《Eli's Otherworldly Echo》


 Chapter 1: A Birthday to Remember

    Chapter 1: A Birthday to Remember


    In the window seat, bathed in the soft, golden light filtering through the classroom''s high windows, sat Leo¡ªa strikingly handsome student who seemed to embody every characteristic of a story''s main character. His dark, tousled hair caught the sunlight at just the right angle, glinting as though it had been arranged by fate itself. His piercing blue eyes, sharp as ice, scanned the room with an effortless confidence that was both natural and alluring. He didn''t just exist in the room; he dominated it.


    Every movement he made had a purpose, every gesture drew attention, as if the universe itself bent toward him. It wasn¡¯t just his looks, though they were striking¡ªno, it was his entire presence. Academically, he was at the top of the class. In sports, a natural athlete who seemed to excel at anything he tried. And socially? Leo was the life of every gathering, the magnet that pulled people into his orbit. To top it off, he was dating Mia, the school¡¯s darling¡ªa girl with a radiant smile and an infectious laugh that could lift the spirits of everyone around her. They seemed like the perfect couple, an image of youthful love that everyone admired.


    Beside Leo sat Alex, his best friend and a sharp contrast to his polished exterior. Where Leo was all smooth charm and effortless grace, Alex was raw intensity. His athletic build hinted at his deep-seated ambition to become a professional boxer, a dream that he pursued with fierce dedication. His closely-cropped hair, coupled with the ever-present hint of stubble on his chin, gave him an older, more rugged look than most of our classmates. He rarely smiled, and when he did, it was reserved for those closest to him. But his silence wasn¡¯t cold¡ªthere was warmth in his brooding demeanor, a quiet kind of loyalty that made you feel safe just by being near him.


    Then there was me¡ªEli. If Leo was the sun and Alex the moon, I was the background, the night sky in which they shone. I was the third wheel in this dynamic trio, standing slightly behind them in life, watching as they effortlessly navigated the world with confidence I often envied. I was average in every way, the kind of person you might pass in the hallway and forget the moment I was out of sight. My name¡ªEli¡ªfelt like a constant reminder of my ordinariness. Not that I hated it, but it had a softness that never quite matched the image I wanted for myself. More than once, I¡¯d been teased for it. It was one of those names that, in certain circles, could be seen as unmanly, and in a world where people like Leo and Alex existed, being teased for your name was the last thing you wanted.


    ¡°Eli,¡± they¡¯d say, their voices mocking. ¡°What kind of name is that for a guy?¡±


    I usually shrugged it off with a smile, pretending it didn¡¯t bother me. But deep down, it did. The teasing didn¡¯t hurt as much as the constant feeling of being less-than in a world that seemed to celebrate greatness. It didn¡¯t help that my parents, Ai and Al, had similarly odd names. People would joke that our family must have been on a mission to make sure our names stood out. In reality, I often wondered if they simply had an unusual sense of humor.


    As I sat there, lost in thought, watching the way the light played off Leo¡¯s features and how effortlessly Alex seemed to command attention without even trying, I couldn¡¯t help but feel small. Where did I fit in all of this? What role did I play in their story?


    A sudden shift in the atmosphere pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. Leo turned towards me, a broad grin spreading across his face. There was something about his smile that could make anyone, regardless of their preferences, feel a little something. It was the kind of smile that could light up a room, disarm even the most guarded person, and, in that moment, it was directed at me.


    ¡°Hey, Eli,¡± he said, his voice rich with warmth. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Caught off guard, I blinked, fumbling for a response. ¡°Not much¡­ just thinking.¡±


    He tilted his head, his smile growing wider as if he found my awkwardness endearing. Before I could overthink my answer any further, Alex appeared beside me, and in one swift motion, he threw his arms around me in a surprise hug. I was about to protest when I felt something strange¡ªsomething soft and slightly sticky between us. Confetti?


    I looked down and realized that Alex had somehow filled his hand with colorful, egg-shaped confetti that now stuck to both of us.


    Before I could make sense of it, the entire classroom exploded into life. Bright, vibrant confetti rained down from every corner, streamers shot into the air, and balloons bounced across the floor. The room that had moments ago been still and quiet erupted with noise as everyone shouted in unison:


    ¡°Happy Birthday, Eli!¡±


    The shock hit me like a wave. My birthday. I¡¯d completely forgotten. Amid the whirlwind of daily life, the significance of the day had slipped my mind. The realization dawned slowly, and I couldn¡¯t help but laugh¡ªpartly at myself for being so oblivious, and partly because the entire class had banded together to make me feel special.


    Alex clapped me on the back, a rare grin lighting up his face. ¡°We couldn¡¯t let the day pass without doing something, could we?¡±


    Leo chimed in, his grin just as infectious. ¡°Yeah, man, we¡¯ve got a whole day planned for you. Happy birthday, Eli!¡±


    Mia, standing beside Leo with her usual effervescent smile, held out a box of cupcakes¡ªeach one decorated with brightly colored frosting and sprinkles. She bounced on her toes as she handed me the first one. ¡°I hope you like these. Alex helped pick them out.¡±


    There was a teasing glint in her eye as she said this, and Alex rolled his eyes good-naturedly. ¡°I know how to choose a good cupcake,¡± he muttered, though his smile betrayed his pride.


    As the party continued, I found myself swept up in the joy of the celebration. For the first time in a long while, I felt seen. We played games, shared stories, and dug into the cupcakes and cake. The atmosphere buzzed with laughter and warmth, and I realized that despite all my insecurities, these people¡ªmy friends¡ªhad gone out of their way to make my day special. They cared about me.


    And that meant something.


    Between bites of cake, I glanced over at Leo and Mia. Their relationship was the stuff of school legend. They¡¯d been together for a few months, but the way they moved around each other, the easy way they communicated without words, made it seem like they¡¯d been together for years. Mia was kind and gentle, with a talent for making everyone feel at ease. Leo was her perfect counterpoint¡ªcharming, witty, and always in control. Watching them together was like witnessing a well-choreographed dance.


    Alex, on the other hand, was a bit of a mystery. He was fiercely dedicated to his dream of becoming a professional boxer, and it sometimes made him seem distant. His training regimen was grueling, and he often disappeared for hours at a time, coming back drenched in sweat and exhausted but with a quiet fire in his eyes. Yet, here he was, relaxed, laughing with us, showing a side of himself that was usually hidden beneath layers of ambition and discipline.


    I found myself talking to Mr. Jenkins, our history teacher, as the party began to wind down. He was a stern man most days, his deep voice commanding respect during lessons. But today, even Mr. Jenkins had softened, his usual rigid demeanor replaced with a smile. He shook my hand warmly.


    ¡°Happy Birthday, Eli,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯ve been a pleasure to teach this year. I hope you enjoy your day.¡±


    I was struck by his sincerity. Mr. Jenkins wasn¡¯t one to offer compliments easily, so his words carried weight. It was another reminder that, despite my self-perception, I wasn¡¯t invisible. People did see me.


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    As the classroom erupted into celebration, the noise was almost deafening. Everyone seemed eager to join in, with balloons popping out of nowhere and even a banner that read ¡°Happy Birthday, Eli!¡± being strung up above the whiteboard. The enthusiasm was contagious, and for a brief moment, I forgot my usual feelings of insignificance. Instead, I let myself be carried by the sheer energy of my classmates and the warmth of my friends.


    Leo had taken control of the festivities, as usual. He was the natural leader, directing people to take pictures, cutting up the cupcakes, and making sure everyone got a piece of the action. His girlfriend, Mia, stood by his side, occasionally throwing her head back in laughter as she talked to some of the girls from our class.


    She caught my eye and smiled, mouthing ¡°Happy birthday!¡± before returning to her conversation. It struck me, not for the first time, how effortlessly she could make people feel included. I wasn¡¯t particularly close to Mia, but in that moment, her gesture felt genuine and warm. It wasn¡¯t forced. None of this was.


    Alex, on the other hand, had been quieter than usual, observing the room with a smile that was reserved for me. His usually intense demeanor softened, revealing the loyalty and care that was often hidden beneath layers of bravado. He finally caught my attention and threw me a playful punch on the shoulder.


    ¡°Enjoying yourself, birthday boy?¡± His deep voice was warm, with a teasing edge.


    ¡°Yeah, thanks. This was all¡­ unexpected,¡± I admitted. ¡°I didn¡¯t even remember it was my birthday.¡±


    ¡°You never do,¡± he chuckled, leaning in slightly. ¡°That¡¯s why you need us to remind you.¡±


    The weight of his words lingered for a moment, heavier than he likely intended. It was true. I often felt lost in the whirlwind of their lives¡ªLeo¡¯s effortless popularity, Alex¡¯s intense focus on his future in boxing. I sometimes felt like an observer in my own life.


    But today? Today was different. Today, they had brought me into their orbit, made me the center of attention, even if just for a short while.


    ---


    The party continued well into the afternoon, with everyone indulging in the sugary cupcakes and joking around. Laughter echoed through the room, but even amidst the joy, I felt something off. It was a subtle sensation at first¡ªan undercurrent of discomfort that I couldn¡¯t quite place. As if something important was brewing, something just beneath the surface of this otherwise perfect day.


    Leo noticed it first. Ever perceptive, he shot me a look that seemed to ask if I was okay. I gave him a reassuring nod, but it felt like a lie. I didn¡¯t want to dampen the mood, so I pushed the unease aside. This was my day, after all, wasn¡¯t it?


    ¡°Hey, Eli!¡± Mia¡¯s voice called from the other side of the room, drawing my attention away from Leo. ¡°You¡¯ve got to open your present!¡±


    I blinked, realizing that I hadn¡¯t even noticed a small pile of gifts accumulating at the front of the classroom. Wrapped in bright colors, each one carried a part of my friends¡¯ affection and care.


    Mia handed me a neatly wrapped box, tied with a vibrant blue ribbon. The weight of it surprised me¡ªit felt heavier than I expected for a birthday present.


    ¡°Go on, open it!¡± Leo urged, leaning forward with an eager expression.


