The sky was still gray when Velithra finally drifted back into a restless half-sleep.Every sound made her flinch — the creak of her walls, the faint patter of leftover rain, the hum of wind sliding through the cracks in the window.
When she finally opened her eyes again, dawn had arrived.But it didn't bring peace.
Her phone buzzed once on the nightstand.One new message.
Kai: Are you awake?
Velithra blinked at the screen, her chest tightening.Before she could reply, another message appeared.
Kai: Don't go anywhere. I'm coming over.
She froze. Coming over?Before she could even process what that meant, there was a knock at her door — three sharp raps that echoed through the quiet of the house.
Velithra hesitated for a long second, then pulled on a hoodie and opened the door.
Kai stood there.Hair damp from the morning mist. Hoodie unzipped over a plain black shirt. His eyes — dark, intense, searching.
He looked like he hadn't slept at all.
"Hey," he said quietly, his voice rough. "I know it's early."
Velithra stepped aside without thinking. "You walked here?"
He nodded, brushing a few wet strands of hair from his forehead. "Couldn't stay home."
They stood in silence for a moment. The air between them felt heavy again — not awkward, but full of something that neither of them could name.
Finally, Kai spoke."I had the dream again."
Velithra's pulse quickened. "The rain?"
He nodded. "The street. You were there. You looked… scared."He paused. "And then you disappeared."
Her throat went dry. "I saw it too. Last night."
Kai's eyes widened just slightly — that quiet kind of shock where the truth clicks into place before you want it to.
For a long moment, neither spoke. Then, he stepped closer, lowering his voice."This isn't just coincidence anymore, Velithra."
She looked down, whispering, "I know."
Kai exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "When I woke up… I heard something outside my window. Like footsteps. And—" He stopped, his jaw tightening. "And someone whispering your name."
Velithra's stomach dropped. "Mine?"
He nodded. "Yeah."
The silence that followed was suffocating. The air felt colder, even though the morning light spilled softly across the floor.
Finally, Kai took a slow breath, grounding himself. "We need to figure out what's happening. I don't care if it sounds crazy."
Velithra met his eyes — really met them this time. There was something in them that scared her and comforted her all at once: truth.
"Okay," she said softly. "Then we do this together."
For a split second, his expression softened — the faintest hint of relief breaking through.
Then, from somewhere outside, a sound echoed.Not loud — just a soft, rhythmic tapping.
Like rain.Except the sky was clear.
Both of them turned toward the window.
And on the glass, slowly, a single drop slid down —then another —then another.