Kai's Perspective – Before the World Fell Apart
I'm Kai, 12th class student.
I'm not great at studies. I could be great at sports—both my father and grandfather were national-level athletes—but I barely practice.
What I really want is to be a writer. Even if my first two drafts got rejected, I'm still trying.
I met Theo at our sports academy. We hit it off.
I love anime too, but my favorite is a dark revenge manga where the MC destroys the five bullies who ruined his life. The kind of story that sticks in your throat.
"Bro, check this out!" Ryn called out, surrounded by girls at the arcade machine.
"Have fun without me," I waved.
We're opposites. Ryn's always popular, barely watches anime (only the ones I force him to), and sucks at sports. But we've been friends since childhood—since before we even knew how different we were.
"I feel bad for those three," Ryn said. "We took a holiday and didn't even tell them."
"Only feel bad for Ash," I shrugged. "Those other two are living it up in Jace's car right now."
"Man, I wanted to ride with Jace too," Ryn sighed.
Back in Class 9, when Ryn and I transferred to our current school, there were five new admissions total—me, Ryn, Ash, Theo, and Jace.
But we didn't become friends immediately. That started with anime.
"Thanks for this manga," Ash told Jace one day, eyes sparkling.
"You like anime?" I asked.
"Yeah, but my favorite is this manga about a kid getting revenge on five bullies."
That exact manga? I was hooked.
We talked all day. He later introduced me to Theo and Jace, I introduced Ryn, and from that day, the five of us were inseparable.
Present Day – The Fall Begins
"What the hell!?" Ryn shouted.
I rolled my eyes. "What, lost again?"
"No! Look outside!"
And there it was—the sky, pitch black. Lights dead. On the street, a man—no, a thing—its arms stretching unnaturally, was slaughtering people like ants.
Screams. Panic. Chaos.
"Call the police!" someone yelled.
"No one's picking up!" came another voice.
I grabbed my phone. News articles were exploding—people bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes, ears. Creatures. Shapeshifters. No confirmed weaknesses.
One guide said:
If you see a shapeshifter: run. If it's at the front gate—take the back.
I grabbed Ryn's wrist. "Back door. Now!"
We sprinted. The screams behind us grew quieter, but darker too. Bodies. Blood.
A headless man lay beside a tipped-over bike. We moved his body to the side and took the bike.
"I'll drive," Ryn said. "You don't even know where the brakes are."
We headed to my house. Ryn's parents were abroad. Mine—hopefully home.
Then my phone buzzed.
Theo.
"You've seen what's happening. We're picking up Ash, then Lumi. Bring your family to Ash's house. It's the safest plan. Trust me."
I hung up and told Ryn.
When we reached home, my dad was already back. My grandfather, mother, and younger brother were all waiting.
I told them everything. They hesitated. But then—
A revolver was tossed into my hands.
"If anything happens," Grandpa said, "don't hesitate."
Dad took the wheel in the family car. Ryn and I followed on the bike.
We were almost at Ash's house when headlights appeared ahead.
A car. Fast. Battered. Behind it, a familiar school bus.
"STOP OR I'LL SHOOT!" I yelled.
The car braked hard.
That damage on the front—looked like it rammed through a gate.
I knew that car.
Ash's Perspective
The car was silent.
Jace was driving. Theo beside him, gripping a gun. Lumi was asleep on Yuki's shoulder. Yuki was scrolling through emergency downloads.
Then—shouting.
"STOP OR I'LL SHOOT!"
Jace hit the brakes. The bus behind us stopped too. Theo got out first, gun ready, then signaled all clear.
Jace and I followed.
Kai and Ryn.
I could've cried.
"Thank god you're safe," Kai said, his eyes sharp but relieved.
"Please," Ryn added, "let us in the car or the bus. The bike's not safe."
Kai's sentence stopped mid-air. He must've remembered something... from the bike.
Jace nodded.
He told Lumi and Yuki to join the bus, then waved Kai and Ryn into the car.
Jace took the wheel again. Kai rode shotgun, being a better shot than Theo. Theo and Ryn took the sides of the backseat. I sat between them.
And for the first time since everything started...
I felt safe.
All five of us—Jace, Theo, Kai, Ryn, and me—together again.
I looked at each of them.
This was our party, our last stand, our survivors' circle.
And I was going to make sure… we didn't die this time.