The night felt quiet.
Too quiet for the outskirts of Echelon. The wind carried the scent of rain mixed with machine dust from the emptying streets. Astride his motorcycle, Joe Bondurant sensed something different tonight. He glanced back just before turning at the end of the alley—a black car was parked some distance away around the rear corner, lights off, intentionally dimmed. Joe watched the car for a long time.
But as soon as Joe looked forward again, the car was gone. He let out a sigh, but the strange feeling refused to leave. Just a passerby, maybe, or my eyes are tired. His motor hummed softly before dying in front of the small gray house. The porch light flickered occasionally. "I thought I replaced that yesterday," he thought, a slight frown creasing his brow. "Ah, I'll check it tomorrow."
Inside, he saw Clara setting dinner in the kitchen, while June, their seven-year-old daughter, sat sketching in her drawing book at the table. Joe stood in the doorway, smiling as he watched them for a moment longer than usual. A sight that brought calm and comfort to Joe's mind."You're late again," Clara said without turning around.
"My boss gave me extra work, but the pay's decent enough," Joe replied, putting down his helmet and hanging up his jacket. Clara snorted, but the corner of her lips curved upward. "Well, as long as you don't forget to come home for dinner."June let out a small laugh. "Dad probably forgot, Mom."Joe sat down, feigning a pout. "Dad didn't forget; I was just… postponing hunger."
Their laughter filled the kitchen space. The wooden walls vibrated softly, as if laughing along with them. For a moment, Joe seemed to forget the world outside. No thought of bills, no factory machine noise, no worries about the future.
Only the sound of spoons, June's laughter, and the warm light from the kitchen lamp. But in a corner of his mind, something throbbed softly. A premonition he hadn't understood for the past few weeks.
He only wished that night would last a little longer.
The night deepened. Clara had fallen asleep first, while June was already hugging her deer doll in the next room. Joe sat in the back study, fixing a broken security device. The solder's tip glowed dimly in his hand, emitting the aroma of tin and thin smoke.A low buzzing sound from the utility pole outside could be heard several times.
Not a normal sound. The frequency was strange, as if vibrating directly inside his head. Is the power having issues again? Joe wondered, staring at the window. He shook his head. Maybe I'm just too tired. Then—a soft click from the garage. He turned his head.
Silence. But his instincts immediately tensed, as if his body knew something was wrong. Joe stood up slowly, opening the door.The night air bit cold. A faint smell of metal and gasoline hung in the air. A thin fog rolled in from the hills, covering the small road in front of the house. Beneath the car, there was a small orange glow.
"Clara?" he called reflexively. But there was no answer. He took another step forward. He crouched down, then looked underneath.The flicker wasn't a reflection of light. It was a small flame—coming from the end of a severed cable.No way.His eyes widened. His breath caught in his throat.Before he could even think, a flash of white light exploded. A shockwave slammed into Joe's chest, throwing him hard against the garage wall. The concrete wall cracked and split; the air around him turned into a blazing inferno of heat. Everything collapsed in a roar with a scream that was almost inaudible.
He didn't know how long he had been unconscious there.
When he came to, the air around him was full of smoke and screams. His skin felt like it was burning from the inside.Joe tried to move, but his body was heavy, pinned under the debris of the collapse."Clara!" his voice was hoarse. No answer, only the sound of burning wood.
From the top of the stairs, a sound faintly reached him—"Joe!" Clara stood in the upstairs hallway, hugging June tightly.The fire climbed from below, spreading to the walls.Joe got up unsteadily, moving toward the stairs. But part of the roof collapsed, falling right between them."Joe, take June!"The voice was nearly swallowed by the roar.
Smoke obscured his vision; the heat was like biting at his skin."Clara!" Joe yelled. "Jump down here!"Clara shook her head. She hugged June tighter."Don't come up! Hear me, Joe!"
"No! I can't leave you both!"
"I can—"
A second explosion shook the floor. A piece of wood struck his shoulder, and white light enveloped everything.
He thought he saw a shadowy hand reaching for him… then his vision went black.When the fire began to subside.The smell of smoke still clung to his throat when he regained consciousness.Sirens wailed in the distance, mixing with faint screams that faded like a persistent nightmare.
His body was heavy, half-submerged in hot mud.Someone was dragging him from behind the ruins—a silhouette between the red light of the fire and the blue of the sirens.
Clara... June... where are you? Joe tried to speak, but only hot air came out of his mouth.
His vision began to blur; the world felt like it was spinning between red and black.Then everything went dark again.
THE NEXT MORNING.
In the hospital, Joe opened his eyes, the smell of antiseptic stinging his nose.The walls around him were white. The hospital light shone through his dry eyelids.He tried to move his hands, but his right arm was wrapped in thick bandages.
A machine beeped softly. He heard someone's footsteps. A police officer stood near the window, staring at the notes in his hand."Mr. Bondurant?" His voice was flat and professional.
"We are sorry for your loss. Initial investigation indicates the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit."
Joe's breath hitched at the lie. Powerless, he could only stare blankly at the ceiling. Short circuit? Impossible. Joe knew his home electrical system well; he had installed it himself.
"Two bodies were found on the second floor," the officer continued. "We have arranged the burial for tomorrow morning."
The words fell like shards of ice.
Bodies.
A word he never wanted to hear."Clara…" his lips trembled, but the sound that came out was barely audible.The officer nodded briefly.
"Sorry for your loss."Then he left, leaving behind a silence that seemed to expand.Joe stared at his trembling hand on the white blanket.
No… this can't be happening. Maybe I'm still dreaming. I'll wake up soon, and they'll be in the kitchen, waiting for dinner…
But every breath felt like swallowing embers. He realized this wasn't just a dream.The sky the next day was gray.The smell of wet earth replaced the smell of medicine.Joe stood at the side of the open grave, watching two wooden caskets being lowered near him.A light rain fell without thunder.
A few neighbors attended, but no one dared to look at him for long. They just whispered, then fell silent. The pastor read a short prayer, but his voice disappeared amidst the sound of the wind.
Joe stood expressionless, his hands trembling in his jacket pockets. The only thing he felt was cold. When the first clump of dirt fell onto the casket, the sound was like it hit his chest.
Joe swallowed a mouthful that tasted like iron. His eyes were dry, empty of tears, only short, heavy, trembling breaths were heard.
I promised to protect them... but I let them...
His head bowed low, soaked by the rain.The pastor and the neighbors began to disperse one by one, leaving Joe alone among the new headstones whose names had not yet been carved.
He stood there for a long time, silent. Until night began to crawl up, an officer gently tapped his shoulder."If you need a place to stay temporarily, the hospital can cover the first three days."
Joe didn't answer. He just nodded.He wasn't even sure what he had just heard.The sky was still overcast.Joe was still there, letting the rain wash over his face.
Now I know what it feels like to be empty.
Inside his body, something began to throb. Not blood. Not fear. Deeper. Stranger.Like a soft wave, pressing from beneath the flesh.