    I untied the ribbon carefully and pulled apart the paper to reveal a sleek leather journal, its cover embossed with my initials in small gold lettering. Inside, the pages were thick and pristine, waiting to be filled.


    ¡°It¡¯s for your writing,¡± Mia said with a grin. ¡°We figured you could use something personal, something you can keep for yourself.¡±


    I stared at it for a moment, overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of the gift.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I said, my voice quieter than intended. I ran my fingers over the smooth leather, and something about it felt grounding, like an anchor in the chaotic swirl of my thoughts.


    ---


    The celebrations began to wind down as the bell for the final class of the day rang out, its shrill sound cutting through the laughter. Slowly, the room emptied, with everyone offering me quick goodbyes and promises to continue the party after school.


    Eventually, it was just me left in the classroom, surrounded by the remnants of the celebration. Confetti littered the floor, a few balloons bobbed lazily near the ceiling, and the faint scent of frosting lingered in the air. I remained seated at my desk, my fingers still lightly tracing the surface of the journal.


    The quietness of the room was jarring after the afternoon¡¯s chaos, but I didn¡¯t mind. In fact, it felt like a necessary pause, a moment to absorb the day¡¯s events. I should have felt elated, full of gratitude and joy, but instead, that strange unease crept back in, stronger this time.


    That¡¯s when I heard it.


    The door creaked open, the sound piercing the silence. I looked up, expecting to see Alex or Leo, maybe coming to check on me, but instead, I saw her.


    A girl I had never seen before.


    She was small, almost frail, her long black hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of ink. Her oversized school uniform only emphasized her slight frame, making her seem even more fragile. She stood in the doorway, unmoving, her eyes wide and dark as they locked onto mine.


    For a moment, neither of us moved.


    There was something about her¡ªa presence, an aura¡ªthat seemed entirely out of place. The room, which had felt so familiar and warm just moments ago, now seemed cold, sterile. Even the soft afternoon light filtering through the windows seemed to dim, casting eerie shadows across the floor.


    Her eyes. They were hauntingly large, filled with a sorrow that made my chest tighten.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she whispered.


    The words barely made it to my ears, yet they carried an unimaginable weight, as if they were tethered to some deep, unfathomable regret. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. The air in the room felt heavy, oppressive, like it was slowly being sucked away.


    And then, it all happened at once.


    The room seemed to spin. My vision blurred, the edges of my sight darkening rapidly as though someone had dimmed the lights. Panic seized me, but my body refused to move. It was as if I were stuck in place, trapped in some waking nightmare.


    The last thing I saw before the darkness completely overtook me was the single tear that slid down her pale cheek, glistening like a tiny diamond in the faint light.


    ---


    When I awoke, it was dark.


    I was no longer in the classroom, or at least, it didn¡¯t seem like I was. The surroundings were unfamiliar, blurry at first. My head throbbed, and I blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of where I was.


    Slowly, the world around me came into focus. The room was empty, save for the dim outlines of desks and chairs that seemed eerily similar to my classroom. But the air was thick, suffocating almost, and the light¡ªthere was no natural light anymore. Just a faint, cold glow that seemed to emanate from nowhere in particular.


    I struggled to my feet, my body feeling unnaturally heavy. My heart raced as I tried to piece together what had happened, but every thought seemed to slip away before I could grasp it fully.


    Where was I?


    And then, as if on cue, I heard her voice again.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    It was the same girl. She was standing just a few feet away, her expression unchanged, her eyes still filled with that unbearable sadness.


    ¡°Who¡­ who are you?¡± I managed to ask, my voice hoarse and shaky.


    She didn¡¯t answer at first. Instead, she looked at me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. When she finally spoke, her words were barely audible.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for this to happen.¡±


    Before I could ask what she meant, my vision blurred once again, the room spinning out of focus. I tried to steady myself, reaching for something¡ªanything¡ªto anchor myself, but there was nothing.


    Nothing but the darkness, creeping in from the edges, consuming me once more.


    ---


    When I woke again, I was back in the classroom.


    The remnants of the birthday celebration were still there¡ªthe confetti, the balloons, the cupcakes. But everything felt different now, like I had crossed some invisible threshold into a world where things weren¡¯t quite right.


    Leo, Alex, and Mia were gone. The classroom was eerily quiet, and that heavy feeling of unease had settled deep into my bones.


    But the strangest thing of all was that the girl was nowhere to be seen.


    Had I imagined her? Had it all been some kind of dream or hallucination?


    I didn¡¯t know. But as I sat there, trying to make sense of it all, one thing was clear¡ªwhatever had happened, it wasn¡¯t over.


    Not by a long shot.


    I sat in the stillness, feeling as though something was missing, or perhaps that something important had been left unsaid. The day had been perfect, the kind of celebration anyone would want for their birthday, yet the hollow feeling in my chest lingered, unshakable.


    My eyes drifted toward the window. The sky outside had darkened, with heavy clouds looming, hinting at an approaching storm. A flicker of lightning danced in the distance, followed by a low rumble of thunder. I couldn¡¯t explain why, but the sight stirred something within me¡ªsomething ominous, yet familiar.


    A strange sensation prickled the back of my neck, as if I were being watched. Slowly, I turned, my gaze sweeping across the empty classroom. It was deserted, but the air felt thick, charged with a strange tension. My heart quickened as I glanced at the doorway, half expecting to see someone standing there.


    But there was no one.


    I let out a shaky breath, trying to shake off the feeling. Maybe I was just tired from the day, or maybe it was the storm outside playing tricks on my mind. Either way, I couldn¡¯t deny that something felt off, and that unsettled feeling wouldn¡¯t leave me.


    I stood up, grabbing my new journal and slinging my bag over my shoulder. As I walked toward the door, I cast one last glance around the room. The remnants of the celebration looked almost surreal in the dim light¡ªconfetti strewn across the floor, deflated balloons sagging in the corners.


    It should have felt like a happy memory, a symbol of the friendship and love my friends had shown me. But instead, it felt like a dream I couldn¡¯t quite wake up from.


    With a sigh, I pushed open the door and stepped out into the empty hallway. The faint sound of thunder followed me as I made my way toward the exit, the uneasy feeling still gnawing at the edges of my mind.


    Something was coming. I could feel it. But whether it was something good or something terrible¡ªI had no idea. All I knew was that my life, as I knew it, was about to change.

 Chapter 2: Echoes of Reality

    As I walked down the hallway, a nagging sensation crept up my spine. The school was eerily silent, a suffocating quiet that only made the strange sense of unease grow stronger with each step. The building had always felt cold, its walls painted in that lifeless pale yellow, the fluorescent lights flickering faintly as if struggling to stay alive. But today, it felt different¡ªlike something was watching, waiting.


    I slowed my pace, glancing at the corner near the janitor''s usual station. He was always there around this time, perched on a rickety old chair, sipping his lukewarm coffee with that bored, distant expression. But today, the chair was empty. I paused, frowning. The sight of that empty corner unsettled me more than I wanted to admit. He never left his post, not during school hours, at least. I forced myself to shrug it off, telling myself it didn''t matter. Maybe he had something else to do. Still, I couldn''t shake the feeling that something was wrong.


    The rain had started to fall harder outside, drumming steadily against the tall windows. A dark, stormy sky loomed above, casting long shadows through the glass. I didn''t feel like braving the downpour yet, so I lingered by the school gate, leaning against the cold metal bars. With nothing else to do, I pulled out my phone to kill some time, hoping it would take my mind off the creeping unease.


    But when I checked the screen, my stomach dropped. 5:59 PM.


    School had ended over an hour ago. Where had the time gone? I couldn''t have been asleep this whole time¡ªcould I? I didn''t remember dozing off. A wave of confusion hit me, and I blinked, trying to shake it away. Just as I was about to make sense of it, the school''s clock hit 6:00 PM.


    The bell rang loudly, the sound reverberating through the empty halls. My head began to spin, a sharp pain shooting through my skull. The hallway wavered, like a mirage in the heat. I tried to steady myself against the gate, but my legs gave out beneath me. My vision blurred. The last thing I heard before everything went black was the rain pounding harder against the windows, a deafening roar that swallowed everything.


    ---"Eli! Hey, Eli, wake up. It''s about to start!"


    Leo''s voice cut through the darkness like a lifeline, pulling me out of the void. I blinked rapidly, my vision slowly adjusting to the light. I was back in the classroom. I shot upright in my seat, my heart racing as I scanned the room in confusion. The familiar rows of desks, the chalkboard covered in notes from earlier¡ªeverything was exactly as it had been that morning. But how?


    The school clock rang again. This time, it showed 9:00 AM. My mind was reeling. Just a moment ago, I was standing by the gate, ready to leave. So how could it be morning again?


    Leo sat beside me, leaning back casually in his chair. His carefree grin hadn''t changed at all. He looked exactly the same¡ªgolden-brown hair tousled like he''d just run a hand through it, his eyes always sparkling with that confident, almost playful glint. He was the kind of guy who could charm his way out of any situation. But as I stared at him, the confusion in my mind only deepened. What was happening?


    "What''s wrong?" Leo asked, nudging me gently with his elbow. "Did you have a bad dream or something?"


    His voice was lighthearted, the same easygoing tone he always had, but it felt distant to me. I felt trapped, like I was suffocating under the weight of something I couldn''t quite understand. I ran a hand through my black hair, feeling how damp it was with sweat. My rare green eyes darted around the room again, trying to find something¡ªanything¡ªthat could explain what was going on.


    "Yeah..." I muttered, still not fully convinced. "Just a bad dream, I guess."


    Leo raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Stressing over a dream? What, did the teacher give you detention in it or something?" He flashed me a grin, as if trying to pull me out of my daze.


    I tried to smile back, but it came out weak. I could see the worry start to creep into his expression, the playful edge of his grin fading. "You sure you''re okay?" he asked, his voice dropping slightly.


    Before I could answer, the teacher''s stern voice interrupted us. "Leo! Eli! Stop talking!"


    "Yes, sir," we both chimed reflexively. I could hear the sharp tone in the teacher''s voice, and neither of us wanted to test his patience. He had a way of glaring at you that made your skin crawl, and I didn''t feel like facing that today.


