The night before the gala, we all slept peacefully. That day, all the workers were given the day off to rest, but for me, that didn’t change much. I didn’t even work. My brother, on the other hand, did. Next year, I would turn eighteen. Time had passed so quickly… Still, I would soon have to act like an adult.

  Up until now, I had done nothing but laze around, despite my age. I acted like a child, so much so that I found it easy to get along with much younger kids, like Aiko and Nanao. But that ease in connecting with others didn’t erase the guilt I carried. Every day, I thought about how useless I was to everyone, how I just stayed there, living for free, without contributing anything. My brother was the one who carried everything: he paid for me, worked for me, and did everything so that I wouldn’t lack anything. I wished I could repay him someday, as I should.

  That night, a noise woke me from my sleep. I slowly opened my eyes. Everything was dark; it must have been early morning. I rubbed my eyes while trying to clear my thoughts. “What could that noise have been?” I wondered, with a slight knot in my stomach.

  After taking a deep breath, I gathered enough courage to get up and go downstairs. As I descended, the creaking of the steps made me doubt whether it was a good idea to keep going. “Maybe it was an animal,” I thought, although I knew that didn’t make sense. There shouldn’t be any loose animals here, in the city.

  When I peeked from the top of the stairs, I saw a light on downstairs. I thought it might be Alexander, and, relieved, I took more confident steps down.

  —Alexander, what are you doing up so…?—

  The sentence got stuck in my throat. My feet froze when I saw who was there. It wasn’t Alexander. It was Judas.

  —Oh, Lyra, did I wake you? I’m sorry, — he said with a smile that sent a shiver down my spine.

  I blinked, confused, and my eyes focused on what he had in front of him. There was a medical kit spread out on the table: needles, bottles, tubes. Things I had seen in hospitals, but never at home.

  —What are you doing here? — I asked, noticing my voice trembling slightly.

  —You know, I was just picking up a few things I forgot yesterday, — he replied casually, too casually.

  "Yesterday?" My mind froze. No one had worked yesterday. No one. My whole body tensed. Something was wrong, and I could feel it in every fiber of my being.

  Judas watched me intently, as if trying to read my thoughts. His smile didn’t fade, but there was something in his eyes that made me want to run away.

  —Come on, sit down. Would you like some of my tea? — he said, pointing to a chair across from him.

  I didn’t know how to respond. My feet felt glued to the floor, but my mind was screaming that I needed to escape. Still, something in his gaze made me nod, though awkwardly.

  —S... sure, — I muttered.

  As I sat down, I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, as if every move I made was being calculated. What is he doing here? What is he planning?

  The tension in the air was so thick that I could barely breathe.

  I sat at the table, right next to the strange medical kit that Judas had brought. Something about his presence unsettled me, but I tried to stay calm. I didn’t know whether I should wake Zein or deal with this on my own.

  "No. You can’t always depend on Zein. You have to face this on your own."

  I repeated those words like a mantra as I accepted the cup he offered.

  —Here you go, — he said, placing the cup in front of me.

  The tea seemed harmless, its scent familiar and warm.

  —Thanks, — I replied, trying not to show my distrust.

  —Tell me, did I wake you? — he asked, as if he actually cared.

  —Yes. —

  —Sorry, I usually try not to bother anyone. —

  "Usually?" That word echoed in my mind. There was something very strange in his tone, in the way he acted. Keeping my composure, I took small sips of the tea, watching him subtly.

  The silence between us stretched on, tense, as if we were both waiting for the other to speak first. Outside, the occasional sound of cars blended with a subtle noise coming from some corner of the house, a noise I couldn’t identify but that made me feel uneasy.

  Despite the silence, Judas seemed comfortable. There wasn’t a trace of nervousness on his face. Confident. Too confident.

  —Judas, tell me... — I tried to soften my tone, seeking answers without raising suspicion. —Why did your parents decide to name you that? —

  He smiled, but it wasn’t a kind smile.

  —The truth... — he said calmly, —since I was little, my parents considered me a mistake. They always told me I ruined their lives, that I betrayed them by simply being born. —

  I fell silent, shocked by his answer.

  —Wow... I’m really sorry. —

  —Don’t apologize, — he replied with an unsettling calmness. —Sometimes talking about it helps. —

  The tension seemed to dissipate slightly. Even the tea tasted a bit better as I stopped worrying so much. However, something in his gaze still disturbed me.

