"Why did you suddenly ask me to come with you, senior?" Yuki asked, jogging beside me as we entered the corridor.
"It's better to move in a group during… whatever this is," I said, avoiding eye contact.
We reached Class 5-A. Lumi was crying softly at her desk.
"Lumi," I called gently, kneeling beside her. "Come on. We have to go find your brother."
"She's crying hard," Yuki said. "Shouldn't we calm her down first?"
Lumi wiped her eyes and grabbed my hand.
"Why were you crying?" I asked.
"I fell down and it hurt a lot," she mumbled, her voice cracking as more tears welled up.
My heart ached remembering how she died before. That broken body. The screams.
This time, not again. Never again.
As we reached the building exit, I stopped. The front gate. I could still feel the grip of the shapeshifter's hands from last time.
"Let's go through the back gate," I said.
"Why?" Yuki asked, eyeing me suspiciously.
"Just… safer, I think."
We exited through the rear gate and circled back to the main street. I felt relief wash over me.
"Yuki. Lumi. Stay close. Don't let go, okay?"
They both nodded.
When we reached the schoolyard again, chaos had escalated.
Parents were pulling their children into cars. Staff members were shouting. Everyone wanted to escape.
And there—
Theo, standing beside Jace's car, on the phone.
My own phone rang.
"Theo! We're here!" I shouted.
He turned, waved, and rushed toward us.
"How did you bring Lumi?" he asked. "We didn't even call you or tell you anything."
"I…" I hesitated. "Lumi's like a little sister to me. In this kind of world, I couldn't leave her behind."
"Bro, you've only met her like twice."
"So what?" I snapped. "She felt like a precious sister the moment I saw her. That's enough."
"Alright, alright, chill," Theo said, holding up his hands. "And this girl?"
"She's Yuki. Please take her with us too."
Theo looked at her. Yuki gave a small, quiet nod.
"Fine. She's in."
Theo walked a little away and signaled me to follow.
"We were at Jace's house…" he began.
I listened silently, even though I already knew every detail. This was the same story. The same path. But I acted like I was hearing it for the first time.
"Just don't mention it to Jace," Theo warned. "He's still furious."
Jace returned from the school reception, covered in blood, his clothes torn, holding a pistol.
"We're taking the bus. The driver agreed to help," Jace muttered, tossing two other bus keys away and pocketing one.
"There's enough space for more," a student complained. "Can't you let six of us in at least?"
"No."
Jace's glare and his weapon silenced everyone instantly.
He spotted us.
"Lumi!! You're safe!!"
He rushed forward, but Theo stopped him.
"Bro, you're soaked in blood. You'll stain her uniform. Go change first."
Jace nodded, passed me the car keys, and went with Theo to get cleaned up.
"Sit in the car while we're gone," he said.
As I settled in with Yuki and Lumi, a knock came at the window.
Bram.
"Why are you in the car?" he sneered. "Jace and Theo need smart people like me, not losers like you. Get back to the bus."
Just like last time.
I gritted my teeth.
Theo approached with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Hey Bram, didn't we tell you last time to stay the hell away from Ash?"
Bram shut up and slinked off toward the bus, grumbling.
Jace and Theo returned in fresh clothes.
Jace greeted Yuki, ruffled Lumi's hair, and smiled for the first time in hours.
"Alright," Theo said, taking out a notepad. "The plan. First, we pick up our families. Kai and Ryn will meet us near Ash's house. Then we find a safe zone."
Kai and Ryn.
The last two members of our friend group. If they're still alive, this might work.
"Lumi, I know you have a lot of questions," Jace said gently. "We'll explain everything. Just hold on until we get somewhere safe."
Lumi nodded, confused but trusting.
I looked outside. The sky was darker than before. The air felt heavier.
For now, we were all alive.
But death was always just around the corner.