"Is this life after death? Just a boundless, never-ending darkness?" Niloufer walked through the dark corridors of her mind, searching for an exit amidst the void. Suddenly, a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon; a crystal-clear lake. She ran toward it with all her might, for thirst was clawing at her throat. Yet, strangely, the lake retreated whenever she drew near, as if refusing to meet her. When she finally collapsed from sheer exhaustion, she found the water right beneath her hands.
She scooped it up to drink, whispering: "Refreshing…" But as she looked at her palms, the blood froze in her veins. It wasn't water; it was crimson blood coating her hands. She began to spit out what was in her mouth in terror, recoiling, only to discover that the lake was nothing but blood—and it was chasing her wherever she went.
Niloufer tried to flee with all her strength, but escape was not an option. The blood was faster; it reached her legs, clinging to them like quicksand. Niloufer began to sink into the viscous gore, screaming in despair: "Help!" With every movement, the blood swallowed more of her body until she was truly drowning, sinking beneath the red surface as she fought for her final breath.
In that terrifying moment, her eyes snapped open to find herself lying upon Alex's chest. She pushed him away forcefully and scrambled backward until she hit the cave wall, panting heavily as if she had truly been struggling underwater. She looked at Alex; his gaping wounds had completely vanished. He stood before her with features shrouded in mystery.
She asked in a trembling voice: "Was… was I dreaming? What happened?"
Alex looked at her with a coldness that hid a thousand questions: "Do you not remember anything?" Niloufer stared at her hands in bewilderment. No wound, no scar, not even a trace of the broken mirror. She thought to herself in shock: "It's impossible… was it all just a dream?" She stood up slowly, still under the influence of the shock. Alex watched her intently and asked: "Has something happened to you?" She answered, lost: "How long was I asleep?" "Three hours," Alex replied. "Perhaps it's just exhaustion…" Niloufer muttered. Alex began to let out a low, loud laugh, saying to himself: "So, you think what happened was a dream? Fine… let it be so. But how did her wounds heal? It cannot be that what I'm thinking is the truth!"
Elsewhere, Leo was bidding farewell to the old man who had sheltered him. The old man said in a warm tone: "You can return at any time. Consider this your home… I will always be here waiting for you." These words were like a balm to Leo's soul—he who had spent his childhood without ever hearing the words "this is your place" or feeling sincere emotions. Leo placed his hand on the old man's shoulder and said with a smile: "If you ever need me, just call my name into the night." The old man laughed: "Does that mean you'll be living nearby?" Leo shared the laughter in a brief moment of peace.
Leo looked toward the horizon and said: "Today looks more beautiful than yesterday… what happened?" The old man sighed and said: "Do you know that man who was accusing me of madness yesterday? Yesterday was the day his sins were atoned for. While we were sleeping, he was suffering through the very thing he loved most. Know this, Leo: justice, even if delayed, always arrives." The old man placed his hand on Leo's shoulder and continued: "Never be like him, for justice strikes the oppressor in the end, no matter how many years pass."
Leo turned away, giving his back to the old man, and spoke in a mysterious tone before departing: "Very well… but, justice does not always win. And even if a person is punished, that does not necessarily mean it is their end."