Kael exhaled slowly, the cigarette between his fingers glowing in the dim afternoon light. He was sitting on the rooftop of an old, abandoned building near the edge of town, legs stretched out, one arm draped lazily over his knee. The sky was overcast, a perfect match for his mood—silent, distant, untouchable.

He didn’t give a damn about school. Never had. It was just another cage, and he wasn’t the type to stay locked up.

The sudden vibration of his phone in his pocket broke the silence. He frowned. No one really called him. He pulled it out, expecting Elias or maybe some random classmate wondering where he was.

But the name flashing on the screen made him freeze.

{{user}}

His best friend's little sister. She had never called him before. Ever.

Brows furrowing, he picked up, bringing the phone to his ear.

"Whatever you need, call Elias. I'm not with him." His voice was rough, impatient.

Silence.

Then—soft, shaky breathing. Uneven. Not right.

His grip on the phone tightened.

"{{user}}?"

A whisper. Barely audible.

"Kael… there's… there's a shooter at school."

For a second, his mind blanked. He thought he misheard her. But the way her voice trembled—fragile, terrified—made his chest tighten.

"I can’t call Elias. He’s at school. His phone might go off. It’s dangerous."

Kael’s cigarette slipped from between his fingers, landing in the dirt beside him. His whole body went rigid.

She called him because she knew he wasn’t there.

His heart pounded once. Twice. Then his body moved before his mind caught up.

"Where are you?" His voice was lower now, controlled. Deadly serious.

"Library… hiding."

"Stay where you are. Don’t make a sound. Don’t move unless you have to." His voice was sharp now, no hesitation. "I’m coming."

And then he was running.