    I leaned back in my seat, exhaling slowly. It had to be a dream, I told myself. Some weird, vivid dream. That''s all. The more I tried to convince myself, the more my heart pounded in my chest. But as the seconds ticked by, I tried to settle into the familiar routine. Just a dream. Nothing else.


    As the teacher called for attendance, I stood up when he reached my name. "Here," I mumbled, my voice quieter than usual. I caught Leo glancing at me out of the corner of my eye, but I ignored him. I wasn''t in the mood for more questions.


    I scanned the classroom, looking for something¡ªanything¡ªthat could make me feel grounded again. But as my eyes landed on the empty space where Rose''s desk should''ve been, my stomach twisted again. Her desk was gone. Not just empty, but completely gone, like it had never been there in the first place.


    Rose wasn''t here either.


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    She had always been here, sitting just two rows down from me. Rose, with her bright smile and quick wit, always making sarcastic remarks under her breath that Mia would laugh at. But now she was just... gone.


    The teacher didn''t call her name for attendance. I frowned, thinking he must know something I didn''t. Maybe Rose was sick. Maybe the desk had been taken for repairs. But why didn''t he mention it?


    Before I could dwell on it, the teacher''s voice broke through my thoughts. "There will be a pop quiz today."


    A collective groan erupted from the class, the usual chorus of complaints filling the air. But my heart dropped for a different reason. A pop quiz¡ªjust like in my dream.


    My hands grew clammy, and I felt the panic creeping back in. Was this really just a dream?


    Alex, seated in front of Leo, turned around and eyed me. His sharp, intense gaze bore into me. Alex always had that look about him, the look of someone who was constantly sizing up the world around him, ready to fight if necessary. He had a boxer''s build¡ªlean, muscular, always on edge, like he was ready to throw a punch at any moment. "You''re acting weird today," he said bluntly, his voice low.


    I flinched. "N-no, I''m fine," I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady.


    Alex didn''t look convinced, but before he could say anything else, the teacher called my name again. "Eli!"


    I jumped in my seat, my heart skipping a beat. "Yes, sir?"


    "You''re talking too much today. Go switch seats with Kyle."


    Kyle, a scrawny kid who was notorious for trying to cheat during tests, let out an excited "Yahoo!" as I stood to switch seats with him. He practically bounced over to my spot, clearly pleased with his new vantage point.


    But the teacher''s icy gaze stopped him in his tracks. "Kyle, see me after class," he said, his voice low and menacing.


    Kyle''s face fell instantly, his happiness draining away as he slumped into my old seat. I could practically see him going through all five stages of grief as he realized his excitement had been short-lived. I sighed, moving quietly to his seat without further complaint.


    As I settled into Kyle''s seat, Roland, who sat in front of me, turned around and passed me the quiz sheet. My hands trembled slightly as I took it, bracing myself. I quickly glanced at the questions, and to my relief, they weren''t the same as the ones from my dream. These questions were different¡ªharder, sure¡ªbut different.


    For the first time since waking up, I let out a shaky breath, feeling a small sense of relief. Maybe it really was just a bad dream after all.


    I focused on the quiz, forcing myself to push the creeping anxiety out of my mind. The room was quiet, save for the occasional scratch of pencils against paper and the sound of the rain outside. Time crawled by as I worked through the questions, my brain struggling to keep up with the difficult material. I didn''t know half the answers, but at that moment, I was just thankful the questions were different.


    Finally, after what felt like hours, the teacher called time, and we handed in our papers. As I made my way back to my new seat, I noticed Kyle humming a happy tune to himself, oblivious to the impending doom of his meeting with the teacher. My irritation flared up. He had probably cheated, and here I was, likely failing. "Hey," I said, giving him a nudge. "Didn''t the teacher tell you to see him after class?"


    Kyle''s face fell again, his grin disappearing in an instant. "Man, why''d you have to remind me?" he grumbled, dragging hisfeet as he shuffled toward the front of the classroom, muttering under his breath. I watched him go, a small smirk playing on my lips despite everything. At least I wasn''t the only one having a bad day.


    As I moved back to my seat, though, a thought struck me, cutting through the brief moment of amusement. Rose. She still hadn''t shown up. Her desk was missing, and no one, not even the teacher, seemed to notice or care.


    I sat down, my legs feeling heavier than before, and turned to Leo, who was leaning back in his chair, looking out the window with his usual laid-back demeanor. His golden-brown hair caught the light from the rain-soaked window, but I couldn''t focus on that. There was something I needed to know."Hey, Leo," I started, keeping my voice low. "What happened to Rose? Why isn''t her desk here?"


    Leo turned to me, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "Rose? Who''s that?"


    I stared at him, my heart skipping a beat. "What do you mean, who? Rose¡ªMia''s best friend. You know, she''s always sitting a few rows over."


    Leo''s frown deepened, and he looked genuinely puzzled. "Mia doesn''t have any friend named Rose," he said slowly, as if trying to make sure I understood him.


    That creeping unease I had been trying to keep buried suddenly surged to the surface. My hands trembled again, and I could feel my chest tightening, my breath coming in shallow bursts. "You''re messing with me, right?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Of course, Mia has a friend named Rose. They''re always together."


    Leo''s eyes softened, concern replacing the confusion. He reached out and gave my shoulder a light squeeze. "Eli, I''m serious. I don''t know anyone named Rose.


    "For a moment, the world seemed to tilt around me. I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. This couldn''t be happening. I looked around the classroom, but everything seemed normal. Normal, except for the missing desk and the gnawing feeling in my gut telling me something was very, very wrong.


    Before Leo could say anything else, I shot up from my seat, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. My heart was pounding, the panic now bubbling over into full-blown terror. I couldn''t take it anymore¡ªI needed answers.


    Without another word, I darted out of the classroom, ignoring Leo''s calls behind me. The hallways felt colder now, the shadows longer. The rain outside beat against the windows, louder and more insistent, as if the storm itself was trying to swallow me whole.


    I spotted Kyle at the end of the hall, his back to me as he walked toward the teacher''s office, and I ran to catch up with him, my footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.


    "Kyle!" I called out, my voice cracking from the strain. He stopped and turned around, an annoyed expression on his face. "What now, Eli? I''m already in trouble, can''t you leave me alone?"


    Ignoring his tone, I grabbed him by the shoulder, harder than I meant to, but I couldn''t help it. My voice was shaky, my breath ragged. "Let me see your quiz questions," I demanded.


    Kyle blinked, looking bewildered. "Why? It''s just an exam, dude. Chill out."


    "Please," I croaked, my grip tightening on his shoulder. My chest felt like it was being crushed, the fear and confusion suffocating me. "Just... just give it to me."


    Kyle, clearly startled by my desperation, reluctantly fumbled through his bag and pulled out the quiz sheet. He shoved it into my hands, looking at me like I''d lost my mind. Maybe I had.


    My hands trembled as I unfolded the paper, my eyes scanning the questions. My heart stopped. The questions¡ªthey were the same. Exactly the same as the ones in my dream. Every word, every number, every detail. It was all there.


    I felt the world around me collapsing, my mind spinning out of control. This wasn''t just a bad dream. It wasn''t something I could brush off anymore.


    I was trapped in something I couldn''t understand. And worst of all, I had no idea how to escape it.

 Echoes of the Forgotten

    Darkness. Utter darkness. There was nothing, a void stretching endlessly. Then, suddenly, a spark, like a jolt of electricity through his body, and pain¡ªsharp, piercing. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The sound escaped his lips as his eyes snapped open.


    Where am I? What¡¯s happening?


    Disoriented, Eli blinked rapidly, his vision still fuzzy as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. His heart raced as a rush of fragmented memories flooded his mind. Panic clawed its way to the surface, gripping him tightly. His forehead broke out in cold sweat, his hands trembled. He realized he was lying down. A fleeting hope came to him, a small, desperate thought.


    Maybe it was just a dream.


    He clung to the idea, trying to steady his breathing, but his attempts to calm down were shattered by the sound of a door creaking open on his right. Eli turned his head slowly, his pulse quickening.


    A tall, beautiful woman with long legs and a figure that could command attention entered. She was wearing the familiar nurse''s uniform¡ªMiss Hela, the school nurse. Her hazel eyes met his, and her chestnut-brown hair was pulled back loosely. Most students talked about her like she was some kind of goddess. Between her sensual voice, her curves, and her calming presence, people usually left the infirmary feeling better just from her presence. But Eli? He felt none of that. In fact, he felt his panic intensify, because seeing her reminded him exactly where he was.


    He was still in school.


    And with that realization, the last thread of hope he had been clinging to snapped. There was no escape from the truth. It wasn¡¯t just a dream. Despair began to settle in his chest, heavy and suffocating. His mind, overwhelmed with fear of the unknown, clouded his thoughts.


    Noticing the look of distress on his face, Miss Hela frowned. "What''s wrong? Whatever it is, calm down first," she said, her soothing voice cutting through the haze of Eli¡¯s panic.


    Her words were like an anchor. He nodded, trying to grasp at the calm she was offering him. I need to calm down. He took a deep breath, just as she instructed, inhaling slowly and deeply.


    "Now, slowly let it out," she continued.


    Eli followed her guidance, exhaling shakily. His thoughts, though still muddled, were starting to clear. He noticed then how drenched he was in sweat, his shirt clinging to his skin almost embarrassingly, near-transparent. He felt the cool wet towel that had been placed on his forehead.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ in the infirmary,¡± he muttered under his breath, piecing together the obvious. But how did I get here?


    As if reading his thoughts, Miss Hela spoke again, her voice still gentle but with a tinge of concern. ¡°You fainted in the hallway. Your friends brought you here. You were burning with a fever by the time you arrived. After checking you, I didn¡¯t find anything wrong aside from the fever, so I let you rest. You¡¯ve been asleep for nearly four hours.¡±


    Four hours? Eli¡¯s mind raced. That meant it was already past two in the afternoon. Lunchtime was about to begin soon. Everything seemed to be moving so fast, his thoughts barely able to keep up.


