It happened at midnight.
Ren woke up choking.
His room was burning.
Not physically.
Reality was folding inward.
A voice echoed.
"You chose her."
Images slammed into his mind.
A throne room.
Seven girls kneeling.
Nyx standing beside him.
Smiling.
He was holding her hand.
Luna was crying.
Akari was bleeding.
Mei wasn't there.
And he heard himself say:
"The Demon Star will rule beside me."
Ren jolted awake.
Sweat drenched his body.
His door creaked open.
Nyx stood there.
Silent.
Watching him.