. Just.. too many thoughts lately.”

 

“About what?” 118o8 tilted her head, spinning the straw around.

 

007n7 hesitated– the truth perched on the edge of his tongue. He wanted to be truthful to his friends. He wanted to be able to tell them about that stupid god he summoned– but he bit it back, teeth sinking into the word before it could escape. “Weird stuff.” He said instead, his voice sounding more melancholic.

There was a beat before 007n7 opened his mouth. “You ever get that feeling that someone’s watching you even when you’re alone?” He finally let out, suddenly switching topics.

 

“Yeah..” 118o8 said, her voice sounding a little skeptical but decided not to prod deeper. “Every time I forget to close my curtains.” She glanced out the Cafe’s windows.

 

007n7 laughed, genuine this time. “Fair. Maybe it’s just me then.”

 

118o8 smiled softly, but the concern didn’t fade. “You sure it’s not something worse? You look like you’ve been awake for three days.”

 

“I’ll live,” 007n7 said quickly, waving his hand like he could brush off the tension in the air. But his voice cracked ever so slightly at the end– barely noticeable, if you weren’t listening. 118o8 was about to reply when 226w6 returned, balancing a tray of milkshakes and pastries with the kind of precision that only came from years of cleaning up 007n7’s chaos.

 

“Chocolate, strawberry, and coffee.” 226w6 announced as they set the tray down, the clink of glass against the table cutting through the café’s low chatter. “Now guess which one’s yours.”

 

“Coffee, duh.” 007n7 said immediately, grabbing the glass before either of them could blink. The whipped cream nearly toppled over the edge.

 

“Predictable.” 226w6 scoffed playfully, sitting down with a sigh. “You never go a day without some kind of caffeine.”

 

007n7 smirked, sipping without shame. “Consistency’s a virtue.”

 

“So what’s this thing about you being haunted?” 226w6 raised an eyebrow as they go settled into their seat.

 

007n7 blinked, his heart beating faster. “I never said i was haunted..” He muttered, panicking thinking he got caught red-handed.

 

“I mean it’s practically the same thing, ain’t it?” 118o8 giggled as she leaned forward, fork already stabbing into a slice of strawberry cake.

 

“I said weird stuff!” 007n7 protested, putting a dramatic hand to his chest.

 

“That’s basically your brand.” 118o8 teased, waving her fork at him. “You’re practically the embodiment of every and all things weird!”

 

“Hey, if weird’s the worst you can call me..” 007n7 said, shrugging with a crooked smile. “I’m doing something right.” He gave a smug smile.

That earned a laugh from 118o8, light and genuine, but 226w6 didn’t quite join in. They were watching 007n7 carefully– the way his grin didn’t quite reach his eyes, the way his fingers tapped against the cold glass like a nervous tic.

226w6 rested their chin on one hand, voice even. “If you’re in some kind of trouble, you’d tell us, right?” The question landed heavier than it should’ve.

007n7 froze mid-sip, straw halfway to his mouth. The milkshake suddenly tasted too sweet. He could feel both of their gazes on him– one curious, the other quietly concerned– and it made something tight coil in his chest. He wanted to say something clever, something deflective, but his brain stalled.

007n7 swallowed instead and forced a grin. “Yeah. Of course.” He scoffs, dismissing the question. 

 

226w6 didn’t blink, their face looking unamused. “Promise?”

 

007n7 looked at them, then down at the swirl of melting cream in his cup. He stirred it absently with his straw, watching the mixture spiral in on itself. “Yeah.. Promise.” He said, quieter this time.

A comfortable silence followed– or maybe just an uneasy one that pretended to be comfortable. The low hum of conversation filled the café, punctuated by the hiss of the espresso machine. 118o8 broke the tension first, pushing a small plate of pastries toward him.

“Eat something.” 118o8 said. “I know you like sweets, dude.”

 

007n7 chuckled softly, picking up a pastry, partially to humor 118o8. “Thanks, Eight.” He took a small bite.

118o8 nodded, accepting that. 226w6 didn’t. Their gaze flickered between him and the window, as if weighing whether to press or let it go. Eventually, they sighed and took a long drink from their milkshake. 007n7 tried to drown them out by laughing at 118o8’s jokes, nodding along to 226w6’s stories, anything to seem normal.

For a while, it worked. They talked about their classes, about some guy who called the professor “dad” by accident, about the new arcade opening downtown. 007n7 laughed when they did, maybe too loudly, tapping his foot beneath the table like he was keeping time to a song only he could hear.

But whenever the laughter faded, that silence found him again. The one that pressed against his chest like invisible fingers. He glanced at the window. Across the street, a lone figure stood under the awning of a shop, hood drawn, head tilted up toward him.

007n7 blinked once, and the figure was gone. Maybe it was just his reflection. He turned back toward the table, pretending not to notice that his hands trembled faintly. 226w6 was mid-rant about an impossible project, and 118o8 was laughing so hard she nearly snorted. He joined in, too quickly, too loudly.

But the sound in his ears wasn’t laughter anymore– it was a whisper, soft and low, like air leaking through a crack in the world.

“Mortal.”

The voice was too familiar. 007n7 coughed into his milkshake straw, muttering. “Did you guys hear that?” His voice sounded overly cautious,  a hint of paranoia mixed into it.

 

“Hear what?” 118o8 asked her brows furrowed, trying to understand 007n7’s sudden change in composure.