    Miss Hela¡¯s voice pulled him back into the present. ¡°Can you tell me what happened?¡± she asked, her eyes soft but searching.


    Eli hesitated. How could he possibly explain any of this without sounding completely insane? The weight of her gaze pressed down on him, her eyes filled with a quiet understanding. She wasn¡¯t judging, but she didn¡¯t know¡ªcouldn¡¯t know.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she said, her tone encouraging. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s on your mind.¡±


    It was like a dam broke inside of him. He started to explain, haltingly at first, about the dream, the strange girl, the missing Rose, and how no one else seemed to remember her. His words tumbled out in a rush, his voice rising in intensity as he relayed each piece of this surreal puzzle. The room felt stifling as the weight of his own words crushed down on him.


    When he finished, there was a long, uncomfortable silence. Miss Hela¡¯s hazel eyes, once calm and understanding, now looked at him with a mix of concern and pity. She was trying to process everything, but Eli could tell by the look on her face¡ªshe didn¡¯t believe him. Not really.


    ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re saying everything in your dream is becoming real, and a girl named Rose has disappeared¡­ but only you remember her?¡± she asked cautiously, her voice soft yet skeptical.


    Eli bit his lip, his stomach sinking. ¡°I know it sounds crazy, but it¡¯s the truth,¡± he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.


    The pity in her gaze only deepened. ¡°No, I believe you,¡± she said, but the way she said it made it clear¡ªshe didn¡¯t.


    He let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of her disbelief settle over him like a suffocating blanket. Of course, she doesn¡¯t believe me. Why would she?


    Miss Hela cleared her throat, her cheeks flushing slightly, as if embarrassed by her own thoughts. If this had been a normal day, he might have even found her cute, but not today. Today, he didn¡¯t have the energy to care about anything beyond the crushing fear and confusion that consumed him.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said, trying to sound professional again, ¡°your fever has gone down, and the rain outside seems to have stopped for now. You should go home and rest. Maybe talk to your family about¡­ everything.¡±


    It was clear from her tone that she was humoring him. To her, he was just another student having a breakdown. But Eli nodded, rising slowly from the bed, still feeling shaky. He looked out the infirmary window and saw that the sky had cleared somewhat, though dark clouds still loomed on the horizon.


    It¡¯s going to rain again, just like in my dream.


    ¡°Thank you, Miss Hela,¡± he said quietly, bowing his head slightly in gratitude, even though he knew she didn¡¯t believe him. It didn¡¯t matter. She had done her duty, and now he had to figure out the rest on his own.


    ¡°Take care,¡± she said softly as he made his way to the door.


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    Eli opened it, stepping into the dimly lit hallway. His footsteps echoed slightly against the tiled floor, and the fluorescent lights above flickered, casting eerie shadows on the pale, cream-colored walls. The school felt unnaturally quiet, the air heavy with the scent of rain-soaked earth drifting in through the cracked windows.


    As he walked, Eli felt something strange. A gaze, watching him. His body tensed, but he didn¡¯t stop. Slowly, he turned his head just enough to see Miss Hela standing by the door, watching him intently. Her face held a strange expression¡ªconcern, curiosity, and something else. Was she¡­ worried? Not for his health, but for his sanity?


    Of course, she is. She probably thinks I¡¯m losing it.


    Sighing heavily, Eli turned his attention forward again, his feet carrying him toward the bathroom. He could feel his thoughts spiraling as he tried to process everything.


    Why me? Why am I the only one who remembers? Why wasn¡¯t it Leo? Or Alex?


    These questions gnawed at him, tearing at the edges of his already fragile mind. Leo was the popular one, the leader. If something strange like this were to happen, surely it should have been Leo who noticed, or even Alex with his intense, sharp nature. Eli felt like the odd one out, the invisible one. It didn¡¯t make sense.


    The hallway leading to the bathroom was narrow, the pale tiles worn down from years of students rushing to and from class. The walls were a dull off-white, and the lighting cast a cold, clinical glow. As Eli reached the door, his breath hitched in his throat. He felt like something was wrong, like the air itself was holding its breath.


    Inside the bathroom, it was quiet, almost unnervingly so. The soft hum of the fluorescent lights above buzzed in the silence. Eli walked over to the sink, gripping the cold porcelain basin as he stared at his reflection. The dim lighting cast harsh shadows on his face, his dark hair sticking to his forehead from the sweat.


    Why me? Why not Leo? Or Alex?


    As the thoughts circled in his head, Eli¡¯s reflection in the mirror suddenly changed.


    Eli¡¯s reflection in the mirror suddenly shifted. His heart lurched as he noticed something behind him, just barely visible in the dim light. His breath caught in his throat. There, standing a few feet away, was the girl¡ªthe same girl from his dream. Her figure was faint, almost ethereal, as if she weren¡¯t fully there. Her long dark hair fell around her face, her expression still as sad and apologetic as it had been before.


    Eli froze, his blood running cold. The world around him seemed to narrow, his vision blurring as the edges of the room darkened. It was like the rest of the world had fallen away, leaving just him and the girl.


    His mind screamed at him to turn around, to confront her, but his body refused to move. He stared into the mirror, his hands gripping the sink so tightly his knuckles turned white. She was still there, her sorrowful eyes fixed on him, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to speak but couldn¡¯t quite find the words.


    You¡¯re more important than you think.


    Her voice echoed in his mind, soft and distant, as though it came from some faraway place. Eli¡¯s heart pounded in his chest, every muscle in his body tense with dread. He gathered what little courage he had left and forced himself to turn around, his movements stiff and mechanical.


    ¡°W-What do you mean?¡± he stammered, his voice barely audible as he faced her. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Explain, please!¡±


    But the girl didn¡¯t answer. She simply looked at him with that same haunting expression, her eyes filled with an unbearable sadness. Then, without a sound, she faded away¡ªjust as suddenly as she had appeared.


    Eli sucked in a shaky breath, his chest tight. His heart was pounding so hard he thought it might burst. He stumbled back a step, his mind spinning with confusion and fear. What had he just seen? Was she a ghost? A hallucination? Or something else entirely?


    His thoughts spiraled as the oppressive silence of the bathroom pressed down on him. The cold tiles beneath his feet, the dull fluorescent lights overhead¡ªeverything felt off, like he was trapped in some kind of distorted reality.


    Why me? Why wasn¡¯t it Leo or Alex?


    Eli stared blankly at the mirror, but his own reflection seemed foreign to him now. His face was pale, his green eyes wide and filled with the kind of fear that made his skin crawl. He could feel the questions gnawing at his sanity, breaking down whatever resolve he had left.


    If Leo were here, he would know what to do. He always knew what to do.


    The thought hit Eli like a punch to the gut. Leo was the one people looked up to, the one who seemed to have it all together. If anyone were going to notice something wrong or solve this mystery, it should have been him. But it wasn¡¯t. It was Eli. The boy who always stood in Leo¡¯s shadow, the one who was always on the outside looking in.


    Why not Leo? Why me?


    The weight of it all¡ªthe strangeness of the situation, the fear, the uncertainty¡ªit was suffocating. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of questions with no answers, and every time he tried to come up for air, something pulled him back under.


    He felt a deep, aching resentment building up inside him. It wasn¡¯t fair. Leo was the strong one, the one who thrived in the spotlight. Alex was the intense one, the fighter who never backed down. And Eli? Eli was¡­ just Eli. Quiet. Overlooked. Why was he the one dealing with this nightmare?


    As these thoughts swirled around in his head, he barely noticed how the bathroom seemed to grow colder, the walls a dull grey under the artificial lights. The air felt thick, like something was watching him even though he was alone. The soft drip of a leaky faucet echoed in the small, tiled space, adding to the eerie atmosphere.


    I shouldn¡¯t be the one. This should have been Leo¡¯s problem, or Alex¡¯s.


    He couldn¡¯t stop the bitter thoughts, even as part of him knew they were unfair. Still, the frustration gnawed at him. Why was he, of all people, the one forced to confront this nightmare?


    He forced himself to move, stepping away from the sink and the eerie reflection that seemed to mock him. He needed to get out of here. Now.


    Without another word, Eli bolted from the bathroom, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. The walls felt closer, the shadows darker as he ran. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of being watched, that same presence lingering just out of sight.


    As he rounded the corner, his breath ragged from fear, he nearly collided with a teacher. It was Mr. Hart, his homeroom teacher, with his usual stern expression. The older man raised an eyebrow at Eli, clearly concerned by the state he was in.


    ¡°I heard what happened from Miss Hela. You should go home today, Eli. And stop running in the hallway,¡± Mr. Hart said, his voice firm but not unkind. ¡°But before you go, your friends are looking for you. You should let them know you¡¯re okay.¡±


    Eli blinked, still reeling from everything. He nodded mutely, too exhausted to protest.


    ¡°Y-Yes, sir. I¡¯ll visit them first,¡± he managed to say, his voice shaky.


    Mr. Hart placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip firm but reassuring. ¡°No matter what happens, always remember your friends are there for you.¡±


    The words hit Eli harder than he expected. For a brief moment, the storm in his mind quieted. Right. I¡¯m not alone. I still have them.


    As Mr. Hart walked away, Eli stood there for a moment, clutching his phone. He pulled it out, realizing he hadn¡¯t yet called his mom. He needed to tell her he was coming home.


    With trembling hands, he dialed her number, pressing the phone to his ear. The line rang once, then twice. Then nothing. No answer.


    Eli frowned. That¡¯s strange. She usually picks up right away.


    He tried again, the ringing filling the silence. Still nothing. His stomach twisted uncomfortably. Maybe she¡¯s busy?


    Trying to shake off the growing anxiety, Eli called his dad next. But the result was the same. No answer.


    Something¡¯s wrong. Something¡¯s definitely wrong.


    The fear that had been gnawing at him all day started to claw its way back, more intense than before. He was about to try again when the door to his classroom opened. Miss Lena, the English teacher, walked out, her sharp brown eyes softening slightly when she saw him.


    ¡°I heard what happened. You should go home and rest,¡± she said, her tone unusually gentle.


