I sat there, staring at nothing, letting my thoughts churn restlessly. "That altar… was it real?" The memory lingered like a shadow at the edge of my mind, blurry, fragmented, as if I'd been half-asleep the whole time. It was strange—almost like I'd woken up too soon, only to find myself back in my bed.
…The first light of morning crept through the window. I'd stayed up all night. Between Lunar's sudden appearance and whatever that altar was, sleep had felt impossible. I stood, my body sluggish, and headed to the bathroom.
In the mirror, I looked as worn as I felt. Dark circles hung under my eyes, and my reflection seemed almost unfamiliar. I looked closer, trying to shake off the haze of the night.
That's when I saw it.
A figure, pitch black, eyes covering its entire form. All of them fixed on me, watching, waiting. I froze, my breath hitching. Slowly, I turned, half-expecting to find it standing there. But there was nothing behind me. When I looked back in the mirror, the figure was gone.
"It must be the exhaustion," I muttered to myself, but the excuse felt hollow. Maybe it was just a hallucination… or maybe something else had followed me from that altar.
Shaking off the thought, I brushed my teeth, took a long shower, and got dressed. A glass of water—that's what I needed. Maybe then my mind would stop playing tricks on me.
I stepped out of my room and headed to the lounge, hoping to find someone else awake. When I arrived, I saw Somuchi sitting there, her coffee cup cradled between her hands. She looked up as I walked over.
"Good morning, Somuchi. Did you sleep well?" I asked, trying to sound normal.
She nodded, giving a small hum. "I did. But you…" She looked me over with a slight frown. "You look like you've been through a lot. Didn't get much sleep, did you?" She took a sip of her coffee, watching me over the rim. "After everything that's happened… I wouldn't blame you if you'd been up all night."
I gave a weak smile, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah… just one of those nights, I guess."
A few seconds later, Zaire strolled into the lounge, hands in his pockets and a sly smirk on his face. "Morning, Somuchi. Akame," he said casually, like he was greeting old friends rather than Guardians about to face who-knows-what kind of danger.
I muttered a groggy, "Morning…" barely lifting my gaze. Somuchi, as collected as always, replied with a polite, "Good morning, Zaire."
Zaire chuckled, sizing me up with a glint of amusement. "Late night? Or did you just try taking on the mirror this morning?"
"Funny," I grumbled, trying not to give him the satisfaction.
He grinned, leaning against the doorframe. "Well, I've got something that'll really wake you up. Guardian HQ dropped a mission on us—another planet, the whole nine yards." His tone was almost too cheerful, but his eyes had a calculating gleam. "But only two of us get the joyride this time. Raven and I are staying back to keep an eye on things here. So, Somuchi, Akame—congratulations, you've been volunteered."
Somuchi raised an eyebrow. "Is there a reason you're sending us? Besides your clear aversion to morning travel?"
"Oh, believe me, I'd love to go," Zaire replied, voice dripping with sarcasm. "But who else is going to keep the home fires burning, right? Besides, I figured you two could use a little bonding exercise." His grin twisted just slightly, adding, "Think of it as me doing you a favor."
Then, his expression shifted, ever so slightly, a flicker of seriousness breaking through the humor. "Just… keep your eyes open out there. This mission isn't routine."
"Understood. When are we leaving?" I asked.
"In two days," Zaire replied, folding his arms and leaning back casually. "Use the time to get your gear sorted and make sure you're ready for anything."
"Alright, I'll go ahead and start packing," Somuchi said, already standing.
"Guess I'll do the same," I added, turning to leave, but Zaire held up a hand, stopping me in my tracks.
"Akame, a word of advice," he said, his tone light but his gaze sharp. "Maybe don't go diving headfirst into danger this time. We're not looking to set any records on reckless behavior."
I rolled my eyes, groaning. "I don't need you reminding me to be careful, Zaire."
He chuckled, stepping aside to let me pass. "Just making sure it's clear. Would hate to have to save you… again."
I shot him a half-hearted glare as I walked by, but his smirk only widened. Typical Zaire—always finding a way to slip in a reminder of my past mistakes, masked behind that lighthearted grin.
I made my way back to my room, trying to shake off the conversation with Zaire. But halfway there, I froze.
It was there again.
A dark figure stood just a few paces away, still as stone, shrouded in shadow. Eyes—hundreds, maybe thousands—scattered across its body, all staring directly at me. They glistened in the dim light, unblinking, unsettlingly aware. The air around it felt thick, suffocating, as if it pulled everything toward itself. I wanted to look away, to escape, but I was rooted in place. Something in me whispered that if I dared to break eye contact, something far worse would happen.
I blinked, and just like that—it was gone.
My knees felt weak, and I let out a shaky breath. What was it? Why was it watching me, haunting me? The questions tumbled through my mind as I started walking again, faster this time, desperate to reach the sanctuary of my room.
