The bus was loud. People groaning, whining, cursing me for crying like a child. I could barely hear anything except the roar of my own grief.
"Senior…" Yuki leaned close, whispering. "Why is some of your hair white?"
I blinked. Pulled out my phone. Switched to the front camera.
A few strands of white hair above my right ear—like frost creeping into a forest.
The voice returned.
"Will you just let them all die again…?"
My teeth clenched. No. I won't break.
Not now.
"I said stop the bus!" I shouted.
The brakes screamed. The bus stopped.
People exploded in complaints.
"What now!?"
"Sit down, loser!"
"Is he crying again!?"
"Senior, what happened?" Yuki asked softly.
I ignored her. I called Jace.
"Stop the car. Right now."
"The hell, Ash?" Jace sounded pissed. "You think this is some game?"
Still, the car rolled to a halt. He stormed out.
Theo and Kai followed. Ryn stepped out, frowning.
My house was just twelve houses away.
"What the hell is going on?" Ryn snapped. "Could've talked in your house, you know."
"Man, pull yourself together," Theo muttered.
Jace just glared at me.
Lumi peeked from the car. Yuki was at the bus window, confused. Everyone else in the bus stared like I'd lost my mind.
"Kill my parents."
Silence.
Then—
"What the FUCK did you just say!?" Jace roared.
Theo froze, stunned. Ryn looked at me like I was insane. Kai didn't speak—he punched me straight in the jaw.
I didn't fight back.
"Don't you think it's strange?" I said, voice low. "The entire neighborhood's silent. My parents won't pick up. And my house is the only one with the lights on."
"That doesn't mean they're shapeshifters—" Theo started.
"Then kill me too." I interrupted. "If I'm wrong, I'll take the bullet."
Their eyes changed.
"I'm sure those shapeshifters are wearing my parents' skin."
"…You serious?" Kai whispered.
"I am. Take the bus and get everyone out. Take Lumi. Take your family. Load your weapons. Burn them down."
There was silence.
Then Jace nodded.
"BUS, GET OUT! MOVE!"
Lumi and Yuki were sent ahead with the bus. Kai's family followed. Theo messaged his parents not to enter the area yet.
All five of us climbed into the car. Armed.
I held Kai's revolver. Kai pulled the shotgun from the trunk. Theo gripped a machete. Jace had a pistol. Ryn held a crowbar.
Jace parked sideways across the road, blocking any escape route. Just in case.
I walked up and knocked on the door.
We hid our weapons behind our backs.
The door opened.
They were there.
My "parents."
Smiling.
Familiar.
"SHOOT!" I screamed.
Gunfire erupted.
One fell instantly. But the other one shattered the window and burst out.
He was slim. Eight feet tall, limbs twisting like rubber. Skin like melted wax.
Kai fired. Shot to the chest.
Jace hit him in the head.
Theo, Ryn, and I missed.
His head turned blood-red. Veins bulged. He lifted Jace's car like a toy and threw it at us.
We barely dodged.
Breathless. Shaking.
"He didn't die from headshots," Jace muttered. "Must be the heart."
I met Kai's eyes. Pointed.
Kai understood.
BOOM.
The shapeshifter's chest exploded.
He crumbled. Screaming. Then silence.
I stood there. Panting. Numb.
I wanted to celebrate. I wanted to feel proud.
But I just started crying.
Louder and louder.
I walked into my house alone. Told the others to wait outside.
To them, it was just a kill.
To me… it was the grave of the last people who loved me.
In my parents' room, I gathered wood, old files, newspapers, anything flammable.
I took the emergency fuel from the kitchen.
Soaked the room.
Lit the match.
The flames climbed fast.
I stared.
Whispered.
"Rest in peace… Mom. Dad."
Tears streamed down my face.
I collapsed to my knees.
I had dreams.
Stupid dreams.
I wanted to graduate.
Get a job.
Marry the girl my parents chose.
Host dinners. Invite Theo, Kai, Ryn, Jace. Laugh together.
Once a month, we'd eat, fight over leftovers. Complain about politics.
A normal, boring life.
But that life's gone.
Even if I die again… I can't bring my parents back.