I’m sitting in the middle of my homeroom css—te, mind you—after a near car crash, a fake sister, and a voice in my head. All this, of course, came after I woke up in someone else’s body because I died in a fire.

  Why do I have a homeroom? I gnced around the room. My hands cradled my head as I hunched over my desk. Chattering students filled the room's empty space. Why is this a thing? Why are you so quiet, voice? I gritted my teeth and poked my bottom lip out. ANSWER!

  Genie: There is nothing to discuss.

  I flinched, startled, and almost dropped my head. I hope no one saw that.

  Genie: They didn’t.

  I could feel my face go pale at the strange voice. Nothing? You’re a voice in my head who scolds me. I dropped my left hand to my desk and leaned on my right hand. Who are you? What do you want from me, and how did you get into my head?

  Silence.

  I sighed because if there was no response, then perhaps I was crazy.

  Genie: A peculiar series of events led to this unfortunate outcome.

  My eyes narrowed as I focused on the strange voice and tried to predict what he would say next. If I could foresee what was next, then I’d be making this up. I rexed, and so did my face. I forced myself to calm down.

  I waited, but no response. Once I stopped focusing on the voice, I noticed that I was staring at a young girl with light-brown hair. Brown hair in a cssroom where everyone else's hair was bck. Hair aside, she was pin, but I’m old, so—

  Genie: Actually, your soul is the only aged aspect of your new persona. You are quite young.

  Chills ran down my spine, and I began to sweat.

  I collected myself. I had to shake this voice. If I could lock my thoughts, maybe I could—

  Genie: Might I interject?

  I was at a total loss for words—everything.

  How did you—? My eyes widened at the realization that it could access my innermost thoughts and feelings. I caught the brunettes gaze.

  Genie: You—well, you ck the mental fortitude to do more than summon fundamental scruples. An introduction is in order. My name is—

  The girl smiled at me; her eyes were brown, different, like she was mixed with something—I cracked my best smile while taking in the conversation ensuing in my head. She bit her lip.

  Weird.

  Genie: Call me what you will; my name transcends your tongue.

  The girl rose from her seat with conviction in her brown eyes. She was sitting on the left side of the room, closest to the wall, while I was dead center.

  My brain ftlined, and then questions raced through my head,

  Ghost, are you me—I mean Antwon? Were you always in here? Inside of me? Speak!

  My fingers slid from my cheek onto my lips.

  I’m communing with the dead—this is some next level sh—

  Genie: Shamanistic magic. No.

  It’s you; you’ve been denying me freedom of speech!

  The brunette advanced in my direction with a peculiar look. Still holding her gaze, my focus drifted into another series of questions.

  The fluorescent lights hummed.

  Genie: Swearing is barbaric. You shouldn’t—

  Can it! Answer my question!

  Genie: You’ve asked several; however, I shall address them all.

  Tracing my lips and sliding my fingers into my mouth, I bit down, grinding them between my teeth.

  Genie: I am not Antwon—sadly, he does not reside inside of you, for his soul has departed this world.

  Silence.

  Genie: No. The voice answered a question unasked.

  Genie: Your existence does not mark Antwon’s death—his soul departed this world moments ago, or years—time is of no consequence when you’re not bound to its fabric. As, a tragic event removed him from the supple ripples of time.

  The brunette’s path was blocked by two girls roughhousing—her eyes sharpened as she attempted to go around them—she frowned because her path was always blocked. The fight itself couldn’t be more than two rows away, but I was focused.

  Hey, voice, you know what I’m thinking, right? So, can you answer my questions without me asking?

  Genie: Let us begin.

  I braced myself, biting down harder, as the brunette struggled past the two girls, grappling and pushing.

  Genie: This world is parallel to yours; however, those cssified as—Men are weak; women are strong—I get it. Answer the other questions.

  The grappling match intensified between the three girls as blows were exchanged. Miss. Nakamura shouted from the front of the cssroom, pulling the css’s attention—everyone but the three girls. Her calm, stoic face transformed into a scary scowl.

  Genie: Nuances go beyond physical strength. Men are expected to take care of the dwelling and furnish emotional support to their mates. Women run this world to sustain men. “It’s a sharp pivot—from a seasoned antique merchant to a fumbling teenage boy. Would you like me to illustrate further?

  A world ruled by women. What a scary thought. How was I supposed to provide emotional support? My skill set consists of—Antique merchant?”

