The bell rang.
Sharp.
Loud.
Too loud.
I flinched slightly.
Why did everything suddenly feel… amplified?
Voices.
Footsteps.
Whispers.
Even the sound of chairs scraping against the floor felt sharper than usual.
"Still adjusting?" Kiara smirked.
I ignored her.
Something was wrong.
Not just "weird situation" wrong.
But… fundamentally wrong.
Like my senses were no longer mine.
I stood up slowly.
The classroom buzzed with normal life—students laughing, talking, packing their bags.
Normal.
Everything looked normal.
But it didn't feel normal.
Not anymore.
"Do you feel it?" Luna asked quietly.
I paused.
"…Yeah."
She nodded slightly.
"Good."
"Good?" I looked at her. "How is this good?"
"It means you're waking up."
"That doesn't sound reassuring."
"It's not supposed to be."
Of course.
Why was I even expecting comfort at this point?
Kiara stretched lazily behind me.
"Come on," she said. "Let's not waste time here."
"Waste time doing what?" I asked.
She grinned.
"Figuring out who's been watching you."
My body froze.
"…What?"
Luna didn't react.
Which was worse.
"Kiara," she said calmly, "don't rush him."
"Oh please," Kiara rolled her eyes. "He already crossed the line, remember?"
That again.
That stupid line.
I clenched my jaw.
"Explain. Properly. Now."
For once—
Kiara didn't joke.
Her expression softened.
Just a little.
"When you become visible," she said slowly, "it's not just you who sees them…"
A pause.
"They see you too."
Silence.
Cold.
Heavy silence.
A strange chill ran down my spine.
"…Who is 'they'?" I asked.
Luna answered this time.
"Things that shouldn't exist in your world."
That didn't help.
At all.
"Be specific."
"No," she said.
"What?"
"You're not ready."
I let out a frustrated breath.
"I'm already in this, remember? I deserve to know."
Luna looked at me.
Really looked at me.
And for a second—
There was something in her eyes.
Hesitation.
"…Fine," she said.
Kiara smiled slightly.
Now this was new.
"Not everything you see," Luna continued, "belongs here."
"Okay…"
"Some things exist… between."
"Between what?"
"Reality and something else."
That explained absolutely nothing.
But somehow—
It still felt true.
"And those things…" I said slowly, "they're watching me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
This time—
Neither of them answered.
And that silence?
That was the worst answer I could've gotten.
My heartbeat started rising.
Not fast.
But heavy.
Each beat felt… louder.
Stronger.
Like it was echoing inside my chest.
"Let's go," Kiara said suddenly.
"Where?"
"You'll see."
"I'm not going anywhere until—"
"Too late."
She grabbed my wrist.
And before I could react—
A sharp chill shot through my arm.
Not pain.
Something else.
Something… unnatural.
"Kiara—what the hell—"
"Relax," she said.
Luna stood up quietly.
"We don't have much time."
"Time for what?"
No answer.
Again.
Great.
Just great.
We stepped out of the classroom.
The hallway was crowded.
Students everywhere.
Talking.
Laughing.
Living their normal lives.
But as I walked—
Something felt off.
Wrong.
I slowed down.
"…Do you see that?" I whispered.
"Don't look directly," Luna said instantly.
Too late.
I already did.
At the far end of the corridor—
Near the window—
Someone was standing.
Still.
Completely still.
A student.
Maybe.
I couldn't tell.
Their face—
Wasn't clear.
Like it was blurred.
Distorted.
Glitching.
My breath hitched.
"What… is that?"
Kiara's grip on my wrist tightened.
"Keep walking."
"It's looking at me."
"I said don't stop."
But I couldn't.
Because now—
It moved.
Just slightly.
Its head tilted.
Too slow.
Too unnatural.
And then—
I felt it.
That same feeling from before.
That presence.
Heavy.
Cold.
Watching.
It sees me.
The thought wasn't mine.
But it was in my head.
Clear.
Sharp.
And not my voice.
My heart skipped.
"…Did you hear that?" I whispered.
Neither of them answered.
Bad sign.
Very bad sign.
"We need to go," Luna said, faster this time.
No calm tone.
No control.
Just urgency.
That scared me more than anything else.
Because Luna didn't panic.
Ever.
But right now?
She was close.
I took a step back.
The figure at the end of the hallway—
Moved again.
This time—
Closer.
Without walking.
Just… closer.
Like distance didn't apply to it.
"What the hell is that thing?!"
Kiara clicked her tongue.
"Damn. It found you faster than expected."
"FASTER?!"
"Move!"
She pulled me again.
This time—
I didn't resist.
Because something deep inside me screamed—
Run.
Now.
We turned the corner.
The figure disappeared from view.
But the feeling?
Still there.
Still watching.
Still following.
I was breathing heavier now.
"What is happening?!"
"No time," Kiara said. "If it locks onto you, we're screwed."
"WE'RE already screwed!"
"Not yet."
Luna stopped suddenly.
We almost crashed into her.
She turned around slowly.
Her eyes—
For the first time—
Weren't calm.
They were sharp.
Dangerous.
"It's here."
My stomach dropped.
"…Behind us?"
She nodded.
I didn't want to look.
I really didn't.
But my body moved on its own.
And when I turned—
I saw it.
Right there.
At the end of the corridor.
Closer than before.
Much closer.
Its face—
Still distorted.
But now—
I could see something else.
Eyes.
Completely black.
Empty.
Locked onto me.
A whisper echoed again.
Inside my head.
"You… can see…"
My blood ran cold.
Kiara stepped in front of me.
For once—
Not smiling.
"Great," she muttered.
"It's aware now."