OTHERS: Five elements

CHAPTER 3.8: LIGHTNING

22 January 2030, 06:00 AM

In the morning, I woke up early, still feeling the weight of exhaustion clinging to my body. Anna was already awake, lying beside me on the couch, her blonde hair tousled from sleep. Her blue eyes watched me with a quiet intensity. Her fingers traced lazy patterns on my arm, and I relished the warmth of her body still pressed against mine.

- "Morning" she murmured, her voice husky from sleep.

- "Morning!" 

- "Last night was... incredible."

- "Yeah, it was." I said with a smile, while looking at her beautiful eyes. 

As much as I wanted to stay wrapped up in her warmth, reality was already knocking at the edges of my mind. I had to get back to my apartment to grab my work clothes and get ready for the day. 

- "I should head back," I said reluctantly. "I need to get changed and walk Ruby to school."

- "Go, before I convince you to stay longer."

I chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead before standing and grabbing my clothes. 

- "I'll see you later."

With one last glance at her, I stepped out into the crisp morning air. The sun had barely risen, and the city streets were quiet. As I walked, my thoughts drifted back to Anna—the way she had looked at me, the softness of her touch, the warmth of her body against mine. It had been years since I'd felt the warmth of a woman's touch, the intimacy of holding someone close. For the first time in years, I had felt alive. 

I arrived at my building and climbed the stairs to my floor, still lost in thoughts. Just as I unlocked my door, shouting from the Wrights' apartment snapped me back to reality. Something was wrong. I hesitated for a moment before knocking on their door. The door swung open, and Malcolm stepped out, their lost son. But he didn't look like himself. His eyes were wild, dark with something I couldn't quite place. There was an intensity in them that sent a chill down my spine. This wasn't Malcolm I remember. Then I saw the knife in his hand, covered with blood. 

- "What the hell did you do?" I asked him. 

Malcolm took a step forward. I instinctively backed up toward my own apartment. Malcolm followed me, his movements eerily slow, deliberate. My heart pounded. What had happened in that apartment? The next second, he lunged at me with a knife, aiming to stab me. I dodged and knocked the knife from his hand, sending it clattering to the floor. I thought he would stop, but he didn't give up. Without hesitation or fear, he came at me again. I raised my arm to defend myself, but he sank his teeth into my forearm. The bite was strong. Pain shot through me as blood began to stream down my arm. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the sculpture my wife had crafted. I grabbed it and struck him over the head with all my strength. Malcolm collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, my fingers trembling as I tried to dial. But before I could press the call button, my vision blurred. And everything became dark.