Niana18

Ryan’s nightmares are more than just dreams—they feel like visions, eerie warnings of an impending catastrophe. Haunting voices whisper in his mind, their cryptic messages growing louder, more urgent. A constant ringing echoes in his head, a sound he can’t escape.

Meanwhile, the world around him is unraveling—natural disasters are striking with increasing frequency, people are vanishing without a trace, and unexplained deaths are on the rise. Something is coming. Something inevitable.

Is this the beginning of the end? Or is there something more sinister at play?

With reality slipping into chaos, Ryan must uncover the truth before it’s too late. But can he find the answers he seeks—or is he doomed to be a mere witness to the world's downfall?

Voices Beyond the Horizon

A week had passed since Ryan last saw the nightmare. Since then, strange things had been happening things he couldn't explain, not to himself, not to anyone else. It wasn't something he could simply brush off or seek advice on. There was no logic to it, no rational explanation.

An eerie sense of déjà vu clung to him like a shadow, growing stronger with each passing day. It wasn't the ordinary kind—the fleeting, familiar moments everyone experienced now and then. No, this was different. It was as if he had lived this life before, as if he already knew how it would unfold… and how it would end.

At first, he dismissed it, blaming exhaustion. The stress of upcoming exams had taken a toll on his sleep, leaving his mind foggy, unreliable. But soon, the feeling became impossible to ignore.

He knew what was going to happen before it did. A casual conversation, a sudden knock at the door, a dropped book—he saw them coming, moments before they happened. And every single time, he was right.

This wasn't just fatigue. It wasn't delusion.

And he wasn't sure if he wanted to know why.

And for now, he chose to push the unsettling thoughts aside. Whatever was happening to him could wait—his exams couldn't.

Ryan lived in the school dorms, a setting that allowed him to focus entirely on his studies. He was the kind of student others called a genius—effortlessly brilliant, as if academics came naturally to him. But while he excelled in his studies, it wasn't out of passion. He didn't love studying; he was simply good at it.

An introvert by nature, Ryan kept to himself, avoiding unnecessary interactions. He had no interest in making friends, which made him almost invisible within the school. Few noticed his presence, and even fewer truly knew him.

By sheer chance—or perhaps fate—Saira caught a glimpse of the boy no one seemed to see. If not for that one incident, she might have gone through all of high school without ever knowing he existed. But now that she did, she couldn't ignore the feeling that there was more to him. He intrigued her. And for reasons she couldn't quite explain, she was determined to get to know him.

Despite being in the same grade, they belonged to different faculties, their schedules rarely aligning. Still, Saira wasn't one to give up easily. One afternoon after the break, she found herself sneaking around his classroom, peeking inside, hoping for an opportunity.

Saira had always been the kind of person who could befriend anyone if she wanted to. With her bubbly, optimistic personality, she had a natural charm that drew people in. But unfortunately for her, the one person she had set her sights on was Ryan—the boy who cared least about making new connections.

And yet, something told her that their paths were meant to cross.

As soon as the bell rang, students from Section 1C poured out of their classrooms, their chatter filling the hallway. Moments later, Ryan stepped out as well, moving with his usual quiet presence.

Saira took a deep breath and pushed herself forward. She had been determined just moments ago, but as she approached him, a flurry of doubts swarmed her mind.

What am I even doing right now?

Have I completely lost it?

Why am I even going after him?

Her heart pounded against her ribs. She had never done anything like this before—never gone out of her way to talk to someone so unapproachable. But it was too late to turn back now. She had already come this far.

Steeling herself, she quickened her pace until she stood just behind him.

"Hey!" she called out, her voice louder than she expected.

And then, she held her breath, waiting for him to turn around.

Chapter 4: Ryan- The boy