A letter slid underneath my door, and what was in it could have changed my life forever. But how could I have known that? It was plain and meaningless with no name. Honestly, when you're sharing a bedroom with Kevin, the head of the football club, you stop expecting shit.
"Yo, Kev, this came in for you," I threw at his face. With a playful smirk, his muscles acted on instinct and grabbed the letter before it hit his face. With a playful smirk, he ripped it open.
But I didn't care. Having little friends, I'd learned to mind my business. I threw my body on the bed. It creaked under the overwhelming weight. "You should go on a diet," Kevin mocked, hearing the old spring creak.
"Fuck you," I whispered underneath my breath and threw my pillow over my face.
I hated living here, hated Kevin, hated how he made me feel invisible, hated how it was always like he lived a life I only dreamed of. He had the girls, the looks, the fame, the money, even the grades. He always made me feel inadequate, and trying to live like I didn't care was becoming harder each day.
With my heart boiling, I slowly fell asleep. The sound of screaming faded into the distance… everything went quiet for a second, like the entire world held its breath. Foreign warmth crept up my leg, touched my chest — my body didn't resist. It felt calming.
"Kevin," Jaden's voice called in the quiet. "What have you done???"
My fingers froze, my body froze. The only thing I could feel was the warmth growing hotter.
"You'll let us all burn because you want to leave," a girl's voice cried. "Selfish…" "Heartless…" "Monster…" Voices swarmed, layered like insects trying to claw the top. I tried to twist, block out the hate — but my body didn't respond until my eyes flickered open.
Flames. I stood on a grand throne, looking down. "This is where we say goodbye," the words slipped out with satisfaction and pride. I towered over everything… but this wasn't me. I wasn't in control. Whatever this was.
_"This isn't me… this thing wasn't me."_
_"But I am you. This is your doing,"_ it replied. Not a plea. A verdict.
_"This is how you end up… this is how everyone ends up. This is the best resolve — remember that."_
With those last words, I burst from bed. Sheets drenched in sweat. My throat suffocated by burning smoke so thick it felt real. My chest rose and fell rapidly. I looked sideways — Jaden lay lifeless, half off the bed, the letter fixed in his hand.
Written on it in bold letters: my name, in blood.
"Dude, am I still dreaming?" I asked. He didn't move. He didn't breathe.
"Why, what's on that — and why does it have my name?" I tried to calm my breathing as I approached, every step closer. My chest squeezed tight. The longer I stared, the more I realized Jaden wasn't moving. His skin was waxy, pale.
I stopped by his body. "Why's my name in it?" My voice shook with fear.
"Dude, if you're joking, this kinda isn't funny… you know I don't sleep well. Just cut it out, you've got me scared. Have your laugh. Just move. Please."
I begged, tears backing up in my throat.
_He's asleep. He's asleep._
I touched his skin. My fingers recoiled like they'd burned. All warmth gone. Breathing stopped. I wished this was a lie, but the cold didn't lie.
"Jaden!" I sobbed. The words felt alien.
Footsteps pounded outside.
"Jaden, open the fuck up! Why aren't you replying to my texts…"
The words on the letter burned: _"You did this."_
In my head, I protested: "Kevin, I can see you — open this door now!"
A girl's voice came muffled through the door, sliced by my fear. I couldn't move.
"I'm counting to ten. If this door isn't open, I'll kick it down."
She kept yelling, but I wouldn't care less.
_He was dead…_
No. This was a joke. My body snapped back to strength.
"Yes, this is a joke!" I exclaimed, laughing relief. "You got me good — the letter, words from my dream. The lifeless dummy on the bed… Yeah, you got me."
I turned to the door.
"2… 1…"
The countdown ended. I yanked the door open.
"Where's Jaden?" I asked first.
"What?" She frowned. "You think I'm an idiot."
She pushed me aside, walked in. "Bastard, you better hope—"
She froze mid-sentence. Eyes narrowed. Body stiffened. "He's not…"
She touched his neck, her entire body recoiled. Palm slapped over her mouth.
"What's this? Why isn't he… is he dead?"
Her words made me cough. A wide, sick smile plastered on my face.
"Dead. Dead," I laughed hysterically. I didn't know what to do anymore.
She didn't move, just stared.
"And who do you think killed him? Me?" I asked.
The look in her eyes believed it to the bone.
Before I could protest, she swung something into my head. My body went cold.
She ran down the hall, crying for help.
In the end, I guess the letter did change everything. It opened my eyes, showed me reality had shifted. Told me my past will be my future.
I couldn't hide what I am forever.. and slowly reality sleep and I passed out