 

007n7 froze, realizing how crazy he probably looked right now. “Nothing. Probably caffeine hallucinations.” He laughed off, his usual tone coming back almost immediately. 226w6 and 118o8 exchanged a glance, but didn’t press it.

007n7 smiled again– too sharp, too wide, even for him– and reached for another pastry. “Man, you two are lucky. You don’t have weird auditory hallucinations haunting you!” He laughed loudly. If you didn’t know better, you’d think he was joking around.

 

226w6 observed 007n7 before opening his mouth to speak. “Is this your way of saying you need therapy or more sleep?” 226w6 deadpanned, they raised an eyebrow.

 

“Yes.” 007n7 strained a smile, not clarifying which question he was saying yes to.

 

“Which one?” 118o8 crossed her arms, her tone sounding playful but more concerned.

 

“Yes.” 007n7 said once more, though he sounded less serious and more playful and teasing. 118o8 laughed hard she almost dropped her fork, breaking the heaviness in the air.

When they finally left, the cafe bell jingled softly. The late afternoon light had gone gold, and the air smelled like rain. 007n7 shoved his hands in his jacket pockets, trailing behind as his friends walked ahead, arguing over who’d pay next time. Their voices blurred together– familiar, human, safe.

007n7 almost even believed everything was fine. But then his gaze drifted toward the alley across the street. For a heartbeat, he saw movement out of the corner of his eyes. He turned to look at whatever it was, his eyes landing on the sidewalk opposite them.

 

“Seven..” 

 

A voice murmured again, bringing chills up 007n7’s spine. He blinked hard, seeing the silhouette of that god. “W-what the fuck..” He stammered, lagging behind his friends. The silhouette waved slowly before promptly dissipating.

 

“Hey!” 118o8 called, waving at 007n7. “You coming or what?”

 

“Yea– yeah!” 007n7 said quickly, forcing his legs to move. “Yeah, sorry. I just zoned out.” He mumbled.

 

“You’ve been doing that a lot lately.” 226w6 said, side-eyeing him.

 

“I’m fine.” 007n7 lied easily. “Just hungry again.”

 

“Didn’t you just eat two pastries and half of Eight’s cake?” 226w6 hummed teasingly.

 

“I said again, didn’t I?” 007n7 retorted, returning 226w6’s tone. They all laughed, washing over 007n7’s unease for just a while. But even as he laughed with them, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t walking alone.

Every reflection in a window, every shift of shadow between streetlights felt like someone else’s gaze following close behind. He didn’t look back. He didn’t want to.

 

–+⟡+–

 

That night, when 007n7 got back to his dorm, the silence hit him again– thick and watchful, like the walls themselves were holding their breath. He tossed his bag onto the chair, pulled off his hoodie, and glanced toward the little pot sitting on top of the rickety metal shelf.

“Why the fuck are you everywhere?” 007n7 muttered, dragging a hand down his face. His voice came out raspier than he expected. “Are you a stalker now too?” He turned away, running a hand through his hair. 

The air in the dorm was stale, heavy. He’d left the window cracked, but it didn’t help– the night breeze only made the blinds sway softly, whispering against the glass.

“Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with this god?! For fuck’s sake.” He muttered again, louder this time, almost spitting the words. He kicked off his shoes, collapsing onto the bed with a groan. His fingers brushed against his left hand– the one that still bore the thin, red scar from yesterday’s ritual. It ran diagonally across his palm, faint but sensitive, like the skin itself remembered the heat.

Then the tingling started. It began as a low pulse beneath the skin, a quiet electric itch. But it grew fast– burning, searing– until the nerves in his hand screamed.

“Shit–!” 007n7 hissed, gripping his wrist as the pain shot up his arm. His body tensed, heart hammering. The air around him shimmered faintly, static crawling across the walls like veins of lightning.

007n7 doubled over, clutching his hand to his chest, teeth gritted so hard it hurt. The mark glowed faintly, before flickering out like a dying ember. The pain vanished as suddenly as it came, leaving behind a cold sweat and a pounding pulse.

“What the fuck… what the fuck!” 007n7 gasped, stumbling back. “What the actual living fuck was that!?” He gritted his teeth, half-expecting someone to answer him. Though of course, nothing answered him. Just the wind, slipping through the cracked window.

007n7 looked down at his palm again. The skin wasn’t glowing anymore, but it still throbbed. His breath came fast and uneven.

“Okay, nope.” 007n7 muttered, backing up toward the wall. “Hell the fuck no.” He turned to the half-assed altar. “Just because I summoned you, doesn’t mean you have to make my miserable life more miserable!” He snarled, saliva spluttering out of his mouth.

And then, the air shifted. There was no sound, no flash– just a quiet distortion. Light drained from the corners of the room. The shadows grew denser– more liquid-like– until they rippled outward like ink spreading through water.

From that ink, something stepped– or rather, floated– forward.

 

Noli.

 

The god’s feet didn’t touch the ground. The faint light from the window refracted off him like glass submerged in water, distorting the air. His robes moved in slow, weightless motion, as if tugged by unseen tides. His eyes glowed faintly, cutting through the dark like molten metal.

“Hello, mortal…” Noli’s voice rolled again, soft and dangerous. “Or Seven, if you prefer.”

 

007n7’s breath caught, heart pounding against his ribs. “You again!?” He managed, pressing himself against the wall. “What the– how the fuck– how are you here!?”

 

Noli’s expression was unreadable, though there was something faintly amused in the corner of his mouth. “I heard my name invoked.” He said slowly. “And quite… disrespectfully, I might add.”