  —So then? — I pressed, measuring each word carefully. —What are you doing here so late? —

  That’s when I felt everything spinning around me. The cup fell from my hands, crashing to the floor and scattering the remains of the tea. My vision blurred, and my body wavered, unable to stay upright.

  —Careful, — Judas said, his tone changing completely. Now he sounded cold, almost mocking. —I can’t believe you drank the whole cup without a second thought. —

  I tried to speak, but my tongue felt heavy.

  —W-what... what did you do to me? —

  The smile on his face widened as he leaned closer to me, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that froze my blood.

  —Just what was necessary, Lyra. Just what was necessary. But don’t worry, it’s only temporary. Tomorrow, you won’t remember any of this. After all, tomorrow’s the big day, right? — Judas said with a chilling calmness.

  My trembling hands tried to cling to the floor as I desperately tried to reach the stairs. Every movement was a monumental challenge. My body was sweating, I felt an unbearable heat, and my vision was starting to darken.

  —It’s useless, — I heard his voice, calm, as he picked up his tools. —I usually do this without any trouble, but it wasn’t always going to be like this, was it? —

  —What are you going to do to me? — I gasped, barely able to form the words.

  —For now, nothing, — he replied with a smile that almost seemed amused.     —Tomorrow, you’ll be as good as new, without remembering any of our conversation. Tomorrow will be an important day, an unforgettable day. —

  My strength was faltering, but anger and fear kept me moving.

  —I won’t let you do anything, — I managed to say, though my voice was barely a whisper between gasps.

  —Really? — Judas let out a sarcastic laugh. —And tell me, what are you going to do? You can’t even stay on your feet. You depend too much on your brother. —

  My hands managed to touch the first step. Climbing them seemed impossible, but I couldn’t give up. Not now.

  —Let me tell you something, — I felt a brutal tug on my hair, forcing me to look him directly in the eyes. His gaze was filled with dark satisfaction as he held me at eye level. —You and your brother are mistakes. Complete mistakes that shouldn’t be here. And that’s exactly why I’m here, to study you. To understand how the hell you survived.—

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  —And what’s your hypothesis? — I asked, forcing myself to stay conscious despite the dizziness.

  —I’m sorry, little one, but I can’t tell you. Although... you’re pretty involved in it. —

  Before I could process his words, he started climbing the stairs, pulling me with him. His arms held me with unsettling ease, as if my resistance meant nothing to him.

  —If I scream now, you’re completely screwed, — I threatened with the little strength I had left.

  —Do you really think you can scream? — he mocked, his tone cold and dismissive.  —You’re on the edge of collapse. You can’t even breathe properly. —

  He was right. My body was no longer responding. I was at my limit. My eyelids were so heavy that keeping them open was a torture.

  —Fine, before I leave, let me tell you one last thing, — he brought his face so close to mine that I could feel his breath as he spoke with terrifying calm. —Enjoy tomorrow... it’ll be the last day you’ll be able to enjoy in your life. —

  Before I could react, I felt the cold pinch of a needle piercing my skin. A sharp pain shot through my arm.

  —Wait... — my voice was a barely audible thread, and my eyelids fell, heavy as lead.

  —I’d tell you to meet me after the gala at the café, but... I’d be completely lying to you,— Judas said, his voice tinged with icy cynicism.

  I tried to move one last time, but my body didn’t respond. Darkness engulfed me completely, and the last thing I heard was a soft laugh fading into the echo of my mind.

  I woke up at dawn with a pounding headache, as if I had spent the whole night in a nightmare. I looked around; I was in my bed, but everything seemed strange. "What the hell happened last night?" I thought, trying to remember, but my mind was a mess of blurry images.

  Despite everything, the day passed normally. Today was a special day: we would attend the gala in honor of last year’s events. I had never been to an elegant event, so I was excited.

  Zein had the day off, and we took the opportunity to spend time together. At some point, we ended up resting under the tree in the yard, the coziest and warmest place in the house. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, but we settled under the cool shade.

  Zein was sitting, and I lay down with my head on his lap. The breeze was gentle, and everything felt... peaceful.

  —Zein... — I said suddenly.

  —What’s wrong? — he asked, looking down at me.

