The boy without a system

CHAPTER 6 — THE COUNTDOWN

Evan woke up before the alarm could even go off.

For a moment, he just lay there, staring into the dark. Then it hit him.

The notebook. He sat up abruptly and glanced toward his desk. The drawer was shut.

He got out of bed, crossed the room, and pulled it open.

The notebook was right where he had left it. I must have imagined it, he thought.

He picked it up and flipped through the pages. Everything was intact the lists, the names, the dates. Everything.

He turned to the very last entry.

28 DAYS.

Grabbing a pen, he drew a line through the number and wrote:

27 DAYS.

Then, he got dressed and headed downstairs.

Lily was already at the kitchen table, eating cereal in silence.

"Morning," he said.

She didn't even look up. "Morning."

He sat across from her and poured himself a bowl. "You're up early," he noted.

"Couldn't sleep."

"Bad dreams?"

She just shrugged. "Something like that."

They ate in a heavy silence.

Evan found himself watching her the way she gripped her spoon, the rhythm of her chewing, the way she pointedly avoided his gaze.

She knows something. She’s acting strange.

But he couldn't bring himself to ask. Not yet. Not without looking suspicious.

"I'm going to train," he said finally.

She gave a small nod, offering no further word.

He grabbed his jacket and headed out.

The dojo was quiet when he arrived, Chen was already there, waiting.

"You're late," he said.

"Two minutes," Evan countered.

"Two minutes is two minutes." Chen tossed him a jump rope. "Two hundred reps. Then we start."

Evan pushed through it, his lungs burning.

Then came the heavy bag, the footwork drills, and the wooden dummy.

By the time they were finished, Evan was soaked in sweat.

"Better," Chen admitted. "Still slow, but better."

"When do we spar?"

"When you can throw a punch without toppling over."

Evan nodded, swallowing a mouthful of water, Chen sat down beside him.

"You look exhausted," he said.

"Didn't sleep well."

"Something on your mind?"

Evan hesitated.

Chen knows things. His son knew about the future. Maybe he can actually help.

"There's someone," Evan said, deciding to test the waters. "A girl. She claims she's like me. Reborn."

Chen’s eyes narrowed. "Do you trust her?"

"No."

"Good." Chen leaned back, his expression unreadable. "What does she want?"

"To team up. To stop the Administrator."

"And you actually believe her?"

"I don't know."

Chen went quiet for a long moment.

"My son had a friend," he said eventually. "A boy named Adam. They used to train together. Before he passed, my son told me Adam knew things, too."

A chill ran down Evan's spine.

"Adam?"

"Adam Cole." Chen looked him dead in the eye. "Do you know that name?"

Adam Cole. I remember him. He was a survivor one of the strongest. He died in the old timeline, years before I did.

"Yeah," Evan said, his voice steady. "I know it."

"Then you know he's dangerous."

Evan nodded slowly.

"Find him before he finds you," Chen warned. "And whatever you do, don't let him get close."

Evan left the dojo at seven.

His mind was racing. Adam Cole. If he’s here, he could be anywhere in this city. Right now

He walked home slowly, lost in thought. if Adam is out there, I have to find him first. I have to be ready.

He paused at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change.

But first, I need more training. I need to be stronger. I need…

The light turned green. He stepped off the curb.

I just need more time.

He got home around eight.

Lily was gone. A small note sat on the fridge: Went to Jess's. Back later.

He crumpled the paper and tossed it in the trash.

Retreating to his room, he sat at his desk and opened the notebook.

27 DAYS.

He began to write.

Names, locations, dates he poured everything he remembered onto the paper. The first portals, the cities that crumbled, the faces of the people who didn't make it.

He wrote for hours until the pages were nearly full.

Finally, he closed the book and tucked it back into the drawer.

He paused, a sudden feeling of unease washing over him.

The drawer was open. Just a tiny crack.

I closed it. I know I closed it.

He pulled it open again. The notebook was still there.

Maybe I'm finally losing it.

He forced the drawer shut, lay down on his bed, and stared up at the ceiling.

27 days. And I'm already falling apart.

Lily came home late that night.

Evan heard the front door creak open, followed by the rhythmic sound of footsteps on the stairs.

He stayed still, pretending to be deep in sleep. He heard her walk past his door and into hers.

The door clicked shut. Then, silence.

---

Evan woke up at midnight, The air in the room felt heavy, wrong, He sat up and walked to his desk. The drawer was wide open, He peered inside, his heart sinking.

The notebook was gone.

No.

He bolted to Lily's room and threw the door open.

She was sitting on the edge of her bed, the notebook spread open in her lap.

She looked up at him, her face deathly pale.

"Evan," she whispered. "What is this?"