 

007n7 blinked, his mind catching up to the memory of his own muttering from moments ago. “Oh, fuck off.” He blurted before he could stop himself.

Noli’s brow arched, a flicker of light rippling briefly through his silhouette. The air temperature dropped a few degrees. 007n7 swallowed hard, his instincts screaming at him to shut up– but old habits died hard.

007n7 lifted his chin instead, forcing his voice into that same smug, reckless drawl he’d used yesterday when he first summoned the god. “You know..” He said, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt. “You could’ve just knocked. Most people use doors. Try it sometime.” He made a snark remark.

 

Noli drifted a little closer, the faint hum of divinity following him. The purple threads of his robe shimmered in the half-dark. “Mortals use doors.” He murmured. “I do not.”

 

“Right, because you’re so special.” 007n7 crossed his arms, doing his best to look bored instead of terrified. “So, what? You just show up uninvited whenever someone says your name now? That’s creepy, man. I already gave you your stupid pot for the week. Are you not satisfied?” He scoffed.

 

Noli’s expression didn’t waver. He looked toward the little shelf– the pot sitting on the pathetic altar– and regarded it for a moment like a judge contemplating a verdict. “It was..” He said at last, voice low and deliberate. “…Adequate. At best.”

 

007n7 let out a sharp laugh, the kind that sounded more like disbelief than amusement. “Adequate? Great. I risked looking like a lunatic buying that thing, and you call it adequate.”

 

“You chose poorly.” Noli said simply, as though stating a truth.

 

“Yeah? Well, you better get used to it.” 007n7 shot back, dropping onto his bed with a dramatic sigh. “Because I don’t think there are any other idiots lining up to give you offerings anytime soon.”

That made Noli pause. For the first time since appearing, the air around him seemed to still. His white eyes flicked toward 007n7– something ancient and unreadable stirring behind them.

“I still have loyal followers.” Noli said finally, voice dropping into a tone that resonated deep in the chest. “They simply do not wish to bother me by summoning me.”

 

“Right.” 007n7 said dryly. “Sure they are, dude.” He snickered.

 

Noli tilted his head slightly. “Do you mock the divine, mortal?”

 

“Maybe I do.” 007n7 said with a smirk, though his grip on the bedsheets tightened. “Someone has to, or you’ll get too full of yourself.”

 

A faint, humorless smile curved Noli’s lips. “You speak boldly for one who bleeds so easily.”

 

The semi-fresh scar on 007n7’s hand tingled again– sharp, like a warning. He flexed his fingers under the blanket, hiding the way they trembled. “You think you’re scary?” He said, keeping his tone even. “You’re just noise and light, dude. I’ve seen weirder things.”

 

“Oh?” Noli murmured, drifting closer until the edge of his robe brushed against the air in front of 007n7’s knees. “Tell me, then– do those weirder things stare back when you close your eyes?”

 

The room seemed to darken around them. The shadows pulsed faintly, stretching toward the god like they were drawn to him. 007n7’s smirk faltered. “..Okay, that’s creepy. You can stop that now.” He strained a smile.

 

Noli only smiled in response. “You mortals fear what you cannot name. It’s almost… charming.”

 

“Yeah, well, I fear my professors more.” 007n7 said, forcing a grin. “If I pass any more overdue projects, then my ass will not be attending graduation.”

 

“Then perhaps.” Noli said softly. “You should learn to whisper my name more reverently.”

 

“Reverently my ass.” 007n7 muttered. The god floated past the bed, gliding toward the window. His presence left faint trails of light in the air, purple dust swirling lazily before fading away.

 

“This world is smaller than I remember..” Noli murmured, staring out into the dark campus beyond. “Colder and crueler than I remember..” He raised one hand, and the glass rippled, distorting the reflection of the moon. 

 

“I can vouch for the world being crueler.” 007n7 piped in.

 

Noli turned his gaze back to him. “That should not be taken as a good thing, mortal.” He clarified. “You all will fall into peril and dystopia with how events are unfolding.”

 

“That’s.. comforting.” 007n7 muttered. “So, what– you’re just gonna hang out here and.. Vibe?”

 

Noli’s gaze softened, though it still glowed with that unsettling divinity. “Perhaps. Or perhaps I will observe everything that has changed and what has not. It has been long since I’ve walked among the living.”

 

“You’re not walking. You’re floating.” 007n7 deadpanned.

 

“Semantics, dear Mortal.” Noli said, a faint note of amusement curling his tone.

 

007n7 rolled his eyes, trying to mask the nervous energy bubbling in his chest. “Look, man, you can’t just appear out of nowhere like this. People don’t– they don’t do that.”

 

“I am not people.” Noli scoffed, sounding rather offended.

 

“Yeah, that’s obvious.” For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The silence pressed in again, thick and waiting. The faint hum of electricity from the desk lamp buzzed like static in the air.

Finally, 007n7 sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You know, I don’t get you. Yesterday you were talking about rituals and sacrifice, and now you’re just… loitering.. In my dorm.”

 

“Loitering?” Noli repeated, the word foreign on his tongue.

 

“Yeah. You’re like a cat that decided my room’s better than the void or whatever pit you crawled out of.” That snarky remark earned him an actual laugh from the god– a low, melodic sound that rippled through the room and made the hair on the back of 007n7’s neck stand.

 

“I have been called many things..” Noli said. “But never a measly cat.”

 

“Well, congrats!” 007n7 said in a fake joyful tone. “There’s a first time for everything.” 

 

Noli floated closer again, white eyes narrowing. “You’re unafraid of me.”