    Eli nodded, muttering a quick ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Just as she turned to leave, she stopped halfway down the hall and, without turning around, added, ¡°Happy birthday.¡±


    The words hung in the air for a moment, heavy and out of place, like a reminder of the normal day that had somehow turned into a nightmare.


    Eli swallowed hard, barely registering her departure before he heard a familiar voice call out to him. It was Leo, followed closely by Alex and Mia. Leo¡¯s face was full of concern, his usual confident demeanor replaced by something much softer.


    ¡°Eli, are you alright? Why did you suddenly faint?¡± Leo asked, his eyes scanning Eli¡¯s face, searching for answers.


    Eli felt a pang of guilt. He had been so wrapped up in his fear and frustration that he had briefly resented Leo for not being the one caught up in this nightmare. But seeing his friend¡¯s genuine concern now¡­ it made him feel ashamed.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine now,¡± Eli said quietly, trying to sound convincing. ¡°But it¡¯s¡­ a long story. I¡¯ll explain everything tomorrow. I need to get home.¡±


    Leo hesitated, clearly wanting to push for more answers but holding back when he saw the urgency in Eli¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Leo said, his voice soft. ¡°Take this.¡± He handed Eli a journal, and for a moment, Eli felt a surge of warmth in his chest. His friend was worried about him. Despite everything, they still cared.


    As Eli was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something he hesitated but still asked¡° have you guys heard of someone named Mr Hans¡±


    Leo answered with growing concerned look ¡±no¡±


    Eli said disappointed but not surprised.


    Alex ran over with an umbrella, pressing it into Eli¡¯s hands. ¡°Take it. It might rain again,¡± he said gruffly, though his tone was filled with the same concern.


    Eli blinked in surprise, touched by the gesture. ¡°Don¡¯t you need it?¡± he asked.


    Alex shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve got another one. Just take it.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Eli muttered, clutching the umbrella tightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you guys tomorrow,¡± Eli said, his voice steadier now.


    Leo and Alex nodded, while Mia smiled gently.


    As Eli turned to leave, he felt the weight of everything pressing down on him again. He still had no answers, but at least for now, he had his friends.


    He walked quickly toward the school gate, his thoughts racing. But just as his hand touched the gate, his head started to spin again. The world blurred, the ground tilting beneath his feet. And then¡ªdarkness.


    ¡°Eli, hey, Eli! Wake up, it¡¯s about to start!¡±


    Leo¡¯s voice pulled him from the darkness, and Eli¡¯s eyes snapped open. He was back in the classroom.


    The same classroom from before. His heart pounded as he looked around in confusion, his mind reeling.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he whispered, the weight of the loop crashing down on him once again.

 Chapter 4: The Burden of Being The Only One Who Knows

    ¡°Eli, hey, Eli! Wake up, it¡¯s about to start!¡±


    The words pierced the fog of Eli¡¯s mind, dragging him out of the murky haze of sleep. Leo¡¯s voice cut through the confusion like a sharp blade, yanking Eli back to the present. His body jerked upright, eyes fluttering open as he blinked, trying to make sense of the world around him. His heart pounded against his ribs, beating out a frantic rhythm of panic.


    What¡¯s going on? I was just about to leave. How did I end up here again?


    The classroom came into view, familiar yet wrong, like a painting where the colors were slightly off. Desks were in their usual place, Leo sat next to him as always, but a sense of dread gnawed at Eli¡¯s insides. Something was missing¡ªsomething important, but he couldn¡¯t place it. His mind raced, thoughts jumbled as he struggled to orient himself.


    This can¡¯t be happening again. No, it has to be a lie.


    Panic clawed at his throat, and his skin prickled with unease. His hands trembled as he turned toward Leo, his friend¡¯s face now filled with concern.


    ¡°Oi, you alright?¡± Leo¡¯s hand landed gently on his shoulder, shaking him, his eyes searching Eli¡¯s face for an answer. There was genuine worry there, but Eli could barely process it. The world felt surreal, like he was caught in the pages of one of the novels he had read, where reality bent in impossible ways.


    For a moment, he met Leo¡¯s gaze, feeling the weight of everything¡ªof not being able to explain, of not knowing what was happening. Why am I so different? he thought bitterly, glancing at Leo¡¯s confident posture, his presence so grounded, so normal. Why can¡¯t I handle this like him?


    Without a word, Eli abruptly stood up, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. His sudden movement startled both Leo and Alex, who had been watching quietly. The weight of their worried stares made Eli¡¯s skin crawl, but he couldn¡¯t stay there any longer. He needed to escape¡ªto run from whatever twisted reality was unfolding around him.


    Ignoring the tension, he bolted for the door. His footsteps were loud in the quiet room, each step a drumbeat echoing his mounting anxiety. He had almost reached the handle when the door swung open.


    Ms. Lena stepped in, her presence both unexpected and unnerving. Eli frowned, his heart hammering in his chest. She wasn¡¯t supposed to be here at this time, was she? It was another inconsistency, another crack in the fabric of what should have been an ordinary day. But he couldn¡¯t focus on that now¡ªhe had to get out.


    ¡°Eli, wait!¡± Ms. Lena¡¯s voice was sharp, laced with irritation as he brushed past her, his pace quickening. His breath came in ragged gasps, his chest tightening with each step. The noise of the school¡ªstudents talking, the creak of old floors¡ªfaded into the background, blending into a dull hum as he ran through the hallways.


    The gate came into view, the heavy iron bars standing as the only barrier between him and some form of sanity. He skidded to a stop, his breath coming out in short bursts, his palms slick with sweat. The cold air hit his face, doing little to calm the rising tide of panic that surged within him.


    Calm down, Eli. Get it together.


    But it was no use. His thoughts spiraled out of control, the sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu mingling with a deep, gnawing fear. Gathering every ounce of courage, he pushed the gate open.


    And then¡ªa wave of dizziness. The world spun, his vision blurred, and before he could make sense of it, everything faded into black.


    ---


    When Eli opened his eyes again, the confusion was gone, but dread lingered like a shadow. He stared at the ceiling for a long moment, the realization sinking in like a weight pressing down on his chest.


    It¡¯s real. I¡¯m trapped in a time loop.


    His throat tightened, and his heart pounded in his ears. How? Why? A thousand questions swirled in his head, none with answers. The classroom was the same as before¡ªLeo and Alex nearby, the hum of life going on as if nothing had changed.


    Why is this happening to me?


    ¡°Thanks for waking me up,¡± Eli muttered, his voice hoarse as he forced a weak smile in Leo¡¯s direction. The words felt hollow, his throat tight with suppressed emotion. How could he act like everything was normal?


    Leo studied him with furrowed brows, clearly sensing something was off. ¡°You sure you¡¯re okay, man?¡± There was a touch of concern in his voice, but Eli could barely focus on it.


    ¡°I¡­¡± The words got stuck in his throat. How could he explain this? How could anyone understand? He forced a weak chuckle, trying to brush off the worry. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ tired, I guess.¡±


    Alex, who had been watching quietly, leaned forward, his intense gaze pinning Eli in place. ¡°Maybe you just need to relax,¡± he offered, though the concern in his tone was palpable.


    Relax. If only it were that simple. Eli wanted to tell them everything, to make them understand what he was going through, but he couldn¡¯t. Not yet. He knew how it would sound¡ªinsane, delusional. They wouldn¡¯t believe him. I wouldn¡¯t believe me, either.


    ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t sleep well last night,¡± he added, his voice strained as he tried to force a smile. ¡°I¡¯m just tired.¡±


    But his mind was anything but tired. It raced with thoughts, questions, fears. Eli glanced up at the front of the classroom, noticing with unease that the teacher wasn¡¯t there yet. His heart pounded louder as fragments of memory began piecing themselves together. When I tried to leave earlier, Ms. Lena came in. But she wasn¡¯t supposed to. Could it be¡­?


    ¡°Guys, do you know anyone named Mr. Hart?¡± Eli¡¯s voice was quiet, almost a whisper, as if saying the name too loudly would make everything real again. His voice trembled, betraying the fear he tried so hard to suppress.


    Leo blinked, puzzled. ¡°Mr. Hart? Never heard of him. Why do you ask?¡±


    Eli stared at his friend, searching for any sign of a joke. But Leo¡¯s expression was genuine¡ªconfusion, not deception. And he knew Leo wasn''t one joke around like that.


    Mr. Hart is gone too¡­ Eli thought bitterly, the weight of the realization pressing down on him like an anchor. His mind raced as he recalled the unsettling events of the past few days. Just what is going on? How did all this start? Hah, I need to calm down. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on his breath, trying to find a sliver of peace amidst the chaos swirling in his mind.


    Opening his eyes, he glanced at Leo, who sat nearby, watching him with a furrowed brow. The concern etched on Leo''s face only added to Eli''s growing unease. What if Leo notices something¡¯s off? What if he asks me directly? Eli thought, his heart racing. He didn''t want to worry his friends, but the strange occurrences had left him feeling isolated, trapped in a bizarre puzzle that seemed to have no solution.


    Finally, Leo made a decision. He stood up, hesitating for a moment as if gathering courage, about to call out to Eli. But before he could, the classroom door swung open, and Miss Lena entered, her presence cutting through the tension like a knife. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to her.


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    Eli¡¯s thoughts were interrupted as he watched Leo¡¯s shoulders relax, his own anxiety mirrored in his friend''s demeanor. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll talk to him later,¡± Leo muttered under his breath, settling back into his seat. Then he nudged Eli and said ¡°You need to stand too,¡±


    Caught off guard by Leo¡¯s nudge, Eli jolted upright, the sudden movement sending a jolt of adrenaline through him. He turned to Leo, mouth opening to express his gratitude but only managing a brief, shaky smile. ¡°Thanks,¡± he mouthed, hoping it conveyed what he couldn''t say out loud.


    ¡°Good morning, ma¡¯am!¡± the entire class chorused, their voices ringing out in unison. Eli felt the urge to say "sir" bubble up, but he caught himself just in time. He sat down, trying to blend in with the rest of the students, but the scene of normalcy did little to soothe the storm brewing inside him.


