"Aaaah, don't touch my hair!
Phew, it was just a dream. I thought they'd cut off my gorgeous locks.
I take a deep breath, the panic slowly fading. But... something's not right.
Oh, I feel a weight on my chest.
Whoa, it's grown! Heh heh, I can't wait to show off to that brat Lucy. Who's flat now?
Wait, what if...?
Phew, I haven't gained weight where I shouldn't. Everything's in place, just as it should be.
But... damn, how much suffering do I still have to endure?
Wait.
I place two fingers on my neck. A pulse.
I'm not dead anymore.
I've achieved awakening.
Well, I thought I wouldn't make it. That was close.
Is it just me, or can I see everything in color now?
That white floating in the air... it must be the ether. There are also tubes winding everywhere, like metal veins.
Capsules line the walls, filled with a greenish liquid. Inside, people lie asleep or rather, they're dead.
This place... I don't think I've ever seen it before. It feels like a science fiction movie set, where they conduct inhumane experiments.
Oh, I'm in one of those capsules too. It's strange... I can breathe.
Well, time to get out and find the others.
Oh, I just had an epiphany.
If Sirius is still dead, and I'm already resurrected... that means I'm the older sister now.
Heh heh, so many good things to wake up to. Looks like life's going to smile at me.
Hmmm
Footsteps.
I focus on the sound. My eyes... I can see them. Through the walls, like a thermal camera.
A man and a woman are coming down the stairs. They look strong. Judging by the amount of ether they contain, the woman must be an Initiate, and the man, an Intermediary.
They must be Enforcers.
I'm curious to see what they're up to.
Do you think if I ask nicely, they'll tell me everything?
It's only now that I look at my eyes through the glass. Their color has changed. They went from purple to... rainbow hues.
Is that why I can see all these details?
My intuition tells me they're not so simple.
I can't wait to see what else they're capable of.
I decide to pretend to be asleep. Even with my eyes closed, I can see everything in 360 degrees.
It didn't take long for them to reach the basement, where I think I am.
The woman spoke first, her voice betraying a hidden tension: "What we just felt... was it from her?"
The man crossed his arms, his dark gaze fixed on my capsule. "Yes. She could wake up any minute."
Well, I'm still a pretty good actress, so come on, spill your secrets.
The woman sighed, a mixture of relief and apprehension in her eyes. "I recognize this girl. She's the one who testified at the square that day."
Wow, she still remembers me. Sigh, celebrity life is hard.
The man growled, his fists clenching. "How could I forget the poor girl who suffered so much? If that bastard of a mayor wasn't already dead, I'd have made him regret causing so much pain to his own family."
I might feel a little guilty for tarnishing his reputation so much. If he had a grave, I might leave him flowers.
The woman nodded, a veil of sadness in her gaze. "Yes, she must be alone now that her mother is gone."
The man turned to her, a determined look in his eyes.
"About that, I've been thinking. I'm considering adopting her once this mission is over."
What? Oops, almost gave myself away. Who does this obsessed guy think he is? I'll make him regret having such thoughts later.
The woman raised an eyebrow, an ironic smile on her lips.
"Are you sure, Captain? I fear the reaction of your wife. If I were her, I'd naturally think it's one of your hidden daughters."
Who wouldn't? How did such an obsessed guy even find a wife? I pity her.
The man burst into laughter, a deep and reassuring sound.
"No, no. If I tell her the story, she'll get angry with me for standing idly by without helping."
This guy's starting to seem even more suspicious. Stop talking nonsense and admit your wrongdoings to this goddess.
The woman smiled, a little more relaxed.
"If you say so, I wish you good luck as a father."
"Thanks. Where did you put the prototype?"
"I brought it with me. Here it is."
She pulled out a tube containing a strange liquid, which seemed to hold something moving inside.
The man took it with a firm hand, without hesitation, and injected it into an opening in my capsule.
The liquid slowly seeped in, and I could finally see what it contained: a tiny parasite, the size of a corner, moving like a snake.
Oh, this is getting interesting.
It started moving, sinuously, almost hypnotic. It approached me, and I felt a chill run down my skin.
It clung to my flesh, wriggling before burrowing deep into it. I had to restrain myself from making a single move; I was on the verge of satisfying my curiosity, and I wasn't about to stop now.
I could still see it through my blood, it moved swiftly, as if its time was running out, climbing the current along my arteries, all the way to my brain.
It latched onto my cerebral cortex, and a shockwave surged through my entire being.
Then everything went blurry."