The morning after the dance, Bixy woke to a strange heaviness pressing down on her body. Her eyelids felt weighted, and even sitting up in bed drained her. For a moment she thought it was nothing — maybe the late night, the music, the dancing — but then she noticed it again: that slow, hollow ache deep inside, as though something was quietly pulling her life away.
Her stomach growled faintly. Maybe I'm just hungry, she told herself, trying to shake off the unease. She dragged herself out of bed, put on a light sweater, and made her way to the cafeteria. Each step felt like walking through water.
Josh spotted her from across the courtyard. She moved slower than usual, her normally lively eyes dulled. He started toward her, but Sleek appeared almost immediately, taking a seat beside her as she ate. Every time Josh tried to get close, Sleek positioned himself like an invisible wall.
Bixy forced a small smile for Sleek, but inside she was restless. Her fork moved lazily through her food, and she barely tasted it.
Later, after class, Bixy decided to take a walk by herself — she needed air, and maybe space from both Sleek and Josh. Josh followed quietly, keeping his distance until she stopped under the shade of an old oak.
"Bixy," he called softly.
She turned, surprised to see him. "Josh? What's wrong?"
"I should be asking you that," he said, scanning her face. "You look pale. What's going on?"
She hesitated, her voice trembling. "I… I don't know. I just feel… like something's draining me from the inside. My wrist—" She rolled back her sleeve. "—keeps getting hot, and sometimes it… glows."
Josh's eyes widened the instant he saw it. It was faint in the daylight, but the strange, swirling mark was unmistakable.
"Bixy," he said slowly, his voice tight. "Where… did you get that?"
"I noticed it the morning after Soya's sister's birthday party," she said. "I thought maybe I'd fallen or scratched myself when I was tipsy. But… it doesn't go away. It's been getting warmer. Sometimes it even pulses."
Josh's jaw tightened. "Did you drink anything that night?"
"Yes, a sweet drink Soya handed me," Bixy said, still confused. "Why?"
Josh looked away, his expression darkening. The mark was more than dangerous — it was deadly. It was called the Drain Seal, an ancient curse that slowly pulled life energy from its victim until there was nothing left but an empty shell.
"Bixy," he said firmly, "don't tell anyone about this. I'll… I'll find a cure for you."
Her eyes widened. "Josh, you're scaring me. Am I going to die?"
He stepped closer and brushed away a tear on her cheek. "Not if I can help it. I promise you, I'll do everything I can to stop this."
She leaned into his arms, shaking. "But… why would Soya…? She's my friend."
Josh didn't answer. His mind was racing with possibilities — either Soya was directly involved, or someone had used her as a pawn. Either way, the danger was real.
They hugged tightly, her fingers clutching the back of his shirt as though she could anchor herself there. Neither of them noticed Sleek a short distance away, heading toward the cafeteria. He froze when he saw them together, the intimacy in their posture, the way Josh's hand rested protectively on her back.
A flare of jealousy surged in his chest. Without a word, he turned and walked away, his steps sharp and quick.
Josh eventually let Bixy go, promising again to fix this. The moment she left for her next class, he hurried to the library.
The tall shelves were quiet, dust dancing in the thin beams of sunlight. He pulled out several thick tomes from the restricted section. His hands trembled as he flipped through the pages — he knew time was against him.
A faint ripple of air made him look up. Elyon emerged from between two bookshelves, his dark robes whispering across the wooden floor. "I heard you've been looking for answers," he said in a low, knowing voice.
Josh didn't waste time. "Bixy has the Drain Seal. I need to know how to remove it."
Elyon's eyes narrowed. "That mark is not something easily undone. It feeds on the life force… and once it fully ignites, there is no coming back."
"There has to be a way," Josh pressed.
Elyon regarded him for a long moment before speaking. "There is. But it requires something most would not give. The one who holds her heart — truly holds it — must pierce his own hand, letting his blood fall directly onto the mark. That blood will neutralize the curse."
Josh's mind instantly thought of Sleek. If Sleek truly was the one she loved… then the cure lay in his hands. But would he do it? Would he even believe them?
Meanwhile, Bixy sat in her afternoon lecture, her thoughts far from the professor's voice. She kept touching the mark on her wrist. Each time her fingers brushed it, a small throb of heat answered back. Her thoughts kept circling Sleek — should she tell him? Or just spend whatever time she had left enjoying his presence?
After class, she spotted him outside. "Sleek!" she called.
But he didn't slow. He pretended not to hear, disappearing down the walkway. Confusion and hurt twisted in her chest. Why is he avoiding me?
As she made her way back to her desk to pack her bag, her teacher called her over. "Bixy, I've noticed your grades have been slipping. You don't seem like yourself lately."
"I… I've been a bit tired," she admitted, forcing a smile.
The teacher's expression softened. "I think you should have your mother come visit next week. I'd like to speak with her about how you're doing."
Bixy nodded quietly, scribbling her mother's phone number on a piece of paper. She left the classroom slowly, her mind heavy with thoughts.
Back in her hostel room, she collapsed onto her bed. She stared at the ceiling, her heart pounding, the glow of the mark faintly illuminating the dim room. The silence around her felt thick, pressing against her ears. Somewhere deep inside, she knew — the clock had started ticking.