I might be completely crazy, but I swear my best friend has magical powers. How else could anyone have that much energy in the morning? It’s like pure witchcraft.

  His childhood friend always wears bright neon colors—from her shorts to her shirt—and a soft beanie covering her blonde hair. She zips up to Markus at full speed, practically radiating energy.

  “Heya, Markus,” Alexia says, running up to him, her voice full of energy as she zooms around the campus. “How do you not use up all your energy just getting out of bed?”

  Once she’s in arm’s reach, she hands Markus a coffee before pulling him into a tight hug.

  “I see you’re wearing your black jacket again. Are you going to wear it through the summer too?” Alexia teases, raising an eyebrow.

  “Don’t worry, I just fell asleep before doing the laundry... again,” Markus yawns, trying to stay awake. “The jacket’s just to hide that I’m wearing the same thing as yesterday.”

  “Ah… Markus.”

  “Don’t you ‘Ah… Markus’ me!” Markus retorts, shooting her a sideways glance that makes her giggle.

  “Well, it’s a good thing I got the extra shot of espresso,” Alexia says, handing him the coffee. “Do try not to fall asleep in class again, Sleepyhead.”

  Markus thanks her as he sips the latte, wondering why she gifted it to him.

  It’s been a while since they’ve seen each other. Was there something special about today? April 3rd... April 3rd… Was it a birthday? An anniversary?

  Like a truck, it hits him what April 3rd is. He tries not to think about what happened on April 3rd last year. The weight of the day settles in. He can’t fault Alexia for bringing it up—she’s probably just trying to cheer him up.

  "I’m glad I get a moment to talk to you before class," Alexia says softly, her fingers curling around the strap of her bag. "There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you."

  She looks down at the ground, then up at the sky—anywhere but at Markus. Finally, her gaze settles on the coffee in her hand, using it as an excuse to look away a little longer.

  "I know you probably have plans and all," Alexia says, "but I was wondering if we could hang out later tonight. It's been so long... I was hoping we could catch up, you know?"

  "I’ve got work tonight, sorry, I—"

  "What time are you off?" She interrupts quickly, giving him a pout and flashing her best puppy-dog eyes. "I can at least give you a ride home."

  Markus sighs. "I’m off at eleven."

  "Then I’ll meet you after," she says brightly, giving him a quick hug before heading off to Chemistry class.

  Whatever magic she has, I want some, Markus thinks as he checks the time. Class is about to start.

  As the bell rings, Markus walks into the classroom and slides into his seat. Before the teacher can start, he calls out.

  “Markus, could I have a word with you for a moment?"

  "Markus stands and walks to the front of the room."

  "You know why I wanted to talk to you today," Mr. Light says, standing tall and pointing a finger at Markus as he speaks.

  "I can't even begin to guess, Mr. Light," Markus replies, stifling a yawn. "But if I had to choose, it's either my test scores... or my attendance."

  Mr. Light looks at him sternly. "So you noticed a problem and didn’t think to fix it. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

  "Alright..." Markus mutters, hoping his passive response will bring the conversation to a quicker end.

  "Look," Mr. Light says, his tone softening slightly. "You're a bright kid. But you’ve got a D in this class. You might be passing now, but can you at least try for the last two months?"

  “Sure,” Markus says, though internally his thoughts spiral.

  What exactly does he expect me to do? Quit my jobs? Stop paying rent? Yeah, like that wouldn’t have any consequences.

  When Mr. Light gestures toward his seat, Markus returns and pulls out his notebook and pen. The lecture begins — something about astronomy, stars, and how constellations form in the sky — but the combination of long work nights and missed classes turns everything into static.

  He glances down at his phone—May 12th.

  Only 39 more days. Just 39 more—and I’ll never have to set foot in this school again.

  Focus. Markus knows he won’t review his notes later, so he’d better try to remember what he can now.

  When the final bell rings, most students cheer for freedom. Their long wait ends, and they gather in clusters, deciding what to do with the rest of their day. Markus, however, already has plans. He pulls on his hat and heads to his job.

