Chapter 10: She still breathed
Arisa walked slowly down the wide street, her boots clicking against the stone walk. The night air was cool, heavy with the faint scent of smoke and cooking oil that still lingered from shops long since closed. She turned her head once, her violet eyes catching the soft glow of the sign above the bar she had just left.
"Live & Drink!" it read in bold, buzzing neon, the exclamation point flickering faintly as if the sign itself were tired.
For a moment she lingered, curious. Ericna's words still twisted in her thoughts, a mix of playful threat and something Arisa couldn't quite put a name to. Her smirk, her eyes, that strange sense of being seen. It left a weight in Arisa's chest she wasn't ready to admit.
But she had no time to dwell on it. There was an apartment waiting, a place marked clearly for her in glowing lines across the device's map. She exhaled softly, turned away from the bar, and began her walk.
The streets of District 3 were quieter now that midnight had long passed. Lantern like streetlights cast warm yellow pools on the sidewalks, their glow broken by the occasional passing figure. A couple walked arm in arm, whispering softly to one another. A delivery man rolled by on a squeaky old bike, humming to himself. Storefronts were shuttered, wooden signs swaying gently in the night breeze.
This district felt lived in. The air carried the faint sound of televisions through cracked open windows, the smell of simmering broth wafting from a late night ramen stall tucked into an alley. It was simple, grounded, the kind of place that could almost be mistaken for a quiet town, untouched by the towering weight of Norad.
But as Arisa moved further along the side walk, the scenery began to shift. The streets widened, flattening into broader avenues. The homes and family shops gave way to taller, sharper buildings, metal replacing wood, neon replacing lamplight. The hum of machinery began to fill the silence where crickets once sang. The crowd thickened slightly too, though sparse, night owls, workers leaving late shifts, and strangers bathed in the neon glow. The border between the districts revealed itself not with walls, but with contrast. Arisa stepped from District 3 into District 2, and the city swallowed her whole.
Towering skyscrapers climbed into the sky, their surfaces wrapped in living screens. Ads looping endlessly, holograms reaching into the night with artificial color. Streets stacked upon streets, layers of elevated walkways crisscrossing like arteries above her head. Hover cars glided silently along glowing tracks, their lights streaking like comets in the midnight sky. The very air buzzed faintly with energy, a low vibration she could feel in her chest.
Shops here never closed. Digital billboards screamed in every direction. Fashion, tech, entertainment, products she couldn't even name. The faces of idols and leaders lit up entire walls of glass. Neon signs in every color bathed the streets in a surreal glow, so much so that it was impossible to tell what time of night it truly was.
Arisa's violet eyes flicked across it all, absorbing every detail, though her expression remained composed. For all its brilliance, there was a weight here. A reminder that Norad's beauty came wrapped in control.
Still, she kept moving, weaving through clusters of late night pedestrians, her thoughts focused. She remembered the device. The glowing map it had shown her earlier. A train in District 2, one that would take her directly to District 5. straight to her new apartment.
She lifted her chin slightly, her gaze searching the endless sprawl of signs and streets ahead. Somewhere in this neon maze was her path forward. And with every step deeper into District 2, the world she once knew felt farther and farther away.
[[Location: Norad, District two. Express street]]
Arisa continued her walk, her pace steady but her gaze sharp, scanning the unfamiliar sprawl around her. The deeper she went into Norad's heart, the more alien it felt. The streets glowed with the pulse of distant neon, their light reflecting off puddles left by the city's misty air. Holographic ads flickered across walls like restless ghosts. Compared to the quiet, grounded feel of District 3, this place was overwhelming. Too bright, too loud, too artificial. It all pressed against her chest.
She walked beneath the looming shadow of a skyscraper that seemed to swallow the stars, its glass skin reflecting fractured lights from every direction. That was when something caught her attention. A towering structure ahead, rising higher than most, its exterior sleek and trimmed in silver and blue. The colors were unmistakable. The D.O.P.
It shimmered like a monolith, its massive surface alive with movement. A holo screen stretched across the upper levels, playing a new ad that seized her gaze. The sound was muted from where she stood, but the visuals were enough.
The words "12 Candidates" flashed in bold, radiant text. Twelve silhouettes appeared one by one. Each cloaked in shadow, until two stood out. Two she instantly recognized.
Her own. And Ericna's. The caption pulsed beneath.
"Twelve candidates, three positions. Will you be the next to rule?"
