Arika was trembling.
Her breathing was shallow and ragged, as if there weren't enough air. Her eyes darted around, unfocused and disoriented.
—No… no… not this… —she murmured, lost in her own words.
Koen looked at her, his chest tightening. He had never seen her like this.
—Arika… —he whispered, taking a step toward her.
She reacted immediately.
—No! —she recoiled sharply —. Don't come near me!
Her hands shot up, not to defend herself… but to stop him.
—It's dangerous… —her voice cracked —. Something's wrong… it's not right…
She hugged herself, leaning forward slightly, as if something inside her were overwhelming her.
—What if I'm infected? — she continued —. What if it's different… something we don't know about…?
Koen felt his heart break. He wanted to say something, but the words died in his throat. He didn't know what was happening… he was scared too, but he knew he couldn't leave her alone in that state.
—Arika, listen to me. —He took another step forward —. Look at me. It's me.
She shook her head, quickly.
—You don't understand… —her voice grew shakier—. I can't… I can't control it… what if I stop being me?
Her breath broke into a gasp.
—What if… what if I turn into one of those things?
Her eyes finally locked onto him.
There was something in them, something that didn't fit.
— I don't want… to hurt you…
Then, Koen clenched his teeth and simply ran toward her. Ignoring her words, and without a second thought, he grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him, hugging her tightly, as if with that gesture.
—Let me go! —she screamed, struggling against him—. If I'm infected, you could…!
—I don't care! —he interrupted, holding her tighter.
His voice trembled, but he didn't let go.
—I'm not going to leave you… do you hear me? I'm not going to leave you alone.
He pressed his forehead against hers, forcing her to stay.
—You're not infected… it's not like that… —he said, more softly—. You don't have any wounds… no bites… it's not that.
Arika struggled for a few more seconds, but little by little Koen's warmth, his steady voice, and the constant beat of his chest managed to calm her. Her breathing, which had been ragged at first, began to even out. Her fingers stopped trembling.
Several minutes passed like this, in the most intimate silence. Koen was still holding her in an embrace, as if he could prevent her from falling apart.
Finally, Arika regained control. Her gaze was still clouded, but at least she was back.
Koen loosened his hold slightly and took her hands gently.
—You're still you. You're still human. Whatever's going on, we'll figure it out together. You don't have to carry this burden alone.
Arika swallowed, still trembling, but finally nodded, reassured by the certainty in his words.
—…All right —she conceded at last—. But… what if someone else finds out?
Koen shook his head slightly.
—Then we'll get ahead of them. But for now, no one needs to know. It would only complicate things.
Arika nodded, though her unease didn't disappear entirely.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps broke the calm, approaching from the hallway.
Koen reacted instantly.
—Shit…—he whispered.
He ran to the door and locked it just as the handle turned from the other side. This time, he didn't stop right away.
—¿Koen? —Reize's voice sounded slightly puzzled—. Why is it locked?
Koen stood motionless for a second.
Too fast. He had to come up with an answer right away.
—Uh… —he stammered, looking around—. It's stuck. The handle's jammed, I think.
There was a brief silence
—Stuck? — Reize repeated, skeptically—. Let me try.
The handle turned again, this time with more force.
Koen clenched his jaw.
—No! — he blurted out, softening his tone immediately—. I mean… there's no need. I'm almost done here.
Another pause.
—I'm cleaning Arika's wound —he added, more firmly—. There's blood everywhere. I don't think you want to see this right now.
The attempt to open the door ceased.
—… All right —Reize finally said—. But don't take too long.
The footsteps gradually faded away. Koen didn't move until the sound had completely disappeared.
Then he let out a breath.
Silence reigned once more in the room.
Arika lowered her gaze, as if something inside her had been reactivated.
—So they won't get suspicious… — she murmured, almost to herself—. I have to make the wound again…
Koen frowned.
—Arika—
But it was too late; she had already grabbed a sharp object. And before Koen could stop her, she was already pointing it at her arm.
—What are you doing?!! —Koen closed the distance in an instant and snatched the object from her with force—. Are you even thinking about what you're doing?!
—It's the only way! —she retorted, her voice breaking, her eyes shining—. If I don't have any wounds, they'll notice… they'll start asking questions!
Her breathing quickened.
—And when that happens… they'll see me differently. As if I were something… as if I were—
—A monster —Koen finished firmly—.
Arika fell silent.
Koen shook his head.
—No. You're not that. And I won't let you hurt yourself to prove otherwise.
But Arika didn't back down, and Koen understood. Without saying another word, he looked at the object in his hand… and made a decision. The blade cut across his own palm, and blood appeared immediately. Arika's eyes widened in horror.
—What did you just do?!"
Koen clenched his hand tightly, letting the blood flow.
—This —he said, his voice firm—. It's enough.
He held out his hand to her.
— Use my blood. Make it look real.
Arika stared at him, unable to fully process it.
—You're… you're out of your mind…
—Probably —he replied, without looking away —. But you're not going to hurt yourself. Not over this. What if it doesn't heal this time? It's not worth the risk.
Silence settled between them.
Denser. Deeper.
Arika slowly looked down at her wounded hand and took it carefully, as if afraid of hurting it further.
