Cecin stirred awake on the small couch, sunlight slipping weakly through the dusty curtains.Something warm clung to him.
He looked down.
The little girl was curled tightly against his chest, still trembling even in sleep. Her small fingers were gripping his shirt like she was afraid he'd disappear if she let go.
Quietly, carefully, Cecin slid her hands free and lowered her onto the couch.She made a small whimper, and he hesitated… then gently placed a blanket over her.
She relaxed instantly.
He stood there for a moment, staring at her.This tiny kid… the only survivor of last night besides him.The only one who saw what he saw.
He walked into his room, grabbed his phone, and saw a national alert blinking across the screen.
"Dear civilians, unknown creatures have appeared across the globe.They are active only at night.Do NOT go outside after sunset.Stay in lit areas at all times."
Cecin let out a long, heavy sigh.
Of course.The whole world had gone to hell in a single night.
He looked around his apartment.Two instant noodle cups.Half a bottle of water.Three energy drinks.
Nothing good for probably a seven-year-old who'd lost her parents less than twelve hours ago.
He closed his eyes briefly, remembering the massacre.The speed.The blood.The way the creature sliced through the couple like paper—and the way the girl had been tossed into his arms as if fate had shoved her at him.
His hand instinctively reached into his pocket.
He pulled out the blade.
A small knife… glowing with a faint white shine, as if it held its own little piece of daylight.
He still didn't know where it came from.One moment he was running, bleeding—The next, it was there in his hand, glowing, keeping the Eater from ripping him apart.
He turned it over slowly.
"This thing… really saved us last night," he muttered."If this hadn't appeared out of nowhere, me and the kid would be dead."
Behind him, the girl whimpered softly, reaching out her tiny hand even in sleep.
Cecin froze.
Then he walked over and gently took her hand.
Immediately, her trembling stopped.
He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"A dad at nineteen, huh…?" he whispered with a bitter smile."Funny. My own dad kicked me out at thirteen."
He looked back at the glowing blade.
"Now what the hell do I even do with this?Go fight those things?Yeah right. They'd tear me apart."
He leaned back on the couch, overthinking, bored, terrified, overwhelmed—
Until he saw it.
Outside his window, the bright afternoon sky darkened abruptly.A massive gray cloud rolled in, swallowing the sun like an approaching storm.
And Cecin felt his heart stop.
Because that cloud…was moving way too fast.