Israel stood alone.
The street was quiet. Too quiet.
Cars passed by. People walked casually. Laughter echoed somewhere far away. The world had returned to normal, as if nothing had ever happened.
As if Ben had never been taken.
Israel clenched his fist.
His nails dug into his skin, but he did not loosen his grip.
No one remembered.
No one felt it.
No one knew a boy had been dragged into a laboratory filled with monsters.
Israel closed his eyes.
The image burned behind his eyelids.
Ben.
Floating in liquid.
Still human.
Still alive.
His chest tightened.
"I'll get you back," Israel whispered.
"I swear."
Footsteps approached from behind.
"Israel."
He turned.
Abdul stood there, his face pale, his eyes tired. He looked like he had not slept in days.
"Any news?" Abdul asked quietly.
Israel hesitated.
That single pause said everything.
Abdul's hands trembled.
"…Is he alive?" Abdul asked.
Israel nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Abdul released a shaky breath he did not realize he was holding. His knees almost gave out.
"Thank God," he murmured.
Silence stretched between them.
Then Abdul looked up.
"Where did they take him?"
Israel shook his head.
"I don't know yet."
Abdul clenched his fists.
"So we just wait?" he snapped.
"We do nothing?"
Israel turned away.
"I'm not waiting."
Abdul stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
Israel looked at his reflection in a shop window. His face looked the same, but something inside him had changed.
"He wants me," Israel said quietly.
"Dave. His master. All of this… it's because of me."
"That's not your fault," Abdul said quickly.
Israel did not respond.
A strange pressure brushed against his senses. Cold. Faint. Watching.
Israel frowned.
"Do you feel that?" he asked.
Abdul shook his head.
"Feel what?"
Israel closed his eyes.
Nothing.
The presence vanished as suddenly as it appeared.
"…Nothing," Israel said.
But deep inside him, something stirred.
That night, Israel could not sleep.
Every time he closed his eyes, the laboratory returned.
The glass tubes.
The twisted bodies.
Ben.
Then the voice returned.
Soft. Deep. Patient.
"You hesitate too much."
Israel shot up in bed, breathing hard.
"Get out of my head," he whispered.
Silence.
Then the voice spoke again.
"You want to save him."
"I can help you."
Israel clenched his teeth.
"I don't need you."
A pause.
"You will," the voice replied calmly.
"When you realize strength alone is not enough."
Pain exploded through Israel's head.
He cried out, gripping his temples.
"Shut up!" he shouted.
The pain stopped instantly.
Israel collapsed back onto the bed, drenched in sweat.
Morning came too fast.
At school, everything felt wrong.
Ben's seat was empty.
No one asked about him.
No one noticed.
Israel stared at the desk, his jaw tight.
Abdul leaned over.
"I checked," he whispered.
"The teachers said Ben is sick."
Israel let out a quiet laugh.
"Sick," he repeated.
The classroom door creaked open.
The teacher walked in.
"Good morning, class," he said.
Behind him, someone else stepped inside.
Israel's eyes narrowed.
Dave.
The same calm smile.
The same relaxed posture.
Like nothing had happened.
Like he had not stolen a life.
Dave's eyes met Israel's.
For a brief moment, the room darkened.
Only Israel felt it.
Dave's smile widened.
Israel stood up.
The floor cracked beneath his feet.
"Sit down," the teacher snapped.
Israel did not move.
Dave tilted his head slightly.
"Careful," he said softly.
"Not here."
Israel's breathing slowed.
He sat down.
Dave walked calmly to his seat.
Israel watched him, rage burning in his chest.
I need to end this now, Israel thought.
I should take him to my pocket dimension.
"That's a bad idea."
Israel turned sharply.
"What did you say?" he asked.
Abdul looked confused.
"I didn't say anything."
Israel frowned.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Abdul asked.
"You look off."
"I'm fine," Israel replied quickly.
"I'm just worried about Ben."
Abdul blinked.
"Ben?" he repeated.
"Who's Ben?"
Israel stared at him.
"That's not funny," Israel snapped.
"Sorry, sorry," Abdul said quickly.
"But… should I know this Ben person?"
Israel's heart skipped.
Slowly, he turned toward Dave.
Dave smiled.
And waved.
Cold fear crawled up Israel's spine.
Israel stood up.
"Sir," he said carefully,
"do you know anyone named Ben?"
The teacher frowned.
"Is this another one of your pranks?" he asked.
"Oh… sorry," Israel said quickly.
Relief washed over him as he sat down.
But something felt wrong.
"Did I ask you to sit?" the teacher snapped.
Israel stood up again.
"You two stand up as well," the teacher added.
Two?
Abdul stood up.
Then Dave stood up.
Israel's confusion deepened.
"So," the teacher said,
"who exactly is this Ben?"
Israel's eyes widened.
He turned toward Dave.
"What did you do?" Israel tried to shout.
Heavy pressure slammed down on him.
He could not move.
He could not speak.
The teacher continued lecturing them about wasting class time.
"Sit down," he finally said.
Israel's body moved on its own.
He sat.
Someone else was in control.
Abdul leaned closer.
"Are you okay?" he whispered.
"And seriously… who is Ben?"
Israel's lips moved.
"Yes, I'm fine," he said, forcing an awkward smile.
"I was just joking."
Why am I smiling?
Why am I lying?
This is not what I want to say.
Minutes passed.
Then hours.
The closing bell rang.
Abdul stood up and tapped Israel's shoulder.
"Let's go."
"Go ahead," Israel replied flatly.
"I'll catch up."
Abdul waved at Dave.
"Don't stay too long," he said, then walked out.
The classroom emptied.
Soon, only two people remained.
Israel.
And Dave.
Dave walked up to Israel.
"You see," Dave said softly,
"your best friend is already gone."
Before Israel could react…
SLAM!
Dave smashed Israel's head into the desk.
The impact cracked the wood.
Israel gasped, blood spilling from his mouth.
Dave leaned closer, his voice low and poisonous.
"Nobody is going to remember him," he whispered.
"Every moment you shared. Every laugh. Every memory you, him, and Abdul built together…"
Dave smiled.
"…Gone."
Israel's vision shook.
"All anyone will remember," Dave continued calmly,
"is me, you, and Abdul."
He straightened, then chuckled.
"And eventually," Dave added,
"Abdul will disappear too."
Israel's fingers twitched against the desk.
"I'll take everything from you," Dave said, his smile widening.
"Just like you took everything from me."
His eyes darkened.
"I'll make you miserable," Dave whispered.
"As miserable as I was… when you destroyed my world."
Dave pulled back slowly, still smiling.
"And the worst part?"
"You won't even be able to stop it."
Dave threw his head back and laughed.
The sound was twisted. Empty. Evil.
It echoed through the silent classroom, crawling into Israel's bones.
Then…
The air warped.
Dave's body began to fade, his smile the last thing to disappear.
"I'll see you soon," his voice echoed.
And then..
He was gone.
The classroom was silent.
Israel remained frozen, his head still pressed against the broken desk.
His hands trembled.
His chest burned.
Inside him, something cracked.
TO BE CONTINUED….