It happened so fast I almost didn’t understand what was going on.
One second we were rehearsing, just the ten of us in the studio — Huntrix and Saja Boys — music loud, lights low, sweat on our foreheads.
Mira had just nailed this impossible spin that even Abby was clapping for.
Zoey was freestyling something ridiculous over the beat Baby dropped, and Rumi was laughing for once, really laughing, like the world wasn’t sitting heavy on her shoulders.
And… she was right beside me.
Her voice had just hit this perfect high note that made the air vibrate. I looked at her and smiled like an idiot, because she always makes me forget what I am. When she sings, she makes me feel like I could be good.
Then the song stopped.
Not because anyone hit pause. But because you froze.
You was staring at Baby.
I turned and followed her gaze.
Baby's shirt had ridden up as she stretched.
A glowing symbol shone right below his ribs — blue, ancient, alive.
One of our marks.
My stomach dropped.
Baby didn’t notice right away. Abby, standing next to him, did. He reached out fast, trying to cover it, but her sleeve slid up in the process.
Another mark.
And Mystery—had his neckline too low, revealing the blue pulse of his.
Four marks. Five truths. Exposed.
She backed away slowly, like the floor under her feet was cracking open.
“No."
she whispered.
“No. You’re not—”
“are what?—”
Rumi started, her voice already shaking.
“Are you demons?”
she asked, louder now. Her eyes jumped from one boy to the next, then finally landed on me.
“are you..?”
I didn’t lie. I just nodded.
And that was enough.
She stepped back again, this time drawing her blade.
Silver. Sharp. Familiar.
The same one she once told me she’d never raise against someone she loved.
“I trusted you.”
she said to all of us, but mostly to me.
“You still can.”
I said quietly.
“Don’t.”
she snapped.
“Don’t you dare.”
Mira looked like she couldn’t breathe.
Zoey was biting her lip so hard it bled.
And Rumi—Rumi wasn’t even trying to hide the tears.
For once, she didn’t fight it.
“We’re not the enemy” Romance said softly.
“I’m a hunter"
She said.
“We kill demons. That’s what we do.”
“But you’re not just a hunter.”
I said, gently.
“You’re you. The girl who sings like the stars were made to listen. The girl who makes even demons feel human.”
Her eyes met mine, wide, scared, full of fire.
“You lied to me.”
I shook my head.
“I was protecting you.”
“From what?”
she asked.
“The truth?”
“No. From the pain of choosing between what you were taught and what you feel.”
She flinched. Her sword didn’t lower, but her grip wavered.
“I’m still me. They’re still them.”
“And me?”
she asked.
“What about me?”
“You.”
I whispered “
are the reason I stopped wanting to be what I turned to be. You’re the reason I sing like there’s a tomorrow. You’re the reason this stupid mark on my chest glows every time you’re near.”
She looked at the mark. She always hated it before. Now she just stared.
“I didn’t ask for this.”
she whispered.
The sword dropped a little.
“Then why does it feel like I’m the only one who has to choose?”
“Because your heart was never meant to be a weapon."
I said.
“It was meant to love.”
The blade slipped from her hand.
Silence filled the room.
Baby stepped forward first.
She didn’t answer, but she didn’t run either.
And that was enough.
For now.