"Why am I the only one seeing this?" I wondered, a chill settling over me. "And why won't it leave me alone?"
With each step, the memory of those endless, haunting eyes stayed with me, a lingering weight that I couldn't shake.
I arrived in my room and spotted a suitcase already set out for me. A sticky note was attached, with Zaire's familiar scrawl: "Heyo, make sure to pack important things." He'd even drawn a smiley face at the bottom. I rolled my eyes, but a faint smile tugged at my lips—trust Zaire to keep things light, even when we were gearing up for a mission.
I packed my essentials, double-checking to make sure I had everything I might need, and closed the suitcase. A sense of restless energy lingered, refusing to let me sit still. I thought about the figure I'd seen in the hall, and the way it seemed to haunt me. Maybe talking to Raven would help clear my mind, even just for a moment.
With my things ready, I left my room and set out to find her.
I made my way to her room, knocked on the door, and waited. I heard some rustling, then her voice, muffled through the door: "I'm coming, give me a minute."
A few seconds later, the door opened. Raven took one look at me and raised an eyebrow. "Yoo, Akame… you don't look so good. You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just didn't get much sleep last night," I said, forcing a casual shrug. "It happens."
She didn't look entirely convinced, but she let it slide. "Alright… if you say so."
"Anyway," I continued, "Somuchi and I are going on a mission in two days, so I thought I'd stop by and catch up a bit before we have to leave."
A flicker of concern crossed her face, then she leaned against the doorframe with a smirk. "Look at you, all responsible, checking in before you take off. So, what's on your mind?"
"Well, about Lunar's arrival," I started, trying to choose my words carefully, "I just think it's strange that she… you know, managed to get away from someone as strong as Orion. I mean, he used to be a Guardian. Don't you think that's a little off?"
Raven raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Well, maybe Orion just got caught up in something else, and she found a way to slip through the cracks. I don't get why you're so skeptical. Besides, didn't you used to—"
"No." I cut her off, feeling a heat rise to my face. "And… forget about that, alright?"
She chuckled, but didn't push further. "Alright, fine. But maybe you're overthinking it. Sometimes things just… happen."
I forced a nod, letting her words sink in. "Yeah, maybe. Thanks for the talk, Raven."
She gave me a light shove on the shoulder, smirking. "Don't get all weird on this mission, alright? Try to get some rest before you leave, too."
"Yeah, yeah," I replied, offering a tired smile.
I walked outside into the bright morning, feeling the warmth of the sun as I scanned the courtyard. There she was, standing near the garden beds, her expression peaceful yet distant. For a moment, I found myself caught off guard by how calm she looked, almost as if she belonged here. But I pushed those thoughts aside—there were things I needed to know, and I wasn't here for small talk.
I walked up to her, catching her attention. "Hey, Lunar…"
She turned to face me, her expression softening slightly. "Akame. Good morning."
I paused, searching her gaze for any hint of an answer. "I wanted to ask you something. About how you… got here."
Her expression didn't waver, though a hint of curiosity crossed her face. "You mean how I ended up here with you all?"
"Yeah." I kept my tone as neutral as I could. "I mean, it's not exactly easy to just… appear here out of nowhere, especially considering where you came from."
Lunar's gaze shifted slightly, her calm demeanor never faltering. "It wasn't really as complicated as you might think," she replied. "Sometimes, doors open at just the right moment, and you take a step through. That's all there was to it."
I frowned, feeling the answer was too simple, too neat. "So… you just found an escape? No complications?"
She gave a small, almost amused smile. "Not every journey is dramatic, Akame. Sometimes, things just… align." Her voice was soft, like she was stating something as natural as the weather.
I nodded slowly, her answer leaving me with more questions than I started with. "Guess I'm just trying to understand," I muttered. "It's… unusual."
Lunar's expression softened, her gaze steady. "I don't blame you for wanting answers. Maybe, in time, I'll be able to explain it better. For now… I'm just here, like you."
There was a stillness in her words, a quiet acceptance. I felt the weight of my own questions still lingering, yet somehow, her presence felt solid—reassuring in its own way. I nodded, trying to accept that maybe, for now, that was all the answer I would get.
"Me and Somuchi are heading out in two days for a mission," I said, breaking the brief silence. "I don't have the full details yet, so I can't tell you much. Just wanted to chat before we had to leave."
Lunar nodded, her expression warm and attentive. "I see. Missions can be unpredictable, can't they?"
"Yeah, unpredictable's one word for it." I gave a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "I guess I just wanted to make sure everything was… settled before I go. Don't want to leave things hanging."
Lunar looked at me thoughtfully, a gentle smile touching her lips. "I appreciate that, Akame. We all need that kind of stability, especially in times like these. But don't worry—I'll be here when you return."
There was something in her tone, steady and genuine, that eased some of the questions still stirring in the back of my mind. For now, maybe that was enough. I nodded, feeling a little lighter.