Morning air moved quietly through the streets as Ren walked toward school.
Kai walked beside him, thinking.
"…We need a better way to bring him out," Ren said.
Kai looked at him.
"…You got something?"
Ren nodded slightly.
"…Yeah."
"…We make a poster."
Kai blinked.
"…A poster?"
Ren continued,
"Something simple."
"…'We have your phone. Meet behind the old gym after school.'"
Kai's eyes lit up a little.
"…Ohhh."
A small smirk.
"…That's smart."
Ren kept walking.
"If it's him… he'll come."
Kai added,
"And if it's not?"
Ren adjusted his glasses.
"…Then whoever is connected to that phone will show up."
Kai grinned.
"…Either way, we get someone."
Ren nodded.
"…Exactly."
Kai looked ahead toward the school.
"…Alright."
"…Let's do it."
At School
The hallway was busy as usual.
Students talking.
Moving.
Laughing.
Ren stood near a notice board.
A blank paper in his hand.
Kai leaned beside him.
"…Write it clearly."
Ren grabbed a marker.
Then slowly wrote:
"We have your phone.
Come get it behind the old gym after school."
Kai looked at it.
"…Straight to the point."
Ren taped it onto the board.
They both stepped back.
Watching.
Students passed by.
Some glanced at it.
Some ignored it.
But Ren wasn't watching everyone.
He was waiting.
Waiting for the one person…
who would react.
Kai crossed his arms.
"…Now we wait."
Ren nodded slightly.
The trap was set again.
But this time—
they made sure the target would come to them.
Night fell over the school.
The building was empty now.
No students.
No teachers.
Just silence.
Behind the old gym—
Ren stood still.
The cold air brushing past him.
Kai looked around, irritated.
"…He's late."
Ren checked the time.
"…Or he's not coming."
Minutes passed.
Nothing.
No footsteps.
No shadows.
No movement.
Kai clicked his tongue.
"…Tch. Waste of time."
Ren didn't respond.
Something felt off.
Then—
BZZT.
The phone in Ren's hand vibrated.
Both of them froze.
Ren slowly looked down.
The screen lit up.
A message.
Ren read it silently.
Kai leaned in.
"…What does it say?"
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…'You think you're smart…'"
"…'but I'm watching you.'"
Silence.
Kai's expression changed.
"…Watching…?"
Ren looked up slowly.
The darkness around the gym suddenly felt different.
Not empty.
Observed.
Kai turned sharply, scanning the area.
"…Where?"
Ren's grip tightened on the phone.
"…Somewhere close."
The wind picked up slightly.
Rustling the trees.
Shifting shadows.
But no one appeared.
Kai's voice dropped.
"...He knows who we are.'
"…Which means…"
Kai finished it.
"…We're already part of this."
The phone screen went dark again.
And the silence returned.
But it didn't feel empty anymore.
It felt like something had just smiled in the dark…
and walked away.
To be continued