Mira's POV
Something felt wrong.
I didn't know when it started.
Or why.
But it was there.
Subtle.
Quiet.
Like a feeling that didn't belong to me—but refused to leave.
"…why does it feel like this…"
The office was quieter than usual.
Not peaceful.
Just… empty.
Azael wasn't there today.
I didn't think it would matter.
I told myself it wouldn't.
"…focus…"
I adjusted my backpack on my shoulders and walked down the hallway, holding a file close to my chest.
Just work.
Just another day.
Just—
"Miss Mira."
I stopped.
Turned.
Adrian.
Standing near one of the side corridors.
Smiling.
But something about it—
felt wrong.
"…yes…?"
His tone was lighter than before.
Too light.
"I need your help with something."
A small pause.
"…what is it…?"
"It won't take long."
He gestured slightly.
"Just come."
My fingers tightened slightly around the file.
"…Kael sir told me to—"
"It's work related."
A pause.
"…urgent."
Silence.
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
"…okay…"
---
The corridor felt different.
Less used.
Quieter.
The lights flickered slightly.
"…this area…"
"I know."
Adrian said casually.
"Old storage section."
We stopped in front of a door.
Metal.
Plain.
Unwelcoming.
"…what do you need…?"
"Inside."
Something tightened in my chest.
"…I'll just—"
Before I could finish—
The door opened.
I stepped in.
One step.
Two—
And then—
The door slammed shut.
Loud.
Sharp.
Final.
My heart jumped.
"…sir…?"
Silence.
I turned.
The handle didn't move.
"…it's locked…"
A small breath escaped me.
"…this isn't funny…"
Still silence.
"…open the door…"
I knocked.
Once.
Twice.
Harder.
"…please open it…"
Nothing.
Only my own voice.
Echoing back at me.
The room was dark.
Not completely.
But enough to make everything unclear.
Shapes blurred.
Corners deeper than they should be.
"…calm down…"
I stepped back slightly.
"…it's just a mistake…"
"…he'll come back…"
But the feeling—
That feeling didn't leave.
It grew.
Slowly.
Like something settling into the space.
"…why does it feel like I'm not alone…"
I turned.
Nothing.
Just shadows.
Still.
Watching.
No.
Not watching.
Waiting.
"…stop it…"
I whispered to myself.
"…there's nothing here…"
But my heart—
didn't listen.
It started beating faster.
Louder.
Too loud in the silence.
"…someone will come…"
Minutes passed.
Or maybe seconds.
I couldn't tell.
Time didn't feel real anymore.
"…why hasn't anyone come…"
I walked toward the door again.
Pressed my hand against it.
"…please…"
My voice came out smaller now.
Not weak.
Just… alone.
"I didn't do anything…"
Why did I say that…
Why does it feel like I'm being punished again…
My chest tightened.
"…no…"
"I didn't break…"
The words came out again.
Like before.
Like I needed to remind myself.
"I didn't break…"
But this—
this was different.
This wasn't whispers.
This wasn't judgment.
This was—
Darkness.
Real.
Close.
Heavy.
"…sir…"
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
Not to Adrian.
Not to anyone here.
To him.
"…Azael…"
Silence answered.
Cold.
Still.
And then—
Something shifted.
Not the room.
Not the air.
Something else.
Something deeper.
Like something far away—
heard.
---
Azael's POV
The moment it happened—
I felt it.
Not through sight.
Not through sound.
Through something older.
Something I don't use anymore.
Something I buried.
"…Mira."
The name settled in my mind.
And something inside me—
moved.
Wrong.
Disturbed.
Pulled.
"…fear."
A pause.
"…hers."
Silence.
Then—
it broke.
Not control.
Not composure.
Something else.
Something far more dangerous.
"…who."
---
Mira's POV
The air changed.
I felt it.
Suddenly.
Instantly.
Like the room—
wasn't the same anymore.
The darkness deepened.
Not visually.
But—
presence.
"…what is this…"
My breath slowed.
Not by choice.
Like something was—
forcing it.
"…I'm not alone…"
This time—
I knew it.
Not fear.
Not imagination.
Real.
Something real.
A sound.
Soft.
Almost nothing.
But enough.
Behind me.
I turned—
Nothing.
But—
The shadows moved.
Not like shadows should.
Not with light.
With intention.
My heart stopped.
Just for a second.
"…what…"
And then—
I heard it.
A voice.
Not loud.
Not clear.
But inside.
Not outside.
Inside.
"You called."
My breath caught.
"…who…"
Silence.
Then—
"He heard."
The room felt colder.
Sharper.
Alive.
"…Azael…?"
The name left my lips without thought.
Without doubt.
And something—
answered.
Not with words.
With presence.
Overwhelming.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
The door—
didn't open.
It didn't need to.
Because the darkness itself—
split.
Not visibly.
But I felt it.
Like something stepped through reality—
instead of entering it.
And then—
Adrian screamed.
Outside.
Loud.
Broken.
Terrified.
"…what…"
I stepped back instinctively.
My back hit the wall.
The voice came again.
Closer.
Clearer.
"He waited too long."
My heart raced.
"…what are you…"
Silence.
Then—
"Mercy was his choice."
A pause.
"Not mine."
---
Outside
Adrian collapsed.
Shaking.
Crying.
Screaming.
"I DIDN'T— I DIDN'T— PLEASE—"
Kael stood frozen.
For the first time—
completely serious.
"…you idiot…"
Because he felt it too.
That presence.
That thing.
That should not exist.
"…he's back…"
The lights flickered violently.
The air distorted.
And for a brief moment—
just a moment—
Kael saw it.
Behind Adrian.
Not fully.
Not clearly.
But enough.
A shape.
Not human.
Not shadow.
Something else.
Watching.
Waiting.
Hungry.
"…so you finally let it out…"
Kael whispered.
Half in awe.
Half in warning.
---
Mira's POV
The door opened.
Slowly.
By itself.
Light spilled in.
Breaking the darkness.
I stood still.
Unable to move.
Unable to understand.
Azael stood there.
Calm.
Composed.
Unchanged.
Like nothing had happened.
But his eyes—
They weren't the same.
"…sir…"
My voice trembled slightly.
Not in fear.
In something else.
Something deeper.
"…you came…"
Azael looked at me.
Not past me.
Not around me.
At me.
"Are you hurt."
"…no…"
A pause.
"…I'm okay…"
Silence.
Then—
"Good."
He stepped forward.
The darkness behind him—
disappeared.
Like it was never there.
Like it never existed.
But I knew.
I felt it.
"…what was that…"
I didn't ask.
I couldn't.
Because something told me—
I wasn't supposed to know.
Not yet.
---
Azael's POV
"…I stopped."
Too late.
It answered anyway.
A pause.
Then—
"…control it."
Because if I don't—
Next time—
There will be nothing left.