Anika sat by the fire she had just lit. Her voice was urgent.
"Hurry up. Bring him here."
Drone and Thom carried Nero using the bedsheet as a makeshift stretcher. As they knelt to gently lower him near the flames, the fabric suddenly cracked—splintering beneath him. Nero hit the ground with a dull thud.
"Kid, you okay!? Did it hurt?" Thom asked, eyes wide.
"Y-Yeah," Nero grunted softly.
Drone and Anika stared at what remained of the sheet. The entire thing had frozen over and crumbled like brittle glass.
"Holy shit…" Thom whispered, eyeing the fragments.
Nero's shirt and pants were also frozen stiff. The fabric had hardened, beginning to crack and flake off in sharp pieces.
"Bring him closer to the fire," Anika ordered.
Without hesitation, Drone and Thom eased Nero until he was just half an inch from the heat. Steam began to rise off his skin as the frozen cloth hissed and curled. For a few minutes, the only sound was the soft crackle of fire.
"Is it helping?" Anika finally asked.
Nero, voice slightly stronger now, replied, "Yeah… this is better than the hot water."
All three let out a breath.
"Told you you'd be fine," Drone said with a faint smile.
Thom glanced at Anika. "What now? Does he have to sit by a fire forever?"
Anika shook her head, staring at Nero's face.
"I have no idea. His body temperature dropped so low even fabric couldn't survive… but he's still breathing. That shouldn't be possible."
Drone looked around. "Where's CH?"
"At my place," Anika said. "I told him to stay with Eli and Lina."
As they sat beside Nero, Jaren and Calla walked over from a distance. Jaren smiled as he approached.
"Did you guys have a campfire picnic without us?"
Then he saw their faces. His smile faded.
"This isn't a campfire picnic, is it?"
Thom slowly shook his head.
Jaren's eyes found the boy curled by the flames, skin ghost-pale.
"What… what happened to him? Why is he that close to the fire?"
Calla's voice followed, softer. "Is he alright?"
"No," Drone said quietly. "Something's wrong with him."
"Will he be alright?" Calla asked.
"We don't know," Anika replied.
Further away, Ilana walked with Tobin, Nico, and Mira. As they neared the fire, Nico and Mira spotted their parents and ran over.
They hugged Calla tightly. Mira tilted her head.
"What are all of you doing?"
"Is this a picnic?" Nico asked.
Calla gently patted their heads.
"No, honey. We're just talking."
"Can we listen this time?" Mira asked hopefully.
Calla sighed. "No, sweetie. Didn't we say grown-up talk isn't for little ears?"
Mira looked down. "Sorry, Mommy."
"Take Nico and go play with Tobin, okay?"
Mira turned to her brother. "Come on, let's go."
But Nico didn't move.
"Nico?" she frowned.
He stood frozen, pale, eyes locked on something. He raised a trembling hand and pointed.
Mira followed his finger—
And saw Nero near the fire.
Her breath hitched. A chill swept up her spine. Just like before, when they touched his hand…
The fear was back. Worse.
Both children began shaking.
Jaren noticed and rushed over. "What happened to you two?"
Without warning, they clung to him and started crying.
Everyone turned at the sound.
Ilana rushed over, alarmed. "What's going on? Why are they crying like this?"
Tobin also spotted Nero. He cried out and clung to Ilana, tears already falling.
Ilana pulled him close and looked toward the fire. Her face darkened.
"That boy again? What is he still doing here? This is the second time the kids looked like this… and both times, he was nearby."
Anika tried to calm her. "Ilana, please…"
But Ilana's voice rose.
"I'm telling you—something is wrong with that boy!"
The shouting drew more attention. Eli and Lina emerged from Anika's house. CH followed silently.
They stopped cold when they saw Nero.
Thom noticed.
"Eli. Lina. Go back inside."
But Lina stepped forward, her small frame trembling.
She pointed at Nero and screamed,
"Move away from him! Please—he's scary!"
Silence fell.
Her words didn't match her age—but her fear was real.
"What…?" Thom muttered, stunned.
Eli's face was pale. He nodded slowly, eyes fixed on Nero.
"It feels… wrong. Like something's hiding in him."
Anika's voice cracked.
"What are you talking about? He's not dangerous—he's the one in pain."
But Eli didn't respond. His voice dropped to a whisper.
"I don't think it's him…"
Everyone turned.
"… I think it's something inside."
Both kids stopped shaking. But they didn't move or look away. Instead, they stood still—like they were seeing something far beyond Nero. Something that scared them, but also held their attention.
Nero lay on the frostbitten ground, his clothes barely clinging—shredded rags more ice than fabric. The cold clung to him like a second skin, biting into bone. His breath came in slow, broken gasps. Silver mist curled in the air.
No one spoke.
Even the children, who moments ago had whispered truths beyond their years, now stood frozen.
Not from fear—
But something else.
Something reverent.
Anika knelt beside Eli and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"He's not a bad person, Eli. He's just sick. And we're going to help him get better. Now go to Lina's house with Thom, okay? I'll come pick you up once Nero's stable."
Eli hesitated, glancing at Nero.
"What if it hurts you when you get close?"
Anika smiled softly.
"He won't. And even if he tries—Drone will protect me."
Eli turned to Drone.
Drone gave a firm nod.
"Don't worry, Eli. I'll keep your mom safe."
Then he looked at Thom.
"Take them to your place."
Thom gave a silent nod and led Lina and Eli away.
CH followed without a word.
Drone turned to the others.
"Jaren, Calla—take Ilana and the rest of the kids home."
Ilana tried to argue, her voice tight.
But Jaren and Calla gently steered her away, calming her as they walked.
One by one, they left—
Until only Drone, Anika, and Nero remained.
A quiet settled. Not peace—just stillness.
Drone knelt beside Nero, keeping his voice low.
"I'm sorry you had to hear all that. Ilana… she's lost everything. Tobin's all she has left. That's why she's so protective. But she's not a bad person."
Nero, still pale but more grounded, shook his head.
"I understand. You don't have to apologize. I'm the one causing all these problems."
Anika stepped closer, voice gentle but firm.
"Don't take their words to heart. They're just kids. They don't know what they're saying."
She paused.
"Just stay warm, okay?"
Drone moved in and finally noticed the state Nero was in.
Torn clothes clung uselessly—offering no warmth or cover.
"Dude, you're basically naked."
He gave a crooked smile.
"I'll get you a blanket."
Nero looked down at himself.
"I didn't realize I'd destroyed them… I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Drone said, already walking off.
"I've got more."
As he disappeared into the house, Nero lay there—
Trying to make sense of everything that had just happened.
And everything still happening…
Inside him.