Arisa's eyes reflected the luminous screen, her pupils shrinking against the light. Her expression didn't change, but something in her chest tightened. A quiet weight, like a memory knocking. The ad shifted again, showing soldiers, machines, and grand speeches about unity and power. Then, a face appeared.
It took her a moment to process what she was seeing. The man's voice came through the speakers, calm yet commanding. "You can be what the world needs."
The next second, her heart nearly stopped. That face, aged now, a full beard. Faint wrinkles beneath the eyes, but unmistakable. Her breath left her in silence.
The man who spared her life that night. The man whose presence had haunted her ever since.
Her hand slowly curled into a fist. The glow of the ad danced across her knuckles and the reflection in her eyes. The voice continued, deep and resolute.
"I'm General Tenshi, overseer of the C.F.R. program… and remember, we are all a part of the D.O.P."
The screen flickered, fading into another polished display of new technology, promotions, and smiling citizens. But Arisa was no longer watching.
She stood frozen for a moment, her mind split between past and present, the roar of fire and screams from that night overlapping faintly with the city's hum. Then she inhaled, sharp and low, grounding herself again. Her fingers relaxed slightly, though her jaw stayed tense.
Without another glance, she turned away and continued down the path, the cold light of the D.O.P's building glowing behind her like an ever watching eye.
——
The streets of District 2 were alive with motion, even at this late hour. Holo ads shimmered against the glass of endless towers, projecting soft blues and pinks that rippled across puddles from a recent mist. The hum of engines and faint chatter echoed between the high rises. People passed by in quick strides, businessmen in sleek suits, street vendors shutting down their stalls, stray wanderers lost in the light.
Arisa walked among them, quiet and alert, her expression unreadable. She still felt the strange weight of the earlier encounter. The reflection of Tenshi's face burned somewhere deep behind her eyes, but she kept moving. Her footsteps were steady, each one swallowed by the sound of the city.
At some point, she pulled the device from her pocket. The small blue glow returned, and a calm voice projected into the air beside her.
"Guiding route to District 5. Estimated arrival: twenty three minutes. The nearest station is ahead, four blocks north."
The holographic path unfolded before her, weaving a gentle light trail down the street. Arisa followed it quietly, her gaze occasionally flicking to the strange architecture around her, pipes running across walls like veins, streets layered in multiple heights, screens stacked one above the other, flashing ads for Norad and its latest technologies.
That's when she felt it, a presence behind her. She didn't look back right away. It was subtle, a faint crunch of footsteps too slow to be casual. The figure stayed just far enough to blend with the crowd. But Arisa noticed how the people around her began to thin out.
Then came a man's voice, Soft and Close. "Heyyy…" An arm slid across Arisa's shoulder. To anyone else, it looked like a friendly gesture. A late night reunion between friends.
The man's voice carried a practiced casualness, his tone light, even warm. Arisa's eyes flicked down, catching the faint bulge pressing against her ribs from under his black hoodie. Something metallic.
"That's a nice Kliedi you got there," he murmured, his tone dripping with false familiarity. Arisa's eyes drifted to the corner, just enough to see the faint smirk under the hood.
"Is that what you people call this thing?" she said flatly, lifting the small device in her hand for a brief second. The man didn't answer. Instead, she felt the pressure increase against her ribs, a silent warning. "That's a weird name," she added calmly, before clicking the device off and slipping it back into her pocket.
They continued walking, her expression cool, detached, as though this were a normal conversation between strangers. The man leaned slightly closer.
"It's not just any Kliedi," he whispered. "You've got a premium model. Top tier. Too bad you're not from around here, or you'd know better than to flash it like that." Arisa said nothing in response. Her silence almost unnerved him. "So," he continued, "how about we take a walk to the nearest ATM?"
Arisa's gaze shifted toward him slightly, her voice low but even. "ATM?" she asked, feigning confusion. "I doubt I'll have any more money than you do."
He scoffed under his breath, tightening his arm around her shoulders, his hidden hand pressing harder into her side. "Yeah, I'm not buying that bullshit," he said quietly. "So keep walking before I blow this whole clip in your stomach."
Arisa exhaled slowly, almost in amusement. "Alright," she said. "I have to learn how to use one anyway." They walked side by side, her posture relaxed, his arm draped casually over her shoulders.
To anyone else, they looked like two close friends sharing a late night walk. Maybe even a couple. The city lights shimmered around them, disguising the danger in plain sight. The streets were quiet now. Only the faint hum of neon and the distant rumble of airtrams echoed through the steel canyons of District 2.
