Two female fists collided.
Bang!
They both retreated several steps, their breaths heavy.
Gwen and Kira were drenched in sweat, it glistening on their foreheads as they exchanged blows and kicks. Everything felt unreal. From the day they joined Zayne, their view of the world had been completely overturned.
They had been training for days inside the base, their strength growing faster than they could have ever imagined. But both of them carried knots in their hearts—and as fate would have it, today was the day those knots got loose.
"Gwen."
"Kira."
They spoke at the same time. Silence followed.
"You go first," Kira said, offering an understanding smile.
Gwen nodded and finally spoke. "It's about Zayne, Kira."
"What about Zayne?" Kira asked, clearly puzzled.
Gwen sighed. It felt like her friend wasn't catching the hint. She hesitated, anxiety creeping into her chest. She didn't want to hurt Kira—but for her sake, she had to ask.
"Kira… haven't you thought about the fact that Zayne might not be interested in you?" Gwen said softly, her voice low.
Kira raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she studied Gwen with a thoughtful expression. "Hmm… what made you come to that conclusion?"
Gwen grew slightly annoyed at the reply. Was her friend blinded by her feelings? Hadn't she noticed what happened during their sparring session? To Gwen, no man who cared for a girl would be that heavy-handed.
Gwen placed her hands on Kira's shoulders, her tone urgent. "Kira… didn't you see what he did to you during sparring? He didn't hold back at all. He simply doesn't care about you."
Kira was silent for a moment. Then she started chuckling, completely unfazed.
"Was my question really that funny?" Gwen asked, her expression sour.
Kira wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes and replied calmly, "Yes, Gwen. Funny—and naïve."
Gwen stiffened.
"Kira," she began, but Kira raised a hand, her expression turning serious.
"You're wrong," Kira said firmly. "Zayne acting like that during sparring is exactly because he cares."
Gwen blinked, stunned.
"Our job is dangerous," Kira continued. "Every battle we fight could be our last. If he held back, if he treated me differently, that would put me—and everyone else—at risk. He's making us stronger because he has to."
She stepped closer, meeting Gwen's eyes without hesitation.
"Gwendolyn," Kira said seriously, "the safety of the entire planet rests on our shoulders. We have to grow strong, and we have to grow strong fast. Blaming Zayne for pushing us forward is utterly foolish."
The words hit Gwen like a slap. Her shoulders sagged as realization dawned on her. She had never looked at it from that angle. She had only focused on the negative, on her own emotions.
"I…" Gwen swallowed. "I'm sorry, Kira. I didn't think about that. I was selfish."
Kira smiled and shook her head. "It's fine. I don't mind."
She placed a hand on Gwen's shoulder. "Honestly, I'm happy to have a friend like you—someone who worries about me. That's rare."
Gwen let out a shaky laugh, and soon Kira joined in. The tension between them dissolved, replaced by warmth and familiarity.
After a moment, Gwen wiped her eyes and looked at Kira curiously. "So… what were you going to say earlier?"
Kira froze. Then her cheeks turned red.
Without a word, she pulled out her phone and showed Gwen the screen.
Gwen's eyes widened as she read the messages.
Zayne had asked Kira out on a date.
"And I have no idea what to do," Kira admitted, flustered.
Gwen stared at her friend, stunned, before breaking into a grin. Happiness bubbled up inside her—along with embarrassment. She had genuinely believed Zayne was indifferent.
"I really was foolish," she thought.
"Calm down, Kira, let's think about this carefully. I have some experience when it comes to areas like this."
(A/N: She lied)
The next thirty minutes were filled with excited whispers, teasing, and planning. Outfit ideas, locations, what to say—everything was discussed in detail.
When they were done, Kira suddenly hugged Gwen tightly. "Thank you," she said softly.
Gwen smiled and hugged her back. "Of course. I'll help you dress up that day. Don't worry."
Kira nodded happily. There was no need to worry anymore; that day was going to be perfect.
Then a thought crossed her mind.
"Wait… what about MJ?" she asked. "Shouldn't we call her? Even though time moves faster here than outside, hours must have passed there. She might be worried."
She was right, although time seems to move faster. It didn't stop; hours had passed in the outside world. They promised to follow MJ on her trip today. Although she didn't say where, they trusted her. After all, they are best friends.
Gwen nodded in understanding. "Yeah… you're right. Let's call her."
Kira took her phone, and the number was dialed.
--- ✦ ---
An abandoned house stood at the far edge of Angel Grove, its structure old and rotting, walls cracked and windows boarded shut. The place had long been forgotten by the public, written off as nothing more than a decaying ruin. Yet tonight, it breathed with a sinister presence.
