"Kid? a yòu…? Lue? Harsh? Lu? What are you?"

The voice didn't just speak it pierced. Like something sharp scraping directly inside my skull, forcing its way through my thoughts. My ears rang, not from sound, but from pressure… as if the world itself was trying to push me out of it.

"I… I'm Lu… I'm Lu…" I whispered, but even my own voice felt ...wrong, distant, like it didn't belong to me.

"NO! "

The word snapped like a crack of thunder.

The space in front of me… shifted.

A shadow stood there.

Not black. Not empty.

Red.

Like it had been soaked too long in something I didn't want to understand. It wasn't just standing it existed wrong, as if reality had to bend slightly just to let it be there.

It walked toward me.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Each step didn't make a sound, but I felt it deep in my chest, like my heartbeat was being dragged out of rhythm.

In its hand, a sword.

Cold. Heavy. Certain.

And the closer it came, the more I understood something terrifying-

It wasn't coming to chase me.

It already knew where I was.

It was always known.

"AHHHH!"

I jolted awake.

My back slammed against the bed, sweat clinging to my skin, my breath coming in broken, uneven gasps. The ceiling above me was just my ceiling again, plain, harmless, ordinary but my mind refused to believe it.

My heart was still running like I hadn't escaped anything.

For a few seconds, I just sat there, gripping the bedsheet, waiting for the shadow to step out from the corner of my room.

It didn't.

Only silence answered me.

I dragged myself up slowly, legs still weak, my throat dry. The morning light was already slipping through the curtains, too normal… too indifferent.

I washed my face, but the water didn't fully wake me. The feeling stayed, like something had left fingerprints inside my head.

While getting ready for college, I kept catching myself pausing… staring at nothing.

That voice. That word.

"NO."

It didn't feel like a dream ending.

It felt like something was interrupted.

Like I had woken up too early.

And as I stepped out, locking the door behind me, one thought refused to leave-

*It was the first nightmare I've had in a long time…*

But somehow…

It didn't feel like it would be the last.

I stepped out...

It was a bright, sunlit morning, the kind where the light feels close enough to touch, as if the sky had lowered itself just for the day. I walked toward college with the warmth of the sun brushing against my skin, my mind half-awake, drifting lazily with the rhythm of the street.

A crowd had gathered near a roadside television. The volume was loud enough to cut through the usual city noise, and for some reason, my steps slowed on their own.

"Breaking news," the reporter announced, her voice filled with excitement.

"Archaeologists have discovered fossilized remains of two humans in India, estimated to be over 1600 years old. But what has stunned the research team is not just their age… the two bodies were found holding hands so tightly that over time, their bones appear to have merged together as one."

For a moment, everything else faded.

Holding hands… for that long?

I tilted my head slightly, watching the screen. "They must have been lovers," I murmured to myself. "What kind of memories were they holding onto… to never let go?"

The thought lingered for only a second before I shook it off and continued walking. My friends were already waiting for me at the college gate, and just like that, the news slipped out of my mind as if it had never mattered.

As I got closer, I spotted them instantly.

First was Lian, my closest friend, the one I trusted the most without even thinking. He always knew what to say and when to say it, like he understood people better than they understood themselves.

Then there was Shaan, the transfer student from India. He was loud, funny, and somehow capable of turning even the most boring moment into something memorable. Talking to him felt endless, like there would always be something left to say.

And finally, Alex… though, as expected, he wasn't there yet. The human embodiment of trouble, the kind of guy who teaches you exactly what not to do in life by doing all of it himself. And somehow, I always ended up following him into those situations.

I jogged the last few steps toward them just as they started walking toward the parking lot.

Shaan immediately threw his arm around my neck. "You heard about the school trip?"

Before I could answer, a familiar voice cut in.

"Yeah! I heard about it!"

Alex came speeding toward us on his bicycle like his life depended on it.

"…Apparently it's to your home country, Shaan."

I blinked. "Wait, really? India? I've always wanted to go there!"

Lian glanced at Alex with a smirk. "Looks like someone showed up just in time to hear about something important for once."

Alex straightened dramatically. "What!? I'm never late for important things. Never in my life."

We all burst out laughing.

But in the middle of that laughter… something shifted.

My attention moved on its own.

Zhan.

He had just arrived.

A black motorcycle came to a smooth stop near the parking area, its engine still humming softly. He removed his helmet in one fluid motion, and for a second, it felt like something out of a movie. His presence alone drew attention, and just like always, people started gathering around him, mostly girls, whispering, laughing, trying to get closer.

Shaan suddenly spread his arms wide beside me. "Careful, I'm ready if you faint."

