I'm going to die, am I? It's just me and this monster in this dark apartment. No weapons. No one nearby to help me fight it and escape. And I won't dare to call anyone with this thing still having its nasty hand over my mouth. It's disgusting and I hate it, but if I'm being genuine with myself, what can I do? Before it dragged me in, its height, slanted eyes, and slithering tongue absolutely spooked me.

Okay, Aiden. Stay calm. As long as you do that, you'll make it out of here alive. No pressure.

That turns up all the pressure. Now my mind and body are under strain—how foolish of me. I contradict myself. But then I realise something. My senses rush to me. Muffled, I ask, "Endzoe, iz dat uue?"

"Yep. It's me." He lets go.

That clown. "So this is your holoskin. Nice prank, Enzo. You got me for a minute there. I thought you were a monster that wanted to eat me."

"I am... Except the eating part. I'm not like that."

I process his words. Such a joker. I laugh till my throat is sore. He can't be serious. If he is, then he's quite committed to this role. "Stop with the pretend, Enzo. You may have got me once, but that's it."

"I told you it's not a prank."

I further call him out on his nonsense, but he fails to surrender this persona. "This is no longer funny, Enzo. For you to keep this up is ridiculous at this point. My mouth tastes horrible and I can't even see you!"

Something grabs my arm and drags me through the shadows. I know it's Enzo, but where he's taking me specifically is anyone's guess including me. He stops. Light flickers in front of me. I try to guess what he's doing, but they're all far-flung.

Flick. Flick. Flick. Fire. It's fire. Now with consistent light, he hovers it until another flame forms, un-flicks it, and puts it away.

I become mesmerised by the light standing over a stool. It seems to be on something rather thick and yellow. I can't look away. It's beautiful. I step closer to take in more of it.

Strange human...

I raise my head to see that Enzo is still a lizard. Why can't he just turn off his holoskin? He told me he had one for months, and now when he has the chance to show it, it's overbearing. By this point, he's showing off too much. I know it can't be my AR glasses malfunctioning. Now that I think about it, where are they? I always have them with me. Noting the lack of weight at the back of my ears and the bridge of my nose, I place my hand over them to find out it's not there. That's a shame. The flashlight feature would be great for illuminating this place. Then I remember my watch has this as well.

"You're not scared of me, Aiden?"

"No. We're friends." After noticing it will not come on, I examine it to see what's wrong. "Why should I be afraid of friends?"

"Because I'm not human."

"You're truly a lizard?"

"Yes. Sounds like you finally believe that I'm a reptilian."

I give myself a second to think about what he just said. From that snippet of time, I say no.

"If you think I'm still human, then that's fine. To hear that you were coming saved me some trouble."

Trouble?

"Aiden, my species, the reptilians, are preparing to finally reveal themselves after thousands of years so they can take over Earth."

He's starting to get annoying. However, I have to commend him for still playing this character to the fullest. "That's all? I know this is all a facade. Reptilians don't exist."

"Aiden, the fact you felt scared when I revealed my true form makes you rare. Most of your kind have become so ignorant and unfeeling because of us."

"Interesting... So can you tell me why my smartwatch and microchip isn't working, dear reptilian?" That snobbish mocking might get me killed. This somehow pumps fear into me—a fear of death. Why am I thinking about death? There's no need to be like this. This is just a friend speaking from a script, or just improvising. I've always known Enzo to have a good imagination. All of this is make-believe, so STAY CALM.

"The reason the technology in here isn't working is because of an electro-magnetic suppressor. It reduces those frequencies to a level that halts their movements for up to twenty-four hours."

"A temporary EMP?"

"Don't worry about that specifics too much. Your tech will be fine. I had to put it on to make sure that no one is eavesdropping."

"But that's for our safety and wellbeing."

The screech of a dying calf jumps out his fangs. "You have so much to learn. But the fact you reacted to my appearance at all means you'll be more receptive than most."

I begin gagging. The flavour of his scales is becoming unbearable. He sees this and tells me he'll get something to remove the foul taste. A few minutes pass, and he returns with a spray bottle in pink wrapping, but in my opinion, the logo on it isn't all that great. Maybe I need the power to come back to get a better grasp of how it looks.

The light vanishes. Moments later, the flicking restarts.

Flick. Flick. Flick. He keeps at it but no light returns. A growl comes from this. And then... BWAHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAA!

