Yuri had another strange dream.
She dreamed she was standing in a field full of bright, colorful flowers. Someone was hugging her – at first she thought it was her mom.
But then she noticed long, black claws wrapped around her body. She wanted to scream, but nothing came out.
*
Yuri shot up from her futon, covered in cold sweat. Her breath came in short, shaky bursts. She wanted to cry or scream, but no sound left her lips. She looked around – her brothers, Yan Mo, and Sayaka were all sleeping like rocks, not reacting at all to her sudden movement.
Yuri glanced around nervously… and then she saw it in the corner of the room.
A huge, woman-shaped monster, so big it had to bend in half under the ceiling. Its empty eye sockets, filled with flickering violet energy, were locked on her, following her every move.
Yuri felt her whole body start shaking. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Don't be afraid of me, my lady," the spirit said.
"H-huh?" Yuri whispered. "W-what… w-what are you?"
