Sister Lily

In the mirror, he saw his reflection staring back at him, bleary-eyed and still caught between sleep and wakefulness.

His eyes were slightly clouded, but the pitch-black irises remained sharp, tinged with a faint gray pupil. Despite his calm demeanor, faint worry lines had begun to form on his forehead.

His medium-length, raven-black hair hung around his face in a disheveled mess, while his slightly flushed cheekbones hinted at a restless sleep. His overall appearance was unkempt, a clear reflection of his disturbed night.

Dante squinted at his reflection.

"Hmm, nothing seems off. I guess feeling a little tired is to be expected after a nightmare."

Other than the lingering feeling of fatigue, there was nothing unusual about his physique. After all, a nightmare was just a dream. It could jolt the mind and rattle the nerves, but it couldn't leave a lasting mark on the body.

Without delay, he began his daily preparations.

First, he thoroughly brushed his teeth, then washed his face, the cool water refreshing him and chasing away the remnants of sleep. Feeling slightly more awake, he removed his clothes and tossed them haphazardly onto his bed. After switching off the air-conditioner, he re-entered the bathroom and stepped into the bathtub.

He turned on the shower, letting the cold water cascade over him. Even though summer break had ended, summer itself hadn't.

On sunny days, the temperature easily crossed 30°C.

A day with boiling heat from the morning on. Dante had no business turning on the heater in such conditions. The cold water jolted him fully awake, washing away the sticky remnants of sleep-induced sweat.

As the water splashed against him, he leaned back slightly, letting the cool sensation soak into his skin and muttered. "I guess there's one good thing about hot days like these."

A few minutes later, he stripped out of the bathtub, grabbing a towel to dry himself off. Wrapping it loosely around his waist, he padded back into his room, dripping water onto the floor as he went.

Dante rummaged through his wardrobe, pulling out his neatly pressed school uniform. The black blazer, crisp white shirt, and matching trousers had been a gift from his mother at the start of the semester.

"Might as well make an effort to look presentable," he mused, half-smiling as he got dressed.

Once ready, he grabbed his bag and glanced at the clock. It read [7: 35 AM].

"Not bad," he muttered, slinging the bag over his shoulder. A small grin tugged at his lips. "Ten minutes earlier than usual. I might even have time to whip up breakfast for two and still catch the train if I'm lucky. Haha! Maybe today won't be so bad after all."

With that, he eagerly headed downstairs and entered the kitchen in a hurry.

The living room was dim, with the curtains drawn tightly shut, keeping out the morning sun. In order to save electricity, all lights had been switched off the night prior before they went to bed. A habit that had been ingrained into him and his sister due to the common concern in a society where power was reliable but conserving resources had become second nature.

Dante reached for the light switch, flicking it on and flooding the room with a soft, warm glow. He scanned the living room briefly before making his way into the kitchen.

Pulling open the fridge, he scanned its contents. "Let's see… eggs, bread, butter. That'll do."

Gathering the ingredients, he quickly set to work.

Cracking eggs into a bowl, he whisked them with practiced ease while butter sizzled in the pan. The rhythmic clinks of utensils and the low hum of the refrigerator were the only sounds as he prepared a simple, hearty breakfast.

Within minutes, the smell of scrambled eggs and golden toast filled the kitchen, the enticing aroma wafting through the air. Dante plated the food, poured two glasses of orange juice, and carried everything to the dining table.

"Breakfast's ready! Get your lazy ass down here, or I'm eating it all myself!" he called out.

A groggy voice replied from upstairs. "Ugh… why do you have to be so noisy in the morning? That should be illegal…"

Moments later, soft footsteps echoed from the stairs, and his younger sister, Lily, 15 years old, appeared.

Her long hair was a tangled mess, and she was wearing a pink teddy nightgown.

She rubbed her eyes and let out a long yawn as she entered the room.

Why does she look like an old man? Dante thought innocently.

"Wait, what? You woke up early?" Lily asked, disbelief evident in her voice as she blinked a few times and slid into her seat at the table.

