As I walked, I kept looking around me.
It felt like someone was following me.
I started running with all my strength. I couldn't take it anymore.
"Something's not right… I'm not imagining this… am I… losing my mind? No, no, no… I need to calm down. Just breathe…"
My thoughts began to spiral.
Sweat poured down my face.
My breathing became erratic again.
My body trembled.
My heart pounded violently, fast—like it was trying to burst out of my chest.
I couldn't speak.
Something was stuck in my throat.
I knew what was happening.
I leaned against a wall, trying to calm myself, and finally managed to speak between ragged breaths:
— I need to calm down… just breathe… stay calm…
I inhaled deeply, over and over again.
The trembling and dizziness slowly began to fade.
I kept breathing harder, trying to regain control.
"That's it… just keep breathing… everything's fine… I can handle this… I know I can… I won't lose control… that's right… I'm stronger than this…"
I let out a relieved sigh, remaining against the wall for a few minutes.
I moved my hands slightly, fidgeting with them to relax further.
— I think it's over… alright… now I just need to keep walking.
I took a deep breath, ready to continue.
A faint smile appeared on my face despite the overwhelming exhaustion.
But the moment I stepped forward with my left foot—
Everything went black.
I couldn't see anything.
Only an endless void of darkness.
I tried to move.
Nothing worked.
Then—
I was somewhere else.
A desert.
A vast, infinite desert filled with gigantic hourglasses.
I began walking.
Seconds passed… or minutes… maybe hours.
I couldn't tell.
Then a voice echoed from nowhere.
I couldn't understand it.
I ignored it.
But suddenly, a guttural scream exploded into my left ear—
— Run!
I ran.
The sand trembled.
Then it began collapsing into a void.
I realized instantly—if I didn't run faster, I would fall.
I accelerated.
Faster.
Faster.
Crossing the desert of sand and towering hourglasses.
The ground split apart.
Part of it remained—
The part I was on shot upward into the sky, tilting violently.
The hourglasses rotated.
The sand spiraled.
I kept running as the incline grew steeper.
Then reality itself began to fracture.
The sky shattered like glass.
Within the fragments—
Hundreds of moments appeared.
Past.
Present.
Future.
But I kept running.
Against the impossible incline.
My breathing grew heavy.
My heart pounded violently from exhaustion.
Until the slope became too steep—
And I fell.
— AHHHHH!
I opened my eyes abruptly.
Confused.
— What…? What was that…?
I stayed still for a moment, trying to process it.
Then I looked around—
—and realized something worse.
I was in my room.
— How… how did I get here…?
I stood up slowly.
I touched the walls.
The bed.
The floor.
Trying to confirm it was real.
— It seems… I really am home… I still don't know how I got here, but… for now, I need water… and I need to check something else.
I stepped out of my room, still unsure.
Carefully.
Slowly.
I went downstairs, each step filled with hesitation.
When I reached the bottom, I looked around.
Cars passed outside.
I sighed in relief.
I walked normally to the kitchen.
I grabbed water.
Some cookies.
I sat down and ate, drinking a large amount of water.
When I finished—
A sharp pain pierced my left eye.
I dropped to my knees.
The glass beside me fell and shattered.
I groaned softly for a few minutes.
Eventually, I stood up and went upstairs again.
Into the bathroom.
I looked into the mirror.
My left eye was red.
As if it were about to explode.
Before I could touch it—
It did.
The mirror was splattered with fragments and vital fluid.
But…
It didn't hurt.
I stared in shock.
Because what exploded—
wasn't my eye.
It was still there.
But something had changed.
Now—
it was golden.
— This is… strange… how did this happen…? Wait…
My pupils dilated.
— That thing… touched my eye…
The memory hit me.
The shadow.
Hours ago.
— But… how did this lead to this…?
I stared at the mirror.
Suddenly—
A light burst from my left eye.
And then—
I saw fragments.
The future.
A ruined city, engulfed in flames.
Chaos everywhere.
Death.
Burned bodies.
Rivers of blood.
And above—
Something else.
A figure in armor.
Black as night.
Shining like the stars.
Floating.
Two black wings spread wide.
I couldn't see the face.
Only long black hair, like a veil.
Then—
I snapped back to the present.
I fell backward, breathing heavily.
I tried to calm myself.
Then—
A voice echoed inside my mind.
— Accept what you are… or she will break you.
— What…?
No answer.
I slowly stood up.
— That's enough for today…
I turned on the sink to wash my face.
Nothing came out.
I hit the faucet—
And suddenly—
Black blood burst out.
Pressurized.
Violent.
The stream intensified.
The faucet trembled—
—and exploded.
The entire bathroom was covered in that liquid.
Including me.
The smell—
I couldn't endure it.
I rushed to the toilet, nearly collapsing as I vomited.
After a moment, I looked up.
Something remained untouched.
The mirror.
It was only fogged.
I stood up slowly and approached it.
Then—
A hand pressed against it.
From the other side.
It began to write:
"Welcome to the family."
Without hesitation—
I punched the mirror.
Glass shattered.
My hand was cut open.
Blood began to flow.
But then—
Something strange happened.
Golden liquid emerged from my wounds—
Healing them instantly.
I looked around.
I couldn't take it anymore.
Everything was too much.
And finally—
I collapsed.