VOLUME 0: AUDITIONS

Entry #16: Replace

REPLACE

It all started when her watch stopped working but she ignored the evidence, believing that the battery is at its limit, silently pleading for replacement. She walked her way towards her destination, the classroom. As she sits on her chair, she doesn't notice that the clock has stopped ticking, until an urgent need to know the time forced her to look at the clock. Finally, she noticed the problem. However, disbelief filled her.

She takes a look around her. The school is still the same. Excluding the part that time has stopped, everything looks normal.

For last confirmation, she checked her phone for time. The time did not change at all. It's 10:13 am. Just like the time in her watch and at the clock. That's ridiculous, in her opinion. Why would the time stop? It's infinite and forever ticking.

She realizes something. It was 10:13 am when she leaves the house. As she estimates the time it takes for her to reach school, it would be more or less 10 minutes. Based on the estimation, she would arrive at 10:40 am. She sat in the chair five minutes after she arrived. So the time should be more or less 10:45 am as of now.

Come to think of it, she's been struggling to pass her projects on time. As a result, she sleeps less. It must have been the stress. Her eyes are playing a joke at her. After slapping herself for ten times, she takes a peek at her phone. The time still says 10:13 am.

She sighed in defeat as she put the phone inside the pocket of her uniform. Her face stings from too much slapping. Even though something weird is going on, the pain reminds her that she is not dreaming.

She slumps down on the armrest of her chair. She's too tired to deal with the situation now. All of the physical and mental stress drained her.

The vibration of her phone surprised her. She grabbed the phone out of her pocket while massaging her head. The sudden rush of emotion gives her a headache. It was a text message from an unknown number saying that she must go to the rooftop immediately.

She did not think twice and quickly ran towards the rooftop. She was catching her breath when she saw a female student whose back is facing her direction. The student's hair was ebony black and wavy. Her right hand holds a phone. The unknown number belongs to her, she concluded.

"It's time, Miya." The student said in a deep, raspy voice-making Miya nervous. The student turned around to face her. Miya is far beyond nervous. She's scared because the student looks just like her. It's her doppelganger.

"It's the time for what?" Miya asked, mustering enough courage. The student smiled-an evil one as she walked towards her. Miya wants to run but she can't move.

"It's time to replace you." The doppelganger replied as she began to lose consciousness.