"Jason!" A gentle yet firm voice called out. "Time to wake up! School starts in an hour!"

The voice drifted into Jason's mind, but he only buried himself deeper beneath the blankets, his body sinking into the warmth. Sleep clung to him like a heavy fog, and in its depths, a familiar whisper coiled around his thoughts, luring him to stay. Just a little longer.

 Lost in a dream, he soared effortlessly through the sky. A contented smile spread across his face as he burrowed deeper under the warm, comforting covers.

But his dream shattered in an instant. His door flew open with a deafening BANG, rattling the walls.

"Oh, shit!" he yelped, bolting upright in panic.

His mother stood in the doorway, arms crossed, her expression a mix of frustration and amusement. "What… did… I… tell… you?" she said, emphasizing each word with a step closer. "Wake up!"

"I'm up… I'm up," Jason mumbled, his voice heavy with reluctance. 

Then, just as quickly as her anger had flared, she smiled and calmly spoke. "Now get dressed and come downstairs—your food is ready." She gently closed the door behind her. 

Jason groaned as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his body still heavy with sleep. Stumbling into the bathroom, he gripped the sink and splashed cold water on his face, letting the chill jolt him awake. As he reached for his toothbrush, a flood of memories from two weeks ago crashed into his mind.

He gritted his teeth, shaking his head. There was no time to dwell on it. He'd talk to Isaac about it later.

As he straightened, his reflection stared back at him in the mirror—a lean figure standing at 5'8". His smooth black hair framed pale skin, a sharp jawline, and eyes that caught the light with a faint silver glint.

He ran a hand through his hair, smoothing it back before grabbing his school uniform. The crisp fabric slipped over his shoulders as he adjusted his collar, giving himself one last glance before heading out of the bathroom.

Bounding down the stairs, he skipped the last few steps, landing with a thud.

He rushed into the kitchen, excitement buzzing in his chest, he saw his two younger sisters at the Dinner table, eagerly devouring their food.

His mother arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "You seem excited."

Jason practically bounced in place, his grin stretching wide. "Of course I am! It's my first day of high school!"

She let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head as she placed a steaming plate on the table. "Now, now—eat up. Bacon and pancakes, just how you like them." 

"Bro-ther!" July's voice rang out, sweet and triumphant. She swung her legs beneath the table, her feet barely brushing the floor. "I finished my food!" A giggle bubbled from her lips as she pushed her empty plate away from her.

Jason smirked, ruffling her hair. "Nice job." Jason then proceeded to take his seat. 

Next to him, Olivia set down her fork with a deliberate clink and leaned forward, resting her hand on her chin.

"Mom?" 

Their mother didn't look up from her coffee. "Yes, Olivia?"

"Can I go out with my friends today?"

The mug paused just shy of her lips. Her gaze lifted, sharp and unwavering. "No."

Olivia's shoulders tensed. "Bu—t—"

"Olivia," their mother's voice cut through her protest, steady and firm. "What did I tell you?"

Olivia huffed, crossing her arms, but a glimmer of mischief flickered in her eyes. "Okay, okay… but we're just going to the movies! I'll even bring Jason." She nudged him with her elbow, her smile sly.

Their mother exhaled, tapping her fingers against the mug. A moment passed before she spoke. "If your brother agrees, then fine."

Olivia spun toward Jason so fast her hair whipped over her shoulder. She pressed her palms together, her lower lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout, eyes wide with shameless pleading.

Jason groaned, rubbing his temple. "Fine. But only to the movies. Nowhere else." He leveled her with a look. "What time and day?"

"Friday! Six p.m.!" She practically vibrated with excitement.

Their mother gave a small nod of approval. "Jason, I'm trusting you to watch over your sister."

Jason sighed, already regretting his decision. "Yeah, yeah."

Olivia squealed, bouncing in her chair. 

July clapped her hands, giggling at the scene unfolding before her.

With the last bite gone, their mother scooped up her keys from the counter, the metallic jingle signaling it was time to go. Jason grabbed his bag and followed as she ushered them out the door.

The car rumbled to life, and soon, they were weaving through the streets, the morning light casting long shadows over the dashboard. His younger siblings chattered in the back, their voices a mix of laughter. The car grew quieter with each goodbye, till only Jason remained.

Silence hung between them, heavy and thick. His mother's knuckles whitened around the steering wheel before she finally spoke, her voice low and serious.

"Jason?"

He frowned, sensing the shift in her tone. "Yeah, Mom?"

Her gaze flicked from the road to him, eyes sharp and searching. "If anything... Strange things happen to you, promise me you'll tell me right away."

Jason blinked, caught off guard. "Uh... sure. But why?" 

She hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. "There are things you need to know—but not now. I want your father to be here."

"Is this about me... knowing what people feel, isn't it?" His voice was measured but edged with unease.

His mother exhaled through her nose, her eyes shadowed with something unspoken. "That's part of it."

The weight of her words pressed on him, thick and heavy. His thoughts spiraled, flashing with questions that burned for answers. But he clenched his jaw, shoving them down.

'I need to speak to Isaac, he resolved, the thought sharp as a blade.'

As they approached the school grounds, a large sign loomed ahead, bold letters standing out against the morning sky:

STORMVALE HIGH

His mother's car eased to a stop amid the chaos of the packed school parking lot. Engines rumbled, doors slammed, and waves of students spilled out, their voices blending into a constant, energetic hum.

Jason swung the door open and stepped onto the pavement. He leaned down, a grin tugging at his lips.

