The day passed smoothly.
Too smoothly.
Evan noticed it only because nothing stood out.
Classes went as expected. Conversations followed familiar paths. Even Luke seemed less chaotic than usual.
That evening, they met at the plot again.
Emily arrived last, breathless from rushing.
"Sorry, lost track of time," she said.
"You always do," Luke said.
They sat on the concrete floor, backs against the wall. The sky outside darkened slowly.
Marcus checked his phone. "I'm heading back early."
"Training?" Luke asked.
Marcus nodded. "Habit."
Noah stood too. "I need to finish a model."
Emily looked at Evan. "You staying?"
Evan hesitated. "I think I'll walk back."
They left together.
The campus was quieter than usual. Lights glowed softly from windows. Somewhere, music played faintly.
Emily broke the silence. "You've been thinking a lot."
"So have you," Evan said.
She smiled sadly. "I guess."
They stopped near the girls' hostel.
"Evan," she said.
"Yes?" Evan said.
She opened her mouth. Closed it. Took a breath.
"Never mind," she said. "Good night."
He nodded. "Good night."
She went inside.
Evan stood there for a moment, then turned toward his hostel.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Noah.
"Are you going to the hostel?"
Evan typed back.
"Yes."
Then no response.
Evan slipped the phone into his pocket and continued walking.
In his room, he studied for an hour, then shut his books.
He sat on his bed, hands clasped loosely.
For no clear reason, a sense of weight pressed down on him.
He checked the time.
11:48 PM.
He lay down.
Sleep came quickly.
Too quickly.
Darkness closed in.
And the nightmare began.