December 24th, 2029 – Afternoon
Kai jolted awake from his light nap, startled by a sharp smack to the back of his head. He let out a groan—right in the middle of Mr. Williams’ lecture on the laws of energy conservation.
The teacher stopped. Dead silence. He scanned the room like a hawk ready to kill. Kai ducked, trying to vanish behind his desk. Luckily, the old man’s hearing wasn’t what it used to be, and he didn’t seem to spot the culprit. Kai sighed in relief and glanced down at the floor—there it was: the eraser that had just been used as a projectile.
Kai carefully turned to look behind him, scanning the room. Everyone looked bored and lost in their own world, as usual in this class.
Except Mike and his crew—snickering, already loading up more school supplies for round two. Kai didn’t say a word. Just reached down, grabbed the eraser tight… and without turning fully, launched it backward over his shoulder.
THOCK!
The eraser smacked Mike dead in the forehead. He let out a surprised grunt and collapsed over his desk, trying to play it cool so the teacher wouldn’t notice. The classroom shook with suppressed laughter.
Mike slowly looked up, pissed.
Kai just smiled sweetly… and flipped him off before turning back to face the front like nothing had happened. It seems confusing, but they’ve actually known each other since kindergarten.
Next to him, a snort turned into a full-blown giggle. Kai turned and found Maddie covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she tried to stifle the laugh.
She gave him a wicked grin and flicked a strand of her short, jet-black hair—the ends dyed a sharp neon green—over her shoulder.
Then she pointed to the corner of her red-painted lips.
“I know I’m stupid cute,” she whispered, bold as hell.
Kai raised an eyebrow, not even trying to pretend he believed it. Honestly, "cute" wasn’t exactly the word that came to mind.
“But maybe try not to drool next time, Kai.”
He whipped around and wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve—just in case.
Maddie laughed again.
“You’re such a—” Kai started but froze as a deep throat-clear echoed across the classroom.
“Miss Carter,” Mr. Williams said sternly. “If something’s
that
funny, perhaps you’d like to share it with the entire class?”
Kai dropped his head instantly. Somewhere behind him, Mike let out a muffled snicker.
Maddie, of course, looked around like she had
no idea
who he could possibly be talking to.
Mr. Williams sighed, long and annoyed.
“And you, Mr. West,” he added, “if you're only going to wake up to disrupt my class… maybe just stay asleep on your desk.”
Kai nodded, mortified, as laughter spread through the room. He tugged his winter hat down as far as it would go, trying to hide his burning red face.
“I’d give him detention, sir. Interrupting class is
so
disrespectful,” Mike chimed in, smiling with fake innocence.
The laughter got louder.
Kai wanted to disintegrate. Or for winter break to
finally
start already.
Thanks to the education reform a few years back, Oregon schools didn’t let out until
December 24th
. A cruel, unnecessary punishment no one had asked for.
A gust of wind rattled the windows.
Kai coughed several times, despite wearing two jackets and a beanie thick enough to double as armor. His body just wasn’t cooperating.
Maddie looked over, a flicker of concern in her eyes. She pulled a packet of tissues from her backpack and offered it to him quietly—she knew he
never
remembered to bring his own.
He gave her a tired, grateful glance and tried to relax as the class dragged on.
The minutes crept by. The clock ticked forward with the speed of a dying tortoise.
And finally… the last bell rang.
Kai bolted out of the classroom like he’d just broken out of a maximum-security prison. He didn’t even bother saying goodbye to anyone.
At last, home sweet home—where his biggest worries would be how many hours he’d waste gaming and how many calories he’d inhale from junk food and energy drinks.
Or… that
would’ve
been the case—if he hadn’t taken a solid hit to the back of the head.
“What, birthday boy? Thought I was gonna let you get away
that
easy?” Maddie teased in her usual snarky tone.
Kai stumbled slightly and leaned against the wall. His vision blurred for a second.
“Crap,” Maddie muttered, now sounding worried. She stepped closer and grabbed his arm to keep him steady. “Are you okay? I didn’t think—”
“I’m fine,” he cut her off, trying to pull himself together. “It’s just the cold.”
