**Emergency Alert System Override**
KRSSSHHH—ZZZT—BEEEEEP—BEEEEEP—BEEEEEP
This is not a test.
All programming has been suspended.
A psychiatric patient has escaped containment.
Considered extremely dangerous.
Last sighted: District Eleven, Bronx, New York.
Affected areas: Morris Park, Van Nest, Pelham Gardens, Bronx Park, New York Botanical Garden.
If you are in or near these locations—this message is for you.
**Suspect description:**
Height: 6'7"–7'0" tall
Clothing: Torn hospital gown, heavily stained with an unknown substance—possibly blood
Skin: Severe burn scarring, peeling in sheets
Eyes: Swollen, inflamed
Movement: Irregular, jerking
Despite extreme physical deterioration, the subject exhibits abnormal strength and aggression. If approached or cornered, he will attack.
**For your safety:**
Lock all doors and windows. Bring pets indoors. Extinguish all lights. Avoid noise or sudden movement. Do **not** call 9-1-1. Dial **0-1-1** for specialized containment. Remain indoors. Further instructions forthcoming.
KRSSSHHH—CLICK.
The screen went black.
"Susie! You hear this?" Mark called from the couch.
The baby burst into tears.
"I know, sweetheart," Susie murmured, rocking him gently. She slipped the pacifier back in. Then, in a sharper voice: "Mark."
"Sorry." He kept staring at the blank TV.
"That wasn't normal," she said quietly. "The EAS doesn't interrupt regular programming for some escaped psych patient. And 0-1-1? I've worked dispatch for eight years—I've never heard of that number."
Silence. Only the baby's soft sucking sounds filled the room.
"Maybe it's a special case," she added, but her voice lacked conviction.
Mark whispered, "Bullshit," as he got up, walked to the fridge, and pulled out a beer.
"What?" Susie said, confused, carefully setting the baby in the bassinet. "Again? That's your seventh beer tonight, and it's barely ten o'clock. How many times are you going to go back for another bottle?"
"Disaster," Mark said, twisting off the cap.
"What?"
"It's a file they hid from us. Anything that goes wrong—anything that isn't caused by normal circumstances—gets dumped in there. They call it 'Disasters.'"
Susie stared at him. "I'm… not following. Wait—'hidden'? Are you digging into classified files? Mark… honey, you could get fired! Or worse. My father always said don't mess with the higher-ups' files. Please—just drop this."
"Susie—" Mark said in a small, tight voice.
"Huh? Yeah?"
"On the top of the file it had a—"
"I told you not to—"
She stopped when she saw his hand shaking around the bottle. His face had gone pale.
"Honey, are you okay?"
"Susie… They're—"
**BANG.**
They both froze.
"What was that?!" Susie whispered.
"Stay here." Mark ran to a painting on the wall and uncovered a hidden safe.
**KRRR-CHK.**
"You hid that behind my painting?!" Susie hissed.
Mark ignored her, strode to the back door, and kicked it open. Snow crunched under his boots as he stepped outside. "COME OUT!" he shouted into the darkness.
Branches rustled nearby.
Mark moved slowly toward the bushes, the snow muffling every sound. He raised his shotgun. "I don't know who you are, but you ain't getting near my family," he growled.
He pushed aside the last branch…
"Eden?!"
"I almost shot you!"
Susie cracked the door open. "Did I hear Eden?"
"Yeah! It's Ulise's kid!"
Susie stepped out onto the porch and walked toward the bushes. "Oh, thank goodness. He scared us." She knelt down. "Oh?—looks like you're stuck. Let me help get you out." Then, over her shoulder: "Honey, you can go back inside and brush your teeth—your breath smells like beer."
"Fine by me. Don't take long," Mark muttered.
Susie turned back to Eden. "Okay, let's—"
"No, I'm fine," Eden insisted. "Uhh—just let me—" He struggled, wincing.
"Ow!"
"Stop moving—you just nicked yourself. Let me help, okay?"
Eden sighed, defeated. "Fine."
As Susie carefully worked to free him, she asked softly, "Why are you even here at this time? Did you sneak out again?"
Before Eden could answer—
"EDEN!"
Ulise hurried up the sidewalk, breathless.