  —Do you have any dreams? —

  —What do you mean? —

  —You know, a dream you want to fulfill now that you don’t have to fight anymore. Now we can live a quiet and peaceful life. —

  Zein paused, looking up at the sky as if searching for answers among the clouds. After a moment, he sighed.

  —I don’t know, really. What about you? —

  —Me? I have a big dream. —

  —And what’s that? —

  I propped myself up a little, smiling as I spoke.

  —I want to live in a cabin, in the middle of a meadow. A cute and beautiful cabin, far away from the city. It’s not that I don’t like the city, but I’d rather have a quiet and secluded place. I want to live there with all of you, in peace, without worries. —

  Zein smiled faintly, though his gaze held a touch of melancholy.

  —What a lovely wish, — he said as he looked at me with warmth that comforted me. Then, he gently stroked my head, just like when we were kids. —My dream is to make all my loved ones happy. —

  —But the dream should be yours, something just for you," I said, sitting in front of him and crossing my arms.

  —Well, if that’s the case... I can’t think of anything. —

  —Little brother... — I sighed, shaking my head with a resigned smile.

  —Hey! — Kiomi’s voice interrupted our conversation, sharp but not without a touch of drama.

  We turned to see her rushing toward us, an expression of apparent annoyance on her face.

  —You’re supposed to get changed for the gala! — she said, hands on her hips, giving us a look that felt like a maternal scolding. Before we could react, she grabbed both of our hands as if we were little kids. —It’s almost time to leave, and you’re still not ready! —

  I realized how much time had slipped away. The sky was already turning shades of orange and pink.

  Kiomi led me to my room and helped me change. She put me in a long, elegant dress that, although beautiful, was a bit uncomfortable. Despite that, I tried to endure it; after all, you don’t go to galas every day.

  When Zein came out after changing, he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Kiomi. She also looked at him, and they both froze for a moment that felt eternal. Their faces lit up with a blush they tried to hide awkwardly.

  —What are you looking at? — Kiomi asked, crossing her arms and avoiding his gaze, though she couldn’t completely hide her nervous smile.

  —Nothing... it's just... you look really nice, — Zein replied, scratching the back of his neck uncomfortably, but still not taking his eyes off her.

  I’m not stupid. There was something about that interaction that couldn’t be ignored. It was obvious there were feelings there, even if neither of them wanted to admit it. I just hoped that one day, they’d have the courage to talk about it.

  Naoko appeared soon after, rushing in a bit. When she entered, we all turned to look at her, and my surprise was immediate. She wasn’t wearing a dress like Kiomi or me. Instead, she was in an elegant black tuxedo, similar to Zein's.

  —What? — she said, noticing our stares. —Dresses aren’t really my thing. —

  —You look great, — I replied, smiling.

  We waited outside for a few minutes for Miguel to pick us up. When he finally showed up, my eyes widened. In front of us was an impressive limousine, longer than any I had ever seen.

  —Amazing! — I exclaimed, with childlike excitement.

  —What do you think? — Miguel asked, smiling with pride. —Now you’re important people, so this shouldn’t seem weird. —

  Before we got in, Alexander came out to see us off.

  —Have fun tonight, but remember to behave. I’ll stay here, someone has to look after Aiko and Nanao, and keep Sora out of trouble, — he said, giving us a warning look that quickly softened into a smile.

  —Take care! — Alexander said, raising a hand in farewell.

  —We will! — I replied with a smile, waving my arm quickly to say goodbye.

  When we got in, the interior of the limousine left me in awe. It was refined, with leather seats and a modern design that made me feel like I was in a dream. The ride wasn’t long, and the excitement of what awaited us kept me entertained.

  When we arrived, the place was imposing. The entrance was filled with journalists and cameras that seemed to multiply with every blink. I had no idea this gala would bring together the most important people in the world: businesspeople, politicians, celebrities... and us.

  In front of the entrance was a red carpet, something I had only seen on TV. I stood still for a moment, taking it all in, until Kiomi gave me a gentle push.

  —Come on, Lyra, smile and wave. Do it like a pro. —

  —Sure... — I replied, still a bit overwhelmed.

  When I stepped down, the flashing lights from the cameras temporarily blinded me, but I tried to keep my composure, smiling and waving while making sure Zein did the same.

  —I’m not good at this, — Zein whispered, leaning slightly toward me.

  —Just smile and keep walking, — I muttered, trying to make sure no one noticed we were talking.

