The rain had finally stopped
For the first time in days, sunlight peeked through the clouds.
Ryan stood in front of the mirror adjusting his school tie.
His cold was mostly gone.
Mostly.
He still looked like someone who had fought a legendary battle against tissues and lost.
Daud walked past the doorway.
One glance.
Then he laughed.
"Bro looks like he got resurrected."
Ryan threw a sock at him.
Daud dodged it instantly.
"Too slow."
---
The dining table was unusually busy that morning.
Iqra was scrolling through her phone.
Daud was eating like the world was ending.
Sana was checking the presentation files one last time.
And Ryan...
Ryan was trying not to fall asleep into his cereal.
---
"Did you sleep at all?" Iqra asked.
Ryan pointed at the presentation papers.
"Ask those."
"That's not healthy."
"Neither is Daud."
"HEY."
---
Sana closed her notebook.
"We should leave."
Ryan nodded.
Daud immediately smirked.
"Ooooh walking to school together again?"
Ryan sighed.
"One day."
"One day what?"
"One day I'll throw you."
---
The journey to school felt strangely refreshing.
The roads were still wet from yesterday's rain.
The air felt cooler.
Students filled the sidewalks.
Cars passed by.
The city was finally awake.
---
Sana walked beside him quietly.
For a while neither spoke.
Then—
"Your coloring wasn't bad."
Ryan blinked.
"What?"
"The drawings."
"Oh."
A pause.
Then—
"Thanks."
Sana nodded.
Simple.
Yet somehow Ryan felt strangely proud.
---
By the time they reached school—
Chaos had already begun.
---
The classroom door slid open.
Watari immediately stood up.
"THE DEAD HAVE RETURNED."
Ryan frowned.
"We were gone for two days."
"Exactly."
Asuka looked up from her desk.
"I honestly thought you two died."
"Thank you for your concern."
"You're welcome."
---
Before Ryan could sit down—
A blur appeared.
Lilia.
---
"RYAN."
"Oh no."
"RYAN."
"Lilia please."
"SHOW ME YOUR PHONE."
"What?"
"THE PHOTOS."
"What photos?"
"The amusement park photos."
Ryan immediately understood.
And immediately regretted understanding.
---
Lilia gasped dramatically.
"You deleted them didn't you?"
"I never had them."
"TRAGIC."
---
Watari nearly fell out of his chair laughing.
Asuka wasn't helping either.
---
Sana calmly sat down.
Ignoring everything.
As usual.
---
The teacher entered shortly after.
The room became quiet.
Mostly.
Lilia was still whispering conspiracy theories.
---
"Tomorrow is presentation day," the teacher announced.
"Make sure your projects are complete."
The entire class groaned.
---
Tomorrow.
---
The word echoed in Ryan's mind.
The project that had somehow led to:
Library sessions.
Hoshinami Park.
Being sick.
Daud bullying him.
Lilia becoming a menace.
And somehow...
Here they were.
One day away from presenting.
---
Lunch arrived quickly.
The cafeteria was crowded as usual.
Students filled every table.
Noise echoed everywhere.
---
Ryan, Sana, Watari, Asuka, and Lilia naturally ended up at the same table.
Nobody questioned it anymore.
It just happened.
---
Watari opened his lunchbox.
Then froze.
---
"...Who stole my chicken?"
---
Everyone looked at him.
---
"What?"
"My chicken is gone."
---
Asuka pointed toward Lilia.
Immediately.
Without hesitation.
---
Lilia looked offended.
"Why would you accuse me?"
---
She was literally eating chicken.
---
Watari pointed.
"THAT'S MY CHICKEN."
---
"No proof."
---
"IT'S IN MY LUNCHBOX."
---
"No proof."
---
Ryan buried his face in his hands.
---
Sana quietly laughed.
A very small laugh.
But Ryan noticed.
---
There it is again.
That laugh.
The one she only made when she genuinely found something funny.
---
Unfortunately—
Lilia noticed Ryan noticing.
---
Her eyes widened.
---
"Oh."
---
Ryan immediately knew that look.
---
"Oh no."
---
Lilia slowly smiled.
---
"I see."
---
"You see nothing."
---
"I see EVERYTHING."
---
Watari immediately joined.
"As class witnesses, we can confirm she sees everything."
---
"Please stop talking."
---
Asuka nodded.
