"No... don't, let me go! You monster!"
On the soft, large bed, Mei's eyes were squeezed shut. Her lithe body trembled unceasingly, her stomach convulsing as if in a violent spasm.
Every inch of her fair skin radiated a palpable fear. Beads of sweat poured out, soaking her white pajamas and making the scene an unsettling mix of sensuality and strangeness.
In a sudden movement, Mei's eyes shot open. She sat bolt upright in bed, hands clutching her throat as she broke into a fit of violent coughing.
"Hah... hah..."
When the coughing subsided, a look of terror still lingered on Mei's face. The scene from moments before replayed endlessly in her mind.
In the dream, the child version of herself had been wrapped in eerie red lightning, like a malevolent god, and had seized her by the throat.
That disdainful, queen-like gaze and the suffocating pressure on her windpipe were seared into her mind like a nightmare.
The most crucial part was that, as an adult, she had been utterly powerless to resist.
She was so close... just a hair's breadth away from being choked to death by that little girl version of herself.
But thankfully, it was all over now. It was just a dream, only a dream. She would probably never go back there again in her life...
Mei gasped for air. She switched on the lamp, grabbed the mirror from her bedside table, and meticulously examined her own neck.
Good. Aside from some dried sweat, there were no bruises.
That proved it. It really did seem to be just a dream.
So... why did such a realistic dream occur? And why did the boy who appeared in her dream give her such a familiar feeling?
Especially when she had walked toward him, step by step, wanting to see his face clearly—the fluttering of her heart was identical to how she felt around Fu Li.
But... although her father and the others had never told her the specific details, she had guessed that the boy had died long ago.
"Honestly... what is going on..."
After calming her emotions, Mei felt completely drained. She fell back heavily onto the bed, her eyes filled with confusion.
Tonight, she was destined to have a sleepless night...
---o---
The next morning.
At Senba Academy, students arrived in droves. Their faces were brimming with youthful smiles, like a flock of adorable lambs.
However, that happiness belonged to them.
"Hey... Mei, what's wrong with you today?"
"Yeah, Mei, you look terrible. Do you want to go to the nurse's office?"
"No, thank you. I just didn't sleep well last night."
Hearing the concerned words from Kiana and Fu Li, Mei managed to force a smile and waved her hand, indicating that she was fine.
However, to Kiana and Fu Li, Mei looked significantly more haggard than usual, a difference visible to the naked eye.
This didn't seem like a simple case of a bad night's sleep; it was as if she had suffered a mental blow.
Connecting this to the impending arrival of the Herrscher of Thunder, a thought stirred in Fu Li's mind. He was about to reach out and pat Mei's shoulder, but she jerked away from his touch in an instant.
"Uh... I'm sorry, I was just a bit dazed..."
Perhaps seeing the look of astonishment on Fu Li's face, Mei froze for a moment herself before quickly and apologetically explaining.
She didn't know why, but the moment Fu Li had tried to touch her, her mind had inexplicably conjured the image of that mangled, bloody face.
And as that face surfaced, an inexplicable sense of fear rose from the depths of her heart, causing her to react that way instinctively.
"No... it's okay. But if you have something on your mind, you can talk to me or Kiana. We're friends, after all."
"Mhm... I know. Thank you."
Seeing Mei's expression, Fu Li's gaze darkened slightly. He forced a smile and once again gave her shoulder a reassuring pat.
He could feel it. As he lightly patted her shoulder, the muscles beneath her JK uniform jacket tensed up in a distinct tremor. It was the feeling of fear.
But what could possibly be frightening her?
He had already instructed Snakey to install surveillance cameras in a three-kilometer radius around Mei's house and to monitor her 24/7.
And Snakey could confirm that in the last twenty-four hours, no one had come into contact with Mei, and it was impossible for anyone to have entered her room.
Just as Fu Li was pondering how he could gently probe for information, the class bell suddenly rang. Immediately after, Pardo's footsteps interrupted the words he was about to ask.
"Um... class is about to start."
Hearing the bell, Mei let out a breath of relief, as if she'd been pardoned. She fled to her seat and picked up her textbook.
Only, she was holding it upside down.
Seeing this, Fu Li and Kiana exchanged a look, and they could clearly see the concern and worry in each other's eyes.
----
PS from the Author: Alright, I took a short nap earlier, then got up and finished this chapter! (4000 words completed today, rehabilitation successful!)
Also, I wanted to tell you guys something. You know Elysia? I dropped money for two big packs, and all I got was the character and her stigmata. I could just spit out my soul. I feel like I would've been better off just buying a figure.
Also, my goal for tonight! Crush that Valkyrie! If I don't beat her today, I'm not going to sleep!