The crosswalk light blinked red. Zane stood at the edge, tapping his foot as rain dripped from his bangs. His phone buzzed again — Kimiko, for the fifth time.

“I’m on my way,” he muttered, shoving it into his pocket.

Across the street, a sleek black car slowed at the intersection. The world seemed to hold its breath.

Zane glanced up—and locked eyes with a woman in the back seat. Pale, composed, her expression lifeless. There was no warmth in her stare. Only ice. It slithered through his veins like a needle of winter.

The car glided past, tires hissing through the wet. But Zane’s body refused to move. He felt as if something had pierced his skin and grabbed his spine.

Then the honking started.

A row of cars waited behind him, drivers shouting through rolled-down windows. Zane blinked, snapping out of it.

“Geez, I’m moving! Relax!” He shouted, darting across the street.

At the school gate, Kimiko stood pleading with the guard, her umbrella forgotten and dripping.

“Please! Just a few more seconds!”

The guard sighed, arms crossed. “You’re lucky I’m not heartless.”

Zane slid in just as the gates began to close.

“Thank you, sir!” he said, panting. “I swear, I’ll never make you wait this long again.”

The guard raised a brow. “You say that like it means something. I’ve stopped believing you… what, two months ago?”

Kimiko grabbed Zane by the wrist. “Come on! We’re already toast.”

Zane gave the guard a salute. “Appreciate it again, really. You deserve a raise.”

The gate clanked shut behind them.

“I don’t know why she is wasting her time with him,” the guard muttered under his breath.

As they hurried inside, Kimiko tossed him a glare. “You could’ve at least looked presentable. You look like a half-drowned raccoon?”

Zane glanced at his soaked shirt and ruined tie. “You say that like it’s not trending.”

She rolled her eyes, fixing his tie mid-jog. “You look like someone mugged you for fashion advice.”

Zane grinned. “Oh, the criminal didn’t even take my money. Just spat on my collar and ran.”

She tugged the tie, tightening it like a noose. “You couldn’t iron your shirt? Comb your hair? Pretend to give a damn?”

“I gave a damn. Then I ran out of time and gave up.”

Kimiko rolled her eyes but smirked anyway. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

Zane raised a brow. “Aw, you flirting with me, Kimi?”

“I’m flirting with the idea of throwing you down the stairs.”

He tapped his chest. “Still counts.”

They slid into the classroom mid-lecture like they owned the place. The door creaked open, practically wincing in shame.

Kimiko gave a neat bow. “Apologies for the delay, sir.”

The teacher didn’t look up from his notes. “What was it this time? Wait, let me guess. Rain, traffic… what story do you have prepared for us today, Zane?”

Zane strolled in, dripping wet. “Honestly? I fought a mailbox and lost.”

“Oh, like the time You tried to flirt with a squirrel,” Kimiko shouted, deadpan.

“It was giving me the look!”

“That squirrel threw an acorn at you.”

Zane pointed at her. “Exactly. That’s how their kind says ‘call me,’ duh.”

The teacher slowly looked up, eyes already tired. “Zane, I swear… your IQ drops ten points every time you open your mouth.”

Zane clutched his chest. “Then why do you keep making me talk, sir? Abuse?”

Kimiko shook her head. “I bet you were trying to eat your breakfast while running.”

“Multitasking,” Zane said. “Like a true scholar.”

“I dropped my toast, slipped on it, and saluted a streetlight.”

“It looked like it outranked me.”

The teacher closed his book with a thud. “Both of you. Sit. Before I develop an ulcer.”

Zane flopped into his seat. “Sir, do you ever miss being young and full of dreams?”

“Every minute with you two makes me wish to be deaf.” the teacher said lookimg at the clock

Kimiko sat beside Zane and muttered, “He also called a puddle his ‘sworn enemy.’”

“I was testing its depth!” Zane defended himself.

“You screamed ‘it’s bottomless’ and jumped like a cat.” Kimiko added.

The teacher rubbed his temples. “Do I need to separate you two?”

Zane gasped. “You’d break us up? After everything we’ve been through?”

Kimiko smirked. “We’re basically trauma-bonded at this point.”

