30:4:2024
7:07am
Mr. Mark sat in his car a short distance from the school gate, the engine humming quietly beneath him. His eyes scanned the trickle of students arriving for the day, darting anxiously from one face to another. Even with the air conditioner blowing cool air, beads of sweat formed along his forehead and down his temples. His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter with each passing minute.
Then, he saw her.
Lucy stepped out of her parents' car, glancing around with quick, nervous eyes. Mr. Mark watched as her parents drove off, their vehicle disappearing around the corner. Without hesitation, Lucy dashed across the parking lot and slid into the passenger seat of his car, shutting the door behind her with a quiet thud.
"How are you?" Mr. Mark asked, his voice low but steady.
"I'm not sure," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared. What if it goes wrong? What if something happens to me?"
He looked at her, eyes softening. "Don't worry," he said gently. "I know the woman who runs the clinic. It's going to be safe, I promise."
He reached into the backseat and handed her a plain black bag.
"Change into these," he instructed. "We don't want anyone recognizing you. Better to be careful."
Lucy took the bag with trembling hands, staring at it for a moment before nodding slowly.
7:32am
Mirabel twirled a pencil in her fingers, glancing around at the group—Tolu, Sunmi, Moses, Emeka... and herself. It was strange realizing they had more in common than just attending the same school.
"So," she said, breaking the silence with a nervous laugh, "are we really doing this? Just... sitting here like it's normal we all have powers?"
Emeka smirked, folding his arms. "It's kinda wild, right? Me, a werewolf. Sunmi's a psychic. Tolu's a priestess. Moses is a medium. And you—" He pointed at Mirabel. "You're the only Time Avatar any of us have ever heard of. That's not just rare, that's... cosmic."
Mirabel blinked, caught off guard by the weight of his words. She gave a small, uncertain smile. "Thanks. I guess. I mean... it doesn't feel special. Especially with my sister still missing."
"You'll find her," Emeka said, surprisingly gentle now. "Wherever—or whenever—she is, I'm sure she's safe."
"Well, we still don't know who posted the stuff online. Or why," Moses cut in. His voice was quieter, more reserved. "And your cousin's in the hospital."
"No offense," he added quickly, glancing at Sunmi.
Sunmi shook her head, expression somber. "I never thought I'd be this sad seeing Angel like that."
"Me too," Tolu murmured, standing and gathering her books. "Anyway, I should go. I'm the only one here taking Food and Nutrition, remember?"
"Still don't know why," Sunmi said with a sly look.
"So she can learn how to cook for me when we get married," Emeka chimed in without missing a beat.
Laughter broke through the tension for a moment—short, genuine.
Tolu rolled her eyes but smiled. "You wish," she said over her shoulder as she walked out.
As Tolu stepped out of the art room, the hallway seemed unusually quiet—until she heard it.
The talking drums.
Faint at first, like a distant memory clawing its way back into her mind. She froze, heart skipping. No… she thought. They were gone.
But the rhythm persisted, soft and steady, echoing in her head like whispers from another realm. A chill breeze brushed past her, though the corridor windows were all closed. It wasn't the wind—it was a pull. Something was guiding her.
She followed it, footsteps slow but certain. The drums grew louder with every step, each beat pounding against her chest. By the time she reached the hall, it was deafening—then, silence.
She turned a corner too quickly and collided into someone, scattering books and pens across the floor.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" she gasped, immediately kneeling to help him. "I didn't see you there."
"It's fine," the boy said, sounding slightly embarrassed. "I wasn't looking either."
As they picked up his things, Tolu caught sight of the badge on his shirt.
"Top Flyers Secondary," she read aloud. "WAEC external candidate... So you're new." She smiled warmly and stood up, brushing dust off her skirt. "Well, welcome to Crowns College. Lemme be the first to officially welcome you." She held out her hand.
The boy chuckled, shaking it. "Thanks. I was kinda lost. And no offense, but people here are a little... snobby."
They both burst out laughing.
"Rich kids," they said in unison, then laughed even harder.
"Well, I'm heading to the exam hall too," Tolu said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "You can tag along if you want."
"Sure," he nodded, walking beside her.
She glanced at him with a teasing grin. "So, what subject?"
"Food and Nutrition," he replied.
Tolu blinked, then grinned wider. "Wow. Didn't peg you for that."
"What, guys can't like food now?" he said, feigning offense.
"Nope. But I will be judging you until you prove you can make more than just Indomie."
They both laughed again, their footsteps echoing down the hallway as the talking drums faded quietly into the back of her mind.
The clinic lights buzzed faintly overhead. Mr. Mark sat hunched in the waiting area, fingers clenched so tight around his phone his knuckles had gone pale. He kept checking the hallway, hoping to hear it was over. Hoping not to.
Inside the operating room, Lucy lay on the table, the smell of antiseptic sharp in her nose. The doctor gave her a soft smile, glancing at the monitors.
"Everything's set. Just breathe. We'll begin in a moment."
Lucy tried to nod, but her body was already going heavy from the anesthesia. Her eyes closed. The world slipped.
And then it came.
A cold snap in the air, like the atmosphere had been cracked open. The lights flickered once, twice—then dimmed to a deep, pulsing red.
Lucy's body jerked.
Her eyes shot open, now deep pools of black. Inhuman. Veins spidered across her face and neck, glowing faintly like ink soaked in starlight.
She opened her mouth.
And spoke.
Not English. Not anything from this world.
> "Nalu'krex zaar thora'vel,"
"Om'kael ven thar Omren'sel."
"Zek'thar velun, zahr'in flam,"
"Kor'mira zal, tu'nem nam."
The nurse screamed, grabbing her head as blood streamed from her nose.
> "Tul'em krex, sevek thul,"
"Kaelth shan'zor veluth kul."
"Zul ven'kar, nul ven'rul,"
"Zahrin deth, Kaelth mul."
Alarms blared. Doors slammed shut without anyone touching them. The doctor fell to her knees, her face frozen in terror as her vision failed.
> "Thul'moses, vel'ekra zan,"
"Omren'vel, thora'zan."
"Veluth'zan om'Kaelth zar,"
"Kaelth vek'zul, nalu zahr."
Room by room, silence spread. Even the machines stopped making noise.
> "Zek'seer, nalu'vel omran,"
"Kaelth zor'ka veluth kan."
"Sevek'flam tul'vel zan,"
"Zan'veluth, tu'nem than."
And then—
Everything went still.
Every living thing in the building was dead.
Except Lucy.
She sat up slowly, the black in her eyes beginning to fade, the veins retreating. Her body shook slightly… like something had just passed through her.
She whispered—this time in her own voice.
"Something's coming."
And smiled.