Maddie let out a breath and they started walking down the hallway together.
Kai ran a hand through his hair. Lately, it had been standing up for no reason and growing way faster than normal. He wasn’t complaining, though—with weather like this, it was basically built-in insulation.
Then, out of nowhere, he froze. A shiver ran down his spine.
He spun around fast. That feeling—like someone was watching him—was one of the few instincts he actually trusted about his body.
He squinted down the hallway.
At the far end, standing like a shadow that didn’t quite belong, was a guy he didn’t recognize. Asian features, sharp eyes like blades, jet-black hair styled backward in sharp, spiky strands like a human porcupine. But the most unsettling thing were his eyes—some strange mix of red and gold.
Kai could swear they were burning.
He narrowed his eyes. Something about that guy felt… wrong.
A light smack on his back made him snap upright.
“Seriously, fix your damn posture, dumbass. At this rate, you’re gonna end up shaped like a camel.”
Maddie, irritated as always.
“Hey…” Kai lowered his voice. “Have you ever seen that guy before?”
He gestured subtly down the hall.
Maddie glanced sideways, then frowned.
“Who?”
She followed his gaze and spotted the guy—who now appeared to be chatting with a group of girls.
“You think I know
every
student in this school? I barely remember the teachers’ names. Though, I mean… he’s hot. Probably a transfer student.”
She looked like she’d fallen in love at first sight and bit her lip dramatically, teasing Kai.
He sighed. Always a good reminder of her obsession with Asian pop idols.
“Right. Forgot your memory and your taste got fried the day radioactive sludge fell on your head.”
He shot her a mocking look and pointed to her green-tinted strands.
Kai laughed. Before she could reply, he ruffled her hair with his hand, messing it all over her face—and then bolted for the exit.
She yelled his name through laughter and ran after him.
Once they were several blocks from school, Maddie finally caught up and immediately launched an attack—jabbing his ribs mercilessly.
“Okay, okay! I’m sorry! I give up!” Kai laughed, curling up.
They kept walking, heading into a quiet green space. The trees, bare and skeletal, stretched out like gray fingers on either side. Snow drifted down slowly, elegantly.
“They say with climate change, it might stop snowing in Portland in a few years,” Maddie said quietly, her voice tinged with sadness.
Kai nodded. To him, snow meant colds, fevers, and weeks of feeling like crap. But… a part of him still liked seeing the earth turn white.
"Well, everything’s changing so fast. It’s way too early to give up hope,"
he said with a confident smile.
Maddie smiled back.
They kept walking. But for some reason, Kai couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was following them—
close
.
Every time he turned around, there was nothing there. The path was empty. Silent. Perfectly normal.
And that—
that
was exactly what made it so unsettling.
"Your mom made this giant cake. Even Mike the idiot helped decorate the house,"
Maddie said with a conspiratorial grin.
"You know the point of a surprise party is that it’s supposed to be, y’know… a surprise?"
Kai shot back, raising an eyebrow.
"Hey, not my fault you snooped through my phone like a total creep,"
she said, shrugging.
Kai blushed slightly.
"You gave it to me because mine died. Not
my
fault you still don’t know what the mute button is."
"Blah blah blah,"
she mocked, raising her voice in a squeaky imitation.
They kept joking for a few more steps—until Kai suddenly stopped.
A sharp, splitting dizziness cut through his head like a blade. His breath caught. He didn’t know why, but the episodes were getting worse.
Alarmed, Maddie grabbed his arm again, helping him stay upright. They walked the rest of the way in silence until they reached Kai’s house. Maddie clenched her jaw, clearly frustrated—but didn’t say anything. Not now.
When they stepped inside, Kai forced himself to act surprised just as his mom and a small group of guests yelled in unison:
"SURPRISE!"
His mom wrapped him in a bear hug. She looked to be in her mid-forties, a few grays streaking her temples, with warm honey-toned skin and the tired, loving eyes of someone who carried the world on her back.
