Evolution: Harbinger of Chaos

Maxuel stood abruptly, his gaze scanning the waiting area. "I'm going to grab a drink. Want to come with me, Ethan?"

Ethan stretched, yawning lazily. "Yeah, sure. I could use something sweet."

As the two boys walked away, Kira settled back into her chair, her thoughts drifting. The waiting area was still, the fluorescent lights overhead humming softly, creating a strangely serene atmosphere.

Minutes passed before a nurse entered, scanning the room until her eyes landed on Kira. "Kira James, right?"

Kira sat up quickly, nodding, "Yes?"

"You can go see Daniel now. Room 292."

Kira's heart skipped a beat, a mixture of relief and apprehension flooding her chest. This was it, the moment she had been craving for years—a chance to see him again, a new book to right the wrong paragraph she had ended their past chapter upon.

As Kira took a deep breath, the nurse hesitated before adding, "There's someone else with him already. A girl from his school, I think."

Kira froze. A girl from his school?

Curiosity flared, tempered by a twinge of unease. Who? Is she visiting Daniel alone?

She rose from her seat, smoothing the creases of her skirt with trembling hands. Making her way down the corridor, her thoughts churned, the sound of her shoes tapping against the titled floor drowned by her racing mind.

When Kira reached Room 292, the door was slightly ajar. Bracing herself, she peered inside cautiously.

Daniel lay on the hospital bed, his face peaceful in sleep, the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest a soothing sight.

But the girl seated beside him demanded Kira's full attention.

The stranger was beautiful —golden-haired, sapphire-eyed, and her uniform instantly recognizable as Schulerin Academy's. She sat close to Daniel, her hands resting lightly on the edge of his bed, her gaze fixed on him with an intensity that sent a pang through Kira's chest.

Who is she? Kira wondered. Why is she here?

Spurred by curiosity and a rare feeling of insecurity, Kira leaned closer to the door, drawing upon her Esper powers.

Her powers latched unto the mind of the stranger, her thoughts unraveling. The golden-haired girl's thoughts were a tempest, a chaotic swirl of emotions: guilt, fear, care, and something deeper—something raw and unresolved.

Kira pressed further, navigating through the layers of the girl's mind with a mix of trepidation and determination. At first, she caught glimpses of fleeting interactions between the stranger and Daniel: brief greetings, polite smiles, and moments of warmth that hinted at a bond yet unspoken.

But it wasn't enough to explain her presence here, her hand lingering close to Daniel's as though she wanted to reach for it but didn't dare.

Could she be a secret admirer? Kira mused, her unease deepening.

The more she delved into the girl's thoughts, the stronger the resistance became. It was like wading through murky water, thick with shadows that clung to her consciousness.

Then Kira found it—a wall of fear so dense it felt alive.

Kira hesitated, the sheer weight of the stranger's terror sending a shiver down her spine. But she was nothing if not persistent. She pushed deeper, her mind brushing against the fear.

Images exploded into focus, disjointed and fragmented, yet vivid enough to make Kira's breath catch.

A colossal shadow loomed, reptilian scales gleaming under an eerie light. A serpentine tail lashed through a black, inky abyss, the water suffocating every hint of brightness.

The girl and Daniel were there, struggling to swim through the darkness, their faces pale with terror as the shadow circled closer.

The scene shifted.

A thunderstorm raged, purple lightning slicing across the sky, splitting the world in two. The deafening roar of thunder shook the ground, drowning out all other sounds.

Grotesque, nightmarish creatures rose from the earth, their malformed bodies devouring everything in their path. They tore through people, flesh and bone crunching beneath their monstrous jaws.

And then Kira saw him.

Daniel, bloodied and battered, standing atop the ruins of Schulerin Academy. He cradled a lifeless body—a girl with flowing purple hair.

Her body.

Kira recoiled violently, the connection severing like a snapped cord. She stumbled back, her hands clutching at the doorframe for support. Her heart thundered in her chest, her breaths shallow and erratic.

The horrifying clarity of the vision left her shaken to her core.

"Hey!" Ethan's voice broke through her shaken state. He and Maxuel were approaching, their conversation fading as they noticed Kira's pale face and trembling form.

Maxuel quickened his pace, his worry evident. "Kira? What's wrong?"

She turned to him, her emerald eyes wide with a mix of fear and urgency. "Shh!" She hissed, raising a finger to her lips. "Not so loud."

Maxuel froze, his expression shifting from concern to alarm. "What's going on?"

Kira grabbed his arm, her grip firm despite her shaking hands. "Someone's in there with him," she whispered, jerking her chin toward the door.

Maxuel's eyes darted to the room, his brow furrowing. He reached for the door, but Kira pulled him back sharply.

"Wait!" She whispered, her voice taut with tension.

Ethan peered inside, his green eyes widening. "Angela?" He whispered incredulously. "What's she doing here?"

Maxuel's jaw tightened. "Angela...?"

Kira's tense gaze darted between the both of them. "Who is she?"

"She's Daniel's crush," Ethan explained hurriedly. "He confessed to her, but she rejected him. And—get this—her brother is Leonardo, the biggest bully in school. He's always tormenting Daniel—"

"Shut up!" Maxuel snapped, his voice louder than intended.

Kira winced, her head whipping toward the room as she sensed movement.

Angela rose from her chair, her golden hair catching the light as she turned toward the door. Her sapphire eyes locked onto Kira's, and for a moment, the two girls simply stared at each other.

Kira's Esper abilities kicked in instinctively, and Angela's thoughts flooded her mind:

[That purple hair... That face! It's her! But it was just a nightmare, wasn't it? Who is she? Why is she here? Is she here for Daniel? What's going on?]

The confusion in Angela's mind was palpable, her emotions crashing like waves.

Kira's own mind was a storm of questions, but she tried her best to keep her expression calm and her gaze steady.

Finally, Angela stepped closer, her voice soft but filled with trepidation. "C–can I help you?"