It Will Come Back

Bye bye Chloe

I open my eyes and immediately notice something is wrong. Ravi is still standing there, mumbling something, but I’m not next to him anymore. Instead, I’m watching myself, standing completely still, like a frozen mannequin. My heart races. How can I see myself? How am I over here but also over there? The dissonance twists my stomach, and I stumble backward, trying to make sense of the impossible.

The loud blare of the college bell snaps me out of my daze, and students begin moving to their classes, their voices blending into a dull roar. I glance down at my hands, expecting to see solid flesh, but they’re blurry and distorted, like a bad signal on an old TV. The world around me ripples, warped and dreamlike, except for one thing: a clear, unmistakable path stretching ahead of me. It feels like an invitation—or a demand. My distorted fingers reach out, trembling, as I take a step forward. The rusted blue door of a classroom appears in my path, and before I know it, I’ve pushed it open.

"Hello?" I call out, my voice echoing in the empty room as the door creaks shut behind me. A girl stands in the center of the room, talking softly on her phone. Her back is to me, and though I speak louder this time, she doesn’t react. It’s as if I’m invisible. No, worse than invisible—I don’t exist.

I step closer, recognizing her instantly. Chloe. She used to hang out with Yasmin, though I never understood how. Chloe is quiet, introverted, the complete opposite of Yasmin’s loud, magnetic chaos. As I watch, Chloe’s shoulders begin to shake, and tears spill down her cheeks. Her voice trembles as she speaks into her phone.

"I can’t keep doing this, Luke. I feel completely alone. She’s my best friend. I cheated her. We cheated her," she whispers, her voice breaking with every word. It feels intrusive, like I’m eavesdropping on something too raw to witness, but I can’t look away.

"Okay," Chloe says after a long pause. "If you stand by the running track, I’ll meet you there. I love you. I can’t believe you came back for me." She ends the call and tucks her phone into her pocket, wiping her tears away with trembling hands. Then she turns and walks straight toward me.

"Wait! Chloe, stop!" I shout, waving my distorted hands frantically in front of her. But she doesn’t stop. She doesn’t even flinch. She walks right through me, and I feel nothing—no impact, no sensation, just emptiness. My breath catches in my throat, and I stand frozen for a moment before forcing my legs to move. I follow her, the distorted world around me warping as I move. She slips a pair of headphones over her ears, and suddenly, the song from earlier—the one only I could hear—starts playing again. The haunting melody sends a chill down my spine.

The path ahead narrows, pulling me along like a magnet. Chloe moves steadily, unaware of my presence, until a figure steps out from the shadows. I can’t make out his face, but I know it’s a man—his stance, his build, his movements all scream masculine energy.

"Hey, asshole!" I shout, anger boiling in my chest. But, like Chloe, he doesn’t hear me.

He moves quickly, too quickly, pulling something sharp from his pocket. Before I can react, he plunges it into Chloe’s neck. Blood spurts from the wound, staining her pale skin a vivid red. She screams, a guttural, heart-wrenching sound that echoes in my ears. I rush forward, trying to grab her, to help her, but my hands pass through her like smoke.

Chloe falls to the ground, clutching her neck as blood pools around her. Her wide, tear-filled eyes dart around in panic. "Luke," she croaks, her voice barely audible. "Why?" Her head lolls to the side, her eyes glazing over as her body goes limp. I scream, a wordless cry of frustration and horror, but it feels like the sound is swallowed by the distorted world around me.

Suddenly, I’m back. I’m clutching Ravi’s arm, trembling as he shakes me gently, his face a mixture of concern and fear.

"Lux? What’s going on? You’re freaking me out," Ravi says, his voice pulling me out of the haze.

"We need to go. Now. She’s hurt. He tried to kill her!" I say frantically, tugging at his arm. My heart is pounding so hard I can barely think straight.

Ravi looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. "Lux, maybe we should call my dad. You don’t look so good."

"Ravi, please! Just trust me for once. Follow me," I beg, my voice breaking. He sighs but nods, reluctantly letting me lead the way.

As we push through the crowded hallway, Ravi taps my shoulder. "Lux, wait a second. You’re acting crazy. What’s going on?"

"Would you just follow me?" I snap, glaring at him. He throws his hands up in surrender and follows me in silence.

The crowd thickens as we near the running track, and my stomach twists into knots. A group of students has gathered, their hushed whispers and gasps filling the air. My legs feel like lead, but I force myself forward, pushing past the onlookers.

There she is. Chloe. Her lifeless body lies in a pool of blood, her hand still clutching her neck in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding. My hands start to shake, and my blood runs cold.

"Lux, what’s going on? What did you do?" Ravi’s voice is trembling as he steps beside me.

"I didn’t do this," I whisper, my voice hollow. "But I know who did."

Ravi grabs my arm, pulling me away from the scene. "Who? Lux, who did this?"

"Luke," I say, my voice firmer now. "They were hooking up. I think he was scared she’d tell."

Ravi shakes his head. "No way. Luke wouldn’t go for Chloe. He’s with Casey. They’re the golden couple. He’d never cheat on her."

I laugh bitterly. "Well, he did."

Ravi gives me a skeptical look, his concern for my mental state clear. "Lux, you’re acting—"

"Don’t say it!" I snap, cutting him off. He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Fine. Let’s go to his house. I used to study with him. Maybe we can figure something out."

"And what? Accuse him of murder?" I roll my eyes at the absurdity of his plan.

"No, moron. We’ll just… feel out his vibe. See if he’s acting off," Ravi says with a smug grin, like he’s solved the mystery.

"Fine," I mutter, exasperated but desperate for answers.

"Wanna skip class and investigate now?" Ravi asks, grinning mischievously.

I glare at him. "This isn’t fun, Ravi. Why are you acting like it is?"

His smile falters. "Because I never liked Chloe. She used to call me queer boy."

My expression softens. "But you are queer, and you do identify as a boy."

"Yeah, but at six years old, I didn’t want it used against me. That nickname haunted me for two years," he says, sadness flickering in his eyes.

"I’m sorry," I say softly. "In that case… I’m kind of glad she’s gone."

Ravi smirks, pulling me into a side hug. "There’s my cynical bestie. Let’s get going."

And with that, we leave the college behind, stepping into a world that feels darker and more uncertain than ever before.