Lia's first day of school began with a sudden jolt as her older brother, Thomas, shook her awake. His mischievous grin was the first thing she saw as her eyes blinked open, the room still hazy with sleep.
"Rise and shine, sleepyhead! It's your big day!" Thomas exclaimed, his voice a mixture of teasing and genuine excitement.
Lia groaned, pulling the covers over her head in a feeble attempt to delay the inevitable. But Thomas was relentless. He tugged the blanket off her and playfully ruffled her already messy hair.
"Come on, Lia. You don't want to be late on your first day, do you?"
With a resigned sigh, Lia finally sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She knew her brother meant well, but she wasn't quite ready to face the day just yet. Nevertheless, she dragged herself out of bed and into the bathroom, the cold water on her face doing little to shake the lingering grogginess.
By the time she made it to the kitchen, Thomas had already prepared breakfast. Their parents had left the day before on a business trip that would keep them away for a few weeks, so it was just the two of them. The table was set with a simple meal of toast, butter, and jam, along with a glass of orange juice.
"It's weird not having Mom and Dad here," Lia said as she took a bite of her toast.
"Yeah, but hey, we can handle it. We're practically grown-ups now, right?" Thomas replied with a grin, though there was a hint of something else in his eyes—perhaps a touch of uncertainty.
Lia smiled back, feeling a bit more at ease. Thomas had always been her rock, and even with their parents gone, she knew he'd be there for her.
After finishing their breakfast, they sat down in the living room for a few minutes of TV before heading out. Lia flipped through the channels absentmindedly until something on the news caught her eye.
"…an entire building has mysteriously disappeared from a mountainside overnight. Authorities are baffled as to how something like this could happen. The site is currently under investigation, but so far, no clues have been found…"
Lia stared at the screen, her brow furrowed in confusion. A building just… disappeared? She glanced at Thomas, who looked equally puzzled, but before they could discuss it further, the clock reminded them that they needed to leave.
The school grounds buzzed with energy as students, both old and new, gathered for the first day of the academic year. The air was filled with the sounds of laughter, chatter, and the occasional nervous murmur. Lia walked beside Thomas, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety as they made their way to the main hall for the opening ceremony.
The ceremony was typical: speeches from the principal, introductions to the teachers, and a few words of encouragement for the year ahead. Lia sat among the sea of students, trying to spot familiar faces while also taking in the sight of new ones. It was both comforting and strange to be back in a place that felt the same, yet different.
When the ceremony concluded, the students were dismissed to their respective classes. Lia's heart raced as she entered her classroom, scanning the room for a seat. She found one near the back, next to a window, and placed her bag down, feeling a bit more at ease.
As she settled in, a voice called her name.
"Lia?"
She turned, surprised to see a boy standing nearby, looking at her with an expression she couldn't quite read. He was strikingly handsome, with dark hair that fell casually across his forehead and eyes that seemed to hold a thousand secrets. Yet, there was something familiar about him that Lia couldn't place.
"Yes, that's me," she replied, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Do I know you?"
The boy didn't answer right away. He simply studied her, his gaze intense, as if searching for something in her face. Then, with a small, enigmatic smile, he said, "Not yet. But we've met before, in a way."
Lia blinked, confused. Before she could ask what he meant, the boy turned away, taking a seat at the opposite end of the classroom. He pulled out a book from his bag and began reading, seemingly uninterested in further conversation.
Lia sat back, her mind racing. Who was this boy? And what did he mean by "we've met before"? She couldn't shake the feeling that he was someone she should remember, yet her memories came up blank.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Lia found it hard to focus on her lessons, her thoughts continually drifting back to the strange boy and the cryptic words he had spoken. Even during lunch, when she sat with her friends, she found herself scanning the cafeteria, hoping to catch another glimpse of him. But he was nowhere to be seen.
Her friends noticed her distraction. "Hey, Lia, are you okay? You seem a little out of it," one of them asked, concern lacing her tone.
Lia forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… first-day jitters, I guess."
But it wasn't jitters. There was something more, something unsettling about the whole situation. The news about the disappearing building, the boy who knew her name, but whom she didn't recognize—everything felt connected somehow, though she couldn't quite piece it together.
