Axel woke up gasping for air. Cold sweat soaked his temples, and his body felt stiff, like he'd just had a nightmare. But this wasn't a dream.
When he glanced to the side, his heart pounded.
Nova… wasn't there.
He sat up straight, his eyes scanning the makeshift camp they had built from branches and dry leaves. Carter was still asleep in the corner, his body curled up, his arms hugging his chest as if trying to keep warm.
But Nova… had vanished.
Axel bit his lip, trying to calm himself. Maybe Nova had just gone for a moment, maybe she was just looking for water… but his heart told him otherwise.
He grabbed his knife and rose slowly.
"Where did she go?" he murmured softly, almost a whisper to himself.
Just then, he saw them—footprints in the still damp ground. But what made him shiver was the shape of the prints.
The tracks were erratic. Like someone walking with dragging feet… or running uncontrollably.
Axel swallowed hard.
Meanwhile, Carter woke up as Axel was about to leave.
"Axel?" his voice was hoarse, still half-asleep.
Axel turned. "Nova's gone."
Carter's eyes widened. "What?!"
"Shhh!" Axel signaled to be quiet. "I'm going to find her."
Carter looked at him, his face filled with fear. "She… she might have changed."
Axel gritted his teeth. That was the possibility he feared most, but he didn't want to think about it now.
"Then I have to find her before it's too late."
Without waiting for a reply, Axel immediately followed the footprints.
The forest was still dark. The air was damp, with a thin mist hanging between the trees. Nova's tracks grew deeper, more scattered.
Axel moved cautiously. His hand gripped the knife tightly.
CRASH!
Something moved in the bushes ahead.
Axel stopped instantly. He held his breath, listening.
There was a sound of breathing—fast, heavy, like someone trying to control themselves.
He took a step forward.
And there stood Nova.
Her back was to Axel, her body slightly hunched. Her shoulders rose and fell with ragged breaths.
"Nova…" Axel tried to call her softly.
Nova didn't move.
Axel took another step, closer. "Are you alright?"
That's when Nova turned slowly.
Axel froze.
Nova's eyes were still pitch black. But now, there was something else. Her skin was paler than before, and her lips trembled slightly.
And what terrified Axel the most… was the blood dripping from the corner of her lips.
"Nova?" Axel's voice trembled.
Nova looked at him… then smiled.
But it wasn't the smile Axel had ever seen before. The smile was… eerie.
"Axel…" Nova's voice sounded deeper than usual.
Axel tightened his grip on the knife. "What happened to you?"
Nova took a step forward. "I…" She looked down, her hands clutching her own chest. "I feel… hungry."
Axel shuddered.
"Nova, listen to me. We can handle this. I'll find a way to cure you."
Nova chuckled, her laugh hoarse. "Are you sure?" She raised her hand, showing her fingers covered in dried blood. "I'm not sure I can still be cured."
Axel held his breath.
Then, Nova moved.
Fast.
In a flash, she was right in front of Axel.
Axel jumped back, nearly tripping over a tree root. "Nova! Stop!"
But Nova didn't stop.
Axel had no other choice.
With a heavy heart, he raised his knife.
Axel stared at Nova, who now stood just a few steps away. His breath was ragged, his heart pounding like a war drum. The hand gripping the knife trembled slightly, not from fear—but because he knew this choice would break him.
Behind her eerie black eyes, behind her blood-stained lips, she was still Nova.
Not a monster.
But as Nova smiled wider—a cold, hungry smile—Axel knew he might have to push that feeling far away.
"Nova… you have to fight this."
Nova tilted her head, her eyes looking at Axel as if he were delicious prey. Then, in the blink of an eye, Nova moved.
SWOOSH!
Axel barely had time to react. He jumped to the side just before Nova's nails tore through the air where his head had been.
THUD!
Axel rolled to the ground, but he quickly got back up. His left hand gripped the damp earth, while his right hand held the knife tightly.
Nova stepped forward, her breath sounding like a snake's hiss.
"I don't want to do this, Nova…" Axel's voice trembled.
Nova blinked, and for a second, her eyes returned to normal—the warm brown Axel knew. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something.
Then, as quickly as the change came, her black eyes returned.
"You have to run, Axel…" Nova's voice sounded like two voices overlapping, as if something was speaking from inside her.
Axel clenched his jaw.
"No," he said firmly. "I won't leave you."
Nova hissed, her body starting to tremble like someone in extreme pain. She groaned, clutching her head as if something inside her was trying to take over.
Axel knew this was his chance.
He stepped forward, trying to reach Nova.
"Nova! I'm here! You can fight it—you're stronger than this!"
Nova looked at Axel with conflicted eyes. Her hands still gripped her head, her nails digging into her own skin until it bled.
"I…"
Axel could see Nova struggling. He saw how she was trying to hold on, trying not to sink completely into the darkness.
But then… something changed.
Nova lifted her face, and all Axel saw was emptiness.
Then…
"It's too late."
In a swift motion, Nova lunged at him.
THWACK!
Axel felt a hard impact on his chest. His breath stopped for a moment as his body was pushed back. His back slammed into a tree trunk.
CRACK!
Pain shot through his spine, but Axel didn't have time to feel it for long. Nova was already on top of him, one hand gripping his neck, while the other raised sharp claws into the air.
Her black eyes gleamed in the darkness.
Axel had only one chance.
With his remaining strength, he raised his knife and—
SWISH!
The knife sank into Nova's arm.
Nova screamed. An ear-piercing scream, a scream that sent shivers down Axel's spine.
Axel quickly pushed Nova off him and jumped away.
In the distance, Nova stood, her body trembling. The hand that had been stabbed trembled violently, black blood dripping to the ground.
Axel didn't want to fight Nova.
But if Nova changed completely…
If Nova couldn't be brought back…
Then there was only one choice left.
He had to kill her.
Nova staggered, her eyes glowing pitch black again. Her mouth opened slightly, revealing fangs that were growing longer.
Then she spoke, in a voice that wasn't hers.
"Axel… you can't save her."
Axel was silent.
That voice wasn't Nova's.
It was… something else.
For a moment, fear gnawed at his heart.
But then, Axel steeled himself.
He took a deep breath, braced his feet, and gripped his knife tighter.
"Then I'll fight you."
Nova looked at him—or rather, the creature now controlling Nova looked at him.
Then, without warning, they both lunged at each other.