I turned to him flatly. "I'm not a princess who faints over things like that."

"Ooooh," Alex chimed in immediately, "but you are our little princess."

"Stop," Lian cut in, already walking ahead. "We're late. Can we move?"

Shaan didn't budge. "My arms are still waiting, you know."

Without a word, I leaned forward and dropped into his arms.

"Good?" I said.

Everyone burst into laughter again as we started walking toward the building.

But then-

something felt off.

A strange chill ran down my spine, sharp and sudden, like being watched.

I slowed down and glanced back.

Zhan was still there, surrounded by people, yet… it felt like his attention had been on me.

But no.

He wasn't even looking in my direction.

He looked completely uninterested, like I didn't exist.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Lian asked.

"Nothing," I replied quickly. "Just thought I felt something."

Alex leaned in with a grin. "Oh, I get it. He was looking at his prince."

Shaan immediately started laughing.

"Shut up," I muttered.

"Sorry, sorry," Alex raised his hands in surrender.

I glanced back again.

He was gone.

Lian sighed lightly. "Enough teasing. Let's just get to class."

Shaan clapped his hands. "Right, back to the important topic, the trip."

Alex's eyes lit up. "Oh yeah! We're going to the Indian Ocean. Apparently, a new beach just formed out of nowhere, and now it's the biggest tourist spot. And our principal, out of nowhere, decided we should all go there."

Lian shook his head. "You know more about random things than the actual syllabus."

As they continued talking, my vision suddenly blurred.

The world around me faded.

And then-

I saw it.

A man.

Standing near the ocean.

Holding a sword.

His entire body… covered in blood.

The waves crashed behind him, violent and endless, and something about the scene felt painfully familiar, like a memory I had never lived.

My breath hitched.

"Ying? Are you okay?"

Lian's voice pulled me back.

I blinked, the vision shattering instantly.

"I'm fine," I said quickly, steadying myself. "Probably just the sun effect."

Alex opened his mouth. "Or maybe Zhan's effe-"

"Shaan's voice cut him off instantly. "Not funny."

Alex went quiet immediately, his usual confidence gone. "…Sorry." it is the hold Shaan have on Alex...

We continued to class, the mood slightly calmer now.

But even as we sat down, I couldn't shake the feeling.

Someone was watching me.

Again.

Slowly, I turned my head.

Zhan.

This time, he was looking straight at me.

Our eyes almost met-

but he turned away.

Like it meant nothing.

I frowned slightly, my thoughts tangled.

"What… was that?" I muttered under my breath.

Was he really looking at me?

Or was it just my imagination?

The class was unbearably dull, the kind of silence that drags time instead of letting it pass. The teacher's voice echoed softly across the room, steady and slow, like a lullaby designed to pull everyone into sleep rather than learning.

I turned slightly and looked at Alex.

He was already gone.

Fast asleep, head tilted to the side, a faint smile resting on his face as if he had escaped to a much better place than this classroom.

"He must be having a good dream…" I muttered to myself.

Just looking at him made my own eyes heavier. The room felt warm, the air thick, and the teacher's voice slowly blurred into the background until it sounded like distant humming.

Before I knew it, my head dropped slightly.

And I fell asleep.

Somewhere in that darkness, I heard it.

A whisper.

Faint… unfamiliar… yet clear enough to make my chest tighten.

"harsh… harsh… harsh… mām paśyatu bhavān… kṛpayā…"

The words echoed around me, layered and distant, as if spoken from another time.

My eyes snapped open.

Everything felt… off.

Lian was right in front of me, his face filled with worry, his lips moving quickly as he said something. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hear a single word.

My head felt heavy, like it wasn't fully mine. My thoughts were scattered, slipping away before I could catch them.

And then-

tears.

They started falling.

Slowly at first… then uncontrollably.

I didn't even realize why.

It was as if my body had decided something on its own, something I didn't understand.

"Lu… Lu… LU!" Lian's voice finally broke through, distant but clearer now. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

I wanted to answer.

I really did.

But nothing came out.

Around me, the class started whispering. Heads turned, fingers pointed, voices overlapping into a blur of noise. The teacher began walking toward me, concern written across his face.

And then-

I saw him.

Zhan.

He was moving quickly through the classroom, faster than anyone else, ignoring everything around him.

I was sitting at the edge of the bench when he reached me.

Without hesitation, he got down on one knee in front of me.

The entire class went silent.

He took my hand into his.

Firm.

Warm.

And looked straight into my eyes.

Not just at me…

Through me.

"Are you alright… Lu Ying?" he whispered.

Something snapped back into place.

My voice returned.

My body responded.

"Yes… yes, I'm alright," I said quickly, wiping my tears. "I'm sorry for disturbing the class."

