A figure with wavy, pale red hair dashed through the dense forest, the moonlight barely piercing through the thick canopy above. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her heartbeat hammering in her chest as she forced her legs to keep moving.
Tears streamed down her face, but she did not stop. She could not stop.
"No matter what they turned you into... you are not a shadow."
The thought burned into her mind, a desperate plea to herself.
The forest floor blurred beneath her feet, the cool night air whipping against her skin. The faint echoes of voices—voices she longed to hear—flooded her mind.
Kai. Ryu.
Their names felt like anchors, pulling her away from the abyss threatening to consume her.
Suddenly, something struck her back, an invisible force slamming into her with brutal strength. Pain exploded through her body as she crashed onto the cold, damp earth. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as her vision flickered, darkness creeping at the edges.
She groaned, trying to push herself up, but her limbs felt heavy, her strength slipping away. Her eyes struggled to focus. The world around her spun wildly, the trees melting into shifting shadows.
Dark figures surrounded her, tendrils of swirling mist curling around her body like serpents, pressing in, suffocating.
A deep, chilling voice broke through the silence.
"Please... I'm not one of you," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.
Her words fell into the void, swallowed by the darkness.
Then, a presence emerged.
A tall figure loomed behind the shadows, his piercing green eyes glowing unnaturally in the darkness. His aura was suffocating, an overwhelming force pressing against her mind.
Through her hazy vision, she could barely make out his face, but she knew—whoever he was, he was dangerous.
Panic surged through her veins. She had to move. She had to escape.
Summoning what little strength she had left, she slammed her hand against the ground. A beam of psychic energy erupted, striking the earth with a violent explosion. Smoke and dust erupted into the air, shrouding her in a thick veil.
The shadows recoiled, momentarily disoriented.
The man, however, only smiled.
"Let her run," he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement. "She can run all she wants... but she is ours now."
He turned away, his gaze shifting towards the distant city.
"Instead, let's pay the merchants a visit."
---
Back at the Sanctuary
"Strike the other Kai!" Jin yelled.
Kai didn't hesitate. He slammed his fist into the false version of himself, sending it crashing into the stone wall of the sanctuary. The imposter flickered for a moment before vanishing into the air.
Lila extended her hands, sending a beam of healing energy toward Kai. A soft glow surrounded him, closing the wounds on his arms.
Outside, Ryu conjured a shadow blade, its dark aura crackling. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it soaring towards another entity attempting to breach the sanctuary's barriers. The shadow screeched before dissolving into nothingness.
Jin exhaled sharply, scanning the battlefield. "It's not like we have Mei anymore. The crimson shadow disappeared with her... what else do they want?"
Lila turned to Ryu, her expression unreadable. "They need all of us. Our abilities aren't normal. We're more than just fighters to them. We're tools."
Jin ran a hand through his hair and slumped into a chair. "It's been three days since she..." He hesitated before muttering, "Since she passed on."
Kai's jaw tightened. "Who said she's dead, Jin? We don't know that for sure. And we can't risk going into the past to find her. We don't know where the crimson shadow is."
Jin stood, sighing. "You have a point. But maybe it's better to look at it that way. If the worst happens... we'll be prepared for it."
Ryu shot him a glare. "We fight whether she's gone or not. That's the only thing that matters right now."
Kai said nothing. Instead, he turned and walked away, his mind clouded with thoughts of Mei.
---
Lost Hope
Kai wandered outside the sanctuary, his steps slow and uncertain. The night air was cold, but it did little to cool the storm raging within him.
Jin could be right. Maybe Mei was gone.
But something in his gut refused to accept that.
"The last time I saw her... she saved us."
The memory played on repeat in his mind—the moment she had thrown them to safety, sacrificing herself.
He closed his eyes.
Mei huffed and thought to herself , " I've been bleeding all this while.. they can use it and ...but before she could finish , a shadow figure landed and slapped her saying , " you think that awful trick of yours will fool us again ?
Turns out Mei was at the exact area Kai was ,
A faint rustling sound made him turn his head
Kai's eyes snapped open, his breath catching in his throat.
"Mei?"
His body moved before his mind could process it, his feet carrying him toward the sound. But as he reached the spot, there was nothing.
Just silence.
He exhaled shakily, his fists clenching.
"Great. Now I'm hearing her voice. Mei, if you're still out there... I won't stop looking for you."
The Underground Base
SLAP!
A sharp sting burned across Mei's face. Her head snapped to the side, a metallic taste filling her mouth.
Thick chains bound her wrists, suspending her just above the cold stone floor. The iron cut into her skin, the weight of it unbearable.
James, the one who had struck her, sighed in frustration. "Force you all I want, huh?" He chuckled darkly. "That's fine. We have other ways to make you submit."
A second figure stepped forward.
A woman.
Her face was hidden behind a dark mask, her aura chilling. Despite the fabric covering her eyes, she stared directly at Mei—no, into Mei.
Then, she inhaled deeply.
A slow smile curled her lips.
"The scent of a royal bloodline," she murmured.
James smirked. "Yes. Her scent is quite... exquisite."
The woman tilted her head slightly. "But this one smells fresher than the others."
James didn't change his tone. "We're not going to kill her. Only turn her."
Mei's heart pounded. Her breath hitched as the woman reached forward, her clawed fingers pressing against Mei's chest.
A sharp, searing pain shot through her body.
Darkness.
And then—
A presence.
Warm. Familiar.
A silhouette emerged in the void.
"Kai," she whispered.
But the figure shook his head. "I'm not him." His voice was calm, soothing. "I was the first voice who spoke to you when you first harnessed your powers. I can only take this form because he is the one you love most."
The figure placed a gentle hand on her face.
"You are in grave danger," he whispered. "But I can help you fight it."
A pulse of energy surged through her.