The first scream was short.
The second… wasn't.
The city still didn't understand what was happening.
But it was starting to feel it.
Elena wasn't thinking anymore.
Not like before.
The thoughts were still there…
but distant.
Drowned.
Buried beneath something stronger.
Older.
More… real.
The hunger.
She stopped in the middle of the street, her body tense, her breathing uneven. Someone's heartbeat pulsed nearby.
Strong.
Fast.
Alive.
She felt it.
Like a call.
"No…" she whispered.
But her feet were already moving.
A figure appeared at the corner.
A man.
Distracted.
Unaware.
She closed her eyes for a second.
Trying to fight.
Trying to hold on.
But then—
The scent.
The blood.
And everything slipped away.
She lunged.
"She's already started."
Max said it before he even finished putting on his coat.
Daniel looked at him.
"You felt it?"
Max nodded.
"I don't know how… but I did."
Celine watched.
Silent.
Too attentive.
"This isn't just a connection," she said.
Max turned to her.
"Then what is it?"
She hesitated.
And that was answer enough.
"You're changing."
The air grew heavier.
"Changing how?"
Celine didn't answer directly.
"You're seeing things, aren't you?"
Max froze for a second.
"Dreams."
"They're not dreams."
Silence.
"Then what are they?"
She looked straight into his eyes.
"Echoes."
Rick wasn't okay.
Not even close.
His body hadn't recovered.
But his mind…
wasn't anywhere else.
"She didn't want to…" he muttered.
Daniel stood beside him.
"I know."
"No, you don't."
Rick tried to stand.
But his body failed.
"Hey, easy…"
"I have to go."
"You can barely stand."
Rick let out a quiet laugh.
"That's never stopped me before."
But this time…
it was.
The city was screaming now.
Sirens.
Running.
Chaos.
And in the middle of it—
Her.
Moving through the shadows.
Fast.
Unstoppable.
But not invisible.
Not anymore.
"Elena!"
Max's voice echoed down the street.
She stopped.
For a second.
Just one.
And turned.
Her eyes met his.
And there…
there was recognition.
Pain.
Conflict.
"Stay away…" she said.
But her voice was breaking.
"I'm not."
Max took a step forward.
"You don't want this."
She laughed.
But it wasn't laughter.
It was something… crueler.
"You don't know what I want."
But he did.
Because he saw.
Because he felt it.
"I know this isn't you."
She moved.
In a second.
And stopped inches from him.
Her gaze locked onto his.
Her breathing heavy.
"Then stop me."
Silence.
Max didn't move.
"I won't fight you."
"Then you'll die."
"If it's you who does it…"
A pause.
"I accept that."
Something broke.
Inside her.
For a second…
just one…
she came back.
"Max…"
But then—
The hunger surged stronger.
She screamed.
And ran.
Again.
"This isn't going to end well," Daniel said.
"No," Celine replied.
But she didn't sound surprised.
She sounded… prepared.
Max noticed.
"You've seen this before."
She stayed silent.
Then—
"Yes."
The air grew heavier.
"With me?" Max asked.
She didn't answer.
But she didn't have to.
Later…
Max was alone.
Again.
But this time…
not by choice.
He could feel it.
Something inside him.
Changing.
Growing.
And then—
The dream came.
Or whatever it was.
He was there again.
The city.
But destroyed.
More than before.
More real.
Closer.
Bodies.
Silence.
And in the sky…
something.
Watching.
Waiting.
"Now you see…"
The voice echoed.
But it wasn't the same.
It was deeper.
Older.
Max tried to move.
But couldn't.
"What am I?"
Silence.
Then—
"You are what remains."
The world shook.
And he woke up.
His body was drenched in sweat.
His heart racing.
But the worst part…
it still felt real.
Max looked at his hands.
And for a second…
he saw it.
Blood.
But when he blinked—
nothing.
"This is getting worse…" he muttered.
On the other side of the city…
Elena was on her knees.
Her body trembling.
Her hands stained.
Her eyes lost.
"I… didn't want to…"
But no sound came out.
Because deep down…
she knew.
This was part of her.
And that…
was the worst of it.
Rick finally managed to stand.
With effort.
But he did.
"I'm going after her."
Daniel tried to stop him.
"You can barely—"
"Doesn't matter."
His eyes were different.
Sharper.
More determined.
"I'm not leaving her alone in this."
Silence.
Because no one there could argue with that.
Celine watched everything.
In silence.
But her mind…
was far away.
"It's happening again…" she murmured.
Max heard.
"What is?"
She looked at him.
And for the first time…
there was real fear.
"I thought we stopped this."
The air froze.
"'We'?" Max asked.
Silence.
Long.
And then—
"I didn't tell you everything."
And that night…
nothing ended.
Nothing was resolved.
But one thing became clear.
Very clear.
This wasn't about surviving anymore.
It was about…
what each of them was willing to become.