The teacher stepped closer. "How are you feeling now? Do you want to go to the nurse?"

"I'm fine, si-"

"He's not fine, sir."

Alex's voice cut in suddenly.

I turned, surprised.

He was awake.

Wide awake.

"He was like this on the way to college too," Alex continued seriously, standing up. "I think I should take him to the nurse."

The teacher hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Take him."

Before I could protest, Alex had already grabbed my hand and thrown it over his shoulder like I couldn't walk on my own.

We stepped out of the classroom.

The moment the door closed, the noise faded.

"Lulu… what happened?" Alex asked, his tone softer now. "Why were you crying? I was actually worried."

"In your dreams?" I said, pulling my hand away from him.

He laughed lightly. "Come on… but seriously, the way Zhan rushed to you… that was something else. It looked like he really cared about you."

I looked down at my hand.

It was still shaking.

Even after everything had calmed down.

"Cared… or scared," I murmured. "I don't know which one it was."

Alex tilted his head. "I don't get it."

"Me neither," I replied quietly. "I think it was just a bad dream."

I glanced at him. "What about you? You were smiling in your sleep."

His face lit up instantly. "Oh, that? I was dreaming about the school trip. We were swimming, playing, eating Indian food… it was amazing. Oh and you were just standing on the beach because you're scared of water."

"It's not even officially announced yet," I said. "There's a chance it's just a rumor."

Alex placed his hand dramatically on his chest. "I, the great Alex, am never wrong about information. Trust me."

He paused for a second.

"…Wait. Weren't we supposed to go to the nurse?"

I stared at him.

"You're just trying to skip math class, aren't you?"

He smiled.

That was enough of an answer.

We entered the nurse's room, and I lay down on the bed, the cool surface helping my body relax. Alex stayed around, pretending to care while clearly just killing time.

My eyes slowly closed again.

But this time-

there was no dream.

Just a strange heaviness in my chest, like something was trying to reach me from somewhere far away.

Two hours passed.

"Lu… Lu… it's lunch time. Do you want to eat something?"

I opened my eyes slightly.

Lian.

"I want to sleep more…" I mumbled, slowly sitting up.

"Somebody said my information was wrong," Alex suddenly jumped in, full of energy again. "The teachers just announced it. The trip is confirmed. We're flying to India in seven days!"

I blinked, the sleep instantly fading.

"Really?" I said, a small smile forming. "Seven days feels so far… but if I'm meant to go there, I guess it's worth the wait."

I turned to Shaan. "What about you? You're going back to your home country."

Shaan grinned. "I'm going to show you everything. They said we're going to Kerala. It's one of the most beautiful places you'll ever see."

For a moment, everything felt light again.

We all smiled, excitement slowly building inside us, imagining the place, the journey, the memories we were about to create.

But even then-

something wasn't right.

Because while we laughed and talked…

I kept seeing it.

That dream.

Over and over again.

Blood falling like rain.

A man standing in silence.

And something inside me… calling out.

The seven days felt endless.

But now-

only one day remained.

The night before the trip arrived, and all of us were busy packing, lost in our own excitement, imagining the beauty of the place we were about to visit.

Not once-

not even for a second-

did we stop and ask ourselves…

why we were going there.

The night before the trip felt strangely quiet.

My room was a mess of open bags, folded clothes, and scattered snacks as I sat on the floor, trying to make sense of what to take and what to leave behind. The weather forecast said it would rain a lot in Kerala, so I packed carefully...raincoats, light jackets, a couple of hoodies, and of course, swimming clothes. If we were really going to the ocean, there was no way I was missing that… even if I didn't exactly like water.

Snacks went in next.

That part was important.

But no matter how much I tried to distract myself, my thoughts kept drifting back to those dreams.

That same dream.

Again.

And again.

I sighed and stood up, walking toward the window. The night sky stretched endlessly above, calm and dark, with faint stars scattered like forgotten memories.

And then-

a shooting star.

It cut across the sky in a single, fleeting moment.

Before I could even think-

"I want… one more chance…"

The words slipped out of my mouth on their own.

I froze.

One more chance…?

For what?

I didn't even know.

My phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence. I glanced at the screen.

Lian.

I picked up.

"Are you done packing? You didn't forget anything, right?" his voice came through immediately.

I leaned against the window frame, rolling my eyes slightly. "Yes, I'm done. And I'm not a kid, and you're not my mom… so is that really the first thing you wanted to ask?"

There was a pause.

When I looked at the screen again, I could almost imagine his expression...serious, slightly worried.

"Lu… are you sure you're okay?" he asked softly. "You've been acting different these past few days… I'm worried."

