The door didn't just break.
It gave up.
Like something on the other side didn't believe in doors.
Wood cracked. Hinges snapped. Pieces scattered across the floor like they had no business staying together in the first place.
I blinked once.
"…Okay," I said slowly. "That's new."
Three figures stepped inside.
Not rushed.
Not loud.
Just… certain.
Like they had been here before.
Like they already knew where everything was.
That part bothered me more than the broken door.
My aunt's grip tightened around my arm.
"Move."
"I am moving," I said quickly. "I'm very good at moving when I'm about to die."
We moved backward first.
Instinct.
Then turned.
Then ran.
Not gracefully.
Not heroically.
Just fast enough to not immediately regret staying alive.
Behind us—
Footsteps.
But not normal footsteps.
Too light.
Too fast.
Too… controlled.
I didn't turn around.
I didn't need to.
You just know when something is chasing you.
"Where are we going?" I asked, trying not to trip over my own legs.
"Out," she said.
"That's not a location."
"It's enough."
Fair.
We reached the hallway.
I almost slipped.
Again.
"Wow," I muttered. "If I survive this, I'm never running again. This is stressful."
No response.
Of course no response.
Not the time.
We passed the living room—
I glanced in.
Kai was sitting up now.
Confused.
Looking around like his brain hadn't caught up yet.
Jonah was still standing near the window.
But—
He was moving.
Slowly.
Not frozen like before.
Not fully normal either.
Just… off.
"…Jonah!" I called.
My aunt pulled me harder.
"Don't stop."
"That's my brother!"
"He's not the target—you are!"
That didn't feel better.
At all.
A sound cut through the air behind us.
Sharp.
Like something slicing through space again.
"Okay, I don't like that sound," I said. "We should stop making that sound happen."
We reached the back door.
She pushed it open.
Cold air rushed in.
Fresh.
Real.
Normal.
Which made everything else feel even worse.
"Keep moving," she said.
"I wasn't planning to take a break!"
We stepped outside.
The night looked normal.
Streetlights.
Empty road.
A dog barking somewhere far away.
Everything looked fine.
Which made absolutely no sense.
Because behind us—
Reality was breaking.
I slowed for half a second.
"…Are we sure this is real?" I asked.
"It is," she said.
"That's disappointing."
We moved down the street quickly.
Not sprinting now.
Just fast enough to not attract attention.
Or maybe to not panic completely.
I looked back.
The house stood there.
Quiet.
Still.
Like nothing had happened.
"…That's not okay," I said.
"No," she agreed.
"It isn't."
We turned the corner.
Then another.
Then slowed.
My chest was tight.
Not just from running.
From everything else.
"…Okay," I said, stopping. "Pause. Quick meeting. I need answers."
"This isn't—"
"It's never the time," I cut in. "That's the problem. It's always 'run' or 'later.' I need something now. Even a small thing."
She looked at me.
Really looked.
Like she was deciding something.
Then she sighed.
"…One question."
I nodded immediately.
"Good. I'll take one."
She pointed at my hand.
"That mark means you've been chosen."
"By what?"
A pause.
Then:
"Time."
I blinked.
"…You're serious."
"Yes."
"…That's insane."
"I know."
I stared at my hand.
It was still faintly glowing.
Like it didn't care about my opinion.
"…So let me get this straight," I said slowly. "I go to sleep normal, wake up with a glowing tattoo, time freezes, and now people are breaking into my house because I have… time?"
"Yes."
"…That sounds fake."
"It's not."
"…I don't like it."
"You don't have to."
"Great. That helps."
Silence.
Not comfortable.
Not awkward.
Just… heavy.
"…What do they want?" I asked.
"To control it," she said.
"And if they can't?"
She didn't answer.
Again.
I exhaled slowly.
"…Right. Of course."
A soft sound echoed behind us.
We both turned.
Nothing.
Just the empty street.
But the air felt different.
Tighter.
"They're close," she said.
"…Of course they are."
My hand pulsed.
The mark flickered.
I frowned.
"…Why does it feel like it's reacting?"
"It is," she said.
"To what?"
"To them."
"That's not good."
"No."
I rubbed my hand.
It burned slightly.
Not painful.
Just… noticeable.
Like a warning.
"…I don't know how to use this," I said quietly.
"You will."
"That's not comforting."
"You don't have a choice."
I laughed once.
Short.
Dry.
"…Yeah. I'm starting to notice that."
Another sound.
Closer this time.
Footsteps.
But not normal ones.
Too smooth.
Too precise.
"They're here," she said.
"Again?" I said. "Do they not get tired?"
"They don't stop."
"Fantastic."
Three figures stepped into view from the end of the street.
Same as before.
Same stillness.
Same confidence.
I swallowed.
"…You know, I don't like the way they walk."
"Stay behind me."
"I was planning to."
They moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
Straight toward us.
My heart jumped.
My body reacted—
Before I could think.
The world shifted.
Not stopped.
Not fully slowed.
Just… stretched.
Like everything moved through resistance.
I stepped back.
But it felt different.
Like I moved slightly out of place.
One of them reached me—
And missed.
Barely.
"…Wait," I said, surprised. "I didn't even—"
"Again," my aunt said sharply.
"Again? I don't know what I did!"
"Then feel it!"
"Feel what?!"
She blocked another attack.
I focused.
Not on them.
Not on running.
Just—
That moment.
Right before something happens.
That small space.
I moved.
Again.
And again—
I wasn't where I should have been.
The attack passed.
Close.
Too close.
But not enough.
"…Okay," I said, breathing unevenly. "I think I'm doing something."
"Yes," she said.
"You are."
That felt… strange.
Not powerful.
Not amazing.
Just—
Possible.
Like a door had opened.
And I didn't know what was behind it yet.
But I knew one thing.
This wasn't stopping.
And somehow—
I was already part of it.
"…You know," I said quietly, watching them reset their stance, "this really wasn't how I planned my night."
No one laughed.
Not even me.
Because for the first time—
It actually wasn't funny anymore.