5th Dawn

It was 11:00 PM—just one hour before I ventured into unknown territory to try and save someone from a being far beyond human.This definitely wasn't on my bucket list.

I looked at the cotton curtains draped over my window, shifted the left one aside, and opened it. A cool breeze brushed against my face.I sighed, hopelessly.

I grabbed the black jacket hanging behind my door, paired it with leather pants, took my wallet, and stepped outside.

The nearest bus station wasn't far. I took the closest night bus—empty, as expected. I tapped my card on the contactless reader and sat in the corner seat near the window.

The bus cruised at a steady pace. I stared out the window, watching scenes from the past few days flash through my mind like a movie reel.

Then, something nudged me."Um… Hildegarde, what happens to your soul if I get murdered?"

She responded, calmly,"Since I'm immortal, my soul will be released from your body. I'll be able to transfer to a new host. So… basically, only you will die."

I replied with a hollow tone, "Okay."

My life didn't matter much, anyway. I thought about dying almost every day. Life was hell—but this situation, twisted as it was, had distracted me from those thoughts.And in some dark, ironic way… that was comforting.At least now I had something like purpose.If I saved Maya… maybe that would mean something.

The bus arrived at the nearest stop to the old man's apartment. I got off and walked toward the house.

Before I could even knock, he opened the gate."Welcome, Jeremiah," he said.

"Thanks," I replied. "Is it ready?"

He nodded and led me to the back of his apartment.He began drawing intricate loops—circles within circles—and then started chanting in a language I didn't recognize. But slowly, the words started making sense. Hildegarde's influence, no doubt.

He handed me a paper."The key to Yommir differs for each individual. It all depends on fate."

I looked at him and asked, "What do I do next?"

He pointed at the paper. "Read it."

So I did.

"The night belongs to me. I belong to the night.The night belongs to me. I belong to the night.The night bel—"

Suddenly, something like a black, muddled pool began to swirl in front of me. An overwhelming dark miasma poured from it, clawing at my sanity. It felt like it wanted to rip my body apart.

The old man gestured to the portal."Good luck, young lad. Hope you make it back alive."

With a deep breath, I stepped in.

Instantly, I felt my essence divide. My soul separated from my body. I watched, horrified, as my physical form turned to ash.

A soft grey light shone above, and as my soul fell through the void, bones and flesh began reforming around me.I was whole again.

I looked up… and what I saw was something out of a nightmare.

The Night City had lived up to its name.A black void. No stars. No sky. Just darkness.

Then Hildegarde whispered in my mind: "Lifto'ach."

It felt like a veil was torn from my mind—less painful than the wings, but still jarring. When I looked again, the black void was gone.

I was in a city.

Shops lined the streets like in any urban place—but everything was off.Eerie. Distorted.

There were skeletons walking casually. Some had bits of flesh still clinging to their bones. Others looked human… except for the glorious wings on their backs.There were teenagers with fangs and claws.I even saw humans trading what looked like human body parts for some unknown red liquid.

The sight made me sick. I ran to a corner and threw up.I was terrified. My instincts screamed that this city was dangerous.

I took out the paper with the address. I didn't dare ask for directions. Everyone here looked like a nightmare.

Then… luck.A girl walked by. She looked normal.

I chased after her. "Excuse me! Excuse me—!"

She turned.Blonde hair. Scarlet eyes. Long lashes. She was beautiful—too beautiful.

Something about her pulled me in. My thoughts slowed. My body burned. I wanted her—needed her.

She walked closer. Whispered softly,"What's your na—me?"

I opened my mouth to answer, and then—

A loud shriek echoed in my head.

I snapped out of it.Stepped back.

Hildegarde's voice cut through, sharp and cold:"She's a witch. She was about to bewitch you and harvest your soul."

Panic surged. I turned and bolted in the opposite direction.

I slammed into a huge, beast-like man who grunted at me with disgust. I muttered an apology and kept running.

After aimlessly wandering, Hildegarde finally said,"At this rate, your friend will die."

With a wry smirk, I replied, "Yeah… I'm painfully aware of that."

She instructed me to bring out the paper. I did.She began chanting invocations over it—and suddenly, it lit up.

The paper revealed a glowing outline of the city.

Bright lines traced paths across it.

"These lines," she said, "will lead you to your destination."

At the end of the brightest path, I saw something far off—a gothic castle looming in the distance.

Just looking at it made me shiver.But I had no time to hesitate, I had to go.

I had to save Maya.