The Man in Black

The school gates loomed ahead, a familiar sight that usually brought a sense of relief at the end of a long day for the old Bai Eu-Meh. But today, as I reached the gates, I couldn't shake the heavy feeling in my chest. The whispers, the taunts, and most importantly how some things felt completely alien to me. They all lingered in my mind, a constant reminder of how out of place I felt in this world. I adjusted the strap of my bag and started walking, my footsteps echoing on the pavement.

The street was relatively quiet, with only a few students lingering near the gates, chatting or waiting for rides. I kept my head down, hoping to avoid any more unwanted attention. But as I turned the corner, something caught my eye—a man standing a few meters away, his presence impossible to ignore.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and an air of authority that made him stand out even from a distance. He wore a black suit, perfectly tailored, with a crisp white shirt and a tie that matched the darkness of his attire. His sunglasses obscured his eyes, but I could feel his gaze on me, sharp and calculating. There was something about him—his aura, his posture, the way he carried himself—that sent a chill down my spine. My instincts screamed at me to turn around, to walk away, but my feet felt rooted to the spot.

Before I could react, he started walking toward me. His movements were deliberate, each step measured and confident, as if he already knew I wouldn't—or couldn't—run. My heart pounded in my chest, and I glanced around, hoping someone would notice, hoping someone would intervene. But the few students nearby were too engrossed in their own conversations to pay attention.

In what felt like both an instant and an eternity, he was standing in front of me, close enough that I could see the faint stubble on his jaw and the slight curve of his lips. He smiled, but it wasn't the kind of smile that put you at ease. It was polite, almost courteous, but there was something off about it—something cold and calculating that made my skin crawl.

"Bai Eu-Meh," he said, his voice smooth and low, like velvet. It wasn't a question, but I nodded anyway, my throat too dry to speak. "I've been looking for you."

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. "W-who are you?"

His smile widened, just a fraction, and for a moment, it looked like he was about to laugh. But he didn't. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, as if amused by my question. "You can call me K," he said simply.

"K?" I repeated, my brow furrowing. "What kind of name is that?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. I instinctively took a step back, but he closed the distance again, his smile never wavering. "You should be careful with that tone, Bai Eu-Meh," he said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You don't know who you're talking to."

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. There was something in his tone—a warning, a threat—that made my blood run cold. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation, but nothing about this man made sense. Who was he? What did he want? And why did he seem so… dangerous?

"What do you want?" I managed to ask, my voice trembling.

His smirk returned, and this time, there was no mistaking the malice in it. "What do I want?" he repeated, as if the question amused him. "I want to save your life."

I blinked, stunned. "What?"

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You don't know what kind of trouble you're in, do you? You think this is just another day, another life. But you're wrong. Dead wrong."

My breath hitched, and I felt a cold sweat break out on the back of my neck. His words were cryptic, but the way he said them, the way he looked at me made my stomach churn. "What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he straightened up and glanced around, as if checking to see if anyone was watching. Then he leaned in again, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, "I know you're not who you say you are."

My heart stopped. For a moment, the world seemed to tilt on its axis, and I felt like I was falling. How could he know? How could he possibly know? I opened my mouth to deny it, to protest, but no words came out. He pulled back slightly, his smirk widening as if he could see the panic in my eyes.

"Don't bother lying," he said, his voice low and steady. "I know everything. And if you want to survive, you'll come with me."

"Come with you?" I repeated, my voice shaking. "Where?"

He gestured toward the parking lot, where a sleek black car was parked, its windows tinted and its engine idling softly. "To my car," he said. "We have a lot to discuss, and I'd rather not do it out in the open."

I hesitated, my mind racing. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to get as far away from this man as possible. But there was something in his words—something that made me pause. He knew. He knew about my past life, about the memories that didn't belong to this world. And if he knew that, what else did he know?

"Why should I trust you?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

He chuckled, a low, dark sound that sent shivers down my spine. "You don't have to trust me," he said. "But you don't have a choice. If you want to live, you'll come with me."

I stared at him, my mind a whirlwind of fear and confusion. He was dangerous—I could feel it in every fiber of my being. But he was also my only lead, my only chance to understand what was happening to me. I glanced at the car, then back at him, my heart pounding in my chest.

Finally, I nodded.

His smirk widened, and he stepped aside, gesturing for me to walk ahead. "After you," he said, his tone almost mocking.

I took a deep breath and started walking toward the car, my legs feeling like they were made of lead. He followed close behind, his presence looming over me like a shadow. As we approached the car, the driver's side door opened, and another man stepped out—a younger man, also dressed in a black suit, his expression unreadable.

K opened the back door and gestured for me to get in. I hesitated for a moment, then climbed inside, the leather seats cool against my skin. He slid in beside me, and the younger man got into the driver's seat, starting the engine without a word.

As the car pulled away from the curb, I glanced out the window, watching the school disappear behind us. My mind was a whirlwind of questions, but one thought stood out above the rest: What had I just gotten myself into?