"That must be your mother," Susie said.
"HE'S OVER HERE!" Susie shouted.
"Huh? Oh, Susie, I'm so sorry," Ulise said. "He slipped out."
"No harm done," Susie replied.
"I'm very sorry. Let me grab him and go—hope he didn't cause any trouble."
Ulise knelt down.
"Ma—"
"How many times do I gotta tell you not to sneak out, especially at this hour?"
Eden hesitated. "But I gotta catch that killer."
Ulise snapped, "It's not a thing—it's a human. Forget it. Let's go home."
…
"Eden?"
Eden's face was pale, eyes wide, frozen in terror.
"Eden, what's happening?" Ulise pressed.
Ulise followed his gaze—behind her.
She turned—
A dark figure.
Tall. Too tall. Skin hanging in wet strips. Eyes swollen shut. Twitching. Jerking. Wrong.
**i'm nOt a kIlLeR.**
The voice was wet gravel.
Ulise's eyes turned—
Susie lay in the snow.
Her blood hit the snow and bloomed black—slow, deliberate, like oil seeping from cracked earth under moonlight.
"I didn't even hear…" she whispered.
**BANG!**
The front door flew open. Mark aimed his shotgun.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY WIFE?!"
"Wait!" Ulise screamed.
**BOOM. BOOM.**
Black ichor sprayed.
The creature staggered—then straightened. Wounds closing. Bones cracking back into place.
**YoU hUrT mE… i'Ll hUrT yOu.**
It lunged—too fast.
Claws tore across Mark's chest.
He dropped, screaming.
The baby wailed inside.
The EAS tone droned faintly from the TV.
**BEEEEEP… BEEEEEP… BEEEEEP…**
Neighbors' lights flicked on.
**Waaah! Waaah! Waaaah!**
Ulise grabbed Eden, ran into the house, shoved him into the closet, and pressed a phone into his hands—it had already dialed 0-1-1.
No one answered.
**Waaah! Waaah! Waaaah!**
"Stay here."
"Mom—"
**Waaah! Waaah! Waaaah!**
"For once, listen!"
She stepped out—
**Waaah! Waaah! Waaaah!**
"I want to leave, but I can't leave the baby," she whispered tensely.
But before she could turn around—
**Waaah! Waa—**
Ulise's face went silent, her breath hardening.
She looked at Eden.
"We gotta go—"
Instant. No warning.
The thing grabbed her throat and lifted her off the ground.
Eden watched through the slats. Frozen. Helpless.
She locked eyes with him. *Don't move.*
The creature raised its fist…
——————————————————————
**BZZZZZT! BZZZZZT! BZZZZZT!**
"MOM!"
Eden bolted upright, sweating and breathing hard.
His bedroom. Morning light streamed through the window.
The door flew open.
"The hell do you want?" she yelled, while drinking from a bottle of beer.
He blinked. "…Just a nightmare."
As she finished the bottle, she threw it on the floor. "TSK. Wasted my damn time. Wake your ass up and go to school already—and pick the bottle up." She slammed his door shut.
Cold air slapped his face.
Eden muttered, "No idea why I dreamed of her caring…"
He stood up, pulling on a shirt. "Really was a dream, huh?" he said, forcing a small smile. "Would've been nice for her to be like the person she was in the dream. Heh, 7 a.m. and she's already drinking. Not even surprised at this point. It's her medication. Doubt this is her first bottle too."
As Eden prepared for the morning, he headed downstairs to find his baby sister sitting at the table, staring at her porridge.
Eden: "Morning, Kia… why are you just staring at it?"
She waved her hand over the porridge.
"Cold."
Eden: "…?"
"Of course it's cold," she said, disappointed.
"MA!" Eden screamed.
No answer.
"Damn. I'll put it in the microwave for you."
As he walked upstairs and pushed open the door to her room, the words slipped out before he could stop them: "Ma, you gave Kia cold food!?"
The room smelled like stale air and something metallic. She was sprawled awkwardly on the floor against the bedframe. Empty bottles—pills, liquor, whatever she could grab—were scattered around her like broken promises. Her eyes were half-open, glassy, already somewhere else. A weak ***ughhh*** sound escaped her.