—You didn't have to do that…
Koen let out a soft sigh.
—Maybe not.
He turned his gaze toward her.
—But if doing this can keep you from getting hurt… then yes, I'd do it again.
Arika pressed her lips together, holding back something that didn't quite come out.
She clicked her tongue, trying to compose herself.
—You know you're a fool, don't you?
Koen smiled.
—Yes… I am.
For a moment, the atmosphere between them softened. The tension didn't disappear entirely, but something in that small sense of normalcy—in that almost everyday exchange—managed to keep it at bay.
Arika looked down at the open wound on Koen's palm. Blood was still flowing, slowly but steadily.
—Idiot… —she murmured, this time without much strength.
She quickly grabbed one of the bandages and pressed it against his hand, wrapping it carefully, as if afraid of hurting him more than necessary. Her fingers weren't trembling as much anymore, but there was still a certain stiffness in her movements.
—Press here — she instructed him in a low voice.
Koen obeyed without protest, watching her in silence. There was something different about her now: she was still scared, yes, but she was no longer on the verge of breaking.
When she finished bandaging him, Arika took another clean piece of cloth… and then hesitated.
Her eyes rested on the blood.
For a second—too long to be normal.
Koen noticed.
—Arika… —he called her name gently.
She blinked, as if emerging from a thought she didn't want to be a part of.
—…I'm sorry —she whispered immediately, looking away—. It's just…
She didn't finish the sentence.
Koen didn't press her.
Instead, he moved his bloodied hand a little closer to her.
—Do it quickly —he said softly —. Before Reize comes back."
Arika nodded. This time she didn't hesitate. She pressed the cloth against Koen's wound, soaking it thoroughly, and then began applying it to her own arm and thigh, making it look like a fresh injury.
She made sure the blood was visible, imperfect, and believable.
—That should be enough… —she murmured, more to herself than to him.
Silence fell again, heavy but different from before.
Arika sat on the edge of the bed and motioned for Koen to sit with her. She took his hand, handled it gently, and wrapped a bandage around it.
—Don't ever do that again —she said in a soft but firm tone—. ust as you don't want me to get hurt… I don't want to see you get hurt either.
Koen nodded.
—I'll remember.
—You better.
Koen looked at his bandaged hand and sighed.
—We should hide it. If anyone notices, it's going to be a problem.
Arika stood up, walked over to her backpack, and rummaged through it for a moment. After a few seconds, she pulled out a dark glove and handed it to him.
—Wear this. If they discover your wound, everything you've done will have been in vain. We can't take that risk.
Koen smiled and nodded.
—You're right."
Arika stepped closer to carefully slip the glove onto his hand. As she did, Koen watched her in silence. In his mind, he couldn't help but think how out of place someone like her seemed in a world like this. So fragile and strong at the same time. A spark of hope amid the collapse of his world.
Arika looked up suddenly and met his eyes.
—What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?
Koen looked away immediately.
—It's nothing…
She studied him for a second, confused, but eventually her expression softened.
She stood up and held out her hand to him.
—Come on. We shouldn't keep them waiting."
For a moment, Koen stared at her outstretched hand, lost in the warmth of that gesture, in the image of her standing before him. It was something he didn't want to lose, and a silent promise took root in his mind: I won't let this world corrupt you. I won't allow it. I'll protect you, even if I have to burn alongside it.
—Yes —he said, taking her hand firmly and standing up.
As they stood, Koen and Arika reached the bedroom door together. Arika reached for the doorknob but paused, hesitating whether to open it or not. Koen, standing right behind her, gently placed his hand over hers.
Arika reached for the doorknob, but froze.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Koen, who was right behind her, noticed her hesitation. Without saying a word, he placed his hand over hers.
—Don't worry —he murmured, his voice soft but firm—. Everything's going to be okay. If anything happens… I'm right here with you. Okay?
Arika slowly turned her face toward him. Their eyes met, so close that their breaths mingled. For a second, the world stood still. Neither of them moved. They just looked at each other.
—Thank you…—she whispered, with a faint, almost guilty smile.
Koen held her gaze for a moment longer, as if something were pushing him to say something more. But instead, he awkwardly looked away, lowering his hand.
—You should limp a Little —he said, scratching the back of his neck—. Lean on me. That'll make it seem more believable.
Arika nodded, taking a deep breath.
—Good idea.
She took a breath, turned the doorknob slowly, and opened the door. She leaned on Koen's arm, and they began walking down the hallway toward the stairs.
—Are you okay? —she asked, noticing a smile on his face.
—Me? Yeah… sure —he said, trying to wipe the expression off his face—. It's just… I didn't expect the day to start like this.
—Like what? —Arika asked, tilting her head.
Koen glanced at her sideways, with a hint of humor.
—Well… with you leaning on me.
Arika let out a small laugh.
—Don't get used to it.
—What a shame…—he replied, though he was smiling.
They kept walking, letting the silence settle in again, but this time it wasn't awkward. It was… peaceful.
The muffled sound of their footsteps on the wood filled the hallway, steady, almost comforting.
Arika glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. His arm was warm and firm. She felt that, for a moment, the world outside those walls didn't matter so much.
And though neither of them said it out loud, they both felt it: something between them had just begun to change.