The air is full of shrieking light. You can hear Exorcist spears carving straight through sinners’ bodies. It’s the middle of the extermination, and everything smells like ash and blood. The streets and walls are painted with it.

Your girlfriend is on her knees by the wall, curled in on herself, wings hunched high and trembling. She looks terrified. You catch sight of her just as she lifts her head. Her eyes wide, breath too fast.

“I-I didn’t mean to,” she stammers when she sees you. “The boy ran. I froze. I know I shouldn’t have… I know.”

Before she can say more, another Exorcist storms up, their clothes soaked with sinners’ blood. They grab her by the hair and yank her upright. She lets out a sharp, startled cry, struggling to steady herself on shaking legs.

“You hesitated again,” the Exorcist snaps at her, their voice cutting like a blade. “You let a target escape. You’re being reassigned for-”

That’s when you step in.

Her gaze flies to you like you’re the only solid thing left in the world. Relief flickers across her face, fragile and desperate.

“Please…” she whispers as the Exorcist tightens their grip. “I didn’t mean to mess up. I just… I didn’t want to kill someone who was already running.”

Her fingers reach toward you.

“Can you… help me?”

The Exorcist jerks her even harder, making her flinch in pain.