Woke up with my jaw aching and a weird taste in my mouth, the kind you get when sleep won't do what it's supposed to. Sun was just a pale shape behind the curtains. I stayed in bed way too long but couldn't make myself care. Some days you drag yourself up just because staying down is worse.
Liora's blanket was folded, no sign she'd even slept. That's how she is—leaves everything behind neat. I'm the one who drops socks and then forgets I did it. Tea burned on the stove. Toast came out black. I scraped it and ate around the edges, staring at the doorway like it might tell me what happens next.
Streets felt heavier than usual. Maybe it was the gray sky, maybe it was just me. People out early, no one really in a hurry, no one smiling. Saw Mrs. Ghai brushing the bakery steps—she does that every morning, but today the way she leaned on her broom said she was tired clear through. I thought about saying hello, but what's the point when words feel useless?
Caught up with Liora near the peeling sign. She gave the smallest nod, barely looking up, hands jammed in jacket pockets. No "good morning," just started walking and I tagged along. That's how it is most days now—walking beside someone and letting the silence stretch where conversation might fit if things were easy.
We cut through a side street, past puddles that stank of last night's rain and garbage. A couple kids fought over a busted cricket bat; the smaller one won, for a second, then dropped it and stalked off angry. I wanted to laugh, just for the release, but it wouldn't come.Sat on a half-broken bench, the kind that leaves splinters if you're not careful.
Liora cracked her knuckles, then rested her head in her hands like the weight was too much to carry upright.She mumbled, "Feels like we're the only ones who notice how cracked everything is.""Yeah," I said, but I wanted to say more. Wanted to say I get scared too, or ask if she ever just wants to run away. Didn't.
Instead, this Guild runner showed up—Jahan, anxious as ever. He fiddled with his badge, spoke without meeting our eyes.
"South gate's weird this morning.
Something's moving out there. Not a person, not a monster, just… weird." His lip trembled a bit, then he hurried off. I just watched him go.
We headed for the gate. Not because we wanted to be heroes but because nobody else would. Fog sat thick over everything, rolling slow, swallowing up old footprints.
The gate itself was busted, metal twisted from rust and something bigger than rust. I squinted but couldn't see much. Then, a shape glided past—thin, dark, moving wrong. Not fast, not really shy either, just… wrong.
Liora stepped forward, breath caught hard in her throat. "Who's there?" Her words sounded small.
No reply, only the kind of hush that prickles up under your nails. I felt sweat roll down my back. My grip on the scythe was useless.
Thing was gone by the time I blinked.
I cleared my throat, tried to make my voice matter. "Not a monster."
"Not anything we know," Liora said back, staring into all that nothing.
We walked away slower, legs heavy. The city didn't seem softer, just more tired. Maybe I was projecting.
At the mural later—the torn-up one with the moon that looked more like a bruise—Liora traced the shape but didn't talk. I tried to pretend touching old paint might keep bad things from getting worse. Probably dumb, but it's what we had.
Lanterns flickered early. Guess nobody trusts the dark around here anymore. I slouched against the wall beside her. "Do you think all these cracks will heal?"She wrinkled her nose, nudged my foot with hers. That's all she did. I let it be enough.
We went our separate ways once the blue left the sky for good. Home felt cold, but at least it was ours.
Not sure what comes next. I'm just trying to hold on wherever I can—by Liora, by anyone who hasn't given up. Even if the world's turning sideways, if someone's next to you, it's not over yet.
Maybe that's enough for tonight.
To be continued....