It was a day like any other. Cian woke up to the sound of his mother pulling open the window.

"Wake up, sweetheart. You're going to be late for school," she said in a jolly tone, with just a hint of seriousness.

"Okay, Mom, but can I at least drive your car this time? Mine barely made it yesterday," Cian replied, his tone with a undertone of irritation.

"Sure," she said, smiling.

Cian rolled out of bed, his hair a tangled mess. The room carried a faintly awful smell—last night's dinner dishes still sat on the desk, forgotten. His bedroom, tucked under the slanted ceilings of the attic, was a mix of chaos and charm. Vintage posters covered the walls, and a dark blue dresser stood nearby, cluttered with personal items. The bed, pushed under the window, had a simple checkered duvet, and books and games were scattered across the shelves. Despite the mess, the room radiated a sense of comfort, a place uniquely his own.

Cian pulled out his usual outfit—a black oversized sweater that hung loosely over his frame, paired with faded, slightly distressed black jeans. He slung over a  simple crossbody bag over his shoulder He laced up his scuffed black combat boots, the thick soles giving a subtle weight to his otherwise light steps. The muted tones he practicality could walk like a nija , he sometime scared his sister and parents because of how quiet he walks. 

Cian opened his door and stepped into the hallway. As he walked toward the kitchen, the warm, buttery aroma of pancakes hit his nostrils.

"Ooo," Cian murmured with joy, his eyes widening as a grin spread across his face. A string of drool escaped like a waterfall.

"PANCAKES," he whispered, barely containing his excitement.

Before he could take another step, his sister bolted out of her room like a flash of lightning. She snatched two pancakes off the plate and darted back to her room without a word.

"Hey, bud," his dad greeted, seated at the table with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other.

"Oh, hey, Dad."

"What's the plan for today?"

"Well, school, lacrosse, and maybe hanging out with Logan for a bit," Cian replied casually, reaching for a plate.

His dad lowered the newspaper slightly, a knowing look on his face. "Hmm, you've been hanging out with this Logan a lot lately. Got a crush on him, maybe?" he teased, a glint of excitement in his tone.

"What? No! Absolutely not!" Cian stammered, his cheeks flushing a rosy red.

His mom turned from the stove, a kind smile on her face. "Sweetheart, you know it's okay if you do," she said, reassuring him with warmth in her voice.

"I know, Mom!" Cian said quickly, grabbing a few pancakes and shoving them onto a napkin. "But I really gotta go. See ya later!"

Before they could say another word, Cian zoomed out of the kitchen, pancakes in hand, slamming the door behind him.

Cian grabbed his keys and started the car, the engine rumbling to life.

"Man, Mom and Dad can be a little much sometimes," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

As he drove, an uneasy feeling crept over him. The air felt heavier than usual, like an invisible weight pressing down. He couldn't quite place it, but something felt... off.

The sky darkened unnaturally fast, thick clouds rolling in. Rain began to fall lightly at first, but by the time he pulled into the school parking lot, the storm had turned ferocious.

"Great. Guess practice is probably canceled," he said to himself, watching the downpour blur his windshield.

BOOM! A massive bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the storm in a brilliant flash.

"Yup, definitely canceled," he muttered, grabbing his bag and bracing himself for the dash to the building.

By the time he reached his classroom, his clothes were damp, and his hair was a mess. Sliding into his seat, he quickly unpacked his notebook, pencil, and eraser.

As he glanced out the window, a chill ran down his spine. A dark figure stood in the distance, unmoving, its gaze locked on him.

Cian froze, his breath catching in his throat. Before he could make sense of what he was seeing, a cheerful voice shattered his focus.

"Hi, Cian!"

"WHAT THE FUCK!" Cian muttered, startled, whipping his head around.

"Oh, hey, Sam," he said, his heart still pounding.

Sam stood beside him, grinning as if nothing strange was happening. She wore her usual light blue oversized sweater, paired with cuffed jeans and white sneakers that squeaked against the floor. Her brown eyes sparkled, a warmth in them that could brighten even the stormiest of days.

"You okay there?" she teased, tilting her head. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Uh, yeah. Just—thought I saw something outside," Cian mumbled, glancing back at the window. The figure was gone.

Sam plopped into the seat next to him, tugging her sleeves over her hands. "Well, if it was something creepy, I'd say it fits with this weather. Total horror movie vibes today."

Cian nodded, his gaze lingering on the now-empty spot outside. "Yeah... something like that."

Later...

Cian was preparing to head to lunch when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He picked it up, frowning at the screen.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, hearing his sister's flustered voice on the other end.

"Uh, well..." she began, but before she could finish, the line went dead.

Suddenly, the school's power went out. The lights flickered off, and the faint hum of the air conditioning stilled. Murmurs spread across the classroom  as a voice over the intercom ordered everyone to the gym.

before she could say the phone went out and soon the entry school power went off and before he knew what was going on all the teachers said they have to go to the gym and the priceable will tell them what to do next. 

IN CIAN THOUGHTS 

as he was walking

" what is going on??"

