A woman screamed desperately inside a chest.
She pounded.
Scratched.
Her voice was already raw from begging for help.
—Let me out…!
Silence.
Suddenly…
She stopped.
No more pounding.
No more screams.
Nothing.
…
CRACK.
The wood of the chest broke from the inside.
A hand emerged from the ground.
Pale.
Trembling.
Then another.
The soil began to give way.
Slowly… something came out.
It was her.
But not anymore.
Her body was twisted at impossible angles.
Her skin… stretched too tightly.
Her eyes… completely black.
Her mouth opened wider than it should.
Far too wide.
Behind her…
The ground broke again.
Another hand.
Another figure.
The second girl crawled out.
Her body was worse.
Much worse.
Purple veins spread across her body like living roots, pulsing.
Her eyes had no focus.
Her breathing was erratic.
Unnatural.
The first one still retained something…
A trace.
A shadow of what she once was.
But the second…
Was a complete monster.
The two looked at each other.
And then—
They SCREAMED.
A sharp, distorted sound… impossible to describe.
It wasn't human.
It wasn't animal.
It was something else.
Something that should not exist.
And they began to move.
Into the darkness.
---
I opened my eyes abruptly.
My body was drenched in cold sweat.
My breathing was uneven.
—…
Future vision.
It had activated again.
I slowly sat up, running a hand over my face.
—So… this is what's coming.
I stared into nothingness.
—The real entities…
A faint smile appeared.
But it wasn't amusement.
It was interest.
—They're not strong yet…
I could feel it.
They were unstable.
Imperfect.
Like they had just been born.
But something didn't add up.
I frowned slightly.
—They were buried.
That much was clear.
Someone put them there.
Someone turned them… or tried to.
Silence.
—So… there's someone else.
My eyes darkened slightly.
—Interesting.
I got out of bed.
—I need to move tonight.
Future vision was useful.
But not perfect.
It only showed fragments.
Possibilities.
—Tsk…
I sighed.
—For now…
I stretched calmly.
—Routine.
There were classes today.
And besides…
—I might join the football team.
A normal life… in the middle of chaos.
The perfect balance.
I got ready and left the house.
The morning air was fresh.
I walked down the street, listening to passing conversations.
Nothing important.
Nothing out of place.
And that…
Only made it more suspicious.
I kept walking until something caught my attention.
An electronics store.
I stopped in front of the glass.
—Hm.
Now I had money.
A lot of money.
I smiled faintly.
—"Acquired" sounds better.
I walked in.
The TVs were limited.
It was 2006, after all.
Bulky screens.
Slight static.
Nothing impressive.
Still…
—I miss flat screens… 75 inches or more.
I muttered to myself.
I kept browsing until—
A news report.
I stopped.
Something… wasn't right.
I turned my head.
Looked at the screen.
"Two young women missing"
My eyes focused.
The images showed photos of two girls.
—Friends…
The reporter continued:
"It is believed the two met with a third person before disappearing."
There was no more information.
But there didn't need to be.
My eyes narrowed.
—It's started.
I left the store without saying anything.
I walked toward school.
My mind was already working.
—This looks like the skinless boss case…
But it wasn't the same.
This…
Was rougher.
More chaotic.
More… real.
I arrived at school.
The atmosphere was the same as always.
Students talking.
Laughter.
Normality.
A comfortable lie.
Then—
A car approached.
It stopped smoothly.
People started turning their heads.
The door opened.
First, Madison stepped out.
Then Chloe.
As always…
Drawing attention effortlessly.
Their steps were confident.
Elegant.
Madison saw me.
She smiled.
Chloe waved.
I sighed internally.
—Trouble…
But I walked toward them.
—Good morning.
Madison approached first.
—How are you, Ryan? How was your weekend?
—Good.
Simple answer.
Chloe stepped closer too, with a curious smile.
—You look… different.
I looked at her.
—Oh yeah?
—Yeah —she said, tilting her head slightly—. Like you know something others don't.
Silence.
I smiled faintly.
—Maybe.
Madison laughed softly.
—That sounds interesting.
But I didn't respond.
Because at that moment…
Something changed.
My gaze shifted slightly.
Into the distance.
To no specific point.
But I felt it.
Clearly.
Something…
Had entered Morris County.
Something not human.
Something that didn't follow rules.
Something that…
Didn't belong to me.
My smile disappeared completely.
—…
Madison noticed.
—Ryan?
I didn't respond immediately.
My eyes darkened.
—This…
I murmured under my breath.
—Wasn't there before.
An uncomfortable silence formed.
Chloe frowned slightly.
—What are you talking about?
I turned my gaze back to them.
And smiled again.
But this time…
It wasn't a normal smile.
It was colder.
More… real.
—Nothing.
Pause.
—Just that…
I glanced at the sky for a second.
—Things are about to get interesting.
Madison looked at me curiously.
—Is that why you're acting like this?
I looked at her.
—Like what?
—Weird.
I smiled faintly.
—No.
Pause.
—It's because I'm joining the football team.
Madison and Chloe exchanged looks.
Then they laughed softly.
—Really? —Chloe said—. I didn't see you as the type.
—Hey —I replied with a confident smile—, I'm good.
I crossed my arms.
—The best at assists.
I paused slightly.
—Not exactly quarterback material…
Then I lifted my gaze with confidence.
—But when it comes to assists… I'm the best.