“I swear, if I had been monetarily compensated for every time you two interrupted my class—”

“You’d be rich and retired, and I wouldn’t have to be here. Win-win.” Added Zane with a smirk, leaning back on his chair.

The teacher pointed his pen at Zane. “You—meet me after class.”

Zane leaned back. “Geez, teach. You could’ve at least bought me dinner or something.”

“Bring your parents too.” The teacher added, pinched the bridge of his nose.

Zane paled. “…Okay, now that’s messed up.”

Then—

The lights flickered.

A thunderclap split the sky.

A bolt of black lightning slammed just outside the building, shaking the walls.

Students screamed. Chairs screeched. Papers swirled like panicked birds.

And then—

A flash of blinding light exploded in the center of the room.

From it, a woman emerged.

Still. Silent. Cold. Eyes empty. Skin pale. A chill leaked off her like death itself.

She raised one hand aiming towards Zane—

—and light blasted from her palm.

Zane’s world warped. He barely saw it coming.

The beam hit him like a freight train.

Glass shattered. His body flew.

Through the window.

He hit the ground with a sickening crack. His limbs sprawled. Rain splashed around him. He didn’t move.

Screams.

Desks overturned.

The teacher shouted something—maybe orders, maybe prayers.

Students bolted for the door, stampeding in fear.

“Zane!” Kimiko screamed, hands gripping the shattered window frame, rain streaking her face like tears.

The woman—unfazed—glanced her way.

“Pathetic,” she muttered. Then she turned her back.

Zane opened his eyes.

Not on pavement—

But in a sea of blue fire.

The sanctuary.

Same as before. Silent. Dreamlike.

The sky was hollow. The field whispered.

And in the center stood the woman from his dream—her hair drifting like mist, silver eyes calm and distant.

“You return,” she said.

Zane pushed himself up. “What—what happened to me? I remember… a woman. She blasted me—”

His eyes widened. “Wait. Kimiko. She’s still in there—I have to help her!”

The woman studied him. Unblinking.

“Why do you care?” she asked softly. “What does she mean to you?”

Zane froze. “What? What kind of—what does that matter? I need to go!”

She nodded once. “Do what you must.”

A faint smile touched her lips.

“And consider this… my gift.”

Lightning struck again.

Zane’s body lit up like a storm given form. His eyes burned white.

CRACK!

He shot through the air, rocketing back through the broken window. —

First first.

The woman turned—barely—just in time to see him coming.

BAM!

Voltage laced his punch. It slammed into her face.

She flew back, crashed through desks, and hit the far wall with a thunderous impact.

She slid down slowly, her head tilted as her eyes flicked up.

“…Not as hopeless as I thought.”

Zane stood, sparking. Lightning danced across his skin, humming in the air.

He tried to speak—

But the voltage in his throat stopped him.

The room was already empty; only Kimiko had remained. She stared at him, eyes wide with fear.

Zane’s fists trembled. He couldn’t explain. Couldn’t breathe.

Only one thing made sense—

Fight.

They clashed.

The floor cracked. The ceiling shook. The storm outside seemed to scream with them.

Desks exploded into splinters. Walls split.

Zane threw everything he had—rage, fear, instinct.

She absorbed it all, like a god indulging a mortal.

They burst through the ceiling.

Onto the rooftop—rain pouring, wind howling.

Zane gasped for air, lightning crawling up his arms like fire in his veins.

She stood at the edge. Serene. Untouched.

“Show me,” she said. “What you’re truly capable of.”

Zane roared.

He charged.

His final blow came like a storm. A scream of light and fury.

She caught it—with one hand.

With a flick, she snuffed it out.

Zane collapsed.

Knees to concrete. Rain was pounding his back.

She stepped forward. Knelt beside him. Her voice was a whisper.

“Welcome back!”

Then—she vanished.

Light rippled. And she was gone.

Kimiko burst through the rooftop door. “Zane!” she cried.

She ran to him, skidding on wet stone.

“Are you—what just happened?!”

Zane couldn't answer.

His fingers still sparked. His heart still thundered.

He looked up at her, blinking through the rain.

“I… I don’t know.”

TO BE CONTINUED.