Awakening

The sky was bleeding gold and red, as if the sun itself was falling apart. I stood there, frozen, watching her.

She was at the edge of the horizon, her figure framed by the strange glowing light.

She turned to me, her face calmer than the weather, her smile soft as a breeze on a summer evening.

She took a step back, then another, and the horizon swallowed her till my eyes could only imagine her dark shadow.

“Wait!” I shouted, and the word ripped through my chest.

“Even when tomorrow fails,” she said, her voice carried by the wind, “ don’t forget to…….”

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

The alarm clock dragged me back to reality. My room was dull, the opposite of the vivid colors I saw.

I slapped the clock off, my breathing still uneven.

Her words lingered, too clear, too real.

Was it just a dream?

I ran a hand through my hair and stared at the ceiling. My heart was still racing, but the longer I lay there, the harder it was to convince myself it had only been a dream.

It wasn’t the first time I’d had a dream like this. And that was the part that scared me.

A knock on my door snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Stellan!! If you don’t get up in the next five seconds, I’m eating your toast."

I groaned. Sienna.

"Take it. I’m not hungry," I told her, dragging myself upright.

"Seriously? Who are you and what have you done with my brother?"
I didn't answer.

A pause. Then, her voice softened, "Bad dream?"

I hesitated. Not bad. Just… too real.

But if I told her, she’d just roll her eyes and call me dramatic. So I said nothing.

"Whatever, just hurry up," she said, her usual teasing tone returning. "Tony’s already waiting for you."

Right. School. Life. Reality.

I pulled on a hoodie, grabbed my bag, and checked my phone.

Tony[7:12 AM]: If you’re late again, I’m leaving without you.

Tony[7:13 AM]: Actually, no. I’m making YOU pay for my fries today.

I sighed. Classic Tony. Always impatient, always acting like I was a lost cause. But he was still waiting.

I shoved my phone in my pocket and took one last glance in the mirror. My reflection looked the same as always—messy hair, tired eyes. But something felt different.

Like I had woken up in the wrong world.

Like I was forgetting something important.

And worst of all—I know who she is.

I opened the car door, sat on the soft white seat and locked in my seat belt.

“ Took you long enough.”

“ I had a… dream.” I hesitated for a moment.

“ Oh yeah?” Tony asked sarcastically. “ Was there a fight between a donkey and a horse? Or were you surfing on lava?”

I sighed. Tony.

The car took off immediately.

“ So,” Tony started. “ Are you ready?”

I was confused. “For what?”

Tony slowed down. “Don't tell me you forgot. Today is the day man.”

I stared at him.

"For what?"

Tony stared at me like I'd committed a crime. “Horizon Protocol”

My eyes widened.

"IT'S TODAY?!"

“It is today you dimwit. How can you forget this?”

I rushed a hand through my hair glancing into the side view mirror. “ How do I look?”

“ Like a jack.” Tony replied without looking.

I took a deep breath. “It's gonna be alright. I can do this.”

“This will get you cheered up.”

He flicked on the radio and took a left turn.

BUZZ… … . (Radio)

Radio: Today is a special day, and on a special day should be a special song. Stay tuned for some vibes till mars.

Radio: (Music)

Tony grinned. "Have you heard this one?"

"What one?"

"Just wait."

Music filled the car. Tony immediately started singing along, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel like he was performing for a sold-out stadium.

I couldn't help but smile.

"What?" he said. "Don't judge greatness."

"I'm judging it."

"Liar. You love it."

The rest of the ride was a blur. My mind was still tangled in the dream, in Horizon Protocol, and in the strange feeling that I had forgotten something important.

Beside me, Tony kept singing every lyric with way too much confidence.

Tony turned the radio off and unlocked his seat belt.

“ Aren’t you getting out?”

I was lost in thought.

“ Stellan. We’re here.”

“ Oh, right.” I blinked. “Yeah.”

We were walking to class, Tony was talking about all the things we have to do to get selected for the HP.

He suddenly stopped. “ Are you alright?”

“ Good as always.” I said to assure him.

“ I don’t think so,” He caught on to me. “You’ve been weird all morning, something isn’t right about you.”

I was about to tell him, but my eyes drifted to a red bracelet.

A girl in blue-striped shoes, a blue shirt, and white jeans walked past me. Her black ponytail swayed as she glanced at me with clear eyes.

Our eyes met for a second.

Then she walked past us.

I stood there.

“ Stellan,” Tony smiled at me knowingly. “ You better get selected for HP because there will be a lot of people watching you, including you know who.”

I realized, “ Wait, is she also…..”

Tony nodded.

“I saw her name on the list last night, I didn’t tell you cuz you wouldn’t have gotten any sleep at all.”

Excitement rushed through me. “ Let's go, we need to lock in and be ready till 4th hour.”

“That’s the spirit, we got this.” Tony caught on to my fire.