By morning, the city had only one story.
Every channel.
Every headline.
Every scrolling banner.
THE MASKED SAVIOR.
MYSTERIOUS SWORDSMAN APPEARS DURING "EARTHQUAKE."
HERO OR THREAT?
Footage played again and again—blurry videos taken by terrified people, flashes of a figure in a mask, a sword cutting through darkness, monsters dissolving into smoke. The reporters argued endlessly, experts speculated wildly, and anchors spoke as if repeating the story louder would somehow explain it.
For the first time, the masked guy wasn't a rumor.
He was public.
A Mind Still Trapped in Night
Chris sat curled up on her bed, knees pulled to her chest, staring at nothing.
The world around her felt distant—like she was underwater. The sounds of television, Lily's voice, the city outside… none of it reached her properly.
Her hands trembled whenever she remembered the ceiling breaking.
The monsters.
The blood.
And him.
Lily tried everything.
She brought snacks.
Played music.
Put on old shows they used to laugh at.
Even tried dragging Chris into silly conversations.
Nothing worked.
Chris's eyes stayed empty.
Her breathing stayed shallow.
Finally, Lily sat beside her and gently took her hand.
"I'm calling your therapist," she said softly. "Okay?"
Chris didn't answer.
But she didn't pull away either.
Questions Without Answers
Across town, Twilight and Henry sat on the couch, the TV flickering in front of them. A news anchor pointed dramatically at a paused frame showing the masked guy mid-strike.
Twilight leaned forward, elbows on his knees.
"There's something about last night," he said quietly. "Not the monsters. Not the fight."
Henry didn't respond.
Twilight continued, his voice thoughtful. "Chris… she looked like she recognized him. Like this wasn't new to her."
Henry barely heard him.
His mind was stuck on something else entirely.
Lily's hand in his.
The way she had gripped it—tight, like she didn't want to let go.
If it felt like our last day, he thought bitterly,
why did I hesitate?
Why didn't I say anything?
Why did I stay silent?
A soft weight brushed against his legs.
His cat.
She rubbed against him, purring, pulling him back to the present.
Henry sighed, picked her up, and finally looked at Twilight.
"Hey," he said, forcing a smile. "Don't overthink it. If there's really something important, we'll figure it out."
Twilight looked unconvinced.
Henry added, "And be happy. They canceled our final exams after last night."
That caught Twilight's attention.
He blinked. "Wait—seriously?"
Henry nodded. "City emergency orders."
Twilight exhaled. "Okay… that's one good thing."
Henry smiled—but something inside him still felt off.
He just didn't know what.
Coffee and Temporary Peace
Twilight stood up, stretching. "You're right. Let's get some coffee."
Henry agreed.
For a moment, life felt almost normal again.
Almost.
But beneath the calm—
Something else was moving.
Behind Closed Doors
In a government building far from the chaos, two officers stood in a dim hallway, voices low.
"He came out in public for the first time," the first officer said.
The second frowned. "Then why are they chasing him?"
The first officer hesitated before replying.
"Because he's not just a vigilante."
"What do you mean?"
"I think," the officer said slowly, "he has something special. Something powerful enough that even the government wants control over it."
The second officer looked uneasy.
"So this isn't about protection?"
The first officer shook his head.
"This is about possession."
A City Holding Its Breath
Outside, the city buzzed with tension.
People whispered about monsters.
About heroes.
About the masked guy.
Some called him a savior.
Others called him a threat.
Police patrols increased.
Helicopters circled at night.
And somewhere in the city, Chris finally spoke during her therapy session—voice shaking, words breaking—about the stairs, the shadow, the sword, and the night her nightmare came back into her life.
The therapist listened carefully.
And grew concerned.
Because what Chris described wasn't just trauma.
It was a pattern.
The city thought the danger had passed.
But the truth was far darker.
The masked guy had stepped into the light.
And now—
Everyone was watching.
And something was watching back.