 

“I already established that I ain’t gonna cower in fear.” 007n7 scoffed, as if stating the obvious. “I’m not one of those mindless loyal followers you got going for you.” He waved the god off.

 

Instead of lashing out and punishing 007n7, Noli smirked faintly, then reached out his hand– slowly, gracefully. “May I?”

 

“May you what?” 007n7 cocked an eyebrow at the god’s request.

 

“See your hand.” Before 007n7 could answer, Noli’s fingers brushed the back of his hand. The contact was cold, impossibly cold– like touching liquid metal. 

 

Then suddenly he felt a tingle in coming from the scar. He winced as it happened, and then as sudden as the sensation came, it was gone. 007n7 gasped, jerking his hand away. “What the hell was that!?”

 

“I healed your hand.” Noli said softly, his tone of voice making it seem like he did no wrong.

 

“I-I didn’t ask for that!” 007n7 stammered, his eyes darting back and forth from his hand and Noli.

 

“So what? It is the right thing to do, is it not?” Noli hummed, making 007n7 seem dumb.

 

007n7 stared at him, breathing hard. “You’re insane.”

 

“Perhaps.” Noli said, his tone calm, as if discussing the weather. “But even madness serves purpose.”

 

“Okay, dude. It’s like Eleven P.M. Can you like.. Not bullshit me with this Ted Talk you ahve going on right now?” 007n7 scoffed. “I don’t need you healing whatever’s wrong with me. I can do very well on my own!” He ranted.

 

Noli looked over his shoulder, a faint gleam of amusement flickering through his eyes. “Very well, mortal.” Then, without warning, he began to fade. His outline blurred, light bleeding from the edges of his form.

 

“Hey– don’t just disappear again!” 007n7 called out. “You didn’t even–”

 

But Noli’s voice interrupted him, echoing from everywhere and nowhere at once. “Call for me when the silence grows unbearable. I’ll be listening.” And then he was gone. The air stilled– the shadows returned to their ordinary shape.

 

007n7 sat frozen for a few seconds before muttering, “What the actual fuck.” He stared at his hand, the scar– now replaced with the Void Star– glowed dimly, before subsiding.

007n7 flopped backward onto the bed, covering his face with both hands. “I need therapy.” He groaned. “Or an exorcist. Or both.”

Notes:

please dont notice how lazier i got near the end... GULPS GULPS GULPS GULPSS.............................

THANKS FOR READING GUYS............................

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tiktok: @Nekcato

Chapter 4: "Fuck that god."

Summary:

“Hey.” 226w6 said, caressing 007n7’s arm gently. “You’re zoning out again.” They had this usual concerned look on their face.

007n7 blinked at this before opening his mouth. “Just thinking.” He muttered, smiling slighly.

“You’ve been doing that a lot lately.” 226w6’s lips settled into a grim line.

“Guess I’m just evolving into a higher life form than alla’ ya’!” 007n7 said, trying to sound like his usual self.

“Or maybe you’re just dissociating.” 118o8 chimed in.

007n7 grinned weakly. “Whatever dude.” As they walked under the flickering streetlights, he couldn’t help but glance back one last time. Up in the broken windows, there was a faint shimmer, like light catching on something sharp. He told himself it was just a reflection of whatever light that was nbearby

Notes:

Hey guys. Sorry for the lack of updates on any of my fanfics/works. I've been sick and barely could sit up to write on my computer.... but anyways thats enough from me... thanks for the patience and support everyone!

Enjoy reading, dear readers

Tiktok: @Nekcato

The rhythm of the train had long since lulled 007n7 into sleep, his head resting against the cool glass window, pink glasses askew and one hand loosely clutching his phone. His reflection flickered in and out with the passing tunnels– brown eyes half-open, hoodie collar pulled high, hair sticking up like static had fought him and won.

Across from him, 118o8 was sitting sideways in her seat, earbuds dangling, humming faintly along to a song she wasn’t even playing anymore. 226w6 was reading something on their tablet, face bathed in blue light, their wizard hat tilted back like always. The night had turned late enough that the train car was almost empty– just the three of them and the distant hum of the rails beneath their feet.

“Yo, sleepyhead.” 118o8 said suddenly, leaning over to jab a finger at 007n7’s shoulder. “Our stop’s here. I would’ve left you here, but Six said no.” She rolled her eyes in mock annoyance. “They’re such a killjoy.”

 

“You’re gonna leave me cause’ ya’ don’t care about me.” 007n7 whined in a playful tone, squinting one eye open.

 

“Yeah, but I didn’t.” 118o8 grinned, standing up as the train began to slow. “So technically, I’m a hero.”

 

“Technically, you’re loud.” 007n7 muttered, stretching his arms with a lazy yawn. “And you owe me a nap.”

 

“Nap later, vandalism now!” 118o8 chirped, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

 

“You both are loud.” 226w6 said without looking up, closing their tablet as the train doors slid open with a hiss. “Come on. If we miss this stop, we’ll have to walk an extra fifteen minutes.”

 

“Ugh, fine.” 007n7 dragged himself up, brushing off his hoodie. “Wouldn’t wanna waste our precious energy before defacing public property.”

 

“Private property.” 118o8 corrected, stepping out onto the dimly lit platform. “We’re classy griefers.”

The city above was half-asleep, neon flickers reflecting on puddles from a recent drizzle. The trio cut through side streets, the cold air biting at their faces as they moved toward the abandoned apartment complex they’d made their unofficial playground. The building loomed tall and hollow against the skyline, windows shattered, vines creeping up its sides like nature was trying to reclaim it.

