The road was quiet—too quiet. Night had fallen like a heavy blanket, and the only sound was the crunch of your tiny shoes on the gravel. You were five years old, holding my, Sachi, you're mother sleeve like it was the only safe thing in the world.

But I was tense. My arm twitched. My steps were sharp and fast. I didn’t look at you. My jaw was tight like I was holding something in—something dark. You could feel it, even if you didn’t understand it.

I stopped.

You blinked up at me, confused.

Then I turned… and knelt.

My face was close to yours now, and you felt a chill run through you. Not from the wind, but from my eyes—they were red like bleeding moons. My lips didn’t tremble. They twisted into something cruel.

I grabbed you—tight. My hands dug into your arms so hard it hurt, but you couldn’t move. You froze.

Then I whispered.

“I’m going to kill us both.”

You didn’t understand. Your mouth opened, but no sound came. You looked at my hands. Blood was forming. Not yours. Not mine. Just blood—appearing from the air, from my anger, from me.

The world blurred.

A scream.

Not yours. Not mine.

A truck was coming, fast, headlights wild like eyes of a monster. And standing right in its path was a figure—glowing with silver light, wings stretching wide. The truck stopped instantly, glass cracking in the air but no sound followed.

He had saved you.

Or maybe... just you.

I stood up like a shadow lifting off the ground. My face twisted with rage, and my blood powers surged like a storm. The angel stepped forward, golden eyes glowing.

“You will not harm the child,” he said.

I didn’t answer. I attacked.

You watched us crash into each other. Light and blood flew in every direction. The ground shook. Trees bent backward from our shockwaves. I laughed—this low, angry laugh like I was finally free to kill something.

But then you screamed.

“Stop!”

You didn’t know what you were doing.

You ran into the middle of the fight, clutching your favorite plush—a little rabbit with one ear torn and one eye missing.

I turned sharply, ready to destroy whoever interrupted.

But I saw you.

And for a split second… just one… my hands hesitated.

You ran to me, hugged my leg, and cried.