William was surprised by Carl's enthusiastic response. He asked, "What's going on with you?"

"These monsters have their own rules, and unless the people who breed them discover what they really are, other monsters are not allowed to be sold," Carl explained with concern. He checked the time on his phone and hurriedly headed for the stairwell.

"I've been in contact with the monsters, and I've seen them for what they really are. It means I've been exposed, and anything can happen to me," Carl continued.

"I helped you in the classroom, so they're going to come after me. I can't die. I can't leave my sister alone. I have to live. I have to protect her," Carl confided in William.

"Sister? You have a sister?" William was taken aback, realizing that he didn't know much about Carl. They were classmates, but Carl had always been withdrawn and had little interaction with others. Now, William suspected it might be because Carl had already recognized the people around him as monsters and chose not to engage with them.

"No," William stopped Carl, "I'm not exposed."

"It can't be!" Carl exclaimed. "These monsters don't reveal their true forms easily, and they only shed their disguise if they're discovered. I really wasn't exposed... Well, not exactly unexposed, but they don't know that."

William struggled to find the right words to explain, so he decided to share his own story. "I've died three times," he admitted.

"What?" Carl was shocked.

"I said I've died three times... Well, technically, four times," William clarified, a hint of sadness in his voice. It was difficult for him to accept that his own parents, with whom he had lived for so long, were actually monsters who intended to harm him. He began recounting his experiences.

"On August 11th, which was my birthday, monsters disguised as my mom and dad killed me. They killed me twice," William explained, his voice heavy with sorrow.

William was overwhelmed by the thought that the people he had loved and trusted the most were actually monsters plotting to harm him. He continued, "It was devastating to realize that my parents, whom I had lived with for so many years, were monsters who wanted to eat me. And then, on the evening of August 10th, I encountered Miss Colleen at school."

"After I shared my suspicions with her, Mr. Colleen killed me again," William revealed.

"Then, on the morning of August 10th, I tried to inform my classmates about the monsters. I called them to meet on the back hill," William continued. "But I never imagined that my classmates were monsters too."

"I received a phone call from you that morning, warning me not to go, but I didn't pay attention," William said, acknowledging Carl's previous attempt to protect him.

"What are you talking about? It's only August 9th," Carl countered.

"I know you won't believe me," William said with a sense of frustration. "I don't know why, but whenever I'm killed by a monster, I wake up unharmed."

"And I can also travel back in time," William added. "I've been killed four times, but each time, I wake up again."

Carl, bewildered by these revelations, asked, "Travel back in time? How is that possible?"

"I don't know," William admitted. "It's like I have this ability. I remember the phone call you made to me on June 9th."

Carl, who had always been cautious, was taken aback. He had a phone number that no one else should know except him.

William continued, "I told you about it earlier, the strange number you called me from on June 9th." "I remember that number. How do you know it?" Carl asked with growing confusion.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"I told you, you called me from that number on June 9th," William replied.

Carl, unable to explain how William knew his secret number, decided to trust him. "I believe you," he said.

Surprised by Carl's sudden change of heart, William asked, "You believe me? Just like that?" Carl shrugged and replied, "It could be your ability."

"Abilities?" William was intrigued. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know," Carl admitted. "It's possible that people bred by these monsters have developed unique abilities. Maybe it's a gift from God to help us fight against the monsters. But your ability... it doesn't sound very powerful."

William agreed with Carl. If his ability was indeed the ability to return to the past after being killed, it seemed limited in its usefulness.

"If you knew the power..." Carl began but was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Carl turned toward the stairwell door and said, "Someone's coming."

"Monsters, to be exact," Carl said with a serious expression. "Monsters? Coming here?" William was filled with fear.

Carl nodded. "Don't you think... Are we exposed?" William asked, his anxiety growing.

"Probably not," Carl replied, sniffing the air in the direction of the stairwell. He continued, "That monster smells like you. It's coming for you."

"For me?" William's fear deepened.

"It's too late to run," Carl shook his head. "Remember, William, if you don't want to die, you have to act like you don't know anything."

"But... but I'm going to be killed on June 11th, my birthday, the day I mentioned earlier," William lamented.

"That's still two days away," Carl said urgently. "Right now, the most important thing is to survive. We can discuss the rest later."

As Carl spoke, the stairwell door swung open, revealing a familiar figure—William's mother. "What are you doing on the roof?" William asked nervously.

His mother maintained a soft smile as she approached him. "I've been waiting outside for a while and couldn't find you."

"How did you know I was here?" William inquired, his unease growing.

"I came looking for you, and your classmates told me they saw you on the roof," his mother replied gently.

William hesitated as he struggled to find words, but the sudden arrival of his mother didn't give him time to stabilize his emotions.

"Auntie, William is feeling down," Carl chimed in, his demeanor calm and composed. His mother gazed at William and said, "It's okay, one exam won't define your worth." "Let's go home," she suggested, and her words carried a deeper meaning for William.

As William rode back home with his mother, fear consumed him. He couldn't help but cast suspicious glances at her as a million thoughts raced through his mind.

"Should I take off my coat and strangle her?" William pondered. But he quickly dismissed the idea, realizing that these monsters might have protective shells.

"Or maybe poison her food?" he considered, but then worried that they might be able to detect the poison.

William's anxiety continued to grow. He didn't know how many monsters existed in the world. Even if he could kill the monster in front of him, what about the others? Would he have to live in a world filled with monsters?

His mother's voice from the driver's seat interrupted his thoughts. "Why aren't you talking, William?" Startled, William stammered, "I didn't do well in the exam. I don't feel well, so I don't want to talk." His mother's voice softened, but it only made William feel more nauseous. "Grades aren't important, William. Mom and Dad won't blame you if you didn't do well."

William couldn't help but think sarcastically, "Of course you won't blame me. After all, you're planning to eat me in two days. My grades are the least of your concerns."

His mother then mentioned that she had heard from William's classmates about him losing his temper with the proctor during the exam. She also asked about William mentioning something about "monsters."

William realized that he was probably being watched. He had disclosed too much information, and now he was being tested by the monsters.

He decided to confirm his suspicions and said, "Yes, I saw the exam paper turn into a monster, along with all the questions and words on it. I had practiced those questions, but during the exam, I couldn't answer them."

His mother slammed on the brakes, and the car came to a sudden stop. She turned to him, her voice dark, "William, when you say 'monster,' is that what you mean?"

William nodded, fear coursing through him. He knew he had to be careful with his words.

The car resumed moving, and his mother didn't look back. She reassured him not to put too much pressure on himself and that grades weren't everything.

William realized that maintaining his best condition was essential to making his meat more delicious to these monsters.

When the news bulletin on the radio mentioned an ongoing manhunt for someone named Alex, a slaughterhouse owner, his mother expressed concern about the situation in the city. She even suggested that he stay home for a few days, emphasizing that it wasn't safe outside.

William found her comment ironic. It wasn't safe inside either, as his home was filled with monsters. He managed to convince his mother to let him attend his graduation dinner with classmates the next day, promising to stay home afterward and rest.