The soft light of dawn slipped through the window, while the scent of the forest—fresh and calming—gently filled the air.
Judging by the light, it was still early morning. Around 9 a.m.
— "Mmm… already morning?"
I sighed softly, hugging the pillow as I stared at the ceiling.
"Maybe it wasn't obvious… but yesterday, I was scared."
Scared of Eclipse's invitation.
Scared of not being enough.
Not good enough to stand beside someone like her.
Not good enough to be Alya's boyfriend.
Not even good enough to have friends like Kim… or the others.
I'm not as brave as I seem.
I'm afraid.
Full of doubts.
Full of insecurities.
School taught me that.
Life taught me worse.
I learned to hide—
in sleep,
in books,
in isolation.
I learned to distrust… and pretend to be strong.
Opening my heart is difficult.
Some days… I don't even want to get out of bed.
I feel tired.
More than usual.
But even so… I have to move forward. I have to help uncover who set that trap.
Still…
"Maybe just a few more minutes of sleep won't hurt…"
My bed is my only comfort.
Books are my therapy.
Stories are my refuge.
And fate…?
My greatest enemy.
It made me strong like stone—
and fragile like glass.
Time moves strangely.
Days pass too fast…
or painfully slow.
And I'm not even dying.
At least not physically.
Because mentally…
I'm already gone.
"Just a little more sleep…"
I closed my eyes, holding the pillow tighter.
A tear slipped silently from my left eye.
And I fell asleep again.
— "Mmm…"
I woke up slowly, still hugging the pillow. After a quiet sigh, I stood up and walked out into the hallway, half-asleep, dragging my feet down the stairs.
— "Good morning, Dark."
I turned slightly.
Kim was sitting on a chair, staring blankly at the wall while drinking water.
— "Morning, Kim… what are you doing there?"
She leaned back lazily.
— "The teacher told me to sit here and do nothing. Apparently, I'm in the way."
— "…Sounds about right."
She narrowed her eyes and threw the water bottle at me.
— "Hey!"
— "What? I was aiming for your head."
I sighed and kept walking.
— "Yeah… I'll go look for Professor Eclipse."
I found her in the kitchen.
She was sitting quietly, looking out the window at the forest.
Unlike last night, she was now wearing her usual teacher's outfit.
— "You know, Dark… this place feels peaceful."
She didn't look at me.
— "Has Kimberly's sister arrived yet?"
Something felt… off.
Her eyes.
They looked like a void.
Endless. Empty.
— "No… Alya's not here yet. But… why did you call her?"
The wind entered through the window, gently moving her golden hair.
She turned toward me.
— "Because of what she carries."
— "Her knowledge of medicinal herbs will help us uncover this place's past."
I sat beside her, waiting.
Minutes passed.
Then—
— "Good morning! My sister said you needed me!"
Alya had arrived.
Eclipse nodded.
— "I need three rare herbs. Visionary herbs."
— "We'll use them to see this place's past."
Alya nodded and ran into the forest.
"She didn't even notice I was here…"
Minutes later, she returned—scratched and slightly messy—along with Kim, who immediately sat beside me.
— "I got the herbs!"
She turned—
—and screamed.
— "AHHH! DARK, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE HERE!"
Kim and I exchanged a look.
"She's so slow…"
— "I've been here the whole time."
She hugged me tightly.
— "Sorry!"
— "It's fine…"
Eclipse cleared her throat.
— "You can continue later. For now… prepare the tea."
Alya quickly began.
—
"Ancient civilizations… herbs of divine vision… grant me your power and allow me to see the past, present, and future of this place."
—
The water boiled violently.
Smoke burst out.
Then—
The liquid turned purple… with a blue core.
— "It's ready."
She poured four cups.
— "By the way… there are side effects."
We froze.
— "Dizziness, headaches, body pain, ringing ears, fainting, vomiting, hallucinations, confusion, loss of sanity…"
— "WAIT—WHY ARE YOU TELLING US THIS NOW?!"
She smiled innocently.
— "You didn't ask."
Kim trembled.
"Of course…"
Eclipse sighed.
— "Just drink it quickly. Stay calm… don't let what you see control you."
We nodded.
And drank.
Everything spun.
— "I feel dizzy…"
Kim staggered… then vomited.
— "My head… it hurts…"
She collapsed.
— "KIM!"
I tried to stand—
—but voices filled my head.
"Leave."
"The witch is with you."
"She is evil."
"None of you will rest."
I vomited.
Alya collapsed.
Only Eclipse remained untouched… calmly sipping more tea.
And smiling.
Then—
Darkness.
I was somewhere else.
A forest.
Ancient. Silent.
— "What is this…?"
A child's voice echoed.
I ran.
And found him.
A boy…
Behind glass.
Crying.
His face blurred.
He raised his hand—
covered in blood.
Then—
A tree began to bleed.
And above—
A woman floated.
From her hands…
A river of blood poured.
Everything went black.
I woke up gasping.
Sweating. Shaking.
— "Dark."
Eclipse was beside me, holding my medicine.
She gave me a pill and water.
After a few minutes…
I calmed down.
— "Thank you…"
— "What did you see?"
— "A forest… a child behind glass… blood… and a woman in the sky…"
She paused.
Then smiled faintly.
— "Hallucinations are fascinating… don't you think?"
— "Terrifying too…"
We sat in silence.
Waiting.
Eventually—
Alya and Kim woke up.
— "I felt like I was dying…"
— "Relax, worst case you go insane."
Kim stared at me.
— "How is that better?!"
— "…No idea."
— "IDIOT!"
She jumped on me.
— "GET OFF!"
— "RESPECT ME!"
— "YOU RESPECT ME!"
We struggled until—
Alya lifted her… and threw her aside.
— "The only one allowed to touch Dark… is me."
— "Wow, scary. Should I call the police?"
— "SHUT UP!"
Finally, we focused.
— "Did you see anything, Professor?"
She nodded.
— "Yes… and it's not pleasant."
She told us everything.
About the Bugaretti family.
A grand ball.
A massacre.
Creatures.
Klines.
Beings that devour humans… and become them.
— "They were recreating the dance… every year."
Silence filled the room.
— "But… where's the blood?" Alya asked.
— "They cleaned it. Or hid it."
— "They're intelligent."
I turned to Kim.
— "How did you find us?"
— "Heat vision. You two were the only ones alive."
I nodded.
— "Thank you… you saved us."
Then I looked up.
Something felt wrong.
— "Something bad is coming…"
Kim froze.
— "You're joking… right?"
— "I wish."
And I was right.
That same night—
Won ho… obsessed… drew a portal.
Marked with runes.
— "𖥶𖥿𖦀 𖦆𖤞𖥺𖦐𖥾"
Minho… entered the mansion.
Filmed me while I slept.
And whispered:
— "Nä laes'ir älith sellür."
(Do not let her seal him.)
Back in the present—
I exhaled deeply.
— "We need to be ready."
They looked at me.
— "Something bad is coming. And I'll protect everyone… no matter what."
Alya and Kim smiled.
— "You're not alone."
We all smiled.
Together.
And for the first time…
I felt ready.
For whatever was coming next.