The knocking echoed through the bus, slow and patient, like it knew time was on its side. Kenzo’s eyes stayed fixed on the door, his chest burning where the mark pulsed brighter with every second.

“Don’t open it,” the hooded woman whispered urgently. “Once it steps inside, it won’t leave alone.”

Outside, the thing wearing Tunde’s face leaned closer to the glass. “I just want to talk,” it said softly. “You owe me that much.”

The invisible presence beside Kenzo growled low, vibrating through the seat. For the first time, it felt less like a threat… and more like a warning.

Kenzo clenched his fists. “If I open it,” he asked, voice shaking, “will this end?”

The figure smiled, placing its palm flat against the door.

“It will begin properly.”

The bus shuddered. The doors hissed, unlocking by themselves, inching open despite Kenzo’s frozen body.

And as cold air rushed in, the driver screamed,

“If it crosses the line, choose fast — which one of you gets to stay human?”

The doors opened wider.

And the mark on Kenzo’s chest split into two.

The knocking echoed through the bus, slow and patient, like it knew time was on its side. Kenzo’s eyes stayed fixed on the door, his chest burning where the mark pulsed brighter with every second.

“Don’t open it,” the hooded woman whispered urgently. “Once it steps inside, it won’t leave alone.”

Outside, the thing wearing Tunde’s face leaned closer to the glass. “I just want to talk,” it said softly. “You owe me that much.”

The invisible presence beside Kenzo growled low, vibrating through the seat. For the first time, it felt less like a threat… and more like a warning.

Kenzo clenched his fists. “If I open it,” he asked, voice shaking, “will this end?”

The figure smiled, placing its palm flat against the door.

“It will begin properly.”

The bus shuddered. The doors hissed, unlocking by themselves, inching open despite Kenzo’s frozen body.

And as cold air rushed in, the driver screamed,

“If it crosses the line, choose fast — which one of you gets to stay human?”

The doors opened wider.

And the mark on Kenzo’s chest split into two.