  He walks into Quik Gas, the local gas station, and heads straight for the bathroom to change into his uniform. Standing in front of the mirror, he counts to three, bracing himself for whatever comes next in the day.

  "Markus, you always show up so fast, man," his coworker Nathan says, watching him rush out of the bathroom. "If you need a second, grab one of those canned coffees before you clock in. No rush."

  Markus nods his thanks, grabs another can of caffeine, and gets back to work. Nathan waves him off casually.

  "It's been slow all day. No big deal if you chill for a bit while I hold down the fort."

  Later, as Markus clocks in at the register, Nathan watches him from behind the counter.

  “I still can’t believe you work two jobs and go to school,” Nathan says.

  Markus shrugs. “Just doing what I’ve got to.”

  “Man… I know the boss says you’re lazy sometimes, but if he knew what you’re juggling, I don’t think he’d have a leg to stand on.”

  "My teacher thinks I’m lazy too," Markus replies with a half-smile. "Guess I’ve just got that irresistible charm."

  Nathan laughs. “Come on, you’re still passing, right? It’s not a big deal. I bet you’ll end up doing something cool one day.” He slaps Markus on the shoulder. “You’ve made it this far, after all.”

  Time drifts by until the clock strikes 7:00.

  “Oh—should’ve said something earlier,” Nathan says, glancing at Markus’s wrist. “You forgot to take off your metal bracelet.”

  He eyes the tag curiously. “Spencer. April 3rd.” His fingers brush over the engraved words, a frown tugging at his lips.

  Markus slips it off and tucks it into his bag. "Just something to remember them by. You know."

  “Wait… isn’t today April 3rd?” Nathan asks, looking out at the empty parking lot.

  “We’re slow today. Why don’t you take some time for yourself? Think things over a bit.”

  “Are you sure?” Markus asks, hesitation in his voice.

  Nathan nods. "Yeah, don't worry about it. Most of the work’s already done anyway. And... well, it’s an important day. You deserve a break."

  “I can’t just—”

  Markus hesitates, torn between guilt and obligation, unsure if leaving is the right thing to do.

  “You’ve got to get to your other job.” Nathan hands him another canned coffee and points toward the door.

  Markus gives a grateful nod and steps outside, the cold can sweating in his hand.

  Normally, Markus has to jog to Kansas Fried Chicken just to make it on time. But thanks to the extra time Nathan gave him, he’s able to walk instead. He realizes how much of a gift that is halfway there—no anxiety, no rushing, just a rare sense of peace.

  That peace shatters the moment he notices a trail of smoke rising in the distance.

  “Isn’t that…?” His eyes widen. “No—”

  It’s coming from the direction of Kansas Fried Chicken.

  Markus bolts, his heart racing, and his worst fear comes true when he reaches the scene—flames are engulfing the building.

  “Emma, Emma!” he shouts, sprinting toward his manager, who’s on the phone—probably with the fire department.

  He skids to a stop. “Is anyone still inside?” His body tenses, ready to rush in, but Emma places a firm hand on his shoulder.

  “Calm down, kid,” she says, her voice grounding him. “Everyone’s out. The fire department’s already on the way.”

  Markus takes a deep breath, forcing himself to look away from the flames. He steps back onto the sidewalk, his heart pounding in his chest.

  Emma sighs. “As you can see, there’s no work today. Technically, we’ve all been fired.” She pauses, then adds, “I’ll send out a text once I know about employee relocation. But since you’ve got Quik Gas, transferring might be tricky.”

  Markus is unable to respond. He just stares at the inferno, his jaw tight with tension.

  Emma follows his gaze. “The part I don’t get is how the fire even started.”

  “You mean it wasn’t a fryer fire?”

  She shakes her head. “That’s what I assumed, too. But the fire didn’t start in the kitchen—it started in the lobby.”

  "The lobby? What do you mean? You’re saying this wasn’t just a simple fryer fire?"

  Emma crosses her arms, her eyes still fixed on the burning building. “Yeah. The blaze didn’t start in the kitchen. It started near the front counter—maybe even the seating area.”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Markus frowns, the gears in his head turning.

