The Outcast's Rebirth

CHAPTER 25: Ashes Of The Past

Hours later...

As Kyzzu lay in his bed, the exhaustion of the day finally overwhelmed him. The room was still, save for the faint sound of the wind brushing against the walls of the small cottage. His body sank deeper into the mattress, and for the first time in months, perhaps even years, he drifted into a deep sleep. But this sleep did not bring him peace.

It brought him back.

Back to a life he thought he had left behind, a life where his name was Keith.

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   Keith stood in the familiar halls of his old high school. The pale fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting a sterile glow over the rows of lockers that lined the corridors.

  The smell of stale air and cleaning chemicals was suffocating. His hands were clammy, gripping the straps of his worn backpack. The muffled sound of laughter and chatter from other students echoed through the halls, but it all felt distant to him, like it was happening in another world.

Because Keith wasn’t really here—not anymore. His mind was locked on one thing, one person: Alfie.

Alfie, the thorn in his side. Alfie, who made his life hell. Alfie, the young 'uncle' of his best friend Ethan, but nothing like Ethan. Where Ethan was kind and easy-going, Alfie was cruel, relentless. For years, Alfie had tormented Keith—mocking him, shoving him into lockers, spreading rumors, and making every school day a living nightmare, and that was the least of what he did.

Keith’s stomach twisted into knots just thinking about him. Even the sound of Alfie’s voice could send a chill down his spine.

Suddenly, the bell rang, snapping Keith out of his thoughts. He flinched as students started filing into the hallways, pushing and shoving past him. He kept his head down, trying to disappear into the crowd. He didn't want to be noticed. He didn’t want Alfie to see him.

Today was supposed to be a big day.

  There was an important school assembly in the theater, something the principal had been hyping for weeks. Keith wasn’t particularly interested in whatever announcement they had to make, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off today—like a dark cloud was looming over him.

As the students made their way to the theater, Keith fell in line, keeping his distance from everyone, especially Alfie, who was up ahead, surrounded by his usual group of friends. They had later slipped out of the line, out of sight

Keith slipped into a seat near the back of the theater, away from the chaos.

    The principal stood on stage, adjusting the microphone, waiting for the noise to die down. The large room slowly quieted, but Keith barely paid attention. His mind was elsewhere—on Alfie, and on the ways he could avoid him for the rest of the day.

The principal began speaking, but his words were a blur. Something about new school policies, an upcoming event, or maybe a change in the school administration—it didn’t really matter. Keith was staring down at his hands, lost in his thoughts.

Then, suddenly, the fire alarm blared.

The theater erupted into chaos. Students jumped out of their seats, confused and panicked. Teachers tried to calm everyone down, but their voices were drowned out by the shrill, ear-piercing alarm. Keith’s heart pounded in his chest as he stood up, his body moving on instinct as he followed the crowd toward the exit.

“Everyone remain calm!” a teacher shouted, trying to direct the students. “We need to evacuate in an orderly fashion!”

But the panic had already set in. Students were pushing and shoving their way out of the theater, desperate to get outside. Keith was caught in the flow, his feet barely touching the ground as he was carried along with the crowd. His mind raced—what was happening? Was this just a drill? It felt too chaotic to be a drill.