"Yeah, he's definitely embarrassed."
---
Ryan considered transferring schools.
---
The rest of lunch passed in laughter and arguments.
For once...
It felt normal.
---
After classes ended—
Most students rushed home.
But Ryan's group stayed behind.
One last meeting.
One last review.
Before tomorrow.
---
The classroom felt different in the evening.
Quieter.
Almost peaceful.
---
The setting sun painted orange light across the desks.
---
Watari stretched.
"I'm telling you now."
---
"What?"
Ryan asked.
---
"We're getting full marks."
---
Asuka laughed.
"That's confidence."
---
"No."
Watari grinned.
"It's destiny."
---
Lilia pointed dramatically toward Ryan and Sana.
---
"Actually, destiny is those two."
---
"NOT AGAIN."
---
The room exploded into laughter.
---
Even Sana couldn't hide her smile this time.
---
And somehow...
That smile made the stressful presentation feel a little less scary.
---
Tomorrow would be presentation day.
And none of them knew that tomorrow would also become one of the most memorable days of their school year.
Ryan woke up before his alarm.
For a few seconds, he stared at the ceiling.
Then it hit him.
Presentation Day.
"...Ah."
Immediately, his stomach felt weird.
Not because he was scared.
Well...
Maybe a little.
---
Outside his room, Daud was already causing problems.
"WAKE UP, FUTURE FAILURE."
Ryan opened the door.
"Good morning to you too."
Daud grinned.
"If you fail today can I laugh?"
"You laugh anyway."
"True."
---
At breakfast, the atmosphere felt different.
Sana was checking the presentation notes again.
For the tenth time.
Maybe twentieth.
Nobody knew anymore.
Iqra noticed immediately.
"You know staring at the paper won't magically improve it."
Sana sighed.
"I know."
"Then eat."
---
Ryan glanced at Sana.
Even she looked nervous.
Which was unusual.
Sana was normally the calm one.
---
The walk to school felt shorter than usual.
The closer they got to the school gates...
The quieter they became.
---
"You nervous?" Ryan asked.
"A little."
Sana looked at him.
"You?"
"A lot."
---
For some reason that made both of them laugh.
---
The classroom was already noisy when they arrived.
Watari immediately stood up.
"There they are."
Asuka looked up.
"Finally."
Lilia practically teleported to their desks.
"SHOW ME THE FINAL VERSION."
"No."
Sana replied instantly.
---
"Please?"
"No."
---
"Pretty please?"
"No."
---
Lilia collapsed dramatically onto a nearby desk.
"Nobody appreciates my support."
---
Watari looked at Ryan.
"You ready?"
Ryan stared at him.
"No."
"Good."
"What?"
"If you were confident I'd be worried."
---
The presentations began.
One group after another walked to the front.
Some were good.
Some were disasters.
One group forgot half their script.
Another accidentally dropped their entire display board.
---
Lilia whispered:
"If that happens to us, I'm moving countries."
---
Eventually...
The teacher looked toward Ryan and Sana.
---
"Next group."
---
Ryan felt his heartbeat instantly speed up.
---
Sana stood up.
Ryan followed.
---
The walk to the front of the classroom suddenly felt much longer than it should have.
---
The room became quiet.
Even Lilia stopped talking.
Which was honestly terrifying.
---
Ryan looked at the audience.
Then immediately regretted it.
Too many people.
---
Don't mess this up.
---
Beside him, Sana placed the project board down carefully.
Then looked at him.
---
"Ready?"
---
Ryan took a breath.
---
"Ready."
---
The presentation began.
---
At first Ryan's voice felt shaky.
Not terrible.
Just nervous.
---
But then something happened.
---
Sana continued her section smoothly.
Confidently.
Without hesitation.
---
And somehow...
That made Ryan relax too.
---
The project they had spent days working on.
The project that caused library sessions.
The project that caused amusement parks.
The project that caused sickness.
The project that caused Daud's endless teasing.
---
They knew it better than anyone.
---
Soon Ryan stopped reading.
He started explaining.
Actually explaining.
---
Watari raised an eyebrow.
---
"Look at him go."
---
Asuka nodded.
---
"He's cooking."
---
Lilia looked emotional.
---
"My children are growing up."
---
"You are literally the same age."
Watari replied.
---
Halfway through the presentation—
The teacher suddenly asked a question.
---
A difficult one.
