Every step brought me closer to the truth.
My heart pounded violently in my chest as I ran, my breath uneven, my lungs burning. Sweat dripped down my face, but none of it mattered.
Only one thing did.
Reaching her.
I finally arrived at the apartment building.
The one she had shown me before.
"I'm exhausted… but I can't stop now."
I rushed inside and headed straight for the elevator. My hand trembled slightly as I pressed the button.
The doors closed.
The ascent began.
Halfway up—
A sharp pain pierced my head.
A warning.
Something inside me whispered:
Don't go.
I ignored it.
The elevator doors opened.
I stepped out.
And walked straight to her door.
I knocked.
Silence.
Then—
—"Come in, dear Dark."
My hand froze on the handle.
A strange feeling crawled under my skin.
How did she know it was me?
I hesitated.
Only for a moment.
Then I entered.
The apartment…
Was not normal.
It was a sea of white.
Pure.
Endless.
Broken only by thin golden lines stretching across walls, floor, and ceiling—like veins of light in a dead body.
Mirrors.
Everywhere.
Large.
Small.
All covered with translucent veils.
Flowers decorated the space—
Roses.
Lilies.
Sunflowers.
Daisies.
All of them black.
At the center—
A glass table.
And sitting before it—
Calm.
Composed.
Waiting.
Professor Eclipse
—"Come in. Sit, Dark."
I pulled the chair and sat across from her.
—"Tell me…" she said softly, resting her chin over her interlocked fingers.
—"Why are you here?"
Her gaze pierced through me.
Cold.
Precise.
—I swallowed.
—"Lately… I've been thinking."
I met her eyes.
—"And I realized… you're hiding something."
She smiled.
Softly.
—"Only that?" she murmured.
—"Let's just say… I have many… secrets."
My hands tightened.
—"I think—no… I'm sure—you're connected to the bridge collapse."
I leaned closer.
—"Aren't you?"
—"No," she replied instantly.
—"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Her tone was calm.
Too calm.
But beneath it—
A thread.
Thin.
Almost invisible.
Nervousness.
—"Are you sure?"
I moved closer.
Closer than I should have.
—"You're a woman full of mysteries."
My voice dropped.
—"And I want to unravel every single one of them."
She closed her eyes.
Sighed.
Smiled.
—"Oh, dear Dark…"
Her voice softened.
—"Your words make me very happy."
She opened her eyes.
Blades.
Needles.
A storm hidden behind violet.
I froze.
My body trembled.
I tried to stand firm—
But she already knew.
She leaned forward.
Elegant.
Effortless.
And lifted my chin.
—"You're a good boy, Dark."
My eyes widened.
I pulled back slightly.
—"What… did you say?"
—"What you heard."
She moved closer.
Too close.
I could feel her breath.
Her hand slid along my cheek.
Up.
Into my hair.
She stroked my head.
Gently.
My body tensed.
I tried to move—
But I couldn't.
—"You're determined… brave… kind… intelligent… attentive…"
Her voice became softer.
Warmer.
—"I'm proud to have a student like you."
My gaze dropped.
I couldn't hold hers.
She lifted my face again.
Forcing me to look at her.
—"Don't be afraid," she whispered.
—"You know I would never hurt you."
A pause.
—"You know I wouldn't hurt anyone… don't you?"
My body trembled.
She took my hand.
Softly.
Tracing my fingers.
—"It's normal," she continued,
—"to feel this way after accusing someone innocent."
My lips parted.
Weak.
—"You're right… I'm sorry… I shouldn't have thought that about you."
Her eyes narrowed.
Just slightly.
Then—
She laughed.
Soft.
Controlled.
And smiled.
Victory.
—"It's alright," she said.
—"We all make mistakes."
Her hand returned to my head.
Caressing.
Reassuring.
—"You're a good boy."
I exhaled.
Letting myself sink into the moment.
She stood up.
—"Oh… I forgot the tea."
She walked into the kitchen.
Moments later—
She returned with two cups.
Handed one to me.
Sat down again.
Watching.
Always watching.
—"Thank you, Professor."
—"Don't mention it."
She lifted her cup.
Drank.
Elegant.
Measured.
I followed.
The taste—
Strange.
Unfamiliar.
—"What kind of tea is this?"
—"Roots."
She smiled faintly.
—"From a tree."
—"Which one?"
She looked directly at me.
—"Thar'nöth."
My breath hitched.
—"I thought it couldn't be cut… in any way."
She laughed.
Softly.
—"Oh, no… it's quite easy."
She stood again.
Returned to the kitchen.
And in that moment—
Something broke.
My mind cleared.
Like waking up.
—"Professor…"
My voice came out sharper this time.
—"What are you?"
She stopped.
Turned.
Her eyes—
Cold.
Harsh.
—"Something you caused to exist."
Silence.
She smiled again.
Darker.
—"Would you like some?"
She cut a piece of cake.
A red liquid seeped from it.
—"It's cranberry and guilt."
I blinked.
Confused.
—"…Truffle," she corrected lightly.
—"My mistake."
She walked away again.
And then—
The mirrors.
The veils fell.
All at once.
I turned.
Every reflection—
Was me.
But wrong.
Distorted.
In each one—
I wore a black crown.
Blood streamed from my eyes.
From my back—
Black wings tore through flesh.
And behind me—
In every reflection—
She stood.
Smiling.
She returned.
Placed the plate before me.
—"It's late," she said calmly.
—"You should go."
—"Y-yes… thank you."
I drank the rest of the tea.
Quickly.
Too quickly.
And walked to the door.
But something had changed.
Beside the entrance—
A painting.
Old.
Faded.
Eclipse.
Standing beside another woman.
Older.
Black hair.
A crimson dress.
White embroidery.
I stared for a moment.
Then left.
But something followed me.
Not footsteps.
Not sound.
A feeling.
That I had just sat down—
Not for tea.
But for something far more dangerous.