After lunch, Lia headed back to her classroom, determined to focus on the rest of her day. But as she walked down the hallway, she felt a strange sensation, as if she were being watched. She glanced around but saw nothing unusual—just other students going about their day.
When she finally reached her classroom, the boy was already there, seated in the same spot with his nose buried in his book. Lia hesitated for a moment before taking her seat. She wanted to talk to him, to ask him what he meant earlier, but something held her back.
As the teacher began the lesson, Lia couldn't help but steal glances at the boy. He never looked up from his book, not once acknowledging her presence. It was as if he had said what he needed to say and had no intention of explaining further.
The afternoon dragged on, and when the final bell rang, Lia packed her things slowly, hoping for an opportunity to approach him. But when she looked up, the boy was already gone, leaving her with more questions than answers.
That evening, as Lia lay in bed, she replayed the events of the day in her mind. The news report, the mysterious boy, his knowing smile—it all swirled together in a confusing mix of reality and something else, something she couldn't quite name.
Lia was still lost in thought when a familiar voice snapped her out of her reverie.
"Lia! I've been looking all over for you!"
It was Emily, Lia's closest friend since elementary school. Emily was a whirlwind of energy, her vibrant personality always drawing people in. She rushed over to Lia's desk, her eyes bright with excitement, but there was something else there too—something Lia couldn't quite place.
"Hey, Emily," Lia said with a small smile. "What's up?"
Emily plopped down in the seat next to her, tossing her bag onto the floor. "I was going to ask you the same thing! You looked so spaced out earlier. What's going on?"
Lia hesitated, unsure how to explain the strange encounter with the boy. But before she could respond, Emily leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Who was that guy you were talking to earlier? The one with the dark hair? He's… well, he's really cute," Emily said, her tone almost accusing.
Lia blinked in surprise. "Oh, him? I don't even know his name. He just came up to me and… it was weird, honestly. He knew my name, but I swear I've never met him before."
Emily's expression darkened, a flicker of jealousy passing over her features. "Really? Because it looked like you two were pretty chummy."
Lia frowned, caught off guard by Emily's sudden change in mood. "Emily, it's not like that. He was just being… strange. I'm not interested in him, if that's what you're thinking."
But Emily wasn't convinced. "Lia, come on. You don't have to play dumb with me. It's just—" She paused, searching for the right words. "It's just that you always seem to get attention from the cute guys without even trying, and… it's frustrating, you know?"
Lia was taken aback. She hadn't realized Emily felt that way. "Emily, I'm really not—"
"Forget it," Emily interrupted, shaking her head. "I'm being stupid. Let's just drop it, okay?"
Before Lia could say anything more, the English teacher walked in, signaling the start of class. Emily turned her attention to her notebook, but Lia could feel the tension between them. The playful banter and easy camaraderie they usually shared were absent, replaced by an awkward silence that Lia didn't know how to break.
As the English class began, Lia tried to focus on the lesson, but her mind kept drifting back to the argument with Emily. She hated the idea of her friend being upset with her, especially over something she hadn't done. The teacher droned on about the syllabus for the year, assignments, and reading lists, but Lia couldn't shake the feeling that this day was spiraling out of control.
Beside her, Emily was quiet, taking notes diligently, but there was a stiffness in her posture that Lia couldn't ignore. She wanted to say something, to make things right, but every time she opened her mouth, the words seemed to get stuck in her throat.
By the time the class ended, Lia felt more exhausted than she should have. The usual excitement she felt at the beginning of a new school year was completely overshadowed by the awkwardness between her and Emily. As they packed up their things, Lia finally managed to break the silence.
"Emily, can we talk during the break? I don't want this to ruin our day."
Emily glanced at her, and for a moment, Lia thought she saw a flicker of her old friend in those eyes. But then Emily nodded curtly. "Sure. We'll talk later."
It wasn't much, but it was something. Lia clung to that as they walked out of the classroom.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of classes—math, history, and then science. Lia went through the motions, taking notes and participating in discussions, but her heart wasn't in it. She kept thinking about Emily and the mysterious boy, and how everything seemed to have taken a turn for the worse.
