The hallway smelled like burnt stone and rusted blood.
Skyler followed the girl in silence, his legs still trembling from everything — the death, the monsters, the fact that he was inside a world he wrote but never finished.
She hadn't spoken much. Only motioned for him to keep low as they moved through the destroyed streets, ducking behind flipped vehicles and shattered storefronts.
They entered what used to be a small bookstore, now barely standing. Cracked walls, collapsed shelves, blood smeared on the floor.
Still, it was quiet. Safe… for now.
> "We rest here," she said, finally turning to face him. "Name?"
Skyler hesitated.
> "…Skyler."
She raised an eyebrow. "No class?"
He stayed silent. She didn't press.
> "I'm Lyra," she said, pulling out a dagger and a glowing crystal the size of a coin. "Let's see if you're awakened."
She pressed the crystal to his chest.
It flashed dimly — then faded.
> [Class: None]
The silence grew thick. Skyler looked away.
> "Figures," Lyra muttered. "The world's ending and I'm dragging around a scrub."
She tossed him a half-broken energy bar from her pouch. "Eat. You'll need it."
---
Skyler sat in the corner while Lyra sharpened her blade, her back to the wall, eyes scanning the window.
His thoughts raced.
The monsters. The gate. Daniel.
It was exactly like the first three chapters of the novel he never published.
Only it was different now — details out of place. Scenes unfolding in the wrong order.
And worse…
> Daniel was here. But Skyler wasn't the main character.
> So why the hell was he in the story at all?
---
Suddenly, Lyra froze.
Skyler looked up.
> "What?"
She pointed toward the door.
> "Someone's coming."
Skyler's breath hitched. A shadow moved outside.
Then two knocks.
Then five.
Then two again.
A pattern.
Lyra exhaled and stepped forward. "It's them."
The door opened.
A squad entered — three figures in gear that looked military, but mismatched.
Leading them was Daniel.
Clean armor. Glowing blade. Calm expression.
He stepped into the room like a knight from a movie. He didn't even glance at Skyler.
> "This district's being cleared," he said to Lyra. "You're the rogue from Sector 4?"
Lyra nodded. "And the survivor?"
Daniel looked at Skyler for the first time. A flicker of recognition passed through his eyes — or maybe that was Skyler's imagination.
> "He's not awakened," Lyra said flatly. "Probably useless."
Daniel stared for a moment longer… then turned away.
> "Then he won't last long."
The squad moved out. Lyra followed.
Skyler remained behind for a second longer, fists clenched.
> Useless?
Then why… why do I remember every move you just made… like I was the one who created it?
His fingers twitched — muscle memory reacting to a technique he'd seen once before.