The forest held its breath.
Leaves stopped moving.
Even the wind went still, as if the night itself feared what was coming.
Raya clutched her wrist, teeth clenched.
"It's burning, Eren—"
"I know," he whispered, pulling her behind him.
"Stay close. Don't let go of me."
But she could barely hear him over the thundering beat beneath her skin.
The Mark wasn't pulsing like before.
It was dragging.
Pulling.
Like something—
like someone—
was trying to draw her toward him.
Raya's breath hitched.
"Eren… he's calling me again. I can feel it."
Eren stopped moving.
Slowly… painfully… he turned to face her.
"How strong is it?"
Raya wrapped both hands around her wrist and squeezed, desperate to make it stop.
"It— it feels like a rope around my soul," she whispered.
"Pulling tight."
Eren swore quietly.
"That means he's close."
A chill ran through Raya.
"How close?"
Eren didn't answer.
Instead, he lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"Raya," he said softly,
"listen to me. No matter what you hear… no matter what you feel… do not answer him."
Raya's breath shook.
"What happens if I do?"
His voice dropped to a broken whisper.
"He'll take you."
Her vision blurred with fear.
"Eren… I don't want to go."
His expression twisted with something fierce and old and aching.
"You won't," he said.
But the Mark disagreed.
It flared again—
violent, searing, alive—
and Raya gasped as her knees buckled.
Eren caught her instantly.
Her body trembled as whispers slid across her mind—
Mine.
Her heartbeat stuttered.
"No—no—get out—" she breathed, pressing her fists to her skull.
Eren held her tightly.
"Hear me. You are stronger than him."
The Mark surged.
Pain shot up her arm, her spine, her throat—
and then the forest lights dimmed.
Not from clouds.
Not from trees.
From shadows.
Dozens of them.
Crawling across the ground like insects.
Spiraling toward her feet.
Gathering in trembling waves of ink.
Raya's breath froze in her lungs.
"Eren—"
"I see them," he whispered, drawing his blade.
"They're not here to kill you."
The shadows trembled, bowing—
bowing—
as if kneeling before a queen.
Raya staggered back.
"They're responding to the Mark," Eren hissed.
"He's using them to reach you faster."
The shadows quivered, rising like hands—
Reaching for her.
Raya screamed.
Eren slashed through them, but they reformed instantly, circling her like hungry spirits.
Her Mark throbbed again—
slow, deep, commanding.
And the shadows…
they obeyed.
They fell flat to the earth like soldiers following orders.
Raya froze.
"Eren… I didn't do anything."
His face drained of color.
"You don't have to," he whispered.
"You're awakening."
Raya shook her head violently.
"No—no, I don't want this—"
The Mark pulsed harder.
Something inside her—
a piece she didn't recognize—
shifted awake.
Eren stepped close, grabbing her shoulders.
"Raya! Stay with me. Fight it."
"I'm trying—!"
The shadows trembled violently.
Then—
A single voice slid into her mind like silk over a blade.
Little flame…
Raya's blood turned to ice.
Eren stiffened, eyes wide.
"You heard him, didn't you?"
Raya couldn't speak.
She could barely breathe.
"He's coming," Eren whispered, pulling her against him.
The sky rumbled like a mo
nstrous heartbeat.
"And this time," he said, voice shaking,
"he isn't sending shadows."
Raya clung to him, terrified, as the Mark burned hotter than fire.
"He's coming himself."