Arisa and the man walked side by side toward the end of the block, where an aging ATM sat between two dimly lit buildings. The fluorescent glow from its interface flickered on and off, casting pale blue light over their faces. His arm still rested over her shoulders, tight, heavy. The other hand stayed buried inside his hoodie, pressing cold metal against her ribs.
They stopped in front of the machine. Neither spoke for a moment, only the hollow buzz of the sign above filled the silence. Then the man pressed the metal harder into her side. "Don't just stand there," he hissed.
Arisa slowly turned her head, her patience thinning. "Didn't I say I have to learn?" Her tone carried more annoyance than fear.
That irritated him. "Put the fucking Kliedi in the slot," he growled, glancing down both ends of the street. It was empty. The few pedestrians had long vanished into the glow of other alleys.
Arisa sighed softly, pulling the device from her pocket. The surface shimmered faintly as she slid it into the machine. A soft tone followed, and a white light scanned across her face.
"Identity verified. Welcome, user: Arisa Sakarame."
Her eyes reflected the ATM's blue light as a new screen opened with standard prompts. She hovered her finger over Withdraw. "Go on," the man said, voice tight with greed. She pressed it. Numbers appeared on the screen.
Balance: 15,000.00 N-Credits.
For a moment, both of them just stared. The man's breath caught. Arisa's eyes narrowed. "Yeah," she said quietly, "I'm definitely not pulling that out."
The man's jaw tightened. His eyes darted to her, then back to the screen. Anger replaced his earlier patience. "Then I'll take it, bitch!"
He yanked his hand free, metal glinting from beneath his hoodie as he pulled it out and fired. The gunshot cracked through the street, echoing off the walls.
Arisa flinched slightly as the bullet hit her abdomen. The impact made her take a small step back, but her face barely changed. Her hand moved faster than his next breath, clamping down on his wrist.
He fired again. Another burst into her side. Still, she didn't fall. The man's breathing quickened, his wide eyes staring into hers. He expected her to scream, to collapse, but all he saw was quiet fury.
"You actually shot me," Arisa said, her voice low and calm, almost disappointed.
Fear broke through his composure. He tried to pull back, but she squeezed harder. Bone gave way with a sharp crack. He howled in pain as the gun fell, clattering against the pavement.
With his free arm, he swung at her in panic. Arisa caught it mid motion, gripping tight. Another snap.
He screamed again, collapsing to his knees, cradling both broken arms. She let him go. For a heartbeat, he hesitated then turned and ran, stumbling, yelling incoherently. "What the hell!?"
Arisa's breath was slow, steady. She pulled out the Kliedi from the ATM before bending down, picking up the fallen gun and examining it under the streetlight. As she did, dark blood slipped through the tear in her clothes, dripping to the ground. It looked red at first but as it hit the pavement, it turned black, like ink.
The man was still running, limping down the street, shouting for help. Arisa raised the pistol, arm steady. She fired once.
The bullet grazed him just under his butt cheek, spinning him to the ground with a cry of pain. "Ahh, fuck!" he shouted, attempting to clutch his behind.
Arisa approached, the click of her boots echoing through the empty street. With each step, she dismantled the weapon, sliding off the magazine, ejecting the remaining bullets, letting them scatter across the pavement one by one.
By the time she reached him, only the barrel remained. She dropped it beside his trembling body. He looked up, terrified, eyes wide, breath ragged.
Arisa stood over him, her shadow stretched by the flickering light. Her face was calm again. Her gaze, distant.
The man trembled on the cold pavement, clutching his ruined arms against his chest. His breath came out in ragged gasps, misting in the faint glow of the streetlights. The stench of gunpowder still hung thick in the air, mixing with the metallic tang of blood, his and hers.
Arisa stood there for a moment, her expression unreadable beneath the silver blue wash of the city lights. She looked down at him, her voice calm.
"Alright," she said softly, almost conversational. "Let's make a deal." Her tone carried no anger, just quiet authority that cut sharper than any blade.
"You point me to the nearest train station, and I'll help you out. If not…" Her eyes flicked down the empty street. "Then you can just sit here until someone helps you." She paused, letting her words sink in. "Or robs you. Your choice."
The man stared back at her, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. Then his gaze fell to her midsection, the holes in her shirt, the stains that should have been bleeding. Only they weren't. The wounds were sealed, skin darkened faintly where the bullets had hit, as if her body had swallowed the damage. His breath caught in his throat.