  “So you think a customer started it?” he asks, incredulous. “We’ve had a few get mad when we raised prices, but I didn’t think they’d go that far.

  Emma shrugs, her lips tight. “People do dumb things when they’re angry. But this? It feels like more than just rage. Feels... off, somehow.”

  She glances over and sees Markus staring at his phone.

  “Whatcha doing? I thought you normally walk home.”

  Markus looks up from his phone. “Oh, sorry. I had a ride tonight, so I’m just letting them know... well, about this.”

  Just then, part of the roof collapses with a thunderous crack, sending a wave of heat at them.

  Markus winces. “She wanted to hang out after work, so I’m letting her know she can come by now.”

  He glances at the screen. “She says she’ll be here in a few.”

  “She,” Emma repeats, raising an eyebrow. “Why didn’t you tell me you went and got yourself a girlfriend?”

  “Yeah, I wish.”

  Emma nudges him playfully. “Come on. She wants to hang out at this time of night? Maybe you haven’t said it out loud, but it sure sounds like she’s interested in you. Well, maybe it’s none of my business, but now that you’ve got some free time, it’s a good chance to meet new people. I could totally help with that... What’s her name?”

  “Alexia!” Markus waves toward a pink car, ignoring her question. He turns back to Emma, giving a quick wave goodbye before hopping in.

  “That was fast.”

  “I’m glad you’re alright,” Alexia says, giving him a quick glance as she starts the car. “Knowing you, you would’ve run into that building like an idiot.”

  “Yeah, I was lucky to be at Quik Gas when the fire started.”

  As he speaks, they both watch the fire department arrive at the burning Kansas Fried Chicken. Firefighters rush in, unrolling hoses and spraying the ground first to keep the fire from spreading before attacking the flames directly. The last firetruck pulls in, its lights still flashing as the response effort kicks into full gear.

  Once the path clears, Alexia eases the car back into motion, steering them toward Markus’s apartment.

  Neither of them says a word at first. Markus gazes out the window, the glow of the fire still reflecting in his eyes. He glances up at Alexia, watching the way she taps the steering wheel with quiet focus as they drive through the night.

  “So… have you watched the news recently?” Alexia finally breaks the silence.

  Markus shakes his head. “Haven’t had time.”

  Alexia keeps her eyes on the road. “This is the sixth fire in just over two weeks. Some of the louder pundits are calling it a series of arson attacks, blaming a foreign government or something dramatic like that.”

  “Am I really supposed to believe my job got hit by arson?” Markus scoffs, watching the city blur past the window.

  “I didn’t know what to think either…” Alexia hesitates, her fingers tightening on the steering wheel before she adds, “My dad said demons started the fire.”

  Markus turns to look at her, raising an eyebrow, trying to gauge if she’s joking.

  She isn’t.

  He chuckles, trying to hold it in. “Well, I never really took your father as the sharpest guy in the room, but yeah, that clears it right up.”

  “Markus!” Alexia shoots him a glare. “Please. This is serious, you know.”

  Markus exhales and leans back in his seat. “Is it?” He pauses, letting the thought hang in the air.

  “Okay, maybe I’m being too harsh.” He turns his head slightly. “So… your family’s still hunting aliens or whatever?”

  Alexia doesn’t respond. She keeps her eyes glued to the road, her knuckles tight on the wheel.

  Markus sighs. “Alright, changing the subject.” He smiles faintly. “Summer’s almost here, and now that I’m only working one job, maybe we can hang out again. You know, like the old times.” He watches her reaction before continuing. “I’m off tomorrow from Quik Gas. If you want, we could grab a coffee or something.”

  Alexia exhales, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “Sure, I’d like that.”

  She didn’t think I died... did she? Markus wonders, glancing down at the two bracelets on his wrist. Well, I guess it runs in the family.

  “Still kinda hard to believe it’s been a whole year already,” he mutters. “Honestly, I haven’t had time to think about it.”

  Alexia pulls into his apartment complex. The place looks as run-down as ever — cracked window, scattered trash, a flickering streetlamp leaning the wrong way. She parks in front of his unit.

