Saturday morning arrived quietly, with the sun peeking timidly from behind a thick cover of gray clouds. Jane awoke to a familiar sight Kelly sitting on her bed, her gaze fixed on the wall, lost in thought. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, painting the room in pale gold, but it did little to brighten the heavy atmosphere.
Jane sighed, running a hand through her messy hair. "Kelly, did you not sleep again?" she asked, her voice laced with worry. "You know it's going to affect your health." She climbed out of bed, pulling her robe tighter around herself. The air was still crisp with the dawn's chill, and she could see Kelly shiver slightly, though her friend made no move to acknowledge Jane's concern.
"Hello? Kelly?" Jane waved her hand in front of Kelly's face, her tone sharpening with exasperation. She must be thinking about her dream again, Jane thought.
Kelly's lips parted slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Jane... do you have the ability to see ghosts?"
Jane blinked, taken aback. Her eyebrows knitted together, and her expression grew complicated. *Why would she suddenly ask me that?* she wondered, trying to read the seriousness in Kelly's haunted eyes. "Why would you ask something so... bizarre?" Jane managed, her voice tinged with unease.
Kelly finally turned to face her, but her eyes were distant. "I saw the boy again last night," she murmured. Her gaze drifted back to the wall, as though the memory was playing out before her.
Jane's heart skipped a beat. "Wh-what? How?" she demanded, leaning closer. "What did he say?"
Kelly drew in a deep breath, as though the weight of her memories pressed against her chest. "He told me he doesn't have a name, nor parents, nor anyone who knows he exists. The way he spoke... it was as if he had just been born into this world. And no one else notices him. No one, Jane. Not even the teachers or the other students. It's like he's a ghost."
Jane's mouth fell open in disbelief. "But... I saw him too, in the music room," she protested. Her mind raced to make sense of it all. "How could he be a ghost if I saw him?"
Kelly shook her head. "That's what I don't understand," she said, her voice thick with confusion. "How can someone wander the school without a name, without anyone acknowledging them? I've seen him draw in the art room, twice. He's there, doing real things... yet invisible. Except to us."
Jane fell silent, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear and denial. *Could he really be a ghost?* But she wasn't one to believe easily in the supernatural. "Okay," she finally said, her expression still skeptical. "But why doesn't he have a name? Did you even ask him how he got into this school?"
Kelly hesitated, her face pale. "I... I didn't ask," she admitted, her voice small. "But everything about him feels so... otherworldly."
Jane groaned, her face twisting into a half-grimace. "Why are you so quick to believe in these things?" she demanded, exasperated.
Kelly looked down, her hands trembling. "Because my life is already strange enough. I have no memories of my childhood, and my dreams... they're always the same. The clock, the faceless figures in the hallways, the unsettling things I see in this school. And then there's the bronze-skinned boy, who has dreams like mine. It all feels... connected."
Jane let out a nervous laugh, trying to lighten the tension. "What if he's just your soulmate?" she teased, though her voice sounded forced.
Kelly shot her a serious glare. "Don't joke about this," she snapped.
Jane raised her hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. But we should at least confirm if he's really a ghost," she suggested. "We have to find him and get some real answers."
Kelly nodded. "Yeah. Maybe that will make sense of... everything."
---
A few hours later, the classroom buzzed with the usual morning chaos. Kelly sat by the window, her eyes constantly drifting outside. Her fingers tapped restlessly on her desk, her heart pounding with anticipation. Her seatmate, Sarah, noticed her anxious fidgeting and leaned in.
"Why do you look so eager to leave? Got plans or something?" Sarah asked, a teasing grin spreading across her face. "Wait... don't tell me you have a secret date! Oh my gosh, why didn't you tell me you had a boyfriend?"
Kelly's eyes snapped to Sarah, a flat "No" escaping her lips. She turned back to the window, unable to shake her unease.
Sarah frowned. "Geez, what's with the serious mood? Lighten up."
Kelly forced a thin smile but offered no explanation. Suddenly, something caught her attention. One of her classmates' shadows seemed to shift unnaturally, moving with a mind of its own. Kelly's eyes widened as the shadow stood upright, independent of the person who cast it. It made strange, deliberate gestures, as if signaling to her.
Her mouth went dry. *Is this real?* she thought, rubbing her eyes, but the shadow remained. Her heartbeat quickened, and her legs started to tremble with fear. The image of the tall, faceless man from the art room flashed through her mind. But this shadow was different; it didn't feel hostile.
