Chapter 2: The Tower (Part 1)

I've really gone back in time.

A sudden noise snapped him out of his thoughts. The bathroom door swung open, and two familiar figures walked in.

The first was Darrick, tall and effortlessly charming, his blonde hair neatly styled, brown eyes filled with an easy confidence. The kind of guy who naturally drew people in. Kael's senior at work—well-liked, respected, and genuinely considerate.

The second was Daylon, broader, with a military-cut buzz and the kind of build that screamed hours at the gym. His quiet demeanor and no-nonsense attitude made him seem intimidating, but those who knew him understood his loyalty ran deep.

They weren't people Kael interacted with much, and right now, he wasn't in the mood to start. He turned to leave, but before he could step past them, a firm hand landed on his shoulder.

"Kael."

Darrick's tone was casual, but there was a hint of concern beneath it. "You don't look too great. Everything alright?"

Kael hesitated. The old him would've brushed the concern off with a fake smile, but now… after everything he'd been through, something about the sincerity in Darrick's voice made him pause.

"…Just need some air," he finally said, his voice steadier than he felt. "Thanks."

Darrick gave a slight nod, stepping aside without pressing further. Daylon, who had been watching silently, exchanged a glance with his friend before turning away.

Kael didn't wait for more questions. He stepped out of the bathroom, greeted once again by the all-too-familiar corridor.

The memories were flooding back now—the rows of office doors, the faint hum of printers in the distance, the artificial scent of air fresheners attempting to mask the stale office air. Everything was exactly as he remembered.

His legs carried him toward the elevator almost on autopilot. He pressed the button for the ground floor, watching as the numbers above the door ticked downward.

As the elevator descended, his mind raced. It didn't matter if this was a dream, a hallucination, or something else entirely—if he had truly returned to this moment, there was something he absolutely couldn't afford to miss.

His gaze flicked to the date on his phone screen.

March 25, 2025. 14:38 PM.

A shudder ran through him. He knew this day all too well. It was the day everything changed. The day the Tower appeared. And if his memory served him right… he didn't have much time left.

His fingers trembled as he unlocked his phone, quickly scrolling through his contacts. There—her number. He pressed the call button, swallowing the lump in his throat as the elevator continued its slow descent.

Ring… Ring… Ring…

Each tone echoed in his ears, stretching the seconds unbearably thin. His breath came shallow, his fingers tightening around the device as dread curled in his stomach.

Then—

Click.

"Hey, big bro! What's up?"

The familiar voice on the other end stopped him cold. A voice he hadn't heard in years. His vision blurred, the world around him fading away. He didn't even realize his grip on the phone had gone white-knuckled.

"Hello? Hellooo? Can you hear me?"

Kael exhaled shakily. "Yeah… I can hear you."

"Then say something, dummy. Geez. Anyway, aren't you at work? Why are you—"

She stopped as she heard the sound of quiet sobs. 

"…Big brother? Are you crying?"

His breath hitched. He tried to speak, but the words lodged in his throat. He couldn't remember the last time he had cried—years of struggle, blood, and death had dried up his tears. But hearing her voice again… it cracked something deep inside him.

"…Did someone bully you again?"

A bitter chuckle escaped him. If only it were that simple.

"Tiff." His voice was hoarse. "Is Mom with you right now?"

"Yeah… she's in the living room. What's wrong?"

He squeezed his eyes shut. "Listen to me. Something's about to happen. Soon. You're going to wake up in a strange place, and after that, they'll take you and Mom somewhere dangerous."

"…What?"

"You have to stay together. No matter what happens, don't let go of each other. Don't wander off. Don't try to be brave. Just blend in and survive. I swear—I swear—I'll find you."

"Kael, you're scaring me. What are you talking about?"

"Just promise me, Tiff! Stick together and stay alive. That's all that matters."

"I—"

Bzzt.

The line went dead. Kael froze. His stomach dropped as he pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at the screen. There was no signal. His pulse pounded. That was it. The nightmare was about to begin.

He shoved his phone into his pocket and sprinted out of the elevator, past the startled receptionist. He didn't have time to clock out—he needed to move.

The streets outside were still normal. People walked past, unaware of what was coming. Oblivious. But not for long.

His eyes darted around, searching. He needed a car. He needed to get to them before it was too late. A taxi idled in front of the building, its headlights cutting through the dim evening haze. Kael barely took a step toward it before—

[Global System Announcement]

Initiation process commencing.

Prepare for integration.

Time Remaining: 00:05

His chest tightened. The air itself felt heavier, charged with something unnatural. Around him, people froze mid-step, their confused murmurs blending into the hum of the city. Some chuckled nervously. Others checked their phones. No one took it seriously.

Kael did.

Shit! This is too soon!

His pulse thundered in his ears. Every muscle screamed at him to move, to do something—but what? He swallowed hard. Five seconds. That was all he had.

Then the world blinked out.

Pitch black. Silence.

Time Remaining: 00:00