The sun was setting over Everfield, washing the quiet town in a golden haze. From his balcony, Xavier Anderson sat on the railing, legs dangling into the empty air, staring at the sky as it bled from orange to crimson. The world felt still, suspended in that fragile hour before night.
He liked watching the sunset. It was one of the few moments that didn't demand anything of him—no schoolwork, no noise, no pretending. Just him, the chill of the wind, and the faraway song of birds returning home.
The soft glow of evening brushed over his dark skin and dreads. He ran a hand through them absently, watching as the light slipped behind the horizon. A few rooftops away, the faint sounds of laughter echoed from neighbors preparing for Oasis High's homecoming dance.
He smiled faintly. Guess it's time.
Inside his room, a sharp knock came before the door creaked open.
"Hey," his little brother Alvin said, poking his head through.
Xavier turned slightly. "You shouldn't sneak up like that."
Alvin stepped onto the balcony railing beside him despite the warning. "You ready for tonight?"
"Trying to be."
Alvin grinned. "You're really going with Emily, huh?"
"Yeah," Xavier said, pretending not to care, though the corner of his mouth gave him away. "Don't make it weird."
"Too late. I've already decided to embarrass you with my superior sense of fashion."
"Please don't."
Alvin walked into the room and pointed at the outfit laid out on the bed—black shirt, black jeans, black jacket. "You know what? Go all black. It suits your mysterious, brooding thing."
"Appreciate the expert advice from a thirteen-year-old."
"I'm thirteen and stylish," Alvin shot back, puffing out his chest.
"Stylish, sure. But also annoying."
"Still right though," Alvin said with a smug grin.
A few minutes later, Xavier stood in front of the mirror, buttoning his shirt. His reflection looked sharper than he felt—calm, clean, composed. He adjusted his jacket and went downstairs.
Their mother, Sonia Anderson, looked up from the couch and froze. "Wow," she said softly. "You look incredible, Xavier."
Alvin snorted. "Don't flatter him too much. His ego's already bad enough."
Xavier bent down, smirking. "One day you'll understand that confidence isn't ego."
"Yeah, yeah. Just don't trip on stage, Mr. Confidence."
Sonia chuckled, but the laughter died when Alvin coughed—a rough, wet sound that made them both turn.
"Hey, you good?" Xavier asked, stepping closer.
"I'm fine." Alvin waved him off, but blood stained his palm and nose.
"Alvin!" Sonia rushed over, panic rising.
"I'm fine!" he said again, though his voice shook.
Xavier touched his forehead—burning hot. "Mom, we need to get his meds."
Sonia was already dialing. "I'm calling Doctor Adams."
But before Xavier could move, Alvin's knees buckled. He hit the floor.
"Alvin!"
They were beside him in seconds. Xavier lifted his little brother's head, his heart hammering. Alvin's skin was pale, his breathing shallow.
The minutes before the ambulance arrived stretched endlessly. Xavier sat on the couch, holding Alvin in his arms, counting his slow breaths. His mother paced, muttering prayers under her breath.
When the paramedics finally came, Xavier helped carry him out. One of them offered a small, reassuring smile. "We'll take care of him, son. He'll be alright."
Xavier wanted to believe that.
Sonia turned to him as they loaded Alvin into the ambulance. "You should still go to the dance, honey. I'll stay with him. Doctor Adams will meet us at the hospital. Your father's on his way back tomorrow."
"Mom—"
"Go. Alvin would hate to know he ruined your night."
Xavier hesitated, then nodded. "Call me the moment he wakes up."
"I will. Now go have a little fun, okay?"
He managed a small smile and stepped back as the ambulance pulled away. He watched it until the siren faded into the distance, swallowed by the night.
A cab rolled by, headlights flashing. He waved it down, climbed in, and whispered, "Oasis High."
The driver nodded, and the city lights slid by in silence. Outside, the sky had gone completely dark—moonless, empty, almost waiting for something.
