Baltimore's winter storm seemed to mirror Kairo's unease the next morning. The city woke sluggishly under a blanket of gray clouds, with icy rain tapping against the apartment windows like an impatient visitor. Kairo stood in the kitchen, a mug of lukewarm coffee in his hands, staring out at the dreary cityscape.
"You're zoning out again," Lina teased from the couch, her legs tucked beneath her as she scrolled on her phone.
Kairo turned, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about the power bill."
Lina wrinkled her nose. "It's the first day of the year. You're supposed to think about resolutions, not bills."
"Okay," he said, setting his mug down. "Resolution: survive."
"That's a terrible resolution," Lina said with mock sternness. "Mine's to stop eating instant ramen. Think you can manage that?"
"Not if you want to keep eating," Kairo shot back, grinning.
The playful banter felt normal, comforting even, but it didn't dispel the heaviness pressing on his chest. He couldn't shake the memory of the strange sensation from the night before—the air thick with something unseen, the fleeting shadow in the reflection.
"Hey," Lina said, breaking into his thoughts. "You sure you're okay? You've been... quiet since last night."
"I'm fine," he lied.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but didn't press further. Instead, she hopped off the couch and grabbed her coat. "I'm heading out to meet Keisha. You want me to pick up anything while I'm out?"
Kairo shook his head. "Be careful. Streets are slick."
"I'll be fine," Lina said with a dismissive wave. "See you later!"
The door clicked shut behind her, and Kairo was alone with his thoughts.
Hours passed in a blur of restless pacing and half-hearted attempts to distract himself. By late afternoon, the storm had worsened. Wind howled through the narrow streets, rattling windows and knocking over trash cans. Kairo tried calling Lina, but her phone went straight to voicemail.
Anxiety gnawed at him. She was probably fine—Lina was smart and resourceful—but the uneasy feeling from last night hadn't left him.
Just as he was debating whether to go look for her, his phone buzzed. Relief flooded him when he saw her name on the screen.
"Lina?" he answered.
"Kai—" Her voice crackled through static. "Help...!"
The line went dead.
Kairo didn't think. He grabbed his coat and bolted out the door, ignoring the biting wind and freezing rain. His heart pounded as he sprinted down the slick sidewalks, slipping more than once but refusing to slow down.
Lina's last known location was a few blocks away, near the corner store where she sometimes stopped for snacks. As he neared the area, he spotted her—standing frozen in the middle of the street, her wide eyes fixed on something he couldn't see.
"Lina!" he called out, but she didn't react.
He ran to her side, grabbing her shoulders. "Hey, what's wrong? What happened?"
Lina's lips moved, but no sound came out. Her gaze was fixed on a shadowy figure standing just beyond the circle of light cast by a flickering streetlamp.
Kairo squinted, trying to make out the figure. It was tall and unnaturally thin, its form flickering like a mirage. The air around it seemed to shimmer, bending light in a way that made his head spin.
"What the hell..." he muttered.
The figure stepped closer, and the temperature dropped sharply. Kairo instinctively pulled Lina behind him, his body tensing as a strange, electric sensation coursed through him.
"Stay back!" he shouted, though he had no idea what he was threatening or how he planned to back it up.
The figure ignored him, its movements slow and deliberate. As it drew nearer, Kairo felt a pressure in his chest, like a weight pressing down on his lungs. His vision blurred, and a sharp pain shot through his skull.
Lina clutched his arm, her voice barely a whisper. "Kai... I'm scared."
Kairo gritted his teeth, fighting to stay upright. "It's okay," he said, though he didn't believe it.
The figure raised an arm—long, spindly, and impossibly black, as if it absorbed light itself. The air around them crackled, and Kairo's body reacted before his mind could catch up.
A surge of energy exploded from within him, rippling outward in a golden wave. The figure recoiled, hissing like steam escaping a pipe.
Kairo stared at his hands, which were now faintly glowing with a warm, golden light. "What the..."
The figure recovered quickly, its form flickering more violently now. It lunged, faster than Kairo thought possible, and he barely managed to pull Lina out of its path.
Instinct took over. Kairo raised his hands, and another wave of energy erupted, forming a translucent shield around him and Lina. The figure slammed into the shield, snarling in frustration.
"What's happening?" Lina cried, her voice shaking.
"I don't know!" Kairo shouted back, his eyes locked on the figure.
The shield began to crack under the figure's relentless assault. Kairo felt the energy draining from him, his legs trembling with the effort of holding it together.
"Come on," he muttered through gritted teeth. "Just... hold on!"
As if in response, the energy surged again, pushing the figure back with a final, blinding flash. When the light faded, the figure was gone, leaving only a faint, acrid smell in the air.
Kairo collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. Lina knelt beside him, her hands gripping his shoulders.
"What was that?" she whispered.
Kairo shook his head. "I don't know... but I think it's just the beginning."