I didn't sleep,Not even close.
Every time I tried, the mark pulsed slow, deliberate… like it was reminding me that whatever happened last night wasn't over.
It had only just begun.
By morning, my body felt heavy, but my senses
too sharp Too aware.
Every sound felt louder. Every movement outside my window pulled at my attention like a thread I couldn't ignore.And beneath it all, that presence
Him.Faint,distant, But there.
I pressed my fingers against my neck, right over the mark
Stop, I whispered.
It didn't.A knock shattered the silence I froze.Three slow,deliberate taps at the door not normal,not casual.
My stomach tightened.
They're going to come for you.
The memory of his voice hit like a warning bell.
Another knock.This time, harder.Open the door.
The voice on the other side was calm.Too calm.
I didn't move.
Open the door, it repeated. We know you're in there.My heart started pounding.How?
I hadn't told anyone. I took a slow step back,
Then another.The floor creaked beneath me,and the knocking stopped.
Silence followed.
A heavy, suffocating silence. Then....
A crack.
The door burst open, I stumbled back as three figures stepped inside like they owned the place.
They all dressed in black.Not casual black
uniform black.,Clean,precise,Intentional about what they want.Their eyes locked onto me instantly.Not curious,not surprised, but certain.
There you are, the one in front said.His voice was low, controlled, well spoken.Like he'd done this before.many times.
Stay back, I warned, my voice shaking despite everything in me trying to stay steady.
They didn't even slow down.
You don't understand what's happening to you," he continued, stepping closer. But you will.
My back hit the wall again this time reaching the very end of the wall
there was nowhere to run.
Who are you? I demanded.A brief pause,
We're the ones who clean up mistakes.My blood ran cold.mistakes,my hand instinctively went to my neck.
The mark pulsed.And the moment it did everything changed.
All three of them tensed.Their eyes snapped to my throat.For the first time they hesitated.
That's not possible, one of them muttered
The leader's expression hardened.
It's active," he said.Active?
What does that mean?I shot back
No one answered me.
Instead, the leader took another step forward slower this time. Careful.Like I was dangerous.
You've been marked,he said. That alone should have killed you.
I clenched my fists.Yeah, I've heard that already
his gaze sharpened.
Then you know what happens next.
I swallowed hard.you try,A faint shift in the air.
Not visible.but felt.
Like pressure building before a storm breaks.
Try?"he repeated softly.Then he moved.fast. too fast.But this time so did i I didn't think, I didn't plan
My body just reacted.
His hand shot toward my throa
and I caught his wrist The second our skin touched
the mark exploded with heat.His eyes widened.
Mine did too. What.....
The force that hit him wasn't something I controlled.
It just… happened
A shockwave ripped through the room, throwing him back like he weighed nothing. He slammed into the wall hard enough to crack it.
The other two froze. So did I my hand was still raised.my hand was still raised Shaking,
What… did I just do?" I whispered. The mark burned brighter.Alive awake
The leader pushed himself up slowly, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.But he was smiling.Not amused. not impressed.Satisfied
Well, he said, his voice rougher now. That confirms it.Confirms what?My chest tightened this time.What am I? I demanded.
He didn't answer right away.
Instead, he looked at the others. And gave a single nod. That was all it took.
They moved at the same time.This time, I wasn't fast enough.
Pain exploded at the back of my neck.My vision blurred. My knees hit the floor.
The last thing I saw before everything went dark
was the leader walking towards me.