"See you later, Mom!" He lifted a hand in a quick wave.

His mother's eyes softened. "Have a great first day," she said, her voice warm as the engine hummed beneath her.

Jason straightened, the car pulling away behind him as he strode toward the bustling school entrance.

As Jason reached for the door, a tap on his shoulder made him freeze. He turned, his heart skipping when he saw her—standing there like a figure pulled from a dream.

Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, gleaming faintly as it caught the light. The pale, almost translucent hue of her skin seemed to glow, her lips curved into a smile, and her eyes—silver and bright.

"Rani!" He grinned, his hand shooting out for a quick, familiar bro handshake 

"How was your summer?"

 As they stepped onto the school grounds, she tilted her head slightly, a curious glint in her eyes. "It's been awesome," she said, her tone light. "What about yours?"

"You know, I was having a blast until—" Jason started, only to be cut off.

"Looks like that knucklehead is heading our way," Rani sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes.

Jason spun around, squinting at the figure in the distance. It took a moment before the familiar shape became clear—Isaac, his best friend, sprinting toward them with all his might.

Isaac skidded to a stop, nearly colliding with Jason, gasping for breath. "Jason!" he wheezed.

Jason raised a brow. "Bro, you seriously need to work out."

Isaac waved him off, still struggling for air. "What? Never mind that—we need to talk. Seriously."

Jason glanced around, noticing curious eyes on them. "Not here," he said, gesturing with a subtle nod. "People are staring. Let's find our homeroom first."

They headed down the hall, chatting casually about anime and upcoming movies. Laughter mingled with the background hum of other students until they reached the cafeteria windows. A crowd clustered around the bulletin board, scanning for their names.

Jason's eyes swept the list until he found it:

Jason Vargas — Room J-09

He grabbed a school map from a nearby staff member, the massive layout.

Rejoining his friends, Jason held up the paper. "So, what rooms did you guys get?"

Isaac grinned. "J-09, same as you!" He stuck out his tongue at Rani.

"No!" Rani wailed, throwing her arms up dramatically.

Isaac snickered. "Guess it's just me and Jason—best duo ever."

Rani's eyes narrowed, her fury building. "Oh, you think that's funny?" She clenched her fists, ready to throw hands.

Jason stepped between them, sensing the heat radiating from Rani. A strange wave of calm washed over him, and he instinctively reached out, soothing her anger.

Rani blinked, visibly deflating. Her glare shifted to Jason. 

Jason quickly took a step back with a sheepish smile. "Uh... Sorry. Just... let's get to class."

Isaac blinked, his breath caught in his throat. His eyes darted between Rani's clenched fists and her sudden, calmness. A second ago, she looked ready to rip him apart—now she stood still, her shoulders relaxed, like nothing had transpired. "What... just happened?" he muttered, eyes wide with disbelief.

He pushed the thought aside and hurried after his friends, who had already walked ahead.

Time slipped by quickly, and as the first class approached, Rani groaned in protest before reluctantly splitting off toward her own classroom.

On the way to their class, Isaac finally broke the silence that had settled since Rani left.

"We need to talk about what happened at summer camp." His voice was low but firm.

"And what just happened back there…" He hesitated. "Rani calmed down so suddenly—it freaked me out."

Jason shot him a look. "Remember what I told you?" His tone carried a warning.

Isaac's eyes widened as realization hit. "Oh shit, you mea—"

Jason hushed him sharply. "Not here. We'll talk after school."

They arrived in their homeroom just minutes before the bell rang.

"Welcome! Find any open seat," a middle-aged man in a blue-striped button-up greeted them with a gentle tone.

Jason scanned the room, quickly spotting an open seat near the window. Without hesitation, he slid into it, silently thanking whatever luck had saved it for him. 

Isaac, however, wasn't as fortunate. His frown deepened as he realized someone had already claimed the spot he wanted, forcing him to take a seat near the front.

"Alright, now that everyone's here, I'll take roll." The teacher glanced at the class before continuing. "But first, let me introduce myself. I'm Mr. Perez, and I'll be your Math 1 teacher for the year."

He proceeded with a roll call, handing each student their schedule as he went.

"These are your class schedules," he explained. "If you're not satisfied with your classes, you can request a change through your counselor, but adjustments aren't guaranteed."

Jason's name was called, and he grabbed his schedule, glancing over the list:

• Period 1: Math 1

• Period 2: Earth Science

• Period 3: Directed Study

• Period 4: English

• Period 5: P.E.

• Period 6: World Geography

Why the hell do I have Directed Study? he wondered, scowling at the paper.

Meanwhile, Mr. Perez continued speaking, outlining their upcoming lessons. He then gestured around the room.

"The seats you're in now will be your permanent spots for the semester," he announced.

A sudden cry erupted from the front of the class.

"What?!?" Isaac yelped, clearly upset. His shoulders slumped in defeat as a few students chuckled at his outburst.

Jason smirked, joining in with the other students, amused by his friend's outburst.

The rest of the school day passed like a breeze, and by the end, Jason came to terms with his schedule. But just as he settled into the rhythm of the day, something unsettling disrupted the day.

During the sixth period, a piercing scream echoed from outside. Every student froze. Curiosity sparked like wildfire, and within moments, chairs scraped against the floor as the entire class rushed toward the doorway—Jason included.

In the hallway, the source of the scream stood frozen, eyes wide with horror. Scattered around a girl's feet lay dozens of dead crows, their lifeless bodies a stark contrast against the polished floor.

Isaac let out a low whistle before calling out, "Yeah… that's a bad omen right there."