It didn't feel like a thought.
It didn't feel like a voice.
It felt like something forcing its way into existence.
I froze, every part of me going still as that pressure built again—stronger than before, sharper, more focused. The hallway noise faded into the background, not because it stopped, but because something else was pushing above it.
Kunle's smile widened slightly. "There," he said. "Do you feel it?"
"I feel something," I muttered, my chest tight.
Kai stepped closer to me, her presence cutting through the chaos again, forcing a thin layer of silence around us. "It's accelerating," she said.
"I figured that out," I snapped. "What does it want?"
Neither of them answered.
That scared me more than anything.
Another pulse.
This time—
It didn't stop.
It stretched.
Like a thread pulling tighter between us.
My breath caught as something brushed against my mind—not random, not chaotic.
Intentional.
Trying.
And then—
I heard it.
"…you…"
I staggered.
My hand shot to my head.
"What—" my voice broke slightly, "what was that?"
Kunle went still for the first time since this started.
Kai's eyes narrowed sharply.
"You heard it clearly?" she asked.
I nodded slowly, my pulse racing. "It said… 'you.'"
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"That's not supposed to happen yet," Kai said.
"Clearly it just did," I shot back.
Kunle's expression shifted—not calm, not controlled.
Interested.
"Say it again," he murmured, like he was listening for it.
"I'm not the one saying it," I snapped.
Another pulse hit.
Stronger.
Closer.
And this time—
"…both…"
My chest tightened painfully.
"It's not random," I said quickly. "It's choosing words."
Kai didn't deny it.
"That means it's forming structure," she said.
"That means it's talking," I replied.
"Yes."
The word landed like a weight.
Kunle took another step closer. "Then let it."
"No," Kai said immediately.
Her voice cut through everything.
Sharp.
Final.
Kunle's gaze flicked to her. "Why not?"
"Because it's not stable," she replied.
"That's exactly why we should observe it," he said.
"Not at his expense," she shot back.
I looked between them. "Stop talking like I'm not here."
Neither of them apologized.
That made my chest tighten even more.
"I need to understand what this is," I said.
"You don't," Kai replied.
"Yes, I do."
"No," she said firmly. "You need to survive it."
Before I could argue—
My phone buzzed.
The sound felt heavier than ever.
Like it already knew.
I looked down.
Unknown: It spoke.
My fingers tightened.
Me: You knew this would happen.
Unknown: Not this fast.
My stomach dropped.
Me: What is it?
A pause.
Then—
Unknown: A convergence.
I frowned. "That doesn't help."
Unknown: It will replace the noise.
My breath caught.
Replace?
Me: What does that mean?
The reply came slower.
Unknown: You won't hear people anymore.
My chest tightened.
Me: That's impossible.
Unknown: You said that before.
I clenched my jaw.
Me: Then what will I hear?
There was a long pause.
Long enough to make my pulse pound.
Then—
Unknown: It.
A cold chill ran down my spine.
I looked up slowly.
Kunle was watching me.
Kai was already tense.
And that presence—
It wasn't faint anymore.
It was there.
Clear.
Aware.
"…listen…"
My breath hitched.
It wasn't just forming words.
It was forming intention.
"It's getting stronger," I said.
"Yes," Kai replied.
Kunle smiled faintly. "Good."
I shot him a look. "How is that good?"
"Because it means it's choosing," he said.
"That's exactly the problem," Kai cut in.
Another pulse.
This time it didn't hurt.
It settled.
Like something finding its place.
And then—
It spoke again.
Clearer.
Closer.
"…stay…"
I froze.
"That wasn't random," I whispered.
"No," Kai said.
"It's directing," Kunle added.
My chest tightened.
"Directing who?" I asked.
Neither of them answered.
That was enough.
"Me," I said quietly.
Another pulse.
Stronger.
"…you…"
I swallowed hard.
It was getting clearer.
Faster.
Like it was learning how to speak just by existing near us.
"This isn't just between us anymore," I said.
Kai didn't deny it.
Kunle didn't look surprised.
That was worse.
"What happens when it fully forms?" I asked.
Kai hesitated.
That was new.
"What happens?" I pressed.
She looked at me.
Really looked this time.
And when she spoke—
There was no distance left in her voice.
"It becomes a voice you can't ignore."
My chest tightened.
"That's already happening."
"No," she said.
"This is just the beginning."
Another pulse.
And this time—
The word didn't break.
It didn't hesitate.
It didn't struggle.
"…stay with me…"
My entire body went cold.
Silence followed.
Not empty.
Not calm.
Watching.
Waiting.
And for the first time
I realized something that made everything worse.
It wasn't just learning how to speak.
It was learning how to choose.
And somehow
It had already chosen me.