  I nearly choked.

  Those were stolen goods—my boss’s stolen goods. I just died next to them. Why was the brunette walking toward me? Wait, what do you mean by illustrate?

  Miss. Nakamura stood up, grabbed something white and round, like an egg, and threw it at the three students.

  My eyes attempted to track the objects, but they were too fast. The brunette dodged by ducking behind one of the girls, but the other two were grounded by white puffs of smoke or the aftermath of the objects. My jaw dropped at Miss. Nakamura’s aggression. What did Miss. Nakamura throw?

  “I will not allow physical aggression in my cssroom. Now, find your seats and continue preparing for the first period, or I’ll find something for you to do,” she shouted.

  Genie: The wish you cast in your past existence transported you to this world, and—

  What stupid wish brought me here?

  I watched the girls drag themselves off the floor, wondering how long that powdered egg would knock me out. The powder was thick like clown makeup, covering their face, hair, and their uniforms’ colrs.

  Miss. Nakamura’s aim was crazy good.

  The room turned dark, and the people disappeared. My desk faded, too, forcing me to stand. I looked around for the other students, but I was alone.

  “What the heck is going on?” I shouted, hoping I had fallen asleep and someone could wake me, but a cold burning sensation filled my lungs.

  The darkness felt cold and empty against my skin, and then the world burst into fmes. My heart raced as familiar images came into focus. I was in the storage room—I was going to burn for a second time.

  “Someone help me.”

  Genie: Steel yourself, for you are not burning.

  My screams turned into tears. In the middle of my crisis, a voice rang out. I fell to the floor and covered my head.

  Knox’s (memory): Don’t do this, he said. I clenched my eyes to block out the fire. If I were to die twice by the same means, I wouldn’t see it—I couldn’t stop it.

  Knox’s (memory): “I served the family well. I was loyal—I am loyal.

  I tucked my knees, bringing them to my chest.

  Knox’s (memory): “So please spare me,”

  Those words—my words. I opened my tear-drenched eyes. I saw him—I saw Knox.

  I rose to my feet, shaken, eyes hooked, but too afraid to move.

  Genie: Fret not, for this is an illusion—the fire cannot burn you.

  Slowly, I made my way to myself. The dying man was hunched over, clutching his chest.

  I looked around as a roaring fme engulfed my hand, but it didn’t burn.

  “Hey!” I shouted, but Knox didn’t respond. I crept toward him, clutching the coat of my uniform, “H-hey, Knox, you s-stupid fool. Don’t die here.” Tears poured down my face as I reached for the dying version of me. My hand went right through him.

  “What is this?” I whimpered as I continued to grab at the ghost of myself.

  The fmes seemed to stand in pce as the dying man tched onto one of the non-burning crates to support his weight.

  Genie: Your endeavors are fruitless. This is the moment before your wish is cast. Please note the burning antiques surrounding your person, the smoldering decor , and if we continue, our first interaction.

  The box next to Knox colpsed, causing him to fall back, frantically reaching for something to stop his fall—he nded ft, hitting his head against the ground. I winced. But before he fell, he grabbed something; it was jammed, and it slipped through his fingers.

  Genie: The moment has passed. You have summoned me.

  I used my sleeves to wipe my tears. I despised those who cried instead of fixing the problem, yet here I am. “I didn’t see. I was distracted—”

  Genie: Digesting your untimely demise must be jarring. Very well.

  Knox rose from the floor in a reversed motion and froze frantically reaching. It was like rewinding a movie to find a specific moment.

  Genie: Observe.

  I walked closer to Knox through the still fmes, preparing to engulf him. I looked at his disgraceful stance; he was scared. But he wasn’t crying, and I respect that.

  I fought back the tears because it’s not what Knox would have done. I examined my white blouse and grabbed my chest. I still felt the wound; My chest burst with pain.

  I turned to examine his filing hands. As my meaty right hand was coming down on the broken box, something was poking out. I moved closer, passing through Knox to see what the heck it was. It looked like a spout.

  This can’t be your mp. Suddenly, time started, and Knox’s hand came down, gripping the spout, but his hands must have been too moist from perspiration, so it slipped through his fingers, revealing more of the mp.

  My jaw dropped as smoke arose from the mp and an orange silhouette appeared. I turned to Knox, whose eyes were shut tight. His breathing was raspy, yet the orange thing said nothing.

