In her mind, she floated in a strange limbo, a place caught between the gentle embrace of sleep and the bright light of wakefulness. It was like wandering through a thick fog, where the air felt heavy, and everything around her seemed to distort and twist. Voices drifted to her like whispers carried on the wind, soft and unclear, as if they were echoing from the depths of a distant cave. Though she couldn’t grasp the meaning of the words, the sounds painted a picture of mixed emotions—low and sharp tones, with the occasional rise of irritation or amusement.

Her limbs felt like lead, each one encased in an invisible weight. The sensation was akin to being submerged in water, where movement required a Herculean effort for such an unyielding body. The steady ache in her chest lingered, dull yet persistent and pressing against her heart each time she breathed. And though she yearned to stretch or turn her head, even the slightest motion summoned a tidal wave of dizziness that crashed upon her, leaving her feeling as if she were firmly anchored to the ground, unable to drift away.

The voices grew louder momentarily, one rising above the others—a rigid, authoritative cadence that felt like a command from on high. Solen? This name shot into her mind uninvited, igniting a tiny light in the dark corners of her thoughts. She fought to concentrate, to untangle the jumble of sounds surrounding her, but just as quickly, they began to fade.

A metallic taste clung to her tongue, sharp and bitter, reminiscent of copper. VV's urgent voice, the warm flow of crimson liquid trickling from her nose, and the heavy weight of another body below her as the world fell into darkness. It was all she could remember.

Her fingers twitched then, the faintest motion, but enough to confirm she still had control over her body. With a focused mind, she tried to latch onto that tiny flicker of movement, attempting to pry her eyes open. The first attempt was futile, however, her eyelids were too heavy to lift. She tried again, slower this time, and light began to filter through the haze. The world was blurry at first, shapes and colours twirling together in a ballet. Her head pounded in protest, but she forced herself to push past it, blinking until her vision cleared.

The gray walls of the barracks came into view first, a low hum filling the air, punctuated by the occasional click or whir of unseen machinery. She was lying on a thin mattress, its surface rough against her skin, and as her gaze shifted slowly to take in the rest of her surroundings, the red glow of laser bars caught her eyes.

A’s breath was as light as a feather, barely making a sound, as she gazed at the sight of VV sitting at the base of her barrier. All around her, the others engaged in conversation, but to A, their words were just a blur of sounds.

“VV…what…happened?” A said, her voice scratchy like sandpaper, hoping it was enough to draw her partner’s attention.

Through her hazy vision, A noticed a movement. VV shifted closer to the bright, laser bars, and as A blinked slowly against the relentless pounding in her forehead, VV’s outline became clearer. The faint, unpleasant smell of burnt hair pricked at her senses and she also briefly registered the red beams of light casting soft, flickering patterns on the walls around them.

A tried to push herself up even further, but her arms shook under the effort, feeling heavy as if weighed down by stones. Her body refused to listen to her commands, and though the ache in her chest had lessened, it remained. Giving up for now, she allowed her eyes to wander, catching fleeting glimpses of the others. Yet, her focus quickly returned to VV, who had posed a question that A wondered herself.

“Why…” she whispered, feeling a fresh wave of shame wash over her as she recalled the outcome of her “duel”. The medication had numbed her feelings, that much she recalled, making her feel like she was floating in a fog. Perhaps, to fight against it, she had pushed herself too much, and instead of channelling her energy outward, it had spiralled back on her. “I didn’t mean to throw it,” she added, a little louder this time. “I wasn’t…in control.”

For once.

A hadn’t felt this lost since she first discovered her powers.

“A… A, let's leave. The doctors won't find anything good. It's just Umbra all over again. I'll destroy this door, and we can just… get away…”

A took a moment to really consider VV’s suggestion. Her eyes then darted over to Val, who chimed in with his support for whatever decision they might reach. There was something both disquieting and strangely comforting about his reaction, specifically how he seemed to calmly accept whatever dangers he might face with people he’d practically just met. As he rolled his neck, a smile appeared on his face, creating a peculiar contrast with the seriousness of their predicament.

The redhead shifted her position on the narrow mattress, her fingers weakly gripping the rough material beneath her. The thought of leaving this place behind was incredibly alluring, yet it also felt like trying to run away from a shadow, Umbra’s or her own A couldn’t exactly say. No matter where they attempted to flee, she knew the burden of being outsiders, from the Above, would inevitably follow them.

A soft crackling sound captured her focus then, and A instinctively winced a little as the commanding voice of the general boomed through the intercom. After he gave his brief instruction, A let out a tired sigh.

