( PH 1 )
The corridor felt quieter now too quiet.
Anie didn't realize when she sat down.
or how long she had been sitting there.
The ICU door was still in front of her unchanged.closed Inside Eli remained unmoving.
"Anie."
A voice reached her soft close she didn't respond.
"Anie… can you hear me?"
Mira stood beside her now concern clear in her eyes.
"What happened?"
Mira asked gently her gaze shifted briefly toward the ICU.
Then back to Anie,
"How did he get hurt like this?"
silence Anie's eyes didn't move.
"Anie…" Mira stepped a little closer.
"There were people here earlier."
her voice lowered.
"I saw the security rush in… and then suddenly everything stopped."
a pause,,,,
"…what happened inside?"
Still no answer because Anie wasn't there.not fully her body sat in that chair
but her mind,was somewhere else.
fragments pieces memories that didn't stay still.a corridor another one different.
But the same,a voice fading,,
"…Anie…"
her fingers tightened slightly something was wrong.not just the memory something inside it.
something she hadn't noticed before
a gap.
like a missing piece that shouldn't be missing.
"…no…"
A whisper escaped her lips Mira froze.
"What?"
Anie's breathing shifted slightly uneven now.
"…there was something…" she murmured.
"Something… I didn't see…"Mira frowned.
"Anie, what are you talking about?"
No response because Anie was already going deeper.back into that memory that room that moment.sam was sitting therequiet too quiet.
"…Anie…"
Her voice again but this time different
lower.
"…they're trying to reach me…"
Anie's eyes widened slightly that line,
Why didn't I remember that clearly before…?
Her breathing stopped for a second.
"…through… something I don't understand…"
The memory flickered unstable incomplete.
"Anie!"
Mira's voice cut through sharp this time.
Anie blinked the hospital returned instantly.white lights cold air reality.
"…huh…?"
She looked at Mira like she had just woken up.
"You weren't listening at all."
Mira said, not angry but worried.
"I've been asking you for minutes."
Anie's lips parted.
"I…"
But the words didn't come.
Because what could she say?
That people attacked them?
That Eli fought them?
That something inside her
was changing?
That none of this made sense?
"I don't know…"
She finally said soft broken Mira studied her for a moment.she didn't push further.instead she exhaled slowly.
"…you look exhausted." Anie didn't respond.
"You should go."Mira said,
"I'll stay here." a small pause.
"…we'll stay." Anie's eyes flickered.
"You don't have to sit through this alone." silence,
"…he won't wake up faster just because you're staring at the door."
Not harsh just honest Anie looked at the ICU again.her chest tightened slightly then she nodded slowly.
"…okay."
The rain had already started when she stepped outside.not heavy but constant.cold droplets hitting the pavement.
The city lights blurred through the falling water.neon reflections stretched across the streets of Astra.everything looked distant distorted.
She didn't remember how she reached the café.only that she was inside now
sitting near the window. a cup of coffee placed in front of her untouched.
Steam slowly rising then fading Anie didn't move.her eyes were fixed outside
on the rain,on the dark clouds above the city.on the lights struggling through it.
Why me… ???
The thought returned,
What is happening…
Her fingers lightly touched the cup.
warm but it didn't reach her.
Why did they choose me…?
Her reflection faintly appeared on the glass.for a moment she didn't recognize it.not completely because something inside her felt different.
Shifted not just power something else.
something that had started long before today.
Her eyes narrowed slightly,
"…sam..…" the name came quietly,
"…what were you trying to tell me…?"
Rain hit the glass harder now the sound deepened.almost like a rhythm her gaze drifted.slowly without intention across the street.people moved under umbrellas.shadows passing lights flickering behind them.then she saw it,,
Someone standing still not moving,not walking.just…there holding an umbrella a little distance away far enough to be unclear.close enough to feel
wrong.Anie's eyes focused the figure didn't move.didn't look away and for some reason their eyes met.
No reason no introduction no recognition.but something connected
a strange feeling.not fear not familiarity
something in between.unexplainable
Anie leaned slightly forward.her breath slowed.
"…who…"
The word didn't finish because the figure still didn't move.only watched
silent unchanging.the rain fell heavier
between them.blurring the space istorting the shape.but not the feeling
something about that presence felt like a question.
or maybe an answer Anie's fingers tightened slightly around the cup.her heartbeat slower but louder the city noise faded.only the rain remained
and that gaze unbroken.
Unfamiliar but not accidental and for the first time since everything began
Anie felt it clearly.this wasn't random
the figure tilted slightly.almost unnoticeable then rhe lights flickered
just for a second.
Anie blinked and when her vision cleared the street was moving again.
People walking cars passing rain falling,
But that figure was gone Anie didn't move.didn't breathe because something inside her had already understood even if her mind hadn't.
"…it's starting…"
A whisper barely there the coffee in front of her had gone cold.