Chapter 1: Shadow
Aya was a girl who seemed to glow from within. Her smile attracted people, and there was always a spark of dreams about freedom and adventure in her eyes. She easily connected with others, but her soul longed for more—a life full of discoveries. However, she had no idea that this would be the last day her world remained as she knew it.
Her phone screen lit up with the name of her friend. Without hesitation, Aya answered the call as she continued walking through the bustling streets. Her footsteps echoed rhythmically amidst the murmur of voices and the endless stream of cars as the traffic light switched to red.
— "Emi, hi! You won't believe it, but I was on fire today!" — Excitement laced her voice as if she were sharing something important.
— "Oh really? What this time?" — There was a familiar teasing note in her friend's voice.
— "Imagine this: I answered all of the professor's questions. And not only did he not criticize me, but he actually praised me!" — Aya emphasized the word "praised" as if it were the most unbelievable event.
— "Unbelievable. I hope you didn't overexert yourself?" — Emi laughed, though a hint of concern slipped into her tone.
— "Everything's under control, Mom," — Aya smiled, even though her friend couldn't see it. — "What about you? What have you been up to today?"
— "Drowning in reports," — Emi's voice suddenly lost its liveliness. — "Honestly, I look like a zombie. I envy your enthusiasm."
— "Maybe you should take a walk? Fresh air works wonders," — Aya suggested as she glanced at the busy intersection.
Emi chuckled softly.
— "That would be nice. Alright, get home soon. And watch where you're going, scatterbrain."
— "Yeah, yeah, Mom," — Aya rolled her eyes with a smile. This was their usual way of showing care—wrapped in playful teasing.
— "By the way," Emi suddenly said. — "Have they responded yet? Did you get into the competition?"
— "Yes! My application was accepted, and I'll be able to participate in the autumn violin concert."
— "Awesome! You play so beautifully!" — Emi was clearly happy for her friend.
Aya could already imagine herself stepping onto the stage, touching the heartstrings of her audience…
But at that moment, something changed. The wind grew colder. The people on the street suddenly seemed too silent, and the motion of cars appeared to slow down. A sense of unease tightened around her chest.
Aya's smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Suddenly, the city's noise became unbearably loud, as if the sounds had broken through an unseen barrier, flooding her mind with an overwhelming hum. Chaos erupted around her. Some people quickened their pace, while others came to a sudden stop. Her fingers gripped the phone tighter.
"What's going on?" — The thought flashed through her mind. Her heart pounded harder, though she still didn't understand why. Then, screams rang out.
— "WATCH OUT!" — someone shouted.
She turned around, and blinding headlights filled her vision. A truck was speeding straight toward her. Time seemed to freeze. Aya stood motionless, as if her feet had been cemented to the ground.
Her consciousness felt like it had detached from her body. One moment, she was laughing with Emi, making plans, and the next—a chilling fear pierced through her, paralyzing every muscle.
— "Emi…" — her voice broke into a whisper. Helplessness wrapped around her, and her body refused to move.
Her heart pounded wildly, each second stretching into eternity. She wanted to run, she wanted to scream—but it was too late.
"I just started living…" — The last thought raced through her mind.
The impact was sudden and brutal. The world flipped. Her body was thrown onto the asphalt, and the air was cut by the horrified cries of the crowd.
Her phone slipped from her hand, its screen shattering into pieces. The last thing she heard was Emi's desperate voice on the other end of the line:
— "Aya?! Are you there? Answer me!"
Darkness consumed her, leaving behind only cold and emptiness.
But she was not the only one to feel the chilling touch of this darkness…