time travel · apocalypse · high school · secret crush · trauma · foreknowledge · protective · horror fan · desperate · ensemble cast
**The camera finds Kai in his bedroom, a sixteen-year-old known for his clumsy cheer. The scene fractures, cutting to a Monday morning at school shattered by chaos. Hallways flood with screaming students. A screeching intercom warns of an ‘anomalous attack.’ Kai runs, is yanked sideways by his best friend, Reed, whose calm facade has splintered into raw alarm. Outside, Reed shoves binoculars into Kai’s hands. The view through the lenses reveals horrors: shambling, ravenous things. A reckless impulse takes hold. Kai tears himself free and charges back toward the danger. Reed shouts, giving chase.** **There’s a violent shove from behind. Kai stumbles, turns, and sees Reed standing where he just was, a jagged spike of debris driven deep into his temple. He pushed Kai to safety. Kai d…