Jason slowly drifted to sleep as he sat on his bed.
Darkness shifted.
Something ancient stirred beyond the gate. Shapes moved in the distance—unclear, incomplete.
They were kneeling before something.
Jason couldn't see it clearly.
Only a heavy presence watching.
A voice echoed.
Low.
Distorted.
"…the end… approaches…"
Another voice responded.
Faint.
Almost breaking.
"…this world… won't survive…"
The space around them trembled. Like it couldn't hold itself together.
Jason stood at the edge of it all.
Frozen.
He didn't know how he got there. But something turned toward him. And in that moment, he knew.
It could see him.
Jason's eyes snapped open.
He sat up sharply, breathing unevenly, sweat clinging to his skin.
His room.
Silent.
Normal.
"…What was that?"
Obviously, it was a dream.
A bad and strange one.
The morning came faster than Jason expected.
He didn't sleep well.
Fragments of the dream lingered, unclear and unfinished.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Jason walked through the school gates again.
Same place, Same noise.
Same people.
But something felt...
Off.
Not obvious.
Not enough for anyone else to notice.
Footsteps echoed—
but didn't match the movement.
Jason frowned slightly.
"…Weird."
"Yo."
Peter appeared beside him.
"You good?"
Jason glanced at him.
"Yeah."
Peter squinted.
"You've been saying that a lot."
Jason didn't reply.
They entered the classroom together.
A black car rolled to a quiet stop just outside the school entrance.
The driver stepped out first, opening the door.
Aurora stepped out.
Calm.
Composed.
Unhurried.
"Will you be returning at the usual time, miss?" the driver asked.
Aurora nodded slightly.
"Yes."
No extra words.
The car pulled away.
Aurora stood there for a moment.
Her eyes lifted to the gate.
Still hanging in the sky.
Unchanged.
Her gaze narrowed slightly.
A bird flew past it.
For a split second, it wasn't there.
Then it was.
Aurora didn't react outwardly.
But she noticed.
"…Again."
She turned and walked toward the building where her class was located.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
The class had just settled into a low hum of activity.
Mr. Daniel was writing on the board.
Most students were distracted.
Jason wasn't.
He stared at his notebook.
Not reading.
Not writing.
Just thinking.
"…You noticed it."
The voice came quietly from beside him.
Jason didn't look up immediately.
"…You too," he replied, surprised by the question.
Aurora didn't deny it.
Jason finally turned slightly toward her.
Aurora's eyes remained forward.
Watching the class.
Not him.
Jason frowned.
"…Then what is it?"
Aurora's gaze shifted slightly toward the window.
"The gate," she said.
Jason's expression tightened.
"You think it's connected?"
Instead of answering, Aurora asked,
"When did you first notice something was wrong?"
Jason leaned back slightly.
Thinking.
"…" he said.
"On my way home, I met this strange old man talking something about the gate opening up, people disappearing from this world into another world, stuff like that."
Aurora nodded once.
"I encountered something similar a long time ago," she replied.
That landed heavier than expected.
Jason looked at her properly now.
"So it's not just me."
Aurora finally turned her head slightly.
"No," she said calmly.
Jason studied her.
"…And what do you think it is?"
Aurora's gaze returned forward.
"I feel like something hasn't fully started yet."
"But it will."
Jason exhaled quietly. He wanted to tell her about the dream, but quickly shoved the thought aside.
"…That's not very reassuring."
Aurora didn't react.
An awkward silence settled between them.
Then Aurora spoke again.
"Don't ignore it next time."
Jason raised a brow.
"Next time?"
Aurora closed her book.
She stood up.
Just as the teacher turned back toward the class.
The conversation ended.
But the words didn't leave Jason's mind.
The class dragged on, turning out to be quite boring.
Eventually, the bell rang.
It was time for a break.
Jason strolled down the hallway and spotted Aurora sitting alone at the far end.
He approached her and lowered his voice slightly.
"Hey, you said something about something not having fully started yet. Do you have any clue what it is?"
Aurora didn't answer immediately.
"No," she said calmly.
Before Jason could respond, footsteps approached.
Loud.
Deliberate.
Confident in the way that expected attention.
Jason didn't need to look up to know who it was.
Darius.
Kane.
Leo.
The group stopped in front of them.
Kane smirked.
"Well, would you look at this."
Leo chuckled lightly, glancing between Jason and Aurora.
Darius didn't speak immediately.
He simply observed.
Aurora didn't move.
Didn't react.
Didn't acknowledge them at first.
She looked up.
Just once.
A cold glance.
Not anger.
Not fear.
Not interest.
Just awareness.
Like she'd already decided they weren't important.
Kane's smirk faded a fraction.
Darius noticed.
But didn't show it.
Jason watched carefully.
Aurora returned her gaze to the book in her hands as though they had already been dismissed.
Darius finally spoke.
"…Didn't mean to interrupt."
His tone was controlled.
