I was still shaken, even after waking up.
Panic clawed at my chest, and questions raced through my mind: why did that dream feel so real? Why was it different this time? What's happening to me?
As the fear twisted through my gut, I heard a knock on the door.
"Come in," I said, trying to steady my voice.
Lucien stepped in. "Hey, I just came to wake you up so that you wouldn't be late again," he said with a smile.
But then he paused.
His eyes locked onto my face—and then his smile faded. "What happened?" he asked, concerned. "Was it that dream again?"
I nodded. "Yes... but this time, it was different, it felt too vivid—too real."
"He wasn't crying this time," I said slowly. "He was... begging me to come home. And then he started pulling me—and it felt real, Lucien. Like he was trying to tear me out of this world."
I looked at him, searching for comfort.
But what I saw instead made my heart freeze.
His expression darkened—completely. No trace of the warm, teasing Lucien I knew. His jaw clenched, his eyes cold. He looked angry... angry, almost dangerous.
"Lucien," I said softly. "Are you okay?"
He didn't answer.
He stood up, turned toward the door.
"Get dressed and come down for breakfast," he said, his voice flat or cold. "Or you'll be late."
And then he left.
I sat frozen for a moment after Lucien left.
What was that? Why was he acting so strange?
I couldn't think straight. The dream from last night... now his coldness—it left me all feeling sad, confused, heavy. I didn't even feel like going to college anymore.
Nothing made me feel better—not the warm water cascading down my skin in the shower, not the golden morning sunlight peeking through the window, not even the smell of pancakes Lucien had made for breakfast.
He still hadn't said a word to me.
He just stood at the sink, back turned, silently doing the dishes.
"Lucien—" I started softly.
But he cut me off.
"Hurry, you're going to be late. And don't forget your lunch this time," he said, voice cold and distant.
I froze.
"Okay," I mumbled, barely above a whisper. I ate quickly, grabbed my bag, and left the house with a pit in my stomach.
Why was he acting like this?
Was it the dream?
But why would a dream make him behave that way?
I couldn't understand, nothing made sense anymore.
Even when I got to school, I was still lost in thought—walking like a ghost through the halls—until I heard someone call my name.
"Clara!" Julie rushed towards me, and wrapped her arms around me in a hug.
"Why the long face, bestie?" she asked, concern in her eyes.
"Nothing," I said quickly, forcing a smile. "Let's head to class."
We walked in together.
And just seeing Julie—her smile, her energy—made me feel a little better. I was so glad that she was here.
Julie and I went our separate ways again, and I headed out to my next lecture—already bracing for the whispers and stares.
Sure enough, as soon as I walked in, I felt them—the eyes, the quiet murmurs. I guess it was going to take a while before the drama of yesterday faded away.
I sat in the back, hoping to disappear. Maybe if I made myself small enough, maybe they'd forget that I existed.
Then I saw someone walking toward me.
He had soft brown hair and striking hazel eyes, and... oddly familiar.
Without hesitation, he sat down right beside me.
"Hi," he said casually.
"Hello," I replied, caught off guard.
"I'm Jason. Nice to meet you," he said with a bright, easy smile.
"Nice to meet you too," I responded, trying to smile back. "I'm Clara."
"Well, Clara," he said, "I'm new here. And I'd really like for us to be good friends."
I blinked. "Really?"
Why me? I thought.
There were plenty of other people in the room—people who hadn't screamed and passed out like some kind of haunted banshee.
"Why do you wanna be friends with me?" I asked, skeptical.
"No particular reason," he said. "I just felt... drawn to you."
I hesitated.
Something about him felt... strange.
Familiar in a way I couldn't explain.
But it wasn't like people were lining up to be my friend lately—especially after yesterday's meltdown.
"Okay," I said finally. "I guess we can be friends."
He grinned.
I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to be friends with him. But maybe... just maybe... it wouldn't be so bad to have at least one person on my side while things died down.
Even if something in me couldn't quite relax around him.
After finishing my lectures, I decided to grab lunch in the cafeteria.
Jason, naturally, followed.
"Hey, where are we going, friend?" he asked with a grin.
"To the cafeteria," I replied, not bothering to look back.
Even though Jason hadn't done anything particularly strange, I still couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about him.
There was just... something.
When we arrived, I spotted Julie already sitting at a table.
"Julie!" I called out.
She turned around and waved. "Clara, come over here!"
We walked over and sat down across from her.
Julie's eyes shifted curiously to Jason. "Soo... who's your new friend?"
"Ohh, this is Jason, he's new," I replied.
Julie leaned in, playful and as noisy as ever. "And where are you from, Jason?"
Jason smiled, his hazel eyes glinting. "A place far from here. You wouldn't know if I told you."
His answer sent a chill down my spine. I didn't know why—but something about the way he said it unsettled me.
Julie kept asking him questions, excited and curious. I was half listening, trying to make sense of the weird energy I felt—and then I saw him.
Lucien.
He walked into the cafeteria, and Julie immediately waved him over.
"Lucien, over here!"
My stomach tightened. After what happened this morning, I wasn't sure how to act. Still, I tried.
"Hey," I replied softly.
