Ruby

The Ashlands were as unforgiving as ever, the air thick with the scent of sulfur and smoke. Crumbling buildings loomed on either side of the narrow alley, their broken windows like empty sockets staring out into the dusk. Everything here was dry, brittle—waiting for the next spark to turn it to ash.

Andre and I moved carefully through the streets, my senses prickling with unease. The Veil felt heavier tonight, pressing against me like a hand on my chest. It was always like this in the Ashlands, but something was different now. The weight in the air wasn't just from the land itself—it was coming from something else.

"Stay alert," I muttered, keeping my eyes ahead.

Andre gave a small nod, but I could tell he wasn't sensing it the way I was. The Veil called to me in ways most people couldn't understand. It whispered beneath my skin, warning me before danger arrived.

And that danger came fast.

A figure stumbled into the alleyway ahead, barely able to keep themselves upright. They were shaking violently, their breathing ragged, their eyes wide with something beyond fear. I knew what was happening before I even had to think about it.

They were on the verge.

Another Hollow, just moments from forming.

I moved without hesitation, stepping forward, but before I could act—

A shadow cut through the alley.

A woman emerged from the darkness, moving with a quiet, controlled confidence. Her black hair, sharp and straight, framed her face, the ends dyed a deep blood-red that gleamed in the dim light. Her eyes, dark and unreadable, took in the scene with the detached focus as if she had already decided what needed to be done.

She wore a fitted black jacket with a high collar and cargo pants were tucked into scuffed combat boots. Everything about her was sharp, efficient—built for movement, for action. But the thing that stood out the most was the ring on her finger.

It pulsed.

A thin, shimmering thread of crimson extended from it, liquid yet solid, curling like a living thing. It was– blood?

I barely had time to process it before she struck.

The blood lashed forward in an instant—too fast for the man to react. He froze, eyes widening, a choked breath escaping his lips before he collapsed.

Dead.

I stared, my pulse hammering.

"What the hell?" I snapped, my voice sharp.

The woman turned her gaze to me, completely unbothered. "He was going to turn," she said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I stopped it."

I clenched my fists. "And who the hell are you?"

She studied me for a moment before speaking. "Solara."

Something about the way she said it put me on edge. There was no hesitation, no concern—just a quiet certainty, like she didn't care whether I liked her answer or not.

Andre raised a half impressed eyebrow. "You didn't even hesitate."

"There's no point in hesitating," Solara said flatly. "Once they start turning, it's already over."

I hated that I couldn't argue with her.

The silence stretched between us for a moment before she exhaled, glancing between us. "Just call me Sol."

I didn't respond, still trying to figure out how I felt about her.

Andre crossed his arms. "You don't seem surprised to see us."

Sol gave a small shrug. "I've been tracking Hollow activity for a while. You two aren't exactly subtle."

I narrowed my eyes. "And what, you just kill them without a second thought?"

Sol's expression didn't change. "If I hesitate, people die. You hesitating a couple seconds to feel bad donesn't make you holier."

I scoffed, turning away from them. I kick a small piece of gravel across the cracked pavement of the alleyway, "That's a hell of a way to look at things."

Andre sighed, "Maybe she's right, rue. He was a goner anyway, he would have just hurt people."

Heat creeped in under my skin, I clench my fists tightly and turn to face them, "You're seriously gonna take her si–"

The world shifted.

The air thickened, pressing against me like I had stepped into another layer of reality. Shadows stretched, twisting unnaturally, and the distant sounds of the city grew muffled, like I was hearing them from underwater.

A cold sensation crept over my spine.

Then I saw her.

A girl.

She was running.

Stumbling through the same alley we were in, but not really here. Her body trembled, her breaths sharp and ragged. Every step she took left behind blood. Dark, wet footprints stained the cracked ground, marking her frantic path forward.

Her hair was long and grey as ash, tangled around her face. I could barely see her features, but I could feel her fear. It seeped into my skin, curling into my chest like smoke.

A muffled cry escaped her lips—distorted, fragmented, like a voice trapped between worlds.

The sound ripped through me.

My body locked up, breath catching in my throat. The edges of the world blurred—was I standing here, or was I there, following her? The fear was overwhelming, suffocating. My hands trembled.

I needed to move. I needed to get out.

I turned sharply—

And everything snapped back into place.

The world was normal again. The same alley. The same cracked pavement. Sol and Andre stood just behind me, their eyes locked on me in concern.

I staggered back, sucking in a breath. My chest was tight, my heartbeat erratic.

Andre reached out, gripping my shoulder. "Ruby. Breathe."

I exhaled shakily, trying to steady myself, but my body still felt off, like I wasn't fully back yet.

"What was that?" My voice was barely above a whisper.

"What do you mean?" Andre asked, glancing over his shoulder to sol. My eyes scan the alley frantically "The girl– she was running and there was blood. I-i think she was hurt" I choke between shaky breaths. 

"Ruby…there was no girl, its just us three here." Andre says cautiously, as if i'd explode if he said the wrong thing. "I saw her!" I demand, tears welling in my eyes

Sol glanced at Andre before answering. "It might've been an Echo."

I looked at her sharply. "An Echo?"

Shee nodded. "They're… remnants. Leftover impressions of things that happened in the past. Sometimes powerful moments, sometimes just pieces of someone's emotions. They don't happen often."

"I always thought those were a myth," Andre muttered, his eyes scanned the alley again before turning to study me.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. "That girl—who was she?" Sol asked, "There must have been a reason only you saw her and not us too."

I shrug softly, sucking in another deep breath, "I don't know. I've never seen her before."

The weight of what I'd just seen sat heavy in my chest. I didn't know who she was, or why she was running. But somehow, I knew—

She wasn't just some random person.

And this wasn't the last time I'd see her.

Sol exhaled, glancing at us. "We should keep moving."

I nodded slowly, still shaken. Andre gave my shoulder one last squeeze before letting go.

The image of the girl's bloody footprints lingered in my mind.

I had the sinking feeling this was only the beginning.