Without hesitation, he lifted his chin and pointed shakily toward the far end of the street. "T-there! Down past the tower, take the left underpass!" he stammered.
Arisa nodded once. "Good." She crouched beside him, movements slow. He flinched as her shadow fell across him, expecting another blow. Instead, she slipped her hand into the pocket of his pants, retrieving a dull black Kliedi.
It was heavier, older than hers. Similar design, same faint glow tracing the outer edges, but the color was wrong. The light pulsed a deep orange instead of blue. Scratches lined the surface, the edges were dented, chipped. Whatever model it was, it wasn't D.O.P. issue.
Arisa studied it in her palm for a moment, expression contemplative. Then she set it on the ground in front of him. "Yours is… different," she said quietly. He said nothing, just stared at her, still trembling.
Arisa straightened, brushing the dust from her coat. The faint city breeze caught her hair, and for a moment, the scene looked almost peaceful again. Like the violence had never happened.
"Thanks for showing me how to use the ATM," she said casually, turning away. Her tone almost playful now, the faintest trace of irony in her voice.
Her boots echoed softly as she walked down the street, the neon lights reflecting off the puddles around her. Behind her, the man groaned, dragging himself toward his Kliedi with what little strength he had left, fingertips barely brushing against it.
Arisa didn't look back. The city swallowed the sound of his voice, leaving only the hum of Norad's electric veins pulsing through the night.
—-
The walk felt longer than she expected. The city stretched endlessly in every direction, its veins glowing faintly beneath the dark sky. Arisa followed the route the man had pointed out, her boots echoing against the pavement. The streets weren't empty anymore. Norad had its own rhythm, a pulse that never stopped, even past midnight.
Clusters of people reappeared, workers in glowing vests unloading supplies, couples laughing under flickering signage, a group of teens hovering around a vending stall that dispensed canned light. Hoverbikes hummed quietly as they passed, their reflections streaking across puddles left from an earlier mist. Somewhere far above, massive transport rails glowed like veins of molten silver across the skyline.
Arisa walked among them, her posture calm but her eyes restless, taking in every face, every sound, every light. The people here carried themselves differently. They moved fast, eyes on their devices, speaking into comm links that wrapped around their necks like thin collars of light. Every few steps, Arisa caught herself staring at something she didn't understand. A floating kiosk, a child's toy that hovered midair, a robot dog waiting patiently beside a food stall.
But then she saw the train station… It rose from the street like a monument to both past and future. The shape was familiar. Arched roofs, towering glass panels, metal framework like the stations of the old world. But sleek, cleaner, and touched with modern artistry. Holographic banners rippled faintly in the air above the entrance, displaying train routes in flowing letters of blue and silver. Beneath them, mechanical gates scanned the incoming passengers, doors hissing open with a whisper of air.
Arisa slowed her pace, taking it all in. The soft hum of the energy rails filled the air, accompanied by the distant thunder of a train arriving below. She hesitated at the steps before finally moving forward.
Inside, the air was warmer. The interior mixed the industrial with the elegant, polished concrete floors, high ceilings lined with glowing veins of light, glass barriers that shimmered with faint holographic textures. The faint voice of an automated announcer echoed through the wide chamber, clear, calm, but emotionless.
"Next departure for District 5: arriving in five minutes. All passengers prepare for boarding."
Arisa watched as people flowed past her. Humans, yes, but not just them. A tall figure with scaled skin and silver eyes brushed past, carrying what looked like a case of tools. A smaller being with translucent ears floated slightly above the ground, conversing with a holographic projection at its side. The diversity of life here was endless, and for the first time in a long while, Arisa felt something almost childlike flicker inside her, curiosity.
She moved toward the ticket gate, standing back to observe others first. Each person placed their Kliedi against a scanner, a small chime ringing out as their information was verified. The gates opened in a smooth arc of light. When it was her turn, she mimicked them. Her Kliedi glowed faintly, and the gate accepted her instantly.
"Welcome, user Arisa Sakarame. Transit to District 5 authorized."
The voice that spoke was the same gentle tone from earlier. She stepped through. The waiting area opened up ahead. Wide benches of silver and white, glass walls revealing the dark tunnel below where faint blue lights streaked past. People sat scattered throughout the space, a man in a long coat dozing with a mechanical bird perched on his shoulder, a pair of children watching holographic fish swim in the air between them, a soldier in D.O.P. armor quietly cleaning his rifle near a corner.