---
The classroom became quiet.
---
Ryan froze.
---
For exactly one second.
---
Then Sana answered.
---
Perfectly.
---
The teacher nodded.
---
"Good."
---
Ryan quietly sighed in relief.
---
The presentation continued.
---
When it finally ended...
The classroom stayed silent for a moment.
---
Then—
Applause.
---
Actual applause.
---
Not because the teacher told them to.
Not because it was required.
---
People genuinely liked it.
---
Ryan blinked.
---
Wait...
Did we actually do well?
---
The teacher adjusted her glasses.
Then smiled.
---
"Excellent work."
---
The entire week of stress disappeared instantly.
---
Watari stood up dramatically.
---
"I TOLD YOU."
---
"Sit down."
The teacher replied.
---
Watari sat down.
---
"Respectfully."
---
The class exploded into laughter.
---
As Ryan returned to his seat, he noticed something.
---
Sana was smiling.
---
Not a huge smile.
Not a dramatic smile.
Just a small one.
---
The kind that meant she was genuinely happy.
---
For some reason...
That felt better than hearing the teacher praise them.
---
At lunch, everyone celebrated.
Even if it was just with cafeteria food.
---
Lilia somehow bought five different snacks.
Watari stole two.
Asuka stole one.
Ryan lost track of what happened after that.
---
But for once...
Nobody was worried about grades.
Nobody was worried about projects.
Nobody was worried about tomorrow.
---
They were just friends enjoying the moment.
---
And none of them knew...
That later that same day...
Watari would suggest visiting a place known as the Stairway of Gods.
A decision that would change everything.
The final bell rang.
And just like that...
The presentation was over.
---
Somehow.
Against all odds.
Against sickness.
Against procrastination.
Against Lilia's constant interruptions.
Ryan and Sana had survived.
---
The teacher placed their project on the desk and nodded.
"Excellent work."
---
Watari immediately stood up.
"LET'S GOOOOOO!"
---
"Sit down."
The teacher replied.
---
Watari sat down.
---
"Respectfully."
---
The class burst into laughter.
---
A few minutes later, school officially ended.
The sun was beginning to set outside.
Most students were already leaving.
---
Ryan collapsed onto his desk.
"We're free."
---
"Until exams."
Asuka replied.
---
Ryan sat back up.
"We're not free."
---
"Exactly."
---
Nearby, Sana was packing her books.
Calm as always.
---
Lilia watched them quietly.
Then frowned.
---
Why do they always end up together...?
---
Whenever there was a project.
Whenever there was group work.
Whenever there was lunch.
Whenever there was anything.
---
Somehow Ryan and Sana always ended up side by side.
---
Lilia puffed her cheeks.
---
Stupid cousins.
---
Asuka noticed immediately.
---
"You're pouting."
---
"I am not."
---
"You absolutely are."
---
Lilia pointed dramatically.
"I'm just saying!"
---
"What?"
Watari asked.
---
"Ryan spends more time with Sana than the rest of us combined."
---
Ryan looked up.
---
"Huh?"
---
"You heard me."
---
Sana blinked.
---
"...We're cousins."
---
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT."
---
Nobody understood the point.
Not even Lilia.
---
Asuka leaned toward Watari.
---
"She's jealous."
---
Watari nodded.
---
"Definitely jealous."
---
Lilia nearly jumped.
---
"I AM NOT!"
---
The entire group stared at her.
---
Silence.
---
"..."
---
"..."
---
"..."
---
Lilia slowly sat down.
---
"Okay maybe a little."
---
The room exploded into laughter.
---
Even Ryan laughed.
---
Which somehow made Lilia even more embarrassed.
---
"STOP LAUGHING."
---
"You admitted it."
Asuka replied.
---
"YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO HEAR THAT."
---
"I was sitting next to you."
---
"Details."
---
The group continued talking for another twenty minutes.
Mostly nonsense.
---
Until suddenly—
Watari slammed both hands onto the desk.
---
"I HAVE AN IDEA."
---
Everyone immediately became concerned.
---
"Whenever you say that, something bad happens."
Ryan replied.
---
Watari ignored him.
---
"There is a place."
---
"No."
Asuka answered instantly.
---
"I haven't even explained."
---
"No."
---
Watari pointed accusingly.
---
"You don't know what it is."
---
"I don't need to."
