I was floating in a dark abyss. I couldn’t see anything—just pure darkness. I couldn’t even see myself, but I could feel it: I was drifting. And aside from that... there was something else. A presence. Something watching me from beyond.

  Suddenly, bubbles began to appear, floating around aimlessly like I was.

  One bubble drifted close, and I studied it. I couldn’t feel my body, couldn’t even see it, but I wondered—what would happen if it touched me?

  Then it did.

  It entered through my nose.

  Suddenly, I could see my body—but from outside of it. My consciousness was intact, but I was detached, as if I were an observer. Inside, I felt the bubble expanding, stretching my body from the inside out.

  Pain surged through me.

  My body swelled grotesquely, like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters. The pressure kept building...

  Poof!

  One of my arms burst.

  I screamed. The pain was unbearable.

  Poof! Another arm.

  Then my legs. One by one.

  Finally, my head began to expand.

  I knew this was a dream. I had these often—twisted, cruel dreams. But ever since that incident with my dad, I’d been able to take control. I was learning.

  “No!” I shouted.

  “You’re not winning this time!”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  I screamed into the abyss, at the unseen force I always felt but never saw.

  I had to wake up. I had to take control before it was too late.

  I focused everything I had, even as pain clawed through me. My head was about to burst—

  Ring! Ring!

  I gasped awake, drenched in sweat, heart racing. Someone was calling.

  I groaned, annoyed. I was so close to overcoming it on my own.

  I answered without checking who it was.

  “Hello?”

  “WTF, you’re still sleeping?!”

  “Bro…” I chuckled, rubbing my face. “I was having a nightmare. Why are you calling this early?”

  “Early?! It’s already 8:30! You’ve got school, right? You’re late!”

  “Haha! No worries, I know a shortcut.”

  “Shortcut my ass.”

  I laughed. “So, why the sudden call?”

  It had been seven months since we last saw each other—at the competition where I gave up. I wanted to show him I’d improved. I’d won medals since then.

  “I’m just checking up on you. That a problem? You’re still underage, living alone, and you do stupid sh*t. I gotta look out for you.”

  “Wow, thanks for looking after your stupid little bro. But I’m fine. If I mess up, the principal will call you anyway.”

  “Bastard. Just don’t make them call me. I’m busy.”

  “Okay, okay. I wish I was invisible at school, but they’re always looking at me. I wonder why?”

  “Uuugh! Don’t forget to brush your teeth, moron!”

  “I will, I will…” I was about to say more, but he hung up.

  “You take care, bro,” I mumbled.

  ---

  “Zeke, Ellie’s mom died. Let’s go to her wake after class.”

  Argus dropped the news on me.

  Argus had been my best friend since diapers. Big guy, loud, always laughing—but don’t mess with him. He could be a beast when provoked. Everyone at school knew about our duo—we stirred things up, but we had our limits. Argus, despite everything, had a kind heart.

  We weren’t your typical delinquents... though Zion would probably disagree.

  “Oh, that’s why she didn’t come to class,” I said, glancing at Ellie’s empty seat.

  “Yeah. I’m in.”

  Ellie was sweet. Innocent. Always cheering me on during competitions. But I wasn’t ready for anything serious, so I just ignored the teasing from friends.

  ---

  After class, we had dinner at Argus’ place, then headed to the wake.

  The place was packed. So many people offering condolences.

  We paid our respects and looked around for Ellie.

  We found her in the corner, staring blankly.

  “Ellie… Ellie,” Argus called.

  She blinked out of her trance and looked at us.

  Argus gave his condolences. I stepped forward.

  “Ellie…”

  She rushed into my arms and cried.

  I hugged her back, gently patting her back.

  “I’m sorry, El. I hope she’s at peace now. Don’t be too sad, she’s watching over you. She’d want you to be strong.”

  She looked up at me with wide, tear-filled eyes.

  “Ellie, your aunt is here,” her dad called.

  She turned to me again. “Thank you,” she whispered, hugging me one last time before running to her dad.

  ---

  Outside the funeral house, Argus handed me a beer.

  We were still in high school, but he looked older than he was. No one questioned it.

  “I hate funerals,” he muttered. “Never know what to say.”

  Same. I didn’t like being around grief. It brought back memories I’d buried deep—of losing both my parents.

  “Yeah. But people only die once. We’ve got to show respect.”

  We clinked bottles and took a drink.

  Then—

  “WTF?!”

  “WTF!”

  We both shouted.

  “You saw it too?!” Argus exclaimed.

  “What did you see?!”

  “Something... up there!”

  “A huge shadow! Crawling on the roof or something—what the hell was that?!”

  My skin prickled all over.

  “Sh*t. I wasn’t imagining it,” Argus said. “We both saw it.”

  “Act natural,” I

  whispered. “Pretend to drink. Don’t look directly. It might notice us.”

  He nodded. We raised our beers again.

  It was gone.

  “What the hell was that, bro?!”