Chapter 2: Deja Vu

Ryan woke up earlier than usual, his sleep restless and broken. The remnants of a nightmare clung to him, but the details were already slipping away. As his eyes adjusted to the dim morning light, he became aware of the quiet breathing around him—his friends were there too. It took him a moment to remember. The school tour. That's why they were all together.

Needing a breath of fresh air, Ryan slipped out of the room. The cool morning breeze greeted him as he stepped into the open corridor, trying to clear his mind. The dream—whatever it had been—was already fading.

He wandered through the hotel, his footsteps light against the silent hallways. But with each step, an unsettling feeling settled in his chest. Everything felt eerily familiar. Not just in a way he could explain—something deeper, like déjà vu wrapped in something heavier. Something he couldn't shake. 

As Ryan walked down the dimly lit hallway, a blur of movement caught his eye. Before he could react, a figure darted past him—a girl. She skidded to a stop behind him, gripping the back of his shirt as if her life depended on it.

Who is she? And what is she running from?

Ryan barely had time to process before the sound of footsteps echoed from the other end of the corridor. A group of boys. They were heading straight toward him.

"Could you p-please hide me?" the girl whispered, her voice trembling.

Ryan stiffened. He didn't want to get involved. He never did. Other people's problems weren't his concern—he minded his own business and expected the same in return.

He was about to pull his arm free from her grasp, but she tightened her grip, refusing to let go. Something about this felt... wrong.

This didn't happen before. Before?

A strange unease settled over him, but the approaching voices left him no time to think. With a quiet sigh, Ryan stepped slightly to the side, shielding the girl behind his back just as the boys passed by.

One of them suddenly stopped and turned around.

"Dude… you sneaking out with your girlfriend this early?" he teased, flashing a smirk.

Ryan tensed. The girl clung to his shirt, holding her breath.

"Hey, doesn't she look kinda familiar?" another boy chimed in.

Ryan exhaled sharply, irritation flashing in his eyes. "Mind your own business." His voice was clipped, warning.

The boy raised his hands in mock surrender. "Whoa, no need to get all protective. We were just curious." He glanced at the others. "Come on, let's go."

With a few chuckles, they finally moved on.

Ryan stayed still for a moment, waiting until the last of their footsteps faded into the distance. Only then did he glance over his shoulder at the girl still clutching his shirt.

Just who was she? 

Ryan couldn't see her face in the darkness. Shadows obscured her features, leaving only the outline of her small, trembling frame.

With a sigh, he pulled his arm free. "They're gone now. You don't have to worry. You can go your own way."

Without waiting for a response, he turned to leave. His mind briefly lingered on the situation.

What had she done to catch their attention?

Those guys weren't just troublemakers—they had a reputation, one that most people knew better than to cross.

A part of him wanted to know. But not enough to ask. Not enough to get involved.

As far as he was concerned, he'd already done more than enough.