Time Loop

01 - The First Fall

So one time, when Killian came over to my house, we played together for a while until he eventually fell asleep. And that's when I tried to kiss him just to see what it was like. It was stupid, I know. But hey, I was just a kid. Thankfully, I never told Adan about it, or he would've teased me about it to this day. The only thing I ever told him was that I liked Killian, and even now, he still makes fun of me for it. It's a good thing Killian never found out. I don't even want to imagine what he would've think of me.

"Jokes aside, I've never seen Kill making friends before. Maybe he has some business with them," Adan said, pulling out his handheld console and starting a game. "Hmm," I hummed in response, still watching the door where Killian had just left.

Suddenly, someone yanked my hair hard. "Ow, ow, ow!" I winced in pain. "Shut up and return my book already, or I'll rip your hair out one by one," Rio threatened, his grip tight. Ugh. I totally forgot about him. "Alright, alright, let go! It's in my bag, at least let me take it out, you cheapskate," I grumbled, annoyed. "Cheapskate?!" he scoffed.

"You've had it for a whole year!" Finally, he let go of my hair, and I quickly reached into my bag, pulled out his book, and handed it over. "Here, take it. Now shut up and leave," I huffed. "Good. That's more like it," Rio smirked before grabbing his book and walking away, triumphant. I crossed my arms and sighed dramatically. "See, Adan? People these days have no loyalty. Selling friendships over a single book, unbelievable."

"Will you stop with the dramatics already? Even girls don't act this dramatic," Adan muttered, barely looking up from his game console. [No offense to girls] Just then, another voice chimed in from behind."Girls don't look as handsome as Silas does when he's being dramatic, though. Right, Silas?"

I turned around to see Atlas standing there, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. After throwing his little remark, he casually took his seat. Atlas Reed. Another handsome guy, just like me. My partner in handsomeness. "Exactly! No one could ever be as handsome as us," I said, smirking back. "Delusional idiots," Adan muttered under his breath. No matter what he says, he knows we're right. Handsomeness is a fact, and we are living proof.

After a while, another teacher came in for the next period, but Killian still hadn't returned. He was still outside somewhere I had no idea where. Eventually, the bell rang for break time. I sent Adan ahead to the canteen, telling him I'd join later. I needed to find Killian first. I didn't know why, but something in my chest felt... uneasy. Maybe I was just overthinking, but I couldn't shake the feeling that those guys from earlier might be bullying him.

As everyone left for the canteen, I took the opposite route, searching the empty hallways and classrooms.

Then, suddenly- BOOM.

A deafening explosion. The whole building trembled violently. My breath caught in my throat as I spun around. Smoke and fire erupted from the direction of the canteen. My heart dropped. I ran. As I neared the canteen, my breath hitched. The entire place was engulfed in flames. The air was thick with the acrid scent of burning flesh and smoke. Students were screaming, some running in terror, others lying on the ground-some unmoving, some writhing in pain, their skin charred and peeling.

And then.....Adan.

My stomach twisted into a painful knot. He was on the floor, his body scorched, his arm twisted at an unnatural angle, barely attached. His clothes were burned into his skin. "No..."

Then, I turned and froze. Rio. Atlas. Kendric. Some of my other classmates. And other students form different classes. Burned. Their bodies were twisted, blackened, and unrecognizable. Smoke rose from their charred skin, the stench of burnt flesh choking the air. Some lay still, others twitched weakly. A boy's face was half-melted, another's limbs fused to his body. Flames still flickered over some. They were alive moments ago. Now just ashes. My voice barely came out. My legs trembled as I took a step toward him.

Then--The sound of glass shattering filled the air as some men dressed in black suits and wearing masks burst through the windows, armed with guns. And they started shooting. One by one, the remaining students. slaughtered. I turned to run, desperate to escape. But as I whirled around, my breath caught in my throat.

Killian. He stood at the entrance, his hand gripping the door, his expression unreadable. "Killian!" I ran towards him. And then he shut the door. Right in front of me. He...shut the DOOR? WHY. I froze. The sound of the lock clicking from the other side sent a sharp pang through my chest. "No... no, no, no! Kill, open the door!" I banged my fists against the wood. "Please! Help me! I'm going to die!" I sobbed, my hands trembling as I pounded on the door again. But he didn't open it. Why did he do that? Why did he betray me?

"I don't want to die. I want to live. Please... someone... help..." Uncle... what will happen to him... if he finds out I'm dead?. A sharp, searing pain tore through my back. My breath hitched. My body lurched forward, blood splattering across the door. The world blurred. Darkness seeped into my vision. And then everything faded to black.

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