Evolution: Harbinger of Chaos

Kira stood frozen at the doorway, her pulse racing as she tried to process Angela's question. She felt an inexplicable tension, a collision of curiosity and suspicion that left her speechless.

Before she could find her voice, Maxuel stepped forward, his posture tense, his expression cold with rising rage.

"I should be the one asking you that," he growled. "What are you doing here, Angela?"

Angela recoiled at the venom in his words, her sapphire blue eyes wide with shock. Her golden hair shimmered under the hospital lights, but there was no confidence in her presence—only unease. She clutched the strap of her bag tighter, her voice trembling as she replied.

"I—I just wanted to see how Daniel was doing..."

Maxuel's lips curled into a sneer. "I don't know if you're just bold or stupid, but I think you've seen enough. Leave."

Angela's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, her gaze darting toward the only other girl present, Kira, silently pleading for intervention.

But Kira didn't move. Her emerald eyes remained locked on Angela, a swirl of emotions storming behind them. She could still feel the echoes of Angela's nightmares—the monstrous shadows, the raging storm, and Daniel's bloodied figure cradling her own lifeless body. The vividness of those visions haunted her.

Ethan finally broke the silence, his tone cautious. "Max, chill out. She's not hurting anyone."

Maxuel whipped his head toward Ethan, his eyes blazing. "I said she needs to leave!"

Angela flinched. She took a step back, her head lowering slightly. The confrontation was clearly taking a toll on her, and Kira could sense her shame and apprehension.

Angela turned to leave, her footsteps faltering slightly as she approached the door.

"Wait," Kira's voice rang out, soft yet commanding.

Angela stopped, her back stiffening. Slowly, she turned, her sapphire eyes meeting Kira's gaze. For a moment, neither girl spoke, their connection charged with unspoken tension.

"Angela, right?" Kira's tone was even, but there was a faint edge beneath her words. "Why are you really here?"

Angela's lips parted as if to speak, but she hesitated, her gaze shifting nervously to Maxuel. His unrelenting glare weighed heavily on her, causing her words to falter.

"I..." Angela glanced at Daniel's still figure, her voice barely audible. "I just wanted to see him."

Kira tilted her head, studying Angela's face closely. She could sense the fear mingled with guilt radiating off her. The girl's emotions were as jumbled as the broken fragments of her thoughts.

Kira's voice softened, though her curiosity remained sharp. "Why? You... you rejected him, didn't you?"

Angela stiffened, her expression unreadable. "I don't know... I just... had to come," she muttered, her words rushed and uncertain.

Maxuel scoffed, crossing his arms. "How noble of you. Now leave."

Angela's breath hitched, and she gave Kira one last look—half-pleading, half-confused—before turning and practically fleeing the room.

The door swung shut behind Angela, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Maxuel exhaled sharply, his fists still clenched at his sides.

"Why did you stop her?" he snapped, turning on Kira. "You should've let her leave without a word."

Kira didn't immediately respond. Her gaze lingered on the door, her mind replaying the haunting images she'd seen in Angela's thoughts.

"She's... being haunted by something," Kira finally said, her voice distant.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "What? Did you see something in her mind?"

Kira hesitated, her fingers tightening into fists. "Nightmares," she said softly. "But not ordinary ones. They're vivid, almost... alive. I saw Daniel in them, and..."

Maxuel's jaw tightened, his expression hardening. "I don't care whatever goes on in her head."

Kira glanced at him, about to protest, but the steady beeping of the monitors drew her attention to Daniel. Her shoulders slumped slightly as she took a seat beside his bed.

She reached out, her fingers brushing against Daniel's hand. His skin was warm, a small comfort amidst the chaos of her thoughts. She let her gaze wander over his peaceful face, taking in every detail as if trying to memorize him.

Memories flooded her mind—moments from their shared childhood. She saw his pleasant smile, heard his laughter, and felt the warmth of his hand holding hers tightly as they ran through the park.

But then, darker memories surfaced. The day she screamed at him in frustration, "I hate you!" His wide, pained eyes still haunted her. She hadn't understood then what his condition truly meant—how could she, as a child?

"Prosopagnosia," she whispered, the word bitter on her tongue. "And partial amnesia."

The inability to recognize faces, even those he loved, and the loss of half his entire childhood memories.

Kira's thumb traced gentle patterns across his palm, a quiet apology for the pain she'd caused him back then.

"It's not too late," she murmured to herself. "I won't let it be too late."

Her thoughts drifted to the day she learned about the accident. Ethan's frantic retelling had seemed almost absurd—a monstrous black reindeer knocking the bus off the road? It sounded like something out of a nightmare.

But then the news reports had come in. The search parties scouring the Altinca Mountain range. The grim speculation when days passed with no sign of Daniel.

Three days. That's how long it had taken to find him.

Even now, the details of his rescue were shrouded in mystery. The authorities had refused to disclose much, but whispers of his survival spread like wildfire.

"You survived," Kira whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Even when it all seemed hopeless, because you're strong."

Her fingers brushed a strand of his titian-colored hair from his forehead, her touch tender. "That's why I'll be here for you. I won't abandon you again."

She leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Wake up soon, okay?"