Each step Kim took carried her forward with burning urgency.
Her anger was unmistakable—raw, violent, alive.
She managed to leave the school without trouble.
No guards.
They really need better security…
Minutes passed as she finally reached the hospital entrance.
She stopped there, gasping for air.
Sweat streamed down her face.
Her pupils were dilated.
Her breathing—slow, heavy, uneven.
Her body felt like it weighed twice as much.
She lifted her gaze, searching.
And then—she found her.
Alya.
At the reception.
Kim forced herself forward with a sharp inhale.
Inside, Alya turned toward the entrance…
and immediately rushed to her.
—"Little sister! What happened? Are you okay?"
She caught Kim before she could fall, holding her tightly.
—"I'm fine… just… look at this… that damn witch… she's planning something…"
Kim spoke between broken breaths, her lungs burning—
And then she collapsed.
Alya sighed faintly.
—"You really need to exercise more, little sister."
She took the camera from her hands.
—"Let's see what you wanted to show me."
She watched.
Silently.
Carefully.
Until—
That moment.
Her grip tightened.
Her eyes darkened.
Her jaw clenched.
And without a word—
She threw the camera back toward Kim.
—"Is my shift over?"
Her voice was cold. Flat.
Her coworker trembled instantly.
—"Y-yes… y-you c-can go…"
—"Thanks."
Alya lifted Kim effortlessly and walked out toward the parking lot.
—"Thanks for carrying me, sis—"
Alya didn't respond.
She tossed Kim into the back seat.
Hard.
The car shook.
Kim's head slammed against the door.
—"Ow! That hurt!"
But Alya didn't even look at her.
She got in.
Started the engine.
And drove.
Fast.
They arrived at the school.
Alya stepped out immediately.
Kim stumbled after her.
—"Ugh… my head… everything sounds weird…"
She collapsed.
Unconscious.
Alya kept walking.
Didn't even glance back.
—"Alya?"
Xia's voice cut through the air as she saw her approaching.
Her expression shifted instantly.
—"Oh no… I know that look. Won Ho—come with me."
—"Okay."
They rushed out and intercepted Alya at the entrance.
—"What?"
Her tone was sharp. Irritated.
—"We know you're angry about what Kim showed you, but you need to hold back. Eclipse is a witch—we have to act together."
Alya exhaled slowly.
Closed her eyes.
Thinking.
Calculating.
—"Hmm… you're right. It's better to wait until tomorrow."
She turned slightly.
—"Also, tell your teachers Kim had to leave. Say she got sick."
She walked away.
Healing Kim as she passed by her.
Don't worry, Dark… I won't let that woman hurt you.
Alya placed Kim back into the car—
And drove home.
Classes continued as usual.
One after another.
Until finally—
The school day ended.
I walked out, holding my backpack before placing it on my back.
The streets stretched ahead of me.
Quiet.
The sunlight dimmed behind a cloud.
I looked up.
And smiled softly.
The sky was beautiful.
I kept walking.
Then—
The park.
The one where Kim and I used to play.
I smiled wider.
And ran.
I threw my backpack inside.
Climbed.
Higher.
Higher—
Until there was nowhere left to go.
And then—
I jumped.
The wind rushed against me.
My hair swayed.
My face relaxed.
Everything slowed.
Birds flying.
Trees dancing.
My body floating—
Just a few meters above the ground.
Then I landed.
Knees first.
Breathing softly.
Perfect.
—"I hope I can do this again with Kim someday…"
I picked up my backpack and sat on a bench.
Looking at the sky.
—"I'll stay here for a bit…"
I yawned.
Lay back.
Closed my eyes.
And drifted into sleep.
I woke up suddenly.
Sat up.
Looked around.
Stretched.
The sunset had arrived.
—"It's beautiful…"
I exhaled slowly.
—"I'm still tired… my body hurts… but I should go home and take care of Moka… although…"
I raised my arms slightly.
Smiled.
—"…I want to stay here just a little longer."
Silence.
The sky burning in colors.
And then—
I spoke.
Quietly.
Almost to myself.
—"When did the world stop making sense…?"
My gaze didn't move.
—"Before… equations had answers. Baudelaire spoke of pain—but human pain…"
A pause.
—"…not… things that whisper in unknown tongues."
I clenched my hand slightly.
—"They say I'm denying reality… but I swear—this has to be in my head."
A breath.
Unsteady.
—"And yet… I've seen shadows twist in mirrors…"
—"I've felt cold that doesn't come from the wind… but from something breathing behind the walls."
Silence.
—"Would it be easier… to believe I'm losing my mind?"
—"That all of this is just a collapsing consciousness?"
My voice dropped.
—"…Then why do my eyes turn gold when no one's watching?"