  “Shit,” Knox said. “I deserved this shitty death.” He coughed, and for a moment, I found myself agreeing.

  “I—” He started. “I don’t want to die because—” He broke into a coughing fit. The fire roared closer, and he rolled to his stomach and dragged himself away with one goril-like arm. Knox was cornered now.

  Knox’s (memory): “I didn’t get to live. Fuck. I wish I had a second chance at life, but this is the end.”

  Genie: Your wish is my command.

  The strange orange thing said before raising its arms, and the world began to fade.

  Knox’s (memory): “Who said that? Help me, please—” Knox too faded.

  The knot in my stomach tightened again, and my head spun. Something altered my posture, and I found myself sitting. I heard the chattering of students once again. The fluorescent lights returned with blinding lights before dulling.

  I’m alive. The fire wasn’t real, but my body didn’t know it.

  “Hey, Antwon, are you okay?” The voice echoed in my ears as my homeroom css blurred back into vision. The brunette had made it to me, but I was in there for minutes or hours?

  I held on to the image of the orange figure.

  “Antwon?”

  I traced my lip to reinforce the idea that I was alive. Was that a dream? I grew warm with rage as I reflected on Knox’s poor state before we lost the battle—No. Before we lost everything. I wanted to cry, and I hated it.

  What kind of second chance is this? A chance to blush and be weak; shit.

  I looked around to adjust myself to a familiar yet different cssroom setup.

  “Hey, Carter,” the brunette said.

  When did she get here?

  “Yes,” I said after spacing in.

  I looked up, no longer supporting my head with my hand. I must have looked pathetic, like a lost puppy with puffy eyes, because I couldn’t move on from my death, and her expression showed pity.

  “Damn, you’re cute, Carter,” she said, which threw me for a loop. My hands still trembled from watching myself die.

  I had forgotten my age, fifteen, and these strange gender norms.

  Genie: This is an excellent learning opportunity.

  Just shut up and let me figure this out. My eyes widened as a strange sensation swiftly coursed through my body deep beneath my ribs, and my face grew warm. Was I sick?

  Genie: Flushed, Antwon grew nervous and pyfully squirmed in his chair. I’m not nervous, you gender-neutral voice!

  Suddenly, I found it hard to hold her gaze. My face grew warm, and I sank both hands into my p. My body started to move on its own.

  “I know this probably seems sudden,” the brunette said. “But I-I’ve always found you interesting, Carter.”

  Genie: Antwon fidgeted—I won’t do it!

  I started to fidget.

  I gasped at these unwanted actions. Please stop. It wasn’t that I moved—I was coerced into moving. That voice didn’t control me. It just spoke—and I obeyed. My body followed the script whether I wanted to or not.

  “And I know you don’t like this kind of attention,” she said, “so I’ve kept other girls from bothering you. And now, I’m doing the same thing—”

  I looked at the floor. I had to get out of this conversation.

  “Hey,” she giggled. “Come on, I wanna talk to you, boy.” I felt my stomach sink at the word “boy.” My anger grew—I had suffered enough insults for one day. “I wanted to say that I—,” she paused, looking away, “like you.” She blushed something fierce.

  Genie: Antwon slowly lifted his head, his smile genuine, and weakly met her gaze with shy eyes and bated breath. Body tensed, shoulders high, he frantically pyed with a loose dreadlock and said—Don’t tell me to speak!

  Genie: I like you, too.” His face, burning with passion, glowed in the moment.

  I mentally cringed, wrapping my finger around a dangling dreadlock as the words of the orange, genderless voice became my actions.

  “I like you... too,” I said.

  Well, the blushing was real.

  The bell rang, marking the end of homeroom—the end of whatever this was.

  Genie: Not quite, Antwon.

  “Can I walk you to your next css?” the brunette asked.

  Please say no. I’m begging you.

  I tried to stop myself from following its orders, but my body tensed up as we wrestled for control.

  Genie: Caressing his cheek, Antwon nodded in a cute, boyish way and extended his hand in accordance with gendered norms. What kind of flippin' norms? What about my norms?!

  Genie: She gingerly accepted his hand, causing both hearts to flutter as they made their way out of Miss. Nakamura’s cssroom and into the open yet crowded hallway, leading to endless opportunities.

  There are no opportunities because I don’t want this. Stop making me a creep, you creepy voice!

  Genie: Please find a more suitable name.

  I would, but I can’t curse!