MIDNIGHT RAIN

A Pause In The Pour

The night sky once again played with its dark hues. Thick clouds veiled the moon, letting the drizzle fall gently like whispers that refused to end. The streetlights reflected off the wet asphalt, creating shimmering shadows that swayed with the wind.

Lania walked briskly, her body slightly hunched to avoid the rain’s lash. Her fingers clutched the strap of her sling bag tightly, while her denim jacket was already halfway soaked. Though the cold seeped into her bones, her steps remained steady, facing the shivering night.

She stepped aside into the awning of an old, closed-down shop. The roof left just enough space for one person to take shelter. Lania stood still underneath, tilting her head up to the sky, letting her face be touched by the misty rain carried by the wind. Her breath formed a thin cloud.

Silence.

Until the sound of another footstep was heard. Heavy, yet calm.

A man, tall and clad entirely in black, emerged from the shadows. His black hoodie covered most of his face, revealing only a sharp jaw and a clenched chin. He stood a few meters from Lania, saying nothing. Still. His presence was like a dense shadow that refused to fade.

Lania glanced briefly, her eyes quick, then looked away again. No intention to greet. Her lips stayed tightly shut, exhaling slowly to calm the sudden discomfort in her chest.

The rain began to subside. Its sound thinning into a soft murmur.

Lania extended her hand beyond the edge of the roof, letting the last few drops fall into her small palm. Just as she was about to leave,

"Achoo!"

One loud sneeze burst from her nose. Then another. Then a third.

Remian, the man in the hoodie, flinched slightly. He turned his head slowly with a flat expression, brows slightly furrowed. His body reflexively stepped a bit away, reacting as if the noise had disrupted his peaceful night.

Lania glanced at him, raising an eyebrow slightly. Her gaze was blank, but in her silence, it clearly said: “I didn’t ask for this sneeze either, you know.”

She took a deep breath, then stepped out from under the awning. Her chin tilted up slightly, her posture upright as if challenging the drizzle that hadn’t fully gone.

One step. Two. Three.

Crash!

The sky mocked. The rain came down again, heavy and cold.

Lania sighed long, her shoulders slumping with weary surrender. She returned to the shelter without a word.

Remian remained in the same corner. Unmoving, as if the rain meant nothing to him.

Lania stood as far from him as possible, leaning against the cold wall of the shop. She hugged herself, shivering. Her hand reached into her bag, searching for her phone with swift, trembling fingers. She typed a message:

“Please pick me up now. I’m alone in front of a closed shop near the intersection. There’s a suspicious guy here taking shelter too. He’s quiet, sharp-eyed, wearing a hoodie, like… a psychopath from a thriller novel.”

“Seriously, Mal. I’m scared but I can’t run. The rain’s too heavy.”

Message sent.

But she didn’t realize, Remian had quietly read her screen. His eyes narrowed slightly, his expression calm, but a faint flicker of irritation sparked there.

Lania sighed and put her phone away. She reached for her earphones, plugged them in, and pressed play. Soft R&B music began to play, gentle and deep, like a thin blanket in the cold night.

Remian turned slightly, his head tilted toward the sound. His eyes narrowed. That tune, he recognized it. Not the lyrics, not the singer. But the feel. Warm and unfamiliar.

For the first time that night, Remian looked away from the rain and toward Lania. The small figure with dark hair plastered to her pale cheeks, her tiny frame trembling, a small sneeze echoing again.

Remian exhaled slowly. Something was off. That girl disrupted his inner stillness. Not with her voice, not with her actions. But with her very presence.

---

Soon after, the shelter filled with others running from the downpour. The sound of umbrellas opening, feet splashing in puddles, and heavy breathing made the cramped space even tighter.

Remian stayed in his corner. His eyes followed Lania as she was pushed aside by the crowd. Her left shoulder now caught the slanting rain dripping from the roof. She shivered hard, her body weak under the pressure.

Lania looked down. Silent. Her shoulders shook with every small sneeze. Her fingers clenched the sleeve of her jacket, trying to retain body heat.

Remian squinted. His brow barely moved.

Then he inhaled slowly, and with a light gesture, just the subtle lift of a finger, he sent a thin suggestion into the minds of those around him.

A few seconds later, the people began shifting. They didn’t know why they moved. Only their bodies reacted, creating a space around where Lania stood.

Remian stood upright again. Silent. Watching the girl slowly return under the roof, away from the rain.

Lania wiped her reddened nose, biting her lower lip. Her body still trembled.

Remian stared at her. His gaze was deep, but not out of sympathy. Vampires did not possess human empathy. But there was something about the girl, something that pricked him, like a thorn in a long-numbed heart.

But before he could move...

A car stopped right in front of the old building. Its headlights sliced through the darkness and rain.

The door opened quickly.

A young man rushed out. A thick jacket in one hand, a large open umbrella in the other, and a scarf wrapped around his neck. He was tall, his face firm, his eyes sharp, filled with concern. The rain soaked the edges of his shoes, but he didn’t care.

“Hey!” he called.

The small girl lifted her head slowly. Not only Lania, but everyone else under the shelter turned toward the man. Lania’s eyes immediately softened, though her body still shivered.

Her brother quickly approached, opening the umbrella over her. He draped the thick jacket over her with swift but gentle hands. Then he removed the wool scarf from his neck, wrapping it carefully around his sister’s.