—"Why are my dreams filled with black roses?"
—"Why does the world… unravel every time Alya looks at me…"
My fingers tightened.
—"…but when she's gone… it stitches itself back together with threads of nightmares?"
I exhaled slowly.
—"Maybe reality is just an agreement…"
—"Something we all pretend is stable… so we don't have to admit the abyss is swallowing us."
A pause.
—"But I… I can't stop seeing the cracks anymore."
My eyes softened.
—"And the worst part isn't fear…"
—"…it's missing the time when they were just shadows."
Silence.
—"What am I… if everything I studied… everything I believed was solid…"
—"…was just a fragile veil over chaos?"
A faint smile.
—"I'm just a student who loves books about monsters…"
—"…but doesn't believe in them."
My voice weakened.
—"…like a fallen angel who still thinks he can fly again."
The sun sank.
Darkness grew.
—"And I'm still here… clinging to denial like a burning nail…"
—"…because letting go would mean the world was right…"
—"…and I never wanted to open my eyes."
Crunch.
Footsteps.
Distant.
Branches breaking.
Leaves shifting.
I looked toward the sound.
A shadow emerged.
Humanoid.
Faceless.
Pure darkness.
It lunged.
Fast.
I reacted instinctively—dropping to the ground.
It crashed into the bench.
Shattering it.
I ran.
Grabbed my backpack.
My heart pounded violently.
My breathing broke apart.
My vision blurred.
My legs trembled.
But I kept going.
It chased me.
Attacked again—
Missed.
Smashed into a tree.
Split it in half.
The top collapsed over it.
A deafening crash.
Dust everywhere.
I covered my face.
Closed my eyes.
—"…Is it over?"
I lowered my arms slowly.
Opened my eyes.
Exhaled.
—"Finally… this day couldn't get any worse."
Then—
It stood up again.
My pupils shrank.
I tried to run—
I couldn't.
My body froze.
Completely.
The creature stared at me.
Or… I think it did.
It lunged—
And suddenly—
It exploded.
Into nothing.
Behind it—
Professor Eclipse.
Hand raised.
Smoke rising from it.
She walked toward me.
—"Are you alright, dear Dark?"
Her voice was gentle.
I was still shaken.
—"Y-yes… thank you, professor…"
She grabbed my shoulders.
Looked directly into my eyes.
—"I know what I did earlier upset you…"
She leaned closer.
—"…but I'll have to do something similar again."
My body went still.
—"I need to keep you hidden from them."
She moved closer.
I couldn't react.
Her lips touched my neck.
Soft.
Then—
Her teeth sank in.
Pain.
Sharp.
Burning.
Black roses bloomed beneath us.
Wind roared.
A storm of petals.
She pushed me to the ground—
Still biting.
Warm liquid ran down my neck.
She pulled away.
Licked her lips.
Closed my eyes.
The marks formed again.
The same runes.
Glowing violet.
—"Rest, my fallen angel… even if the universe claims you… you will remain with me."
From the shadows—
Two blue eyes.
Burning.
Watching.
Filled with rage.
They locked onto Eclipse.
Then—
Disappeared.
A dark, messy room.
Trash everywhere.
Clothes scattered.
Only lit by a computer screen.
Won Ho typed rapidly.
—"Alright… just this… and… done."
Click.
Sent.
A smile formed.
—"It's ready. Tomorrow… everything begins."
He stood.
Dropped onto his bed.
Soft knocks.
—"Yeah?"
—"W-Won… are you coming to eat?"
Airi's voice.
—"Yeah, I'm coming."
He opened the door.
Walked with her downstairs.
—"Just sleep…"
—"Don't worry…"
Whispers.
In my head.
Crystals everywhere.
Inside them—
Rooms.
Covered in crimson.
My eyes snapped open.
Hands trembling.
A knife pierced one crystal.
A thread cut another in half.
Whispers again—
Luminari.
Unintelligible.
Then—
A gunshot.
Through my head.
I woke up violently.
Gasping.
—"What…? How did I get here?"
No time.
I jumped out of bed.
Ran to the bathroom.
Turned on the water.
Splashed my face.
Cold.
For a full minute.
I looked at my reflection.
Still breathing hard.
Didn't notice the mark.
I went downstairs.
Drank water.
One glass.
Another.
Another.
Until the thirst faded.
I sat down.
Still shaking.
—"Damn it… what the hell is happening to me…?"
Moka jumped onto my lap.
I stroked her gently.
—"Did I wake you? Sorry… just a nightmare."
She slowly fell asleep.
I carried her back upstairs.
—"We have school tomorrow…"
A yawn.
—"…I should sleep a bit more."
I lay down.
Placed her beside me.
Closed my eyes.
And fell asleep instantly.