Kael woke up.
Not because the alarm screamed.
Because something inside him did.
A pressure in his chest. A pulse behind his eyes.
Like something wanted out.
His room was pitch black.
No light.
No sound.
Just a void and the stained bed beneath him.
He shifted.
A girl stood there.
Silky black hair. Long, loose.
A face carved with scars—scars shaped exactly like his.
She looked like him.
But she wasn't him.
"Who… who are you?"
"Hey there!" she said brightly—far too cheerful for the suffocating dark.
She skipped toward him.
"Kael! How are you? You're finally awake!"
Kael froze. No one had ever been happy to see him.
He didn't know where to put that feeling.
A small, stupid part of him liked it.
"How do you know my name?" he asked, stepping back.
She stepped forward.
"Oh, I know everything about you, honey."
A thin smile split her face.
"You can call me Noir."
"...That was my name."
"Now it's mine."
Kael swallowed.
"Am I dreaming?"
"Yes," she said softly.
"But I'll still be here when you wake."
His head throbbed.
He clutched it, groaning.
"God—my head. It hurts."
"The serum did that," Noir murmured.
"You weren't built for it."
"I thought it made me stronger."
"Everything has a cost."
He stared at her.
She stared through him.
"They broke you, Kael," she whispered.
"And now you're finishing the job."
"...Alright," he breathed.
Silence pressed in.
Then—
"I can save you," she said.
"I can help you, Kael."
"They'll still love you. Even after what you did."
His body locked.
"You just have to trust me."
"You have to save every one of them."
"No matter what it takes."
She extended her hand.
"I believe in you."
He hesitated—just for a heartbeat—
Then he touched her.
White exploded.
---
Kael woke again.
Noir's face hovered inches above his.
She smiled.
"You said you'd help me, right?" Kael whispered.
"Of course." She twirled slowly.
"But you have to do everything I say."
"...Fine. What first?"
"Get out of this house."
"How?"
"You need a catalyst. Something that forces them to leave."
"...Like… a bomb?"
Her eyes brightened.
"Mmm. That could work."
"Are you—"
"Do you want help or not?" she said softly.
"Do you want to die alone, Kael?"
Kael clenched his jaw.
"…Go on."
"Place the charge under the kitchen. Most of the pillars meet there."
A lazy wave.
"Frame it like Ryuzaki again. Save Aira. Be the hero."
"She'll bleed," Noir added lightly.
"But she won't die."
Kael's eyes widened.
"This… this could work."
"I know," she said, flicking her hair.
"We start tomorrow night."
"Raegal won't notice," she muttered.
"He's drowning himself anyway."
"Hey—he's my dad."
Her smile twitched.
"He's mine too," she whispered.
"Now hush. Listen."