I hear muffled sobs.

At first, I don't understand where I am. My head is heavy, my vision blurry. My eyelids feel like they are glued shut, but I force them open. Everything around me is hazy, but then I see him—my father.

He is sitting on the floor with his knees buckled under him, his shoulders shaking as he cries. Dad? Crying? That isn't right. He never cries.

I blink rapidly, my vision adjusting to the dim light of the room. The frame of our family photo is shattered, pieces of broken glass scattered across the floor. The carpet is torn, furniture overturned, the door cracked open as if someone forced their way inside.

Everything looks ruined. Everything… except my bed.

A cold feeling creeps up my spine. Was there an attack? A robbery? A disaster? My head pounds as I try to recall anything, but all I get is an overwhelming emptiness. I don't remember.

I push the thoughts away and stumble out of bed, rushing toward my father. My legs feel weak, but I don't stop. I kneel beside him and throw my arms around him, holding him tightly.

"Dad!" My voice trembles as I press my forehead against his shoulder. "Please… just tell me what happened."

He doesn't respond. His sobs continue, shaking his whole body. His voice is barely audible, broken with pain. I've never seen him like this.

My father—the strongest man I know—is crying in front of me!!!

I pull away slightly, cupping his tear-streaked face in my hands. "Look at me, Dad. Please, just stop… stop crying."

My voice wavers, but I keep going. "I'm sorry. I don't know what to say… but I— I can't bear to see you like this."

"I can't lose you now, Sol." His voice finally breaks through the silence, raw with fear and pain.

I freeze. Lose me?

Before I can process his words, I hear footsteps approaching. I turn my head quickly.

It's Fary.

He stands in the doorway, his expression blank, but his eyes hold something deep. Pain. Unlike Dad, he isn't crying. But that doesn't mean he isn't hurting.

I slowly get up, my legs shaky beneath me. "Fary… what happened?" My voice is barely above a whisper, but I need an answer. "Please, just tell me."

Before Fary can speak, Dad grabs onto my legs, his hands trembling as he grips me tightly. "You don't need to know much," he says, his voice hoarse. "You're already awake from the pain. Just… stay with me."

Something about the way he says it chills me to my core.

Fary sighs. "Dad, there's no point in hiding it from her." His voice is steady, but firm. "She has memory issues. Not telling her won't protect her—it'll only leave her unaware."

I blink. Memory issues… Of course.

My thoughts are a mess, but I hold onto Fary's words. At least someone in this house has sense.

He has always been like this—calm, responsible, acting older than his age. Ever since I developed this memory disorder, he has taken care of everything. My medication, my doctor's appointments, managing the household… everything.

And now, something terrible has happened.

I just don't know what.

I don't know…

I don't know if I'm ready to hear this.

"Sol… are you really ready to listen to this?" Fary's voice is quiet but firm, as if warning me.

Before I can answer, a loud shout echoes through the broken streets outside.

"Lenty Mortain has turned into a Veyrith! Everyone, stay aware!"

Someone from the Steels—one of the neighborhood groups—is shouting, almost like an announcement.

Lenty Mortain. The lady I used to buy biscuits from as a child. She never gave anything for free, always demanding a favor in return. Strict, selfish… but human.

And now, she's a Veyrith.

What is that? How did she "turn"?

I turn to Fary, my chest tightening. "What is this? What do you mean by turned?"

Fary sighs, rubbing his temples like he has already explained this too many times. "It's simple. Dark, faceless creatures—Veyriths—attacked here. They are attacking every human they find and converting them into one of them."

A chill runs down my spine. "Converting?"

"Yes," he continues. "They don't just kill. They change you."

My head spins, but Fary isn't done.

"And it's all because of that bloody Ivy! He shifted the statue—the one that trapped the Veyriths! Even after the mayor's warning, he still did it!"

I freeze. What?

My mind struggles to assemble the words I just heard.

Ivy? The boy from my school? The same Ivy who always sat in the back of the class, quiet but sharp? The one who barely spoke to anyone but always seemed to know more than he let on?

He's the reason for this?

No… this can't be real.

I take a shaky breath, forcing my lips to move. "And… where is Mom?"

Silence.

I snap my head toward my father. He looks away.

No. No. No.

I grab his arms, shaking him. "Where is Mom?!"

His whole body trembles. His eyes, already bloodshot from crying, fill with fresh tears.

"We don't know," he sobs. "But… she's not your mother anymore, Sol." His voice cracks, breaking into a whisper. "She is a Veyrith now."

Everything shatters.

I can't breathe. I can't think. My knees buckle beneath me, and I fall, shaking uncontrollably.

No. No. This is a nightmare.

I grab my head as if I can stop the spinning. How am I supposed to understand this?

I just need my mom.

That's all I need.

I feel my father's arms around me again, trying to hold me together when I am already breaking.

And then…

A voice.

"Sol…"

My breath catches.

No. No. That's impossible.

But I hear it again.

A soft, trembling sob… calling my name.

It's my mother.