What is this? It's despicable. Hands over my ears do little against it. Swamping the space, I feel a throb at my forehead. I press them in further hoping to keep it out. Luckily, it stops, and the pain subsides. 

The quiet that comes freaks me out where darkness cannot. I remain still, hoping for the light to come back. Odd footsteps intensify until they depart, gifting the opportunity for more flicks to occur. They become a monotonous sequence until reddish-orange above a fat pillar of yellow comes forth once more. I can't help myself. I have to stare at it; my mouth becomes slightly open in amazement. Some spurts fly in for an intense bubblegum flavour to overwhelm the foul taste. Then the corner of my mouth feels a separate sensation—one more solid. My teeth go down on it and it feels like actual gum. I chew on it; the juices gushing out to drown me from within from all its goodness, but I ensure I go back to staring at the sight in front of me as I chew.

A cheerfulness drips from Enzo. I can sense it from his past several lines, but none more than, "I'm a bit shocked you're so impressed by a candle." 

That's the name! I was wondering what it was called. My father told me stories about how he and his family had to use them during the global fuel crisis of the early to mid-2020s. They are as lovely as he said, but the size of this one gets to me. The ones he described were skinny and white. I thought those were the only type, but it seems to not be the case. They have more in scope than what I presume. I didn't care for what he is saying. The subtext of disappointment in that statement fails to pull me from the candle. He quickly realises this and flicks on another light. This switches my attention to his hand.

"This is a lighter. Your species used this to light tobacco cigarettes for smoking until its complete ban in 2041."

I wasn't as familiar with this thing called a 'lighter.' My father told me that when he was my age, they had to use what was called matches to light the candles. Despite this, I want to experience fire in my hands, so I ask him, and he hands it to me. Enzo directs what to do and I go through the motions.

FLICK.

In one go, I did it. Fire. It becomes my new distraction.

"Aiden, I don't mean to interrupt you, but I want to add something to what I said earlier. The taking over the world bit will happen in under 72 hours. They put out a timer online stating there will be a special surprise at the end."

I play along with the escalating game of pretend as my eyes remain on the flame. "When did it start? I never noticed any countdown."

"It would come up in your notifications."

I must've ignored it. Checking my notifications is something I barely did today. I directed too much of my focus on my upcoming video game tournament to do it. But with no electricity to verify what he said, it's just hearsay.

He begins sobbing. I wonder if his boohoohoos are payback for my mocking tone prior. "Are you fake crying?"

Enzo replies with, "No. This is my actual cry. I just... I just... feel terrible knowing that our friendship is coming to an end."

"We're best friends forever, Enzo. That'll never change. Ever since our first day of preschool, we've been together from all the bullies you beat up, to all the times we played hopscotch and the school lunches and snacks we shared. Nothing—and I genuinely mean nothing—can break us apart."

"That's great to hear, Aiden. I'm sorry for encouraging you to cheat in your previous competition. I should've known how much you want a fair contest, no matter how mediocre you are."

"Hey..."

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." He kneels. "I wanted you to win for once so we can celebrate together. Going to the local 3D printed pizza place. Watching a movie in the metaverse. Voice-changing karaoke over soda. Doing that stuff after such a special event would bring me peace with what I knew will inevitably happen soon, but our fight over helping you cheat ruined that."

Wow. I really did hurt him. To say we should've never been friends was too far. I should make it up to him. However, he rejects my pitch for a fun day, stating that his parents told him to not have any guests nor leave the room outside of them not being his real parents. They are here to blend in and secretly guide humanity's fall.

A heavy metallic thud startles us. The power comes back, signifying the return of the internet and all devices. Anxiety hits Enzo. He tells me to leave now with a warning that they'll arrive soon. "Escape with your family and hope for the best," he pleads before shoving me out the door without a goodbye.

I turn around and go towards it with the expectation it will slide open, but it fails to do so. Messaging him and banging at it also leads to no success. With no other options to contact him, I somewhat heed his advice. I get to the lobby, but slowly. Enzo wasn't much fun, that's for sure! For fire to be more engaging is underwhelming.

Dang! I should've asked him about the brand of spray. Oh well. I'll call or message him later to find out. It tastes a hundred times better than any of the ones I've tried. Then another horror comes: The gummy sensation is declining. I can feel it falling apart as it dissolves.

As I exit the lobby, I pass several people in suits and ties. However, a voice stops me and says, "Excuse me, young man. We would like to have a chat with you."

