The rain hadn't started, but the air felt like it wanted to cry.
Rin darted through the alleyways, heart pounding against her ribs like a war drum. The GPS led her to a forgotten street corner cluttered with parked trucks and broken vending machines—but one truck stood out.
It didn't blink or glow or hum.
It simply existed.
A matte-gray, rust-rimmed delivery truck with no logos, no license plate, and no reason to be here. But Rin didn't hesitate. Her feet moved before her brain caught up.
As she reached for the door, it hissed open.
Illumina stood inside, her purple cloak now muted under the flickering strip lights.
"You came fast," she said gently.
"Take me to her," Rin demanded, her voice firm.
No hesitation. No questions. No fear.
Illumina nodded and led her in.
Inside, the truck defied logic.
What should've been a tight corridor opened into a dimly lit control center that hummed with bio-tech monitors, spellcode scripts, and healing chambers that shimmered with faint bioluminescence.
It was bigger.
Much bigger.
And Rin didn't blink.
She only had eyes for the cot at the center of the room.
Ari lay there, mask removed, her face pale beneath heavy bruises and swelling. Her chest rose and fell with mechanical rhythm, guided by tubes and glowing circuitry.
"ARI!" Rin screamed, rushing forward.
She dropped to her knees beside the cot, trembling, eyes locked on the woman who had been her everything. "What happened to you—what—why aren't you waking up—"
Footsteps echoed behind her.
Janus and Athena stepped in, both visibly grim.
"Rin," Athena began softly, "you shouldn't—"
"Why did you let this happen?" Rin spun around, voice sharp and shaking. "Aren't you supposed to be heroes? Isn't that your job? To save people? To protect people?"
She turned to Janus and shoved him hard in the chest.
He didn't resist.
"This is my cousin! She's all I have! Why didn't you save her?!"
Janus lowered his gaze, golden tattoos flickering dimly on his skin. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" Rin laughed bitterly. "She's in a coma. Sorry doesn't fix this!"
Her voice grew louder. Uncontrolled. Pain-ridden.
"I, I'm just like them—"
Flash.
Children yelling.
A ring of scorched earth.
"Failed hero! You couldn't even rescue a woman from a fire !"
Flash.
A burning building. Hands reaching for her. She didn't reach back.
Flash.
You're a mistake. You should've never gotten a superpower.
Reality flickered.
Rin's breath caught. Her knees buckled slightly.
"I—I didn't mean that..." she whispered. Her voice cracked, small and broken. "You couldn't save everyone... you're not gods..."
She clutched her chest.
"...I'm not a god either..."
Athena stepped forward, concern sharp in her tone. "She's dissociating. She's spiraling."
Rin's breath became shallow. Rapid. Her vision swam.
"I can't—breathe—I can't—"
"Rin," Athena said gently but firmly. "Look at me. Focus."
Janus moved to the wall and dimmed the lights. Illumina projected a faint calming field, subtle pulses of blue-white light designed to soothe neurological tension.
"Match my breathing," Athena said, kneeling in front of her. "In. Out. Don't fight the pain. Let it pass through."
And Rin did.
Slowly.
In. Out.
One breath at a time.
The tremors in her hands faded. Her eyes cleared. The memories loosened their grip.
She was still here.
Still breathing.
Still alive.
And so was Ari.
Even if just barely.
---