The old computer wheezed like it was begging for retirement.
Liam stared at the dusty monitor in the school's media lab. The upload bar on the screen crawled forward, inch by inch, as if the universe itself was holding its breath.
87%... 92%... 100%.
He clicked the mouse once.Just once.And set everything in motion.
It was a local site—EchoBoard, a crude, forum-style platform used by wannabe musicians and college artists. It wasn't flashy, but it had listeners. More importantly, it had curious ears.
He titled the track simply:"Fix You – by L.C."
No bio. No explanation. No grand intro.
Let the music speak.
"Okay," he whispered, leaning back in the creaky chair. "That's done."
He left the lab, backpack slung over one shoulder. Outside, the sky was an overcast blend of gray and orange. Spring in Everhart always looked dramatic, like it was waiting for something big to happen.
Liam smiled.
It's already started.
The Next Morning
He didn't expect much—maybe a dozen plays. A couple of comments.
Instead, when he checked the post during homeroom, his heart nearly stopped.
2,091 plays.326 likes.78 comments.
All in under 12 hours.
And the comments?
"Who the hell is L.C.?""This song made me cry in public. I'm not okay.""Fix You? More like fixed me.""Bro dropped THIS on EchoBoard and dipped like a ghost.""Is this an unreleased band? Where can I find more?"
Liam stared at the screen. His hands trembled slightly—not from nerves, but from recognition.
It had begun.
After school, he walked home with Nova. She was unusually quiet until they passed the corner café.
"You uploaded it, didn't you?"
He nodded. "EchoBoard. It blew up overnight."
Her eyes lit up like street lamps flickering on. "People heard it?"
"They didn't just hear it," Liam said, "They felt it."
She stopped walking, turned to him, and asked in a small, fierce voice:
"Then what's next?"
Liam didn't answer immediately.
He looked up at the city skyline—old, tired, and ready to be reborn.
"We build something they can't ignore."
End of Chapter 4