It Will Come Back

Ice breaker

That Was the First Night He Visited Me

After that, it became a regular routine, except for the nights I had nightmares. It was like he scared them away. Whenever I saw him in the evening, the nightmares vanished as if they were never there.

I was strolling to class in my old, beaten-up Converse when my foot slipped on a thick patch of ice. Bracing myself for the inevitable fall, I suddenly felt a strong hand grab my arm. A spark shot through my elbow where the stranger touched me, sending a warm sensation straight to my face. Heat coursed through my veins like fire.

Looking up, I saw someone who was definitely not Ravi. He was tall, with dark, almost-black brown hair and deep chocolate-brown eyes that seemed nearly black. He wore a black-and-gray baseball tee with dark sleeves and well-fitted jeans.

"Thanks," I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper. He nodded but didn’t let go of my arm.

"Um... I think you can let go now," I stammered, feeling awkward under his intense gaze. Without a word, he released me and walked away.

Strange.

"Holy crap! Who’s the hottie?" Ravi’s voice rang out behind me, making me jump. He approached me with his signature grin.

I chuckled. "No clue. But I think he just saved me from a broken tailbone." I gestured to the icy patch I had almost fallen on.

"He’s definitely sexy," Ravi said, smirking as his eyes followed the stranger’s retreating figure.

"Is he new?" I asked, glancing back over my shoulder. Ravi shrugged.

"Probably. I would definitely remember a face like that," he said with a grin that made me roll my eyes.

"Could you chill? Do you always have to be so... horny?" I hissed, crossing my arms.

"Geez, someone’s moody," Ravi retorted, narrowing his eyes at me.

"I’m sorry. I just haven’t been sleeping well," I admitted. He chuckled lightly.

"Yeah, no kidding. Those bags under your eyes look like anchors!" he teased, smirking.

"It’s these nightmares," I said, shuddering. "I keep seeing people’s loved ones... killing them."

Ravi’s expression grew serious for a moment before he shook his head. "Weird. But after that crime scene? No thanks. I’m not diving deeper into your dreams."

I frowned at him. "How can you be so calm about it? Someone actually died, Ravi."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "People die all the time, Lux. It’s just life."

"That’s... cynical. I thought I was the cynical one," I snapped.

"You are! You’re the one who never shows emotion. One day, you’re going to spontaneously combust," Ravi said, smirking.

"When I do, I’m taking you with me," I shot back, laughing.

"Fine by me. As long as I look good when the paramedics come to collect my body," he joked, grinning.

"Rav, shh!" I hissed, holding up a hand. A faint melody drifted through the air, stopping me in my tracks.

"What?" Ravi asked, giving me a confused look.

"Don’t you hear that?" I asked, straining to listen.

"Hear what?" he said, raising an eyebrow.

"A song..." I trailed off. "Can’t you hear it?"

Ravi shook his head, his expression skeptical. "What does it sound like?"

"All by yourself, sitting alone...

I hope we’re still friends, yeah, I hope you don’t mind," I sang softly. Ravi tapped my arm.

"Those aren’t the words. It’s ‘by himself,’" he corrected. I turned to him sharply.

"So you know the song? Can you hear it?" I asked, hopeful.

He shook his head. "No, but I used to listen to it all the time."

"Ravi, something’s not right," I said, unease creeping into my voice. At that moment, the stranger who had saved me earlier walked by, locking eyes with me briefly.

"I know what’s not right," Ravi said, nudging me with his elbow. "You need to ask him out. He’s totally into you, and you’re just going to let it fizzle out."

I swatted his arm. "Ravi, I don’t feel—"

My words were cut off as a sudden, sharp pain shot through my neck. It was as if a knife had stabbed me, but when I reached up, there was no blood, no wound. Just pain. I spun around, searching for the source, but no one was there. The world seemed to blur and fade as the pain consumed me, and then everything went black.