Measured.
Not apologetic.
Not aggressive either.
Just contained.
Kane frowned slightly, clearly expecting a different reaction.
Leo laughed awkwardly.
"We were just—"
"Leave it," Darius said quietly.
No explanation.
No further words.
The group turned and walked away.
Kane glanced back once.
Aurora didn't look at him again.
Jason exhaled slightly once they were gone.
"…That was unnecessary," he muttered.
Aurora's voice remained calm.
"It wasn't."
Jason looked at her.
She didn't elaborate.
Instead, she added,
"They're probably just spoiled brats who think they rule the world."
Aurora closed the book she had been reading before Jason approached her.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Later that day, classes had shifted, and the noise in the room had settled into a low, tired hum.
Books were open, but most students weren't really focused.
Peter leaned slightly toward Jason.
"Hey," he whispered. "You want to understand how this place actually works?"
Jason glanced at him.
"Go on."
Peter exhaled like he'd been waiting for this.
"Alright. Think of the class like layers. Not official or anything... just how it is."
He subtly pointed with his pen.
"Top Layer."
"First, there's Darius and his group. There are other people like them, but they're basically at the top."
Jason didn't respond.
Peter continued.
"Mostly rich spoiled brats."
"They don't officially run things... but everyone acts like they do."
"Kane starts problems, Darius ends them. Leo just follows whatever keeps him safe."
Jason looked toward them briefly.
Darius was seated calmly.
Kane was half-listening to something, smirking.
Leo was laughing too easily.
Peter noticed Jason looking.
"Yeah," he muttered. "That's them."
"Invisible Layer."
Peter shifted slightly in his seat.
"Then there's everyone else. The normal students."
He gestured vaguely around the room.
"People who just want to finish school, pass exams, and go home. They don't get involved in anything."
He shrugged.
"They survive by not existing too loudly."
Peter pointed at himself.
"Honestly, I'm in that category."
Jason nodded slightly.
Peter continued.
"Then there are people who notice things."
Jason's eyes sharpened slightly.
"People in this class who seem... different. Like they're always watching."
"They act normal. They laugh, chat, do what everyone else does."
He hesitated.
"But I always get a weird feeling from them."
"Not officially a group. Just individuals."
"Weird stuff. Changes in behavior."
"But they don't talk about it."
Jason remained silent.
Peter glanced at him.
"…People like you, maybe."
Jason raised a brow.
"Aurora's Level."
Peter leaned back slightly.
"And then there's her."
Jason already knew who he meant.
"Aurora doesn't fit anywhere."
Peter lowered his voice.
"She could probably be grouped with the weird ones, but she's different."
"Too smart for the normal group. Too distant for the popular ones."
He paused briefly.
"People don't ignore her because they dislike her."
He hesitated.
"They ignore her because she makes them uncomfortable without doing anything."
Jason looked toward Aurora's seat.
She was writing.
Unbothered, Like none of this existed.
The afternoon dragged slowly.
Lessons blurred into half-listening and half-thinking.
Jason barely noticed the time passing.
Something about the day felt slightly off.
Like a quiet tension sat beneath everything.
Eventually, the final bell rang.
Students immediately shifted.
Books closed, chairs scraped and voices returned.
Freedom.
Jason stood up, stretching slightly.
"Finally," Peter muttered beside him.
Jason glanced at him.
"Heading out?"
"Yeah," Peter said, swinging his bag over his shoulder. "Same route?"
Jason shook his head slightly.
"Nah. I'll take a different way today."
Peter nodded.
"Alright then. Don't get bored of school life already."
He gave a small grin.
Jason almost smirked.
"…No promises."
They walked together briefly down the hallway.
Crowds thinning out.
Noise fading.
At the corridor split, they stopped.
"See you tomorrow," Peter said.
Jason nodded.
"Yeah."
And just like that, they went separate ways.
Jason strolled a short distance from the school before pulling out his scooter.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
After they separated, Peter headed home.
Unfortunately, he didn't get far before Darius and his group pulled up beside him in a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.
Peter had always admired Hellcats.
Unfortunately, his parents couldn't care less about buying him one.
The three stepped out. Moving slower than usual. Peter didn't turn immediately.
He already knew.
Darius.
Kane.
Leo.
"…Great," Peter muttered under his breath.
"Hey" Kane's voice came from behind him.
Peter stopped, then slowly turned.The three stood there. Not threatening him outright. Just blocking the space around him.
Kane smirked.
"You're Jason's friend, right?"
Peter swallowed.
"…Yeah."
Leo glanced at Kane as though he wasn't sure this was necessary.
Darius stepped forward slightly.
"You spend time with him ."
It wasn't a question.
Peter hesitated.
"…We sit near each other. That's all."
Kane chuckled.
"Sure. 'That's all.'" Peter shifted his weight. Trying not to show how uncomfortable he was.
Darius studied him for a moment.
