Selene woke to silence.
Not the gentle kind—the kind that pressed against her ears until it felt loud. Her body lay heavy beneath her, every limb aching as though she had run for days without rest. The air was cool against her skin, but it did nothing to soothe the heat burning deep inside her chest.
She blinked.
The ceiling above her looked unfamiliar, yet painfully clear. Every crack, every shadow stood out with unnatural sharpness. Her breath caught.
Why can I see like this?
She tried to move, and pain answered immediately—sharp, relentless, unforgiving. A low sound escaped her throat, half a gasp, half a whimper.
"You're awake."
Robert's voice.
She turned her head slowly. He stood a few steps away, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. His face was calm, but his eyes—those eyes—watched her with a careful intensity she had never seen before.
"What… happened to me?" she asked.
The words felt wrong in her mouth, like they didn't belong to her anymore.
Robert didn't answer right away. He pushed himself off the frame and walked closer, stopping just out of reach.
"You collapsed," he said finally. "Your body reacted to something it wasn't ready for."
Selene frowned. "That's not true."
He stiffened.
"I remember screaming," she continued, her voice trembling. "I remember hearing things—things that weren't there. And I remember… you."
Her fingers curled into the sheets. "You knocked me out."
Silence fell between them.
"Yes," Robert said quietly. "I did."
She swallowed hard. "Why?"
"Because if I hadn't," he replied, "you would have hurt someone."
The words landed like a blow.
Selene's breath hitched. "That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
She sat up too quickly, pain flaring through her body. She hissed and clutched her side, but anger pushed her forward.
"You don't get to say things like that," she snapped. "You don't get to decide who I am."
Robert's jaw tightened. "I'm not deciding anything. I'm responding to what's already there."
Her heart pounded. Something inside her stirred at his tone—something dark and restless.
She looked away, her gaze drifting to the table beside the bed.
That's when she saw it.
A dark, empty blood bag.
Her stomach twisted violently.
"No," she whispered. "No, no, no—"
Her breath came fast now, her skin prickling as realization crept in. Memories surged back in broken flashes: the smell, the thirst, the relief that followed.
She pressed a trembling hand to her mouth.
"I didn't…" She looked up at him. "Did I?"
Robert met her gaze. "You needed it."
She shook her head, backing away on the bed. "That's not possible. I don't—people don't just—"
"Selene," he said firmly. "Listen to me."
She laughed once, sharp and hollow. "No. I don't want to hear this."
Her body reacted before her mind could catch up. The room shifted, her senses flaring. She could hear the hum of electricity in the walls. The faint sound of footsteps outside. A heartbeat—steady, human—somewhere down the street.
Her mouth watered.
She froze.
Terror washed over her.
"Oh God," she whispered. "What's wrong with me?"
Robert stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Nothing is wrong with you. Something has changed."
She looked at him, eyes shining with fear. "Changed into what?"
He hesitated.
That hesitation told her everything.
Her phone rang.
Clang.
Clang.
The sound ripped through the moment, making her flinch violently. Her head snapped toward the doorway.
"Turn it off," she said quickly. "Please."
Robert moved to the table and picked up the phone. He glanced at the screen, irritation flickering across his face.
"Nadia," he muttered.
Selene stiffened. "What does she want?"
"Work," he replied. "Tomorrow. Five a.m."
Her stomach dropped. "I can't go."
"I know."
"She'll ruin me if I don't," Selene said, panic rising. "She's been waiting for a chance."
Robert studied her for a moment. "Then we won't give her one."
She laughed bitterly. "You don't know Nadia."
"I know enough," he said. "And I know you."
She stared at him. "You barely know me."
His gaze softened—just slightly. "I know you wouldn't hurt anyone if you had a choice."
Her chest tightened.
Outside, a car passed.
The heartbeat grew louder.
Her fingers dug into the mattress. "Robert… I'm hungry."
His expression darkened.
"Not like before," she added quickly. "This is different. It's worse."
She swung her legs off the bed, standing despite the pain. Her body felt too light now, too ready.
"I need air," she said.
"No," Robert said immediately. "You need control."
She took a step toward the door.
"Selene," he warned.
She didn't stop.
Her instincts screamed louder than his voice. Every sense pulled her forward, guiding her with frightening precision.
She reached for the door handle—
—and pain exploded through her skull.
She cried out, collapsing to her knees as a wave of dizziness crashed over her. Images flooded her mind: shadows, blood, fire, a scream that wasn't hers.
And a voice.
You're waking up.
She gasped, clutching her head.
Robert was beside her instantly. "What did you see?"
She looked up at him, eyes wide with terror.
"Someone's calling me," she whispered. "And it's not you."
A chill passed through the room.
Robert went still.
"Say that again."
Before she could respond—
Her phone buzzed.
Not a call.
A message.
Robert slowly reached for it and read the screen.
His face drained of color.
"What?" Selene demanded. "What is it?"
He handed her the phone.
The message was short.
You can't hide forever.
We've been waiting for you.
Her breath caught.
Beneath it, a location pin blinked—less than a mile away.
Selene looked up at Robert, fear and something darker mixing in her eyes.
"They know," she said.
And somewhere in the distance, something answered back.