Noah didn't think. He just acted. The moment that unease turned into something sharper—something almost recognizable—his hand was already reaching for his phone. His fingers moved faster than his thoughts, dialing a number he knew by memory.
The line rang. Once. Twice. Then...
"Yes, Noah?"
Dr. Graham's voice was as composed as ever. Calm. Clinical. Detached in a way that usually grounded people. Not today.
"We need the session," Noah said, his voice low but urgent. "Now."
A pause followed. Not long—but long enough to notice.
"Now?" Graham repeated, a faint crease of confusion slipping into his tone. "Noah, your next session is scheduled in a few days. There's no need to—"
"No." Noah cut him off. Not loud. But firm enough to leave no space for argument. "We're not waiting. We can't."
Silence. This time, heavier.
Graham was listening now. Not just hearing.
"…Alright," he said finally, slower this time. "Bring Evan in the evening."
Noah exhaled quietly. "Thank you."
The call ended.
"You're going to Graham today?" The voice came from behind. Kolon.
Noah turned slightly, just enough to acknowledge him. "Yes."
Kolon stepped closer, his shoes scraping faintly against the ground. His gaze flickered over Noah's face—not casually. Not carelessly. He was studying him. Measuring.
"You seem in a hurry," Kolon said.
"I am."
"For a therapy session?"
Noah didn't respond to that.
Didn't need to.
Kolon held his gaze for a moment longer… then exhaled through his nose.
"…Fine. Take care," he said, voice quieter now. "And let me know whatever happens."
"I will."
Noah turned to leave.
But Kolon spoke again.
"Do let me know how he's doing."
Noah nodded without thinking. "Don't worry. I'll take care of Evan."
A beat.
"I wasn't talking about Evan."
Noah stopped.
Something in the way Kolon said it...flat, precise...made it impossible to ignore.
Slowly, Noah turned back.
Kolon's eyes met his. Steady. Unblinking.
"I was talking about Dr. Graham."
And then, just like that, he walked past him. Leaving those words behind.
For a second, Noah stood there. Still.
His mind tried to process it but the thought didn't stay.
Because something louder, something far more intrusive, pushed forward.
That footage. That man. That walk. That presence.
Evening The sky had already darkened by the time they reached the clinic. The building stood quiet, almost isolated from the rest of the city as if it existed in its own pocket of silence.
Inside, the air felt cooler. Stiller.
The receptionist desk was empty. The lights were dimmed, casting long shadows along the corridor walls. Their footsteps echoed faintly as they walked in.
Evan noticed it too.
"This place always this… quiet?" he muttered.
Noah didn't answer. His focus was already ahead.
The door to the session room was slightly ajar.
Dr. Graham stood inside. Waiting. He didn't look surprised.
"You're right on time," he said, though his tone suggested he had expected nothing less.
His gaze shifted to Evan. And lingered.
Just a second longer than usual.
"…Sit."
The room was different today. Subtly. The lights were dimmer. The curtains fully drawn. Only a single lamp cast a warm, low glow across the space but instead of comfort, it created shadows that seemed too deep… too intentional.
Evan sat down slowly.
Noah didn't. He remained standing this time. Behind him. Watching.
"Let's begin," Graham said. His voice had changed. Still calm but now more controlled. More deliberate.
"Evan," he continued, "tell me… where do you see yourself?"
Evan closed his eyes. His breathing was steady at first.
In.
Out.
In...
"…Nowhere," he whispered after a moment.
Graham didn't react.
"Don't look for something specific," he said softly. "Let your mind settle. Let the memory come to you."
Silence followed.
Long.
Uncomfortable.
Noah's fingers curled slowly at his sides.
"Try again," Graham said.
Evan's brows furrowed slightly.
"…It's dark."
"Good. Stay there."
"I don't like it."
"That's alright. You're not here to like it. You're here to see."
Evan's breathing shifted.
Subtle.
But enough.
"There's… something."
Noah leaned forward slightly.
"What do you feel?" Graham asked.
"…I'm not alone."
The room seemed to shrink.
"Where is it?" Graham's voice lowered further.
"…Behind me."
A silence followed that didn't feel empty.
It felt watchful.
"Turn around."
Evan's fingers tightened on the armrest.
"I can't."
"You can."
"I don't want to."
"Evan."
The single word carried weight.
Pressure.
Expectation.
Evan's jaw clenched.
His shoulders stiffened.
"…He's closer now."
Noah's heartbeat picked up.
"How close?" Graham asked.
"…Too close."
A faint tremor ran through Evan's hands.
"He's watching me."
Noah's chest tightened.
Something about that...
It wasn't just memory.
It felt real.
"Turn around," Graham said again.
Softer this time.
Almost coaxing.
Evan's head moved slightly.
Just a fraction.
"…I'm turning…"
His breathing grew uneven.
"…I can feel him—"
A sharp sound cut through everything.
A phone ringing.
Loud.
Jarring.
Out of place.
Noah flinched slightly, instinct taking over as he pulled his phone out.
Unknown number.
For a split second...
He hesitated.
Then answered.
"…Hello?"
Silence.
A faint crackle.
And then...
A voice.
Broken.
Weak.
But unmistakable.
"Noah…"
Everything inside him froze.
His grip on the phone tightened.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"…Rhea?"
Rhea
A shaky breath came from the other side.
"You… took your time."
Noah's heart slammed against his ribs.
Behind him, Evan's eyes snapped open wide, disoriented, still half-trapped in whatever he had just seen.
Graham's head turned sharply toward Noah, his calm finally cracking...just slightly.
And in that moment...
Everything shifted.
The past.
The memory.
The man Evan couldn't see.
All of it...
Didn't matter anymore.
Because the present had just spoken.
And it was alive.