  “Here we are,” she says, that familiar look of dread tugging at her features. It never gets easier seeing her friend live in a place like this.

  But before Markus can open the door, Alexia stops him.

  “Wait. Before you go…” Alexia reaches into her coat and pulls out a yellow envelope.

  “There’s something Aunt Linda and I wanted to give you. We know how tough this day is for you.”

  Markus takes the envelope from her hands, murmuring a thank you. He opens it slowly. The light outside is too dim to read the letter inside, but something else catches his eye: cash. He pulls out a stack of bills, squinting to see the denominations.

  “$1,000?” His breath catches. He barely makes that in a month. “Thank you, but there’s no way I can accept this.”

  “Oh, for god’s sake,” Alexia snaps, punching the steering wheel. The car honks, startling Markus. “I know it’s not much, but just take it.”

  She wipes a tear from her cheek, secretly thankful the night hides her face from him. “And don’t you dare leave it in the car.”

  Markus swallows hard, touched. “Thank you, Alexia. You have no idea how much this means.”

  He gets out of the car, promises to meet her tomorrow, and heads into his apartment.

  As the clock turns from the third to the fourth, an alarm blares in the early dark.

  A groggy hand slams the snooze button. Markus rubs his eye and stares at the familiar cracks in the ceiling.

  Calling the apartment "grand" would be generous.

  Missing tiles dangle from above. The carpet has so many holes that the warped wooden floor beneath peeks through. His twin-sized air mattress takes up half the room. A lone dresser—its last drawer missing—sits crooked in the corner.

  That drawer? Empty.

  All his clothes are piled on the floor behind the door—every last one of them dirty. The kitchen has no dishwasher. The bathroom has a toilet that wobbles when you sit on it. Nothing about this place feels stable.

  Markus groans, forcing himself to sit up. He knows he has to do laundry today—especially if he’s going to see Alexia. No way he’s showing up in stained gas station pants.

  He stuffs everything into the last drawer, repurposed as a laundry bin, and makes the cold walk to the laundromat.

  By the time he returns, the clock has ticked past six.

  Markus folds his laundry, pulling shirts from the pile one by one until he finds the green one he wants to wear. As he lifts it, he notices a small hole under the armpit.

  “Seriously?” he mutters, inspecting it. With a sigh, he throws on his jacket to cover the hole. As he slips it on, he feels something crinkle in the pocket. He reaches inside and pulls out the envelope from last night. The cash is still there—and so is the note.

  Markus,

  I know things suck right now, but I hope this helps.

  Try to have a less-sucky April 3rd.

  Alexia

  Markus smiles. That’s so like you, he thinks, tucking the note into his pocket and grabbing a coffee before heading off to school.

  Before class, he tries to find Alexia.

  Weird—she’s not replying to his texts.

  He checks his phone again. Still nothing.

  He remembers what she has for first period and walks over to check, but the seat is empty. No sign of her anywhere.

  Strange. Alexia’s not the type to skip.

  With little time left before the bell, Markus heads to his own class, figuring he’ll catch her later. He always does.

  The class drags on. Markus, never the best at focusing, finds himself drifting as usual. At least his seat by the window gives him something else to focus on. The trees outside sway gently in the wind, and he lets his mind wander.

  What would life be like after all of this?

  A better job. Maybe a better apartment. Maybe... something more.

  The fire alarm blares through the hallway. Markus jumps in his seat.

  RING!

  “I didn’t know we had a drill today,” Mr. Light says, more to himself than to the class. The students murmur, looking around nervously. Mr. Light claps his hands, trying to regain control.

  “Alright, everyone. Line up, single file. Let’s move.”

  They start to gather their things, but something doesn’t feel right.

  Smoke.

  Thin at first, curling through the vents. Then more.

  “Wait… is this real?” someone asks.

  The panic spreads fast.

  “Calm down!” Mr. Light shouts over the rising voices, but it’s no use. Students rush for the hallway, coughing, stumbling, and pushing toward the exit.

  Markus covers his mouth with his sleeve, heart pounding.

