The cool night air wrapped around me as I walked home, the city quieter than usual. The streets seemed empty, and a strange feeling lingered in the air. As I turned the corner, I froze.

Ni-ki stood there, just out of the light. Even from a distance, I knew it was him. My best friend.

He was always there, always a part of my life, but tonight, something was different. Our eyes met, and I felt a pull, a tension that had never been there before.

Before I could speak, a low growl echoed in the silence. A figure stepped from the shadows, moving toward me with dark intent. My heart raced, but Ni-ki moved in front of me in the blink of an eye.

“Stay back,” he said, his voice sharper than I’d ever heard.

I stood frozen, watching him, not just as my best friend but as someone different—someone dangerous.

The stranger disappeared, leaving only Ni-ki, his breath steady but his eyes full of something hidden.

“You shouldn’t have seen that,” he whispered, his voice soft, almost apologetic.

“Ni-ki, what was that?” I asked, stepping closer, my heart pounding.

He hesitated, eyes flickering with an emotion I couldn’t place. “I can’t explain it now. It’s dangerous for you.”