Kai woke up with a start, drenched in sweat. His chest heaved as though he had been running through some endless nightmare. The dream—the story his friend had told him yesterday about Kuller Town—still lingered in his mind like a shadow he couldn't shake. Images of vanished children, the cold empty streets, and the whispers in the dark made him feel uneasy even in the safety of his room.
Shaking off the terror, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. The floor felt cold beneath his feet. Moving to the kitchen, he mechanically prepared breakfast, his mind still swirling with the thought of Kuller Town. Sunlight spilled through the window, but it did little to calm the chill crawling up his spine. His reflection in the mirror caught his attention; he stared at his own tired eyes and messy hair, wondering why the story bothered him so much.
The sudden shrill ring of his phone made him jump, a small yelp escaping him as he grabbed it.
> Edward calling…
"Hey, bro, what's up?" Kai said, trying to mask the lingering tension in his voice.
"Come on! You're getting late! Get up and go to school immediately!" Edward's voice was brisk, impatient—but familiar.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," Kai replied, grabbing his bag. He took one last glance at the mirror, half-expecting something to be lurking in the corners of his room.
By the time he reached school, Edward was already waiting in the hallway, leaning casually against the lockers.
"Thanks for waiting, man!" Kai panted, trying to sound calm.
"Of course! That's what friends are for. Come on!" Edward grinned and clapped him on the shoulder.
They slipped into the classroom, heads low, but couldn't resist speaking in whispers about the one thing haunting them both.
"So… Kuller Town," Kai muttered.
Edward's eyes darkened. "Twenty-three kids missing in six weeks. Can you imagine?"
Their shivers betrayed them even as they tried to act cool. The teacher's gaze swept across the room immediately.
"Talking during class? Really? Both of you will stay after school to clean the classroom until six!"
Kai and Edward groaned. As soon as class ended, they reluctantly grabbed brooms, dusters, and rags.
"You think anyone else is staying after today?" Edward asked quietly.
"Just us… I guess we're really in for it," Kai replied, forcing a shaky laugh.
As they cleaned, the eerie silence of the empty classroom made every creak and groan of the floorboards feel amplified. Their conversation inevitably turned back to Kuller Town.
"The thought of… all those kids… just disappearing…" Kai muttered.
Edward nodded, voice low. "And the whispers. Can you imagine hearing someone call your name… and no one's there?"
The shadows stretched longer as the afternoon sun slipped behind clouds. Goosebumps prickled their arms. They started cleaning faster, almost running, as though something unseen was chasing them. Their bravado barely masked the tension winding tight in their chests.
Finally, the last speck of dust was gone. They bolted out of the classroom, only to find the sky already darkening. The hallways stretched long and empty before them.
Kai and Edward walked, joking and nudging each other, trying to mask their fear.
Suddenly—a loud, deafening crash echoed from somewhere down the hallway.
Edward froze, eyes wide. "Uh… did you hear that?"
Kai's steps slowed, heart pounding. "Yeah… someone's there."
Edward shuffled nervously. "Uh… not to freak you out… but I think I… I just pissed a little. Just a little."
Kai shot him a look and tried not to laugh. "Yeah… me too. Kind of."
They crept forward, careful not to make a sound. Down the hall, they saw a girl surrounded by two angry-looking boys.
"You're a cheater!" one shouted.
"Play fair, or I'll break your bones!" the other yelled.
The girl's voice was steady. "Beating me up won't change anything. I still won!"
The second boy raised a hand to strike—but Kai shouted, "Stop! What the hell are you doing?"
The boys turned. "Who are you?" one demanded.
"I… I'm just asking why you're doing this to her," Kai stammered, trying to sound braver than he felt.
Edward stepped forward, fists raised. "Yeah… back off. I can take both of you at the same time."
The boys paused. Recognition flashed in their eyes.
"Oh… you're the guy who beat up our friend last week?"
"That's right. So watch yourself." Edward's voice was steady, though his stomach churned.
Kai joined him. "Get lost. Now. Or we call the teachers."
The two boys left, muttering threats.
The girl exhaled shakily. "Th-thank you… for helping me."
"No problem," Kai said quickly, smiling awkwardly.
"Next time, call for help right away," Edward added, grinning.
"I'm… Kiera Urame… and thank you again," she said, a slight blush on her cheeks.
Kai extended his hand. "I'm Kai Ravensol. And this is Edward Danner. Looks like we're the same grade—I saw your ID."
Kiera fumbled slightly, awkwardly shaking their hands. "Oh… uh, nice to meet you. I have to… head home now."
"Where do you live? We can walk you there," Kai offered.
"Uh… just Aurora Street… a little far," Kiera admitted, looking uncertain.
Edward smirked. "Hey, Kai lives near there too. I can walk with you."
Kiera gave a small, relieved smile. "Oh… that's… good. Thank you."
Edward nodded. "Let's go then. You're lucky you've got company while I walk alone."
Kai nudged him. "Shut up, Edward. I didn't know you're so tough. Did you actually beat up someone?"
Edward chuckled. "Nah, just go with the flow. Somehow it works. Don't tell anyone."
Kiera laughed softly, covering her mouth, slightly embarrassed. Edward laughed too, making a low, awkward joke about his own courage, which made her giggle again. Kai smiled at the awkward little moment between them.
The three of them walked together in a slow, comfortable silence, the tension from earlier fading. When they reached Kiera's house, she thanked them again, her awkwardness lingering but replaced with relief.
"Stay safe, Edward," Kai said as they parted.
"You too," Edward replied, grinning.
For now, the horrors of the world—including Kuller Town—felt distant, if only for a little while.