Moira leaned against the cracked window of her small apartment, staring at the blur of city life below. It was a familiar sight:
bingen
predictable
The rush of people on the streets, the distant hum of traffic, and the neon signs flickering just across the alleyway. But the world outside felt distant, like it belonged to someone else.
She pulled the thin blanket tighter around her shoulders, warding off the autumn chill seeping through the poorly insulated walls. This place… if she could call it a home- was nothing more than a cramped space above a rundown restaurant. She didn't own much, just a few essentials scattered across the peeling floors, but that suited her just fine. She had never known anything different.
Family. Security. Normalcy.
All those things seemed like fragments from a storybook she had never been part of. No parents, no history. Just a few vague memories of foster homes, and now… here. Alone.
She had always told herself; she was just another girl trying to get by in a world that wasn't kind to those without roots. But lately, that comforting lie has started to unravel.
Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at her reflection in the window. Her black hair, once wild and untamed, now clung to her face with a weight that felt foreign. The air seemed thick, suffocating, and for the first time, she noticed something unsettling. A flicker in her eyes- a glint of something… other.
She backed away from the window, heart racing, her hands trembling as she clutched the edge of her desk. It wasn't the first time. Lately, there have been moments like this. Moments where the world around her seemed to shift, just slightly. As if the air carried secrets meant for someone else, but somehow, they reached her.
Her phone buzzed, cutting through the eerie silence in her room. A message from Aki, her best friend.
Hey, wanna hang out? Been too long since we grabbed bubble tea.
Moira almost replied. She wanted to. But something kept her from typing the words. A nagging thought she couldn't shake. A feeling she didn't belong anymore.
In the background, the news droned on, barely audible. But a single word made her freeze: maryoku.
Her pulse quickened as the reporter's voice took on a somber tone.
"In today's breaking news, the government has intensified its crackdown on maryoku following the recent surge in supernatural incidents. Authorities urge civilians to report any unusual behavior to the proper channels…"
Her fingers tightened around the phone. She had always viewed them as distant myths: rare, powerful people born with strange abilities. People she would never know. Never be.
Until now.
As she closed her eyes, trying to block out the noise. Deep down, she knew...
It wasn't just the world that was changing…
it was her.
– – –
I forced myself to take a deep breath, grounding myself back to reality. My phone buzzed again in my hand, the screen lighting up with Aki's message. Hey, you there? I see the bubbles moving…
Right. I couldn't just sit here and let the weight of everything swallow me whole. Maybe Aki could help me feel like… well, like myself again.
Sure, I typed back, fingers steadying as I hit "Send." Bubble tea sounds perfect. See you in 20.
Just for a little while, I'd pretend that everything was normal.
After getting ready and leaving the house, I walked to the boba shop where Aki and I were going to hang out.
Looking around, I wondered who else felt like they didn't belong… who else was changing, becoming something they weren't.
Sliding into the booth, I settled in and took a deep breath, trying to pull myself back into reality. A few minutes later, the door chimed, and I looked up. Aki walked in, her eyes scanning the tables until she spotted me. I waved her over.
"Finally," I said with a grin as she slid into the booth across from me. "I've only been sitting here for, like, ten minutes."
Aki rolled her eyes. "Moira, please. I know you; you probably got here early just to complain about it."
"Caught me," I laughed, twirling my straw. "Guess I needed a little extra time to zone out."
Aki's expression softened as she leaned forward, studying me. "You know, you've been doing that a lot lately. Are you okay?"
I hesitated, feeling the weight of my phone in my pocket. A constant reminder of the news report I'd seen, the one about maryoku. "I just… lately, I don't feel like myself. Like I'm changing, but I don't know how or why."
Aki's expression softened. "You're probably just stressed. With, well, everything going on." She paused, then lowered her voice. "Or… is it something more?"
I bit my lip, wondering how much I could really say. "I don't know. It's hard to explain." I managed a small, shaky smile. "Maybe I'm just being paranoid."
Aki laughed lightly, but there was a hint of something else there, something uneasy. "Come on, Moira. If anyone's paranoid, it's this city. Everyone's scared of something these days. You're just… fitting in, I guess."
My heart sank. Fitting in was the last thing I felt like I was doing.
"Have you seen the news about the maryoku? Things are getting out of hand," Aki said, her voice laced with concern.
Aki's eyes flickered with something between frustration and hope. "Hopefully, the government can contain them… or detain them, whatever it takes to keep us safe," she said, her tone carrying an unusual edge.
I watched her closely, feeling the silence that settled over us. It was thick, uncomfortable… almost stifling.
Finally, I broke it. "Why do you say that, Aki? What have maryoku done that—" I stopped, realizing my voice had gone sharp, almost defensive.
Aki was watching me intently, her expression unreadable. It was as if she were waiting for my response, watching to see if I'd agree or challenge her.
"You know what, let's just enjoy our outing," I said, forcing a smile to lighten the mood. I hoped it would ease the tension, shift the conversation back to something normal.
Aki's gaze softened, and she gave a small nod. "Yeah… good idea," she replied, mirroring my smile, though I could still see the questions lingering behind her eyes.
As time passed, I glanced at my watch and noticed it was time to pick up my medicine. "Aki, I need to grab my medicine and run a few errands," I said, standing up. "Text me when you get home, okay?"
I paid for my items and headed out, weaving through the busy streets until I reached the alleyway. Calling it a doctor's office was a stretch, but this was the only place I could get my medicine and keep things under wraps. The narrow alley was quiet, and the small, unmarked door felt almost hidden in plain sight.
I knocked, and after a moment, a deep voice called out, "Come in."
