The morning light streamed faintly through the dusty curtains.
Tap… Tap…
Drops of water from the AC dripped onto the windowsill. Lioran stirred in bed, eyes half-lidded and face pale. He looked… tired. Worn out. Almost like he hadn't slept at all.
"Ugh…" he groaned, rubbing his forehead. His body ached, but something else gnawed at him—a strange sensation in his chest.
He sat up, pulled off his t-shirt, and froze.
"What… the hell?"
A glowing symbol—circular, bright, etched like an ancient mark—burned faintly on his chest. It looked like a miniature sun, golden and intricate, its rays extending outward like sacred geometry.
His eyes widened in disbelief. The injury from yesterday was gone… completely healed. But this?
This was new.
He wanted to examine it more, but he was getting late for college.
He took a quick shower, changed into his uniform, and prayed in front of his parents garlanded photo.
Then, into the kitchen.
Click!
Chkk… chkk…
The toaster came alive as he placed slices of bread inside. On the counter, a small television murmured in the background.
"…In yesterday's incident, several gang members were found dead in an alley… authorities are still investigating… the cause remains unknown…"
Ping!
Toast ready.
He grabbed a slice and slung his bag over his shoulder.
---
On the street…
As he passed a corner, he noticed an old, blind beggar, sitting on the roadside.
"Please… give some money or food. " the beggar pleaded, hands trembling.
Two men walking past suddenly smirked. One whispered to the other, then pulled out a cold drink can.
CRACK!
He popped the pin and—CLANG!—tossed it into the beggar's plate.
The old man, mistaking the weighty sound for a coin, smiled.
"Thank you son, god will bless you. "
The men snorted in laughter and walked away.
Lioran, watching from a distance, clenched his fists.
He walked over, knelt down, and handed the beggar his toast.
"Please eat it"
The beggar paused… sniffed… and slowly reached out. "You… thank you, son."
Lioran just nodded and walked away.
Behind him, the beggar gave a small, mysterious smile… and removed his black spectacles.
---
Passing through a street, Lioran saw the alley from last night's incident. The memory flashed in his mind—twisted bodies, blood, something monstrous.
"Not now…" he whispered and picked up his pace.
---
College.
As he entered the class, a soft whoosh! whizzed past his ear.
THWUMP!
A ball hit the blackboard behind him.
"Oye, shit!" shouted Abhinav, the class clown and Lioran's friend. "Almost got you!"
"What the hell is your problem?!" Lioran snapped.
"No, it's your problem—you shouldn't have dodged it," Abhinav replied, grinning.
"Are you out of your mind?!"
Before things escalated, a third figure appeared—Shivanshu, Lioran's friend—BAM!—kicking Abhinav on the butt.
Abhinav stumbled. "Oye!"
"Don't take him seriously, Lioran," Shivanshu said.
"Why did you do that?!" Abhinav whined.
"Anyway, any plans for summer vacation?" Shivanshu said, ignoring him.
"Don't ignore me, yaar!" Abhinav said.
"I haven't decided anything yet," Lioran replied.
"Hey! Lioran, you too? Don't ignore me!" Abhinav protested.
"Come with us. We're planning to go camping this summer."
"I'll think about it."
Suddenly, Abhinav lunged at Shivanshu, trying to grab him—but Shivanshu swiftly locked him in a headlock.
"Aghhh! Sorry! Sorry! Please forgive me!"
Lioran chuckled softly, for the first time in days.
Outside the class, Sharin watched through the window with a relieved smile.
Actually, he had asked Shivanshu and Abhinav to cheer Lioran up—he'd been under too much stress lately.
---
Lunch break.
Lioran bought a burger from the canteen and sat with Sharin. As he was about to eat it, he stopped.
That blinded old man's face came back to his mind.
Quietly, he packed the burger back into its wrapper and slipped it into his bag.
Sharin noticed. "Here," he said, offering his lunchbox.
"If I eat too, you'll have less," Lioran replied.
"So what? We're friends. A friend can't let another friend stay hungry," Sharin smiled.
They shared lunch quietly, sitting under a tree in the courtyard.
---
Second lecture…
Everything was normal—until it wasn't.
KRSHHHHHHH!
Suddenly, the sky darkened.
From clear daylight, black clouds loomed above.
Wind howled outside the windows.
WhoooOOOOOSH!
Lioran winced, clutching his head.
The pain returned.
"Aaaah…"
BzzzzZZZT!
Static filled his ears. Images flickered inside his mind—mangled bodies… monsters rising… the scent of ash and blood.
DUG-DUG… DUG-DUG…
His heart pounded. The students murmured in confusion. The teacher paused mid-lecture.
FLASH!
A spark of golden flame erupted inside Lioran's chest—just for a second.
The pain vanished.
His breath steadied.
He looked outside. Something felt… wrong.
RUMBLE… RUMBLE…
THUD!
The ground shook. An earthquake? No—something was emerging.
CRACK!
The earth tore open like paper, and from the depths emerged a green, grotesque creature. Its eyes glowing like red blood.
ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRR!!!
SHHHHAAAATTTERRR!
Windows exploded. The walls cracked.
Students screamed.
Chaos erupted.
One security guard rushed toward the thing. "W-What the hell are you?!"
The creature slowly turned.
Raised one jagged claw.
ZAAAPPP!!
A bolt of lightning ripped through the sky.
Suddenly Lioran feel something strange.
"RUN!" Lioran shouted from the window. "RUN AWAY FROM THERE!"
The guard heard it—but too late.
CRRAAAACKKKK-THOOOM!!
Thunder struck.
"AAAAAAARGHHHH!"
The man's body lit up in a blaze of blue light before disintegrating into ash.
Students shrieked. Chairs toppled. Panic spread like wildfire.
Lioran stood frozen, fists trembling.
His eyes still locked on the smoldering ashes outside.
He whispered…
"…Now… what will happen?"
To be continued...