Chapter 4: Overthoughts

Rana tapped her fingers on the table, then turned to Kevin with a playful smirk.

"You wouldn't dance?"

Kevin scoffed lightly, shaking his head. "Yeah, no. Not exactly the dancing type."

"Shocker." Rana grinned, resting her chin on her hand.

"What about you?"

She shrugged. "Meh, not yet. Feels too early."

They sat there, letting the music thump around them, the bass shaking the gym floor.

At first, the conversation flowed smoothly—banter, small talk, comfortable silences. Kevin was doing well.

Then, his eyes flicked to the empty seats around them. Talo Havens. Mark Johnson. Sarah Watkins.

"Where are the others?" Kevin asked.

Rana leaned back, glancing at the dance floor. "Talo's the DJ, remember?" She pointed toward the booth near the stage, where Talo was fully in his element, hands flying over the equipment, vibing to the beat.

"And Mark and Sarah?"

Rana smirked. "You know."

Kevin frowned. "Oh?"

Then it clicked.

It's just me and Rana at this table.

His brain short-circuited for half a second. It was so obvious now.

This wasn't random.

Roger. That sneaky bastard.

He muttered under his breath, "Damn, this was planned."

He didn't even realize he had said it out loud.

Rana tilted her head. "What?"

Kevin blinked. Crap.

"Uh, nothing. Just… you and me, huh? Guess I gotta make sure I don't bore you."

He instantly regretted it.

It sounded way too self-deprecating, like he was admitting he was dull. He didn't mean it that way, but now it was out there.

Rana paused for a second. Not long, but long enough for his brain to overanalyze it.

Her expression was… unreadable. A slight raise of the brow, a small exhale through her nose.

That's bad, right?

Was she annoyed?

Or was she just processing what he said?

Maybe it wasn't a big deal.

But his brain decided it was.

Nice, idiot. Real smooth.

That weird, sinking feeling hit his stomach.

"Uh, I'm gonna—" He motioned vaguely. "Bathroom. Real quick."

Rana blinked, tilting her head. "Oh. Okay."

Not "Take your time." Not "Hurry back." Just… "Oh. Okay."

That made it worse.

Kevin pushed himself up from the chair, keeping his pace steady—not rushing, but definitely not wanting to stay there either.

He slipped out of the gym and into the hallway, exhaling the moment the heavy doors closed behind him.

Alright. That was dumb.

He just needed to shake it off.

A quick break. A reset.

Kevin walked into the bathroom, splashed some cold water on his face, looked at himself in the mirror, and sighed.

"You're overthinking. It was nothing. Just go back, act normal."

He nodded at his reflection like that would make it true, then left the bathroom.

But instead of heading back to the gym, he found himself wandering.

Anything to get his mind off what just happened.

Then he heard it—voices.

Upstairs.

Not just voices. An argument.

It wasn't a full-blown fight, but there was tension. A heated exchange.

Kevin hesitated for a second, then started walking toward it.

Because right now, anything was better than sitting with his own thoughts.

The voices became clearer as Kevin walked up the stairs, leading him to the empty second-floor hallway.

Mark and Sarah.

They were arguing.

Sarah's tone was firm but exhausted. Mark's was desperate, shaky.

"I just need space, Mark."

"I'm giving you space." Mark stepped forward. "I'm just—I'm just trying to talk."

Sarah took a step back. "Talking is fine. But this? This isn't fine."

Kevin stopped at the corner, half-hidden by a row of lockers.

Shit. This is one of those conversations.

Sarah sounded done. Not angry, not even sad—just tired. Like she had been through this before.

Mark, though? He was spiraling.

"So what, you're just gonna push me away? Just like that?" His voice cracked slightly. "After everything?"

Sarah crossed her arms. "It's not like that, Mark."

"Then what is it like?"

Sarah hesitated, and that silence made Mark shift uncomfortably.

"You're too much."

Mark flinched.

Sarah sighed, rubbing her temples. "You're always… there. You don't let me breathe. You're always texting, always calling. And when I don't reply fast enough, you start acting weird. Like I did something wrong. And I just—I just need space."

Mark shook his head, gripping his cap tightly. "So what, I'm obsessed now? That's what you're saying?"

Sarah didn't answer right away. Which meant yes.

Mark let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Wow. Just say it, then."

Kevin figured this was his cue.

He stepped forward, hands raised slightly. "Alright, let's dial it back a bit."