Kai moved through the room, greeting uncles and cousins—the “holiday-only” family members who showed up either to celebrate or to ask for something.
Still, he smiled at them automatically, out of habit.
Near the dining table, he spotted his brother
Oliver
waving a spoon dripping with fruit compote.
"Hey there, Ollie,"
he said, tapping his nose playfully.
The baby squirmed, annoyed, and reached up to yank his hair.
His mother turned when she saw the scene.
“Is it really that long already? But you just got it cut two weeks ago,” she said, a mix of surprise and mild irritation in her voice as she eyed the bangs falling over his forehead.
“Yeah… it’s weird,” he muttered.
“Maybe you finally hit puberty,” Mike chimed in, stepping over to give him a quick handshake. Both of them grinned. “Hair growing in strange places yet?”
Kai raised an eyebrow and ignored him.
“Great party, Mrs. West.”
“Thanks, Mike. It’s always a pleasure having you here,” she said warmly.
Meanwhile, Oliver had begun flinging baby food like it was confetti. Ava, Kai’s mom, picked him up with a resigned sigh.
“I’ll be back in a bit. Time for the little food slinger to hit the hay.”
Kai poured himself some soda and stayed chatting with Maddie and Mike in the kitchen. The three of them had been inseparable since they were kids. They always joked they had “adopted” antisocial Kai. He never denied it… but he never corrected it either. Truth was, he preferred small circles—and being with them felt just right.
The hours went by. Whatever unease he’d been feeling slowly faded away in the buzz of conversation, the noise, and the warmth of the house.
Until the drinks ran out.
Maddie and Kai offered to make a run for more.
They were just stepping through the door when Mike called out behind them, “Hey Kai, maybe steer clear of radioactive hair this time.”
Silence. Immediate. Awkward.
Mike was already regretting it halfway through the sentence.
“I don’t have
that
bad taste, Mike,” Kai replied, breaking the tension with a dry chuckle.
Without a word, Maddie gave Mike a quick kick to the shin.
The two of them walked out with half-suppressed grins.
And despite everything, Kai felt unusually lighthearted. His birthday—falling right on Christmas Eve—was usually swallowed up by dinner and carols. For his parents, it was basically a two-for-one. But this time… this time, he was the center of attention. Just for one day. And that was oddly satisfying.
As they crossed the streets, the sun was already beginning to dip below the horizon—far too early, even for that time of year. A cold breeze hit them square in the face.
Kai tugged at his clothes every few steps. His skin, already pale, now looked like fresh-poured milk. Maddie watched him with growing concern.
“You really should see a doctor.”
“What?” Kai asked, discreetly blowing his nose to keep the snot from running too much.
“I mean…” Maddie searched for the right words. She knew Kai hated being reminded of his condition.
“You’ve always been kind of sickly since I’ve known you—and that’s saying something, considering we were almost born in the same hospital, remember?”
“It’s not that bad,” he grumbled.
“You once caught a cold just from us playing with water guns.”
“It was freezing!”
“It was July,” Maddie shot back, raising her eyebrows. Kai just narrowed his eyes.
“Point is, it’s getting worse,” she continued, more serious now. “You’re practically sick every single day.”
Kai lowered his gaze.
“I know, I know… I’ll look into the doctor thing. But I can’t ask my parents. Healthcare’s getting more expensive by the day, they don’t have insurance, and even a basic check-up could put us in trouble.”
He spoke with frustration, but underneath it, there was a hint of something more—something sadder. He
knew
something wasn’t right. He’d known for a while. But he preferred to ignore it, convincing himself he could handle it on his own.
“Just… promise me you won’t brush it off,” Maddie said more gently.
Kai nodded. He knew what this topic meant to her.
“Alright. I promise.”
They finally reached the store. Kai grabbed his favorite soda—the kind with way more sugar than any nutritionist would ever approve of—and picked up a chocolate bar for Maddie while he was at it.
“I don’t want it.”
“You’re eating it anyway.”
Maddie smiled as she tucked it into her pocket.
Just as they were approaching the checkout, the TV mounted in the corner of the store caught their attention with a breaking news headline.
