**Chapter 1: What Happened**
The 29 watched as something descended from the sky. They couldn't quite grasp what it was, and confusion spread among them. Then, in an unsettling twist, the thing split in midair. One half headed towards the adults, while the other half targeted the children, both halves swirling ominously.
The part that moved towards the adults approached their heads, which were rotating in circles. As soon as it arrived, the heads shifted their positions, surrounding the figure like a giant screen made entirely of faces. It was a grotesque sight-bloodied heads, their eyes wide open, giving the illusion that they were still alive, making the scene even more terrifying.
But nothing compared to the voice that followed.
A chilling voice echoed through the air, audible to everyone, even those standing far away, watching in horror. The voice spoke slowly, dripping with malice:
"I like that look on your faces... it suits you. The look of terror mixed with confusion... the one that says, 'Am I really here?' Yes, you are. Even if you don't remember... you will. This feeling, it will stay with you. Everywhere. Wherever you go, wherever you are... you will feel my presence. When you're alone, you'll sense me... behind you, beside you, above you. You'll feel my gaze, even if you try to forget it. And don't... don't forget it. Because if you do... I will find you."
With a wave of his hand, the heads floated back to their original positions, retreating at the same speed they had come.
---
The other half descended towards the children in the same ominous manner. As it reached them, the heads of the children shifted, forming a screen, just like what had happened with the adults. But unlike the terrifying, blood-soaked display from before, the children's faces were smiling-innocent and eerily calm.
The figure spoke, but unlike before, the 29 couldn't hear a word. Silence blanketed the air around them. It was as though the words were meant only for the children. The figure whispered, almost tenderly:
"Live your life as fully as you can... so that one day, you can smile like this again... for no reason."
With a wave of its hand, the children's heads floated back, returning to their original positions in the same unnerving manner they had come.
As if waiting for this moment, the two halves-the one that spoke to the adults and the one that spoke to the children-began to merge back together. The 29 watched in helpless confusion as the two entities became one once more. All they could see now was a shadow, and the sky seemed to ripple as though reality itself was bending.
They had no idea who-or what-had done this. Questions hung in the air, but no answers came. The sky itself seemed to shift as the figure began to descend again, as though walking down invisible steps, lowering itself steadily back to the earth. The 29 watched, paralyzed, as it went lower and lower until it was barely visible, becoming just a speck against the horizon.
And then, with one long, drawn-out breath...
"Zero!!"
.... be to continue