She squinted at him, her brows furrowing as though she were inspecting a rare, mythical creature that had somehow replaced her brother.

"I don't get it. Did something amazing happen? Did you win the lottery or become a billionaire overnight?"

"Ha! You know I'm not that fortunate," Dante replied with a chuckle. "Don't get used to it though. It's probably a one-time miracle."

Lily smiled as she picked up her fork and took a bite of toast.

"Well, I guess I can't complain. Thanks for breakfast."

As they ate, the room settled into a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the soft clink of cutlery. The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow over the table.

For a brief moment, Dante felt a flicker of contentment. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.

Without a doubt, he had returned to his ordinary everyday life.

This was not a dream.

But soon, a strange sensation rose inside his chest.

Something felt… off.

Hmm. What's this? Why does it feel like I'm forgetting something important?

Dante furrowed his brow.

He had woken up early for the first time, dressed quickly, packed his bag, gathered his books and pens, and even made breakfast for himself and his sister. His mother typically left for work before this time, so there was no need to prepare an extra plate.

Wait… Could it be? Dante's thoughts began to shift toward an uneasy realization.

Lily's voice cut through his thoughts, further deepening the discomfort in his chest.

"Hey, by the way, did you leave mom's food in her room?"

"Wait… Wh-what?" Dante stammered.

"Huh? I asked if you made breakfast for mom."

"Breakfast? Mom?" Dante's mind scrambled for clarity.

"Hey, what's with that look? Wait… don't tell me you forgot? You didn't, right?"

"...?!"

At Lily's words, Dante only froze and remained silent. He looked like he had just been slapped.

His mind whirred into overdrive, and he muttered a curse under his breath.

"Shit!"

Still cursing, Dante rushed to the refrigerator, moving faster than he thought possible, and flung it open. At the same time, he shouted toward his nonchalant sister.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! Damn sister! WHY DIDN'T YOU REMIND ME YESTERDAY TO PREPARE BREAKFAST FOR MOM?!"

Lily's voice was sharp as she shot back, unbothered by his outburst.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I DIDN'T REMIND YOU?! I REMINDED YOU THREE TIMES YESTERDAY! I remember saying, 'Big brother, make sure to prepare breakfast for mom and keep it in the fridge. She spent the whole day at the office because of some last-minute complications, so she won't be able to wake up early tomorrow morning!' AND WHAT DID YOU SAY? 'YES, I UNDERSTAND, SO CAN YOU FREE MY NECK ALREADY!' THOSE WERE YOUR WORDS, RIGHT?!"

"Damn. I really remember saying those words. I understand, this situation is my fault. BUT WHY THE HELL ARE THE FOOD SUPPLIES LOW? DIDN'T YOU GO ON A SUPPLY RUN YESTERDAY?!"

Lily shrugged. "Not much I can do when the grocery stores are closed."

"Don't give me that crap! Stores don't close that early. ARE YOU TRYING TO FOOL YOUR DEAR BROTHER?! I'M TOO EXPERIENCED TO FALL FOR SUCH TRICKS!!"

"FOR GOD'S SAKE, DON'T YOU WATCH THE NEWS?! THERE HAVE BEEN STRANGE MURDERS HAPPENING ALL OVER EVERNIGHT CITY! WITH CAUSES OF DEATH UNKNOWN AND NO SIGN OF THE KILLERS, OF COURSE ALL THE SHOPS ARE CLOSING EARLY! WHO WOULD WANT TO FALL VICTIM TO UNSOLVABLE VIOLENCE!?"

"Strange murders? Since when did that start happening?"

Hearing his sister's outburst, Dante's frown deepened.

Given the presence of Counter-Skill, the idea of mass murders occurring seemed almost laughable. But the tone in Lily's voice told him otherwise. She wasn't one to joke about something so serious, and judging by her urgency, this was no exception, which caused the nonchalant Dante to think everything over.

Hmm, this is really strange. Is something happening in the Shadowspire? Mass murders shouldn't be happening... unless Counter-Skill is unable to handle the situation, or they're facing something far bigger right now.

