One of the creatures raised its clawed hand, ready to strike. Mia curled into herself, shielding her face with her arms, and in a last hope, she screamed internally:
"Fran… help!"
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Then a crash.
A beastly howl rang out, followed by tense silence.
Mia hesitantly opened her eyes and saw a familiar figure standing between her and the shadows.
— Little airhead, having fun without me? Fran teased lightly.
Mia was speechless, torn between relief and fear.
Fran raised his scythe in a fluid motion.
— Stay back.
The shadows growled, circling him like beasts ready to pounce. But Fran didn't move, his gaze locked onto his enemies.
With a swift motion, he slashed the air in front of him. A wave of dark energy burst from his blade, striking one of the creatures head-on. The shadow screeched before dissolving into wisps of smoke.
The remaining two attacked simultaneously.
Fran dodged with startling agility, his scythe carving a deadly arc in the air. A second shadow collapsed, vanishing instantly.
The last creature, realizing it had no chance, tried to flee.
— Not so fast.
With a leap, Fran closed the distance and delivered the final blow.
Everything fell silent.
He slowly lowered his weapon before turning to Mia, who was still on the ground, trembling.
— You okay? he asked, offering her a hand.
She nodded before throwing herself into his arms.
— Thank you… she murmured.
Fran returned the hug briefly before pulling away. Mia looked up at him, a burning question on her lips.
— Why were you gone for so long?
Fran sighed.
— Things have been complicated lately. There are more and more irregularities, and I have to intervene more often.
— And… what were those things?
Fran's smile faded, his gaze darkening.
— Corrupted souls.
Mia brought a hand to her mouth, shocked.
— What do you mean?
Fran sighed again and explained:
— When a person dies, a reaper must collect their soul and guide it to its resting place. If the soul isn't taken in time, it wanders. And if a demon finds it first, it corrupts the soul and forces it into servitude.
A chill ran through Mia.
— So… those creatures were once human?
— In a way.
A heavy silence settled. Then another thought struck Mia.
She swallowed hard.
— So… you're saying these souls ended up like this because a reaper was too late?
— Not exactly, Fran corrected. Lately, something strange is happening. There have been more unexpected deaths. Deaths that weren't supposed to happen.
Mia frowned.
— What do you mean?
Fran's gaze darkened even further.
— I think a powerful demon—or several—is causing accidents to kill people before their time, just to corrupt their souls.
Mia felt ice spread through her veins.
— Then… I could have ended up like them if my soul hadn't been collected?
Fran nodded.
— You were just lucky I was around.
A shiver ran down Mia's spine.
— Those souls… they suffer, don't they?
Fran looked away.
— More than you can imagine.
A heavy silence followed, thick with unspoken truths.
Then Fran gestured for her to follow.
— Let's go home.
Mia nodded and walked beside him, troubled by everything she had just learned.
Meanwhile, in an apartment, the phone rang.
"Stop," breathed a young woman with short brown hair in a sensual, teasing tone as she gently tried to push away a man with short, slightly messy black hair, gray eyes, and a confident smile who was leaning in to kiss her.
"Come on, Nathan, stop… I have to answer," she said, grabbing her phone despite the fire burning between them.
But Nathan had no intention of listening. He placed soft kisses along her back, then moved up to her neck. The woman shivered. Of course she liked it… but she forced herself to push him away, even though she didn't really want to.
"It's my mother," she whispered. "Let me answer. But after that… I'm all yours."
Nathan sighed and stepped back, giving her some space. The woman answered the call. She barely had time to say a word.
"Lara! How long have I been trying to call you?! Why weren't you answering?!" her mother shouted furiously.
"Sorry, Mom… I didn't hear the phone. I was in the shower."
An awkward silence followed before her mother asked:
"And how are things going with Cid?"
Lara rolled her eyes.
"There's no more 'me and Cid,' Mom. It's over. You won't believe this… when I got to his place, I found him with a girl. Supposedly a friend. She's even living with him now! Can you imagine? He even gave her my room! I asked him to choose: her or me. And despite the will… despite the fact that he risked losing everything, he chose that bitch. So I left. And believe me, it's better this way."
She finished in a triumphant tone, as if she had just won a battle.
But on the other end of the line, an explosion followed.
"You're such an idiot, Lara!" her mother screamed, making her jump.
"What? Mom?! But… that's good news, isn't it? The inheritance comes to us by right!"
"That's what you think?!" her mother growled before explaining the whole truth to her.
And that truth hit Lara like a slap in the face. She sprang to her feet from the couch, completely shaken.
"But… how is that possible?!" she cried. "Tell me you're joking, Mom, please…"
"I wish I were. But I'm not. So, if you still want to be my daughter—and enjoy the good life—you're going to go back to Cid and apologize. To him, and to that girl too if necessary. But you two have to get married. Do you hear me?"
"Mom? You're asking me to humiliate myself in front of that nobody?!"
"Put your pride aside, Lara. Just this once. Otherwise… you know the consequences."
Then she hung up. Abruptly.
Lara remained speechless.
Nathan, who had understood nothing, tried to touch her again, kissing her on the back, but Lara violently pushed him onto the couch.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" she shouted. "Do you think sex is going to pay the rent? Buy clothes? Cars? Private trips?!"
Nathan, hurt and annoyed, replied:
"I don't like your tone. If something's wrong, just say it clearly. But don't take your frustration out on me."
"Nothing is going right," she muttered bitterly. "I have to go back to Cid… and apologize."
She was furious at the very thought.
With that, she got dressed and left the apartment.