Dawn at the North-Hill military base never brought warmth, only a gray, metallic light that reflected the mood of those forced to live there. Kael woke up before the sound of the bugle, the bitter taste of anxiety under his tongue. The memories of the night before — Sophie's face at the bar and the shadow of the man in black — were etched in his mind like carvings on a tombstone. He felt that a piece of his reality had been scratched away during his sleep.
He stood up, putting on his uniform with mechanical and precise gestures. In a world that was beginning to forget itself, military discipline was the only compass he had left. The metal of his rifle, leaning near his locker, was the only thing that felt real in that ghostly twilight.
"Hey, Kael, still awake before everyone else? You look like a ghost haunting these barracks," joked Leo, his teammate. Leo was the exact opposite of Kael: sunny, loud, always ready to laugh despite the fatigue. He was Kael's only remaining bond of friendship within the army.
Kael didn't answer immediately. His gaze fell on the bunk next to Leo's. It was empty, perfectly made, but devoid of any personal belongings.
"Leo, where did Marcus go?" Kael asked, pointing to the bed.
Leo frowned, genuinely confused. "Marcus? Who are you talking about, Kael? It's just you and me in this section. Maybe the training is getting to your head."
Kael's blood ran cold. He knew Marcus had existed until a few hours ago. He remembered his stories, his gambling debts, even his smell of cheap tobacco. Yet, for Leo, Marcus had vanished into the void of memories. The erosion of reality had begun, and the Entity had struck right inside their squad.
A few hours later, at the shooting range, Kael sought refuge in precision. Lying on the ground, his belly pressed against the cold concrete, the world shrank to a single point through the optical sight. There were no disappearing people there, only the wind variable and the distance. He held his breath, emptying his lungs. In that moment of absolute emptiness, he felt an icy presence behind him.
"Look closely, Kael," a voice seemed to whisper directly inside his head, a genderless voice filled with cruel curiosity. "Watch how everything you love fades like ink under the rain. What will be left of you when there is no one left to remember your name?"
Kael didn't turn. He pulled the trigger. Bang. The target at eight hundred meters was hit perfectly.
"You're a monster made of ice, Kael," Leo commented through the spotting scope. "Not even a flinch."
But Kael knew he wasn't made of ice. He was terrified. As they headed back to the dorms, he saw the man in black again on the watchtower. No soldier seemed to notice him. The being raised a hand in an ironic salute before dissolving into the air like a mirage. Kael realized the Entity didn't want to kill him; it wanted to isolate him, making him the sole witness to the end of the world.