Rei Leywin walked into school the next day, the memory of the girl from his dreams still fresh in his mind. The morning had begun with a sense of anticipation mixed with dread. After yesterday's encounter, he felt like he was teetering on the edge of something he couldn't fully comprehend.
As he entered the classroom, the familiar faces of his classmates blurred together. The teacher's voice droned on, but Rei found it difficult to focus. Instead, his thoughts drifted back to the girl—the one who had spoken to him, her words echoing in his mind: "I have finally found you." What did it mean? Who was she?
During lunch, he sat with Jake, his best friend, but the usual banter felt off. Rei toyed with his food, glancing up to see Jake absorbed in his phone.
"Hey, you good?" Jake asked, finally noticing Rei's distracted demeanor.
"Yeah, just… thinking," Rei replied, forcing a smile. He debated whether to share the truth. "I saw someone yesterday."
Jake looked up, intrigued. "What do you mean? Like a cute girl?"
"Actually, yeah. She said something really strange," Rei said, lowering his voice. "She looked right at me and said, 'I have finally found you.' Then she just vanished."
"Sounds like you need to stop playing those horror games," Jake teased, but there was a hint of concern behind his humor.
"I'm serious, Jake! It felt real. I think she's connected to those dreams I've been having," Rei insisted.
"Rei, you've got to be kidding. It's just your imagination," Jake said, shaking his head. "You're stressing yourself out over nothing."
Frustrated, Rei ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe you're right. I'll just try to forget about it."
After lunch, as they headed toward the school gate, Rei's heart raced when he spotted her again. The same stunning girl stood a short distance away.
"Jake, look!" Rei pointed, excitement bubbling inside him.
Jake followed his gaze but frowned. "What are you talking about? I don't see anyone."
Rei's stomach dropped. "She's right there! The girl!"
Just then, the school bell rang, cutting through the moment like a knife. The girl turned to him, her expression shifting to one of urgency. "Rei, come save me!" she called, her voice echoing in his ears.
But before he could respond, she vanished as quickly as she had appeared, leaving only the bustling crowd around him. Shocked, Rei stood frozen, grappling with the reality of what just happened.
"Rei, we're going to be late!" Jake urged, pulling him back to the moment.
"I… I need to go," Rei stammered, his mind racing with questions as they hurried to class. The lecture was a blur, thoughts of the girl overwhelming him. Each minute felt like an eternity, and when the bell finally rang, he bolted from his seat.
"I'm going to the library," he declared, urgency propelling him forward.
"Sure, whatever you say.
---
Once inside the library, the familiar scent of old books enveloped him. Rei wandered through the aisles, searching for something to ground him. He tried to focus on the titles, but his thoughts were consumed by the girl and her haunting words.
"Rei…"
The soft whisper sent chills down his spine. He looked up to see her standing just a few feet away, glowing softly against the backdrop of the library. Her long black hair framed her face, and her pale skin seemed almost ethereal, like she belonged to another world.
"Why do you keep appearing?" he asked, voice trembling with a mix of fear and intrigue.
"I need you," she said, urgency clear in her eyes.
"What do you mean?Rei felt a mix of fear and determination surging within him.
"Rei save me," she implored, her gaze piercing into his.
Before he could respond, she shimmered and began to fade, her form dissolving like mist. "Wait! Don't go!" he shouted, panic rising in his chest, but she vanished, leaving only silence.
Feeling disoriented, Rei stumbled back against a shelf, struggling to catch his breath. He needed to talk to someone—someone who would understand. He rushed out of the library, searching for Jake.
"Jake!" he called, spotting his friend near the lockers.
"What's up? You look like you've seen a ghost," Jake remarked, his tone light but eyes curious.
"I saw her again! The girl! She said I need to save her!" Rei exclaimed, breathless with urgency.
"Rei, this is getting ridiculous. You can't keep joking like this," Jake said, crossing his arms with a smirk.
"I'm not joking! She said to come save her"Rei felt frustration boiling over.
"Alright, alright. I believe you… sort of," Jake replied, his expression softening slightly. "But let's just drop it for now, okay?"
As they walked home, the weight of Rei's thoughts were heavy between them, he tried to share more about the girl, but Jake continued to make light of the situation. "So, what's next? Are you going to rescue her like a knight in shining armor?" he joked.
"Very funny," Rei shot back, but the frustration was only partially masking his genuine concern. "I'm serious, Jake. This feels real."
Once they reached home, Rei felt the familiar pull of his gaming console. He needed to escape the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, even if just for a moment. He settled in for a bit of gaming, but the joy felt fleeting as the girl's face flashed in his mind, accompanied by her desperate plea.
After a brief session, he reluctantly joined his family for dinner. The food was a blur, his mind elsewhere, fixated on the girl and her plea for help. The conversation around the table was lively, but Rei could barely focus, his heart heavy with uncertainty.
That night, he settled into bed early, hoping to shake off the chaos of the day. As he lay there, staring at the ceiling, the shadows danced in the dim light. He couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was about to happen.
Just as he began to drift off, the voice returned, wrapping around him like a gentle caress.
"You have come…"
The words echoed in his mind, drawing him deeper into a darkness that felt both familiar and terrifying. In that moment, he knew this was only the beginning of a journey that would change everything.