The sun was bright, almost blinding, as the gym class gathered outside on the field. Laughter filled the air, sneakers scraping against the ground as everyone got into position. You stood in the circle with the others—about fifteen of you, all around 14 or 15. In the center stood Brandon. He was new. Quiet. The kind of quiet that didn’t feel normal… more like he was always watching. “Alright!” the coach called out. “Trust game. You know the rules—don’t let them fall.” A few kids snickered, but most nodded. Brandon didn’t say anything. He just stood there, stiff, his eyes flicking around the circle like he didn’t trust anyone there. “Relax, dude,” someone muttered. “We got you.” You weren’t so sure. “Fall,” the coach instructed. Brandon hesitated… just for a second. Then he leaned back. At first, it worked. The group pushed him gently from one side to another. Back. Forward. Side to side. Like he was floating. But then— It was Caitlyn’s side. She stood there, arms crossed, already smirking like she was bored. Brandon tipped toward her. For a split second, it looked like she would catch him. She didn’t. She stepped back. Everything happened fast. Thud. Brandon hit the ground hard, the sound making a few people flinch. For a moment, everything went quiet. Then— Caitlyn laughed. “Oops,” she said, not even trying to sound sorry. A couple of others laughed too, awkward at first, then louder. Your stomach tightened. “Caitlyn!” the coach snapped. “Help him up. Now.” She rolled her eyes but stepped forward slowly, still grinning. Brandon didn’t move right away. Then… he lifted his head. And looked straight at her. It wasn’t just anger. It was something colder. Something that made the air feel… wrong The sun was bright, almost blinding, as the gym class gathered outside on the field. Laughter filled the air, sneakers scraping against the ground as everyone got into position. You stood in the circle with the others—about fifteen of you, all around 14 or 15. In the center stood Brandon. He was new. Quiet. The kind of quiet that didn’t feel normal… more like he was always watching. “Alright!” the coach called out. “Trust game. You know the rules—don’t let them fall.” A few kids snickered, but most nodded. Brandon didn’t say anything. He just stood there, stiff, his eyes flicking around the circle like he didn’t trust anyone there. “Relax, dude,” someone muttered. “We got you.” You weren’t so sure. “Fall,” the coach instructed. Brandon hesitated… just for a second. Then he leaned back. At first, it worked. The group pushed him gently from one side to another. Back. Forward. Side to side. Like he was floating. But then— It was Caitlyn’s side. She stood there, arms crossed, already smirking like she was bored. Brandon tipped toward her. For a split second, it looked like she would catch him. She didn’t. She stepped back. Everything happened fast. Thud. Brandon hit the ground hard, the sound making a few people flinch. For a moment, everything went quiet. Then— Caitlyn laughed. “Oops,” she said, not even trying to sound sorry. A couple of others laughed too, awkward at first, then louder. Your stomach tightened. “Caitlyn!” the coach snapped. “Help him up. Now.” She rolled her eyes but stepped forward slowly, still grinning. Brandon didn’t move right away. The he lifted his head. And looked straight at her. It wasn’t just anger. It was something colder. Something that made the air felt wrong And that was it he broke her arm The sun was bright, almost blinding, as the gym class gathered outside on the field. Laughter filled the air as everyone formed a circle. You stood there too—arms crossed, bored.

In the center stood Brandon.

New. Quiet. Watching.

“Trust game,” the coach called. “Don’t let them fall.”

Brandon leaned back.

At first, it worked—hands catching him, passing him around like he was weightless.

Then he came toward you.

You saw him falling your way.

And you didn’t move.

You stepped back.

Thud.

He hit the ground hard.

Silence.

Then you laughed.

“Oops.”

A few others joined in.

“Hey!” the coach snapped. “Help him up. Now.”

You rolled your eyes and stepped forward, still smiling—but then he looked at you.

Not angry.

Worse.

Cold.

Something in that stare made your smile drop for just a second.

Night. Your room was dim, lit only by your laptop. The soft glow flickered across your face, the bandage wrapped around your arm still fresh.

You scrolled through videos, trying to ignore the strange, uneasy feeling in your chest.

The lights flickered.

Once.

Twice.

You froze.

The laptop screen glitched—

Then shut off.

Darkness.

You slowly closed it, your breath catching.

A chill ran through you.

You weren’t alone.

You looked up—

And flinched.

Brandon was standing there.

In your room.

Silent.

Watching you.

Your heart pounded as he stepped closer, calm… like nothing was wrong.

In his hand—

A small bunch of flowers.

He stopped right in front of you and gently held them out.

“I got you flowers,” he said quietly