chapter 7 Thoughts

Everyone had to sleep at 10 p.m. So, Aurex's sixth day ended just like the ones before it. He woke again at 6 a.m.,the routine unchanged,but this time, he woke up more afraid than ever.

No new idea came to him. No plan, no solution. But he knew he had to start somewhere. The two things weighing on his mind were finding his missing diaries and talking more with the boy. Until then, he wouldn't make any reckless moves. He couldn't afford mistakes.

His sister left early as usual, heading to her job. While getting ready for school, Aurex noticed something strange: his father's magazine. It was the same one he'd seen seven days ago. At first, he thought it was just similar,but then he saw the date. A full week old.

His hands began to tremble.

Why is he still reading the same issue?

What does that mean?

His thoughts started racing. Maybe something happened seven days ago,something that changed his family, the school, maybe even the entire city. He tried to remember, but nothing came to mind.

That was the most terrifying part.

Nothing.

For a moment, he wondered if time itself was repeating, like in some story. But that theory didn't hold. Yesterday was Saturday. Today is Sunday. The calendar moved forward. It was the world that stayed the same.

No matter how hard he pushed his memory, there was a wall. A blank space. So he pushed those questions aside and focused on what he could do now: find the diaries and speak with the boy.

He split off from his little brother and headed to class. The same teacher. The same lectures. The same plastic smiles. When lunchtime came, Aurex sat alone at his usual spot,but this time, the boy from before walked up and sat beside him in the corner, away from everyone.

At first, they ate in silence.

Then the boy leaned in and whispered, "Keep your voice low. Always stay here when we talk."

Aurex nodded. "I understand."

"I'm happy to see there are others like me," the boy said. "But I can't tell you everything. There are some things you have to discover on your own. If I told you all of it, you wouldn't believe me. You'd think I'm crazy."

Aurex hesitated, then asked, "Then what can you tell me?"

The boy's expression didn't change. He just said, "This is the most important thing. When something strange happens,when things don't make sense,keep your eyes open. And don't speak. No matter what."

Aurex blinked. "So that's why you always say it?"

"Yes." The boy's smile didn't waver. "About a week ago, I woke up and found writing on my body. A single sentence, etched across my stomach: Keep your eyes open. I thought it was a prank. Then I started noticing... things. People. How they moved. How they stopped being people. So i thought i would hint this information hoping people like me to notice."

He trailed off. Aurex leaned in. "So you do have an idea of what's going on."

"I have theories. Speculations. But if I told you, it might destroy your trust in reality too fast. You'd break. I barely held it together myself." He paused, then added, "But I'll help you. I want to. Start with the place you think is the least dangerous and slowly investigate."

That was the end of the conversation.

The rest of the day moved along, as fake and familiar as ever. But Aurex couldn't focus. He kept repeating that sentence in his head. Start with the place you think is the least dangerous.

School? No. Too many people. Too many eyes.

It had to be home.

His house.

No matter how strange his family had been acting, they were still his family. He believed they wouldn't hurt him,not really. At least... not enough to threaten his existence.

So, that night, Aurex made a decision.

He would go out once ge gets his family's routine.