007n7 whistled low as they slipped through the half-rusted gate. “Home sweet home.”

 

“You have a weird definition of home.” 226w6 said, stepping over a discarded tire.

 

“It’s about the vibes, Six.” 007n7 said. “And the ambience!” He stomped once on the cracked floor, the echo bouncing up the stairwell. “Perfect.”

 

“Perfect for tetanus.” 118o8 muttered, though she was already smiling as she pulled a flashlight from her bag. The beam cut through the dusty air, revealing graffiti from previous visits– blinding swirls of color, symbols, curse words, and the occasional inside joke that only the three of them would ever understand.

 

007n7 reached into his hoodie pocket and pulled out his C00lGUI– a small, sleek black box with a glowing red outline that hummed faintly in his hand. “Alright, time for me to work my magic.” He crouched down, flipping it open, and a familiar low tone filled the air as his inventory flickered to life. 

From the list of items– tools, scripts, random junk– he dragged out three spray canisters. They materialized in a flash of red pixels that fizzled into reality, landing with soft metallic clinks beside his shoes.

“Still freaks me out when you do that.” 226w6 murmured.

 

“That’s the point.” 007n7 said, smirking as he shook one of the cans. “Fear is respect.”

 

“Fear is you almost setting this building on fire last time.” 118o8 said.

 

007n7 shot her a mock glare. “Creative expression has risks.” He scoffs

 

“Your creative expression almost got us caught by the admins!” 118o8 shot her hands in the air.

 

“Art demands sacrifice.” 007n7 replied simply with a sly smirk.

The air was thick with the sharp scent of spray paint soon after. 118o8 was already halfway through painting something elaborate– a melting ice cream cone with neon drips that seemed to glow under the flashlight.

226w6 was scrawling faint, precise symbols in looping lines of purple, geometric and clean. 007n7, on the other hand, went chaotic– bright streaks of red and blue, cartoonish faces, jagged shapes. The wall bloomed with rebellion and boredom, like a mural built by insomnia.

“Hey, pass me the blue.” 118o8 said, holding out her hand.

007n7 tossed it over without looking, his focus narrowing on an empty patch of wall in front of him. His hands moved fast, instinctive, not really thinking– lines overlapping, curves flowing together until they took shape. It wasn’t until he stepped back that his chest tightened.

007n7 blinked. The symbol was sharp and symmetrical– a diamond shape intersected with a thin star, every line precise, almost reverent. The Void Star. For a moment, he just stared at it. His hand trembled slightly– he didn’t mean to draw it. He didn’t even remember deciding to.

“Yo…” 118o8 said from beside him, lowering her can. “What’s that supposed to be?” She lazily points the metallic can towards the symbol.

 

007n7’s breath caught in his throat. “What– this?” He forced a laugh that came out too high-pitched. “It’s nothing. Just.. artistic expression, you know?”

 

226w6 approached, squinting at the symbol. “Doesn’t look like your usual garbage.” They mumbled, rubbing their chin.

 

“Gee.. Way to say you think all my artworks are shitty.” 007n7 said flatly.

 

“No, seriously.” 226w6 tilted their head. “You don’t usually do symmetry. Hell, you can’t even draw straight lines..” They stepped closer to the grafitti. “This one looks– intentional.”

 

007n7 stepped in front of it, blocking part of the wall with his body. “Well, maybe I’m evolving, huh? My art’s growing up!” He joked around, trying to keep the atmosphere light.

 

118o8 smirked. “Growing up into what, exactly?” She crossed her arms.

007n7 opened his mouth, then closed it, realizing he didn’t have a good answer. His brain felt fuzzy, like the air had shifted around him. He could almost hear something faint– like a whisper curling at the edge of hearing, a memory of a voice he didn’t want to remember.

The light from the flashlight flickered once. Just for a second. Enough to make 007n7’s heart leap. “Okay, spooky.” 118o8 said, shaking the flashlight until it steadied. “What is up with tonight.” She muttered, her tone of playfulness slightly slipping.

 

“Faulty wiring, perchance.” 226w6 said, though their tone wasn’t entirely convinced.

 

“You can’t just say perchance.” 118o8 deadpanned, looking at 226w6.

 

007n7 swallowed, forcing his grin back. “Alright, alright. Enough judging my artistic genius. Let’s finish up before the ghost of this apartment’s landlord kicks us out.”

 

“Please, if there’s a ghost here, it’d probably leave just to avoid listening to you talk.” 118o8 snorted, tossing the spray can over to 007n7.

 

“That’s bold for someone who can’t live without autocorrect.” 007n7 shot back slyly, cathing the can with one hand.

 

“Oh, you wanna start something?” 118o8 scoffed in disbelief.

 

“Children, children.” 226w6 interrupted calmly, capping their spray can. “Let’s not cause more trouble than we already have.” The joke landed, but 007n7’s laugh came out thin. He glanced at the Void Star again before turning away, the edges of it burning in his peripheral vision. 

007n7 tried to shake it off as coincidence. Just muscle memory or some subconscious doodle from seeing the symbol too much in that cursed book. Nothing to worry about. Right?

Still, as they packed up, 007n7’s hand itched– right on the old cut from the ritual that turned into the symbol. It pulsed once beneath his glove, sharp and hot like the memory of a burn. He flexed his fingers, trying to ignore it.

“Seven, you coming?” 226w6 called from the stairwell.

