Fortune.

The restaurant buzzed with low chatter and clinking cutlery. The smell of soy and sizzling beef filled the air, but Talia barely touched her food, nudging a noodle around her plate like it might bite back.

Koryn slurped down a mouthful, then grinned. “Dude, the Fried Sauce Noodles here never disappoint.”

Talia didn’t look up. “…Mmh.”

Koryn squinted at her. “Okay, what’s up with you? You look like you just saw a ghost or sum.”

The TV in the corner flickered, stealing her attention. She sat up straight.

“Wait. Look.”

The news broadcast hijacked the screen mid-sitcom rerun. A stiff-jawed announcer appeared.

“Vice General Quinones gives his annual speech on national strength in the Quadralis.”

The camera cut to Quinones at a podium, hands steepled like he was already holding the future.

“As you know, the war of the four nations has endured for generations. But now, a new era begins. A race toward the future.”

He pointed to his temple.

“We invest not in weaponry, but in something far more lethal… The Mind.”

Talia’s eyes narrowed.

“With the blessings of the gods and educational advancements, we’ve created the Sociis Defense Academy—to protect what we love.”

As he spoke, the restaurant seemed to hold its breath.

“For the future. Thank you for your time.”

The screen blinked to a commercial.

Talia sat still, her pulse drumming. “…‘Blessed by the gods’ my ass,” she muttered.

Koryn let out a loud sigh, slamming his water down. “They’re lying through their damn teeth. This whole country’s built on gaslight and glitter.”

Talia hesitated. “I think they’re trying their hardest…”

Koryn rolled his eyes, already waving down a waiter. “Excuse me! Can I get a check, please?”

Sometime later, the bill arrived with two fortune cookies perched like crowns on top.

“Thank you for dining at Wok and Roll!” the waitress chimed, cheerful and entirely unaware.

Talia nudged a cookie toward him. “Ladies first.”

Koryn gave her a flat look. “You think you’re so funny…”

He cracked his open, squinting at the slip inside. “‘You can only be joyful if you dance in the rain.’ Huh.”

Talia grinned. “That one’s pretty cool. I like the rain.” She picked up hers and snapped it open—

A cockroach shot out, landing on the table with a sickening thunk.

It wasn’t just a bug.

It moved with eerie purpose, its antennae twitching as it zeroed in on her. It stopped just shy of her fingers. For a split second, she saw a face in its shell—not hers. Someone else. Watching.

The restaurant's noise cut out.

The lights overhead blinked once, then steadied. The air thickened.

Nobody else noticed.

Then laughter snapped the moment like a twig.

Crunch.

The bug vanished beneath Koryn’s hand.

Talia recoiled. “That was in my cookie…”

Koryn winced. “Maybe it’s good luck?”

“How the hell is a cockroach good luck? It ate the fortune!”

“You should look it up and tell me tomorrow.”

She sighed. “Fine. I will.”

They walked out together, and eventually, Talia climbed into her car.

The road stretched endlessly ahead. The dash read 2:47 AM, but time felt irrelevant. Her stomach twisted again, hollow despite the food. She gripped the wheel tighter.

“What’s wrong with me…” she whispered.

“I’m never hanging out that late with that clown again.”

Silence filled the car, deeper than usual. Even the tires sounded distant.

Then, there he was.

A figure appeared in the rearview mirror.

Sitting in the backseat. No sound. No door. No warning.

Skin pale. Eyes hollow. Smile gentle enough to freeze her blood.

“You’re not listening,” the figure whispered, voice like silk against bone. “They’ve blinded you with lies your mind can’t hold.”

It echoed in her skull, not her ears.

She blinked, and it was closer. Leaning in.

“You’ve forgotten something.”

Cold breath brushed her neck. A hand reached over the seat—long, skeletal fingers curling around her wrist. Not forceful. Gentle.

Her hand opened slowly, like he was unfolding a secret.

“Let me show you.”

Then—

The world cracked.

Light imploded. The car was gone. The road gone. His face, still smiling, was the last thing she saw before everything vanished into white.