“Where…where would we go if we actually decided to leave?” she asked Val, her eyes wandering over to Wren after. “And if you’re anything like us, you already know that Umbra isn’t going to let us walk away without a fight.”

Which meant, they were surrounded by potential enemies with few allies.

“I think…I think we stay.” Besides, with her current state, how could she be of any real help?

A noticed the subtle change in VV’s demeanour, the way her head inclined slightly and her shoulders hunched with a weary surrender. It wasn’t outright defeat, not exactly, but it bore the sombre essence of someone acutely aware of the futility that enveloped their circumstances. A's heart constricted at this poignant revelation, guilt creeping insidiously into the corners of her mind. VV had always epitomized strength—steadfast and unwavering—and now it seemed that A’s own doubts had quietly eroded that formidable resilience.

“Thank you,” A uttered softly, her tone barely above a whisper and laced with tremors of emotion. Her gratitude was genuine, a heartfelt acknowledgment of the sacrifice being made. Trust was a rare commodity for both of them, painstakingly cultivated over time, and the mere fact that VV chose to place her faith in A, notwithstanding the myriad challenges they faced, felt like an invaluable treasure—one A grappled with feeling unworthy of possessing.

A tried to push herself upright again, her trembling arms barely cooperating. The effort left her breathless, but she managed to shift enough to rest her back against the wall, her gaze following VV’s toward Le Frey and Mimi.

“Did they say anything after…the incident? You know, when I passed out?”

VV stared, easily seeing A's weakened state. Her red eyes narrowed, feeling an uncomfortable twist in her gut. It didn't sit with her well at all - it was her fault A was like this.

She gestured to the canteen and ration left beside A, ”You should have something to eat. I'll explain meanwhile.”

A’s gaze drifted toward the canteen and ration pouch resting at her side. For a brief moment, her fingers hesitated in midair, suspended by indecision, before they wrapped around the canteen’s cool exterior. She unscrewed the cap and raised the vessel to her lips. As she took a small sip, the tepid water offered a modicum of relief against the abrasive dryness in her throat. While the liquid itself was not invigorating in the slightest, it did manage to give a bit of comfort that prompted her to indulge in a more substantial gulp.

After placing the canteen aside, her focus shifted to the ration pack lying in her lap. The packaging crinkled as she peeled it open, the unremarkable aroma of bland protein wafting into the air. She broke off a fragment of the dense, unappetizing bar, her teeth chewing through it in a rhythmic, almost mechanical fashion. The flavour was uninspiring as she had anticipated, yet her body craved the nourishment, driving her to consume it regardless of its unappealing nature.

With another bite in her mouth, she cast a sidelong glance at VV. “Go on,” A said, her voice taking on a steadier tone, shedding the hesitance of before. “What happened?”

VV nodded, feeling a fraction of satisfaction and relief. She scooted a little closer to the laser bars, hands resting in her lap.

”The doc is smart, I'll give her that. Somehow, Just by looking at you, she was able to tell that you control blood.”

VV's face softened a bit. ”She… also noted your lack of ability to hurt your friends. So, I uh, don't really have a right to be mad at you for throwing the duel. It's not your fault.”

A pause, before she nodded, a slight smile on her face. "Despite everything, we are friends… aren't we?”

A paused mid-chew, the words sinking in deeper than she expected.

“She figured that out just by looking at me?” she asked in mild disbelief. When VV nodded, A exhaled, her shoulders slumping as she tried to process what that meant. She wasn’t sure why she felt the way she did. Perhaps it was because it hadn’t been obvious to her way back when. Or maybe it was because she didn’t even know herself entirely, yet here was this person who had figured out something significant about her in less time than it had taken her to hit the ground.

Thankfully, VV’s question drew A’s attention back to her. “Yeah,” she said after a long pause. “I think we are.” She stared for a bit before shifting her gaze to break the intensity of the moment.

“But that might not be as great as it sounds.”

VV couldn't help the grimace that crossed her face. A tried to show that she was strong, but she was a lot like her. There was pain under the surface.

”It smells delicious.” The entity in VV's mind and body chimed in.

”Shut up.” VV chimed back in her mind, not missing a beat as she shifted a bit at the bars of her cell.

”Well, not that I really get this whole ‘fallaway' thing, but perhaps… we’re a bit lucky? Val is sticking his neck out for us. And Wren-” She glanced over at the man, ”Even wants to come with us. Maybe, things are looking up.”

She laughed a little sarcastically, trying to make a joke. ”Makes me almost forget about the spacey laser cannon aimed right at us if we mess up, eh?”