"how is my phone out of power it was at 50%?"

"why was my sister sound scared"

"is she okay"

In Cian's thoughts as he walked:

What is going on?
Why is my phone dead? It was at 50%.
Why did my sister sound so scared?
Is she okay?

He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice Logan until they collided.

"Ooof!"

They tumbled to the ground, Cian landing squarely on top of Logan.

"AHH! Sorry, Logan!" Cian stammered, cheeks flushing a deep rosy red.

His eyes locked onto Logan's piercing blue ones, and his hand rested on Logan's muscular chest. The firmness beneath his fingertips made his heart race.

Logan, his own cheeks slightly pink, chuckled softly. "Oh, hey, Cian," he said smoothly, his voice carrying that easy charm.

Cian scrambled to his feet, offering Logan a hand. Logan took it, his grip firm and steady as he stood.

Logan had been Cian's oldest friend, second only to Sam. They'd met in fifth grade, back when Logan was just a chubby kid with a big smile and a love for sports. Over the years, though, Logan had transformed into a towering presence, a mix of raw power and easy charm.

At 20, Logan was broad-shouldered and thickly built, with a body honed from years of football. His massive thighs strained against his tight jeans, and his T-shirt stretched over his huge pecs and thick arms, barely containing the sheer bulk of his frame. His shirt rode up slightly when he moved, offering fleeting glimpses of his solid, slightly soft abs. His big, muscular build gave him an imposing presence, yet it was balanced by the warmth in his easy smile and the kindness in his eyes.

Despite his physique—a mix of power and softness, like a classic strongman—Logan was as approachable as ever. His quiet confidence and loyalty hadn't changed, no matter how much he'd grown on the outside. He was still the same Logan Cian had known for years, just... bigger in every way.

"You alright there, buddy?" Logan asked, his voice tinged with playful concern as he brushed the dirt off his jeans.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Cian replied quickly, trying to shake the nerves that Logan's proximity always seemed to stir up.

In Logan's thoughts:

Damn, Cian. That oversized sweater clung just right, damp from the rain and teasing at the lean muscle beneath. Not just some skinny kid anymore. There's tone there—shoulders, arms... thighs even.

Logan rubbed the back of his neck, trying to focus. But his eyes kept drifting. Those jeans... do they even fit? He's asking for trouble wearing those.

His gaze lingered on the mess of Cian's hair, the flush in his cheeks. He doesn't even realize what he does to people. Just walking around all quiet, brooding, looking like that.

Logan cleared his throat, shaking off the thought. Keep it together, man. He's your best friend. And he's blushing because he tripped on you, not because—

He stopped himself, forcing a laugh as Cian rambled nervously about practice. But Logan couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. You've got it bad, Logan. Real bad..

A teacher came up and scared Loagn and they started to walk again

" So doing anything else after school" Logan asked

" I think so, before the power went out I got a phone call and my sister was scared and before she could tell me.. My phone went out"

"Oh that is weird?"

" I know"

once even on was in the gym the principal told everyone school is done and they can leave once the bell rang

FEW MINTUES LATER 

The bell rang, Cian grabbed his bag and headed out of the school. 

Logan came up to him

"hey I think everything will be okay"

"I hope so"

" If you need anything call me "

"I will, thankful my phone working again"

"that good and remember me and Sam are here for you "

Sam heard what happened well sense they all were together and she ZOOM up and huge Cian 

"YEAH!" she yelled

"ok..OKay  gotta head home

When he got out school he rain had subsided, leaving the streets damp and the sky a murky gray. He slid into his car, the engine rumbling to life as he pulled out of the parking lot.

The uneasy feeling from the morning still clung to him, like a shadow he couldn't shake. His sister's strange phone call replayed in his mind, her scared voice haunting his thoughts. As he drove through the quiet streets, the familiar comfort of his neighborhood felt off—eerily still, like the world was holding its breath.

Cian turned a corner, and his heart nearly stopped. Standing at the edge of the sidewalk, bathed in the glow of a flickering streetlight, was the figure from earlier. It didn't move. It didn't flinch. It just stood there, facing him. Watching.Cian's grip tightened on the steering wheel, his pulse racing. He blinked, his eyes darting between the road and the figure. For a split second, he thought about stopping, but the weight of its presence sent a chill down his spine.

He sped up, his car roaring past the figure, and when he glanced in the rearview mirror, it was gone.

"What the hell?" he whispered, his voice trembling.

When he finally pulled into his driveway, his stomach twisted. The house was dark. Too dark. No lights were on, and the usual warmth spilling from the windows was nowhere to be found.Cian grabbed his phone, but the screen remained blank. Dead. He swore under his breath, stepping cautiously out of the car.

"Mom? Dad? Leah?" he called out, his voice echoing in the stillness as he opened the door. The house was empty. Completely silent.

A cold breeze swept past him, and the door slammed shut behind him. Cian froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel it now—the air was heavy again, suffocating. And somewhere in the shadows of his own home, he knew he wasn't alone

To continued…