The cozy little Japanese restaurant we found was tucked away at the edge of the old shopping district, its warm, inviting glow standing out against the chilly autumn evening. Paper lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, casting flickering amber light across the wooden entrance.
The air inside was filled with the mouthwatering scent of grilled meat, miso broth, and freshly cooked rice. Soft, traditional music played faintly in the background, blending with the quiet murmur of conversations from other tables. It felt peaceful—almost perfect.
Xier was radiant as always, her amber eyes shimmering under the restaurant's soft light. She studied the menu with focused intensity, her long fingers delicately tracing the Japanese characters as if committing them to memory.
"Anything catch your eye?" I asked, pretending not to be completely enchanted by the way she absentmindedly brushed her hair behind her ear.
She glanced up with a soft, almost playful smile. "The grilled mackerel sounds nice… and miso soup."
We placed our orders and settled into comfortable conversation. Her voice was as warm as the restaurant's inviting atmosphere, weaving stories about her favorite dishes and fond memories of cooking. Every word felt… genuine, though there was always something elusive behind her smiles—something I couldn't quite grasp.
---
As the evening wore on, Xier excused herself to the restroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I found myself reflecting on how easily she had become part of my life—how natural it felt despite everything.
I sighed, taking a sip of warm green tea when a strange, prickling sensation crept up my neck. I couldn't explain it, but something felt off. The faint sense of being watched prickled at the edges of my mind, setting my nerves on edge.
I subtly glanced toward the restaurant's entrance but saw only a few other diners lost in their meals. Shaking it off, I tried to relax—but the uneasy feeling wouldn't leave.
Just as I was about to check my phone, a muffled thud came from the back hallway near the restrooms. My pulse quickened instantly.
Was that… something falling?
I rose slowly, my instincts screaming that something was wrong. The restaurant's atmosphere felt… different now, heavier somehow.
As I approached the dimly lit hallway, I noticed the door to the women's restroom was slightly ajar, swaying gently as though someone had just gone inside—or left in a hurry.
"Xier…?" I called, voice tight with unease.
No response.
I stepped closer, my breath caught in my throat, heart pounding like a war drum. The shadows in the dim corridor seemed to stretch further than they should, deepening the oppressive stillness.
Suddenly, I heard a soft scrape—like shoes dragging against the floor—coming from behind the restroom door. My fists clenched. Something was definitely wrong.
---
I pushed the door open slowly, heart pounding, every nerve on edge. The dimly lit restroom was eerily silent, the faint hum of the restaurant's distant conversations muffled as if swallowed by the heavy air.
"Xier…?" I called out again, voice tight with unease.
Nothing.
The dim yellow light flickered above, casting long, warped shadows across the tile floor. My breath hitched as I noticed something dark smeared faintly along the edge of the sink—red, wet, and fresh.
Blood.
A sudden thud echoed from deeper within the restroom. I tensed, fists clenched as I stepped further inside, scanning the narrow corridor leading to the stalls. The metallic scent of iron hung faintly in the air now, sharp and undeniable.
Then, I saw it—a hand.
It jutted out awkwardly from behind the last stall, motionless and pale under the harsh flickering light. My stomach twisted, fear clawing at my chest.
I rushed forward just as a wet, ragged cough split the silence.
"Stay… back…"
The voice was low, rasping—hers.
Ignoring her warning, I rounded the corner—only to freeze in place.
Mr. Geller, my former landlord, lay sprawled on the tiled floor, his eyes wide with shock and… fear. His body twitched weakly, mouth gaping like a suffocating fish. Red streaks trailed from his neck to his shirt, though the wounds were shallow—almost deliberate.
Before I could comprehend what I was seeing, movement drew my gaze.
Xier slowly emerged from the shadows, her amber eyes gleaming like molten gold under the flickering light. Her breath was heavy, her skin flushed, but there wasn't a single scratch on her.
Her hand trembled slightly, red smears staining her fingertips—not from injury, but… something else.
"What… the hell… happened?" I choked out, mind spinning with confusion.
Her gaze softened almost immediately, shifting back to that familiar, warm expression—too quickly.
"He… attacked me," she whispered, voice trembling just enough to sound convincing. "I… I fought back."
I stared down at Mr. Geller's barely conscious form, still gasping for air like something vital had been ripped away from him. His eyes were hollow—dull, almost lifeless.
Something was wrong.
But before I could piece it together, Xier stumbled toward me, collapsing against my chest. Her fingers gripped my jacket desperately, trembling like she was clinging to me for safety.
"Please… just get me out of here," she whispered, her voice cracking with fear—or something eerily close to it.
I nodded numbly, still reeling from the twisted scene, and guided her back toward the restaurant's main entrance, leaving the suffocating stillness and Mr. Geller's unmoving form behind us.
