I panicked. My breath caught in my lungs as the sound of shattering echoed through the air.The thing had simply broken.
How was that even possible?
My heart raced as I sprinted to the glass wall, searching desperately for the figure with white hair."Raiden!" I screamed. No answer.Again: "RAIDEN!"Still nothing. He was gone. Just... gone.
Tightening my grip on the secret I carried, I turned and ran.Around the glass wall. My feet hit the floor hard, each step echoing through the eerie silence.Someone was running too, just beyond the glass. I caught a glimpse of them – but couldn't tell who.
I didn't stop."RAIDEN!!" I kept yelling, my voice already cracking.
The more time I lost… the more danger he could be in.God, I was so stupid. He should never come with me.
I stopped in front of the glass wall again. Empty.Gone.
A tight knot of panic tightened in my chest.I lost control.I raised my sword and started slamming it against the glass.
Again. And again. And again.
"YOU DAMN BITCH!" I screamed into the empty mirror."COME OUT! I SAW YOU—STOP HIDING! COME OUT!!"
And then...
A breeze passed through me, as if the room had exhaled. My skin prickled with goosebumps.
From the mirror stepped a boy.He wore a kimono made of glass.His hair was pure white.So were his eyebrows, his lashes, his eyes – light grey, almost transparent. He shimmered like a ghost.
He stood still, staring me up and down with a twisted grin."A woman?" he scoffed.Then, with a sudden laugh that sounded too broken to be human, he added:"Now that's something new."
He stepped left, then right. Back. Forward.Like a dancer.His arms flowed like water, gentle and slow.
I stared at him, confused."What… what are you doing?"
He spun.Laughed.Spoke again:"Women shouldn't dance here. This isn't your place. I said You're in the way."
That laugh… it sent chills down my spine.
"You're right though. I died… my own way."
Something inside me snapped.I didn't wait.I charged.
My blade came down.He spun again – smooth and fast – dodging like it was part of his twisted dance.I couldn't land a single hit.
He was circling me.Toying with me.
"Wow..." he whispered, "You've got technique. A warrior's spirit. Impressive."
I growled and attacked harder. He only kept dancing, knocking me off balance every time I swung.I pushed through my exhaustion, but he wasn't even breathing hard.
Then suddenly—his leg swept out.
My sword flew from my hands.
I gasped.His arms wrapped around me. One hand on my waist, the other gripping my hand.He began to dance with me.
"What are you doing?! Let go of me!" I shouted, but he only smiled.
Then he whispered:"This isn't a dance.This is your last step."
My blood turned to ice.With one arm, he spun me.With the other, he pulled out a glass sword.
In one motion, he let me go.
"Your turn."
He lunged.I ducked.He missed—and slammed into the mirror wall.
"People like you… should die.If there's no path here—find another one."
I rose slowly and met his eyes."People like you should never be assumed dead."
He gritted his teeth, and we clashed again—our swords pressing, sparks flying.
He was fast, but I could read him now.He wasn't the only one who knew how to fight.
Then—A kick to my leg.I fell.
He stood over me, blade to my throat.
"I swear… I'll kill every single one of you… who stands in my way."
His voice trembled with pain. His eyes, grey and dead.But I saw it… the broken boy inside.
I whispered:"What did they do to you?"
His face changed. For a brief second—he looked human.Then his scream broke that silence:"WHAT DID THEY DO TO ME?I TRIED TO SAVE MY PARENTS—THEY TOOK ME.THEY RAPED ME.MURDERED ME.FED ME TO THE DOGS.I WAS SIXTEEN."
My heart stopped.I couldn't breathe.
He pinned me down, trembling with rage.His blade trembled above my chest.
"I'm so sorry," I whispered. "What happened was real. But you have to let it go."
His eyes burned."LET IT GO?!" he screamed.
"All of you are the same.People kill themselves and you blame everyone else.You think you're so righteous.You don't understand anything."
I struggled beneath him, then hit him hard.He collapsed.
I ran.But he rose—chased me.
I stopped at the glass. Took out the secret.It shrieked like it was alive.
He covered his ears—but grabbed me again, shoving me hard against the wall.
Then... softly,he stroked my hair.
"I hate my pain," he whispered."Let's see how deep yours goes."
His eyes searched mine.And then… they widened.
He pulled back."Your pain…" he said quietly."It's big. You don't even remember it, do you?"
My anger surged."Pain? What pain? Can you see it?!"
I thought for a moment — it must have been RAIDEN who helped me. I WANTED TO SEE HIM, BUT I'D FORGOTTEN EVERYTHING.
He acted like he knew EVERYTHING, even if he might have hurt Raiden.
My ANGER EXPLODED. I SCREAMED, "YES, YOU FEEL PAIN, BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO PEOPLE. YOU UNDERSTAND THE PAIN AND WANT OTHERS TO FEEL IT!"
I STRUCK HIM HARD — so hard he almost FELL.
A fight broke out, but this time I was STRONGER, fueled by my rage.
I SNATCHED the rope from his hand and PUSHED him to the ground.
He sat on the ground and I SHOUTED, "YOU FUCKING GUY! YOU GOT ME AND HIM! WHERE IS RAIDEN!!!!!!!!!!
His eyes softened for a moment.
"I'VE ONLY SEEN YOU SO FAR," he said quietly. "WHO RAIDEN IS — I DON'T KNOW."
My breath CAUGHT in my throat.
WAHTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!
.