  The place was packed. It was huge, with tall ceilings adorned with chandeliers that seemed made of crystal, elegant tables, and waiters moving around with trays filled with shining glasses. People were talking in small groups, all dressed in clothes that looked straight out of luxury magazines.

  It didn’t take long before several people approached Zein to talk. One of them was an older man wearing a lab coat; his appearance screamed "scientist."

  —It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Ravenscroft, — he said, shaking his hand enthusiastically. —We’ve worked on a project we believe could be useful to you: an advanced suit designed specifically for your missions. —

  Zein listened attentively and, after thanking him, responded with a kindness that surprised me.

  —I really appreciate the effort, but I hope I won't have to use it. Although who knows, maybe one day. —

  Kiomi, who had been by my side the whole time, watched the interaction with a slight smile. Her eyes followed Zein, and I couldn’t help but notice how they brightened every time he spoke.

  —He looks good, doesn’t he? — I said softly, with a playful tone.

  Kiomi turned toward me, visibly blushing.

  —What are you talking about? — she asked, crossing her arms, though her nervousness betrayed her.

  —Nothing... nothing. —

  Our group quickly became the center of attention. It was our first public appearance, and everyone seemed eager to approach, even me, though it was clear they were only doing it to get to Zein.

  The gala began with a speech in memory of those who had passed away a year ago. Then, plans to improve planetary security were presented, including the modernization of weaponry and aerospace technology.

  At some point, Zein was called to the stage to say a few words. At first, he seemed nervous, his steps a bit clumsy, but when he started speaking, his voice became firm and confident.

  —Thank you all for being here, — he began, looking at the audience with calmness. —Today, we remember those who sacrificed everything for our future, and we also look forward, striving to build a better world. My only wish is that we never again have to live through what we faced a year ago. —

  As he spoke, I felt a surge of pride. Zein wasn’t perfect, but at that moment, he seemed like someone worthy of admiration.

  When he came back down from the stage, Kiomi was the first to approach.

  —You were amazing, — she said, with a warm smile she didn’t try to hide.

  —You think so? — he asked, scratching the back of his neck, though he couldn’t help but return the smile.

  —Definitely. —For a second, their gazes met, and it felt like time stood still.

  I couldn't help but smile at the sight of them.

  As the gala went on, it became more and more boring. Worse still, I had to fake politeness with important people I didn’t know, who only approached me to try to start a conversation with Zein.

  The waiters, on the other hand, were the most pleasant people there. Although I knew their kindness was part of their job, at least they seemed less hypocritical than the important figures around us.

  At some point during the night, the attention dispersed. Zein, Kiomi, and Naoko were busy attending to those who approached them. For the first time that evening, I felt a small breath of relief at being ignored.

  —Ah —I muttered, noticing that the drink they brought me wasn’t the one I had ordered. It tasted stronger, something Zein would have definitely liked more. I searched for the waiter but couldn’t find him.

  Resigned and bored, I decided to drink it anyway. Time seemed to move at a snail’s pace, and the exhaustion started to weigh on me.

  Suddenly, my body began to feel strange. Heavy. A familiar but unwelcome sensation spread through me all at once. My head started to ache intensely, as if something was pressing down on it.

  Then, the screams broke the opulent atmosphere of the gala. They came from the other side of the building. Soon after, they could be heard in other places. I turned my head, trying to focus my vision, and saw several people collapsing to the ground, government officials among them.

  Chaos spread quickly, and a memory shot through my mind like lightning: the night before. A warning that had seemed harmless but now resonated like a sentence. I had to get to Zein, but my body wouldn’t respond.

  In the midst of the crowd, my gaze caught something that sent a chill through my bones. Among the waiters and the commotion, there he was. Judas. Standing, staring at me with a look of disgust that soon turned into a sinister smile. A smile that seemed to freeze everything around me. Before I could even react, he disappeared, slipping into the shadows as if he had never been there.

  My legs were trembling; I could barely stand. It was getting harder to breathe, and my vision was starting to darken.

  I have to get to Zein. My mind clung to that thought, but my body no longer responded.

  Finally, my strength abandoned me, and I fell to the ground. Through the fog that clouded my vision, I managed to distinguish Zein running toward me, his expression full of worry and terror.

  And it was then, in that moment, when Judas’s words echoed with terrifying clarity in my mind:

  “We won’t see each other again after the gala.”

  With those words spinning in my head, my consciousness faded away.