Copy anomalies in the XCP association

Chapter 1: XCPs don't exist

"Fuck, I fell asleep playing video games again..."

Through the halls of Blue Petals High School, walked a slim, brown-eyed, somewhat tall boy. Although he's actually 5'7", when he introduces himself to girls he likes to say he's a little taller.

After all, how much damage can a little lie do?

"Good morning..."

With a visibly tired face, the boy arrives at his classroom.

"Oh, if it isn't Snow. Running late again. Was that last video game that came out yesterday fun, wasn't it?"

Without a doubt, his most characteristic feature was his peculiar hair as white as snow. Not even his own parents know how he acquired it; according to the doctors it was an anomaly out of the ordinary.

Because of that peculiarity, some of his classmates often call him Snow, even though that is not his real name.

"Actually yes, yesterday I raised my character to level 50, I even got a rare item," mocking the professor, the boy sits down, but not before leaving his notebook on the desk.

Professor William, used to this routine, took the notebook to check it, not being able to avoid forming a smile at the corner of his lips.

"And again, the best assignment of all. I'm still amazed that you're so smart despite playing so many video games," William said, tossing the notebook to the boy, who caught it without any trouble.

"Come on, Professor, that's why Jasper is so smart. Science approves of video games as a learning system. Besides, they say it serves as practice for what to do in case you encounter an XCP," said Michael, the classmate sitting behind Jasper, and one of the few to call him by his real name.

But Professor William made a disapproving expression and then replied:

"Come on, Michael, don't make excuses to justify Snow. Video games are a waste of time. Besides, I thought I already told you in another class that XCPs don't exist, that's just an invention of the internet."

"There I agree with the vegestorium, Michael. I thought you were already bored with that XCPs thing, it's bullshit," Jasper supported in a nonchalant tone. Everyone knows he's a person who has a hard time believing in things he can't see.

"Oh come on, Snow, don't be like that, didn't you see what happened at the Blue Fire food stand yesterday?" Laura, the classmate sitting next to Jasper, began to speak.

"They're known for their cleanliness ethic, but yesterday everyone, including customers and workers, got sick...and none of them remember what happened or what they ate! It has to be the work of..."

"And you have proof that it was an XCP?" interrupted Jasper casually.

Laura, clearly embarrassed, fell silent and ducked her head.

"Exactly. Why has there never been a single image of those silly creatures called XCPs? And in case there is a group to deal with them, why do they keep it a secret? What would they gain by doing so? Better leave it as fantasy and let's get back to class."

With those words, Professor William continued with his lesson.

***

"Come on, is that all you got, Chris? I thought you had practiced."

After classes were over, the room was in the gym, and like any other day, Jasper was playing basketball with his buddy Chris.

"Shit, Snow, you don't even practice, how the fuck can you be so good at this?" said Chris, fatigued.

"Come on, I told you it's part of my genius," Jasper replied self-centeredly as he spun the ball around on one of his fingers.

"To hell with genius. Your reflexes and fitness are always perfect, and all you do is play video games!" complained Chris, sitting back to rest.

"Jasper is a superhuman. I'm sure he could fight a yellow XCP," Michael joked, joining the conversation.

"And there you go again with the XCPs. Looks like you and Laura have nothing more to talk about. By the way, where is she?" asked Jasper as he drank some water.

"Runnnnn!!!"

As if the universe itself answered his question, everyone in the gym heard a scream. Everyone recognized the voice: it was Laura.

"You must run, he... he's coming!"

Laura came into the gym saying those words, leaving everyone shocked. The girl kept hyperventilating, her body was completely sweaty and her face showed an expression of pure panic.

Something was wrong.

"What's wrong, Laura, are they thieves or criminals?" another girl asked as she hugged her.

"No... No. I... This morning I had seen something strange and decided to investigate. I didn't think... I didn't think!!! It's an XCP, there's one in the school, we must get out of here!!!"

Frightened, Laura ran out of the place in a hurry.

The other students froze, processing what they had just heard.

"Wow... I must admit, they set the scene well. William, Laura is a tremendous actress," Jasper said, breaking the silence.

"You... you don't believe her?" asked Chris, fear showing in his eyes.

"Come on, Chris, are you seriously going to believe that phony? I'm sure she and Michael planned it. Come on, Michael, admit it!" said Jasper placing his hand on his friend's shoulder.

But unlike what he expected, Michael's body was shivering, as if he was standing in the North Pole.

"But what the fuck... Come on, you believe in that set-up too? I'm going to show you that it's fake. If Laura came from that direction, that must be where that XCP guy is."

Jasper approached the door of the gym with his typical confidence.

But as soon as he set foot outside, the whole world seemed to freeze.

The air, once warm and filled with the smell of sweat and burnt rubber, was now cold, a deep chill that chilled him to the bone. The fluorescent light in the hallway flickered dimly, as if even the electricity sensed danger.

And then he saw him.

Down the hall, moving forward with unnatural movements, came a person.

No, it was not a person.

He was tall, absurdly tall. His white skin looked like wet paper, hanging in very thin folds. He had no mouth, no nose, just two saucer-white eyes staring at Jasper.

A warning of pure instinct coursed through his body. His mind screamed: run. His legs barely responded.

"Shit!!!" he blurted out, his heart bursting in his chest.

He tried to turn around to go back to the gym, but he didn't have time. One of those whip-long limbs stretched out faster than a human could see, impacting him full on.

Jasper went flying, his back crashing brutally against the metal lockers, the blow knocking the air from his lungs.

From inside the gym, the screams of his teammates could be heard:

"Noooooo, helpaaaaaa!!! It's a... it's a...!!!!"

"It can't be, it killed Jasper!!! That thing killed Jasper!!!"

The monster, without wasting a second, turned its head impossibly towards the gym door.

And with a single long, grotesque step, it turned its attention to them.