The dream ended in tears.
Veronica's eyes snapped open—wet, burning—and for a moment, the shadows around her shifted like they still belonged to the dream. But this wasn't the forest. Nor the cabin. Nor the blood-slick street of eyes.
This was something else.
A room—dimly lit, warm but surreal. Shelves floated gently off the ground. The walls pulsed as if alive, or perhaps nonexistent. Everything felt... paused. Weightless.
And in front of her sat a boy.
Or something like one.
"Good evening," he said, voice bright and calm.
Veronica flinched. "Wh-who are you?"
"My name's Alexi."
She blinked. And cried harder.
"Hey, hey, no need for that." His tone was light, as if comforting a child. "You just woke up!"
She clutched her arms, trembling. "That dream… That thing I saw… it wasn't me. It couldn't have been me."
Alexi tilted his head.
"I know."
Her breath caught. "...Huh?"
"I'm sorry to inform you," he said, smiling like a waiter delivering bad news, "but you fell victim to one of my skills."
She stared, unsure if he was joking. "Skill?"
"Powers," he clarified. "Nightmarish ones."
Veronica frowned. "You're saying… powers are real?"
Alexi raised a brow. "After everything you've seen tonight, that's your biggest question?"
Silence.
Then Veronica narrowed her eyes. "Wait—how do you know what happened to me?"
He chuckled. "Don't worry about that."
"I am worried about that."
"Oh, right!" he waved his hand casually. "It's a little trick of mine. I make my victims live through a dream of my choosing. Fun, right?"
"So… none of it was real?" Her voice was thin, almost hopeful.
"Of course not," he said. "Well—some of it was. But very, very blurred."
Her stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"
His voice lowered. "Catarina is dead. Kara too."
Veronica's chest seized. "But… I didn't kill them."
Alexi nodded slowly. "Let's just say… You did. But also, you didn't."
"That doesn't make sense!"
He leaned closer, his gaze unblinking. "Another you. A version that lives deeper inside. Haven't you ever felt it? Blurred memories. Exhaustion from things you can't remember doing."
She bit her lip. "But… Eliza and Michelle—what about them?"
Alexi gave a half-shrug. "Could've been you. It could've been the monsters. Could've been both."
Veronica gripped her head. "No! I don't remember killing anyone!"
"Because of the blackouts," he said, almost gently. "There's another version of you, Veronica. One that's been locked behind the door long enough."
Her voice was a whisper. "Then… I'm a monster."
He smiled. "Correct."
She broke.
The tears returned, heavier than they had before. She shook where she sat, hands covering her face. "That means I killed them. My friends. My parents. Everyone."
"Partially correct," Alexi said, thoughtfully. "I don't know much about your parents. So maybe don't assume."
Veronica looked up, eyes rimmed with red. "They could still be alive?"
"Yeah. Sure," he said, brushing imaginary dust from his coat.
"Thank goodness…" she breathed.
Then his voice shifted. Firmer. Lower.
"Okay—enough. Here's the truth: You've been tainted by something. An artifact I've been looking for. Now it's inside you."
Veronica's heart skipped.
"I can't take it out," he continued, "not yet. I need the other pieces. And I'm not the only one searching. You'll be hunted, Veronica. By things that don't die and don't sleep."
She was silent.
"Which means," Alexi said, standing to full height, coat swaying around him, "you're in a lot of trouble."
He extended his hand.
Fingers pale. Gesture welcoming.
"So let me help you," he said softly. "Let me protect you—until we find the rest."
Veronica stared at the hand.
At the boy with the nightmare smile.
At the truth that might not be the truth at all.
And she didn't speak.
Not yet.
To be continued...