Pushing the door open, I stepped inside, a smile forming as I spotted the familiar figure hunched over his desk. "Hey, doc…"
He motioned for me to sit, and I sank into the chair across from him.
"How's the pain? Still as intense?" he asked, studying me with a concerned gaze.
I sighed, my shoulders slumping. "It comes and goes. Sometimes it's… overwhelming, especially at night. Feels like my heart's trying to burst right out of my chest."
He nodded, scribbling notes before pausing, his pen hovering over the page. "Moira… have you ever felt anything unusual? Something… different?"
I hesitated, debating if I should admit it. Finally, I nodded slowly. "Yes. Sometimes, I feel this surge of… force? Power? I don't know how to describe it exactly. It's strong, and on some days, it hurts, but other times it's just… there."
His pale green eyes lingered on me, studying me in silence before he jotted down a few more notes. Finally, he reached into a drawer, pulling out a small pill bottle. "Here's your medicine and the directions. Take it only when the pain gets intense," he said, passing it over.
I took the bottle and nodded. "Understood, Doc."
He sighed, almost exasperated. "You know, you can call me by my full name."
I chuckled, slipping the bottle into my bag. "Of course, Raiden… see you later. And be safe," I added, giving him a knowing look.
He offered a small smile, and with that, I turned and headed out. After running the rest of my errands, I finally made my way back home, the weight of the day settling over me.
Entering the building where I stayed, I spotted Granny Suzuko shuffling down the hall. Grinning, I crept up behind her. "Hey, Granny!"
She jumped, then swatted my arm with a chuckle. "Don't scare me like that, child!"
I laughed, slipping onto the bench outside with her. "Sorry! How was your day? Did you do anything exciting?"
She sighed, glancing up at the sky. "Tended to my garden, watched the news, read a little of my book… I'm getting old, so there isn't much I can do, child."
I nodded. "I know, but it sounds like a good day to me. At least it was productive! I went out with Aki, stopped by the doctor, and ran some errands."
She nodded, listening with a small smile. "That's good. Staying busy keeps you young."
I stifled a yawn. "Yeah, but it wore me out. I think I'll head inside, Granny. Don't stay up too late, alright?"
She patted my hand. "I won't, dear. Sleep well."
– – –
Moira stepped into her apartment, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she spotted the familiar sight of a bag of food left on the counter. Taped to it was a note in Granny's unmistakable handwriting:
"This'll last you two days. Eat it well, and if I catch you wasting any of it, I'll knock some sense into you. And don't forget to bring my tupperware back, or you'll be hearing about it for weeks.
– Granny"
She chuckled softly, shaking her head. No matter how chaotic her life got, there was always something comforting about Granny's little gestures. She unpacked the food, grateful for the reminder that someone cared.
Granny had always been there for her since that strange, fateful day in the woods. She had never known her parents, but Granny had found her as a baby, alone and vulnerable in those treacherous woods, filled with dangerous creatures. "It's a miracle you survived," Granny had always said. "Many don't make it out of there."
She didn't know what had kept her alive that day, but in some strange way, she was thankful that Granny had been there.
As she ate, a sharp, searing pain shot through her chest, deep and unrelenting. She gasped, her breath catching in her throat as her body stiffened in response. Her vision blurred, edges fading in and out, and her heart began to race erratically.
Panicking, she staggered, unable to steady herself, every breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. No, no, not now… Her hands trembled as she fumbled desperately for her bag, each second feeling like an eternity. Her pulse thundered in her ears, and she could barely think through the fog in her mind.
Where are they?
Her fingers finally brushed the cold bottle of pills. Her hands were slick with sweat, but she managed to twist the cap off. Her vision swam, and her heart skipped a beat as she took the pill, her breath coming faster as she waited for the relief to come. Please…
Time was ticking, and her body was growing weaker with each passing moment.
She swallowed the pill quickly, her hand shaking as she dashed toward the bathroom. Her pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out everything except the frantic beat of her own heart. She stumbled into the bathroom and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
What she saw made her freeze.
The reflection staring back at her wasn't her. It wasn't Moira. The face—hers, yet not—was twisted by something dark, ancient. Her skin was marred with black, pulsing vein-like marks that ran up her arms and neck, thickening like tendrils. They throbbed, moving in time with her heartbeat. Her eyes… her eyes were changing, the familiar brown fading into something darker, something unrecognizable.
A cold wave of fear washed over her, and she grabbed the edge of the sink to steady herself. She fumbled for another pill, desperate, her hands slick with sweat. With trembling fingers, she popped the cap and swallowed it along with a gulp of water.
Come on… work.
She closed her eyes, clenching her jaw, willing her body to stop the transformation. But the creeping, unfamiliar sensation wasn't easing. It was only getting worse. The clock was ticking—she didn't know how much longer she could fight whatever this was.
Granny's footsteps thundered up the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest. She'd heard the sounds—Moira's frantic gasps, the chaos above her. Without a second thought, she burst through the door, her eyes wild with panic.
"MOIRA?" Her voice cracked as she rushed through the rooms, her mind racing.
She reached the bathroom and skidded to a halt. Moira was on the floor, her back against the wall, gasping for air, her breath ragged and uneven. The sight of her like that—her skin darkened with those terrifying veins, her eyes clouded with distress—stopped Granny in her tracks.
Granny's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight of Moira, her voice coming out in a stunned whisper, "What in the world—?"
Moira's eyes were wide with fear, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to speak, each word choking out between labored breaths. "Gra… Granny…-"
The desperation in her voice cut through Granny like a knife. Without a second thought, she knelt beside her, gripping her hand tightly, her voice steady despite the panic rising in her chest.
"I'm here, Moira. I'm here."
Granny's mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening. She knew this wasn't something simple—this was far worse. But she had no time to think.