I didn't move.
They were closer now.
Not scattered like before. Not distant. They had closed in without sound, standing across the street, near the sidewalk, a few steps away from me. Some looked clearer than before, their forms sharper, while others flickered at the edges like they couldn't fully stay.
All of them were facing me.
One stepped forward.
Then another.
They didn't stop.
The distance between us shrank slowly, step by step, like they already knew I wouldn't run.
One of them came too close.
Close enough that I could see the way its form didn't hold properly, like something stretched into the shape of a person.
Its arm lifted.
Reaching.
My breath caught.
My hand rose on its own.
A faint glow slipped between my fingers.
I froze.It was weak.
Barely there.The figure didn't stop.
Another step.Closer.
The light flickered.
For a second, it almost disappeared.
My chest tightened. My focus snapped to it instantly, every bit of my attention locking onto that faint glow like it was the only thing keeping everything from going wrong.
"Stop…" I muttered.
The light steadied.It grew.
It spread across my palm, thin at first, then clearer, holding its shape instead of breaking apart. It wasn't strong yet, but it wasn't fading anymore.
The figure slowed.
But it didn't stop.
Its hand came closer.Too close.
The light reacted.
A pulse pushed outward.
Weak.
The figure jerked slightly—but stayed.
My breathing became uneven.
"No," I said, sharper this time.
The light surged.
It climbed up my wrist, then higher, spreading along my arm, brighter now, stronger, like it had finally found something to hold onto.
Another pulse.
This time—
It hit.
The figure was forced back.
Not a step.Not slowly.
It snapped backward like something had pushed it away.
The others reacted instantly.
They moved back.
All of them.
The space around me cleared in a second, the distance returning faster than it had closed.
I stood there, staring at my arm.
The light wasn't stopping.
It grew brighter.
It spread further.
From my arm to my shoulder, then outward, spilling into the air around me like it wasn't contained anymore.
Another pulse.
Stronger.
The figures pulled back even more.
Some flickered violently.
One vanished completely.
I didn't move.
The light surged again.
This time, it didn't feel controlled.
It burst.
A sharp flash tore through everything around me, bright enough to block out the street, the buildings, everything except that single moment.
The air cracked with it.
And then—
They were gone.
All of them.
The street was empty.
The light vanished just as fast.
My arm dropped.
The strength left my body instantly.
My vision blurred.
A sharp ringing filled my ears.
I tried to steady myself, but my legs didn't respond.
The ground came closer.Too fast.
I fell.
Everything felt distant.
Unclear.
And just before everything went dark—
I felt it.Not them.Closer.Right behind me.Watching.
Then—
nothing.
If they were pushed away…
then why did it feel like something stayed?