Just Another Friday Morning

I was awoken by the sun brightly shining through the curtains of my bedroom.

It was the morning of what was meant to be an ordinary Friday. My parents were out of town, and we were still in the lull between school years. Soon, I would finally be a senior.

Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I got dressed, I ran a hand through my messy hair, trying—and failing—to tame it. My dark eyes, always carrying a hint of exhaustion, met my reflection. I wasn't anything special even my name was quite normal Adam—slightly below average height, a stocky build—but my style was unmistakably my own: a worn-out anime shirt, black jeans, and matching sneakers. The kind of outfit that screamed, I got ready in five minutes but still look decent, right?

Before I could dwell on it, scratching at my bedroom door snapped me back to reality. It was the unmistakable sound of my impatient husky, eager for his morning walk.

I opened the door to find Loki wearing a triumphant expression, as though convinced he was the reason I had woken up. His excitement was unmistakable as he dashed off to grab his leash. Meanwhile, I made my way to the kitchen to prepare a quick breakfast: two eggs with a side of toast.

As I finished preparing my meager feast, I noticed my furry companion persistently nudging me with his leash. He seemed unusually anxious, almost desperate to start his walk. Unable to resist his pleading eyes, I relented and clipped on his leash, deciding to begin our morning walk a bit earlier than usual, despite my stomach's grumbling protest.

It was a pleasant morning, with a gentle breeze and nary a cloud in the sky although the sun did seem to glow unusually bright, almost as if to draw attention to the day. Loki gleefully tugged me along our usual path through the neighborhood. As we walked, my phone buzzed with a message from my friends' group chat, asking if we wanted to meet up at our usual spot around midday. With no other plans, I quickly agreed. Loki waited patiently by my side as I finished texting back.

As our journey continued, we came across Alan, a sweet neighborhood kid often tangled in mischief. Today was no exception—Loki and I found him sitting by his bike, tears streaming down his face. 'What's wrong?' I asked gently. 'I fell off and can't fix it,' he stammered. The problem was obvious: the bike's chain had come off. 'It's okay, I'll fix it for you,' I said reassuringly. 'Here, just take care of Loki for me.' Ever the loving guardian, Loki allowed himself to be embraced by the crying boy, patiently standing by as I set to work on my new task.

I quickly finished fixing the boy's bike, his gleeful expression all the thanks I needed for a job well done. Loki barked joyfully, marking his approval as well. I waved goodbye to the jolly kid and continued on the final stretch of our morning stroll. Though our home was within reach and Loki had yet to eat, he seemed hesitant to go inside. 

As I stepped through the door, my phone dinged once more—a message from one of the guys asking for a ride. It was a little out of my way, but as the only one in the group with a license, I couldn't say no. 'Sure, no problem,' I replied. Deciding I'd grab something to eat once we were all together, I emptied my untouched plate into Loki's bowl. Grabbing my keys and wallet, I headed to the door, pausing for a moment to give my precious companion a proper goodbye. 'I'll see you later, buddy,' I said. Loki gave a low bark in response as if to say he'd be waiting. He seemed almost sad as I locked the door behind me and headed out.

I hopped into my car and turned on the tunes, quickly making my way to Han's house. As I neared, I sent him a quick text to let him know I'd be outside soon so we could head over to Charlie's Book Stop right away. The place was a charming store packed with books, manga, cards, and old video games—a perfect hangout spot for our group. It had a little something for everyone, and was conveniently located near a food court.

As I pulled up to Han's house, I couldn't help but notice a shift in the sky. What had once been a sunny morning had now grown overcast, with heavy clouds gathering on the horizon. There was an almost eerie stillness to the air. It seemed a storm was gathering though my phone had not sent any warnings, the sight made me a bit uneasy. Shaking it off, I leaned on the horn to let Han know I was there—and, of course, to annoy him just a little. I knew how much he abhorred it when I did that, which made it all the more satisfying.

I watched as Han flung his front door open, the sound of it slamming shut echoing through the quiet street. From inside, his younger brother let out a startled yelp, which made me chuckle. Han stomped toward my car, his irritation obvious, but I caught the faintest hint of a playful smile creeping across his face.

