"Here we are. It should arrive any minute."
Lyss adjusted the strap of her bag as they stood beneath the curved glass canopy of the monorail station. The platform overlooked the lower market streets, evening light reflecting off the rails as distant buildings framed the skyline. She began rummaging through her bag, pushing aside a notebook and a pair of folded headphones.
Takumi glanced down at his smartwatch, then toward the track ahead where other commuters had already gathered in loose clusters.
"You'll need your academy ID," Lyss added, still searching. "Students ride for free. Everyone else gets charged."
Takumi blinked. "Was I supposed to get one already?"
She paused mid-search and looked up, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "Uh… probably?" The uncertainty in her voice didn't help.
Takumi exhaled lightly. "Guess I'll be paying then."
"I'm sure they'll issue it tomorrow," she said quickly, zipping her bag back up. "It usually takes a day to register new transfers in the system." She hesitated for a second, then added, "Since we're headed to the same dorm, my card might be enough to pass us both through. Hopefully."
As she said it, the distant hum of the monorail grew louder. A sleek silver carriage curved into view along the elevated rail, slowing as it approached the platform.
A clear automated voice echoed through the station speakers:
"Attention passengers. The next monorail service arriving on Platform Two is bound for Harbor District and Outer Dormitory Sector. Please prepare identification for verification. Mind the gap and allow passengers to exit before boarding."
Lyss glanced toward the incoming train, then back at Takumi with a small, slightly embarrassed smile.
"Well," she muttered, "let's see if this works."
Lyss stepped onto the carriage first, Takumi right behind her. She moved toward the front where the operator sat behind a small control console enclosed in glass.
"Excuse me," she began politely, holding out her academy ID. "Would it be possible for him to ride just for today? He transferred to the Institute and doesn't have his student card yet. Classes start tomorrow, and I'm supposed to take him to the dorm."
The operator took her card and scanned it carefully, glancing between the screen and Takumi. He studied the details a moment longer than necessary before handing it back.
"I can allow it this time," he said at last. "But he'll need proper identification soon if he plans to use this line regularly."
Lyss nodded quickly. "Of course. It should be issued tomorrow. If possible, could you also let him through in the morning so he doesn't end up late on his first day?"
The man looked at her, then sighed and leaned back in his seat.
"That depends on who's operating the line tomorrow," he replied. "I don't set policy for every shift."
He gestured toward the interior of the carriage. "Go on. Take your seats. We're on schedule."
Lyss gave a small nod of thanks before turning and walking further into the train with Takumi, the doors sliding shut behind them.
They made their way toward the back of the carriage, but most of the seats were already taken. It was peak return hour, and the monorail was crowded with students and city workers heading home. With no space to sit, Lyss and Takumi settled for standing, each reaching up to grip one of the overhead hand straps as the train pulled away from the station.
Through the wide side windows, the ocean stretched out beside the elevated tracks. Sunlight reflected across the surface in long streaks, and the water moved in steady, patterned waves beneath them.
"Our dorm isn't exactly lively," Lyss said, adjusting her balance as the train shifted slightly. "There are four of us right now. Including you."
She gave a small shrug. "So don't expect a full house."
Takumi didn't look bothered. "Four's fine," he replied calmly. "Better than an empty building." He glanced at her briefly. "You'll show me around, right? And introduce me to the others?"
Lyss nodded. "Yeah. Don't worry. You won't be wandering blind."
"I know this is kind of out of nowhere, but…" Lyss hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly around the strap above her. When she noticed Takumi turn toward her without hesitation, giving her his full attention, she continued more carefully.
"That Malform from yesterday… When Mr. Mozen asked me to bring you to the dorm, he mentioned it was targeting you." Her eyes searched his face, not accusing—just curious. "Was it really looking for you? And if it was… do you have any idea why?"
Takumi didn't answer right away. His expression didn't change much, but he went quiet, gaze drifting past her toward the ocean outside. The silence stretched longer than she expected—long enough to make her shift her weight slightly.
After a moment, she gave a small, almost awkward smile. "Sorry. You don't have to answer that. I shouldn't have pushed."
Takumi glanced down at his phone for a second, then lifted his head again. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I think it was."
That was enough to pull Lyss's full attention back to him.
He didn't dodge the question. He didn't laugh it off either. His voice stayed even, steady.
"I'm guessing no one really explained anything to you," he continued. "So I'll just say it myself."
He met her eyes this time. Something shifted unexpectedly.
Before Takumi could continue, a sharp electronic chime echoed through the monorail cabin, cutting cleanly through the low hum of conversation and the rattle of tracks beneath their feet.
The overhead speakers flickered to life.
"Attention passengers. Please remain calm. An irregular resonance fluctuation has been detected within transit sector C-7. Operational staff are currently assessing the situation. We advise all passengers to remain inside the cabin until further notice."
The message repeated once, slightly distorted at the edges.
A ripple of unease moved through the carriage. Conversations lowered into murmurs. A few students glanced toward the windows, others toward the front of the train where the operator stiffened in his seat.
Lyss's fingers tightened slightly around the overhead strap.
"Resonance fluctuation?" she murmured under her breath, eyes narrowing.
Takumi didn't answer. His body had already gone still.
The ocean outside, moments ago calm and patterned with gentle waves, seemed darker now. The reflection of the setting sun fractured across the surface as if something beneath it disturbed the current.
Then it came.
A sound tore across the air.
Not loud at first—just thin and sharp, like metal dragged slowly across glass. It slipped through the monorail walls and into the bones rather than the ears. The lights inside the carriage flickered once.
A screech. It expanded into something layered and violent, a high-pitched wail laced with a guttural undertone that vibrated through the metal frame of the train. Windows trembled. A child near the middle of the carriage clutched her mother's arm as several passengers instinctively covered their ears.
"What the hell was that?!" someone shouted.
The ocean surface rippled unnaturally beneath them, concentric distortions spreading outward from a point just off the rail line.
Takumi's jaw tightened. He knew that sound. "It's gotta be..."
To be continued...