Sarah turned toward him immediately, as if he were a lifeline. "Kevin."

Mark's head snapped to Kevin, his jaw tightening. "Bro, this is none of your business."

Kevin nodded slowly. "Yeah. And yet, here I am."

Sarah moved behind Kevin. Like she wanted a wall between her and Mark.

That wasn't a good sign.

Kevin was about to say something—maybe defuse the situation—when he noticed it.

Sarah's wrist.

Faint bruises. Small, but definitely there.

Kevin's chest tightened.

"Mark." His voice was calm but firm. "You need to chill."

Mark wasn't listening anymore. His breathing was sharp, his hands twitching.

"Sarah, don't do this." He took a step forward, but Kevin shifted to block him.

"Bro." Kevin kept his hands up. "It's not that deep."

Mark's eyes flicked to Kevin, and something changed.

His expression twisted. He took another step forward—too close.

"Move."

"No."

Mark's fists clenched. "Kevin. Move."

"Mark." Kevin held his ground. "Think about what you're doing right now."

Mark wasn't thinking anymore.

His hand grabbed Kevin's shirt, trying to push past him.

Kevin reacted instinctively.

He shoved Mark hard.

Mark stumbled backward. His foot caught the edge of the locker behind him—

CRACK.

His head hit the metal. Hard.

For a second, nobody moved.

Then Kevin saw it—a small drop of blood rolling down from the back of Mark's head.

Mark froze.

Sarah covered her mouth. "Oh my God."

Kevin's heart pounded as he stared at the drop of blood trailing down the back of Mark's head.

But—it wasn't red.

The dim hallway light barely illuminated it, but Kevin could see the wrongness.

Purple.

Or maybe violet?

"What the hell…?" Kevin muttered.

Mark groaned, gripping his head. His fingers trembled as they rubbed the wound—hard, like he was trying to scratch something off his skin.

Sarah grabbed Kevin's arm. "Kevin, we need to go."

Mark's breathing grew erratic. His nails dug into his scalp, scratching violently.

Then—static.

A low hum crackled at Mark's fingertips, like a broken radio signal.

Purple sparks.

Kevin and Sarah took a slow step back.

"Sarah…" Mark's voice was off—distorted, layered.

Then the static exploded.

A shockwave ripped through the hallway.

BANG!

Kevin and Sarah were launched backward, slamming onto the floor as lockers rattled violently.

The school went dark.

For a second, there was only silence.

Then—the distant murmurs of confusion.

From below, the muffled echoes of the gym party came to a halt.

Phones flickered on, flashlights cutting through the darkness. Students whispered, confused.

"What the hell?"

"Did the power just go out?"

"Dude, my phone's acting weird—"

But Kevin wasn't listening.

Because up ahead, in the darkened hallway, Mark was floating.

Purple lightning crackled around him, jumping off his body like wild electricity. His breathing was erratic, uneven.

"Sarah."

His head twitched toward her, eyes barely visible through the glow of violet sparks.

Then he screamed.

The sound distorted the air around him—an inhuman, warping cry that sent another wave of force through the hallway.

Kevin and Sarah scrambled to their feet.

"RUN!"

They bolted, stumbling through the pitch-black corridors, feet slamming against the tile.

Mark was right behind them.

Lightning lashed out wildly, scorching the walls. He moved erratically, like he didn't have control—bouncing off the lockers, slamming into corners.

Still scratching his head.

Still muttering her name.

"Sarah. Sarah. Sarah."

Kevin pulled her forward, taking sharp turns, blindly navigating through the school.

Every time Mark crashed into a surface, a jolt of purple energy erupted.

BZZZT—BOOM!

Ceiling panels shattered. Glass cracked.

Their only choice—up.

Kevin yanked open the emergency staircase door. They sprinted up.

Mark's hovering figure followed, slamming into the stairwell walls, still twitching, still losing himself.

Sarah nearly tripped, but Kevin grabbed her arm, pulling her up the last flight of stairs.

The rooftop door.

Kevin slammed into it, pushing it open.

Cool night air rushed in.

They stumbled onto the rooftop—trapped.

Sarah gasped for breath, gripping the ledge. Kevin turned, chest heaving.

The stairwell door blew open.

Mark hovered in the doorway, eyes glowing violet.

Electricity hissed around his body. His arms twitched unnaturally.

The scratch marks on his head had deepened.

He wasn't Mark anymore.

Kevin swallowed hard.

"Shit."