A voice spoke from the television:"Today, we are once again witnessing one of the universe's miracles—an eclipse. So, Professor, what do you think about the fact that solar eclipses have been happening continuously over the past few days?"
"I must say, it's truly marvelous. This is something that has never happened before, and we—those fortunate enough to be here—have the chance to witness it."
"Lucas, are you up yet?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm up. Where did you put my lunch?"
"It's on the stove," she said, walking over to touch his cheek. "Today's your first day at university—make sure to make lots of friends, my dear."
"Alright, alright, I know. I've got to go or I'll miss the bus. So then, farewell, Mother."
He spoke hastily and rushed out to the bus stop. Just as he arrived, the bus pulled in. He sighed in relief—no need to walk to school today. Stepping on, he searched for a seat away from others, looking back at his house through the window. The bus slowed, letting out a hiss as the doors opened to welcome more passengers. He glanced at the unfamiliar faces stepping in, and then—his eyes met a familiar one.
"Sophia?" He blinked in surprise, hurriedly pulling his bag in to make room for her beside him.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Lucas."
"Me neither, class president."
"I'm not the class president anymore, you know."
"You heading to school?" she asked, glancing at his bag.
"Yeah, I'm on my way to UCL."
"So am I. What a coincidence."
"So I won't be a duck among chickens after all."
"Lucas, I…" she started, her voice hesitant.
"Let's talk later. We're here. I need to find my class. Catch you later," he said, rushing off.
"See you," she murmured, watching his figure fade into the crowd.
"I'm sorry, Sophia," Lucas thought. "But I can't return your feelings. I can't make you happy."
Classes blurred into one another.
Lucas couldn't focus. Every sound seemed distant, muffled—like echoes bouncing off a deep well. It wasn't until the lunch bell rang that he realized he'd spent the entire morning staring blankly ahead. He pulled his lunchbox from his bag and made his way up to the rooftop, looking for some quiet.
There, beneath the open sky, he looked up.
The Sun and Moon were inching closer together again.
"This is bizarre," he thought. "Eclipses usually take months, years to happen again. But the last one was only a few days ago. And the one before that? Just a week."
The silence didn't last.
From the courtyard below, frantic shouting shattered the calm. Lucas stood, heart racing, peering over the railing. A man was attacking one of the school's security guards—wildly, savagely.
"People really are getting weirder these days..."
He turned back and tried to eat, but before he could take another bite—BANG.
A gunshot.
Lucas jolted upright. He hurried to the edge again. Chaos.
Students scattered in every direction. The guard was down. Blood. Screams. Something was wrong—terribly wrong.
The door behind him creaked.
Lucas stepped back, breath quick and uneven. The noise below grew louder—screams, pounding footsteps, and something else... something inhuman.
He needed a weapon. Now.
His eyes darted around. Nothing but his half-eaten lunch on the table. Worthless. A few overturned chairs—too heavy. Then, he saw it: a long, silver rod glinting in the sunlight.
A metal bar.
He dashed for it, knelt, grabbed it. Cold. Heavy. But at least it was something. Something he could fight with—or escape.
BAM!
The door burst open.
His hands trembled. He whispered to himself, "You're okay. You're okay. You'll be okay."
A familiar voice called from the shadows."It's me, Lucas. It's Sophia."
He exhaled in relief, dropping the bar with a clatter."God, you scared me. I thought—my heart's about to explode. You have no idea how freaked out I was."
He sank into a nearby chair, trying to catch his breath.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Heavy, dragging footsteps echoed across the rooftop.
Lucas turned.
SLAM!
A dark figure lunged, slamming him to the ground.
Everything spun. He blinked, trying to focus—and then he saw her.
Sophia.
Or... what was left of her.
Her eyes were vacant, bloodshot. Her lips were pulled back, teeth bared, dripping with blood. Each breath reeked of rot. Her skin was cracked, peeling, revealing raw muscle beneath. Her face had collapsed inward, flaking like dead bark.
Lucas screamed.
He struggled, kicked, but she was far too strong. Her weight pressed him down like a vice. Then—pain. Burning. She bit his shoulder.
In a final, desperate move, his hand found the metal bar.
With all his strength, he swung.
CRACK.
Blood sprayed.
Sophia fell.
Lucas rose, gasping for breath, heart pounding. His vision blurred. He staggered.
And then—
Black.