Cool wind brushes my cheek, and a shiver snaps me awake. The sun shines bright and leaves falling onto the street. I realize I have fallen asleep beside a tree opposite the school. I start walking towards the school. I cannot fathom another place to go. No one comes to mind. No relatives, at least none that I can remember. I do not know where to hide. My thoughts are becoming a burden on me. I try to steady my mind. Then, abruptly, my eyes momentary fall on the rooftop. My breath catches. A student stands at the edge. His arms wide open, head bowed, slouching. He trembles, scorching with tension, as if on the verge of leaping.

  "What is he doing there? What is he thinking?", all these thoughts rush in my mind as I run towards the rooftop.

  I count the stairs to keep my mind from wandering off. Then it hits me unexpectedly. He was the boy I saw standing outside the Counselor’s office. His name rests on my tongue like a flavor I cannot describe. My chest heaves as I scramble up the stairs, panting. I am pretty sure I saw his ID card on his neck that day. Then suddenly the name on it flares. It is Ave.

  As I reach the rooftop, I heard someone's voice.

  "...And why so? It won't prove anything. The only thing you are going to end up with is your life and that way you are only going to make it easy for them.” The curly-haired boy is standing a few steps away from Ave. His demeanor is calm while talking to Ave.

  I cross the rooftop gate halfway out of breath.

  Ave looks at me, "I am gonna jump. You cannot harm me."

  The curly-haired boy's eyes are still focused on Ave.

  "What are you doing? Please get down. Suicide is not an option. I will listen to you, and we will solve everything. Look students have started coming. They will rush here seeing you like this. I want..". My voice trembles with urgency while coaxing Ave to come down.

  "Stop it. I am not committing suicide. For once in my life, I am doing something of my will."

  "Yet, the first thing you choose is to end it", the curly boy says, snark creeping into his voice.

  "Why are you saying this? He might jump?" I blurt out, panic tightening my chest.

  "You only have limited time.", the curly boy continues ignoring me. "If they see you, it might end without even starting. You are no longer in their possession and it might have been driving you crazy but try to get yourself together. You don't want to act recklessly at this point."

  Ave appears to accept what he has said as he moves away from the edge and begins to climb down.

  "Who is she by the way?” Ave asks at last after a pause. “Is she with them?"

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  "No, she is not important now. She is nobody", the curly-haired boy snaps out.

  "What do you mean I am "nobody"? I have a name. and who are "Them"?"

  “We don’t have time,” the curly-haired boy says dryly to Ave. “If you’re done thinking.” He disregards me entirely.

  The curly-haired boy bolts for the stairs, Ave following without hesitation.

  "Ahh..wait..", I call, scrambling after them.

  "Could you please explain what's happening and where are we going? Hey, Am I not audible?". I ask, behind them.

  They continue descending the stairs without giving me any reply.

  "Don't go to class, let's take a shortcut and leave from the back gate. But let me hear your dream first.", he is talking to Ave.

  "I don't know it was all a bit messy"

  "Calm down. You have to remember it in detail."

  "Yesterday after leaving the dorm, I came to class and then went to the counselor for my regular session. Nothing much after that. But in today’s dream, one teacher comes to take me to the principal and it is all blank after that." Ave covers his face with his hands, overwhelmed.

  "It explains. You have to avoid that teacher at any cost. Do you remember her face?"

  "No, it is all vague."

  "Is she the teacher you were looking at yesterday after the school ended? She looked scary.", I ask suddenly interrupting them.

  "She might be the conductor, if it is true then", the curly-haired boy pauses. "You should go to the class", he finally says.

  "But if it goes as per my dream. I don't know what will happen, I might."

  "That's the only option. If she is the conductor. She is searching for you right now. It is just a matter of time." He steps closer to Ave and puts a hand on his shoulder, "You have to calm down and just pretend that you are following your dream and you are not conscious. If they are sure of it, they will leave you alone."

  The way he speaks to Ave holds a familiar tone, and it tugs at me. When I was little, my dad and I used to play a game called Me time, where I would share all my thoughts, and my day with him. I would paint, draw, share stories, and talk about my fears.

  He always taught me that "I have to be calm in every situation. I have to hide my fears and listen, only listen and not say a word with others but here during Me time, I can be anyone and do anything.” Maybe the thought still resides in me that's why I am still very calm and quiet despite being around all the hassle.

  "I ..I don't know what they will do to me if I ..I cannot do this. Let's just run.", Ave hesitates.

  "No, we cannot, we will be caught in no time. It is of no use. They know everything about you and if we run, they will become sure of it they you are awake so they will declare you a disturber. Pretending to be the same as everyone and not do something reckless is the only thing that can save us." The curly-haired boy reasons with him.

  Ave’s eyes roll in confusion. His face twists in dread as a shiver tears through him. Heat flares behind his eyes, crawling past his ears and flooding his body. He continues, "So, are you suggesting I go as per the normal day? But that teacher knows something, she saw me yesterday as you said. Why would they take me to the principal office if everything was as a normal day? I think they know already."

  "They suspect. Besides, as per your dream, they take you to the principal and not the authorities which means they want to try to change your thinking once more. You will just have to follow them and pretend that you are not a threat. Try to put a smile on your face, if you could manage, so they know that you are happy.” The curly-haired boy wears him down with words.

  He moves closer to Ave and puts his hand on his shoulders. “You have to relax your body. Try to take a deep breath. I will be going with you to the class. Just follow along the plan and trust me it will work.”

  Reluctantly, Ave agrees to follow the plan, though every instinct urging him not to.