Kenzo’s breath caught when he saw the smile. It was Tunde’s face — the same eyes, the same crooked grin — but it felt empty, like someone wearing a memory instead of a body.

“You look surprised,” the figure said calmly, stepping closer to the bus. “I told you I’d see you again.”

“That’s not him,” the hooded woman whispered. “Not completely.”

The mark on Kenzo’s chest burned, reacting to the sound of the voice. The pale creature whimpered softly, retreating toward the shadows, while the invisible presence beside Kenzo stiffened, as if preparing to defend him.

Kenzo forced himself to speak. “Why did you choose me?”

The figure’s smile widened just a little too much. “Because you’d open the door,” it replied. “You always do.”

The driver slammed his hand against the dashboard. “Don’t listen! If it speaks your truth, it can step inside.”

The figure raised a hand and gently knocked on the bus door.

Knock. Knock.

The lights flickered.

And somewhere behind Kenzo, something whispered,

“Let him in.”

Kenzo’s breath caught when he saw the smile. It was Tunde’s face — the same eyes, the same crooked grin — but it felt empty, like someone wearing a memory instead of a body.

“You look surprised,” the figure said calmly, stepping closer to the bus. “I told you I’d see you again.”

“That’s not him,” the hooded woman whispered. “Not completely.”

The mark on Kenzo’s chest burned, reacting to the sound of the voice. The pale creature whimpered softly, retreating toward the shadows, while the invisible presence beside Kenzo stiffened, as if preparing to defend him.

Kenzo forced himself to speak. “Why did you choose me?”

The figure’s smile widened just a little too much. “Because you’d open the door,” it replied. “You always do.”

The driver slammed his hand against the dashboard. “Don’t listen! If it speaks your truth, it can step inside.”

The figure raised a hand and gently knocked on the bus door.

Knock. Knock.

The lights flickered.

And somewhere behind Kenzo, something whispered,

“Let him in.”