Drizzle misted the courtyard gray.
Joshua Wise pushed through gates, jacket zipped tight.
Creature warm bundle inside—small weight against chest, muffled chirps vibrating like secret hype.
Vial pocket cool reminder. Hands steady today.
Normal. Act normal.
Crowd buzzed loud.
Leo first—lanky wave. "Josh! Back among living? Yumi said you dipped yesterday—details!"
"Later." Forced grin.
Priya popped up, notebook flapping. "Josh! Rift chapter done—hero gives cursed flower, world tears open!"
Her eyes sparkled too much.
Joshua laughed awkward. "Cool story."
Garden pull strong.
Yumi kneeling beds—green sweater sleeves pushed, dirt freckles cheek.
Brown eyes focused roses—crimson petals veined faint violet, glowing soft unnatural.
Heart slam drums.
Creature chirp louder—wings flutter jacket excited.
Leo elbow nudge. "Go get her, tiger."
Classmates lingered—phones casual, whispers giggle.
Joshua swallowed fire.
Walked over.
"Yumi."
She looked up. Smile bloom slow. Surprise soft.
"Josh... you okay? Yesterday worried me."
"Yeah. Sorry. Bad timing."
Pulled rose pocket—plucked quick, dew still clinging.
"For you."
Face blaze. Solar Ember stir warm—flush veins match blush.
Creature chirp almost escape jacket.
Yumi eyes widen. Cheeks pink mirror.
"Really? It's beautiful..."
Fingers brush his taking rose.
Touch spark—electric sweet.
Air shiver faint.
Rose petals warm unnatural. Violet creep slow edges.
Joshua tense. "Yumi—"
Sky crack open above—violet shimmer jagged slow.
Crackle build. Wind howl sudden.
Classmates react fast.
Leo mouth open: "What the—?!"
Priya gasp, notebook drop.
Phones raise—filming start.
Screams mix confusion.
Garden roses pulse sync—violet spread wild.
Creature burst jacket—ember-red flare, hover protective, chirp frantic warning.
Everything freeze.
Time stop.
Classmates locked mid-motion—Leo's yell silent, Priya hand half-raised, phones frozen record, hair lifted wind still.
Courtyard statue gallery.
Only Joshua move. And—
Young man step rift center—silver-white hair catch frozen light, turquoise eyes narrow sharp.
Black coat billow stop mid-flow, shadow coil menace restrained.
World silent except rift hum.
"Joshua."
Voice cut clean, deference under urgency.
"Stop."
Gaze lock rose Yumi frozen hand.
"That flower—catalyst. You awakened it."
Rose glow intense now—violet pulse match rift.
Joshua palms burn hot.
Solar Ember roar awake—heat surge wild veins.
"What's happening?!"
Young man shadow surge closer—white eyes flare.
"Veiled Dominion calls. You're not ready."
Yumi frozen—eyes wide terror locked, mouth shape his name.
Joshua reach instinctive—hand toward hers.
Too late.
Violet light explode.
Consume him. Young man.
Frozen world fade.
London dissolve endless shadow.
Darkness swallow whole.