Rain fell like the world was trying to forget itself.
It slid down broken walls, tapped against shattered glass, and pooled in the empty streets below. The city was silent—unnaturally so. No engines. No voices. Just rain… and the faint echo of something collapsing in the distance.
Kai stood beneath a flickering streetlamp, his breath uneven.
"…this is wrong…"
He knew this moment.
Every second of it.
The smell of rust in the air.
The way the wind carried a quiet chill.
The tightness in his chest—
Like something terrible was about to happen.
Because it always did.
"Kai!"
He turned.
Lina ran toward him, her hair damp from the rain, her expression caught between relief and irritation.
"You're late," she said, stopping in front of him. "I've been calling you."
Kai stared at her.
Not relieved.
Not surprised.
Just… exhausted.
"…yeah."
Her brows furrowed.
"What's wrong?"
How do you explain that you've watched someone die—
Over and over again?
"You look terrible," she said softly. "Have you even slept?"
"…not really."
"Kai…" she sighed. "You can't keep doing this."
If only it were that simple.
He studied her face.
Memorizing.
The small scar near her eyebrow.
The way her eyes softened when she worried.
The tiny details that always disappeared.
"…Lina."
She blinked.
"What?"
"…we need to leave."
"…what?"
"Now."
Her expression shifted.
"You're scaring me."
"…something's coming."
A pause.
"…it always does."
"…what do you mean by that?"
He clenched his jaw.
Right.
For her—
This was the first time.
"…just trust me," he said.
Silence stretched between them.
Then—
A sound.
Low.
Wrong.
Kai turned sharply.
"…it's early…"
"…what is that?" Lina whispered.
The shadows at the end of the street moved.
Not naturally.
Something stepped forward.
Tall.
Distorted.
Broken.
"…we have to go."
He grabbed her wrist.
"Hey—!"
"Run."
They moved fast.
Rain splashing under their feet, breaths uneven, hearts racing.
"…Kai, slow down—!"
"I'm trying to keep you alive!"
"…from what?!"
He didn't answer.
Because it wouldn't matter.
Another sound echoed behind them.
Closer now.
Lina looked back—
And stopped.
"…what is that…?"
"…don't look at it!"
Too late.
The creature stepped into the light.
Its body twisted unnaturally, pieces shifting like it didn't fully exist. Its eyes were empty.
Watching.
"…you found me faster this time…" Kai muttered.
"…what did you say?" Lina asked.
The creature moved.
Instantly.
Kai pulled her—
But not fast enough.
"…NO—!"
Impact.
Time slowed.
Her body jerked.
Her eyes widened.
"Kai…"
"…I'm sorry…"
He caught her as she fell.
Warm blood mixed with rain.
"…not again…"
"…it hurts…"
"I know…"
"…you always… look at me like that…"
His chest tightened.
"…like you already lost me…"
"…Lina—"
"…don't cry…"
A faint smile.
Then—
Nothing.
Silence.
"…I failed again…"
The creature watched.
"…then try again…"
The world shattered.
And reset.
"Kai!"
Kai closed his eyes.
"…one more time…"