As the crowd thinned and the chaos settled, Kyle stepped outside into the warm afternoon sun. The world felt simultaneously heavier and stranger.
He wanted to tell someone. To say what he had seen. But who would believe a story about a man turning into a machine?
His phone buzzed in his pocket. A message from his mother: Hope you're okay. Call me when you get home.
Kyle took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and started the walk back.
Some truths were dangerous. Some stories were impossible to tell.
The streetlights flickered on, casting pools of orange light on the cracked pavement. He carried the grocery bags carefully, their weight a comforting reminder of normalcy after the chaos he'd witnessed.
Inside, the small apartment smelled of simmering stew and fresh laundry. The walls were lined with worn family photos—his mother smiling proudly as he won a certificateat school, a snapshot of them on a summer trip, his little brother who had long since moved out. These fragments of life grounded Kyle like nothing else could.
His mother stood by the stove, her hands busy stirring the pot. She turned, her face lighting up when she saw him.
"Kyle! You're back," she said warmly, wiping her hands on a towel. "Thank you for getting the groceries."
Kyle smiled, setting the bags down on the counter. "No problem, Mom."
She reached over, ruffling his black hair affectionately. "You're such a good boy. You make it easier for me, you know."
Her gratitude was sincere, and Kyle felt a pang in his chest. He swallowed the lump of worry that had been building all day. "I'm just doing what I can."
She smiled, eyes softening. "I know. Come eat soon. Dinner will be ready in a little while."
Kyle nodded, but the words felt distant as his mind replayed the afternoon's events—the metallic gleam of the cyborg's arm, the sharp crack of the shotgun, the cold glare of Agent Maris.
That night, sleep was elusive. Kyle lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, the thin moonlight casting silver streaks across the room. The memories played on a loop in his mind like an unrelenting film: the robotic limbs flashing into view, the furious mechanical growl, the haunting eyes of Agent Maris.
He turned onto his side, his blue eyes reflecting the pale light. The ordinary world felt fractured now, split by a secret no one would believe.
"Just a robbery," he whispered to himself, the words a fragile shield against the truth.
But as hours dragged on, his mind refused to quiet. He thought about his mother, about what might happen if the cyborg came back. About the impossibility of telling anyone the whole truth.
Eventually, exhaustion claimed him, dragging him into a restless, uneasy sleep.
The alarm clock buzzed sharply, jarring Kyle awake. He blinked against the brightness, his body heavy and sore from the lack of sleep. The day ahead promised no relief.
Dragging himself from bed, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the cracked mirror. His black hair was tousled, shadows beneath his blue eyes making him look older than his seventeen years.
He sighed and dressed quickly, grabbing a granola bar on his way out. The walk to school was cold and gray, the sky overcast, mirroring his mood.
The school halls were already buzzing with noise when Kyle arrived. Lockers slammed and voices clattered like waves crashing against the walls. He pulled his jacket tighter, trying to disappear into the throng.
He met up with his best friends, Kate and Jason, near their usual spot by the lockers. Kate's curly red hair caught the light, and her freckles danced across her cheeks when she smiled. Jason, tall and athletic, greeted Kyle with a fist bump.
"You look like crap, man," Jason said, grinning.
Kyle forced a laugh. "Didn't get much sleep."
Kate nudged him playfully. "Was something on your mind?"
Kyle hesitated but then shook his head. "Just stuff."
Jason glanced around, lowering his voice. "You okay? You seem off."
Kyle bit his lip. "Nothing to worry about."
As they walked toward the cafeteria, the atmosphere shifted. From across the hall, the school bullies appeared—Lucas, Mitch, and their usual entourage. They were loud, brash, and their laughter echoed like thunder.
Lucas, with his slicked-back blond hair and sneering smile, caught sight of Kyle and smirked.
"Well, well," Lucas called out. "If it isn't pretty boy Kyle. What's the matter? Can't keep your eyes off your blue-eyed reflection?"
Mitch chuckled, stepping forward, eyes glinting with malice. "Yeah, thought maybe you'd buy yourself a real meal for once. Or are those groceries from your mom again?"
Kyle's jaw clenched, but he didn't respond. He hated that they thought they could get under his skin so easily.
Kate stepped forward, her voice sharp. "Leave him alone, Lucas."
Lucas's grin widened. "Aw, and here come the girlfriends to defend the little prince. Don't worry, Kyle, they probably just feel sorry for you."
Jason's hands balled into fists. "Back off, Lucas."
Lucas waved him off with a lazy flick of his hand. "Or what? You gonna cry?"
The girls who had been hanging near the bullies glanced at Kyle, their expressions flickering between disdain and reluctant pity. One of them whispered to another, "Those eyes… it's like he's not from our world."
Kyle felt the weight of their stares like a physical blow. The pity was worse than the insults—it was a reminder of how different he was.
The cafeteria was noisy, but Kyle found a quiet corner near a window. Kate and Jason slid into the seats beside him.
"I'm sorry about those guys," Kate said softly, her eyes filled with concern.
Kyle shrugged. "They don't get to me."
Jason frowned. "They're just jealous. You're better than them."
Kyle gave a small, tired smile. "Thanks, but it's not just that. It's been a long day."
Kate's brows knitted. "What happened?"
Kyle hesitated, then glanced around to make sure no one was listening.
"There was a robbery at the grocery store," he said quietly. "But it wasn't just a robbery."
Jason leaned in, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
Kyle took a deep breath. "The guy… he wasn't human. He turned into something else. A cyborg, I think."
Kate's eyes widened. "A cyborg?"
Kyle nodded. "I know it sounds crazy. I didn't want to tell anyone because no one would believe me."
Jason's expression shifted from curiosity to seriousness. "Why didn't you tell the police?"
"I tried," Kyle said, "but the officers didn't believe me. There was this woman—Agent Maris. She asked a lot of questions, like she didn't believe my story either."
Kate bit her lip. "That sounds scary."
Kyle nodded again, staring out the window. "It is."
The rest of the lunch period passed in a blur. Kyle's thoughts swirled with unease and confusion. How could he protect himself? Who was this Agent Maris? Was the cyborg still out there?
The blue eyes that had once felt like a source of strength now seemed like a beacon, marking him as different and vulnerable.