---
We stumbled back into the warm glow of the restaurant's main dining area, the contrast between its cozy atmosphere and the horror we'd just left behind making my head spin. The soothing scent of grilled meat and miso broth now felt sharp and invasive, clashing against the metallic tang of blood still fresh in my memory.
I helped Xier into a nearby chair, her trembling fingers still clutching my jacket like a lifeline. Her breath came in short, shaky gasps, her face pale yet… strangely composed beneath the surface, as if holding something back.
"We… we have to call the police," I said, voice hoarse as I fumbled for my phone. My fingers trembled, adrenaline still coursing through me.
"No!"
Her voice rang out sharply, louder than I'd ever heard before. It startled me so much that I nearly dropped my phone. Her eyes were wide, filled with fear—but there was something else in them too… something far more calculating.
"They'll… they'll think it was me!" she insisted, her voice cracking with desperation. "He attacked me! You saw—he was…" She paused, her breath hitching as though struggling to find the right words.
I swallowed hard, mind reeling. "But… he's still alive," I reasoned. "He looked… bad, but he's breathing."
Her gaze flicked toward the hallway, calculating and tense, before softening again as she reached for my hand. Her fingers felt colder now, trembling faintly.
"Please…" she whispered, her eyes shimmering with what looked like genuine terror. "I can't… go through that. They'll never believe me."
Something inside me twisted painfully. I could still see the hollow, gasping expression on Mr. Geller's face, but… he hadn't died. He was hurt—but breathing. Alive.
I hesitated, conflicted. Calling the police seemed logical, but her fear was so raw, so real, that I couldn't ignore it. The last thing I wanted was to see her dragged into something worse—especially when I hadn't seen what really happened.
My phone buzzed suddenly, startling us both. It was from one of the restaurant staff—a short, middle-aged man with a concerned expression.
"Hey, uh… that guy in the restroom? He's… awake," he said hesitantly, glancing toward the back. "Looks… rough, but he's not… dying. We've already called an ambulance."
Relief hit me so fast I almost collapsed. My phone slipped back into my pocket as I exhaled sharply.
"See?" Xier whispered, her hand still wrapped around mine, voice trembling with barely-contained emotion. "We… we can just… leave."
I stared into her wide, desperate eyes. Logic still clawed at the back of my mind, but something deeper… something visceral, wouldn't let me let her go.
"…Okay," I said quietly, my voice strained. "Let's… get out of here."
Her shoulders sagged with relief as she nodded, allowing me to help her stand. As we left the restaurant, her grip on my hand tightened—not possessively, but… like she was still holding on, as if she feared she might lose me the moment she let go.
---
We stepped outside into the cool, damp night air. My hand still gripped Xier's, her fingers trembling faintly against mine. Her grip wasn't tight—but it was desperate, like she was holding on to something far more than just my hand.
The distant wail of sirens echoed through the quiet street, faint at first, then growing louder—much louder. Ambulance… police… they were coming.
My breath hitched, heart pounding in my chest like a caged animal. Every instinct screamed at me to run, even though I hadn't done anything—we hadn't done anything… right?
Then why does this feel like we're escaping something far worse than a crime scene?
I stole a glance at Xier. Her face was pale, but calm—too calm. There was no panic, no wild-eyed fear. Her expression was carefully measured, though her breathing was still uneven, like she was forcing herself to stay composed.
The sirens blared louder now, flashing red and blue lights casting erratic shadows on the nearby walls. We turned a corner, leaving the restaurant behind—but the sound followed us, refusing to be left behind.
I clenched my jaw, dragging in a shaky breath, trying to piece together the insanity of what just happened.
Mr. Geller…
I could still see him sprawled on the cold tile floor, his chest heaving, gasping like something vital had been ripped away from him. Not dead—but damn close.
But the rest… didn't make sense. He was in the women's restroom. Why was he there? No sane person would just walk in like that, especially him.
There were no cameras back there.
The dark realization hit me like ice water down my spine—if he says anything… who would believe him? He had no reason to be in that part of the restaurant, much less attack someone.
Still… I couldn't shake the feeling that we were missing something—something crucial.
Another sharp wail from the sirens shattered my thoughts, yanking me back to the present. Xier tugged gently at my hand, urging me forward.
"Keep walking…" she whispered, her voice steady, too steady. "We're almost there."
Her calmness should've reassured me—but it didn't. If anything, it made me even more uneasy.
We crossed another quiet street, heading toward the darker, less crowded side of town. The distant sirens faded slowly, finally disappearing around a far-off corner—but their ghostly echo remained, ringing in my ears like a warning.
I exhaled slowly, shoulders tense, mind still racing. What actually happened back there? What did she do?
Before I could untangle the storm in my head, Xier's voice cut through the heavy silence—soft but firm.
"We're safe now…"
But for the first time… I wasn't sure if I believed her.