The sky had already begun to dim when the final bell rang.
KRRRIIINNGGG…
The sound stretched unnaturally long, vibrating through the classroom walls as if it carried weight—something heavier than sound alone. Andi lifted his head slowly from his desk, his brows knitting together.
Something felt off.
Moments ago, the classroom had been alive with chatter—students laughing, complaining, counting down the seconds before dismissal. But now…
Silence.
Not the ordinary kind.
It was abrupt. Complete. As if someone had cut the sound out of the world.
Chairs scraped against the floor in hurried motions. Bags were zipped. Books disappeared into backpacks. One by one, the students stood and walked out of the room.
No one spoke.
No one lingered.
No one even looked at each other.
Andi frowned.
"Why is everyone in such a hurry…?" he muttered under his breath.
He had only transferred to SMA Terang Bulan a few days ago. He was still adjusting—still trying to understand the strange, unspoken rhythm of this school.
But this… this wasn't normal.
The student sitting in front of him suddenly paused.
Slowly, he turned his head.
His face was pale—too pale.
His eyes met Andi's, and for a brief second, something flickered in them.
Fear.
"If you want to stay safe…" the boy said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper, "go home. Now."
Before Andi could respond, the boy turned back and walked out, his pace quickening as he disappeared into the hallway.
Andi sat there for a moment longer.
Confused.
Uneasy.
Then he grabbed his bag and stood.
"Yeah… I'm probably overthinking it," he said to himself.
But even as he stepped into the corridor—
He could feel it.
Something had already begun.