He thought it was probably the latter. There was no way Counter-Skill, which was the pride of Evernight City, would ignore such unreasonable violence.

Dante mentally sent his condolences for those who had lost their lives and for the families who would be mourning their deaths. Yet, his thoughts quickly shifted to his own predicament.

At the moment, he was intensely preoccupied with figuring out how to salvage his situation.

If he didn't come up with a plan soon, he'd be completely screwed before he even made it to school!

Dante groaned as he raked his fingers through his still-damp hair. His morning, which had started with an unusual sense of productivity, was now spiraling into chaos.

He glanced between the refrigerator and the clock.

Time was ticking down fast.

"Okay, okay, think!" he muttered under his breath. "What can I make with barely any supplies? Eggs, toast, and… ramen?"

His eyes darted to the unopened ramen packet sitting on the counter, the one he'd been saving for lunch at school. The thought of using it now made him wince, but he didn't have a choice.

"Lily, grab some plates and set the table for Mom's breakfast. And don't just sit there gawking at me!" Dante barked.

"Jeez, no need to yell!" Lily huffed but complied, gathering the plates and utensils.

Dante grabbed the ramen, tore open the packaging, and boiled water in record time. With the speed of sound, he cracked the last two eggs into a bowl, whisked them, and set them aside. As soon as the water was boiling, he tossed the noodles in, stirring frantically.

Once the noodles softened, he poured in the seasoning and stirred, adding the whisked eggs to the pot. The steam rising from the pot was intense, but the smell of the rich, savory broth began to fill the kitchen.

"Perfect!" Dante exclaimed, carefully ladling the noodles and soup into a bowl. To make it look more presentable, he sprinkled some leftover chopped green onions on top.

Just as he finished, Lily placed the plates on the table, giving him a skeptical look. "You're really going with ramen for breakfast? Mom's gonna love that."

Dante shot her a glare. "You think I have any other options? Just shut up and help me carry this to her room."

With Lily's help, they brought the bowl of ramen and a small plate of buttered toast upstairs to their mom's bedroom. The sound of breathing could be heard as they slowly opened the door.

Dante gently placed the food on the nightstand, careful not to wake her. For a moment, he studied her peaceful expression, the dark circles under her eyes betraying just how hard she'd been working lately.

"I hope this makes up for forgetting last night," he muttered softly.

Lily crossed her arms and gave him a pointed look. "You better hope she doesn't wake up hangry. If she does, you're on your own."

Back in the kitchen, Dante finally allowed himself a moment to breathe. He slumped into a chair, the weight of the morning already catching up with him.

Lily, now munching on her toast, glanced at him with a smirk. "So, what's your next move, big brother? Think you'll survive until school?"

Dante groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Let's just say I'll consider today a win if I can make it to first period without collapsing."

She chuckled, taking another bite of toast. "Good luck with that. You'll need it."

"Whatever, go stuff your mouth with a d*ck snd that shithole of yours."

"Of course, I'll make sure to shove down a big one unlike a certain brother of mine!"

Lily stuck out her tongue at him, playfully.

This girl... She's just too energetic. Dante thought as he stared at his sister. But he remembered she has always been like this and sighed.

As Dante stood up to grab his bag, his thoughts returned to Lily's earlier outburst about the strange murders. The unsettling feeling in his chest hadn't gone away.

What could be happening in Evernight City? And that strange dream… it didn't feel like a coincidence.

He shook his head, forcing himself to focus on the present. For now, school was his priority. But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that today was going to be far from ordinary.

Grabbing his bag, Dante called out, "I'm heading out. Don't forget to lock the door behind me!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know the drill," Lily replied, waving him off.

As he stepped outside, the sweltering summer heat hit him immediately. A faint breeze teased the edges of his hair, while the beautiful blue sky stretched endlessly above. On a day like this, it would be hard to imagine rain, yet with his luck, anything was possible.

He sighed, glancing up at the sky.

"The world looks so bright, but my day's already overcast."