Solfa didn't sleep well.
Not because she couldn't, but because every time she got close, the faint hum returned.
Soft.
Persistent.
Like something waiting just beneath her thoughts.
By the time morning came, she was already awake, staring at the ceiling while pale lights slowly filled her room. She pushed herself up, running a hand through her hair. Her head felt heavy, not exactly painful, but crowded.
Like, a lot was going on inside it.
She swung her legs off the bed and sat there for a moment, listening.
Nothing.
No hum.
No static.
Just the distant sound of the harbor.
She exhaled.
"I might have imagined it".
But even as she said it, she didn't believe it.
The kitchen smelled like coffee and toast.
Her father stood by the counter, already dressed for work.
"Morning", he said without turning.
"Morning", Solfa replied, grabbing a glass of water.
She watched for a second.
The way he moved, steady, controlled, like everything he did had purpose.
'You're staring", he said.
Solfa smirked a little, "You noticed".
"Part of being a dad".
She leaned against the counter. "You ever get the feeling something's off?"
He paused.
Just for a moment.
Then continued what he was doing.
"Off how?"
Solfa shrugged. "I don't know. Just… off".
He turned then, studying her properly.
"You didn't sleep well".
"That obvious?"
"You look like you didn't".
"Harsh".
He didn't smile this time.
"Solfa".
She held up her hands, "Relax, I'm fine".
A pause.
He nodded slowly, "Alright".
But the look he gave her said he didn't fully believe that.
Solfa grabbed a piece of toast.
"Anyway, I should get going before I start hearing voices again".
Her father's expression shifted.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
Solfa noticed.
She always noticed.
"...that was a joke", she added quickly.
But his tone didn't match.
Outside, the air felt cooler than usual.
Or maybe she was just more aware of it.
The walk to school was familiar, same streets, same turns, but today, Solfa paid close attention.
Too close.
Every light changes.
Every passing car.
Every flicker of a screen.
Patterns.
Everything had patterns.
"Okay", she muttered, "calm down".
A bus passed her.
Right on time.
A pedestrian signal switched just as someone reached it.
Right on time.
She slowed.
Her eyes narrowed a bit.
"What are you doing?" she asked under her breath, staring at the traffic light as if it might answer her.
It didn't.
Of course it didn't.
Solfa huffed a quiet laugh. "Yeah. Definitely losing it".
But as she kept walking, that faint hum crept back.
Soft.
Barely there.
But unmistakable.
Her steps faltered.
"No", she whispered. "No, we're not doing this again".
The sound didn't fade.
If anything…
It felt closer.
"Solfa!"
Mira's voice snapped her out of it.
She turned to see her jogging over, with the same energy as always.
"You look like you just saw something", Mira said.
"I might have".
"That's not reassuring".
Solfa forced a smile. "Good morning to you too".
Mira studied her carefully. "You didn't sleep, did you?"
"That obvious?"
"Yes"
"Nice"
They started walking toward the school gates.
For a moment, things felt normal again.
Almost.
"So", Mira said, "Are you going to tell me what's going on, or are we sticking with the mysterious silence thing?"
Solfa hesitated.
Then shrugged.
"I think something's wrong with the city".
Mira blinked.
"...what?"
"Not like broken wrong", Solfa said quickly." Just- off. Like everything's too… perfect".
Mira stared at her.
"You're serious".
"Unfortunately'.
" Okay", Mira said slowly, "you need to explain that better".
Solfa opened her mouth.
And then it happened.
A sharp pulse shot through her head.
Not pain,
Something else.
A signal.
Her vision flickered.
For a split second, everything changed.
The street.
The people.
The buildings are all connected.
Lines.
Faint, glowing lines treading through everything.
Moving.
Flowing.
Alive.
Solfa gasped.
And then it was gone.
Just like that.
"Solfa?"
Mira grabbed her arm.
"You just froze".
Solfa blinked rapidly, trying to steady herself.
"I-"
Her voice caught.
"That wasn't normal".
"No kidding", Mira said. "What happened?"
Solfa looked around.
Everything was back to normal.
Cars. People. Noise.
But her heart was racing.
"I saw something", she said quietly.
"What?"
Solfa hesitated.
How do you even explain that?
"Connections", she said finally. "Like… everything was connected".
Mira frowned. "That doesn't make sense".
"I know".
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Solfa let out a shaky breath.
"No", she admitted.
That was new.
Usually, she'd joke it off.
Pretend.
But this time…
She couldn't.
Mira's expression softened a little.
"Okay", she said. "Then we figure it out."
Solfa glanced at her.
"You're not going to say I'm crazy?"
"Oh, you're definitely a little crazy", Mira said. "But this feels different".
Solfa let out a small laugh.
"Thanks. I think".
They reached the school gates.
Students moved around like always.
Everything looked normal.
But Solfa couldn't shake the feeling.
That was what she saw…
Was real.
As they stepped inside, the hum returned.
Stronger.
Chaos.
Solfa stiffened.
Her gaze snapped to one of the hallways.
It flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then, for the briefest moment, the display changed.
Not to an ad.
Not to an announcement.
But to something else.
A pattern.
A signal.
Solfa's breath caught.
"Do you see that?" she whispered.
Mira looked.
"It's just a screen".
Solfa's chest tightened.
No.
It wasn't.
Because just before it snapped back to normal, he could have sworn it was looking back at her.
And this time… she was certain.
The city wasn't just running.
It was responding.