The kid was obviously intimidated.
"Let's keep this simple," Darius said.
"Tell your friend to know his place and stop trying to stand out. Got it?"
"Y-Yes."
Peter nodded quickly.
Darius turned away.
The three climbed back into the Hellcat and drove off.
Peter let out a shaky breath.
Anger lingered beneath the fear, but there wasn't much he could do about it.
He dusted himself off and continued home at a faster pace.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Jason reached home, but nobody was around. Lily had likely gone out with their mom. The house was unusually quiet.
Jason dropped his bag near the wall and let out a small breath.
"…Finally home alone"
He walked into his room and turned on the TV. Just background noise, something to break the silence.
At first, it was normal programming.
Music, Advertisements, Talk shows.
Jason leaned back on his bed. Staring at the ceiling. Trying not to think too much.
The screen flickered once.
Again.
Jason glanced at the TV.
"…Huh?"
The channel changed by itself. A news broadcast appeared. A serious-looking anchor sat in front of a studio backdrop.
Jason frowned slightly and adjusted his position.
"…We interrupt this program for a special announcement."
His expression shifted.
The anchor's voice was steady, but something about it felt tense.
"Reports have confirmed an unusual shift in the atmospheric anomaly known globally as The Gate."
Jason sat up slowly.
"…Shift?"
The screen cut briefly to a live feed.
The sky.
The Gate.
But something was different.
It wasn't gone.
It had moved slightly.
Not much.
But enough to be noticeable if you'd been watching it long enough.
Jason's eyes narrowed.
"…That's not possible."
The broadcast continued.
"Scientific stations across multiple regions have recorded a positional change. The cause is currently unknown."
Jason didn't blink.
"…Multiple regions?"
The anchor continued speaking.
But Jason barely heard him.
The image behind the anchor flickered for half a second. A dark shape appeared behind the studio glass.
Something that wasn't supposed to be there.
Then it was gone.
Jason froze.
"…Did I just—"
The screen returned to normal broadcast footage.
No sign of anything unusual.
The anchor's voice remained calm.
"…Citizens are advised to remain calm. There is currently no threat."
Jason slowly leaned forward.
"…No threat?"
He looked toward the window.
The sky outside was still bright.
Still normal.
The Gate was still there, and he couldn't really notice the shift mentioned in the news.
But he didn't trust "normal" anymore.
Jason muted the TV.
Silence returned to the room.
It wasn't peaceful anymore.
A quiet sense of unease lingered in the back of his mind.
Jason sat on his bed, the muted TV still glowing in the background. His eyes were fixed on nothing in particular.
The news anchor kept speaking, lips moving without sound.
But Jason wasn't listening anymore.
The only thing in his head was that word.
Shift.
A sudden knock came from the front door. Then hurried footsteps.
The door opened.
"Jason!"
His mom's voice.
Jason turned slightly.
"…Yeah?"
She stepped inside quickly, looking unsettled.
Lily followed behind her, holding her phone.
"You saw it, right?" Lily asked immediately.
Jason paused.
"…Saw what?"
His mom exhaled.
"The news, about the shift in the Gate."
Lily walked further in.
"They said it moved."
Jason watched them carefully.
"…Yeah. I saw it."
His mom shook her head, still trying to process it.
"It's probably just measurement error… right? These things happen with satellites and projections."
Lily didn't look convinced.
"They showed live footage."
Jason didn't respond immediately.
That part stuck in his mind too.
"…It didn't look like an error," he said quietly.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Lily sat on the edge of the couch.
"…People at school are talking about it already."
Jason looked up slightly.
"Really?"
"Yeah," she said. "Some are saying it's fake. Others are saying it's a warning."
His mom sighed softly, trying to stay calm.
"Well, whatever it is, we shouldn't panic. The government will handle it."
Jason didn't reply.
Something about that didn't feel reassuring anymore.
Instead, he glanced toward the window.
The sky outside was still normal.
Still bright.
Still quiet.
Yet it no longer felt quite the same.
Lily stood up.
"I'm going to check social media. Everyone's posting about it." She left the room quickly.
His mom stayed a moment longer.
She looked at Jason.
Noticing something.
"You're overthinking again," she said softly.
Jason didn't deny it.
"…Maybe."
She gave a small nod and headed toward the kitchen.
The house slowly returned to quiet. But the conversation lingered.
His mom paused briefly at the doorway. She looked at Jason one last time.
Not worried exactly.
Just uncertain.
Then she left.
The door clicked shut.
Jason sat in silence again.
At least home still felt normal.
Safe.
Time passed as he scrolled through social media on his phone.
He wasn't really used to spending time on it, but curiosity kept him there. Tom
After a while, he set the phone aside and found himself thinking about the dream from the previous night.
The voices. The presence. The feeling of being watched.
Eventually, his eyes grew heavy.
"…Tomorrow is going to be quite chaotic," he muttered before drifting off..