At first glance, Han came across as the serious, brooding type. Standing at 5'8" with a nerdy exterior, his quiet demeanor and soft voice often gave the impression of someone lost in thought—or maybe just a little melancholy. His preference for classic rock only added to the vibe, making him seem like the kind of guy who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

He greeted me with a casual, "Hey, bro. Why do you do that every time? You know I hate it."

"It's because you hate it that I do it" I replied with a wink, grinning as I reached for my seatbelt. "Now buckle up," I added, reminding him to do the same as I clicked mine into place.

"Mind if I take the aux?" he said. I could already see him scrolling through his phone, looking for something to put on.

"Sure, no problem," I replied. I listened to—and enjoyed—practically every type of music out there, so I knew I would not mind whatever he decided on. We quickly made our way to Charlie's, meeting up with our friend in the parking lot.

We greeted Dave, the tallest of the group. Standing at an imposing 6'1", he could easily come off as intimidating at first glance. But that facade shattered the moment he spoke. His quick wit, warm smile, and sharp intellect always made it clear he was more than just his height. He typically wore a boyish grin, black-framed glasses perched on the nose, and fashionable clothing for every occasion.

"How's it going, mate?" Dave asked.

"Decent enough," I responded.

"Why's that?" he asked inquisitively.

"Well, I couldn't sleep in today and had to skip breakfast. But it's not all bad—since we get to hang out, the day has potential to be fun."

"Well, sucks to suck, mate. Our day could always get worse," Han interjected jokingly.

We continued joking around as we headed inside.

As we stepped inside, the familiar scent of old books and fresh ink greeted us. Behind the counter, the store clerk stood with a permanent look of boredom, flipping through a magazine. He had been working here as long as we could remember, yet none of us actually knew his name.

"Morning, fellas," he muttered, eyes still fixed on the pages.

"Yo," I replied, while Dave gave him a nod.

Towards the back of the store, we spotted Jack. But we never called him that. He'd earned the nickname "Lazy," not because he lacked work ethic—but because he lacked enthusiasm for just about everything. He was always dead tired, probably from grinding away at video games all night instead of sleeping. But despite his perpetual exhaustion, Lazy was the most approachable of us. He had a certain... je ne sais quoi.

Lazy greeted us with a sleepy grin, slouching comfortably in his chair. "About time," he yawned, stretching lazily. No one ever felt rushed around him.

We settled into our usual spot near the manga section, the shelves packed with stories of heroes, monsters, and impossible adventures. Lazy leaned back in his chair, flipping through a comic with one hand while nursing an energy drink with the other. "So, what's the plan for today?" he asked, stifling another yawn.

"Nothing special," I said, glancing outside. The sky had darkened even more, the storm clouds now a deep, swirling gray. A low rumble of thunder rolled in the distance. "Though, maybe we should've brought an umbrella."

Han raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Weather app still says clear skies."

Dave smirked. "Maybe the universe just enjoys proving you wrong, Boss."

Lazy snorted. "Or maybe it's a sign we should just stay in and play something instead."

Another distant thunderclap rumbled—closer this time. For a brief second, the lights overhead flickered, and a strange static buzzed through the air.

None of us said anything, but I could tell we all felt it. There was something off in the air, something unspoken that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

"Did anyone else just feel that?" Han asked quietly, his eyes narrowing as he glanced toward the door. His voice had dropped an octave, and the usual sarcasm was missing.

"I did," Dave muttered, running a hand through his hair, his usual relaxed grin nowhere to be found. He took a step toward the window and peered out at the brewing storm, his brow furrowed.

Lazy, for once, had set down his comic and was staring at the flickering lights. "I dunno, man," he said slowly, a hint of concern creeping into his voice. "That wasn't just a power glitch, right?"

The lights flickered again—this time, longer. The hum of the fluorescent bulbs overhead seemed to grow louder, almost oppressive. Outside, the wind picked up, and a strange, electric charge seemed to linger in the air. I took a breath, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling, but it stuck with me.

"This is just a—"

Suddenly, with a flash of lightning that seemed to tear the sky in half, everyone in the store vanished.