It moved gracefully, faster now, spelling something in the air through a series of signs. Kelly blinked in shock as she made out the message: "It's okay. Don't be afraid. I am a friend. Trust me."
Her fear melted into burning curiosity. *I need to know more,* she decided, her earlier fear replaced by a desperate need for answers. She stood up abruptly. "Excuse me, sir, may I go to the bathroom?" she asked.
Her teacher, Mr. Jones, barely looked up from his notes. "Fine. Make it quick."
Kelly hurried out, her heart pounding, as she followed the shadow down the corridor. The shadow led her into the dimly lit bathroom. She took cautious steps, her hands trembling. The mirror fogged up from her nervous breath. Suddenly, a young man appeared in the reflection. He wore a black vest over a crisp white shirt, his skin deathly pale. Blood-like tears trailed from his eyes, and his pupils were unnervingly small.
Kelly stumbled back, pressing herself against the wall, but the boy raised a hand. "It's okay," he said, his voice soft, almost sorrowful. "I may look frightening, but I'm on your side... Amara."
Kelly's eyes widened in disbelief. *Amara.* The name from her dreams echoed in her mind. The name she had never understood. "H-how do you know that name?" she whispered.
The boy's lips curved into a sad smile. "It's been so long," he murmured. "You look just the same as you did before... Amara."
The man spoke in a gentle voice, despite the unsettling sharpness of his teeth, which resembled small fangs. Kelly couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and apprehension at his words. "Do… do you know me? Who is Amara?" she asked, her voice trembling with wonder.
The young man tilted his head, his eyes softening. "Ah, right. I forgot about your memories," he said, almost as if speaking to himself.
Kelly's heart raced. "Wh... what do you mean, my memories?" she stammered. "So you really do know me? What do you know about me? Do you know about the clock, my dreams… who is Amara?" she questioned eagerly, her need for answers overwhelming.
The young man sighed, an unreadable sadness flickering across his face. "I'm sorry. I can't answer those questions, nor can I tell you why. But I can tell you one thing: your name is Amara," he said.
Kelly froze in shock, her mind spiraling. "Wh... what do you mean... my name?" Before she could fully process it, he continued.
"Yes, your name is Amara—the real you," the young man affirmed. His words triggered a rush of memories: fragmented flashes of her grandmother, vivid dreams, and the haunting image of the bronze boy. *Was my grandmother lying? No… that can't be,* Kelly thought, her mind a whirlwind of disbelief.
She swallowed hard, her voice shaking as she pressed on. "If that really is my name, then… what kind of person was I? How is it connected to my dreams? Do you know the bronze-skinned boy? And who are you?" she demanded, desperate for answers.
The young man's expression changed, a spark of confusion in his eyes. "Bronze-skinned boy?" he muttered under his breath, almost as if puzzled. "Wait… he's already awake?" He seemed lost in thought for a moment, but quickly noticed Kelly's anxious expression.
"As I said, I can't tell you everything, only your name," he repeated, "and I can't explain why either."
"B... but—" Kelly began, only for him to cut her off.
"But it doesn't mean I can't help you," he said, his voice resolute. "I'm your friend, and I'll do everything in my power to protect you, like a loyal knight. Just don't ask me to reveal everything. If you need me, call for me, and I'll be there."
Kelly's confusion deepened. "Why? Why would you help me?" she asked, still wary.
A small smile played at his lips. "I can't explain that, either. Just know that we're friends," he replied. "Even if you don't remember, some part of you trusts me."
Kelly's heart softened. Despite his eerie appearance, she couldn't deny the strange sense of comfort she felt around him, as though he was someone she could confide in.
The man's expression brightened. "May I call you Amara from now on?" he asked, his tone gentle.
"Okay… you can," Kelly replied. "But can I know your name?"
"My name is Lucid," he said. "If you ever need me, even just a whisper will do. I'll hear it."
At that moment, the bell rang, signaling the start of lunch break. Kelly found herself smiling at him, warmth washing over her. "I'll call you when I need you, Lucid. Thank you," she said, the gratitude slipping out naturally.
Lucid smiled back. "I'll be waiting," he whispered.
Before Kelly could respond, a group of girls burst into the bathroom, and Lucid vanished like a shadow melting into the light. Kelly blinked, and he was gone, leaving her standing there, heart still racing. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out into the hallway, her mind spinning with everything she had just learned.