The aftermath of the attack left Kairo shaken and reeling. The storm around them had abated, but inside, he felt like he was still caught in its grip. Every nerve in his body hummed with the remnants of the golden energy he'd unleashed, an alien power that he neither understood nor trusted.
Lina was silent as they made their way back to the apartment, her small hand clutching his arm like a lifeline. Her wide eyes flicked to him every few moments, a mix of awe and fear etched on her face. Kairo couldn't bring himself to look at her for long; he didn't know what she saw when she looked at him now.
The streets of Baltimore were eerily quiet, the storm having driven most people indoors. Shadows clung to the corners of buildings, stretching long and thin under the pale, flickering streetlights. Kairo's senses felt sharper than ever, and with that clarity came an unnerving sensation—a sense that they were being watched.
"Lina," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
She looked up at him, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"When we get home, I need you to lock the door and stay in your room, okay? Just until I... figure this out."
Her brow furrowed. "Figure what out? Kairo, what happened back there? What was that... thing?"
"I don't know," he admitted, the words tasting bitter in his mouth. "But I'll find out."
"And the light? The... shield thing? That was you, wasn't it?"
Kairo hesitated. He didn't know how to answer. How could he explain something he didn't understand himself? Instead, he gave her a weak smile. "I think so. But let's talk about it later, alright? I just need some time."
She nodded reluctantly, though her grip on his arm didn't loosen.
When they finally reached the apartment, Kairo felt a fleeting sense of relief as the door clicked shut behind them. The familiar, cluttered space was a welcome contrast to the surreal chaos of the night. Lina immediately went to her room, as he'd asked, though he could hear her pacing on the other side of the door.
Kairo sank onto the couch, his head in his hands. His mind raced with questions, each one more overwhelming than the last. What was that creature? Why had it attacked them? And where had this... power come from?
He stared at his hands, turning them over as if the answers might be etched into his skin. For a moment, he thought he saw a faint golden shimmer, but when he blinked, it was gone.
The silence in the apartment was oppressive, broken only by the occasional creak of the floorboards or the distant hum of a neighbor's TV. Kairo leaned back, his eyes fixed on the water-stained ceiling. He needed answers, but where could he even begin?
His phone buzzed on the coffee table, jolting him out of his thoughts. He grabbed it, half-expecting another call from Lina, but the screen displayed an unknown number.
"Hello?" he said cautiously.
There was a long pause on the other end, followed by a deep, measured voice. "You're awake."
Kairo's grip on the phone tightened. "Who is this?"
"A friend," the voice replied. "Though I imagine you don't have much reason to trust me right now."
"You think?" Kairo snapped. "How do you know me? And what do you mean by 'awake'?"
The voice chuckled softly. "All in due time. For now, you should know that tonight was only the beginning. What you faced was a shadow—one of many. They're drawn to the light you've just discovered, like moths to a flame."
Kairo's stomach twisted. "And what light is that, exactly?"
"The light within you," the voice said simply. "Call it Aeterna, if you like. It's a power that connects all living things, but only a few ever awaken to its full potential. You're one of them now, whether you like it or not."
Kairo leaned forward, his heart pounding. "And what if I don't want this? What if I just want to go back to my normal life?"
"That's no longer an option," the voice said, their tone hardening. "The shadows won't stop until they consume you. If you want to survive—and protect your sister—you'll need to learn to control your power."
Kairo's jaw clenched. "And how am I supposed to do that? You don't exactly sound like the hands-on teaching type."
There was another soft chuckle. "You're sharper than I expected. Someone will come for you soon. Listen to them. They'll show you the way."
The line went dead before Kairo could respond. He stared at the phone, a sinking feeling settling in his chest. Someone would come for him? Who? And how did this stranger know so much about him and Lina?
The questions piled up, but there was no time to dwell. A sharp knock on the door made Kairo's heart leap into his throat.
"Kairo?" Lina's voice came from her room, trembling. "Did you hear that?"
"Stay there," he said quickly, grabbing a kitchen knife from the counter.
The knock came again, louder this time. Kairo approached the door cautiously, his grip on the knife tight. He peered through the peephole but saw nothing.
"Kairo," a new voice called from the other side, low and calm. "Open the door."
"Who are you?" Kairo demanded.
"A friend," the voice replied. "And the answer to all your questions."
Kairo hesitated. The voice was unfamiliar, but something about it felt oddly reassuring. Against his better judgment, he unlocked the door and opened it just a crack.
Standing in the dim hallway was a man who looked as though he belonged in another century. He wore a long, dark coat over a simple shirt and pants, and his silver hair was tied back in a loose ponytail. His eyes, a striking shade of pale blue, locked onto Kairo with an intensity that made him feel exposed.
"My name is Zephyr Ionis," the man said, inclining his head slightly. "And if you'll allow me, I'll show you how to harness the power you've awakened."
Kairo's mind spun. "How do I know I can trust you?"
"You don't," Zephyr admitted with a faint smile. "But consider the alternative."
Before Kairo could respond, a low growl echoed from the shadows at the end of the hallway. His blood ran cold as a pair of glowing red eyes appeared, followed by another hulking shadow.
Zephyr turned, his expression unreadable. "It seems they've found you sooner than I expected."
He stepped into the apartment, closing the door behind him. "If you want to survive, you'll need to trust me—for now."
Kairo glanced at Lina's door, his protective instincts flaring. He didn't have time to argue. "Alright," he said, his voice steady despite the storm inside him. "What do we do?"
Zephyr smiled, a glint of approval in his eyes. "We fight."