 

“Yeah.” 007n7 said quickly, turning his back to the wall. “Coming!” He grabbed his C00lGUI, closed it, and the soft hum disappeared. The air felt lighter, but not in the comforting way– more like something had left, something that had been watching. 

007n7 shoved his hands into his pockets as they headed down the stairwell, 118o8 humming some tune and 226w6 muttering about how they’d have to take the long way back since the main street was closed for construction.

007n7 didn’t say much. He just kept walking, the sound of their footsteps echoing behind him. And though he never looked back, he could swear that if he did, the Void Star would still be there– its edges sharper, its glow faintly beneath the layers of paint– like it wasn’t a symbol he’d drawn, but a mark that had drawn itself.

When they finally reached the street again, the air felt colder than before. 118o8 was rambling about some new exploit they could test next week, 226w6 was already checking the next train schedule, and 007n7 tried to keep his grin in place, nodding along. 

But his mind wasn’t on their words. It was still up there in the dark apartment, staring at that symbol, hearing the soft echo of a voice that shouldn’t have been in his head.

“Hey.” 226w6 said, caressing 007n7’s arm gently. “You’re zoning out again.” They had this usual concerned look on their face.

 

007n7 blinked at this before opening his mouth. “Just thinking.” He muttered, smiling slighly.

 

“You’ve been doing that a lot lately.” 226w6’s lips settled into a grim line.

 

“Guess I’m just evolving into a higher life form than alla’ ya’!” 007n7 said, trying to sound like his usual self.

 

“Or maybe you’re just dissociating.” 118o8 chimed in.

 

007n7 grinned weakly. “Whatever dude.” As they walked under the flickering streetlights, he couldn’t help but glance back one last time. Up in the broken windows, there was a faint shimmer, like light catching on something sharp. He told himself it was just a reflection of whatever light that was nbearby

But deep down, a quiet part of 007n7 knew better. Somewhere, behind the veil of the ordinary, something ancient had seen him– and he wouldn’t know how to handle it. 007n7 hadn’t noticed yet, but he started walking slower as he started staring into the distance again.

“Hey.” 118o8’s voice broke through his daze. She tilted her head toward him, brow raised. “You’re staring again. Don’t tell me you’re gonna start writing poetry about that dump.”

 

“Writing poetry? Really? That’s the best insult you can do?” 007n7 scoffed, tearing his gaze away. “Yeah, sure, Eight. Roses are red, that place has mold, and my lungs are now officially sold.”

 

118o8 snickered. “Bars. Absolute bars.”

 

226w6 walked a few steps ahead, shaking their head. “You two are hopeless.”

 

“Hopelessly talented!” 118o8 corrected, grinning wide. “Anyway, I’m starving. And I’m not in the mood for another round of convenience store bread.” She glanced between them, eyes lighting up. “Let’s crash at my dorm tonight. I’ve got leftover ramen and those weird marshmallow cubes I stole from Six’s stash.”

 

007n7 blinked. “Your dorm? You mean the one where the RAs do rounds every hour?”

 

“The very same.” 118o8 said, proudly.

 

226w6 slowed, giving her an unimpressed stare. “That’s a terrible idea.”

 

118o8 clasped her hands dramatically. “But think about it, Six. Warm food, soft beds, no rats, no cold wind sneaking up your pants– Just us, the holy trinity of bad decisions, bonding over noodles and questionable candy!”

 

007n7 snorted. “She’s got a point.”

 

“I’m immune to peer pressure.” 226w6 muttered, crossing their arms.

 

“C’mon..” 118o8 whined, drawing out the word as she tugged at his sleeve. “Live a little. What’s the worst that could happen?”

 

“We get caught and get a sanction, further lowering our chances of getting a decent job?” 226w6 raised an eyebrow

 

007n7 shoved his hands in his pockets. “And yet… we’ve done worse.” He just smiles

 

226w6 exhaled sharply through their nose, muttering something incoherent, but the moment 118o8 looped her arm through theirs and started dragging them toward the station, their resistance cracked. “Fine.” They hissed. “But if we get caught, you’re both explaining it.”

 

“Deal!” 118o8 beamed, skipping ahead, her laughter echoing through the night.

 

–+⟡+–

 

They made their way to her dorm, blocky building tucked behind the main campus. It was well past curfew, the halls hushed, the lights dimmed to a faint amber glow. 118o8 led the way, tiptoeing like a cartoon burglar while 007n7 followed, suppressing laughter at her over-the-top stealth.

“Don’t laugh, you’ll jinx it.” 118o8 whispered, glancing back with mock severity.

 

“Pretty sure we’re already jinxed.” 007n7 muttered, though the words carried no weight.

They reached 118o8’s door, and she fumbled with the keys for a bit before clicking it open. Inside, her dorm was exactly what he expected– chaotic but cozy. Posters cluttered the walls, neon fairy lights tangled around the window frame, and an old blanket fort sagged in the corner like a forgotten art project.

“Welcome to mi casa!” 118o8 announced grandly, tossing her bag aside. 226w6 locked the door behind them, still muttering about rules, though their shoulders had softened.

 

007n7 collapsed onto the couch with a groan. “Ugh, I didn’t realize how tired I was.”

 

“Told ya.” 118o8 said, pulling out three instant ramen cups from a box and tossing one to each of them. She set water to boil, humming off-key to some old meme song.

The air was warm and filled with the faint hum of her desk fan. 007n7 leaned back, feeling his muscles unwind. For the first time that night, he almost felt normal again.

