Blue Light

What happened at last year's farewell party? No one talks about it - and Aarav never answers. Once known for his quiet charm and perfect grades, Aarav now moves through the halls like a ghost. The laughter of his classmates feels distant, the world a little heavier. He doesn't believe in love, friendship, or promises anymore - just the passing of days. Then, one morning, the sky turns blue. Not the peaceful kind - the kind that hums, flickers, and burns. Within hours, the city collapses into chaos. Students are trapped inside the school as explosions echo across the horizon. Panic replaces order. Survival replaces kindness. And through it all, Aarav finds himself surrounded by people he once ignored - each breaking in their own way. As fear spreads and loyalties shatter, the question echoes louder than ever: What really happened that night? And what will become of those who live through the blue light?

Aarav woke to the sound of his phone buzzing. He reached for it slowly, as if the weight of it might crush him.

"Hey... you awake?" Sid's voice came through the speaker, quieter than usual. Concern edged every word.

Aarav didn't answer.

"Man, you have surely not even gotten out of bed yet," Rohit added, his tone soft but firm. "You're... you're not doing okay, are you?"

Aarav forced himself to sit up, rubbing his eyes. He tried to muster a response. "I am just fine... " It came out weak and hollow.

Aarav stared at the blue morning sky outside his window. It was unnaturally vivid, almost vibrating, but he felt nothing - not awe, not fear. Only emptiness.

"You can't keep doing this to yourself," Sid said quietly. "Last year's farewell party... I know it's still haunting you. But you can't live there forever."

Aarav tried again, opening his mouth to reply, to joke, to lighten the tension. He couldn't. The words got stuck in his throat.

Rohit muttered quickly. "You don't have to talk, okay? Just... breathe. We'll figure out how to liven you up."

Aarav looked at the phone. For a moment, he almost felt something - gratitude, maybe, or at least recognition that someone was here, caring.

Then the sky flickered. Blue light streaked across the room, too bright, too humming, too wrong.

Aarav froze. "Uh... is that... normal?" Sid whispered.