Their interaction drew attention. Some smiled faintly, others looked envious, and one disturbed gaze came from Remian.

“Your breathing’s heavy. Why are you in a place like this?” he muttered softly, his tone sounding like a reprimand wrapped in worry.

Lania only nodded slightly, not answering.

Malin took a deep breath, then without another word, pulled his sister close, shielding them both with the umbrella, and led her into the car.

They drove off, and the world returned to silence.

Remian briefly glanced at the back of the car as it drove away. Just a few minutes later...

Baammm!

A loud crash echoed in the distance. Malin’s car had been hit by another vehicle speeding on the wet road. It skidded. Lost control.

Only Remian turned around. The others stayed calm, unaware, as if the sound had never happened, drowned out by the heavy rain and distance, far beyond what any normal human ear could perceive.

A fatal accident occurred at a quiet intersection. The other car stopped, unmoving. Inside Malin’s car, Lania stirred slightly in the passenger seat. Her brother, behind the wheel, was unconscious. His head slumped onto the steering wheel, blood streaming from his forehead. Lania wanted to move, to help him, but her body wouldn’t obey. Her hands trembled, her chest tightened, but her mind focused on only one thing, her brother.

She couldn’t lose anyone else.

Not again.

Not after her mother.

Tears fell, soaking her pale cheeks already stained with blood. Amid the fear, she silently hoped, prayed for someone to come.

Footsteps approached. The mangled door creaked open. A hand reached inside, grasping her body.

Remian.

He knelt, preparing to lift her. But he stopped when Lania looked at him, her eyes filled with despair and pleading. Her hand clutched the sleeve of Remian’s hoodie, then shifted her gaze toward her brother. Silently, she said, 'Please.'

Remian narrowed his eyes. Inwardly, he scoffed. What was this foolish girl thinking? Asking him to help someone else before herself?

And yet, strangely, he obeyed.

He turned, opened the driver’s side door, and gently lifted Malin’s head, leaning it against the seat. He observed. Faint pulse. Blue-tinged face. Cooling body temperature. No hope. He would die.

He glanced at Lania, conveying with only his gaze that Malin might not make it. It was the same look she had seen when she lost her own mother. She knew that feeling. She knew the kind of pain that tore through the soul.

But Lania didn’t give up. With her remaining strength, she held her brother’s hand, squeezing it weakly. In her heart, she pleaded, not with words, but with her entire being.

Save him… Please… whoever hears me… please…

Her prayer crossed the boundaries of worlds. Its echo pierced through the veil of reality. Even Remian turned slightly, sensing a tremor in the air, something inexplicable.

Remian frowned. A strange energy shimmered faintly, like a soft whisper striking his consciousness.

Malin’s heartbeat slowly returned. Air slipped once more into his lungs. Color returned to his face.

Remian froze, in disbelief. What had just happened? He had seen many deaths, touched many lifeless bodies. But this time, it was different.

Meanwhile, Lania finally collapsed. Her body gave in. Her eyelids fluttered shut. She lost consciousness.

Remian stared at her for a long time. This human… was she the one who did it?

From the direction of the car that caused the accident, a man kicked the door open and stepped out with a groan. His hand clutched the back of his neck, his expression filled with annoyance, not pain. His car was mangled, nearly scrap metal.

It should’ve been impossible to be uninjured. But the man stood tall, only grimacing slightly. Remian observed him silently. Under the streetlight, the man’s face came into view. He recognized him. Just like himself, he was a vampire.

The man walked casually, as if nothing had happened. His gaze showed no remorse as he looked at the car he had struck. He sighed deeply, then muttered with irritation,

“They’re both still alive? This is going to be a hassle. It would've been easier if they’d died. I hate penalties.”

His voice was flat. Cold. As if human lives were nothing more than administrative burdens.

“Yes, this will be a hassle,” Remian replied coolly, with a dismissive stare.

The man was Jamier, a vampire from a high-ranking noble family in their community. Known for his arrogance and recklessness. Yet his family's influence made him untouchable.

Jamier narrowed his eyes. “Why are you here?” he asked sharply, his tone displeased.

Remian didn’t answer right away. He looked back at Lania and Malin still lying inside the car, then said, “You’d better clean up this mess. Rather than killing them, you should save them. At least the penalty you receive will be lighter.”

Jamier scoffed. “Really? But is letting them live really better than finishing them off now?”

Remian turned to him, eyes locked. “For once… try using your brain.”

The words struck. Jamier’s eyes hardened, but he couldn’t argue. He knew Remian had a point. Even if he hated him.

“Fine. But you’d better be my witness that I did try to save them.” Jamier approached the car and reached out toward Lania.

But in a flash, Remian caught his wrist before he could touch her.

“I’m only helping you,” Remian said calmly. “Just carry the big guy who looks heavier.”

There was no room for argument. Jamier clicked his tongue, his face clearly showing his reluctance. But he swallowed his pride and pulled Malin out of the car.

In the blink of an eye, they moved with superhuman speed, almost invisible to the human eye, carrying Lania and Malin to the nearest hospital from the crash site.

With mind manipulation over medical staff and witnesses nearby, their presence was accepted without suspicion. Lania and Malin were finally in the right hands.

And their lives… were saved.