*Of course you sleep,* he thought bitterly. *Just sleep it off like always.*
BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP
"Oh shit, the food—I left it in too long." Eden shut the door behind him and ran downstairs.
Kia stared at him angrily.
"Sorry, sorry! Ahh, it's not too hot," Eden smiled, placing the bowl in front of her. "I'll eat some cereal or something, and I guess I'll change you after."
A few minutes went by.
Knock knock.
Eden got up to answer the door.
"Ms. Powers," he smiled.
"Good morning," she said as she stepped inside. "I'm here for Kia."
"Eden, oh—and again, thanks for picking her up for daycare. Sorry if it's too much trouble."
Powers smiled. "Oh no, no need to say thanks. It's not troubling at all—your house is on my route, so it's easy to stop by."
Eden: "Yeah, well, she's ready."
Powers: "Perfect. By the way, where's your mother?"
Eden's smile faded. "She's asleep."
"Oh, I wanted to talk to her for a little while. Well, I'll try when we get back. We'll see you soon, okay? Also, be on time for school."
Eden's smile returned. "Yeah, thank you again."
As Powers and Kia left, Eden prepared to leave soon after.
"I'm leaving!" he screamed.
Again, no answer.
"Hmm." He closed the door and walked out.
"Shit, I missed the bus." The bus rolled away from the stop. "Now I gotta walk."
As he kept walking, everything was peaceful. Quiet.
Until—
"Please, stop—"
Laughter.
"The hell," Eden muttered.
Up ahead, four boys in expensive uniforms had pinned another kid against a fence.
Valkyrie Academy. Rich. Untouchable.
Eden sighed. *Not my problem.*
He walked past.
"Punk ass," one muttered.
He stopped. Turned slowly.
"The hell you just called me?"
The leader smirked and stepped forward.
"Oh. Someone's got balls."
Eden stared back, calm.
"Never mind—I ain't got time for ya," the leader hissed.
"Yeah," one of the bullies said, grabbing Eden's collar.
Eden swung his hand backward, pushing the arm off.
The boys stopped laughing.
"This asshole's got balls," the leader screamed. He hissed at his friends: "Teach him a lesson."
But before anyone moved, the kid on the ground jumped up, grabbed the leader's leg, and begged, "Don't hurt him!"
Eden barked, "Hurt me? What the hell are you talking about?"
The leader kicked the kid away. "Fuck off."
The group continued toward Eden.
Eden put up his hands in a fighting stance.
Suddenly, something wet hit both Eden and the bullies—it was a girl in the same uniform, holding two water guns.
One bully shouted, "The hell's wrong with you?"
"Oh, because you're a girl, you won't get beat up too?"
As he tried to walk over, the leader stopped him.
"Huh? Boss, what's wrong?"
Eden muttered, "Boss? Are we serious?"
The leader smiled. "Her mommy's Alexandra Beckham."
The bully froze. "Wait—that famous mafia boss? Hell, even the police are scared of her."
The leader shrugged. "She's nothing special. She was lucky her daddy died and left everything in her name. But right now, let's not mess with her—I don't wanna cause bad blood."
He walked up to her, placed his hand on her chin, and whispered.
The girl didn't respond—just looked at him.
The leader smirked. "Good talk. When—"
But he was interrupted when Eden smacked his hand away.
The leader ground his teeth. "You poor-ass touched me?"
Before he could get angrier, he calmed himself and called to his boys: "LET'S GO—we're wasting time here."
The boys began to walk away.
Eden watched them leave.
"You're welcome," the girl said.
"Huh?" Eden turned. "I didn't need your help," he snorted.
The girl smiled. "How did you think this would go down if I didn't show up?"
Eden replied, "I would've beat the shit out of them—"
The girl pointed up.
"Huh?" Eden looked up.
His face showed concern.
"Right now we're on my school grounds. If you fought, everything would've been caught on camera."
Eden looked back. "So what? It would have shown I was trying to protect this guy."
"Remember, these are rich families and this school has a reputation. You really think they'll prosecute their own students and ruin their rep? Think now."
Eden had no words. "Forget it," he shrugged and began to walk away.