Until he saw it. A flicker– just at the edge of his sight. Something pale, faintly glowing near the far wall. When he turned to look, nothing. Just the fairy lights swaying lazily in the fan’s breeze. He swallowed hard. Did Noli really follow him here?

“Yo, you good?” 118o8 asked, waving a hand in front of his face.

 

“Yeah.” 007n7 forced a smirk. “Just zoning out.”

 

“Again?” 118o8 rolled her eyes. ”Man, you’ve been zoning out all night.”

 

“Yeah, well, it’s my thing. Everyone needs a hobby.”

 

They ate, laughed, swapped stories– half of them made up, half too real to admit were true. 226w6 eventually loosened up, sharing his stash of stolen chips. 118o8 bragged about her “redecorating job” on one of the admin buildings, and 007n7 added his own exaggerations, trying to drown out the growing unease creeping under his skin.

Because the flickers kept returning. Every time he blinked, every time the light shifted, he caught glimpses– shapes that weren’t there, movements that vanished when he tried to focus. At one point, he swore he saw a faint silhouette– slender, tall, almost human– standing just outside the circle of light, as if it was watching him.

007n7 told himself he was tired. That his mind was playing tricks after hours of work, caffeine, and adrenaline. But the feeling lingered– a low hum in his bones, an awareness pressing against his thoughts.

Later, when they had finished eating, 118o8 tossed some blankets onto the floor. “Floor or couch?” She asked.

 

“Floor.” 007n7 said automatically.

 

“Same.” 226w6 said almost immediately, following 007n7.

 

“Cool, I get the couch then! Rank has its privileges.” 118o8 bragged as she stepped nearer to her couch.

 

“Since when do you outrank us?” 007n7 asked, raising a brow.

 

“Since I let you crash here.” 118o8 grinned, flopping onto the couch like a satisfied cat. Eventually, the lights dimmed, the laughter faded into quiet murmurs, then into steady breathing.

007n7 lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. The fairy lights cast dim halos across the walls, and the hum of the fan was almost hypnotic. But sleep didn’t come easily. Every creak of the dorm, every flicker of light made his eyes snap open.

Then 007n7 felt it again– that pull. That prickling awareness. he turned his head. The room was still, 118o8’s soft snoring drifting from the couch, 226w6 asleep beside him on the floor. But in the farthest corner, just beyond the reach of the light, something shifted.

It wasn’t a shadow– shadows didn’t move like that. 007n7 pulse quickened. Slowly, carefully, he sat up. The figure was faint at first, like smoke forming the outline of a person. Then it grew clearer, the darkness peeling back around it. A shimmer, then two gleaming eyes, faintly glowing.

007n7 froze, breath trapped in his throat. “Noli..?” He whispered, the name slipping out before he could stop it. The figure didn’t answer, only tilted its head slightly, as though curious. Then, with a faint distortion of the air, it vanished.

007n7 blinked and suddenly the corner was empty. He rubbed his eyes hard, muttering to himself. “Get it together, man. It’s just sleep deprivation. You’re fine.”

But even as he lay back down, pulling the blanket over his shoulders, the unease didn’t fade. It clung to him like static, crawling up his spine. And when his eyes finally began to drift shut, he heard it– a faint whisper, softer than breath, brushing against his ear.

“Seven…”

007n7 jerked upright. The room was silent, nothing moved. 118o8 mumbled something in her sleep and turned over. He swallowed, forcing himself to lie back down again. He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to go to sleep.

 

–+⟡+–

 

When 007n7 opened his eyes, the world was wrong. At first, he thought he was still dreaming– that weird moment when the brain half-wakes and the shapes of the room melt into nonsense. But the air here wasn’t right. 

It pressed heavily against his lungs, thick with something ancient and humming. The scent wasn’t the faint mildew of 118o8’s dorm, but something metallic– like ozone after lightning, or blood in cold water.

007n7 sat up sharply, heart slamming against his ribs. The floor beneath him wasn’t carpet anymore. It was stone– dark, polished, faintly reflecting a deep violet glow that pulsed from veins running through it like living circuits. He looked around, panic rising in his throat.

Massive obsidian pillars stretched upward into a ceiling so high it dissolved into fog. Floating candles drifted in spirals, their flames burning white and purple, casting shadows that bent the wrong way. And at the far end of the hall stood a throne–  towering, carved from some black crystal that seemed to absorb light instead of reflecting it.

“No..” 007n7 whispered, stumbling to his feet. “No, no, no. This– this is not real.” His voice echoed faintly across the chamber, and something about that echo made his skin crawl. He spun around, looking for an exit– there was none. 

Just endless stone, walls lined with strange runes that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat. His pulse matched them, unwillingly. “Oh, fuck no.” He muttered, backing away. “This isn’t– this isn’t happening. I’m done with this freaky ghost shit.”

 

A soft laugh rippled through the air, low and melodic, carrying something cruel under its tone. “Freaky ghost shit?”

 

007n7 froze. The voice came from behind him. He turned, slow and cautious, his stomach dropping. There– emerging from the air like mist taking shape– stood Noli. Or rather, floated. His feet didn’t touch the ground; his form hovered inches above it, draped in flowing robes that shimmered with starlight. His hair drifted as though underwater, his eyes burning faint gold beneath a serene, unreadable expression.

“Hello again, mortal.” Noli said, his tone calm, almost cordial. “You’re early.”

 

007n7 stumbled back, hands raised instinctively. “Early? Dude, what the fuck is this!? You– you kidnapped me! You can’t just– just drag me into whatever– temple– dimension this is!”

