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Once the dust settled, relief washed over me in waves. The chaos around us began to quiet, leaving only the faint hum of ambulances and the low voices of patrol officers.
My hands trembled slightly as the adrenaline faded, but I couldn’t stop glancing back at the scene of the attack. We had survived–that was what mattered.
Anna moved through the wreckage with steady hands, her focus on helping the injured. Her hair had come loose, clinging to her face, but she didn’t seem to notice. She crouched next to a young boy, speaking to him softly before guiding the medics to his side.
Watching her, I felt a deep sense of admiration. She always managed to stay calm when it mattered most.
“You’re good,” a deep voice said behind me. It was smooth but deep that made my ear tingle. It made me turn immediately
I locked eyes with the man I had fought alongside. His gaze was sharp, his presence solid. His dark hair was tousled, and dirt streaked his face, but he stood tall, his confidence unwavering.
I couldn’t help but feel the strange connection between us again, as if we had fought as one.
“You too,” I replied with a small smile. It felt like the right thing to say, even though the words seemed too simple for what I meant. Ilingered, hoping he would tell me his name. There was something about him that made me
curious, but he stayed silent, his expression unreadable.
Before I could ask the patrol officers walked over. Their faces were tense, their hesitation clear. I straightened, preparing myself for their questions
“Name?” one officer asked carefully
“Nia,” I said, keeping my voice steady. They wrote it down, glancing at me with uncertainty. They asked a few
questions about the attack but kept it brief, as if unsure how to handle me. Once, I had been their future Luna. Now, I
was just someone they didn’t know how to address.
The man stayed nearby but didn’t speak. The officers barely looked at him, and he didn’t offer any information. It was clear he wanted to stay unnoticed, a mystery I couldn’t unravel.
I hesitated, torn between leaving and staying to learn more about him. Just as I decided to wait, Anna appeared
at my side. Her face was pale, exhaustion etched into her features. I pushed aside my curiosity and focused on her
instead
“I need to get her home.” I told the officers, nodding toward Anna. They waved me off quickly, already moving to
the next task
I turned to the man one last time, wanting to say something–anything. But his eyes met mine, and the weight of his gaze left me speechless,
Without another word, I turned and helped Anna to the car. As we walked away, I felt his eyes on my back, though
I didn’t dare look
The drive to Anna’s house was quiet. She rested her head against the window, her tiredness evident. I glanced at her occasionally, noting the bruises on her arms and the dark circles under her eyes. She had been through so much, yet she stayed strong. I admired her more than I could say and I was happy to have her as my friend.
When we reached her house, she paused before getting out. She turned to me with a look of concern,
“The wedding dress you booked at the store… it’s overdue,” she said gently. “Are you…” Her voice faltered, but her eyes stayed on mine. “Are you going to get a refund?”
The question caught me off guard. The dress… my future… everything felt so distant now, I didn’t know what to say at first, but as I looked at her, I knew I couldn’t leave the question unanswered.
AFTER REACTION THE OMEGA RISES
“No,” I said finally, giving her a small smile. “I’ll come by the store tomorrow to pick it up.”
Anna’s expression softened, though the worry didn’t leave her eyes. “Please, Nia,” she said, her voice filled with care. “If you need anything.. anything at all… I’ll be there. Always.”
Her words made my chest ache. I smiled back, but it was shaky, and tears welled in my eyes before I could stop them. They spilled over as I whispered, “I will”
She pulled me into a tight hug, and I clung to her, finding comfort in her presence.
*Drive safe,” she said firmly when she stepped back. She waited at the door as I got back into the car
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. The weight of my fear settled over me as I started the engine. I gripped the wheel tightly and drove slowly, the headlights cutting through the darkness. For the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to hope that maybe there was light waiting at the end of all this.