Arisa walked slowly, her eyes moving from one detail to the next. Every sound felt amplified, the whisper of voices, the hum of air vents, the low electronic rhythm that pulsed through the station's floor. It was overwhelming in a way, but fascinating too.
She finally took a seat near the center, where the glass above reflected her faintly in the glow of the overhead lights. Her reflection looked calm, but the look in her eyes said otherwise. There was still the weight of the night, the blood, the encounters. But beneath it, an emerging awareness.
This was her new world now. A world that didn't stop. And she was learning, step by step, how to move through it.
—-
The gentle hum of the station filled the air, the kind of ambient noise born from hundreds of tiny movements layered together. The faint scrape of shoes on tile, the soft whirr of holo panels displaying train schedules, the flickering blue light of vending kiosks humming in standby mode.
Arisa sat quietly on a bench along the edge of the waiting area. Her gaze drifted with curiosity. Two children with silver scaled skin chased each other between the benches, their laughter echoing in soft metallic tones. Nearby, a man with mechanical eyes tapped his foot impatiently, projecting the time from his wrist in small, glowing numerals. A woman with four arms calmly folded paper birds, setting them on her lap. The birds shimmered faintly, like they might come alive at any moment.
Even with the subtle chaos around her, the world felt muted to Arisa. Her thoughts quiet, her eyes wandering. The station carried an air of routine, but everything about it was new to her. Every sound, every sight.
Then the crowd subtly shifted. From the far end of the hall, a figure in full D.O.P. armor began to make his way down the line of waiting passengers. His steps were deliberate, his presence unmistakable, a quiet authority that rippled through the air. The polished plates of his suit reflected the station lights like shards of silver. His face was hidden behind a mask marked with the D.O.P. insignia. A single glowing line across the visor where his eyes should be.
He stopped before Arisa, his voice modulated through his helmet. "Ma'am. Identification check, please present your Kliedi."
Arisa nodded slightly and reached into her pocket. The officer watched closely, but the moment the device left her hand, the faint D.O.P. light reflecting off its surface caught his attention. His posture changed. A hint of surprise, then recognition. "Wait." He raised a gloved hand gently.
Arisa paused, confused. Around her, other travelers were pressing their own Kliedi devices to glowing scanners, their names and faces flashing briefly across digital screens. But she wasn't directed to do the same. The officer stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You're cleared already."
And just like that, he walked away. His metallic footsteps faded into the rhythm of the station, leaving Arisa alone with a faint weight in her chest, that familiar uncertainty of being different, of not yet understanding the rules of this place.
Then the sound began. Distant at first, a deep rumbling hum that grew with every passing second. The crowd stirred, conversations softening as a shimmering blue light filled the tunnel beyond the platform.
Arisa's eyes widened slightly. The air seemed to shift as wind funneled through the terminal. The first rush of the arriving train. It emerged from the tunnel like a streak of silver and light, sleek and fast, its mirrored surface rippling with reflections of the station around it. The hum turned to a resonant roar as it came to a smooth, soundless stop.
Doors slid open in perfect sync, releasing a faint hiss of air that brushed across her face. For a moment, Arisa just stood there, her reflection bending along the curve of the train's hull. It was unlike anything she had ever seen, not a machine, but something alive in motion.
She adjusted the strap of her bag and stepped forward, her silhouette outlined in the pale glow of the train's interior lights. As she crossed the threshold, the sounds of the world behind her dulled, replaced by a new kind of silence.
The rush of cool, conditioned air brushed against Arisa's face. She stepped inside cautiously, her feet making no sound on the smooth metallic floor.
The interior was bathed in a faint blue glow. The kind of light that felt clean, almost sterile, yet strangely calming. Transparent screens lined the upper walls, softly pulsing with information in white and silver letters. Station names, times, holographic maps of Norad's sprawling rail system. The soundscape was a low, steady hum of energy running beneath her feet, mixed with the soft murmur of conversations and the rhythmic clicking of mechanical components adjusting overhead.
Arisa walked slowly, her eyes sweeping across every detail. The curved seats, the faint shimmer of invisible energy barriers separating sections, the way the ceiling lights seemed to mimic the slow pulse of a heartbeat. She watched how people moved. Scanning their Kliedi at a glowing panel before taking their seats, the soft chime confirming each entry. She quietly mirrored them, learning through observation, and the machine accepted her without hesitation.
As she made her way down the narrow aisle, people brushed past her shoulders. Some murmured a quick apology, others didn't bother. She paid them no mind, her face calm, her attention divided between learning and absorbing. Still, she couldn't help but notice the looks.
