Darkness.

  Then screams—distant, raw.

  Vivian's breath caught in her throat as her body twitched beneath the blankets. The nightmare dragged her under like a weight, sinking her deep into a memory she’d buried long ago.

  Metal against concrete. Blinding lights overhead. The sharp smell of antiseptic.A cold voice: “She’s not responding. Increase the dosage.”

  She was strapped down again.

  Her heart pounded. Wires pulled at her skin. Sharp pain shot through her veins as a needle plunged in. She tried to move—tried to scream—but she couldn’t breathe.

  "Don’t fight it," someone whispered.

  She jolted awake with a sharp gasp.

  The nightmare vanished, replaced by a blur of white lights above her. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. The world was too quiet now, the silence deafening after the chaos in her mind.

  She flinched when someone moved beside her.

  “It’s okay. You’re safe,” a familiar voice said.

  Vivian turned her head sharply to the side.

  Whiz was seated in a chair beside the bed, calm and watchful, a warm flicker of relief crossing his face as he leaned forward slightly.

  She stared at him, disoriented, confused.

  “Where… where am I?” Her voice came out dry and hoarse.

  “You’re in the infirmary at our base,” Whiz explained, keeping his tone gentle. “You passed out in the supermarket after the attack. Jace and I were with you—we called Razor, and the rest of the team helped bring you in.”

  Vivian blinked slowly, processing.

  The memory returned in flashes. The sound of tentacles. The cold tile of the store. The taste of copper in her mouth.

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  She exhaled shakily and turned her eyes back to him. “You didn’t leave me…”

  “Of course not,” Whiz said with a quiet smile. “You saved our lives back there. You think we’d just ditch you?”

  Her lips twitched faintly, something between a grateful smile and a breath of disbelief. “Still… thank you.”

  The curtain beside the bed shifted, and two figures stepped in.

  A tall man in a pale coat—clearly the doctor—glanced at a clipboard as he approached, his features stern but not unkind. Just behind him was a young woman, maybe twenty or twenty-one, slim with auburn hair tied back loosely. She had warm honey-brown eyes and faint freckles across her nose and cheeks—soft, almost faded. Her presence was quiet but reassuring.

  “Good,” the doctor murmured. “You’re awake.”

  Vivian tensed slightly, instinct pulling her on guard.

  “You suffered some blood loss and exhaustion, but you’re stable now. You just need rest and fluids. Nothing critical.”

  She didn’t respond immediately, just nodded faintly.

  The nurse offered her a soft smile. “You’re safe here. I’ll be watching over you while he makes his rounds. Just let me know if you feel dizzy or in pain.”

  Vivian looked between them but said nothing, uncertain of her footing in this unfamiliar place.

  The doctor checked her vitals, made a few notes, then nodded. “I’ll leave you in good hands.” With that, he stepped out quietly.

  The nurse stayed behind, gently adjusting the monitor beside Vivian’s bed.

  Whiz turned to her. “I have to go now—they’re waiting for me at a briefing. But I’ll be back to check on you, alright?”

  Vivian opened her mouth, hesitated, then looked down slightly. “Will you really come back?”

  Whiz blinked, then gave her a reassuring smile. “Of course. Don’t worry.”

  She nodded once.

  As he moved toward the curtain, he gave the nurse a look. “She’s in your hands, Kara.”

  Kara nodded with a small grin. “Got it.”

  Vivian watched him go, a strange silence wrapping around her again.

  Kara moved to the chair beside the bed and sat down, stretching her legs a little. “So… you’re the one everyone’s been whispering about.”

  Vivian turned her head slowly to her.

  “They didn’t give details, just that you came out of nowhere and practically saved their whole unit,” Kara added, voice casual but sincere.

  Vivian gave a quiet shrug. “It wasn’t really a choice.”

  Kara tilted her head. “Sometimes surviving doesn’t feel like one either, huh?”

  The two sat in soft quiet for a moment. Then Kara offered a smaller, kind smile.

  “I’m Kara, by the way.”

  Vivian stared at her a moment, then replied quietly, “Vivian.”

  Kara nodded once. “Nice to meet you.”

  Vivian didn’t respond, but she didn’t look away either. The quiet hum of the room, the softness in Kara’s voice, and the gentle pressure on her chest from the blanket slowly grounded her.

  The nightmare still clung to the edges of her mind, but for now… it didn’t own her.