The moon hung in the sky, tinted a faint red.
As the night deepened, that red grew darker, richer—until it was the deep crimson of fresh blood.
It felt like a sign.
A warning.
Marine slept soundly at first, but her body soon began to stir.
An unease crawled beneath her skin.
Then—flashes.
In her dream, she saw a lone woman standing against a tide of monstrous, inhuman creatures. Their forms twisted and shadowed, their eyes glowing with malice. The air reeked of ash and iron, the ground shook beneath their numbers.
The woman's blade cut through the dark like lightning. Every movement was desperate yet graceful—a dance between life and death.
The sight felt… familiar, and yet the dream was too hazy, dissolving before Marine could reach its truth.
Her eyes flew open.
Beside her, Silvey sat quietly, her silhouette outlined by the moonlight streaming in.
Marine's breath trembled, words caught in her throat.
Without a word, Silvey gathered her into a warm embrace. The steady beat of her mother's heart soothed her, but not enough to wash away the lingering fear.
"My dear… another bad dream?" Silvey's voice was soft, but carried a weight beneath it.
"Yes, Momma," Marine murmured, her tone hesitant, fear still clinging to each syllable.
"Don't pay it any mind, darling," Silvey whispered, stroking her hair. "Dreams can't hurt you."
Marine nodded weakly, but Silvey's gaze drifted past her—toward the window.
The crimson moon glowed in the sky, painting the room in a haunting shade of red.
Her thoughts chilled her spine.
The scene… the woman… all of it dragged her back to that day.
But she said nothing.
She chose silence.
The next morning, before anyone else had stirred, Silvey moved quickly, her steps quiet but urgent. She climbed the stairs, heading toward a hidden room—toward someone far away from this world.
---
The afternoon passed with deceptive peace.
The air was calm, the scenery almost picturesque. Yet there was something off—an unnatural stillness lurking beneath the surface.
As Marine and Gara walked home from school, Gara's gaze seemed distant.
Her mind was elsewhere.
Marine tilted her head, smiling lightly.
"Hey, cutie pie, what are you always daydreaming about?"
"Nothing…" Gara's voice was faint. "Just wondering… when they'll come to save me."
Marine blinked. "Who? And… save you from what?"
"…The hollows," Gara said flatly, still lost in thought.
Marine froze mid-step.
"What? Hollows?" Her voice was sharp, her body stiff with shock.
"Yes," Gara continued absently. "They'll find me… now that I've awakened my powers."
Marine's eyes widened. "What?!"
The sound snapped Gara back to herself. She glanced at Marine—and felt a chill. The younger girl's head was slightly bowed, her expression shadowed, unreadable.
Something about that look sent a shiver crawling down Gara's spine, as though she were staring at something not entirely human.
"I—I was just joking," Gara said quickly, forcing a smile. "Don't take it seriously."
She reached out, trying to shake Marine from her thoughts.
But Marine didn't move.
Instead, her finger slowly rose, pointing toward the ground.
Gara followed her gaze.
And then—