I used the edge of my ruler to scratch my head while my other hand twirled the pencil, debating my next move.

My egd pat was due that Friday. I wanted to complete as soon as possible so I could do nothing but the Zake thing was bugging me.

How is it in this world that someone could disappear and nothing would change? The world didn't even slow down, a light didn't even flicker. Then again, I was doing a pat like a normal week evening.

I think what made me wonder was how most of us assumed he was dead. There was no hope that he was still alive except maybe Toni and Tshepang.

I decided to give up for the day given what happened. I quickly closed everything, threw my stationary down and took my glasses off. Then I collapsed on my pillow.

🇿🇦

I was on a platform joining the stairs to the field. Connor, Zake and one of our other friends, Loyd, played hand tennis.

If you don't know what that it is, it's a game played in a block of four. A tennis ball is played by bouncing it in your court into anothers. You lose if you touch the ball more than two times or hold onto it too long.

Zake was smiling, one earphone dangling and the other in his ear. I was suddenly struck that this lanky, braces-filled smiling boy was gone. The same boy who messed around with us day in, day out was simply gone.

We continued to play, round after round, laughing and having a good time. It was just like any other morning we spent together.

Zake looked at me, a peculiar expression on his face. Suddenly, it was just us two. We were standing in a dark place.

He slowly trudged closer to me, suddenly fuming. From behind him, a massive, snow coloured dog stepped out baring its teeth. The dog proceeded to stalk around us in a loose semi-circle.

"Are you forgetting me just because there's a pretty dog in front of you?" Zake snarled. Then, you guessed it, two more dogs stepped out from behind him.

Now three huskies; one black, one brown, one white stalked around us, baring their teeth and snarling. They seemed particularly angry at me. They increased their speed, circling faster. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me but I was sure there were four dogs now.

"Okay Caleb." Zake growled then smirked coldly. "Forget!"

The dogs charged.

I sat up, a dog's bark still echoing in my ears.

"Are you okay?" Someone asked. I looked up and saw my older sister on the foot by my bed.

"Yeah," I cleared my throat. ", I mean yes I am. Just a dream."

She looked skeptical but nodded and turned to my door. As she walked she kept making little woof noises.

"Wait, what are you doing?" She stopped and turned by the door.

"Making sure you don't forget."

🇿🇦

I couldn't stand to be in that place. Yet I didn't want to move. I found myself in the same place my dream was only this time it was real.

Loyd didn't seem to notice my change in mood. He was still in the dark so I didn't blame him. He didn't know his best friend was dead.

Missing.

I closed my eyes, trying to rid myself of these thoughts, the dream and the overall exhaustion. When I opened them again, the gang had assembled. Everyone except Shay.

I could only describe them in one word: me. They looked exactly like me. Exhausted, confused.

"Uh, what happened to you guys?" I tried.

Kete looked me up and down. "Probably the same thing that happened to you."

"Why is this happening?" Toni moaned. Her eyes were bloodshot and, if possible, she looked the worst out the six present.

"Probably a guilty conscience." I tried again. "It can only be that. I mean I keep telling myself that there might be hope but..."

I didn't finish. Tshepang went to rub her face and then remembered that she had a mask on.

"We shouldn't have gone to his house." In the distance, thunder rumbled.