His tone made something inside me shift.

"…There's something I wanted to tell you," I said after a moment.

"Then say it," he replied immediately. "You know you can trust me. I'm a good listener."

I let out a small breath.

"It's about the dream I've been having," I said. "There's a guy… dressed in ancient Chinese clothes. He's lying on the grass, just… resting. Peaceful. Like nothing in the world matters to him."

I closed my eyes, the image forming clearly again.

"But then… it starts raining."

My grip on the phone tightened.

"Not water. Blood."

Silence.

"People start running toward him… they're wearing strange clothes, not modern. They're shouting, blaming another man standing beside him… and then they put a sword in that man's hand."

My voice dropped.

"And that's when I wake up."

There was a long pause on the other end.

"I thought it was just a random dream," I continued quietly. "You know… my dreams never really mean anything. But this one… it's the only thing I've been seeing all week."

I opened my eyes and looked at my reflection in the window.

"…It feels like it's trying to tell me something."

Lian didn't interrupt. He listened carefully, just like always.

"It could mean something," he said finally. "Dreams sometimes come from things we don't understand yet… or from something we're holding inside."

Then, after a short pause, he added lightly, "Or maybe you watched some ancient Chinese drama and forgot about it."

I huffed softly. "I didn't."

"Then don't overthink it," he said gently. "You'll drive yourself crazy. Just get some rest. We have a long flight tomorrow."

"…Yeah."

"Good night, Lu."

"Good night."

The call ended.

The room felt quiet again.

Too quiet.

I lay down on my bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm my thoughts. My eyes slowly grew heavy, and eventually, sleep pulled me in once more.

But the dream-

it came back.

The same field.

The same rain of blood.

But this time…

it was different.

I wasn't just watching.

I was there.

I was him.

I could feel the ground beneath me, the coldness of the rain, the weight of something pressing down on my chest. And in the distance, through the chaos of people and voices-

I saw a face.

Familiar.

Too familiar.

But before I could recognize it-

I woke up.

My heart was racing.

And for the first time…

I felt afraid of what that dream might actually mean.

---

**Extra: Character Details**

Alex is the kind of person people misunderstand at first glance. With his naturally blonde hair, sharp features, and tattoos that give him a rough, almost dangerous look, most assume he's trouble..and they're not wrong. But what they don't see is the reason behind it. He grew up in the US before moving to China to live with his grandparents after his parents divorced. Once disciplined, calm, and obedient, he believed in doing everything right… until life proved that it didn't always matter. That shift broke something in him, and he slowly turned into the reckless, rule-breaking version of himself we see now. Still, beneath that chaos is someone who cares deeply, even if he hides it behind jokes. He has no siblings, a messy love life with multiple breakups, and a strange talent for always competing with Lu for last place in exams.

Shaan feels like sunlight in human form. With his tan skin, black hair, and easy smile, he's the kind of person who naturally draws others in. Originally from India, he moved to China for better education and now balances his studies with part-time tutoring. Despite always ranking second academically, he never lets it get to his head. He's outgoing, warm, and known for helping others, often called an "angel" by those who rely on him. He has a younger sister whom he cares deeply about, and though it's never confirmed, there are whispers that he has a crush he's never confessed to.

Lian is the calm in the storm. With soft brown hair, striking blue eyes, and a quiet strength, he carries himself with a natural elegance. Coming from a well-known and traditional family, he lives under constant pressure, bound by expectations he never chose. His engagement, arranged by his parents, is just another part of that weight. Yet, despite everything, he always smiles, always listens, always supports others as if their pain matters more than his own. He is the one people turn to when they need comfort, even when he himself is struggling.

Zhan is… different. Cold, distant, and almost untouchable. With jet-black hair, piercing red eyes, and a sharp, sculpted appearance, he stands out effortlessly. He lives alone, comes from an unknown but wealthy background, and excels in everything he does, especially academics. Always first. Always perfect. People admire him, fear him, and he is mister popular. Rumors say he's in a relationship, but no one really knows the truth. And yet… despite that cold exterior, there are moments,rare, fleeting... where it feels like he sees only one person.

Lu.

And then there's Lu himself.

With his unique white and red hair and a small mole beneath his eye, he's someone people can't ignore, even if they try. He's not great at studies, often finding himself at the bottom of the class, but he has a natural talent for music, especially the flute. He grew up in a warm, loving family with parents who are both doctors and a younger brother he quietly cares for. He loves anime, dreams of becoming a writer, and often feels more than he understands. It's said he once loved someone before… and now, without fully realizing it, his heart leans toward Zhan.

And maybe…

that's where everything begins.