---
The cab stopped in front of Oasis High. Music leaked from inside, low bass thumping through the gym walls. Streamers, balloons, and colored lights painted the school in gold and blue.
Xavier took a breath and texted Emily.
Xavier: Hey, where you at?
Emily: Dance floor. Getting a drink. Where were you? I thought you bailed.
Xavier: Alvin had another episode. He's in the hospital, but he'll be fine.
Emily: Oh my God, I'm so sorry. Hope he's okay.
Xavier: Yeah. I'm coming in now. Don't run off.
Emily: Wouldn't dream of it. XOXO.
Inside, the gym buzzed with life—students dancing, laughing, some gathered around the snack tables. The decorations sparkled under dim lights, transforming the ordinary gym into something almost magical.
Xavier spotted Emily near the center of the room, laughing with her best friend Jane. He waved, but Jane's expression turned cold. She whispered something to Emily and slipped away before either could speak.
"Hey," Emily said, stepping closer.
"Hey yourself," Xavier replied. "You look… amazing."
She did. The soft blue of her dress shimmered beneath the lights, silver patterns tracing her sleeves. Her blonde hair framed her ocean-blue eyes perfectly.
"You look great too," she said, then smirked. "Though all black? Trying to attend a funeral or something?"
Xavier chuckled. "Alvin picked it. Said it fits my dark, brooding personality."
Her smile faltered for just a second. "I hope he's okay."
"He will be."
"Then," she said, squeezing his hand, "let's make sure tonight isn't wasted."
"Deal."
They slipped out of the gym, climbing the staircase to the roof. It was quiet up there, the music muffled by layers of concrete. The night air was cool, crisp, and full of stars.
"This is your secret spot, huh?" Emily asked.
"Something like that. I come here when I need to breathe."
He looked out over Everfield. From up here, the town looked calm and alive—tiny lights scattered across the valley, the forest standing tall beyond it.
He turned to her. "Would you like to dance?"
She laughed. "Up here? Without music?"
He shrugged. "We've got rhythm in our heads."
She rolled her eyes but took his hand anyway. They moved slowly, swaying under the stars. Xavier wasn't good at it—his shoes brushed her toes more than once—but Emily just laughed and teased him.
For a moment, the world disappeared. It was only them, breathing the same air, hearts syncing in time.
When he leaned in, she didn't pull away. Their lips met—brief, soft, uncertain. But real.
Xavier pulled back, face flushed. Emily looked just as flustered, smiling shyly as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Guess I'm not as bad at this as I thought," he whispered.
Before she could reply, the night sky rippled.
It wasn't lightning. It wasn't fireworks.
A column of light burst upward from the forest—bright, pure white at its center, pulsing with strange energy. The air trembled. The stars seemed to vanish around it.
"What is that?" Emily breathed.
"I don't know," Xavier said. He stepped toward the edge of the roof, eyes wide. The beam rose higher, flaring brighter, until it was impossible to look at directly.
Then, without warning, it exploded—a wave of blinding energy sweeping across Everfield.
Windows shattered. Streetlights flickered and died. The ground shook as if the earth itself had inhaled and held its breath.
Emily screamed, clutching Xavier's arm. The wave hit them like a shock of pure sound—a low, deep hum that drilled into their skulls. Pain flooded his body. He dropped to his knees, struggling to move, but it felt like the air had turned to water.
He crawled toward Emily. She was on the floor, motionless, her eyes closed.
"Emily!"
His vision blurred. The world was melting into darkness, sound and light twisting together. Somewhere deep in the black, a whisper crawled through his mind—low, cold, and ancient.
"You are now free."
A figure appeared in the haze—tall, shadowed, with eyes like molten gold flickering in the dark. It bent close to him, the words burning behind his eyes.
Then everything went silent.
The last thing Xavier felt was the chill of the wind before the world went completely dark.