Ch. 7

  The morning arrived with a merciless glare. Sunlight pierced through the half-closed blinds, striking Carmen's eyes like a direct challenge. His alarm clock was silent—probably out of battery, or maybe he had smashed it in his sleep again, his dream still lingers. Either way, he was late.

  He shoved himself out of bed, the cold air clinging to his skin. His cat, sprawled across his blanket, gave him a lazy, unimpressed stare before flicking its tail.

  "Not now," he muttered, rushing to throw on his uniform. Half-buttoned shirt, a sloppily knotted tie, and the fastest teeth-brushing of his life later, he was out the door, flagging down the first taxi he could find.

  The moment he slammed the door shut, the car radio crackled, catching his attention.

  "Breaking news—Babel Clementino Rivera has escaped from the high-security correctional facility last night, leaving behind at least five dead. Investigators report signs of extreme blunt force trauma on the prison guards' bodies—"

  Carmen's grip on his bag tightened. He knew that name.

  "—Rivera, known as the 'Vanishing Phantom,' was held under maximum security after being convicted of mass murder, supernatural genocides and illegal experimental activities. What makes his escape especially terrifying is the nature of his disappearance. Authorities say that surveillance footage shows him inside his cell one moment and completely gone the next. The guards stationed outside were later found... some with their body turned inside out... and crushed. As if something immense had collapsed on them."

  The radio cut to a shaky interview with a young girl. Her voice was quiet, struggling between anger and sorrow.

  "My dad worked there. He... he was supposed to come home this morning. But they told me he... he was found under the door. Under the door. How is that even possible? It's like... like someone twisted his body into the walls."

  A hollow pause.

  "If you're listening to this, Rivera... I hope you never find peace.... NEVER !!"

  Carmen exhaled, feeling something cold settle in his chest. He didn't realize how tight his fists had clenched until his nails dug into his palms and bled.

  "Crap."

  —

  By the time he arrived at school, the atmosphere was strange. There were no students rushing between halls, no distant chatter from classrooms. The gates were open, but a few officers loitered near the entrance, speaking in hushed tones.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  A few teachers were gathered near the bulletin board, reading a notice that confirmed it—classes were suspended.

  Carmen sighed, half in frustration, half in relief. But instead of turning back home, he made his way toward the library.

  -why? he just wanted to.

  It was nearly empty, save for a few scattered students who had nowhere better to be. The librarian, an older woman with thick glasses and a quiet, observant gaze, nodded as he entered.

  "A little late, aren't you?" she remarked.

  "Yeah, yeah," Carmen waved it off. "Figured I'd at least do something productive."

  She chuckled. "Let me know if you need help, dear."

  He made his way to the computer lab, the click of his shoes against the floor the only sound in the empty space. Rows of monitors sat in eerie silence, save for one—a single computer left on.

  The monitor was off. But the PC was running.

  Curious, Carmen pressed the power button on the screen.

  And immediately regretted it.

  "Super cute magical anime girl hates you so she crushes your testicles with magnetic balls!"

  -that's what you guys are into right? degenerates -Fiun

  Carmen blinked. Stared. Blinked again.

  "What the fuck?"

  With one swift motion, he closed the tab and buried the crime scene under a fresh search page. Deja vu.

  The familiar rabbit hole welcomed him back. Article after article, theory after theory—his eyes scanned through them all, chasing something tangible in the mess of contradictions. Then, something caught his eye.

  A book title.

  "Time and the Fractured Mind" by Jelly Pompurin.

  Ridiculous name. But something about it felt... off.

  Carmen clicked. The book's pages were archived in an old, clunky website. As he skimmed, phrases jumped out at him—

  "Time does not repeat. People do."

  "Not all deja vu is accidental."

  "A forgotten loop is still a loop."

  And then, at the very bottom, a single line stopped him cold.

  "You are not dreaming. You are just remembering the wrong version of reality."

  Carmen's breath hitched. His fingers hovered over the mouse. He had seen this before. Heard it.

  In his dream.

  A cold prickle ran down his spine. He shut the page, feeling like something was watching him through the screen.

  Enough for today.

  —

  As he stepped out of the computer lab, the librarian called out.

  "Carmen! Ah, almost forgot! Someone left something for you."

  She handed him an ID card and a flash drive.

  "Said it was important. Smelled strange, though—like raspberries."

  Carmen frowned. Raspberries?

  He glanced at the ID.

  Cinna R. Aveyard.

  That name meant nothing to him. But something about it felt too... deliberate.

  "Who gave this to you?" he asked.

  The librarian pointed toward the door.

  "That girl. Just left."

  Carmen turned sharply, catching the glimpse of a tall figure stepping outside. She was his height, her black hair tipped with white.

  Without thinking, he bolted.

  The door slammed open, but by the time he stepped outside—

  She was gone.

  A ghost in broad daylight.

  Fiun's Notes:

  -HIIII YAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR 45 READS AND 3 FOLLOWSSS ANYWAY BACK TO THE "DIRECTOR" ALTER

  -if you know your way back home, you will know every turn, how would you react if one turn took you somewhere else?