“Yes. He’s down with a fever…” Yaryu rubs her temples. “No, he’s fine—sleeping. No, I don’t think he’s sick. I think he was just… scared.”

  Her gaze flicks toward Anaki, still as death on the dorm bed. His skin pale, breath shallow.

  “I—I don’t know,” she admits. “I’ve never seen him panic like that before.”

  She exhales sharply and ends the call. So much for a peaceful summer.

  Across the room, Eli and Orion wait by the door frame.

  “Is he going to be okay?” Eli signs to her, eyes drooping.

  Yaryu forces a smile, signing back. “Let’s not worry too much. I’m sure he’ll be fine. He just needs rest.”

  Eli nods, but she needs more convincing.

  She turns to Orion. “You okay, kiddo?”

  Orion doesn’t answer at first. He looks away, arms crossed. Then finally, a quiet: “What now?”

  She shrugs, ruffling his hair. “The school’s sending a ride for us tomorrow. Until then, why don’t you boys enjoy the rest of your summer?”

  Eli and Orion exchange a glance.

  “We’ll stay with Anaki,” Eli says simply.

  Yaryu nods and steps outside. The room falls into silence.

  Orion sighs, flopping onto the floor. “Well… he messed up again.”

  Eli shoots him a glare. “He almost drowned.”

  Orion shrugs. “I told you—he’s just gonna get us in trouble again. He always does.”

  Eli exhales. He’s not going to have this argument again.

  Orion huffs. “Why do you let him follow us around? I thought we were supposed to cut him loose.”

  “I know… but something came up last week—”

  A sound catches their attention.

  They turn.

  Anaki is sitting upright, staring at them like they’re strangers.

  Orion freezes. “Did he hear us?”

  Eli swallows and steps forward cautiously. "Anaki…?”

  Anaki blinks at him as if seeing him for the first time. Then, tentatively, he reaches out—his fingers ice cold as they press against Eli’s cheek.

  Eli flinches. “What the—?”

  Anaki’s breath shudders. His hands drop into his lap. “You’re… real.”

  Orion raises a brow. “Yeah, obviously?” He signs at Eli. Well, he's lost his damn marbles.

  Eli glares at him. “Orion. This is serious.”

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  Orion shrugs.

  But Anaki isn’t listening. His fingers dig into the sheets. His shoulders tremble. And then—his breath breaks.

  A choked sob escapes his throat.

  Eli and Orion freeze as Anaki buries his face in his lap, his muffled cries echoing in the room.

  Not loud or dramatic. Just silent and sorrowful.

  Orion walks out the room. “I’ll call Yaryu.”

  Eli swallows hard, hesitating before slowly sitting beside Anaki.

  He doesn't know what to say.

  Anaki hesitates to take a glass of water from Yaryu. He's finally calmed.

  "Here."

  Anaki’s fingers tighten around the glass. He stares at them, thoughts processing as slow as his grip on reality.

  Miss Yaryu, his first-class teacher. Eli and Orion, his childhood friends. Breathing. Alive. And in the flesh.

  They’re supposed to be dead, their bodies rotting to mere bones by now.

  His gaze lands on Yaryu’s neck. No bite marks. No scars. No wounds.

  "Are you okay?" Yaryu asks again, her voice softer than milk.

  Anaki flinches. His skin prickles—this unfamiliar warmth is alien.

  And the smell. The air smells of salt and damp linen. His head throbs, memories pressing against his skull again. He's certain of it. This is his true reality. And the life he lived in that vision...it—just what was that?

  His pupils dilate as the door swings open. A flood of students rush in, chattering excitedly.

  "Not now," Yaryu sighs, shooing them away. "He still needs rest."

  Anaki watches them scramble out. They’re just kids. Grade schoolers.

  Like me.

  Did he resurrect? Time-travel? Reincarnate?

  "What happened?" he finally asks.

  "You almost drowned, Anaki." Yaryu waves at the children. "He’s fine now. Hurry back.”

  The students whisper among themselves as they leave, sneaking curious glances back at him.

  Yaryu turns back to him. "Are you sure you’re alright?"

  She clasps her hand over his. Anaki jerks away.

  Surprise flickers across her face, but then understanding. She pats his lap gently and rises to her feet.

  "Get some rest. We’ll talk later."

  The door clicks shut behind her. Anaki listens to the silence—the rustle of sea winds, the distant chatter of students. It’s so… peaceful. But will this peace last?

  Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he sorts through his memories.Everything that’s happened so far.

  Everything that hasn’t happened, but did, in his mind.

  What’s wrong with me?—

  "Has he lost it?"

  "Will you stop it?"

  Familiar voices whisper at the door.

  Two heads poke in.

  Anaki recognizes them instantly. His mind finally recalibrates.

  "Crap, he saw us."

  "That's a good thing—"

  "W—wait, Eli!" Orion stumbles into the room, trailing after Eli, both of them shuffling awkwardly.

  Anaki knew them. He knows them.

  Orion. Taller than him. Older than him. Three years ahead. And Eli. Orion’s best friend and childhood neighbor. Deaf but not a mute.

  Orion crosses his arms, watching Anaki like he’s a puzzle missing too many pieces. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He huffs. “Or worse—like you are one.”

  Eli tugs on Orion’s sleeve, signs something quickly. His green eyes flick to Anaki’s trembling hands. He sees it before Anaki does.

  "Are you feeling better, Anaki?" Eli asks.

  Anaki nods slowly, he's still trying to remember more about them.

  Why is he trying to remember? He’s known them all his life.

  It’s the visions he has to question.

  Tonight at midnight, the clock will strike and Heaven’s Wrath will befall humanity. Not a single day will pass without chaos. Without death. His grip tightens around the blankets.

  Those screams. Ever-consuming fires. Deaths. Blood on his hands. Anaki blinks looking at his trembling hands—no blood. No scars. Not yet. Was it really just a dream?

  But can a dream last for years?

  He glances at Eli and Orion, watching them exchange signals, bickering about who should say what and why.

  Eli snaps his fingers to get Anaki’s attention. "Sleep more. You didn’t last night because of the storm."

  Storm?

  Anaki’s breath halts. The storm.

  It was last night. It was years ago. It was the night everything ended.

  His eyes blur.

  “Are you crying again?” Orion asks, brows furrowed.

  Eli frowns. "You made him cry."

  "What? Me, I—" Orion glances from Anaki’s face to Eli’s displeased stare. "I didn’t—"

  Anaki wipes his eyes. He missed these peaceful days. When he didn't worry about survival and had to endure their bickering.

  "...Ah."

  Eli and Orion pause.

  Anaki’s face crinkles. Like he’s found an answer he’s been searching for.

  "It’s tonight."

  His voice is quiet. Orion furrows his brows. "What’s tonight? Your birthday?”

  Anaki doesn’t answer.

  The apocalypse is tonight. And everyone he's ever known will die and he'll be all alone until death.

  Whatever the reason for his return—if this is real—then until it’s confirmed… He has to save as many people as he can. He looks up at his old friends—their faces confused, worried. Oblivious.

  He clenches his fists. If midnight comes and he’s done nothing…

  No. He won’t let it happen again.