"Again with the dream…"
I can't ignore it now.
I glanced at the clock on the bedside table.
It was past 3.a.m.
Haah! Haah! Haah!
My breathing was uneven.
My chest tightened as if the weight of the dream surfaced my mind.
I sat on the edge of my bed, trying to collect my thoughts.
"It's weird, I'm not feeling tired at all."
That dream has something to do with it.
But a sudden thought came to me.
Was all that really a dream?
The vivid images of that dark place, those children's, their lifeless eyes, the people with white apron.
The golden blood—it all felt so real.
'Golden blood, the person who killed me has it too.'
Are they connected?
I pressed my hands to my temples, forcing myself to remember every detail.
"That place felt familiar."
The realization hit me like a thunderbolt.
"Yes! That's right! How could I forgot."
Back when Nova took us to Frostvile Mountain for training, I had noticed something unusual.
There was some movement deep underground. At the time, I had used my skill Elemental Sense, curious to know what's exactly happening.
What I saw back then was exact similar to the place in my dream—an underground facility, the people, the strange atmosphere.
'Some kind of Experiment.'
I hadn't thought much of it then, assuming it was just one of those Nova's many secret operations.
But now... now it felt connected.
And that's not the reason for my nervousness.
What's biting me is…
"Why am I dreaming about all this?" I muttered to myself, my voice was trembling.
First, it was that dream about Ruby. And now this. There had to be a reason for all this.
"Ruby…"
It couldn't just be coincidence.
I needed answers.
I stood up from my bed.
Moving to the window, I slid it open, the chilly night air hit my face.
Without hesitation, I jumped down, landing silently on the grass below. I was still in my Nova uniform, but I didn't care.
Silently, I made my way to train station.
The train station wasn't far away. I needed to go to Frostvile City. There was something I needed to confirm.
I ran.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
I reached the train station, and I was in luck. A train was already waiting.
'Perfect!'
As I took my seat, I noticed my reflection on the window, sweat dripped from my forehead.
And a theory began to formulate in my mind. A terrifying theory.
If I was right—if this dream and what I had seen underground were connected—then something massive was about to happen. Something that would leave humanity utterly powerless.
.
.
.
Fifteen minutes passed and the train reached the Frostvile City.
I didn't waste any time, I quickly headed straight to Horizon Building, at Nova.
Ruby's room was there.
'I hope, she's awake.'
Reaching the building, I finally stood in front of the door with her name displayed clearly: Ruby Oliver.
I pressed the bell.
No answer.
'Is she asleep?'
I waited two minutes.
Then pressed the bell again.
But this time, the faint clicking of the door broke the silence.
Ruby stood there, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw me.
"Zane? What are do—"
Her gaze shifted to my face, I saw her expression change, noticing the tension in my face.
"Come Inside."
Ruby stepped aside, letting me in.
My eyes met Ruby.
The tension between us was suffocating.
I didn't beat around the bush, and simply asked her.
"Did you knew?" My voice was sharp.
I narrowed my eyes stepping closer and closer to her.
Ruby's face froze.
"W–What are you talking abou—"
"The Frostvile Mountain. The underground facility. The glass tubes. The children. The golden blood."
"!"
Ruby flinched.
It was slight, but I caught it.
That was all the confirmation I needed. Her silence, her reaction—it was clear she knew something.
"Ruby," I pressed further, "I saw a dream. About a little girl, locked in a small room. She was drawing something… and her smile… her smile was so bright it could light up the world. But then... she was beaten. Beaten so brutally that she was half-dead. And no matter how much she was hurt, there were no injuries on her body. She see—"
"STOOP!"
She shouted covering her ears, tears gathered around the corner of her eyes.
"Don't… Please… Don't make me remember it…"
I paused, watching her carefully. "That was you, wasn't it?"
Her eyes widen in disbelief, more tears dripped from her eyes.
"H-how... how do you know all this?" she asked, her voice was trembling.
"It was in my dream."
"Your dream?… sniff.. what nonsense sniff…" She whispered, her voice was barely audible.
I took a deep breath and asked, "Ruby, I need you to tell me the truth. What are you hiding?"
She glared at me, "How sniff… could you…" and I could clearly see the conflict in her eyes, her hesitation. Wiping her tears she answered. "Yes, you are right."
Ruby confessed.
Her every words are heavy carrying pain.
"Everything you saw... it's real. It was the Hero Association. For my entire childhood, they… they experimented on me. My parents, they abandoned me, and do you know this Zane, I was… only five. I was just... a tool to them. But I wasn't the only one. There were others—other children. We were all part of a project. I'm the only one… who survived. I am there… greatest creation!"
My step halted.
Her voice was cracking as she spoke, and I could feel the weight of her words.
'Hero Association. Of course.'
The anger build up inside me, was like a storm, violent, and unstoppable.
I clenched my fist.
But then Ruby looked at me, her eyes glistening with tears. "I didn't want to show you this, but..."
"!"
She reached for the buttons of her shirt, her hands tracing though each buttons as she unbuttoned them.
"Ruby stop, you don't have to—" I started, but she cut me off.
"No!" she said, her voice hoarse. "You need to see!"
She turned around, sliding the thin fabric off her shoulders. As her shirt fell, her bare back was exposed to me.
At first, I was speechless. But then I noticed it.
"Wha—!"
It was unnatural—No, inhuman.
A faint, shimmering light running– almost emitting along her spine. Her backbone seemed to glow, radiating a soft, red, glittering light.
In a faint voice, she asked, "It's... ugly, isn't it?"
I clenched my fists, my anger finally reaching its peak.
This wasn't just cruelty—it was a violation of everything.
Every dots connected in my mind, forming a vivid explanation.h
But then I noticed her expression.
But it was… too late.
She was crying non-stop.
'What have I done? Why did I force her?'
I'm an Idiot.
Without saying a word, I took off my coat and gently draped it over her shoulders, covering her.
"I'm sorry, I never once doubted you. Not for a second."
"…sob.. sob.."
She turned around suddenly, tears streaming down her face as she throws her arms around me.
Her sobs were loud and her whole body was trembling against mine.
"I was so scared," she cried. "I didn't want you to abandon me. I didn't want to be alone again."
Without any delay, I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly. "You're not alone. I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."
"whaaa!… hic..hic…!"
Her cries echoed in the room, each one more painful than other.
But as I held her, I made a commitment to myself.
Whoever was behind this—the people who hurt her, who experimented on her and those other children—I will find them, haunt them, and butcher them in mid street.
I will be their worst nightmare.
End of chapter.