Heavy Rain

Neo returned to the school. Everything was locked, and he didn’t know what to do. Gradually, he felt his time running out as the rain intensified.

He was exhausted, especially after spending hours thinking about what to do. Many places were closing, leaving him with few options. He couldn’t remember anyone to contact, nor did he have a way to reach someone he had met that day.

“If only I could go back to the infirmary, I could sleep there like earlier. Wait! Maybe that’s the answer. “

Sneaking through the gate was out of the question. Maybe if I could turn into a cat... He looked at the wall and realized it wasn’t too high to climb.

He gathered strength in his legs and jumped, so high it felt like he was flying. He grabbed the top of the wall with his hands and, with a small effort, pulled himself into the schoolyard.

“Easy part done. Maybe the bigger challenge will be getting inside the school.”

He first tried the front doors and, as expected, found them locked. He circled the building, looking for an open window or an unlocked door someone might have forgotten to close.
No luck.

The light rain had turned into large, heavy drops. Looking up at the clouds, Neo noticed something strange.

The large clock at the front of the school had a metal door on its side that appeared to be open. He’d have to climb the ladder to get there.

“Is it worth the risk?”

His stomach churned with nerves as he climbed higher and higher. The wind grew stronger the higher he went, and the rain made the steps slippery, the fear of falling whispering in his ear.
When he reached the top, he approached the door he’d seen from below. He turned the handle gently and pushed against it. The door creaked slightly as it opened.

Inside, he could see the massive clock’s gears moving slowly. Looking around, he searched for an entry point into the school and found another door—but it was locked.

“Maybe it’s better to spend the night here. At least I won’t get soaked.”

As Neo turned to close the door, something startled him.

Hanging on the inside handle was a set of keys, one of them already in the lock. Attached to the keys was a note with the name “Neo Lancaster.”

He looked outside to see if anyone was there. Seeing no one, he shut the door and locked it. The room was dark, making it impossible to read the note.

He turned his attention to the other door and began trying the keys, one by one, until one of them worked.

Once inside, he locked the door behind him, still shaken. “Who wouldn’t be, after finding a note with their full name on it?”

He descended the stairs, heading for the school gym. He figured it might have a shower or at least some towels. A hot shower would warm him up.

In a separate room, he found some old sports uniforms belonging to the school. They were better than his slightly damp uniform.

After his shower, he decided to head to the infirmary, locking every door he passed. He was starting to get used to the place.

The infirmary was exactly as he had left it earlier. He turned on the light to read the note.

It seems you were clever enough to find a way to spend the night. As a reward, I decided to give you a little help—but don’t get used to it. After all, I’ve been forbidden from assisting you.
The keys on the door? I took them from the principal’s office. Make sure to return them in the morning and clean up after yourself. Try not to leave any traces of your presence.

Take care, Neo.

Leo Lancaster.

The message unsettled Neo, of course. But he had more pressing matters to deal with.

He hung his uniform to dry in a high spot, turned off the light, and laid down on one of the beds, deep in thought. So many questions weighed on his mind, but his eyes were so heavy, so very heavy.

Who is Leo? Has he been watching me? Why did he decide to help? How did he break into the school? Why can’t he help me further? And the last name ‘Lancaster’? Did I take someone else’s place?

The first rays of sunlight streamed through the infirmary window, disturbing Neo’s sleep. He woke up slowly.

Sitting up, he yawned lightly, taking a moment to remember ‘who he was,’ ‘where he was,’ and ‘what he had done the previous day.’

When he glanced at the clock, he panicked, realizing the school would soon open, and he needed to put everything back in place.

He quickly tidied the bed, dressed in his now-dry uniform, and left the infirmary, locking the door behind him.

He ran to the principal’s office, looking for a place to return the keys. He found an open safe in one of the walls, something he hadn’t noticed the day before. Inside were some papers and other items he chose not to examine. He placed the keys inside and shut the door.

It seemed like nothing was out of place. Now, he just needed to return the uniform, hide, and pretend he had entered with the other students.

He ran to the entrance, where there were two hallways and stairs in the middle. He crouched in the hallway to the left of the entrance.

It wasn’t long before someone arrived and began unlocking all the doors.

It was Karine.

As she entered, she headed toward the hallway where Neo was hiding. With every step she took, his body froze more and more. Sweat began to drip as he realized how foolish he had been to hide there.

Karine came closer and closer. His panic grew, as did the pounding of his heart, but he didn’t move.

Suddenly, she stopped. She turned and walked in the opposite direction, shaking her head as if she had forgotten something.

Neo let out a sigh of relief.

“I’m safe.”

He continued watching the entrance. Most of the students arrived on foot, which might have been a coincidence, but he couldn’t stop noticing it.

From afar, he saw the first student arrive, signaling that it was safe to stop keeping watch. If anyone found him, he could just say he had just arrived.

“Where haven’t I been in the school yet? What about the central courtyard?”

The courtyard was an open space with grass, stone paths, and several scattered benches. Neo was amazed by the number of flowers, a sea of colors. He didn’t know their names, but he enjoyed being there nonetheless.

The day was starting to warm up, becoming muggy due to the rain the day before. He sat on one of the benches.

“Despite everything I’ve been through, I’m happy. Soon I’ll see Saya. What’s warmer? This day or her smile?”

Neo chuckled softly at the thought.

He was startled by the presence of a man standing at one of the courtyard entrances.
It was Erick, who slowly approached and waved at him.

“What does he want?”