    Okay, think, Eli commanded himself, focusing intently on the familiar surroundings of the classroom. Everything started after I met that girl. She apologized for¡­ something incomprehensible, and then I blacked out. When I woke up, I was in class, but it didn¡¯t feel like the classroom I knew. Everything was slightly off, the air charged with an unnameable tension. Then i blacked out again when I woke up one hour has already passed. And then Mr. Hans disappeared, marking the beginning of the loop.


    His breath quickened as a cold realization washed over him. And now, Rose is gone too. He felt his face pale further, heart racing as he counted the loops in his mind. Three loops, three people missing. One person disappears for every loop¡­ Panic surged within him. What does this mean? Did i just use one loop just to make myself believe it''s loop?


    Before he could spiral deeper into despair, Miss Lena¡¯s voice pierced through the fog of his thoughts. ¡°Eli,¡± she called, her tone sharp and clear, pulling him back from the edge of his spiraling worries.


    ¡°Here!¡± he responded a bit too loudly, standing up abruptly. He quickly sank back into his seat, a flush creeping up his cheeks as he felt the curious gazes of his classmates on him. Eli''s heart raced as he scanned the room, relief momentarily washing over him when he noticed that other than Rose, everyone else was present.


    But then a fresh wave of anxiety crashed over him. This isn¡¯t the only class in the school. The realization struck him like a cold wave. What if something is happening in the other rooms? I need to know! The urge to leap out of his seat and check every classroom nearly overwhelmed him, but he wrestled with the impulse, reminding himself that he needed to remain calm. I''ve already wasted two loops. If I act strange again, the loop might reset, and I can¡¯t let that happen.


    Just then, Miss Lena¡¯s voice interrupted his frantic thoughts once more. ¡°There will be a quiz today.¡±


    A quiz again¡­ Eli thought, dread creeping in. A sudden idea sparked in his mind, and he leaned over to whisper to Leo. ¡°Hey, what subject does Miss Lena teach?¡±


    Leo turned to him, eyebrows raised, confusion etched across his face. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? You¡¯re acting¡­ different.¡±


    Eli felt a bit confused but then he felt his throat tighten, realizing how out of place he sounded. Right, I''m supposed to know that, he cursed silently under his breath. Forcing a strained smile, he replied, ¡°Haha, just joking!¡±


    ¡°Riiight¡­¡± Leo said, though skepticism lingered in his eyes. Eli sensed that his friend wasn¡¯t entirely convinced but was relieved when Leo didn¡¯t press further.


    Eli sighed inwardly, grateful for the small reprieve. "Forget it; I¡¯ll just check the quiz questions myself," he thought, determination pushing him forward.


    After a few minutes, Lisa, who sat in front of him, turned around and passed him the quiz paper. ¡°Here you go,¡± she said, her playful grin lighting up her face. ¡°You¡¯re acting kind of weird today. Did you have a wet dream or something?¡±


    Eli chuckled awkwardly, normally quick with a retort but now at a loss for words. Instead, he focused on the quiz paper. Lisa watched him for a moment, expecting a comeback, but when none came, she turned back around, her curiosity evident.


    With a long breath, Eli felt a bit steadier thanks to Lisa¡¯s teasing. He scanned the quiz, his heart sinking. Of course, it¡¯s the same questions as before. Miss Lena was now teaching both English and math, Mr. Hart took math class before. And he was rarely absent but when was usually the math teachers from other class filled in. This doesn¡¯t make sense. If Mr. Hart was not here, there should be a math teacher as a teacher, right? Why is Miss Lena taking over? Logic seems twisted In the loop.


    As he filled in the answers mechanically, he thought about the distorted logic of the loop. Should I tell anyone about it? He remembered the last loop when he had spoken to Miss Hela. Nothing changed then. I guess I need to gather more information first. If I can¡¯t figure this out by lunch, I¡¯ll consider bringing it up.


    He completed the quiz quickly, hardly caring about the result. With the rest of the class stretching on, he tried to recall everything he could about time loop stories, yet the ideas felt jumbled and chaotic in his mind.


    Maybe that girl was the last time looper, and somehow she passed the power on to me, he pondered, frustration gnawing at him. But why me? I don¡¯t even know her! Maybe she disappeared too. But I can see her. He felt a flicker of hope¡ªif everyone else forgot her too, then perhaps they didn¡¯t completely disappear. But the questions remained, swirling in his mind like a storm. Why did she pass the ability to me? Why does she avoid facing me directly? And what does she mean when she says I¡¯m special?


    Before he could delve deeper, Lisa knocked on his desk and exasperatedly, breaking him from his spiraling thoughts. ¡°Hey, give Miss Lena your quiz paper,¡± she said, her tone light yet firm.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Eli realized with a start that class had ended. He sprang to his feet, catching Lisa¡¯s eye as he said sincerely, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Lisa blinked, a soft blush rising to her cheeks as she quickly looked away. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Eli hurried to the front of the classroom, handing the quiz paper to Miss Lena, who nodded at him with approval. Feeling a rush of urgency, he returned to his seat, mentally preparing for whatever came next. The weight of the loop hung over him like a shadow, but he knew he had to find a way to break free before it consumed him completely.


    Eli sat back down in his seat, his mind racing while trying to maintain the facade of normalcy. He could feel Alex''s concerned gaze on him, the way his friend¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, a clear indicator of his worry. Leo glanced between them, leaning in slightly, his expression shifting from casual to serious.


    ¡°You sure you¡¯re okay, Eli? You¡¯ve been acting weird all morning,¡± Leo asked, his voice softer than usual, as if trying not to intrude too much but clearly concerned.


    Eli bit his lip, unsure of how to answer. He wanted to tell them¡ªhe needed to. But how could they possibly believe him? And even if they did, what could they do about it? The pressure built within him, and he forced a laugh, hoping to ease the tension. ¡°Yeah, just didn¡¯t get much sleep. You know how it is,¡± he added, trying to sound nonchalant.


    But Leo wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°You¡¯ve been spacing out for the whole day. Something¡¯s definitely up.¡±


    Eli glanced at them, feeling the weight of the truth pressing down on him. Although he had originally planned to tell them after lunch, he couldn¡¯t think of any solution on the spot. The feeling of isolation gnawed at him; he couldn¡¯t carry this burden alone any longer. ¡°Listen, guys, I need to talk to you about something,¡± he said, his voice wavering, but he pressed on before he could lose his nerve. ¡°I think I¡¯m stuck¡­ in some kind of time loop.¡±


    There was a beat of silence as Leo and Alex exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting from confusion to skepticism.


    ¡°A time loop?¡± Alex repeated, the skepticism evident in his tone. ¡°Like in those stories?¡±


    Eli nodded, desperate to convey the gravity of his situation. ¡°Yeah. Every time I¡­ leave, or the day ends, I wake up, and it¡¯s the same day again. And it¡¯s not just d¨¦j¨¤ vu¡ªit¡¯s real. I¡¯ve been through this day more times than I can count.¡±


    Leo scratched his head, his brow furrowed in thought. ¡°Dude, that¡¯s¡­ kind of crazy.¡±


    Mia, who had been eavesdropping from behind Leo, leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with an air of disbelief. ¡°You¡¯ve probably just been stressed. Exams are coming up¡ªmaybe it¡¯s messing with your head.¡±


    Eli clenched his fists under the desk, a surge of frustration coursing through him. He wanted to shout that this was more than just stress, but instead, he forced himself to remain calm. A quickly searched for way to make them believe him and found two things ¡°I¡¯m serious! I can prove it¡ªjust watch. Ms. Yuri is going to call me to the front in exactly ten minutes to talk about my project. Then, a bird is going to hit the window right after.¡±


    Leo snorted, clearly not taking him seriously. ¡°A bird hitting the window? Really?¡±


    Alex, however, looked at him more seriously. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s see.¡±


    The minutes dragged on agonizingly slow, each tick of the clock making Eli¡¯s heart race. He watched it intently, praying that his prediction would come true. When the ten minutes passed, Ms. Yuri did indeed call his name, asking him about his project progress.


    Leo¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he quickly shrugged it off. ¡°Okay, lucky guess.¡±


    Then, as Eli had predicted, a soft thunk echoed through the room as a bird collided with the window. The group turned their heads just in time to see the startled creature flapping away.


    Mia stared at Eli, her face pale and eyes wide. ¡°How did you¡­?¡±


    ¡°I told you,¡± Eli replied, his voice strained, the weight of his experiences heavy on his words. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth. I don¡¯t know how or why, but I¡¯m stuck, and no one else remembers.¡±


    Leo, still processing, shook his head. ¡°Okay, that was weird, I¡¯ll give you that. But are you sure this isn¡¯t just¡­ I don¡¯t know, some kind of coincidence?¡±


    Eli''s frustration mounted again. ¡°It¡¯s not a coincidence! I¡¯ve lived this day before. And worse¡ªpeople are disappearing. You won¡¯t even remember them once they¡¯re gone!¡±


    Leo and company were taken aback by what Eli said and his intense attitude.


    Mia shifted in her seat, clearly unnerved. ¡°Disappearing?¡±


    Eli nodded, lowering his voice as if the walls themselves were listening. ¡°Yeah. So far four people have disappeared.¡±


    The gravity of his words hung in the air between them, thick with tension. Mia bit her lip, uncertainty clouding her expression. ¡°Eli, I don¡¯t know if I can believe all this¡­ but I know you wouldn¡¯t joke about something like this.¡±


    Leo sighed, rubbing his face in frustration. ¡°I don¡¯t know, man. This is insane. If it¡¯s true, what are we supposed to do about it?¡±


    Eli didn¡¯t have an answer. He looked at his friends, his last lifeline in a world that felt like it was unraveling around him. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I can¡¯t do this alone.¡±


    Leo sighed again, shaking his head. ¡°I mean, this is just too unbelievable.¡±


    Eli was starting to reach his limit of patience. He quickly took a deep breath to calm himself, trying to make sense of their perspective. That¡¯s right¡ªif Leo told him this, he wouldn¡¯t have believed him either.


    He racked his brain for ways to make them understand, but just as he prepared to speak again, Ms. Yuri called him up to the front. He went, his mind still racing with thoughts.


