The Countdown

The classroom was filled with the usual noise of students packing up their things as the bell rang, marking the end of the day. Kudo sat at his desk, tapping his fingers on his notebook. He looked around, watching his classmates say quick goodbyes before heading out. The late afternoon sunlight came through the windows, making long shadows on the desks and giving the room a warm glow.

Miku, a quiet girl with a mysterious vibe, sat a few rows behind Kudo. She was busy organizing her notes, completely focused on what she was doing. Kudo noticed her and caught her eye for a moment. There was something strange about the way she looked at him, something he couldn’t quite understand. He shook off the feeling and went back to packing his things.

As the classroom emptied, Kudo was one of the last to leave. He could still feel Miku’s stare, but he brushed it off as he headed to his locker. He was eager to get home and relax after a long day.

Once home, Kudo dropped his backpack on the floor and kicked off his shoes. He enjoyed the quiet of his room, the familiar sounds of the neighborhood coming through the open window—distant laughter, cars passing by, and birds chirping.

Kudo turned on his computer, ready to dive into his favorite online game. As he settled into his chair, he noticed a new message on his phone. It was from his best friend, Ryu. The message was short but caught his interest.

Ryu:  “Hey, Kudo! I’ve got something cool planned. Check your email for the details!”

Curious, Kudo opened his email and found a message from Ryu. It had a link and a strange code. Without thinking too much, Kudo clicked the link, which took him to a sleek, futuristic webpage. As soon as the page loaded, a countdown timer appeared, starting from one hour. Below it, there was a message:

“Get ready for the unexpected.”

Kudo frowned, unsure what to make of it. He thought it was probably just another one of Ryu’s pranks or a game. But something about the countdown made him uneasy. He tried to ignore it and focused on his game instead.

But as time passed, Kudo kept glancing at the countdown. The numbers kept getting smaller, and with each passing minute, his nervousness grew. What would happen when the timer hit zero? He tried to concentrate on his game, but his mind kept wandering back to the clock.

Forty minutes left. Kudo’s fingers hovered over his keyboard, unable to focus. Should he text Ryu and ask what was going on? But something stopped him. Maybe he didn’t want to seem worried, or maybe he just wanted to see what would happen.

Thirty minutes left. Kudo’s heart started to race. The room felt too

quiet, the usual sounds from outside seemed distant. His mind was racing with all kinds of thoughts, none of them comforting.

Twenty minutes left. Kudo stood up and began pacing around his room. He tried to tell himself it was just a game, just a harmless joke. But deep down, he knew something wasn’t right.

Ten minutes left. Kudo sat back down at his desk, his eyes locked on the screen. The numbers seemed to be ticking down faster now, each second bringing him closer to… something. But what?

Five minutes left. Kudo felt a wave of anxiety. He reached for his phone, ready to text Ryu.

Kudo: “Ryu, what’s going on? What’s with the countdown?”

But he hesitated before sending it. What if Ryu didn’t answer? What if there was no explanation? He held back, unsure of what to do.

One minute left. The countdown seemed to slow, each second feeling like an eternity. Kudo stared at the screen, his heart pounding in his chest. The anticipation was overwhelming.

Ten seconds. Nine. Eight. Kudo clenched his fists, his whole body tense. He braced himself for whatever was coming.

Three.

Two.

One.

The countdown hit zero, and the screen went black. Kudo’s computer suddenly powered down, leaving the room in darkness. He scrambled to turn the monitor back on, his hands shaking.

The screen flickered back to life, showing a single line of text:

“Welcome to Nexus.”

Before Kudo could react, his phone buzzed loudly on his desk. He grabbed it, his hands trembling as a new message popped up from an unknown number.

Unknown: “It’s started.”

Kudo’s breath caught as he read the message. The air in his room felt heavy, the weight of those two words pressing down on him. He didn’t know what had just started, but one thing was certain: there was no going back now.

Just as he began to grasp the reality of the situation, a sudden knock on the door made Kudo jump. His heart raced as he slowly walked toward the door, every sense on high alert. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but he knew nothing could have prepared him for what was waiting on the other side.