Juson ran.
His lungs burned as he sprinted toward the gate.
Behind him—
The dust followed.
At first slow.
Then faster.
Gathering.
Forming a moving cloud just above the ground.
Closing in.
---
Juson reached the gate, fumbling with it, trying to shut it behind him.
The particles surged forward—
Just as the gate slammed shut.
They hit it.
Stopped.
For a fraction of a second.
Then began slipping through the gaps.
---
"Help!" Juson shouted instinctively, though no one was there.
He turned and ran toward the car.
Faster.
Faster.
The particles chased him.
Relentless.
---
Juson reached the car and yanked the door and shut it.
"Where are we going" Herik asked.
"Hold tight" Juson shouted.
Then—
Juson froze.
Herik's window.
Open.
"Don't—!" he shouted—
Too late.
A few glowing particles slipped inside.
Floating.
Slow.
Almost beautiful.
---
Herik stared at them.
Mesmerized.
He slowly raised his hand.
"No!" Juson shouted, panic breaking through.
But the child didn't stop.
His fingers entered the glowing cluster.
---
A sharp spark flashed.
The particles dropped instantly.
Lifeless
Motionless
---
Herik screamed.
A raw, piercing sound.
Juson slammed the brakes.
The car jerked to a stop.
---
"Herik!" Juson shouted, tearing off his seatbelt.
He pulled the child into his arms, shaking him slightly.
"Wake up—come on—"
He checked his pulse.
Fast.
Too fast.
Every vein seemed alive.
Herik's breathing was uneven.
Then—
Still.
Unconscious.
Outside —
The dust vanished
Settled.
On the car.
Inside—
Herik's eyes opened slowly.
Juson froze.
They glowed.
Faint blue.
Like a light hidden behind glass.
---
"How do you feel?" Juson asked, his voice trembling.
Herik blinked.
"…safe," he said softly.
"I want to go outside."
---
Juson looked out.
The dust—
Gone.
Completely.
---
He slowly placed Herik back in the seat.
Opened the door.
Stepped out.
Carefully.
---
His eyes moved upward.
And he froze.
The car's roof—
Covered.
Every inch.
Dust particles.
Still.
Lifeless.
No movement.
No glow.
---
Juson reached out.
Touched them.
Nothing happened.
They felt… ordinary.
Dead.
---
He stepped back slowly.
His mind couldn't process it.
Herik.
The particles.
The change.
---
He pulled out his phone—
Then stopped.
Yokina was already there.
Standing near the house.
With Wanna.
---
Juson quickly got back into the car, drove forward, and stopped near them.
Herik had fallen asleep again.
Juson lifted him carefully and stepped out.
---
Yokina looked at the gate.
Closed.
"What happened?"
Juson didn't hesitate.
"Wind," he said. "And… a filthy cat in the kitchen."
Wanna nodded immediately. "I told you. Windstorm."
Simple.
Easy.
Wrong.
---
They said their goodbyes.
Wanna left with her child.
The car disappeared down the road.
---
Juson and Yokina stepped inside.
They carried Herik inside, the boy rested his head on Yokina's shoulder.
Herik slowly opened his eyes.
Looking up.
Watching.
At the gate—
The bulbs flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then went out as they moved away.