CRIMSON VOW

THE FEELING THAT STAYS

Sleep didn’t come easily.

When it finally did, it wasn’t peaceful.

Liora jolted awake, her breath sharp, her heart racing like she had just escaped something. Darkness filled her room, thick and quiet, but it didn’t feel safe.

Not anymore.

She sat up slowly, pressing a hand to her chest as she tried to steady her breathing.

“A dream…” she whispered.

But it didn’t feel like one.

It felt real.

Too real.

Her eyes drifted toward the window. The curtains were still, but something about the air felt… wrong. Heavy. Like the night hadn’t left her alone.

Liora swung her legs off the bed, her bare feet meeting the cold floor. The sensation grounded her—slightly—but not enough to shake the feeling crawling under her skin.

Something was off.

She stood slowly, her gaze fixed on the window.

That pull again.

Stronger now.

Calling her.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Not this time.”

But her body didn’t listen.

Step by step, she moved closer, her heartbeat syncing with something deeper, something she didn’t understand. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached out …and pulled the curtain aside.

The city stretched out before her, glowing faintly under the night sky. Everything looked normal.

Too normal.

Liora frowned slightly.

Her reflection stared back at her in the glass—pale, tense, eyes wide with something between fear and confusion.

Then—

It shifted.

Her breath caught.

The reflection… wasn’t matching her anymore.

Behind her—

A figure stood.

Still. Watching.

Her heart slammed against her ribs as she spun around.

Nothing.

The room was empty.

Completely.

Liora stumbled back slightly, her breathing uneven. “Okay… no. I’m not imagining that.”

A soft knock at her door made her jump.

“Liora?” Mara’s voice came from outside. “You awake?”

Relief rushed through her instantly.

“Yeah,” she called, her voice still shaky. “Come in.”

The door opened, and Mara stepped inside, flipping on the light.

The sudden brightness felt almost overwhelming.

“Why is your room so dark?” Mara asked, eyeing her. “And why do you look like you just ran a marathon?”

Liora let out a small breath, running a hand through her hair. “Bad sleep.”

“That’s an understatement,” Mara muttered, stepping closer. “You look… off.”

Liora forced a small shrug. “Just tired.”

Mara studied her for a moment longer, clearly not convinced. “You sure?”

Liora hesitated.

She wanted to say something.

To explain.

But how do you explain something that doesn’t make sense?

Instead, she nodded. “Yeah.”

Mara sighed. “Alright. But you’re not staying locked up in here all day. You’re coming out with me.”

“Where?”

“Anywhere that has sunlight and normal people.”

Liora almost laughed. “Normal sounds good.”

---

By midday, the city felt alive again.

Cars passed. People talked. Everything was loud, bright, real.

Safe.

Liora walked beside Mara, trying to focus on the normalcy around her. But no matter how much noise surrounded her, that feeling hadn’t left.

It lingered.

Low.

Constant.

“You’re zoning out again,” Mara said.

Liora blinked. “Sorry.”

Mara slowed, turning to face her. “You’re really not okay.”

“I am,” Liora insisted, though her voice lacked conviction.

Before Mara could respond—

Liora felt it.

Sharp.

Immediate.

Her body went still.

“What?” Mara asked, following her gaze. “What do you see?”

Across the street—

Standing in the shadow of a building—

Was Adrian.

Her breath caught instantly.

He wasn’t moving.

Wasn’t speaking.

Just watching her.

Like he had been waiting.

Mara frowned. “Do you know him?”

Liora didn’t answer.

Because something was wrong.

Adrian wasn’t just standing there.

He was tense.

Alert.

Then—

He shook his head.

Once.

A warning.

Liora’s stomach dropped.

“What does that mean?” Mara pressed.

Before Liora could respond—

A scream cut through the air.

Sharp. Sudden.

Close.

The crowd shifted instantly, panic rippling through it.

“What the hell—” Mara started.

“Run,” Liora said quickly.

“What?”

“RUN!”

This time, she didn’t wait.

She grabbed Mara’s hand and pulled her back—

Just as something crashed into the ground where they had been standing.

The impact shook the pavement.

People screamed.

Liora’s heart pounded as she looked up—

And saw it.

One of the creatures.

But this time—

In broad daylight.

Its eyes glowed faintly, its form twisted and unnatural.

And it wasn’t alone.

More shadows moved around them.

Closing in.

“Liora…” Mara’s voice trembled. “What is happening?!”

“I don’t know!” she said, though she did.

This was because of her.

It had to be.

Across the street, Adrian was already moving.

Fast.

Inhuman.

The creature lunged—

But he intercepted it mid-air, slamming it back with brutal force.

The crowd scattered.

Chaos erupted.

But Liora couldn’t move.

Because she saw it—

Another one.

Charging straight at her.

Too fast.

Too close.

Her breath caught as her body froze—

Just for a second.

A dangerous second.

Then—

Something inside her snapped.

A sharp heat rushed through her veins.

Her vision flickered.

Time slowed.

The creature’s movement… the sound… everything around her dulled.

Her heartbeat echoed loudly.

And then—

Darkness flickered at the edges of her sight.

Not outside.

Inside.

Something… waking up.

Liora gasped—

And the moment shattered.

The creature was right in front of her.

But before it could touch her—

It was thrown back violently.

Crashing into the ground.

Liora’s chest heaved as she looked up.

Adrian stood in front of her.

Again.

But this time—

He looked different.

His eyes darker.

His expression sharper.

More dangerous.

“You didn’t listen,” he said, his voice low.

Liora swallowed. “I tried.”

Another creature moved in the distance.

Adrian didn’t look away from her.

“Stay behind me.”

This time—

She didn’t argue.

Because now she understood.

This wasn’t over.

It wasn’t random.

And whatever was happening—

It had already begun.

And it wasn’t going to let her go.