    As he absentmindedly discussed his project, he realized he was losing focus. Perhaps Ms. Yuri saw through his distraction because she called him out. ¡°Eli, stop. Go back and focus on the class.¡±


    Phew, that¡¯s why he liked her. Unlike Ms. Lena, she wasn¡¯t strict¡ªshe was chill most of the time.


    Returning to his seat, he looked at Mia and said, ¡°Mia, look at that seat.¡± She turned to where Rose¡¯s seat used to be, then back to Eli, confusion etched on her face. He pressed on, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s weird that every class has 20 students, yet ours has only nineteen seats? Have you guys never thought of this?¡±


    Mia frowned, and in front of her, Leo and Alex both looked disturbed by this realization.


    Alex turned serious as he glanced at the empty space. ¡°I should have noticed this long ago, yet this is the first time I¡¯m seeing it.¡±


    Mia looked at Eli, clearly bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Eli sighed, his heart pounding. ¡°Remember the disappearances I told you about? That seat belongs to one such person. Her name was Rose; she was your friend. She always commented funnily.¡±


    Mia¡¯s expression shifted as she processed his words, her eyes widening. ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    Eli didn¡¯t reply; he simply held her gaze, trying to convey the truth without words. After what felt like an eternity, Mia closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh, resignation flooding her features. When she opened her eyes again, she began to speak, but Eli couldn¡¯t hear anything because his head suddenly started ringing, and then everything faded to black once more.


    ¡°Eli, hey, Eli! Wake up, it¡¯s about to start!¡±


    Once again, Eli jolted awake at Leo¡¯s call, looking around in frustration. ¡°What now?¡±

 Chapter 5: The Heart of the Loop

    ¡°Eli, hey, Eli! Wake up, it¡¯s about to start!¡±


    Once again, Eli jolted awake at Leo¡¯s call, blinking in disoriented frustration. His heart was pounding, the familiar weight of confusion settling over him. His gaze darted around the room, the walls and faces all too familiar, yet the sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu gnawed at him. Everything was the same as the last time...and the time before that.


    ¡°What now?¡± Eli muttered under his breath, his voice tight with irritation. He clenched his fists beneath the table, trying to keep his emotions in check. His fingers trembled slightly.


    The classroom felt oppressive, even more so than usual. The sunlight filtering through the large, arched windows seemed harsh today, its golden warmth doing nothing to soothe Eli''s growing frustration. The old wooden desks, the faint creak of the floorboards beneath the weight of the students¡¯ shifting bodies, the indistinct hum of conversation¡ªall of it was suffocating. It was as if the world itself was mocking him, trapping him in this never-ending cycle.


    Again, Eli thought bitterly. The loop has started again. But why?


    He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath in an effort to steady himself. He needed to stay calm, to think clearly, but the weight of the loop¡¯s repetition was beginning to wear on him. How many times had it been now? The faces around him blurred, their idle chatter fading into white noise as his mind raced, searching for answers that continued to elude him.


    In the corner of his eye, Eli noticed Leo watching him, brow furrowed in mild confusion. Eli realized his reaction must have been more intense than he¡¯d intended, and Leo, as usual, was quick to pick up on it.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Eli said quickly, rubbing his temple as though that would ease the storm brewing in his mind. ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep well last night. Had a... bad dream.¡±


    Leo raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. ¡°Oh? Couldn''t sleep, huh? Let me guess, thinking about someone special?¡± His tone was teasing, lighthearted, but it barely registered in Eli¡¯s chaotic thoughts.


    Eli rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to snap. He had to remind himself that Leo, despite his carefree demeanor, was still his friend. Leo was always in the mood for banter, always trying to lighten the mood. Eli supposed that in some way, it was helping. The familiar back-and-forth with Leo was grounding him, calming him more than he cared to admit.


    Eli sighed and shook his head, brushing off Leo¡¯s question. ¡°Not even close.¡±


    But as Leo chuckled to himself, Eli¡¯s mind drifted back to the problem at hand. The loop. The nauseating, all-consuming repetition of events. But this time, something was different, something subtle yet significant. His mind raced to connect the dots, to figure out what had triggered the reset this time.


    Why did it start again? He clenched his jaw, the frustration bubbling up again. The loop only restarted after I mentioned Rose¡¯s disappearance to Mia. But when I told Miss Hela the same thing, nothing happened. What¡¯s the difference?


    His eyes darted to Mia, sitting near the back, her usual calm and collected self. Mia didn''t seem to have any clue about the loop. She carried on as if nothing was wrong, not even a flicker of recognition in her eyes. But then why had the loop triggered when he spoke to her? Was it something in his words? Or perhaps...the evidence?


    Did the proof I provided make her believe me? Eli wondered, watching Mia with a mix of curiosity and admiration. She wasn¡¯t someone easily swayed, and if she had truly believed him¡ªwell, that was saying something. If I were in her position, I wouldn¡¯t have believed me either. Yet she did.


    For a fleeting moment, admiration flickered in Eli¡¯s eyes. Mia was sharp, far more perceptive than most people gave her credit for. But he quickly looked away, not wanting to draw attention to himself or his thoughts. No one else seemed to notice anything unusual about her.


    Still, this realization made everything more complicated. If Mia believed him, then it confirmed something Eli had dreaded¡ªhe could tell people about the loop, but only as long as they didn¡¯t believe him. If they did...


    Damn it, Eli thought, rubbing his temple in frustration. That means I have to be careful not to convince anyone of the truth. But if they don¡¯t believe me, how can I stop this?


    Before Eli could finish his train of thought, Leo¡¯s hand clapped down on his shoulder, pulling him out of his reverie.


    ¡°Hey, man, snap out of it. Miss Lena¡¯s here,¡± Leo said, nodding toward the front of the room where their teacher was walking in, a stack of papers in hand.


    Eli straightened, standing up quickly with the rest of the class to greet her. His body moved on autopilot, the motions all too familiar now. How many times had he greeted like this? His voice sounded hollow, even to his own ears.


    ¡°Good morning, Miss Lena,¡± the class chimed in unison.


    Miss Lena, tall and graceful as ever, smiled slightly at her students, her presence commanding the room effortlessly. Her dark hair was pulled into a sleek bun, and her pristine white blouse seemed to glow under the sunlight. She was one of the few teachers Eli respected, though today, like every other time, the weight of knowing this day would repeat made her kindness feel... distant.


    ¡°Good morning, everyone. Please, sit down,¡± she said, her voice soft yet authoritative.


    Eli sank back into his seat, his thoughts still churning despite the calm classroom atmosphere. Miss Lena began speaking, telling the class about today''s quiz, but Eli''s mind was elsewhere, unable to fully focus. How am I supposed to get out of this? The ticking of the clock felt louder than ever, each second a reminder that time was no longer his ally but his jailer.


    What¡¯s the next move? Eli¡¯s thoughts spiraled as he tried to grasp the situation. As he was grappling with this suffocating loop, a sudden realization hit him¡ªa cold, dreadful thought that snaked its way into his mind.


    Someone else has disappeared.


    His eyes widened in alarm as he quickly scanned the room. He swept his gaze across the familiar faces¡ªLeo, Lisa, Mia¡ªuntil his attention snapped to the empty seat in front of Kyle. The absence hit him hard. That seat belonged to Roland, Kyle¡¯s best friend, who was always there, usually complaining about getting dragged into trouble by Kyle. But now, Roland was... gone.


    Roland... The realization was a punch to the gut, the knot of guilt tightening in Eli¡¯s chest. Another one gone. And this time, it¡¯s Roland.


    Eli¡¯s heart sank as he stared at the empty chair, his frustration mounting alongside a deepening sadness. How many more people? He clenched his fists under the desk, feeling the weight of his helplessness. Roland wasn¡¯t just another classmate¡ªhe was part of the fabric of the class, constantly bickering with Kyle, his voice filling the room with sarcastic complaints. And now... he had vanished like the others, erased from everyone¡¯s memory except Eli''s.


    This is my fault, Eli thought, guilt gnawing at him. If I had been more careful, if I had figured out the loop earlier, maybe I could¡¯ve prevented this... But before Eli could fully dive into his self-reproach, a voice snapped him out of his thoughts.


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    ¡°Hey, Eli, take the question sheet! You¡¯re acting really weird today. What¡¯s up? Did you have a wet dream or something?¡± Lisa teased, nudging his shoulder playfully as she handed him the worksheet.


    Eli blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her lighthearted tone. He forced a smile, though it came out strained and awkward. ¡°No way, I¡¯m not like you,¡± he shot back, trying to keep the conversation casual, not wanting to trigger anything that might reset the loop again. Inside, though, his mind was racing, struggling to keep his emotions under control.


    Lisa gasped dramatically, her eyes widening in mock outrage. ¡°Me? A wet dream? Are you insane?¡± she retorted, flipping her hair as if offended, but the amusement in her eyes betrayed her. Before she could escalate her teasing any further, Miss Lena¡¯s voice cut through the classroom, sharp and stern.


    ¡°Lisa, stop talking,¡± Miss Lena commanded, her authoritative tone bringing an abrupt halt to the playful banter. Lisa shot Eli a quick look, raising her eyebrows as if to say we¡¯ll talk about this later, before turning her attention to the front of the room.


    Eli let out a sigh of relief, grateful for the temporary reprieve. His heart was still pounding, but at least the tension in his chest had loosened a little. He looked down at the worksheet Lisa had handed him¡ªfamiliar questions, ones he had seen countless times before. Maybe one of these days, I¡¯ll get all the right answers, he mused, trying to distract himself from the crushing reality of the loop.


    As the classroom settled into the quiet hum of scribbling pencils and shuffling papers, Eli¡¯s mind once again returned to the loop. There¡¯s a pattern. There has to be. He¡¯d lived through it five times now, and each time, someone had disappeared. First, it was Mr. Hans, the janitor. Then Rose, followed by Mr. Hart, the homeroom teacher. After that, someone from a different class had vanished, and now, Roland.


    Five disappearances. Five lives erased.