It was one of them in black. Their pale skin and inexpressive faces weird me out, and their boring tone neither helps it go away. They state they're detectives, but I don't buy it. Something about them isn't good, but they do not take long to finish what feels like a pseudo-interrogation. They then let me go.

That was uncomfortable. I don't want to meet those people again. At times they made me feel like a criminal. I didn't break any laws for them to act like that.

A swift, sharp coldness rushes through my body. I can't determine where it came from, but I become unsettled. My pace increases, hoping it will fade and die. Going down the sidewalk, I see those in front move to the side to reveal the people in black. There's a briskness to them, and judging from their looks, it's all on me.

My walk switches to divergent running. I zip across the nano-paint zebra crossing with an instinctive understanding to get as far as possible from the people in black. Racing through several blocks wears me down to a jog. I come upon an open space of old lampposts and a water fountain in the centre. After all that, I need a break. Just five minutes. Five is more than enough.

This gives a chance to fall into some deep thought. So Enzo wasn't warning me about his parents? They're very strict from what I recall. The kind of punishments they give out makes me happy my mom and dad are not like that. Spanking teenagers in 2049 with leather belts soaked in cow piss should not be allowed. But if we are reasonable and consider other possibilities, then it might not be them he warned about. Instead, he must've been implying...

Cold. Coming from the right. Should I turn? I don't think I want to. The result will ruin me with dread. So I run. My sore feet work to cut past the diverse crowd. Sadly, they're too stupid and blind to move.

I flee at under half speed, but I still cover a solid distance. As I run, a certain alleyway pops up. This is a shortcut I often used to make it home before my parents' curfew. Being spotless, like all alleyways in Singapore, makes it easy to traverse. I slip in, keeping up the pace. The honks and beeps of AI vehicles are weakening. This signals I am well within it. At roughly three-quarters of the way through, there is a branching horizontal path. I never take it, ignoring it like always. As I pass it, however, something catches my eye: Man-sized lizards in suits.

It's them. It has to be them. The ones in black... they're reptilians!

The AI in my smartwatch interrupts my panic. Unacceptable levels of negative emotions detected. Do you need a psychiatrist?

Have I just gone insane? There are many institutions that treat insanity. I attempt to turn it off, but it refuses. It continues to inform me of multiple locations, treatment options, qualified individuals, and much more despite my efforts to shut it up.

I burst out the alleyway into a major intersection. A quick look-behind shows they are gaining on me. They're human again. The lizardmen are hiding behind human forms.

"Escape with your family and hope for the best,"

Enzo's words come to me. This guilts me into calling them so I can tell them to leave the city. I don't think I can make it to them in time, but they need to know what's happening.

Just my luck. All my communications are down at the worst time. What else can I do now? I can barely run any further, the detectives are closing in, and the worst of all is that no one cares. It's like I'm invisible as they go about their business.

I'm hopeless.

My cheeks feel extra wet. It feels different from the layer of sweat I've built up. Flowing rivers do not come from my pores, but my eyes. I'm crying, and for good reason: I can't take this anymore.

I'm only fifteen. Why is this happening? All I want is to become an e-athlete, and this is what the universe hands me? I want to curse God for this hell, whether he's one or many, whether he's from my religion or all religions, or even a praying mantis or dragon. He has shown me that I can't rely on him. Rather, I want the last thing I think about to be my family.

My mind brings up the times I spent with them—birthdays, Chinese New Year celebrations, Christmases to my middle school graduation. This makes me happy. And thankful. And brave.

Going through these memories gives me the feeling this isn't it. There is hope I can survive, that I can escape and that my family can do the same. I can do it. I know it. I just need to be strong and it'll work out somehow.

Keep running, Aiden. Don't stop!

HONKKKKK!!!

I fail to notice it. A car bangs into my side, barrelling me metres down the street. I lay flat on my chest with my head to the side. The only so-called silver lining, considering my situation, is my smartwatch going quiet. My eyelids struggle to stay open as men in black approach me.

Who hacked the regional ID database?

We still don't know. The cybercrime unit is currently tracing the source, sir.

We're lucky they detected something wrong so quickly. With so many people in this city, he could have got away by the time we noticed.

Did Enzo do that to save me? If so, he's a saint. Thank you, Enzo. Sadly, what you did was in vain. We're screwed. Whatever happens, happens.

My consciousness dissipates. I am at their mercy.

I'm finally done. Phew!

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