When the first break finally arrived, Lia found herself sitting alone in the courtyard. She had expected Emily to join her, but her friend had disappeared somewhere, leaving Lia to brood over their argument. The courtyard was bustling with students, but Lia felt strangely isolated, the noise and chatter fading into the background as she stared blankly at her surroundings.
She sighed, pulling out her phone to distract herself, but even that didn't help. The messages from her other friends felt superficial, and she couldn't bring herself to respond to them. Instead, she just sat there, lost in her thoughts.
The second half of the day wasn't any better. By the time the lunch break arrived, Lia was emotionally drained. She wandered through the cafeteria, grabbing a tray of food she barely touched, and found a quiet corner to sit in. She hoped Emily would join her, but when she scanned the room, there was no sign of her friend.
Just as Lia was about to give up and eat alone, Emily appeared, her expression unreadable. She sat down across from Lia, and for a moment, neither of them said anything.
"About earlier…" Emily began, her voice soft.
"Yeah?" Lia prompted, unsure of what to expect.
Emily sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry, Lia. I was being stupid. I just… I guess I was feeling insecure. But I know you wouldn't do anything like that. It's just—ugh, I hate feeling this way."
Lia felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Emily, you don't have to apologize. I get it. But you're my best friend, and I don't want some random guy to come between us."
Emily managed a small smile. "Yeah, you're right. I don't know why I let it get to me. Let's just forget about it, okay?"
"Okay," Lia agreed, feeling the tension between them finally start to ease.
The rest of lunch was spent in easier conversation, the awkwardness from earlier melting away as they talked about their classes, plans for the weekend, and the usual gossip. By the time the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Lia felt like things were back to normal between them.
The last class of the day dragged on, but Lia didn't mind. She was just glad that the day was almost over and that she and Emily had patched things up. As the teacher wrapped up the lesson, Lia's thoughts drifted to the strange boy again. She still didn't know who he was or why he seemed so familiar, but she decided to let it go for now. There were more important things to focus on—like keeping her friendship with Emily strong.
When the final bell rang, Lia and Emily walked out of the school together, chatting about the homework they had been assigned and making plans to study together later that week.
As they reached the gates, Lia glanced back at the school, a sense of unease lingering at the back of her mind. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger, something she wasn't ready to face.
But for now, she pushed those thoughts aside. She had her friend by her side, and that was enough. Whatever the mystery was, it could wait until tomorrow.
She knew one thing for certain: this was only the beginning. There was more to this story, and somehow, she was at the center of it.
After school, Lia waved goodbye to Emily, who lived just a few blocks away, and headed toward the nearby supermarket. She had promised her brother to make dinner tonight and had a list of ingredients she needed to grab before heading home. Her day had been full, with the strange events at school still weighing heavily on her mind.
The supermarket was unusually quiet, the usual after-school rush had already died down. As Lia picked up the last few items, her thoughts kept drifting back to the mysterious boy at school. His piercing eyes, the way he seemed to know her without ever having met, and the unsettling news about the disappearing building—it all swirled in her mind like an unsolved puzzle.
As she exited the store, a strange chill ran down her spine. Something was wrong. Lia's steps slowed as she looked across the street. Where just moments ago there had been a towering office building, there was now only empty space. The building had simply vanished without a trace.
"What… what happened here?" Lia whispered, her voice trembling.
She stood frozen, staring at the empty lot, her heart racing. The eerie silence was broken by the sudden roar of engines. Black, futuristic vehicles sped toward the scene, screeching to a halt as soldiers in sleek, high-tech armor descended from above, hovering with wing-like apparatuses attached to their backs. The soldiers formed a perimeter around the empty space, their weapons drawn, moving with military precision.
At the center of it all, where the building once stood, was the boy from school. He stood perfectly still, his expression calm and unreadable, as if he had been expecting this all along.
One of the soldiers, clearly the leader, stepped forward, his voice booming through a speaker in his helmet. "You there! Identify yourself immediately!"
The boy remained silent, his gaze distant, as though he was seeing something far beyond the scene in front of him.
"Identify yourself!" the soldier barked again, frustration creeping into his voice.
Finally, the boy spoke, his tone calm, almost serene. "I don't belong here. But neither does this place."
The soldier's brow furrowed beneath his helmet. "What are you talking about? What happened to the building?"