"By the way," the girl called, "what's your name?"
"Huh? Eden Hazard. Why?"
"No, just wondering. I'm Alice Beckham."
Eden looked back and started walking. He raised his hand. "Thanks."
Alice smiled. She looked down. "You should change—class is about to start."
Kid on the floor: "Yeah, thank you."
"Don't thank me," she said as she looked at Eden. *Wait—wasn't he walking the opposite way?*
The kid: "No, he was going that way before."
Alice: "Maybe it's just me. Get to class, okay?"
The kid: "Where are you going?"
"Don't worry about me. This school can't do anything to me."
"Okay," the kid said.
*Ring ring ring.*
Damn, first bell. Welp, I'm late—
"I'm here? I would've sworn it was another 5–7 minutes. Probably walked faster. Who knows, I'm here."
As Eden walked into the building, the lights were dimmed. The hallway was silent.
"The bell just rang. There should be people walking around, especially hall monitors and teachers. Hell, now that I think about it, I didn't see anyone at the main gate either."
"Hall pass!"
Eden was startled. "What the hell—Evin?!"
"Hall pass."
Eden looked annoyed. "I ain't got it. I just came in."
As Eden handed over a note—
*In Eden's mind: "When did I—"*
Evian grabbed the paper.
…
"Don't care. Go to class now," he said with authority.
"The hell are you bossing me around for?"
"But fine—as long as I don't gotta talk to you, I'm good."
Eden walked away. Evin stared after him like a hawk.
Eden stopped and asked, "By the way, why isn't anyone here?"
"Everyone's already in class. You missed the lockdown. Everyone was admitted to their classes early."
"How about the kids that are late?"
"You ask too many questions. How am I supposed to know? Get to class before I write you up."
"Fine, fine. This is weird."
As Eden walked to his classroom, he opened the door. The teacher was standing with her face to the board. Students sat quietly, pencils scratching on paper.
"Sit down! We're having a test. Sit where a paper is available."
"Really?" Eden muttered, disappointed.
He walked to the middle of the class and sat down.
The teacher still hadn't moved.
*Sure, history class—it shouldn't be too hard—*
The paper was completely blank!
*Am I supposed to write something?*
As Eden was about to raise his hand, another hand stopped him.
Eden looked to his left—
"Alice?!?!"
The teacher, still facing the board: "NO TALKING!"
"Shhhhh," Alice whispered. "You remembered my name. Didn't think you would."
Eden was confused. "How the hell are you in this class? Not only that—how did you get here before me?"
"I'll explain later, but right now don't look at me and face your test."
"What?"
"Just do it," Alice persisted.
"Okay, okay," Eden complied.
Alice whispered: "This isn't your school and this isn't your class."
"What are you talking about?"
"When you came here, did strange things happen?"
"Well yeah—a little. Nobody was at the front gate or in the hallways. The walk to the school felt faster. Also, Evin was acting kinda strange, like he wanted me to hurry."
"Oh! You're not stupid after all."
"Hey."
"But besides that, look—the teacher is not what she seems. Even the kids here… they're not real."
"You're kidding me."
"Fine. Look around."
As she tapped Eden: "Don't freak out, but look at everyone's faces."
As Eden looked up, his eyes adjusted.
"T…They… They have no faces?!?."
"Huh, usually people jump out of their chairs and cause a scene," Alice said. "You're really weird—not scared?"
"The hell are you blabbing about? Of course I'm scared. I just don't wanna move," Eden muttered, swallowing hard.
Alice chuckled. "Your instincts are good, but there's a way to get out of this."
"What the hell do we do? And how do you know about this?"
"Don't worry about it. First things first—we have to follow their game to get you out of here."
"And what's that?" Eden said, full of fear.
"Okay, follow these five simple instructions.
One: Act like you're writing something—doesn't matter what it is.
Two: Don't talk to anyone else, even if they ask you a question. They're suspicious of you.
Three: Do not look at the clock for too long.
Four: Never raise your hand."
"If you follow these rules, you should stay alive."
Eden, confused and staring at his blank paper: "You said five. You only said four."
"The fifth rule is how we get out of here.
Rule five: If the teacher turns around, immediately run and jump out of the window."