  This isn’t a drill.

  Everyone gathers in the parking lot, just like they practiced, while the teachers take roll to ensure all the students made it out safely.

  Markus stands in the crowd, trying to catch his breath. Around him, students murmur anxiously—some coughing, others staring at the building in disbelief. Smoke continues to curl from the windows.

  Then, another teacher—one Markus doesn’t recognize—walks up to Mr. Light, her face pale and panicked. She speaks quickly, nervously, words tumbling out too fast for Markus to make out.

  “I shouldn’t have to go back in there,” Mr. Light says, his voice low but firm. “She was with you when it started.”

  The woman protests, but her voice is rushed, too quiet.

  Markus strains to listen—until he hears it clearly:

  “Alexia was with you—”

  His heart skips a beat. Alexia?

  She’s still inside.

  Without thinking, he bolts toward the school.

  “Markus! What the hell are you doing?!” Mr. Light grabs him by the shoulder.

  Markus shoves him away without hesitation. No way I’m losing her, too.

  He sprints into the burning building.

  Someone with horns runs out of the building, panicked—but Markus doesn’t notice. His mind is locked on one thing: Alexia.

  He barrels down the hallway, checking room after room—no sign of her.

  Smoke stings his eyes and throat. The school groans around him, the walls starting to buckle.

  Where was she supposed to be for first period? His thoughts spin. He saw it—he knew it—before class started, but the smoke clouds everything.

  “Come on, think!”

  Then it hits him.

  Precalculus.

  He turns sharply and runs toward the math wing, sprinting with desperation.

  “Alexia! Are you in there?!”

  No answer.

  Then, faint and weak:

  “Mar…”

  That voice. He knows it. He will always know it.

  Markus kicks the classroom door open. Smoke pours out, choking him instantly. He coughs but forces himself forward—and sees her.

  She lies motionless under a collapsed desk, coughing hard—until, suddenly, she stops.

  “No, no, no—”

  Markus rushes to her side, hurling the desk away. He drops to his knees and presses two fingers against her neck.

  A pulse. Thank god.

  Relief slams into him like a wave. She’s alive.

  But then the smoke closes in, and Markus starts to feel dizzy. His limbs grow heavy. His chest burns. I have to get out of here. Now, or we both die.

  “Alexia, hang on—we’re getting out of here,” Markus says, lifting her into his arms. He staggers toward the classroom door, every step heavy with urgency.

  But nothing is ever that easy.

  A massive chunk of the ceiling crashes down in front of them, blocking the exit in a thunder of splintered wood and falling plaster.

  “Okay… okay…” Markus murmurs, lowering Alexia gently to the floor. Not like this. He refuses to let this be the end.

  He grabs a nearby desk and hurls it at the window. The glass shatters with a crash, letting in the first breath of fresh air they’ve had in minutes. Quickly, he drags over more desks, stacking them into a crude staircase toward the window frame.

  “Alright, Alexia. This might be a bumpy ride,” he warns, though he knows she can’t hear him.

  He hoists her back into his arms and begins the shaky climb.

  At the top, the hot wind from the fire rushes over them.

  Behind—flames licking at the hallway—and then back at Alexia.

  “Ready?”

  Without waiting for an answer, he turns his back and leaps out the window, twisting mid-air to shield her from the impact.

  They hit the ground hard.

  Markus grunts as his body slams into the concrete, taking the full brunt of the fall. Pain explodes through his side, but he doesn’t let go of Alexia.

  Smoke pours from his lungs as he coughs violently, struggling to breathe. His limbs tremble. His vision swims.

  Still gasping, Markus tries to stand, but his legs betray him. He collapses beside her—too heavy, too weak.

  With what little strength remains, he reaches for Alexia’s neck and checks her pulse.

  Still there.

  Still alive.

  A tear slips down his soot-streaked face.

  “Found them!” a voice shouts from somewhere beyond the ringing in his ears.

  And then… silence.

  Markus feels everything fade—his limbs, his breath, his thoughts—until all that’s left is darkness, and the gentle pull of sleep dragging him under.