The boy didn't answer. Instead, he raised his hand slightly, and the air around him seemed to ripple, as if reality itself was bending to his will. Lia felt a strange pressure in the atmosphere, a sense of something powerful being contained just beneath the surface.
"Stand down!" the lead soldier ordered, his voice tinged with unease. But his command came too late.
The soldiers, interpreting the boy's movement as a threat, opened fire almost simultaneously. Beams of concentrated light shot towards the boy from all directions, crackling through the air with lethal intent.
In an instant, the boy's calm expression hardened. With a flick of his wrist, a powerful wave of energy erupted from him, colliding with the incoming blasts and deflecting them effortlessly. The wave expanded outward, striking the soldiers with tremendous force. They were sent tumbling through the air, their wing apparatuses struggling to keep them aloft.
Lia gasped, her heart pounding in her chest. This boy—this strange, mysterious boy—was more powerful than she could have ever imagined.
The soldiers scrambled to regain their footing, their leader shouting orders. "Regroup! Regroup! We need to neutralize him now!"
One soldier, clearly more experienced than the others, attempted to flank the boy, darting through the air with incredible speed. But the boy was faster. With another wave of his hand, a second pulse of energy shot out, striking the soldier mid-flight and sending him crashing to the ground.
"He's using some kind of energy manipulation!" the leader shouted, trying to coordinate his disoriented team. "Stay on him!"
The boy stood his ground, his expression cold and focused. "You should have stayed away."
Another group of soldiers advanced, their weapons glowing with a dangerous light. They fired in unison, trying to overwhelm him with sheer force. But the boy moved with inhuman agility, dodging their attacks with fluid, almost dance-like movements. His every step seemed to anticipate their strikes, his every gesture turning their energy back against them.
One of the soldiers, in a desperate attempt to gain the upper hand, unleashed a volley of missiles from a shoulder-mounted launcher. The projectiles screamed through the air towards the boy, leaving trails of smoke in their wake.
For the first time, the boy seemed to hesitate. Lia's breath caught in her throat as she watched him raise both hands, summoning a massive, shimmering barrier of energy. The missiles struck the barrier with deafening explosions, but when the smoke cleared, the boy stood unharmed, his barrier absorbing the full impact.
"You can't win this," the boy said softly, almost as if he pitied them. His voice carried over the chaos, calm and resolute. "Stop fighting."
But the soldiers were relentless. Another soldier, more heavily armored and carrying a massive, humming weapon, moved in. His weapon crackled with raw power, emitting a low, ominous hum. He aimed directly at the boy, his finger on the trigger.
"Take this!" the soldier yelled, firing a concentrated beam of energy at the boy.
The boy's eyes narrowed. He brought his hands together, and a wave of energy surged from him, colliding with the beam in mid-air. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the ground, shattering nearby windows and knocking the remaining soldiers off balance.
When the light finally faded, the soldier who had fired the beam was on his knees, his weapon shattered, his armor cracked and smoking. The boy approached him slowly, his expression unreadable.
"It's over," the boy said, his voice tinged with sadness. "You can't stop what's coming."
The soldier looked up at him, defiance still burning in his eyes. "Who… who are you?"
The boy's gaze softened, and for a moment, he almost looked regretful. "Just someone who doesn't belong."
The leader of the soldiers, injured but still determined, struggled to him but could not.
Lia stood frozen, her breath shallow as she tried to process what had just happened. The boy, the battle, the soldiers—it all felt like a surreal nightmare. Her hands trembled as she clutched the grocery bag, the mundane weight of it grounding her in the reality of the moment.
The street, once busy with life, was now eerily silent. The soldiers, or what was left of them, were slowly regaining their footing, groaning in pain. Their advanced equipment, so intimidating just moments ago, now seemed useless and broken. Smoke curled from the cracks in their armor, and the ground was littered with debris from the energy blasts.
Lia's heart pounded in her chest as she replayed the boy's words in her mind. *"You can't stop what's coming."* What did he mean? And who—or what—was he?
A faint whirring sound caught her attention. She looked up to see a small drone hovering above the scene, its camera lens focused on the destruction below. It hovered silently for a moment before zipping away, likely to report back to whoever was controlling it. Lia's gut twisted with unease. If that drone had seen everything, then more forces were likely on their way.