"WHAT?" Eden loudly whispered. "We're on the 3rd floor! What do you mean jump out?!"
"We have no choice. I know it sounds crazy, but look—we're in the middle of the room, surrounded. The window is our only option for a higher chance of survival."
Eden hesitated. "Shit… SHIT SHIT SHIT."
"Calm down," Alice said.
"We have to do it."
Eden took a deep breath. "Okay, okay. When do we do it?"
"When the teacher faces us, we dash for it. No hesitating."
"Okay, okay. Jump out of the window. Just do it. Just do it. There should be bushes under us, right? Or this girl is insane. Damn it, damn—"
"Hey, look at me," Alice said.
"Huh?" As Eden looked up.
**NO!** Alice screamed.
"SHIT! I thought it was you! I swear it was your voice!" Eden said, mistaken.
The faceless human began to shake. Where there was no mouth, the skin violently tore open, revealing a dehydrated mouth, and then it let out a loud howl that sounded like a distorted human mixed with an animal.
The whole class stood up, beginning the same process and scrambling toward them.
"ALICE! Forget the first plan!" she shouted. "Run to the window!"
The teacher stopped writing and began to turn around.
Before Eden could run—
**STOP!** the teacher shouted.
"I…I CAN'T MOVE!" Eden said, struggling.
"Damn it," Alice muttered.
Alice raised her hand. Two guns appeared.
The teacher sniffed: "A Soul user, huh? No wonder why my command didn't work."
Alice fired two shots, but the teacher moved and avoided them.
"The sound… it's familiar… yessss. The Twin Stars—a purified curse weapon, an inherited ability from the Beckham family." She slithered back and forth. "And that boy… I don't feel anything special coming from him. Oh well. I'll kill the boy, eat him as a snack, take you, turn the weapons back into a curse, and control the Disaster within it. Oh, how perfect. You children have caught very excellent prey."
*Wait, she can talk in full sentences? Not only that—how does she know about these guns?* Alice thought to herself.
"Eden," Alice said, "you can't move. Anything caught inside a Disaster's domain has to abide by its laws, but usually they don't know about that."
Eden: "H-How can you move?" he stuttered.
Alice answered with a smirk, "If you're cute, you're unaffected."
Eden: "…"
Alice cocked her gun again and pointed at the teacher.
"Your guns aren't fast enough."
"Really? That's very disappointing," Alice said.
As she began to fire, a *click* sound happened.
"Are you out of bullets—"
The teacher paused mid-sentence.
She looked down and saw the bullets floating in a grey circle shape.
In that moment, the bullets instantly exploded into thick grey clouds.
The teacher shouted, "SMOKE BOMB!"
Alice ran to Eden, pushing him and breaking the window.
Eden: "What the hell!" he shouted.
"Sorry! I forgot the sixth rule: The students can mimic someone you know. Should've talked in code!"
"Umm, Alice," Eden said in a terrified voice, "this is kinda a high-ass drop."
"Huh?" Alice looked down.
"Oh… surprised? Her domain affected the whole area. I didn't know she'd be that strong."
"What are we going to do!" Eden screamed.
*I can survive this fall, shit, but Eden…* Alice hesitated.
"ALICE!" Eden shouted.
"I need you to say yes, okay?"
"WHAT?"
"Just listen. If you want to survive, grab my hand. But if you do, you will enter a world far worse than your normal life—to be honest, a world that is fear itself. Do you want to enter this world, Eden?"
"What are you talking about? You've been confusing me this whole time!"
Alice shouted, "LIVE OR DIE, DAMN IT! Take my hand or not—we don't have time!"
"Okay, okay!" Eden reached forward, attempting to grab her hand.
As their hands locked together, a flash of memory hit—back when Eden had snuck out of the house to chase the escapee.
His mother lay on the floor, crying. The psychiatric escapee was sprawled nearby—beheaded and decomposing rapidly. A group of people—three, maybe four—walked out carrying black body bags. Two of them. One was the size of a baby. Another had the shape of a woman. Medics worked on a man nearby.
A man standing near the escapee's body approached Eden and said, "It's way past your bedtime, kid."
Then the memory went *blink*.
**THUD.**
—-
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