Normally, Kai tuned out the news. It was always the same tragedies on repeat or celebrity nonsense. But this time, something caught his attention.
"A city pulled from the bowels of the Earth."
Kai and Maddie froze.
“Can you turn it up?” Maddie asked the clerk. He did so without hesitation.
“In an event stirring major interest among archaeologists worldwide,” the anchorman began in a deep, serious voice, “an earthquake near the Iraqi border caused a geological fault that eroded the ground across several square kilometers.”
On screen, an aerial shot showed a massive crater, surrounded by tents, military vehicles, and floodlights illuminating ancient structures.
“What’s most astonishing is that, among the debris, what appears to be a Mesopotamian temple has emerged. The exact purpose and contents remain unknown. But experts believe it could drastically alter our understanding of ancient civilizations.”
The reporter took a breath. His tone shifted—just barely.
“Archaeologists are proceeding cautiously, as the area contains patches of quicksand… and several carved symbols that match no known language. There are also growing concerns the site may be filled with ancient traps.”
Kai and Maddie exchanged a glance.
The image froze on the temple’s entrance: a massive stone doorway, etched with impossible patterns, half-covered in roots and rubble.
It looked familiar to Kai. His knuckles grew warm, like he was remembering something he’d never lived. A déjà vu?
They didn’t say much more. They paid and left the store.
The streets passed by in silence. They were only a few dozen feet from home. But Kai felt uneasy—and not just from the cold. He’d noticed something strange.
No cars.
No voices.
Not even a passing bike.
Just wind and pavement.
He chalked it up to seasonal paranoia and kept walking.
“So,” Maddie said, trying to lift the mood, “what’s it feel like to be eighteen? You’re basically a senior citizen now, huh?”
“You’re like six months younger, remember?”
“I’ve always wondered… what time were you born?” she asked, walking backward now. “It matters.”
“What kind of question is that? You planning to cast a love spell or something?” Kai joked. “Or are you reading my astral palm?”
“Just answer, or I swear I’ll hit you again,” Maddie said, half-teasing, half-threatening.
Kai sighed and raised an eyebrow. He thought for a moment. It wasn’t like he carried around a little card with the exact minute of his birth.
“According to my mom… sometime between three and six in the afternoon. But I don’t know the exact minute.”
Maddie nodded and glanced at her watch.
4:30 PM.
“Well, pretty vague,” she said with a smile, “but I guess that’s all I can expect from your nerd brain.”
Then something happened.
A sensation—something passed through him.
It felt like a pulse. A wave of invisible air.
Kai instinctively placed a hand on his chest, but he didn’t feel sick.
Maddie stopped and rummaged through her bag, pulling out a small cloth pouch and handing it to him.
Kai blushed slightly and took the gift, trying to hide the embarrassment as he opened it. Inside were two silver bracelets. One had blue accents, the other pink. Both had
“BFF”
engraved on them.
Kai didn’t say a word. He just looked at her… and smiled.
“It’s kinda cheesy, I know. But I had no idea what to get you—and I couldn’t really afford much else,” Maddie said with a shy laugh. “So… which one do you want?”
Kai looked up, raising an eyebrow with mock sarcasm.
“I think my fragile masculinity will stick with classic blue this time,” he joked as he took the bracelet.
“Ha-ha. Hilarious,” she replied, grinning as she slipped on the pink one.
It was a warm moment. It felt good. Kai felt a strange warmth inside him—he figured it was happiness.
Though, it was a little sad that the first gift he’d ever gotten from a girl came from his best friend.
Still smiling genuinely, Kai slipped the bracelet onto his wrist. That’s when something brushed his cheek.
A drop.
At first, he thought it was a tear. Maybe from the emotion. But Maddie’s smile vanished.
Her face twisted in terror.
She reached toward him.
Kai blinked, confused. He felt warm liquid running down his nose. Then his ears.
And before he could make sense of what was happening, his knees gave out.
As he looked down at the ground, Kai saw crimson droplets staining the snow.
They were falling from him.