She needed to get out of there. Fast.
Just as she turned to leave, a hand clamped down on her shoulder, startling her. She spun around to find herself face-to-face with one of the injured soldiers, his helmet cracked, revealing a bloodied face underneath.
"Hey… wait…" he rasped, his voice weak. "Did you… Did you see where he went?"
Lia hesitated, her mind racing. She couldn't stay here, but she also didn't want to leave the soldier behind. He looked like he was barely holding on, his eyes pleading for answers.
"I… I don't know," Lia stammered, half-truthfully. "He just disappeared."
The soldier's grip loosened, and he slumped against the wall, his breathing shallow. "Damn it… We were supposed to contain him… What the hell is he?"
Lia bit her lip, unsure of what to say. She didn't have the answers he was looking for—no one did. But standing here wasn't going to solve anything. She gently pulled away from the soldier, who was too weak to resist, and took a step back.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The soldier didn't respond, his gaze already distant. Lia turned and ran, her feet pounding against the pavement as she made her way down the street. She didn't look back. All she wanted was to get home, to the safety of her brother's presence, away from the chaos and the questions that had no answers.
As she ran, the weight of everything that had happened bore down on her. The boy's sad, enigmatic eyes haunted her, his words echoing in her mind. *"I'm sorry, but I have to go."* What had he meant by that? What was he apologizing for?
By the time Lia reached her house, she was out of breath, her chest heaving as she fumbled with the keys. She finally managed to unlock the door and burst inside, slamming it shut behind her. For a moment, she leaned against the door, her heart racing, trying to steady her breathing.
"Lia? Is that you?"
Her brother's voice, calm and familiar, pulled her back to reality. She turned to see him standing in the hallway, a concerned look on his face.
"Yeah… It's me," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
He frowned, noticing her disheveled appearance and the fear in her eyes. "What happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Lia hesitated, unsure of how to explain. How could she possibly convey the madness she had just witnessed? She decided to keep it simple for now, at least until she could process it herself.
"There was… an accident," she said slowly. "A building… it just disappeared. And there were soldiers, and… and this boy…"
Her brother's eyes widened in disbelief. "A building disappeared? What are you talking about?"
Lia shook her head, her thoughts jumbled. "I don't know… I don't know what's going on. But it's dangerous out there. We need to stay inside."
Her brother's concern deepened, but he didn't press further. Instead, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a comforting embrace. Lia melted into the hug, her tension easing slightly as she clung to the familiar warmth of her brother.
"We'll figure this out," he murmured reassuringly. "Whatever's going on, we'll get through it together."
Lia nodded against his shoulder, grateful for his presence. But even as she stood there, safe in his arms, she couldn't shake the feeling that something much bigger was at play—something far beyond their understanding.
After a long moment, they pulled apart, and Lia forced a small smile. "I'll get started on dinner. We still need to eat, right?"
Her brother smiled back, though his eyes were still clouded with worry. "Yeah. I'll help you."
As they moved into the kitchen, Lia tried to focus on the task at hand. But the image of the boy, his sad eyes and mysterious powers, lingered in the back of her mind. She knew she couldn't ignore what had happened, no matter how much she wanted to. And deep down, she felt that this was only the beginning.
---
Later that night, after dinner, Lia sat at the kitchen table, staring blankly at her untouched plate. Her brother had already gone to bed, exhausted after the day's events, but Lia's mind refused to settle.
She turned on the TV, hoping for a distraction, but every channel was flooded with breaking news about the mysterious disappearance of the building. Reporters speculated wildly, but none had any concrete answers. Some mentioned "energy surges," while others talked about "military involvement," but it was all just noise to Lia.
She was about to turn off the TV when the screen flickered, and the news anchor's voice cut through her thoughts.
"...in an unprecedented turn of events, authorities have issued a citywide alert, urging all citizens to remain indoors. Reports indicate that the individual responsible for the earlier incident may still be at large. Special forces are on high alert, and investigations are ongoing. The identity of this individual remains unknown, but he is considered extremely dangerous."
Lia's heart skipped a beat. *They're talking about him,* she realized, her fingers tightening around the remote.
The broadcast continued, showing footage of the soldiers from earlier, now being hospitalized.