The light vanished, leaving only the bruised weight of dark clouds.
Rain drizzled from a shifting sky, and a cool breeze carried the scent of wet asphalt toward a distant, grey horizon. Through an open window, curtains fluttered wildly, snapping against the frame as the wind forced its way inside.
Inside the classroom, a sea of blue uniforms sat in stiff silence. At the front, a middle-aged man in a crisp white shirt scrawled equations across the board, chalk clicking rhythmically against the slate.
"Ring! Ring! Ring!"
The bell shattered the quiet.
"Well, children, that concludes our class for today," the teacher said, setting the chalk down. "I hope all of you are preparing for your upcoming exams."
His gaze swept the room—
Then stopped.
A boy.
Sleeping.
The teacher's fist clenched.
"He still dares to sleep in my class?"
A chill ran down Leon's spine.
Even through the fog of exhaustion—
He felt it.
Killing intent
"Leon."
The voice was sharp.
"Meet me in the staff room."
Leon sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes.
"…Yes, sir."
The Staff Room
"Ah…" The teacher sighed, leaning back into his chair.
"Leon, I know you're a good student," he said, his tone softer now. "But if this continues, you're going to fail."
Leon stood silently, head slightly lowered.
"Listen," the teacher continued, folding his hands. "I'm saying this for your own good."
A pause.
"…You're the only one your grandma has."
His voice hardened slightly.
"So don't make things harder for her… or for yourself."
Leon's expression shifted.
For a fleeting second—
Something deeper surfaced.
Something… older.
Then it was gone.
"…I'm sorry, sir," he said quietly. "I'll start studying properly."
The teacher nodded.
"…Good. You can go. Your next class should be starting."
The door clicked shut behind Leon.
The teacher frowned, staring at it.
"…He's been acting strange this past week…"
A pause.
"…Ever since he collapsed in the washroom."
He shook his head.
"…Tch. I've got too much work to worry about this."
The Corridor
Leon stood in the hallway.
Still.
Quiet.
The noise of students felt distant—
Muted.
"…A week ago," Leon murmured.
Silence.
"I guess this is where it starts again…"
His fingers twitched—
As if remembering the weight of a sword that was no longer there.
A girl was running.
Her breath came in ragged gasps, her lungs burning as her legs struggled to keep moving.
Behind her—
Something followed.
Bodies twisted beyond recognition.
Flesh hanging in grey, rotting strands.
Zombies.
"Ahh—! No… no! Someone—please, help me!"
She stumbled, collapsing onto the ground.
A hand shot out from the darkness.
Cold.
Decaying.
It grabbed her ankle.
She screamed.
More hands followed.
Grabbing.
Clawing.
Pulling.
She was dragged back—
Into them.
"NO—!"
Teeth sank into her flesh.
Skin tore apart.
Blood spilled across the ground.
And then—
For a split second—
She saw someone.
Standing in the distance.
Still.
Watching.
Crimson eyes.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAA IT-ITS MY HAND
!!"
Reality
Fei Fei jolted upright.
Her breath was uneven, her body trembling slightly.
"Fei Fei! What's wrong?!"
The door burst open as her mother rushed in.
The room was warm.
Safe.
Nothing like the nightmare.
Sketches of clothing covered the walls. Fabric pieces lay neatly arranged, and a sewing table sat in the corner, threads of every color carefully placed.
Her mother rushed to her side.
"Fei Fei, what happened?"
Fei Fei forced a smile.
"…It's nothing, Mom. Just a bad dream."
Her mother pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Oh, my poor baby…"
"Mom, I'm fine," Fei Fei said softly. "It's really not a big deal."
Her eyes drifted toward the clock.
Then—
"…Oh no."
"I'm late for class again!"
She jumped out of bed, rushing around.
"Mom! Can you get my lunch ready?"
"Alright alright, just hurry up," her mother replied with a small sigh.
"Done and done!"
Fei Fei gave a thumbs-up, her cheerful expression returning—
But only on the surface.
As she stepped out of the room—
Her smile faded.
"…The same dream… over and over again…"
"…For a week now…"
She sighed.
"…I don't have time to think about it."
She walked away.
Silence filled the room.
Then—
On the window—
A bloody handprint appeared.
Slowly.
As if something stood just beyond the glass.
A drop slid down.
Drip.
Then—
It disappeared.
As if it had never been there.
To be continued....