Inside, darkness ruled. The air was cold and heavy, thick with an unnatural stillness. At the center of the ruined living room sat a throne made of bone—jagged, pale, and grotesque. Upon it lounged Necrolai.
Her posture was relaxed, almost lazy. One leg was crossed over the other, her heel dangling idly as a red apple twirled between her pale fingers. Her crimson eyes gleamed faintly in the dim light, reflecting amusement and cruelty in equal measure.
Above her, bats clung to the broken ceiling, hanging upside down like living shadows. Some slept. Others stirred restlessly, reacting to her presence. The walls seemed to whisper, and the floor creaked softly, as if the house itself feared its occupant.
Necrolai waited.
Minutes passed in silence. Her smile slowly widened, sharp and knowing.
Then—
A faint sound echoed from outside. Footsteps. Hesitant. Uneven.
Necrolai's fingers stopped twirling the apple. Her eyes shifted toward the doorway.
The front door creaked open, protesting loudly as a figure slipped inside. The person moved cautiously, shoulders tense, as though expecting death at every step.
Necrolai chuckled, the sound low and amused, echoing unnaturally through the house.
"Well, well," she said smoothly. "Look who we have here."
The figure stiffened.
Necrolai tilted her head, resting her chin against her hand. "You're late… again."
The feminine figure stepped further into the room, her face still obscured by shadow. Her hands trembled as she clasped them together, her breathing shallow and uneven.
"I—I was held up by something important, my queen," the girl stammered, voice shaking. "I promise it won't happen again."
Necrolai laughed softly, spinning the apple once more before taking a slow bite. The sound of the crunch was loud in the silence.
"You said that last time too," she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
The figure swallowed hard, her knees nearly buckling beneath her.
Necrolai sighed and rose from her throne. The bones beneath her shifted and rattled as she stood, her expression now bored—almost disappointed.
In the blink of an eye, she vanished.
A sharp gust of wind followed, and before the girl could even gasp, Necrolai was standing directly in front of her. One pale hand shot out and wrapped around the girl's neck, lifting her clean off the ground.
"I need sheep, servant," Necrolai said coldly, her voice losing all amusement. "And you're not giving them to me."
Her grip tightened slightly, just enough to make breathing painful.
"You wouldn't want to starve… right?"
At the word starve, the girl's fear skyrocketed. Her body trembled violently, hands clawing weakly at Necrolai's wrist. Tears streamed down her cheeks as panic consumed her.
"P-please," she choked out, struggling to speak. "I—I'm trying. It's not easy. They're cautious… but I have someone, no two people, they trust me. They will definitely listen"
Necrolai leaned closer, her face inches away. Her red eyes bored into the girl's soul.
"Excuses," she whispered.
"I swear," the girl cried desperately. "Just give me more time. I'll bring them to you. I'll bring you more than before. I just need one chance—one more chance."
For a moment, Necrolai studied her. The room fell silent except for the girl's ragged breathing and the faint fluttering of bats above.
Finally, Necrolai clicked her tongue in annoyance and released her grip.
"Tch. Pathetic," she muttered.
She straightened, brushing invisible dust from her sleeve. "Very well. I'll indulge you."
Necrolai turned her back to the girl, walking a few steps away as if she had already lost interest.
"But understand this," she continued calmly. "There won't be a next time."
Without warning, she spun around and shoved the girl away with brutal force.
The girl crashed to the floor, skidding across the rotten wood. She coughed violently, clutching her chest as blood splattered against the ground. Her vision blurred, ears ringing painfully.
Necrolai looked down at her one last time, expression utterly indifferent.
Then her body dissolved into darkness.
A swarm of bats exploded outward, rushing toward the broken ceiling and disappearing into the night sky, leaving behind only silence and dread.
The girl lay there for several seconds, gasping and coughing, her throat burning with pain. Slowly, shakily, she pushed herself up. Blood stained her lips as she wiped her mouth with trembling fingers.
As she lifted her head, the dim light finally revealed her face.
It was Mary Jane.
Gwen and Kira's friend. The very same person they trusted
Her eyes were filled with fear, exhaustion, and something darker—desperation.
She staggered to her feet and limped toward the exit, every step heavy with pain and guilt. As she left the abandoned house, her voice came out barely above a whisper, shaking and broken.
"I need to find a way to trick them both into coming here. I can't starve any longer… it's killing me. I'm giving them power after all, they would be grateful"