"Hey," he replied, sitting down across from me.
Julie looked between us, raising an eyebrow. "What's this weird tension? Did you guys fight or something?"
"Nothing," Lucien and I said at the same time.
But then everything shifted.
Lucien's eyes landed on Jason—and his whole expression changed.
His posture stiffened, his jaw tightened. His eyes went cold.
"Who are you?" he asked, voice low and sharp.
Jason stared at him calmly. "You're real, aren't you?" His voice calm but piercing. "And you're not supposed to be here."
I looked between them.
What was going on?
Why was Lucien so angry?
And what did Jason mean by "you're not supposed to be here?"
"Lucien, this is Jason," I said quickly, trying to cut the tension. "He's just my friend from class. Jason, this is my brother, Lucien."
Jason smiled. "Nice to meet you, Lucien."
But Lucien didn't respond.
He stood up abruptly. "Come with me, Jason."
"Wait, where are you guys going?" I asked, my heart beginning to race.
"Don't follow us," Lucien said, without even looking back. His voice was cold. His glare even colder.
And then they were gone.
Julie and I turned to each other, stunned and speechless.
"What just happened?" she whispered.
I didn't have an answer.
I told Julie to wait in the cafeteria and followed Lucien and Damien from a distance.
They headed to the back of the school—a secluded area near the fencing—and I quickly ducked behind a wall, close enough to hear them without being seen.
Lucien shoved Jason against a wall, his voice low and serious.
"Who are you? Answer me. Now!"
Jason didn't flinch. "Shouldn't I be asking you that? You're not supposed to be here. How did you get in?"
"Shut up and answer my question first," Lucien growled. "Who are you?"
Jason smiled thinly. "Me? I was sent to get her."
I froze. Her? Me?
Lucien's expression darkened. "He sent you, didn't he?"
Jason nodded. "Yes. Now answer my questions. Who are you? How do you know about him?"
Lucien was muttering something under his breath, then louder: "Shit! After everything I've done, that asshole... ruined it. I was this close."
Jason's tone sharpened. "Close to what? What do you plan to do with her?"
"Nothing," Lucien snapped, turning to walk away—but Jason grabbed his arm. "Not so fast, intruder! You're coming with me. My boss will want to—"
Lucien swung his fist fast and violent. Jason's head slammed against the wall. He collapsed.
Lucien ran past where I was hiding. He didn't see me, but I heard him mutter, "I have to get out of here... before he finds out."
I wanted to chase him, but I couldn't just leave Jason lying there. He might have been strange, but I couldn't let him stay unconscious and alone.
I brought Jason to the nurse's office. I stayed by his bed, mind racing.
Who sent him? What was Lucien so close to doing? Why did Jason say Lucien wasn't supposed to be here? Who the hell was the "him," the guy they were talking about?
After a while, Jason stirred, groaning as he sat up and rubbed his head.
"You're awake," I said, relieved.
"Yeah... I'm fine," he muttered.
"What were you two talking about earlier?" I asked.
"You followed us?" he asked, surprised.
I nodded. "I did. I don't understand—"
"Don't worry about it." His tone shifted cold and guarded. "You should go."
"But—"
"Just go!" His voice left no room for argument.
So I left.
Julie was gone when I went back to the cafeteria. I dragged myself through the rest of the school day, mind foggy. I couldn't breathe.
When classes finally ended, I rushed home.
"Lucien! Lucien!" I called the moment I walked in.
"Clara," my mom's voice came from the kitchen. "What's wrong?"
"Have you seen Lucien?" I asked.
She looked at me strangely. "Lucien? Who's that?"
I blinked. "Mom... stop joking. I'm talking about Lucien—my brother, your son!"
Her face twisted with concern. "Clara, are you okay?" she asked.
"What!?"
"You're an only child, sweetheart. You don't have a brother."
I stared at her. "No—no, this isn't funny."
I ran upstairs to his room... or where his room should have been.
It was gone.
Completely. Like it had never existed. I turned back, heart pounding.
"Where is his room?!" I screamed.
My mom rushed up. "Clara! Whose room?"
"Lucien! Are you seriously still pretending?"
My dad came up from behind her. "Why are you yelling at your mother?"
"Tell her! Tell her about Lucien! Tell her he's real!"
Dad looked at me like I had lost my mind. "There's no one named Lucien here. You're our only child."
The air left my lungs. I didn't even respond. I just ran.
I ran all the way to Julie's place. My chest was still burning.
I pounded on the door. She opened it, wide-eyed.
"Clara, are you okay? You're sweating."
"My parents," I gasped, "they're acting crazy. They don't remember Lucien."
"Lucien?" she asked. "Who?"
I froze. "What do you mean who?! My brother! You had a crush on him once—remember?! We had lunch together in the cafeteria today!"
Julie just looked confused. Genuinely confused. "Clara... you don't have a brother. We don't go to the same college. And I never had a crush on anyone named Lucien."
I took a step back.
"No, no, no—"
I bolted. She called out my name, but I didn't care. I just ran.
I didn't know where I was going. I just knew... I had to find Lucien.
Because he was real.
And everyone was lying.