In the same forest where I trained.
I exhale slowly.
The air is still, heavy.
I open the storage space.
The Skinless One's body falls to the ground with a wet sound.
It's time.
—Sacrifice.
I grab the corpse.
The power responds immediately.
The body begins to disintegrate into black particles. They are not simple ashes: they vibrate, twist slightly, as if something inside is still resisting.
They float toward me.
They seep directly into my chest.
I clutch my torso.
—What the hell…?!
The pain isn't physical.
It's internal.
As if something is being compressed inside me.
Liquid fire runs through every vein.
Then I see images.
Girls crying.
Closed rooms.
A dark forest lit by flashlights.
Contained laughter.
The entity leaning over a victim, bringing its face too close… absorbing something invisible.
Beauty.
Fear.
Energy.
The images flash by quickly.
Too quickly.
For a moment…
The particles finish entering me.
Silence.
I drop to my knees.
I breathe with difficulty.
Then… everything stabilizes.
I slowly stand.
The suffering disappears.
I move.
Lighter.
Faster.
My body responds without friction.
My super-physical strength is amplified.
Magic flows cleaner.
Sharper.
More precise.
I smile.
This… is broken.
If I can grow stronger by sacrificing entities…
Then there is no ceiling to my growth.
I look at my reflection in a puddle.
My pupils seem slightly darker.
Almost black.
Interesting.
I'll need more tests.
My wounds have completely disappeared.
Good.
The Next Day – School
Everything looks normal.
I don't see the stalkers anywhere.
The previous eliminations must have put them on alert.
I click my tongue.
I'll have to wait for the football game.
That will be the stage.
I hear voices in the hallway.
—Vivian, are you okay? You look pale — one of the cheerleaders says.
—I just haven't been sleeping well… that's all — she replies.
I glance at her from the corner of my eye.
She keeps looking over her shoulder.
Her breathing is slightly uneven.
Yes.
She dreamed about the forest.
My future-vision power hasn't activated again.
That means the event is still on track.
Perfect.
I'll eliminate the ones in Ana's county first.
And here…
I'll use Vivian as bait.
Vivian…
I'm sorry.
I won't let you die.
But I need them to believe they can touch you.
The Nightmare
That night, Vivian struggled to fall asleep.
When she finally did, the forest returned.
Too real.
Cold air.
The smell of damp earth.
The stadium lights shutting off in the distance.
She was cheering at the game. Her rival from the other school stood beside her. They were arguing about something trivial.
Then…
Shadows.
People getting too close.
Hands.
A cloth pressed over her mouth.
Darkness.
When she opened her eyes, she was in the forest.
Tied up.
Gagged.
Her rival was beside her.
Men standing around.
Smiling.
But they weren't what paralyzed her.
It was him.
The tall man with an axe in his hand.
He wasn't in a hurry.
He was enjoying the moment.
He crouched in front of her.
There was no anger in his eyes.
There was pleasure.
He slowly stroked her cheek.
Then the other girl's.
Then he grabbed her hair and pulled brutally, forcing her to lift her head.
He threw her to the ground.
Vivian started running.
She ran.
She ran.
But the forest never ended.
The trees seemed to repeat.
The ground felt unstable.
She couldn't escape.
Then she heard something behind her.
Not footsteps.
Breathing.
Very close.
She felt the cold edge of a blade brush against her neck.
And a voice whispered:
—Run faster.
Vivian woke up suddenly.
Soaked in sweat.
Shaking.
She touched her neck.
There was no wound.
But the cold sensation remained.
Since that night, she feels like someone is watching her.
In the hallways.
In reflections.
In windows.
And she doesn't know if it was just a nightmare.
Cafeteria
—Ryan.
I look up.
Madison.
The cafeteria quiets for a second.
Glances.
Whispers.
—What's up? — I ask.
—Nothing. I just want to sit here.
—Sure.
Chloe sits beside her.
—Ryan, are you going to the game? Our team against the other county's.
Internally:
I don't care.
But I remember the vision.
—Yeah. I'll go.
She smiles.
—I just wanted to invite you.
Murmurs.
—And since you're going… I'll buy you something.
I swallow.
It's the first time a girl has ever bought me something.
In this life…
And in the previous one.
—Thanks.
From another table, Vivian watches.
But she's not looking at me.
She's looking at Madison.
And then at Victor Langley.
Victor clenches his fist.
It isn't sadness.
It's disbelief written across his entire face.