A few passengers, mostly women.Turned their heads briefly as she passed. Some whispered softly between themselves, eyes flicking between her height and her face. Arisa stood taller than most of them, her frame lean but beautifully defined, her movements deliberate yet effortless. A few of the men stole longer glances, trying not to be noticed. Her lavender eyes caught the train's light, and for a moment, she seemed almost ethereal. A traveler out of place, yet somehow belonging. But Arisa paid it no mind. She was used to eyes following her.
She finally spotted an empty seat midway down the car, beside a large panoramic window that stretched from floor to ceiling. She moved toward it, passing by a man dozing against his briefcase, a pair of teenagers sharing music through luminous earpieces, and a creature with glass like skin that refracted light like a prism. Every glimpse told her something new about this world, a world that still felt foreign, but no longer unreachable.
Arisa took her seat, feeling the faint vibration of the train through the cushion beneath her. The window beside her revealed a dark expanse of the city, its lights painted across the glass like a thousand constellations.
Directly in front of her sat a young woman speaking softly into a communicator her voice calm, reassuring. "Yes, I'll be home soon, baby," she said with a smile. On the seat beside her, a small child giggled as she played with a floating holo toy, chasing the colorful lights that shimmered just out of reach. The gentle laughter echoed faintly through the cabin, mingling with the quiet hum of the train.
Arisa leaned back slightly, her eyes shifting between the child's laughter and the city reflected beyond the glass. She let herself exhale, a long, slow breath that carried with it the weight of everything behind her.
Outside, the neon veins of Norad pulsed in motion, streaking past in lines of color as the train prepared to move. Inside, Arisa sat in silence, watching life unfold around her. Quietly learning what peace felt like in Norad, even if only for a moment.
—-
Arisa sat silent, her gaze drawn to the blur of city lights and dark streets beyond the window. The rhythmic hum of the train mixed with the distant murmur of voices. Tired travelers, soft chatter, the faint laughter of children somewhere behind her. For a brief moment, her mind drifted. The lights outside reflected on her eyes like soft, moving stars, and she almost forgot where she was.
Then, as if remembering something important, she reached for her Kleidi. But it slipped from her hand, clattering onto the floor and sliding out of sight. Arisa leaned forward to grab it, but before she could rise, a small pair of hands scooped it up.
The little girl who stood before her couldn't have been older than six. She had silky black hair tied in uneven pigtails and hazel eyes that shimmered with life. Holding out the Kleidi in both hands, she smiled brightly. "Here!" she said with pride, her voice as light as a breeze.
Arisa blinked, surprised for only a heartbeat before a genuine smile touched her lips. Soft, warm, and unlike any expression she'd worn before. "Thank you," she said, her tone gentle and kind. She took the Kleidi carefully, as if afraid her touch might hurt the girl.
The child stared up at her, awestruck. "Woooh… you have really pretty eyes."
Arisa paused, the words catching her off guard. Before replying. "So do you."
The girl giggled, swaying side to side with shy excitement, but her smile soon faltered as her gaze fell lower. She pointed to the small holes torn through Arisa's shirt, the faint traces of dried blood.
"Are you hurt?" she asked softly.
Arisa followed the girl's eyes, glancing down before instinctively covering the marks with her hand. Her voice, still calm, was reassuring. "No. Not at all," she said gently.
Before anything else could be said, the train slowed to a stop. The girl's mother, who had been on the phone nearby, quickly called out, relief in her voice. "Mira, come here sweetheart."
The little girl ran to her mother's side, her laughter trailing behind her. The woman glanced at Arisa, an apologetic smile on her face. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be," Arisa replied softly, her expression calm but sincere. The woman smiled in return before guiding her daughter toward the open doors. Just before stepping off, the little girl turned back, still holding her mother's hand, and waved with that same bright smile.
Arisa lifted her hand in a quiet wave back. The doors slid shut between them, sealing the brief, fragile moment in memory.
The train rolled forward again. The chatter around her faded until only the hum of the tracks filled the silence. Arisa sat still, eyes unfocused. Remembering a hand she once held. Angel's hand. The warmth that once made her feel safe, untouchable.
A dull ache bloomed in her chest. The sight of the little girl, her kindness, her laughter. It rekindled something buried deep within Arisa. It burned quietly with purpose.
Her reflection in the window stared back at her, the faint glow of violet eyes now steadied with resolve.
She would make sure no child ever endured what she had… Not while she still breathed.
Chapter 10: She still breathed
END