POV: Sarina
The monster's roar tore through the street, loud enough to shake the windows.
I couldn't breathe.
My feet felt glued to the ground as it took another step toward us, its claws scraping against the broken road. The air smelled wrong—like smoke and metal and something rotten underneath.
Jordan swore under his breath.
"Okay… please tell me this is a prank."
"It's not," Leo whispered.
Ethan moved slightly in front of us, instinctively protective. "Everyone stay back."
I wanted to scream at them to run.
But my voice wouldn't come.
Because I could feel it now—
the light inside me, surging, burning, desperate.
Let me out.
My hands trembled. A faint glow slipped through my fingers before I could stop it.
Lukas saw it.
His eyes widened—not with fear, but with realization.
"Sarina…" he said slowly. "What's happening to you?"
The monster lunged.
Everything happened at once.
"MOVE!" I shouted.
The ground exploded where we had been standing seconds earlier. Jordan fell back, Leo grabbed his arm, Ethan barely pulled himself away.
And that was it.
There was no more hiding.
I stepped forward.
The light burst out of me like a heartbeat finally released.
Wings of pure light unfolded from my back, blinding and beautiful and terrifying all at once. The street glowed gold and white, shadows retreating as if afraid.
I heard gasps behind me.
I didn't turn around.
Because if I did, I might break.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"I didn't want you to find out like this."
The monster roared again, charging straight at me.
I raised my hands.
"Not tonight."
Light slammed into it, throwing its massive body back into a wall. The impact cracked concrete, dust filling the air. I flew forward without thinking, instinct guiding me more than training ever could.
I was Lumina.
And I was done running.
It attacked wildly, darkness snapping at my wings, but I moved faster—light against shadow, hope against hunger. Every strike felt heavier than before, like the fight was testing me.
This is only the beginning, a voice echoed inside me.
I forced the monster down, pinning it with a blast of light so strong the streetlights shattered.
With one final surge, I released everything—
The monster screamed.
Then dissolved into ash.
Silence fell.
The silence after the monster disappeared was louder than the fight itself.
Ash floated in the air where it had stood seconds ago. My heart was still racing, my hands shaking as the last traces of light faded from my skin. My wings dissolved slowly, like they were never real—like I wasn't real.
But the looks on their faces told me otherwise.
They had seen everything.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to stand still, even though every instinct screamed at me to run.
"I—" My voice cracked. I cleared my throat and tried again. "I didn't want you to find out like this."
Jordan blinked. "Find out… that you're literally Lumina?"
Leo rubbed his face, still staring at the empty space where the monster had been. "The videos. The light. The way you moved…" He looked at me. "It was you the whole time."
Ethan stepped closer, his voice calm but serious. "You saved us."
That word hit me harder than the monster ever could.
Saved.
I shook my head. "I put you in danger."
"No," Lukas said.
I looked at him.
He was watching me like I was fragile glass—like one wrong word might shatter me. "You pulled us out of it," he continued. "You didn't hesitate. You protected us."
Tears burned behind my eyes.
"You don't understand," I whispered. "This isn't a one-time thing. Monsters are coming because of this." I gestured helplessly at myself. "Because of me."
Jordan let out a nervous laugh. "Wow. And here I thought today was going to be boring."
"Jordan," Leo warned.
"What?" he said quickly. "I mean—yeah, I'm terrified. But she's still Sarina."
That almost broke me.
Sirens wailed in the distance—closer now. Too close.
My chest tightened. "We need to leave. Now."
Ethan nodded immediately. "Agreed."
Lukas didn't move. "Are you okay?"
I met his eyes. "I don't know how to be."
For a second, neither of us looked away.
Then I turned, forcing myself to focus. "Go. Before someone sees more than they already have."
We moved quickly, footsteps echoing too loud against the quiet street. Every shadow felt alive now. Every sound made my power stir again, restless and alert.
This wasn't just my secret anymore.
As we reached the corner, I felt it—
a pull in my chest.
Not danger.
A warning.
Something darker than the monster we'd just fought was watching.
I clenched my fists.
This really is where it begins.