 

Noli’s lips twitched in amusement. “Kidnapped? Oh, my dear mortal. You misunderstand.” He glided forward, closing the distance with inhuman grace. “You were called here. By your own subconscious. By that delightful little ritual scar on your hand.”

 

007n7 glanced down. The faint sigil burned faintly beneath his skin, a dull crimson glow pulsing in rhythm with his heart. “The hell you mean I called you? I was asleep!”

 

“Dreams are merely the doors between our worlds,” Noli said, tilting his head. “You opened yours wider than most.”

 

“That’s bullshit.”

 

“Is it?” Noli smiled faintly. “You mortals perform rituals you barely understand, invoke names you can’t even pronounce, and yet you call me invasive?”

 

007n7 ran a hand through his hair, pacing in small, agitated circles. “Look, man– god– whatever you are, I didn’t ask for this, alright? I didn’t sign up for midnight field trips to the underworld.”

 

“Temple.” Noli corrected, his voice still eerily calm. “This is my temple. It exists beyond your fragile little reality.”

 

“Great. Fantastic. Real homey.” 007n7’s voice dripped with sarcasm, masking the panic that still buzzed in his veins. “You gonna tell me what I’m doing here, or are you just gonna float around and look holy?”

 

That earned him a subtle narrowing of Noli’s eyes. “You mortals are endlessly insolent.”

 

007n7 scoffed, pointing toward the towering throne. “Maybe if you stopped kidnapping people in their sleep, you’d get better reviews.”

 

Noli’s expression didn’t change, but the temperature in the room did. The air went cold, the violet glow deepening into a bruised crimson. “I did not bring you here to amuse myself.” He said softly, though his voice now carried an echo– layered, ancient, resonating through the chamber. “I came because you called. Because your soul resonates with mine.”

 

“That’s creepy as hell.” 007n7 muttered under his breath.

 

“What was that?”

 

“I said–” 007n7 paused, realizing maybe he shouldn’t push it, but the defiance in him flared anyway. “I said you’re creepy and you’re acting like a stalker.” The silence that followed was sharp and heavy.

 

Noli’s eyes, once softly glowing, now burned brighter. The floating candles dimmed, their flames flickering. “You forget yourself, mortal.” His voice rolled through the chamber like distant thunder. “You stand in my domain, breathing air sustained by my will. Speak again in mockery, and I will silence you.” 

 

Noli caressed 007n7’s jawline, his touch was gentle, though it still carried sharpness. 007n7 swallowed hard, but couldn’t resist muttering, “Bit touchy for a god, aren’t you?” The shift was instant. The hum in the temple deepened, turning into a low vibration that crawled through the floor and into his bones.

 

Noli’s tone dropped, cold and furious now. “You mortals never learn.” He drifted closer, until his face was inches from 007n7’s, his voice a whisper that filled the whole room. “You belong to me, little flame.” He cupped 007n7’s face, tightening every second. “Your body, your soul– both tied to my mark. I can unmake you with a thought.”

007n7’s heart raced. He wanted to back away, but his legs wouldn’t move. The god’s presence was suffocating– not physical, but something that pressed into his mind, squeezing every ounce of bravado out of him.

“Then why don’t you?” 007n7 snapped, his voice cracking. “If you’re so powerful– go ahead. Do it. You keep saying you own me, but here I am, still breathing. Guess even gods like to talk big, huh?”

For a fraction of a second, the silence that followed was absolute. Even the flickering candles stilled. Then Noli’s expression shifted– not to anger, but something worse. Displeasure. Cold, disappointed wrath. “You truly do not understand your place.” He said, almost quietly.

Before 007n7 could react, an invisible force struck him like a wave. His body lifted off the ground and slammed back into the temple floor, the impact rattling his teeth. He gasped, the air knocked out of his lungs, pain blooming sharp across his chest.

Noli hovered above him now, eyes glowing brighter than ever. “You mortals mistake mercy for weakness. You are not my equal, Seven. You are my vessel.”

 

“Go to hell, asshole” 007n7 choked out, struggling to sit up.

 

Noli’s lips curved faintly. “I already reign over it.”

 

Noli raised a hand, and the mark on 007n7’s palm flared. The pain was instant and blinding– like fire burrowing into his veins. 007n7 screamed, clutching his hand, the red glow spreading up his arm like veins of molten light.

“Remember this.” Noli said, his voice echoing from everywhere at once. “Your soul beats to my rhythm. Your dreams are my doorway. Defy me again, and I will not be so gentle.” The pain built to an unbearable crescendo, white light bursting behind 007n7’s eyelids– then darkness.

 

–+⟡+–

 

007n7 gasped awake, shooting upright. The dorm ceiling swam into focus, the fan spinning lazily above him. Sweat clung to his skin. His hand throbbed, and when he looked at it, the scar faintly pulsed, glowing for just a heartbeat before fading.

118o8 snored softly on the couch. 226w6 stirred, still asleep. The world looked normal again. But 007n7 didn’t feel normal. He pressed a trembling hand over his chest, trying to slow his racing heart.

It was just a dream. It had to be.

And yet, beneath his skin, the faint hum of something divine– something watching–  still lingered.

Notes:

noli u weirdo..

anyways... im sure i have made many grammar and spelling errors since i got lazy to beta read it and i type too fast sometimes...... gulps anwayus... thanksf or reading and being patient dear readers! i promise that i'll do my best to release higher quality chapters on all my works :)

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