---
Lilia nodded.
---
"She's right."
---
Watari took a deep breath.
Then lowered his voice dramatically.
---
"There is an abandoned tunnel outside the city."
---
Silence.
---
"..."
---
"..."
---
"..."
---
Ryan stood up.
---
"I'm leaving."
---
"WAIT."
---
Watari grabbed his sleeve.
---
"It's called..."
---
He paused for dramatic effect.
---
"The Stairway of Gods."
---
Nobody reacted.
---
Watari looked disappointed.
---
"You guys are terrible."
---
"Continue."
Sana said.
---
Watari immediately recovered.
---
"They say the tunnel was built over a hundred years ago."
---
The group listened.
Mostly because they had nothing better to do.
---
"Years ago people used it to travel through the mountains."
---
"And?"
Ryan asked.
---
"And now it's abandoned."
---
"Still not scary."
---
Watari grinned.
---
"They say on full moon nights..."
---
Asuka groaned.
---
"Oh no."
---
"...A woman wearing a red wedding dress walks out of the tunnel."
---
Silence.
---
"..."
---
"..."
---
"..."
---
Lilia slowly raised her hand.
---
"I'm out."
---
"Asuka?"
Watari asked.
---
"No."
---
"Sana?"
---
"No."
---
"Ryan?"
---
"Absolutely not."
---
Watari looked defeated.
---
Then smiled.
---
"I heard someone recorded it."
---
Everyone froze.
---
"...Recorded it?"
Lilia asked.
---
Watari nodded.
---
"Last month."
---
Now he had their attention.
---
Asuka frowned.
---
"Wait."
---
"You actually have evidence?"
---
"Maybe."
---
"SHOW US."
---
Watari pulled out his phone.
---
The video quality was horrible.
The camera shook constantly.
The person recording was clearly terrified.
---
A dark tunnel appeared on screen.
---
Nothing happened.
---
Then...
A figure.
---
Far away.
---
Standing near the entrance.
---
Wearing something red.
---
The video immediately ended.
---
The classroom became silent.
---
"..."
---
"..."
---
"..."
---
Ryan swallowed.
---
"Okay that's creepy."
---
"RIGHT?!"
Watari yelled.
---
Lilia slowly stood up.
---
"We are going."
---
"What happened to being out?"
Asuka asked.
---
"Curiosity."
---
"That's how people die."
---
Eventually.
Against all common sense.
Against all logic.
Against every survival instinct they possessed.
---
The group agreed.
---
Tonight.
---
They would visit the Stairway of Gods.
---
Worst decision ever.
---
A few hours later...
---
The moon hung high above the mountains.
Full.
Bright.
Silent.
---
The group stood near the entrance of an old forest path.
---
"This is a horrible idea."
Ryan said.
---
"Agreed."
Sana replied.
---
"Completely."
Asuka nodded.
---
"Absolutely."
Lilia added.
---
Watari smiled.
---
"Great."
---
"Then let's go."
---
"I hate you."
Ryan replied.
---
The path led deeper into the woods.
---
The air felt colder.
---
Trees blocked most of the moonlight.
---
Even the insects seemed quieter.
---
Nobody joked anymore.
---
Not even Lilia.
---
Which was terrifying.
---
Eventually—
They saw it.
---
The tunnel.
---
Old.
Massive.
Covered in vines.
---
Its entrance looked like the mouth of a sleeping monster.
---
For a moment nobody moved.
---
Then—
A distant sound echoed.
---
A low rumble.
---
The ground vibrated slightly.
---
"What was that?"
Asuka whispered.
---
Nobody answered.
---
Then Ryan looked upward.
---
And froze.
---
High above the mountain.
Beyond the trees.
Beyond the clouds.
---
Something moved.
---
Something enormous.
---
Two glowing golden eyes.
---
A serpentine body stretching across the night sky.
---
A dragon.
---
Not a statue.
Not a cloud.
Not a trick of light.
---
A dragon.
---
Ryan's breath caught in his throat.
---
What... is that...?
---
His vision blurred.
---
The world spun.
---
Far away he could hear someone shouting.
---
"RYAN!"
---
Then—
Fog erupted from the tunnel.
---
Thick.
White.
Unnatural.
---
It swallowed the forest.
The trees.
The moonlight.
The group.
Everything.
---
And Ryan's consciousness faded into darkness.
---