A chewed thoughtfully, her gaze flitting to VV’s pained expression before resting upon the meagre ration clasped in her hand. Her laughter after her optimistic words, which should have lightened the atmosphere, seemed too faint and laced with sarcasm to resonate with A’s ears.

“Lucky…” she echoed softly, as if savouring the syllables upon her tongue. After a contemplative pause, she acquiesced with a reluctant, “Maybe,” though her tone unmistakably hinted at her lingering doubts. Her gaze shifted toward Val and then to Wren, observing their expressions as she wrestled with her emotions. The notion of others electing to stand by them—choosing her—should have instilled a sense of comfort, yet it only served to tighten the constricting knot in her stomach. It transcended mere trust; it encompassed an overwhelming sense of responsibility, an acute awareness of the burden of not disappointing them amidst the bleakness of their shared plight.

“We have people who are genuinely putting themselves on the line for us, don’t we?” A expressed with a resigned tone. “But what happens if we mess up again? If I mess up again?”

The screech of tires echoed in her ears, unbidden, the memory surfacing with cruel clarity. The wind in her hair, the laughter spilling from her lips, the carefree chorus of their favourite song—before everything went wrong. She could almost experience the jarring lurch of the vehicle as it careened, the ear-splitting sound of glass exploding into a thousand shards. A tightness constricted her chest, reminiscent of her terrified grip on the seat, knuckles turned bone-white in distress. The world around her twisted in a chaotic whirlwind, an alarming amalgamation of sky and earth, until the catastrophic collision occurred, the repulsive crunch of metal contorting and fracturing.

A blinked rapidly, her focus slipping back to the present, but the phantom scent of asphalt and gasoline remained in her mind.

“You know…” she started, her voice faltering for a moment. “I’ve screwed up before, and people got hurt. Someone I cared about…” She trailed off, the haunting image of her best friend’s lifeless form seared vividly into her memory. A’s hands balled into trembling fists resting in her lap, as she summoned the courage to meet VV’s gaze once more. “It’s not just about messing up. It’s about… not being able to fix it. Watching it happen and knowing you can’t do anything to stop it.”

She exhaled shakily, her voice dropping lower. “That’s what scares me. Not the fight, not the pain—just… letting someone down again.” After she'd said this, A couldn’t bring herself to meet VV’s gaze. Instead, her eyes fell on the ration bar she had set aside. “So yeah, maybe things are looking up. Maybe this is lucky. But luck doesn’t last. Not for people like us.”

”It's true.”

Immediately, A would feel a suffocating, clawing, choking presence surrounding her. It bit at her edges, as if trying to choke her and drown her at the same time. Her vision was taken, and instead of the Ghost Corp barracks, she instead saw a grey and dismal expanse, with stones floating in the air, and a moon hanging in the gray. There was a figure staring down at her. It was hard to tell, but this shadowy, colossal being, easily could have been the size of a mountain.

"You are cursed to meet me. Cursed to bring my darkness into the world. Cursed to have a fate that some may call… worse than death.

“Struggle. Delay. Drown in apathy. It doesn't matter what you do. These feelings, this pain, opens the doors to my domain. Opens the doors to me. And you will be my harbinger.”

And, in the next instant, the collosal titan was gone, as well as the grey expanse. A was back in the barracks, VV's mouth moving at her.

”A…? A? Did you hear what I said?”

A blinked rapidly, her eyelids fluttering as her vision coalesced to reveal VV’s worried visage peering intently at her. Her friend’s lips continued to move in a flurry of words, yet the sounds remained frustratingly elusive to her ears. With a palpable dryness in her throat, A swallowed hard, summoning every ounce of her willpower to anchor herself to the present moment.

“I…” she began, her voice momentarily faltering and cracking like fragile glass. She cleared her throat, striving to regain her composure and try one more. “I’m fine,” she uttered in a tone that betrayed her insincerity. The haunting phrases from the vision clung relentlessly to her mind, gnawing at her consciousness.



A’s thoughts surged forward with reckless spontaneity, even as she futilely endeavoured to suppress them. Had it been a figment of her imagination? Had the Ghost Corps played some kind of nefarious role, or was it her own psyche conspiring against her, excavating fresh terrors to augment the weight of past nightmares? In her heart, she longed to dismiss it as a deceptive trick of her fatigued mind, but an insidious doubt festered deep within her.

“What did you say?” A finally inquired, grappling with whether she was directing her question at VV or merely seeking reassurance from herself.

VV stared with a bit of concern, before she shook her head, trying to smile. “I was saying, you look kinda tired, A. Maybe we should call it a day. Fates know what tomorrow will bring…”