    Eli¡¯s stomach twisted as he tried to piece it all together. Out of the five, two were from his class, and Mr. Hart was their homeroom teacher. Why is it that people from this class are disappearing the most? he wondered, tapping his pen against the desk in thought. His pulse quickened, a growing sense of dread creeping up his spine as another possibility began to take shape in his mind.


    It¡¯s not random. It can¡¯t be. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as the pieces slowly clicked into place. It¡¯s not just that people from this class are disappearing. It¡¯s the people I¡¯m familiar with. His breath caught in his throat. The people I know are the ones vanishing.


    The realization hit him like a truck, cold and unforgiving. He could feel his chest tighten, the weight of it all settling on his shoulders like lead. Mr. Hans... Rose... Mr. Hart... Roland. They weren¡¯t just random faces¡ªthey were people Eli had known, had spoken to, had interacted with. And now they were all gone, as if they had never existed.


    Why is it happening like this? Eli¡¯s mind raced, trying to find the logic in this madness. Was it because he was the only one who remembered? Was that why they were disappearing? Am I the center of the loop? Is it all connected to me? The thought sent a chill down his spine, his pulse pounding in his ears.


    Eli rubbed his temples, trying to push away the rising panic. The idea that he was somehow at the center of this horrifying cycle was too much to fully grasp. But as the thought took root in his mind, the dread only grew stronger. If I¡¯m the reason people are disappearing... how can I stop it?


    Miss Lena¡¯s voice drifted in and out of his consciousness as she continued with the test, her words barely registering as Eli struggled to keep himself grounded. The clock on the wall ticked on relentlessly, each second dragging him further into the abyss of uncertainty.


    He looked around the room again, at the familiar faces that still remained. How many more would disappear before he could figure this out? How long before someone else¡ªLeo, Alex, Mia, Lisa¡ªvanished, leaving him alone in this nightmare?


    Eli closed his eyes, taking a slow, deliberate breath. He had to stay calm. He had to think. There had to be a way out of this. There had to be.


    There had to be... there had to be... there... Eli''s lips moved, repeating the words like a mantra, a desperate attempt to calm his fraying nerves. Each repetition was softer, slower, until it became little more than a whisper, barely audible over the scratching of pencils on paper and the soft murmurs around the room.


    His mind, however, refused to calm down. The tightness in his chest hadn¡¯t loosened¡ªit felt like the air around him had grown heavier, thick with an invisible pressure he couldn¡¯t escape. Eli sighed, long and deep, pressing his fingers against his temples. He just wanted to stop thinking for a moment, to rest, to breathe without feeling like the world around him was crumbling. But the loop didn¡¯t allow for breaks. It was relentless, and so was his racing mind.


    I need to find that girl... somehow. The thought echoed, sharp and insistent. His mind was a storm of questions, none of which had answers. Who is she? Why did she choose me? What makes me special?


    The idea that she had singled him out, out of everyone else, gnawed at him. Why him? He wasn¡¯t the most popular guy in class, wasn¡¯t the smartest, the fastest, or even the most well-connected. Yet, here he was, trapped in a nightmare where people disappeared one by one, and he was the only one who remembered. Why am I the only one left with this cursed memory? He clenched his fists under the desk, the nails biting into his palms.


    Most of all, Eli thought, I need to know how to end the loop. And if it¡¯s possible to bring back the people who have disappeared.


    His gaze drifted to Roland¡¯s empty seat again, and a sharp pang of guilt surged through him. Is there even a way? The hopelessness of it made his head spin. The weight of everything seemed to grow heavier with each passing second, pressing down on his chest like a boulder. Is Roland gone for good?


    Eli¡¯s thoughts raced back to the girl¡ªthe one who had started his nightmare . If she had been trapped in this before, does that mean even more people had already disappeared? His heart sank at the thought. How many more lives had already been erased, wiped from existence like they never even mattered? But no¡ªhe remembered clearly. There had been 20 people in the class when the loop started. No more, no less. So why did it feel like the losses were just beginning?


    His mind spun, trying to latch onto any semblance of logic in the chaos. Does that mean when I became the looper, all the people who disappeared before were somehow restored? Is this the only way to reset things?


    The idea hit him like a cold wave, freezing him in place. But I don¡¯t remember her. If she¡¯s the previous looper, why can¡¯t I recall her? His mind darted through memories, trying to picture her face, her voice, anything, but it was like chasing shadows. I know a lot of people. I should have known her... unless she was the quiet type. Maybe she¡¯d been someone who kept to herself, invisible to most. Maybe only people from her class disappeared? Or... A darker, more terrifying thought crept into his mind, one that sent chills down his spine.


    Maybe it¡¯s the loop¡¯s effect. The idea slithered into his thoughts, wrapping around them like a snake. Once you pass the ability, no one remembers you. His pulse quickened, his breath catching in his throat. The concept was horrifying in a way he hadn¡¯t anticipated. More than the fear of others disappearing, more than the guilt gnawing at him, this idea¡ªof being utterly forgotten¡ªstruck a deep, primal fear within him.


    What if I disappear too? What if everyone forgets me?


    The thought was so heavy, so overwhelming, that Eli had to take a long, shaky breath to steady himself. No, no, he told himself, trying to shove the fear aside. There has to be another reason. There must be. But as much as he tried to convince himself, the dread lingered like a shadow at the edge of his mind, refusing to be banished.


    The questions just kept piling up. What happens when all the people I know disappear? Will I vanish too? His mind felt clouded, weighed down by the sheer enormity of what he was facing. No matter how much he tried to push the thoughts away, they refused to leave. They stuck to him, like a dark fog enveloping his senses.


    Right. Class D. The thought struck him suddenly, like a flash of light in the darkness. Mr. Hart, his homeroom teacher, was a math teacher yet upon his disappearance the one that took over was miss Lena who is the English teacher Mr hart wasn¡¯t the only math teacher. Is the reason miss Lena took over is because the other math teacher also dissapeared. The other math teacher had been the homeroom teacher for Class D. Was she from Class D? Eli¡¯s mind raced, trying to connect the dots. The class rep from Class D¡ªwhat was her name?


    Quickly, Eli turned to Leo, who was sitting next to him, absorbed in his test. ¡°Hey,¡± Eli whispered, his voice low and tense. ¡°Do you know Michelle from Class D?¡±


    Leo glanced up from his paper, blinking at Eli in confusion. ¡°Class D? Michelle? What are you talking about?¡± He frowned, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of Eli¡¯s words. ¡°There is no Class D.¡±


    The words hit Eli like a slap, the breath leaving his lungs in a sharp gasp. There is no Class D?


    He had to bite back a hiss, his eyes wide as his mind reeled. He quickly composed himself, forcing a weak smile onto his face to hide the growing panic bubbling up inside him. ¡°Of course, I know,¡± he said, his voice strained and shaky. ¡°I was just messing around.¡±


    Leo gave him a strange look, raising an eyebrow. ¡°You do know a test is going on, right? What, you don¡¯t know the answers so you¡¯re trying to mess with me?¡±


    Eli managed a half-hearted laugh, trying to sound casual. ¡°Who said I don¡¯t know? I know better than you,¡± he replied, though the words felt hollow on his tongue.


    Leo rolled his eyes, his tone dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Yeah, sure. I believe you.¡± Then, with a dismissive shake of his head, he turned back to his paper, his focus shifting back to the test.


    Eli let out a quiet sigh, his heart still pounding in his chest. He stared down at his own test sheet, but the questions blurred before his eyes. He wasn¡¯t really seeing them. His mind was still stuck on what Leo had said. There is no Class D.


    The realization hit him like a cold wave, sweeping over him in a rush of terror. That entire class... they¡¯re gone. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. Everyone in Class D has disappeared. The implications were staggering. It wasn¡¯t just individuals disappearing¡ªwhole groups were being erased from existence. Even if the center of the loop shifts, the ones who disappear don¡¯t come back.


    His mind flashed to the faces of the friends he had in Class D. He could picture them, laughing, joking, living. And now they were... gone. A deep sadness weighed heavy in his chest, but at the same time, there was a small, almost guilty sense of relief. At least I won¡¯t have to face that specific scenario... The one he had dreaded more than anything.


    Eli shook his head, trying to clear away the spiraling thoughts. Why did she choose me? His mind returned to the girl¡ªthe one who had passed this terrible burden onto him. She must have known that Eli was well-acquainted with people, that his connections meant more people would disappear. Did she choose me out of spite? He immediately dismissed the idea¡ªit didn¡¯t fit. If she had wanted to make things worse, she would have chosen someone like Leo instead.


    Leo... Eli¡¯s mind circled back. Leo knew almost everyone in school. Is that why she didn¡¯t choose him? If Leo had been the one trapped in the loop, he would have had the most connections, the most people to lose. But that also meant he¡¯d have the most time to fix things. She¡¯s making sure there¡¯s still a chance, even if Leo fails? Eli¡¯s eyes widened slightly as the realization dawned on him. I¡¯m the safest option. I know a lot of people, but not as many as Leo. And since I¡¯m his best friend, I can indirectly use his connections.


    She hadn¡¯t chosen Alex either, probably because Alex was the type to do everything alone. I¡¯m just the most convenient one, Eli thought bitterly, a small, mocking smile playing on his lips. The easiest piece to move in this twisted game.


    He shook his head, trying to clear away the growing frustration. But if I can¡¯t solve this alone, then I¡¯ll need more people. The thought settled in his mind like a stone dropping into water. I can¡¯t make them believe me, or else the loop will reset. But I¡¯lneed help to meet the requirements to end this.


    Suddenly, another thought hit him¡ªone that brought a glimmer of hope. She planned this meticulously. She must have left me with a way to end it. There has to be a way to bring everyone back. Eli clung to that hope, his chest feeling lighter than it had in what felt like an eternity.


    There¡¯s still hope, he told himself, clinging to the possibility. I just have to figure it out.


    As the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, Eli stood up, feeling a strange mixture of relief and determination. He had a plan, however fragile, and a faint sense of hope to guide him through the labyrinth of uncertainty.


    But as he gathered his things and glanced once more at Leo¡¯s carefree face, a cold truth lingered in the back of his mind.


    The clock is still ticking.